Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Snowsant looked nervously at the contract in front of her—not out of fear, but because she truly felt unworthy of the offer.

She was just a college freshman who had only entered university the day before. How could she possibly qualify for an internship at a high-tech company? Most students didn't start internships until their third year. Why would any company be willing to hire a first-year student who practically knew nothing?

But this opportunity had come through Felix-senpai's recommendation. That alone made her hesitate to turn it down. Especially when she saw the position involved work in mechanical engineering and power systems—fields that stirred her passion—she found herself itching to give it a try.

"Don't overthink it," Yara said gently from behind her desk. "Felix recommended you to Rhine Lab. He wouldn't make a careless mistake. If you feel undeserving of the salary, then just work hard to earn it."

"Y-Yes… I'll definitely do my best to meet the company's expectations," Snowsant replied, her voice a little shaky at first but growing more confident as she spoke.

Yara gave a small smile and nodded in approval. During the interview, she had asked about Snowsant's family background and future goals. Rhine Lab was in a phase of expansion and in need of a new generation of researchers who had a passion for science. Though Snowsant's portfolio was still a far cry from the mechanical projects Felix and Ferdinand had collaborated on, she was only a freshman—there was time to grow.

What impressed Yara most was that Felix rarely recommended anyone. As a shareholder, he could have easily placed a few acquaintances in the company. But he didn't. He carried himself as a true member of Rhine Lab, earning the trust and respect of Kristen and Saria. Although Yara half-jokingly thought Felix had "abducted" Muelsyse and led both Kristen and Saria astray, she still trusted his judgment.

The Maylander Foundation and the military had been extremely supportive during Rhine Lab's expansion, though Yara was aware their help came with strings attached. Their goodwill was only half the story—the rest was tied to long-term cooperation and leverage.

Snowsant's recommendation by Felix made it clear: she was likely to become his right-hand in the future. She had no intention of returning to Lungmen after graduation, and her grandmother had taken her in. Employees with such circumstances were often very loyal. Still, Yara wasn't one to force people to stay. In Columbia's scientific circles, high turnover was common. Unless bound by highly confidential research, job-hopping and poaching were standard practice.

With a deep breath, Snowsant signed her name carefully at the bottom of the contract. Yara smiled and led her to the employee area to collect her staff ID and research uniform.

"Did it work out? Welcome to Rhine Lab, Snowsant."

"Hehe… Hehe…"

Snowsant stared blankly at the person greeting her. At some point, he had changed out of his casual clothes and into a researcher's uniform. The formal attire gave him a refined air that made him look even more composed than usual.

"Senior... Felix, are you also an employee here?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

"So... just 'about' an employee?"

Snowsant mumbled under her breath in mock protest.

Yara cleared her throat and said, "Felix is a shareholder of Rhine Lab and also a mechanical power researcher. In the future, Snowsant, you'll be working under him."

Snowsant was stunned. What? Shareholder? That's basically a big shot! And he's already a researcher?

As the adorable Snowsant was led away by Yara for on-the-job training, Felix nodded in satisfaction, a smile on his face. He had finally roped her in—he could now consider her his successor.

Felix personally gave Snowsant a tour of the company, making sure to pass by Ferdinand and Old Goat's workspaces. He introduced her along the way so she could familiarize herself with the team. Both Ferdinand and Old Goat gave her polite nods. Though their research fields differed, they were bound to cross paths within the company. Besides, everyone had a few junior researchers or students under them—Felix bringing someone in wasn't out of the ordinary.

Eventually, Felix brought Snowsant into his own studio. The moment they entered, her eyes sparkled with excitement. The bright, orderly tools, the scent of machinery, the looping code on the terminal—was this what heaven looked like?

Felix sat down in his chair and began introducing the current research projects he and Ferdinand were working on. It remained to be seen whether the office would stay in this location once expanded, but for now, this was the core of their research.

For Snowsant, the best thing she could do at the moment was study diligently, digest knowledge as quickly as possible, and lend a hand with Felix's research or production orders when needed. Once she became more proficient and skilled in forging, she could even begin taking on assignments herself.

