Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

"The Black Knight! The Black Knight! The Black Knight!"

The Black Knight, sword in hand, descended from the sky like a meteor, landing with a thunderous crash. Her gaze was steady—calm and unreadable—as her brilliant golden hair billowed in the wind.

Raindrops slid down the blade of the sword she held forward. At that moment, all the fury in her heart had faded, replaced by the unwavering determination and fighting spirit of a true warrior.

So you want me dead? Here I am.

So you want the Light Knight to win without lifting a hand? Here I am.

"——Ohhhhhh! The Black Knight appears at the final moment!" the announcer shouted. "The Light Knight's rapier is already unsheathed—he looks confident and formidable, daring to face the Black Knight head-on! Let's give a round of applause for the Light Knight!"

The host skillfully eased the tension and the match proceeded as scheduled.

In a conference room, several senior officials of the Chamber of commerce wore dark, grim expressions. One of them growled through clenched teeth, "Those assassins from the Armorless Union are nothing but trouble. Two full teams sent, and they still couldn't take care of the Black Knight?"

"What about the possibility that the Black Knight had help?" another voice asked coldly.

"The Black Knight's always been a loner. All these years in Kazimierz, I've never seen her build ties with anyone. Perhaps that was our oversight..."

"No matter. She's appeared now. A righteous knight like her can't avoid the shadows forever."

"And because of her, all the resources we've invested in the Light Knight—will it all be for nothing?!"

The leader replied calmly, "If one Light Knight fails, we can always raise up another. If he suffers a crushing defeat here, we'll gradually fade him from public view. If he can't deliver in the next tournament, he's no longer valuable to us."

"As for the Black Knight," he continued, taking out his phone and scanning the faces of his colleagues with cold, sharp eyes, "we cannot allow her to act freely in Kazimierz. Once she leaves the arena—issue the kill order. Let the Blue Gold Assassin from the Armorless Union finish the job."

"Yes," came the response.

A heavy silence settled over the conference room like a storm cloud.

Back in the arena, the Black Knight swung her sword in silence.

All the pain in her body had faded. She took the Light Knight's piercing thrust head-on, then countered with a swift backhand slash that split his shoulder armor clean in two.

The crowd erupted in shocked cries. The Light Knight twisted away just in time, narrowly dodging what would have been a fatal blow.

His strength was real—he hadn't reached his position purely through media hype or staged victories. As a young knight, he had clearly poured everything he had into this match.

This duel was clean, honest—a true contest of skill between the Light Knight and the Black Knight. No interference. No manipulation.

"I am no match for you."

After a brief exchange, the Light Knight sighed.

"It seems the Chamber of commerce's plan has failed."

The Black Knight stared at him silently, not even bothering to offer a response.

"Black Knight, you are the dream of many knights—but also the target of their hatred."

The Light Knight inhaled deeply, and his strikes became increasingly frenzied.

"Three-time tournament champion. You are the pinnacle that many aspire to reach—yet also their nightmare. You were given an incredible opportunity, handed to you on a silver platter, and you threw it away like trash. Do you have any idea how many knights envy you? How many hate you?"

"Ha! A pure knight in this era? Black Knight, you're the anomaly!"

His thrusts grew sharper, more violent. His form, though flawed, burned with intensity. Madness gleamed in his eyes, flames of obsession igniting his every move.

"You deserve to die! You've crushed the dreams of so many knights who fight day and night to reach where you stand!"

"Every morning when people rise, the conversation always returns to you—The Black Knight! With all those resources left unused, do you still consider yourself a knight?"

"Even if you defeat me, you won't walk out of Kazimierz alive!"

The Black Knight said nothing. She had grown weary of the Light Knight's words. She stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant, and drove her greatsword through his chest.

The blade carved through the rain, pierced his enchanted breastplate—armor said to withstand anything—and shattered both his will and the Chamber of Commerce's ambitions.

"——The Light Knight can no longer continue!"

"I hereby declare the champion of the 21st Kazimierz Knight Tournament—The Black Knight!"

"With this, the Black Knight has secured her third title in Kazimierz—three consecutive championships!"

Amid the thunderous roar of the crowd, the Black Knight stood motionless. She cast a long, quiet glance at the fallen Light Knight in the distance. Then, without a word, she turned and walked toward the lounge.

For the audience, the match had ended.

For her—it was far from over.

Her full-length portrait would be hung in the grand corridor of the arena. As champion, not even the Chamber of commerce had the authority to deny her that honor.

The rain was falling harder now. As the Black Knight glanced at the swarm of reporters encircling her, she let out a quiet sigh.

