Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

When visiting a city, one shouldn't only admire its colorful, glamorous side—but also take a hard look at its grimy and impoverished corners.

This holds true for both Dossoles and Lungmen. Lungmen boasts an intoxicating Upper District, where architecture and design are a feast for the eyes, offering a direct glimpse into the fusion of modernity and traditional Yan culture. Yet beneath that lies the Lower district—crammed with aging apartment blocks, packed with far too many people in far too little space, leaving one gasping for breath.

Is Dossoles any different?

In the affluent districts, there are sports cars, fine wine, yachts, and swimming pools. If you have money, you can indulge in the very best. But the poorer areas are crowded with laborers, and crawling with hidden influences: Leithanien, Colombia, and the true Bolivarians, all maneuvering in the shadows. Black market syndicates thrive, underground organizations operate with impunity—crime flourishes.

Everything has two sides.

In Felix's eyes, Dossoles was far more chaotic than any mobile city he'd previously visited. Lungmen's tension lay in the clash between ordinary citizens and the Infected. In Oak Grove County, the oppression of the Tarans by the Victorians defined its conflict. But in Dossoles, multiple factions were not only alive—but thriving.

Naturally, as a tourist, Felix had no desire to dive into these turbulent undercurrents. He held no conflicts of interest with the three major forces. So why not simply enjoy the vacation? Stay detached. Observe.

Over the next few days, Felix spent his time with Muelsyse, shopping, soaking up the sun, and relaxing on the beach. Occasionally, they'd head to the tourist district to sell their goods and career guides while checking in on the players. More often than not, Felix ended up at the bar, drinking and chatting with Old Pugh.

There's a unique kind of beauty in conversing with someone you've never met before—and may never meet again. Besides, Felix had known little about Bolivar's situation in his past life. But thanks to Old Pugh's insight, much of that fog had cleared.

Now and then, Felix would invite Old Pugh and his daughter to other urban areas to watch the Dossoles Warrior Championship, which had already kicked off. It was then he learned the little girl's name—Rafaela. She seemed genuinely curious about the event and always expressed a strong desire to witness it in person.

One day, when Old Pugh appeared in the audience with Rafaela in tow, he spotted Felix already waiting there.

Alongside Felix stood the three sisters he had mentioned to Pugh before: Senomi, Mandragora, and Susie. All three were present. When they saw Rafaela—who looked a year or two younger than them—they smiled, approached, and began chatting with her.

Rafaela didn't seem shy at all. In fact, she had a carefree, somewhat silly expression that suggested a naturally cheerful disposition—easygoing and approachable. Before long, she had blended in seamlessly with the trio, giggling and chatting about all sorts of things.

Among the three girls, it was Mandragora who did most of the talking. Her character had slowly been shaped by Felix into one of confidence and kindness—anchored by deep empathy. Because of her tragic past, Mandragora had developed a natural compassion for the weak. Yet she also harbored expectations for them, wishing they'd find the strength to rise and fight for their own fates.

Felix found himself satisfied with how she was growing. Still, he thought Mandragora's character had more potential—she could become something more. If this continued, she might even grow into a saint capable of saving the world…

But Felix didn't want that for her.

He didn't want Mandragora to shoulder the burden of sainthood or carry the weight of the world alone. Everyone has their own responsibilities. When help is needed, one should call for it—no one should be expected to bear everything on their own.

Senomi's character had grown beautifully. Once timid and anxious, she had blossomed into a gentle and playful girl. At times, she would act coquettishly in front of Felix and Degenbrecher, clearly delighted when they acknowledged her. As the first girl to join the team, she took her martial arts training and the homework assigned by Felix very seriously. Her attitude could only be described as meticulous, always carrying in her heart a desire to repay her master.

That said, it wasn't truly about repaying a favor—Senomi didn't believe she could ever repay Felix fully, not even in a lifetime. But at the very least, she vowed that if her master ever needed help in the future, she would stand by him without hesitation.

Susie, on the other hand, had a character shaped by her family circumstances. Though this made her a little more reserved and delicate, it didn't stop the rest of the group from loving her dearly. Despite everything she'd been through, Susie retained her optimism. Her way of speaking was naturally endearing—sweet and gentle. In short, she was truly a little angel.