After the tour, Snowsant immersed herself in her textbooks, while Felix continued poring over the books he had borrowed from the library. It was incredibly satisfying to watch his proficiency in various secondary disciplines slowly increase.

At first, he'd worried whether he could complete such a long academic program in just half a year. But now? He was thoroughly enjoying it. Couldn't they give him more material? Wasn't this too easy?

A few days later, Felix was ready to begin writing his doctoral thesis and research proposal. Since his major was in Power Engineering, a subject that required heavy investment of time and focus, it was only natural for him to get an early start on the paper.

During this period, Degenbrecher, Carnelian, and Saria hadn't slowed down in their training. Carnelian, in particular, seemed to enjoy sparring with her junior, Saria, and threw herself into each match with full intensity. The two of them practiced Originium skills together. As someone from Terra's surface, Carnelian's unorthodox, aggressive fighting style gave Saria a real challenge. But after continuous training, even Carnelian could no longer break through Saria's defensive calcification in a short time.

"Saria's physical capabilities and Originium affinity are just too compatible," Degenbrecher remarked, arms crossed as she glanced at Felix, who was sitting amid a pile of books in his bedroom. "If we ever became enemies, I doubt I could defeat her."

"Why would we become enemies?" Felix stood up, rubbing his wrist. He walked over to Degenbrecher, carefully avoiding her long, elegant horns out of habit. "Saria will always be one of us. Degenbrecher, I know you're worried about me, but how could I ever raise a sword against her?"

"But boss," Degenbrecher interjected, a sly grin tugging at the corner of her mouth, "just look at your own eyes—they burn with a warrior's spirit."

"If it's not the desire of a man to conquer a woman," she continued teasingly, "then it must be the desire to challenge. I've seen that look in many knights' eyes when they stared at me. But boss, you're clearly not the former... so, you want to challenge Saria?"

Felix felt chills rise all over his body. Challenge Saria? What a joke! Degenbrecher was already sparring with her in hand-to-hand combat. Carnelian was training Originium techniques with her. The result? She was evolving rapidly into the Ultimate Saria.

And he was supposed to challenge her?

That would be suicide.

"Why are Mandragora and Susie both working outside?"

Felix glossed over the question casually. Seeing his reaction, Degenbrecher smiled and let it go, giving her boss some face.

On the land of Terra, child labor wasn't exactly a surprising concept. For kids like Mandragora and Susie—middle schoolers—it wasn't unusual to have part-time jobs. Especially in a place like Trimount, where the atmosphere was so open, finding work wasn't difficult.

Susie had taken up a job as a barber's apprentice, while Mandragora found work as a newsgirl. Among the three of them, only the little cotton-padded jacket, Senomi, still returned home on time to cook. Every evening, she would give Felix, Degenbrecher, and Carnelian a warm hug, then quietly do her homework and start preparing dinner.

"Don't I give them enough pocket money? Is that why they feel the need to work?" Felix muttered, a little disheartened. He now felt like a lonely father left behind—his "children" had gone off into the world, leaving the house oddly empty. Thankfully, Degenbrecher and Carnelian were still around to keep things lively.

'It's more like you gave them too much' Degenbrecher thought to herself, looking at him in disbelief. She cleared her throat and said, "They just want to earn their own money and get used to adult life early."

"I can afford to support them."

"…"

Degenbrecher let out a sigh. "Maybe they just want to share your burden a little. Besides, they're at that age. Eventually, they'll walk their own path in this world. Boss, you can't protect them forever, right?"

"Kuh… You're right."

Susie had been glancing at Felix's hair during meals lately—clearly itching to cut it. Her physical capabilities were slightly above average, but she had some overlap with Mandragora in terms of role positioning. In the future, Susie would likely focus more on logistics and support.

Mandragora chose to become a newspaper girl to build up her stamina and endurance, and also to hone her directional memory. She was incredibly stubborn, deeply committed to repaying the kindness she'd received. That conviction guided her choice.

As for Senomi, she had her own responsibilities: cooking, housework, and receiving training from Degenbrecher at home. Her future was more aligned with domestic affairs, unlike the other two, so there was no need for her to rush into part-time work.

