Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Carnelian wanted to go with Felix—partly for the thrill of an explosion, partly because she was simply not the kind of person who could sit still. But she couldn't leave Avdotya, who lacked any fighting ability, alone in camp. Even though most people welcomed Felix's group, hearts were unpredictable. No one could be sure what someone might do when no one was watching.

Felix changed into the Yeti Squad's snow-white coat. Warmth settled over him the moment he put it on—quality gear, as expected. Competing with the official Ursus military meant these people were far from ordinary.

The infected settlement already had strength, but for now, they lived day to day. Their regular patrols weren't for expansion or provocation—only to protect themselves and their own.

It made sense. Of the settlement's more than a thousand infected residents, subtracting children and the elderly left just over eight hundred fighters. Against a fully armed Ursus patrol, they could be scattered in a single clash.

Patriot and Frostnova were exceptions. Either one alone could dismantle a patrol team.

This mission, however, was reconnaissance only—no open combat. That was why the Yeti Squad was deployed while Patriot and the Shield Guards stayed behind to defend the settlement.

When Petrova, Greg, and Big Bear spotted Felix following Frostnova, surprise gave way to delight—until they noticed his coat.

"Mr. Pioneer, your clothes… are you joining us?" Big Bear thumped his belly in excitement.

"I'm just borrowing it," Felix said, patting the pistol holstered on his thigh with a bright smile. "It's warm. And since I'm here—even as a guest—I should pull my weight."

"As expected of you."

Petrova flashed a thumbs-up, then glanced at Frostnova with a teasing smile.

"What?" Frostnova looked puzzled.

But as soon as Petrova saw Felix methodically checking his gear, the teasing faded. She had half-thought the Sankta and Frostnova might be sweet on each other, which would explain them acting together. Now she figured she'd been reading too much into it.

Besides, she'd heard of the holy city far away that only the pure could enter. Could the Pioneer really be with Frostnova?

From afternoon into evening, the snow held off—a relief for the Yeti Squad. Traveling in snowfall was dangerous; for the infected, hypothermia or sickness could mean irreversible harm.

Frostnova led from the front. Behind her, Petrova, Greg, and Big Bear chattered with the curiosity of children.

At first, they'd kept their distance. But now, with Felix wearing the white coat and carrying himself with that same unshakable poise, they clearly counted him as one of their own. Their tone toward him had warmed.

"Mr. Pioneer… this name makes me think of Patriot. Are you from the same family?"

"Is it because of his 'Pioneering'? Did you have some grand adventure before, and that's why you chose it as your codename?"

"Hey, didn't he already say? A traveler who's been all over the world—did you all forget?"

The road wasn't lonely. Frostnova spoke little, so the trio kept the atmosphere alive with chatter.

As the sky dimmed, Frostnova stopped. She scanned the barren snowfield—no shelter in sight, only distant forests and mountains breaking the horizon.

Before they even lit their torches, several odd-shaped machines swooped in. Their lights flicked on, flooding the path ahead with brightness. Even without them, Felix's halo and wings were enough to bathe the snow in a steady glow.

"Whoa, what are these? Military weapons?"

Greg stepped closer to examine one. He couldn't quite figure it out, but it was definitely impressive. "Pretty sure the Ursus government doesn't even have something like this."

"They will soon."

Felix smiled. "They're called drones—my invention. Popular with scientists, the military, and the Pioneer Association back in Columbia."

Technology never stayed secret for long, and drone R&D wasn't exactly impossible. Felix had just been the first to try it, making a tidy profit in the process. He knew Colombia was crawling with foreign spies who'd do anything to steal a model, smuggle it back home, and let their scientists tear it apart for anti-missile systems.

If his name carried more weight—or if he had the power—those countries would just buy the tech from him outright instead of sneaking around. But Rhine Lab wasn't a giant corporation. In Trimount, it might scrape into the top ten tech companies, but in Columbia it didn't even rank at the very top. Why would they give him face?

That's why he fully expected knockoff drones to appear within a year or two.

They'd be doing it to keep him from monopolizing the market, but he wasn't worried. The knockoffs would be obsolete models anyway. Once he rolled out his smart drones, those same organizations would be the ones knocking on his door, begging to partner.

"If the Ursus government had these…" Frostnova trailed off, watching a prototype drone hover before her like it was alive. "It would make life even harder for the infected."

"That's inevitable," Felix said softly. "As technology advances, life for the infected will only grow harsher. Imagine a patrol team equipped with drones."

Frostnova's gaze hardened. "Exactly."

"But that's only one side of it." Felix's voice stayed calm. "As tech pushes forward, the world's social systems change too. And yet, the infected haven't gained respect or opportunity from progress—only more discrimination. More resources end up in the hands of the few, while the infected are further pushed to the margins."

He glanced at her. "When machines take over labor, demand for workers shrinks. And the infected—often unable to take traditional jobs—end up even more excluded."

"The infected once relied on unskilled manual labor. When machines replace them and they lose those jobs… where can they go?"