"Ms. Black Knight, how do you feel about winning three consecutive championships?"

"Ms. Black Knight, what are your thoughts on your opponent, the Light Knight?"

"Ms. Black Knight, as a born warrior, will you be challenging for a fourth consecutive title at the 22nd Kazimierz Knight Tournament?"

She felt weary. She had never enjoyed the verbal traps and twisting wordplay of reporters. Whatever she said would be reshaped into something else—something they wanted to hear.

The last reporter who asked about her fourth championship was from a gossip column. As soon as he finished his question, he noticed strange looks from his peers—reporters affiliated with magazines under the Chamber of commerce's name.

After some effort, the reporters were finally persuaded to leave, and in their place came a lively group of fans.

As a three-time champion, the Black Knight rarely engaged in commercial activities. While the faces of other knights filled street advertisements and promotional videos, her own image remained elusive. Yet for fans of the knight tournaments, that very mystery—and her overwhelming strength—only served to deepen their fascination. The Black Knight's popularity was anything but low, and with her third championship title, it had reached a new height.

Whether in terms of public interest, media traffic, or general fervor, everything had peaked. Televisions across the city broadcast the news of the Black Knight's historic third victory. Not even the Chamber of commerce could suppress the craze—not immediately. Attempting to block the broadcasts would only inflame the anger of the tournament's fans, a backlash the Federation clearly wished to avoid.

As night deepened, the crowd of fans gradually dispersed after obtaining her autograph. Satisfied, they left quietly. The arena, now emptying out, had only a few remaining staff. Alone in the lounge, the Black Knight stood by the window, watching as the drizzle outside blurred the view—yet stirred endless thoughts within her.

I wonder how Felix is doing now...

Her thoughts turned to Sankta, who had helped her in the shadows. She glanced at the longsword resting by her side. Regardless of his reasons for drawing near, she couldn't help but feel a trace of gratitude toward him.

All actions serve a purpose. That much was true—for the Chamber of Commerce, for the Black Knight herself, and undoubtedly for Felix as well.

Is there something in me that he covets? Or does he think I now owe him a favor?

The Black Knight allowed herself a faint smile. If she owed him something, she would repay it. She wasn't one to forget a debt. Every word and every gesture from Sankta—she had seen them all clearly.

The behavior of the Sankta people had always been distant, even cold. She had heard that their stance on the Infected was to exile and ignore them. Yet from Felix, she had felt something different—compassion. As though he, too, was an outlier among his people.

She adjusted her clothing. Though the rain outside was growing heavier and would soon soak her clothes—just as her blood-soaked sword had once done—this, too, was part of her path. As a warrior, it was a gesture of self-respect, and her final preparation before heading into battle.

She drew her sword. Her footsteps echoed crisply against the floor.

Raising her eyes, she looked once more at the portrait of the Black Knight that hung high upon the wall.

And then, without turning back, she left.

---

Tonight, the air was thick with bloodlust. Standing at the entrance, she could feel the sharp tension in the atmosphere, a deadly aura pressing in from all directions. Though no enemies could yet be seen, she knew—she was surrounded. The number of assassins this time far exceeded any before.

The villain dies because he talks too much.

So, the top brass of the Chamber of Commerce did not bother to appear. Instead, they sent wave upon wave of crossbow bolts.

The Black Knight raised her sword to deflect them. The moment of impact left her arm tingling with numbness. She understood clearly: several elite assassins were hiding in the shadows, waiting for her to reveal a single opening—so they could strike with thunderous precision.

This was no place to linger—especially with the outer ring of the arena being an open area, offering little cover. The assassins remained hidden among the towering buildings, their positions difficult to pinpoint. The Black Knight turned her gaze toward the outskirts of the mobile city. Without hesitation, she drew her sword and charged toward the suburbs.

Behind her, hundreds of black-clad assassins from the Armorless Union followed in relentless pursuit.

---

"I told you, we don't have time to receive the 'honored guests' from Kjerag. Let's deal with them tomorrow."

The middle-aged man from the Chamber of commerce sat before a large screen, watching the live footage of the Armorless Union's pursuit. His tone was filled with irritation as he addressed the secretary behind him. "What kind of meaningful business cooperation could we possibly expect from a remote backwater like Kjerag?"

"Yes, sir..."

"...Forget it. For the sake of the money, let them wait in the lounge. I'll meet them later."

As the secretary leaned forward in acknowledgment, her posture revealed a slender, curvaceous silhouette. The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, clearly distracted, before snapping back to focus. She spoke softly, "There is another client requesting a meeting. This one has collaborated with the Chamber of commerce on multiple occasions, spending over seven figures in LMD. He's considered part of our faction..."