As Old Pugh listened to the cheerful chatter among the three girls—now four with Rafaela—he found his furrowed brow beginning to relax. He cast a discreet glance at the blond Caprinae who had been standing silently beside them the whole time. His eyes lingered briefly on the longsword at her waist before he turned his gaze away.

Yes... this was what it meant to be a Pioneer. His actions lived up to that title. Saving even one life could be equal to saving the entire world. Listening to his daughter's laughter, Old Pugh lifted his head with a rare lightness in his heart, eyes resting on the large screen ahead, where the intense first round of the Dossoles Warrior Championship was being broadcast. To him, saving one person meant saving his world.

The worlds of Senomi, Mandragora, and Susie had all been rescued by Felix. Because of his choices, their lives were moving toward brighter futures. That was something truly wonderful.

Thinking this, his gaze inevitably returned to his daughter—his dear Rafaela. What kind of future awaited her? What kind of life would she live?

It wasn't that he was lamenting the fate of the true Bolivarians. But as a middle-aged father, living a soldier's life on the edge of a blade, he couldn't help but worry. If he were to die one day—who would protect his daughter then?

"Dad... can you lift me up?"

Rafaela had returned to his side at some point, gently tugging at his pant leg and gesturing toward the field.

Old Pugh looked up and noticed the scene: the Caprinae woman was effortlessly dragging Mandragora and Susie along by the arms, while Felix was carrying Senomi on his back. It looked like the participating teams in this round were approaching the finish line. Watching it live was certainly more exciting than seeing it on a screen.

What puzzled Old Pugh was the sheer strength of that Caprinae woman. She hauled the two girls with ease, not even out of breath... Could someone like that truly be Felix's bodyguard?

He wasn't sure if his guess was correct. But still, he lifted Rafaela high into his arms so she could get a better view of the event.

From Felix's perspective, the competing teams nearing the final checkpoint were a mix of Dossoles locals and tourists—some of whom were clearly players. The local teams had a significant advantage; they knew the streets and alleys like the backs of their hands. Using that familiarity with the terrain, they widened the gap between themselves and the player teams with strategic ease.

At this point in the final round, only four teams remained capable of fighting—two local teams and two composed of players. The situation was well-balanced.

Felix noticed that one of the remaining player teams was a group of professional players from Yanyu Pavilion. Their captain, Yan Fei, wielded a Scorching Sun Crossbow. Naturally, the ammunition was supplied by the event organizers—harmless pigment-filled projectiles. Anyone struck by one would be immediately eliminated. For close-range combatants and Casters, however, the rules were less restrictive. Thanks to the Dossoles Warrior Championship's reliable medical team, participants could recover from nearly any injury that wasn't fatal—though the cost of treatment was paid out of pocket.

Compared to the other player team, Yanyu Pavilion had more refined tactics. They charged forward in heavy armor, creating a shockwave of momentum. As soon as the enemy's formation wavered or stiffened from impact, the rear guards swiftly moved in to strike. In terms of tactics, it resembled the Switch technique from Sword Art Online—a seamless handoff of attack roles.

One of the most impressive aspects of Yanyu Pavilion was its wealth of snipers and Casters, many of whom were well-known young women in the gaming scene. Most of the snipers were Sankta women, equipped with Scorching Sun Crossbows—custom gear they had purchased from Felix. Among the Casters, a Feline player stood out, wielding the Summer Star Staff and casting her unique Originium arts to eliminate opponents with precision.

"…There are so many Sankta here… Excuse me, sir, do you know them?"

Although he often watched the Dossoles Warrior Championship, Old Pugh was clearly unsettled by the large number of Sankta participating. After all, weren't Sankta individuals rare? And now there were so many gathered here—what was going on? Did Sankta travel in groups?

It was a tricky question for Felix. He couldn't very well explain that these people were players, and not NPCs like themselves.

"Perhaps," he said, "they're our people who've been scattered across this land. Not every Sankta is fortunate enough to be born in Laterano."

"…I see."

