you can get the credits in hollow knight with only 1 npc deaths (the godseeker) (I think)

[Selene]

you're going for the godmaster ending with the delicate flower,
save zote normally,
don't kill dreamers, just fight uumuu and watcher knights, this saves quirrel,
only do first 2 coliseums, tiso dies if you do the third (for some reason you don't have to fight god tamer to unlock it in hall of gods)
don't get all essence, seer will ascend
since you didn't kill dreamers, forgotten crossroads will not infect, saving myla I think
don't save cloth, this prevents her from helping kill traitor
fight all other bosses normally
I don't think you have to fight NKG? I'm probably wrong
give godseeker the delicate flower to prevent the shade lord from escaping, but don't complete the quest, as that kills the grey mourner
do the PoH
(even the hollow knight is saved, he appears in the final cutscene, uninfected)
I probably forgot something, plz tell me if I did