"Oh?" the man raised an eyebrow. "What's his name?"

"Codename: Pioneer. Real name unknown."

"Then send him in now."

The secretary nodded and departed. The man watched her leave, licking his lips before turning back to the screen, eyes fixed on the ongoing hunt.

Moments later, the door opened. Footsteps approached, and someone took a seat beside the middle-aged man.

"Isn't that the Black Knight on the run?" the visitor said with a chuckle. He turned toward the man and added, "Looks like she's completely enraged the Chamber of commerce. Are you planning to erase her for good?"

The man smirked and glanced at the newcomer, momentarily captivated by the radiant presence beside him before returning his eyes to the screen. "Mr. Pioneer, you've worked with us for a long time. As a friend of the Chamber of commerce, you understand our limits."

"Naturally. The Black Knight was only able to participate in the Kazimierz Knight Tournament because of the Federation's support. Her defiance is no different from raising her blade against her benefactor."

"Mr. Pioneer, you have a sharp tongue. I like that." The middle-aged man smiled, clearly pleased.

The angel wearing a golden crown placed a stack of documents on the desk. "These are the new materials I require. As always, I'll have to trouble the Chamber of commerce with the arrangements."

"We are always happy to replace swords with flowers," the man replied, accepting the documents with a grin. He gave them a quick glance. "Mr. Pioneer, I assure you—you won't regret choosing the Chamber of commerce."

The two exchanged a few more casual remarks as the secretary entered and served tea. On the screen, the Black Knight's resistance had grown fiercer. Several assassins from the Armorless Union had already been taken down—some struck with flashes of electricity that crackled across their bodies. The middle-aged man's expression darkened at the sight. A third party?

"Impressive. The Black Knight is quite capable," the angel remarked as he took a sip of tea. "I wonder—would you be willing to sell?"

The middle-aged man turned to look at him, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The Pioneer's intentions were beginning to raise doubts.

"Oh, nothing much. As you know, I'm just a businessman," Felix replied casually. "I was recently robbed by a group of Sarkaz mercenaries near Kazdel. I figured I could use a stronger bodyguard."

"You want to buy the Black Knight's life?" the middle-aged man repeated slowly.

Felix nodded. "To your Chamber of commerce, isn't the Black Knight now just an unruly, disobedient commodity?"

The man narrowed his eyes. He had to admit—the Pioneer had a point. The Black Knight was a product they had once intended to showcase. And like all products, she was expected to perform and obey. In that regard, the Light Knight was exemplary. But a product with independent will? That was a defect.

For the Chamber of commerce, the Black Knight had to die tonight. But that didn't mean they couldn't extract a final bit of value from her.

"How much are you prepared to pay?"

"Ten million LMD. In exchange, she'll never show her face to your Federation again."

The man chuckled and shook his head. "We've invested more than ten million into the Black Knight's name alone."

"Yes," Felix agreed. "That's the value of the Black Knight. But she won't be the Black Knight anymore. The Federation can create all the slogans and titles it likes. Isn't that what the Light Knight is? His strength speaks for itself—He's already being hailed as the next tournament champion."

"Thirty million," the man countered.

"With thirty million, you could turn a clueless child into the most popular child star in Kazimierz, and build a film empire in the process," Felix replied calmly. "Seventeen million."

"I'll need to consult with my superiors."

The middle-aged man stood, pulled out his phone, gave Felix a nod, and left the room quickly.

On the screen, the battle continued. The Black Knight was wounded, but her strikes remained powerful and her presence unwavering. Some of the Armorless Union assassins were already showing signs of hesitation—intimidated by her unyielding will.

After a while, the middle-aged man returned to the conference room. He spoke in a flat tone.

"Twenty million, Mr. Pioneer. From now on, the Black Knight is yours. But she can never return to Kazimierz."

"Deal. I enjoy doing business with your Federation."

Felix extended his hand and shook firmly with the middle-aged man. The latter pressed a button, and soon, two staff members in black entered the conference room.

"Escort this Pioneer to the ambush site," the man instructed them. At the same time, he spoke into his headset, "Pause the assault and tighten the encirclement. If the Black Knight escapes, our deal is off."

Felix acted as though he hadn't heard, calmly following the two escorts out.

As they passed the lounge, Felix glanced to the side—and noticed several figures seated inside. Among them sat a Man with long, silver-gray hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes.

By chance, that very Man lifted his gaze at the same time. Their eyes locked across the distance—sharp, silent, and piercing—then both looked away without a word.

Felix continued walking forward.