The explanation was simple, but reasonable enough. After all, Felix recalled that Andoain had been born in a small Iberian town—far from the holy city of Laterano.

While the two spoke, Yanyu Pavilion's players brought the battle to a swift conclusion. They secured a large chest of red gold and crossed the finish line, drawing thunderous applause from spectators, tourists, and fellow players alike.

And this was only the first round.

In the second and third rounds, the challenges would grow increasingly intense. For example, real Bolivarian soldiers had their eyes on the prize as well. In the second event—a triathlon spanning half the city—they had already begun to show their strength. Only the top ten teams to cross the finish line would qualify for the third and final round.

For ordinary tourists, competing with professional soldiers was no easy feat. Most had only slightly better attributes than the average player. Even among them, the strongest individual barely reached level 50—and that was a team leader at best.

Old Pugh's expression darkened as he watched the scene unfold. The pride of a soldier surged within him, his hands trembling slightly with restrained anger. As far as he could recall, the military had never issued an order to participate in this kind of competition. To rely on their rigorously trained bodies and military-issued weapons to overpower civilians and players in a commercial event—it felt utterly shameful.

Old Pugh looked visibly displeased as he watched the soldiers wave their weapons and "frolic with the people" during a time when they should have been upholding their duties. He nearly burst out in anger, but restrained himself for his daughter's sake. Still, when drinking privately with Felix, he couldn't help but grumble and curse a few words.

Among the nine teams that made it to the third round alongside Yanyu Pavilion, two were affiliated with the actual Bolivarian military. Three others were local teams from Dossoles, composed of a mixed group that included civilians and black market figures. The remaining three were player teams—and only one team was made up entirely of tourists.

As Old Pugh put it, that group of tourists looked suspiciously like a team of Colombian agents.

Felix was speechless. What was supposed to be a joyful and open event, one that encouraged broad participation and laughter, had ended with almost no truly neutral participants—except for the players.

Within the player teams, Felix spotted familiar faces—Dandao Dantart, Magic ZX, and others who had traveled with him. But when it came to overall coordination and team battle capability, they likely couldn't match Yanyu Pavilion.

The final, third round took place on an artificial sea. Each of the ten teams was given a yacht, and the rules were simple: protect the flag on your own yacht while attempting to capture the flags of others. The format resembled a "land conquest" scenario, but at sea.

The real Bolivarian teams launched their assault right away, targeting the player teams first. In their eyes, the Dossoles natives posed little threat, while the mixed-race player teams were real obstacles to victory. The locals followed suit, bullying the weaker teams and steering their yachts toward the players.

In that moment, the players showed no hesitation or internal discord. Faced with hostility, they advanced boldly rather than retreating.

This was, after all, their fourth time participating in such a wild and playful competition. No one would die in this event—so why not go all out and win?

Yanyu Pavilion's deputy captain, Xiyiye, led a furious assault with heavy-armored guards aboard a Bolivarian yacht. As the soldiers tried to retaliate, they suddenly realized—their flag had already been stolen by the players during the chaos.

"…Honestly, I don't even know how to comment on this. It's just disappointing."

"No matter the group, there are always those who lose their way," Felix said, raising his glass. Applauding the players' performance silently, he clinked his glass against Old Pugh's and continued, "When September come, I'll be leaving."

"I understand. The tourist season in Dossoles only lasts through the summer. When the season ends, everyone returns to their homes—and their mothers."

"If something ever comes up, or if you need assistance, just send a message through the courier."

Felix pulled out a business card and handed it to Old Pugh, who glanced at it and muttered, "Columbia, Trimount… Rhine Lab Mechanical Power Research Group Leader?"

"Rhine Lab is a technology company. I'm one of its shareholders," Felix replied. "Trimount is... half my home. If anything ever happens, you can always write to me."

He laced his fingers together on the bar. "I mean it—anything."

"Sir, this is a debt I owe you," Old Pugh replied solemnly, tucking the card away. He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. "It won't be easy to repay this favor."

"Then buy me a bottle of Anton Bar," Felix said with a chuckle. "It's one of Bolivar's finest high-end liquors."

Old Pugh smiled. "Deal."