Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

"Lemuel, thanks for showing us around today."

"I had fun too, hehe."

Lemuel giggled, scratching the back of her head. The combination of her carefree charm and genuine cuteness made Muelsyse cover her mouth to hide a chuckle. They'd only known each other for about a day, but Muelsyse already saw her as a close sister—and she now understood why Felix liked her.

Lively, charismatic, easygoing like a tomboy who could be treated as one of the guys—but in the rain, or in private moments, she revealed a softer, girlish side.

Muelsyse could see it now—falling for a girl like that was hardly surprising.

"Ah, it's already this late? Mumu, are you heading home, or do you want to walk around a bit more?"

Lemuel glanced toward Senomi and Mandragora, who were waving from a short distance away, inviting her to come play. She felt a twinge of temptation. She was close to graduating from the church school, but mentally, well… she was still pretty young. Ahem.

"Go play with them, Lemuel. It's your day off—make the most of it," Muelsyse said warmly.

When Lemuel thought about it, that made sense. After all, breaks were short, homework sitting at home wasn't going anywhere, and she could just finish it on the last night before school started. And honestly, Sankta didn't exactly face much job pressure... Still, if she kept thinking like this, was she going to end up living off her sister forever?

Her mind immediately jumped ahead—someday, her sister would get married. And if her sister's husband didn't want a freeloader in the house… what then?

Uwaaaah! Instant panic.

Lemuel's expression twisted with inner conflict—but the moment Mandragora handed her a cotton candy, she broke into a smile and ran off with the others through the shopping street.

Muelsyse chuckled. Her own figure slowly faded away. She'd had a wonderful day, but now it was back to work—she needed to start drafting the latest ecological report in Columbia. She hadn't seen Felix today, but she didn't mind. His first days back in Laterano were bound to be busy, even too busy for the people he cared about.

Still… she'd noticed a shift in his attitude lately, a longer, warmer gaze when he looked at her. That small change made her quietly happy. It felt as though, after returning to Laterano, something had clicked for him. Her long wait by his side hadn't been for nothing.

Companionship is the most lasting confession of love. Their journey together would continue—until the day she worked up the courage to say those words… or until she heard him say them first.

As for Lemuel, Senomi, and Mandragora… Muelsyse wasn't particularly concerned. There was a touch of jealousy, sure, but not too much. She had always been a solitary person, and finding someone who was like her brought joy, but it also made her wonder—was he simply accommodating her?

Of course, she wasn't about to give up her place as "big sister."

She patted her cheeks lightly. She had, admittedly, put in some subtle effort in her interactions with Lemuel—after all, Lemuel was the junior, she was the senior. Naturally, she should be the one in charge.

Humming to herself, Muelsyse dispelled the water spirit. Her duplicate dissolved into droplets and slipped into a nearby glass.

Meanwhile, the four little ones and Lemuel played shuttlecock in the shopping street alongside other Sankta and Liberi children enjoying their holiday. The street echoed with laughter.

Carnelian emerged from a shop in her winter coat, carrying a small bag. Degenbrecher glanced at her, and she smiled, showing off the label.

"Well… when you're away from home, you've got to bring something back for yourself—and for your sister, right?"

"Laterano's most famous for sweets, but if I mailed those all the way to Sargon, they'd probably be spoiled by the time they arrived. So… brand-name clothes it is," Carnelian remarked wryly.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Work."

"At a time like this, you're still thinking about work?" Carnelian sighed, half amused. "I mean… the boss is generous, sure. It's not like I'm saying he exploits his employees. But didn't he say it himself when he arrived? 'Enjoy your vacation to the fullest.'"

"I just… don't know how to sit still all of a sudden," Degenbrecher replied with a quiet smile.

Here, she couldn't smell the stench of Kazimierz's copper coins, nor see the naked ambition of Columbia's scientific world. Only peace and calm. Words like that usually made Degenbrecher think of a small mountain village—but strangely enough, they also fit this massive, mobile city of Laterano.

Before meeting Felix, Degenbrecher's life had been constant battle. Even during her time in Columbia, she couldn't rest—she'd often spar with Saria just to keep moving.

Now in Laterano, she felt… unsettled. This life without combat made it hard for her to relax. Maybe she just wasn't used to it yet.

Some masters say the way to improve is through constant battle. Others say it's through stillness and cultivation. Degenbrecher didn't know which was right. With no clear destination ahead, she could only walk her own path.

If Felix were here, he'd probably note that in a previous life, when SilverAsh brought Degenbrecher back to Kjerag, she'd felt the same way—but over days and months in the snow-covered mountains, she'd learned to settle into the quiet.

And if he knew what she was thinking now, he'd be making plans for their next trip to Yan—specifically, to find a certain elusive figure known only among high-level and professional players. If you had enough sincerity, you could earn the chance to spar with them.

"Formless without form, intentless without intent. Go train again."

Yes—Felix would definitely think Degenbrecher needed that kind of opponent.

While Degenbrecher and Carnelian enjoyed the festival with the kids, Felix was already preparing for his first mission.

It wasn't a difficult assignment: head to the uninhabited zone near the border of Laterano and Kazdel. A Sankta trade caravan had run into a Catastrophe there, abandoning its cargo to save themselves. The people were fine, but the goods were left behind. The notary office wanted to confirm both their safety and whether they had been contaminated by the Catastrophe.