"Boss, didn't you have a good relationship with Adele back in Leithanien? And wasn't there a bartender's daughter you got along well with while traveling in Dossoles?"

Still flipping through his book, Felix glanced up at the mention and replied calmly, "That's just future investment."

"It's hard to believe you're not even twenty yet," Degenbrecher said, shaking her head. She couldn't help but marvel at how her boss always managed to turn every opportunity to his advantage. But then again, only someone like him could do that.

"What are your plans for next year, boss? Are you ready?"

"Once I graduate in March, I'll return to Victoria. I'm planning to try my luck at the munitions factory in Londinium, and then head to Ursus."

"Ursus?"

Degenbrecher slowly repeated the name, mulling it over. Then she nodded. "If you're going to Ursus… I don't think you should bring them along."

"Yeah, it's too cold there. Not a good environment for Senomi, Mandragora, or Susie. They can just stay here and focus on school."

Felix smiled lightly. Hearing his words, Degenbrecher turned around and walked off. Her expression showed a touch of frustration. When the boss planned everything so thoroughly, it left little for her to do—besides martial arts, she felt somewhat useless. And that, Degenbrecher didn't like.

Meanwhile, excitement was building across the forums. The professional mid-season tournament for Ark had finally begun. A total of 48 teams were participating, and the first round was a fast-paced knockout stage—an adrenaline-pumping setup that had the players riled up. Everyone was eager to see how the pros would perform in the arena.

The competition was held in a VR space resembling a live broadcast studio. Using their Ark characters, players would face off in various environments—plains, forests, canyons, and more.

Felix was reading a book while watching the live broadcast on the forum. The match being shown was a team battle between the Southeast Asian team and the South American team. It was clear that both sides were highly familiar with their respective tactics. Clad in armor and wielding cold weapons, they clashed fiercely within the alien-space venue created by the organizers.

Generally speaking, this was how the game was played.

The competition had been running for ten days, and only twelve teams remained. From the Chinese region, all members of Yanyu Pavilion, Dynasty, Liquid, and Lao Gandie teams had successfully advanced. Looking at the venue, one could see countries national flags flying proudly.

In the round of twelve to six, the Dynasty team was matched against the Warrior team. The two squads were long-time rivals, having clashed repeatedly over mission competition in Kazdel town. PVP incidents between them in the wilderness were not uncommon. Upon seeing the Warrior team drawn as their opponent, the Dynasty team's player known as Cheng burst into laughter. He laughed for a long time before glancing at the team captain, Huang Tian Hou Tu, seated beside him. The captain grinned. Seeing this, Cheng laughed even harder.

Lao Gandie, unfortunately, was paired with Yanyu Pavilion, while Team Liquid drew the formidable European Secret Team.

The internal conflict within Lao Gandie was still intense, but Yanyu Pavilion outmatched them in terms of equipment and coordination. Thanks to the rigorous training during the Dossoles Warrior Championship, Yanyu Pavilion's team coordination had reached a new level. In the end, they narrowly secured victory.

The match between Dynasty and Warrior went down to the wire. Ultimately, captain Huang Tian Hou Tu drove the long sword he had obtained from the Zero Rainy Night Knight into Cabus' chest, clinching the win and advancing to the next round.

Team Liquid wasn't so fortunate. They drew a canyon battlefield, where they were relentlessly targeted by the Secret Team's snipers. Many of their backline members were taken out early. In frustration, Laosilai led his team up the canyon slopes to engage the enemy guards directly. However, due to their earlier losses, they lacked the manpower to continue. Laosilai was eventually struck down and hurled into the canyon by the Secret Team's captain, hitting the ground hard.

"Not bad."

What pleased Felix was the noticeable progress Yanyu Pavilion had made. Their combat ability had significantly improved compared to the past. It seemed their journey to Dossoles had indeed borne fruit. With their strength rising, they were now capable contenders. If they couldn't claim the championship, it simply meant they still weren't good enough. And if that was the case, then they would just need to train harder.

With that thought, Felix continued to read the article, he also mulled over his plans for the following year. Besides Londinium, where else should he go? Since he'd already be in Victoria, perhaps he could visit Oak Grove County as well… and then talk to Mandragora, as if she were already an adult.