SHENZHEN – It’s not what most people would want to be called. An NPC, or “non-player character”, is internet slang for someone seen to lack independent thought, a term borrowed from video-game speak.But in China, the term also refers to a job that has grown more common in recent years. Theme parks and tourist attractions around the country are hiring so-called NPCs to liven up their grounds and feed consumers’ demand for unique experiences.Dressed up as figures like the mythical Monkey King or ancient Chinese poets, NPCs engage visitors with witty banter and eye-catching gimmicks, often remaining in character throughout.While…