Frostnova's lips tightened. She glanced at Felix, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes. That future… she had already imagined it. And she knew she couldn't stop it.

"Do you like that future?"

"…No."

Felix's smile was faint. "Neither do I. My dream is to build a floating city in the sky—where the infected and the uninfected live the same kind of life. Green mountains, clear waters, modern civilization… or maybe that's just the surface."

He looked at her. "What do you think of the dream of infected and non-infected living together as equals?"

Felix didn't wait for her answer. Instead, he turned to his prototype drone, instructing it to dig a snow cave. Camping in a tent here was too risky—one strong gust could blow it and its occupants away.

Frostnova hesitated, as if holding back words, but quietly joined in the work.

The rest of the Yeti Squad stayed silent too, moved by the Pioneer's dream. If such a future could exist… it would be wonderful.

"To make that future real, Frostnova, what do you think we should do?"

His tone shifted—he no longer said "I," but "we."

"Troops," she answered.

"Exactly." Felix's voice carried the calm authority of a mentor. "That's Patriot's way of thinking—if the world stands against him, he'll use his fists and his body to force a brighter future. I have great respect for him."

"Oh?"

The mention of her father stirred her curiosity.

"He's a fighter," Felix said, his voice steady in the wind and snow. "I respect anyone who raises the banner for the oppressed. Even if schemers steal their victories, even if their end is tragic, we should remember those who lit the spark."

"Mr. Patriot is a soldier I respect."

He looked up at the gray-blue sky. "And Frostnova—you think so too, don't you?"

"…I'm proud of my father, but we don't see eye to eye."

"That's normal. Every generation has its own ideas. We're still young—it's natural to disagree with the old ways."

Felix chuckled and began preparing dry rations and roasting meat. Big Bear and Greg lent a hand, while Petrova sliced the meat with care. Frostnova sat a short distance away, knees drawn to her chest. In her eyes was the starlit sky—reflecting the people gathered beneath it.

That meal completely warmed the Yeti Squad. The strength they had spent on the afternoon's trek returned in full. To make the next day's journey easier, they crawled into their sleeping bags early to rest.

"Here," Felix said, walking over to Frostnova with the candy she had given him earlier in the day.

"This is…"

"One piece for each person. Good things should be shared, right?" He popped the chocolate—filled with liqueur—into his mouth. The first bite was slightly bitter, like dark chocolate, but the warmth of the wine smoothed it out, leaving a mellow fragrance that lingered.

Frostnova silently accepted her piece and slipped it into her mouth.

Even in the biting wind, warmth spread through her. The sweetness of the chocolate and the heat of the liqueur slowly reached her hands and feet.

"I'm planning to start a company next year," Felix said.

"…What?"

"A company. An enterprise."

"No, I understood the word." Frostnova gave him a look. Did he think she was some sheltered girl from the countryside? Though, to him—a traveler from Colombia—she probably did seem like one.

"That's good." Felix tucked his hands into his pockets and gazed up at the stars. "I'm calling it Tomorrow's Development. The idea is to build tomorrow with tomorrow's guardians, creators, and pioneers."

"I want this company to change the current situation—to bring the infected gradually into public view, to show that infection isn't easily transmitted, to remind everyone that the infected were once just ordinary people. If you didn't have so many ties here, I'd invite you to join without hesitation."

"It sounds nice when you say it," Frostnova replied evenly. "But I judge by action. The infected have long memories—they remember the nobles who lured them into cities with sweet words, only to send them to the mines. They remember the foremen who promised wages and bonuses, then worked them to exhaustion. They've already lost hope."

"Words aren't enough, Pioneer. You'll have to prove yourself—both here on the northern border of Ursus and across the land of Terra." Her lips curved faintly. "I'm not doubting you, but the infected need a beacon."

"They need to see their future, and know someone strong enough to protect it. That kind of reassurance doesn't come from speeches."

Felix stretched, a lazy smile on his face. "Right now, I really envy Mr. Patriot—unmatched strength, respected by all… and a daughter as well-mannered and capable as you."

"Was that a compliment, Mr. Pioneer?"

"You can take it that way, and with pride, Frostnova." He glanced at his watch. "Now, get some rest. You've got a mission tomorrow."

"I'm the captain…" she muttered under her breath as she turned and headed toward the snow cave.

Felix called out, "Frostnova."

She turned back. "What is it?"

"I'll make sure you say it yourself one day—'I'm willing to join Tomorrow's Development.'"

Frostnova's lips curved slightly. She gave a soft snort, then turned and disappeared into the snow cave.

Felix let his gaze follow her for a moment before pulling it back with a yawn. In this life, with him here, the white rabbit wouldn't end up as just another NPC everyone pitied, like in the last one.

---

November was nearly over.

He turned, orienting himself toward the holy city of Laterano.

I'll be back soon.

The holy city, the sweets, the church, the bells, the guns—and her.

It's been too long, Mostima.

I'm coming home.