From a safety standpoint, the mission was low risk. From a health standpoint, it could be tricky. As a Sankta, he knew what being infected meant—nothing but harm. He had no intention of becoming infected himself. Of course, he'd once toyed with the idea that if he did become infected, his status would let him easily rally infected players, set Ursus ablaze, and maybe even create a "Neo Reunion Movement."

But that would test his abilities and endanger his health. He wanted to survive Sword Art Online in one piece, and right now, he still wasn't strong enough. He lacked power.

Maybe someday—when he could swing Helena's Sorrow with ease.

For now, safety came first.

He smirked to himself. Even if he fancied himself a "Sword Flash guy," he'd already met his Asuna—and not just one, but two.

---

"Here. A mask."

"Thanks."

Before departure, Mostima helped Felix pack. The mission would take only a few days—just enough time for him to be back in time for her coming-of-age ceremony at the cathedral the following week. Of course, she wouldn't be the only one; all Sankta sharing her birthday would take part.

Her fingers brushed along his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin. She smiled silently.

"There won't be any accidents. I'll be back as soon as I can," Felix assured her.

He wasn't carrying much. The mission site lay in the uninhabited zone, close to Kazdel, but far from any place Sarkaz would choose to live. There was no terran presence there at all—though armed settlements were not out of the question.

Alongside protective gear, he packed a sidearm and a drone. Safety came first; while settlements might not harm a Sankta, wild animals were another matter.

He knew that in other nations' uninhabited zones, desperate fugitives roamed—people who valued life so little that they'd kill a stranger on sight. But the settlements near Laterano were different. They would never attack a Sankta, aware that simply being allowed to remain here was Laterano's greatest mercy.

"I'm off."

"Mm. Safe travels."

Mostima gave him a brief, gentle hug, her lips brushing his before she stepped back, waving from the corridor as he left.

Once he was gone, she pulled out her mobile terminal. A string of messages from Lemuen filled the screen:

"Mostima, how's the battle going?"

"Still no reply—don't tell me you're off enjoying some two-person world?"

"Ugh, Lemuel went out today too. I'm bored."

Mostima's lips curved into a smile. She changed into fresh clothes and started toward Lemuen's place. Among their squad, only Andoain tended to travel during holidays, serving as a priest across Laterano and Iberia. Of the three women in the team, their bonds were the closest.

As she walked, she sent a message to Fiammetta.

The reply came after a while: "I was just helping my junior pack. What's up?"

All three of them knew that "junior" meant Patia. For Fiammetta, Patia joining Felix's squad was a golden opportunity—to understand him better, and to give her junior real combat experience.

While the three young women enjoyed their rest day, Felix—clad in mechanical protective gear with a trench coat over it—had already reached the city gates. Around his neck was a windproof scarf Mostima had given him, shielding him from both cold winds and dust.

"Senior."

Federico was already waiting, dressed in gear that made him look almost chilly. He nodded in greeting.

"Good evening. Said your goodbyes to your family?"

"Yes. They understand and support me," Federico replied.

Unlike Mostima, Lemuen, Lemuel, or even Felix—whose origins were more like children from some nameless orphanage—Federico had both parents. His whole family lived here in Laterano.

Not long after, the rest of the squad—Plume, Patia, and Spuria—arrived. Bundled in heavy winter gear, none of them complained about having to head out on a snowy night. The mission wouldn't take long, and they'd still have more than ten days back in Laterano before the New Year.

For squads leaving Laterano on official assignments, the Notarial Hall provided transport. After Felix submitted his request to Mr. Ers, they were given a military pickup similar to the one he'd once bought himself. Frankly, in weather like this, trekking to the mission site on foot would be sheer torture.

Federico didn't yet have a driver's license, but the rest could handle a vehicle. Felix, used to this kind of work, took the wheel without fuss. Unlike the others, he could drive while browsing the forums and laughing at ridiculous posts from internet jokesters. The others… not so much.

With a press on the accelerator, Felix's squad slipped into the night, heading toward their destination.

Federico rode shotgun, while Plume and Patia sat behind him. Spuria took the back row, next to Felix's drone, which she was currently admiring with sparkling eyes, running her fingers over its surface as if it were a rare treasure.

To keep Felix alert during the night drive, Plume, Patia, and Spuria kept up light, amusing conversation. Federico joined in occasionally, though he spoke far less than the others.

By the second half of the night, the three in back had drifted off, leaving only Federico and Felix awake.

"Senior, want me to take over driving?"

"You don't even have a license."

"I just learned. Watching you earlier," Federico said.

Felix shot him a sidelong look. "So you've been studying my driving this whole time?"

"Yes."

"You…" Felix shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Sounds reliable enough, but I'm fine. I slept plenty yesterday—no problem staying awake."

"Is that so?" Federico nodded, taking him at his word. "In that case, I'll grab two hours of sleep. If anything urgent comes up, wake me."

"Diligence is good, but there's nothing dangerous around Laterano," Felix said with a chuckle. "You just get serious about the strangest things."

"Is that so…" Federico rolled the phrase over in his mind. He'd heard those exact words once before—from a woman closely related to him by blood.

She had long black hair, a faintly mysterious smile, and an odd air about her. A misfit.

He was a misfit too.

But neither of them had ever thought of themselves that way.

Federico, you're always too serious.

He closed his eyes, pushing stray thoughts from his mind and forcing himself toward sleep.

Felix's mouth curved upward as he glanced at him, then turned his attention to videos uploaded by other players. This time, the star wasn't Magic ZX—it was Mr. Han.

"Eh—ya—hey—ah—this is MillerRHan!"