Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Felix hadn't touched the weapons on Degenbrecher's equipment. His current crafting and blacksmithing skills simply weren't at the level required to process or forge cold weapons. However, he had done his best when it came to her armor. Since he lacked a secondary profession in textiles, the military uniform had been a high-end purchase from the Commercial Federation. It was already yellow-tier equipment by default. After Felix's mechanical modifications and enhancements, the set had been upgraded to green-tier.

As for textile skills, Felix truly didn't have the time or need to learn them. His goal was never to become a fashion designer. The equipment he crafted focused on functionality and defense—appearance was a distant second.

Opening a panel he hadn't accessed in a long time, Felix began reviewing his stats. Just as he pulled up the attribute screen, a notification popped up:

[Congratulations on obtaining the copy: [Type-0 Rainy Night Knight]]

What was this?

Reading the description carefully, Felix was surprised to discover that it was actually a memory crystal.

In an MMORPG that increasingly resembled the real world in vividness and depth, resource scarcity was the norm. This was true in Ark as well. Once the resources of a particular location were exhausted, they wouldn't replenish for several months. He recalled a time back when he was still a player—someone had killed all the Originium bugs in a certain cave for a quest. When another player received the same task, they waited a long time but never encountered the bugs again. Hostile NPCs were limited, just like the resources.

So how did one become stronger?

In addition to gathering materials on the map, there was another method—purchasing memory crystals from specific high-level NPCs. These crystals, forged from Originium, were often called copy crystals or meditation basins. As the name implied, each contained a fragment of memory.

Their use was simple: once activated, the player would be drawn into the NPC's memories and fight within that memory space. In this dreamlike simulation, players could collect dropped materials. Of course, dying came with penalties—but the rewards were substantial. For many players, memory crystals were a renewable goldmine of resources.

What surprised Felix the most was the discovery that, as an NPC, he received a share of experience points every time a player party cleared one of his memory dungeons. A continuous stream of experience? That was a game-changer.

Though the experience gained would feel like a mere drizzle in the later stages of the game, for now, it was nothing short of a heavenly blessing.

He briefly considered selling the memory crystal on his own in-game market. But then he remembered—copy crystals were incredibly rare in the original version of Ark. Instead, he decided to use this one as a reward for a specific quest. After all, in his previous life, players had only obtained such crystals through completing long chains of missions.

This approach would enhance his image and utility as an NPC while also allowing players to experience a side of Felix they couldn't normally see—his combat prowess. Players would witness his strength and hear his dialogue within the dungeon. He distinctly remembered saying a lot of righteous lines during that battle. It would undoubtedly elevate both his reputation and perceived power.

What's more, since Degenbrecher would be traveling with him from now on, players would be naturally curious about this cool, mysterious woman. Who was she? How did she know the Pioneer?

Curiosity was a powerful tool—and their curiosity would translate into traffic and popularity for Felix.

In the future, they could consider participating in more decisive battles. If they were lucky, and those battles generated memory copies, it would surely increase player engagement and retention.

This time, their destination was Kazdel, and Felix began modifying his Rangers.

Including the one that had been shot and scrapped by the Armorless Union's Blue Gold Assassin, Felix now had ten Rangers remaining. His current task was to remove the Lightning Arrow modules from half of them and replace those with the submachine gun module—the one he felt most comfortable with.

As for why he hadn't used the submachine gun module when dealing with the Armorless Union's assassins, the answer was simple: he didn't want to openly provoke the Chamber of Commerce.

At present, the Chamber still believed that the Black Knight had been rescued by some covert military organization. If Felix had used guns in that operation, suspicion would have inevitably fallen on him.

Sigh… As a support unit, he hadn't trained himself to match that role at all. He was still acting more like a production-type player. He lacked the true spirit of a support.

Well… maybe he could visit the Sarkaz mercenary camp to see if there was any quality merchandise…

With that thought, he stood up and smacked himself on the head, annoyed that he had forgotten something so important. Fortunately, he hadn't left Kazimierz yet.

He had forgotten to buy the slaves.

Now, Felix wasn't that kind of slave master. He could remove his metaphorical shackles anytime, but he hadn't fulfilled his ambitions yet. How could he build a home now?

He recalled reading an operator file back when he worked for Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals in his past life… That operator had once been trafficked to the market.

Remembering this, Felix stood up and pressed the call button on the wall.

"I'm a Pioneer. I want to go to the 'market.' Please arrange for someone to guide me."

"Market" was a slang term—its full name being the slave market. In his previous life, Felix had only been there once or twice. This would be his first time in his current life. To gain access, one had to complete tasks for the Chamber of Commerce and accumulate enough loyalty points to trigger the event.

For a first-time visit, a staff member from the Chamber had to accompany you. It was the only way to ensure customers didn't get fleeced too badly.

Though Felix already knew the entrance, he had no intention of being overcharged, so he simply let the Chamber arrange everything.

He went downstairs and boarded a commercial vehicle. A bespectacled Chamber staff member drove him to the outskirts of the city. The area appeared rundown during the day, but at night, it was the city's busiest red-light district. The two approached a bar and, without exchanging a word with the owner, walked directly through the sticky-floored back door and deeper inside.

After descending several flights of stairs, the air grew thick and stale. A bodyguard at the door nodded politely to them and allowed them through.

This was the slave market located beneath the Kawalerielki base. Felix glanced around—everything looked exactly as he remembered from his past life.

"Dear guest, what kind of slave are you looking for? Any specific race?" The Chamber of Commerce staff member adjusted his glasses and asked respectfully.

There was nothing unusual about this question—many clients had particular tastes or preferences for different races. His job was to help Felix quickly narrow down the selection to suit his desires, saving valuable time.

Felix thought for a moment. "Pink hair. Zalak. Must look very young."

Had it not been for the halo above Felix's head giving him a holy appearance, the staffer might've sighed inwardly: Wow, this guy has some unique preferences.

In truth, back in his previous life, plenty of forum users had bought slaves for amusement. Some even had rather questionable preferences. Age? The younger, the better.

I really played this game while playing Blue Archive, Felix thought.

Those kinds of players deserved to be dragged out and lined up for a firing squad—with the smallest-caliber bullets—for ten full minutes.

The staffer worked efficiently, immediately contacting the slave market supervisor and relaying Felix's request. A reply came not long after.

"Dear guest, we do have merchandise matching your specifications. I'll escort you right away."

"No need," Felix replied. "Just show me the way. I'll go alone."

"Understood."

The staff member led Felix to an intersection and pointed out the direction.

Felix wasn't certain if the girl he sought was the same operator he remembered from the archives in his previous life. Though he'd seen her face back then, Terra was a vast land full of wonder. There were many pink-haired Zalak. Even Miss Lin from Lungmen was one—but obviously, she couldn't have been abducted and brought here. The Kawalerielki crisis hadn't even occurred yet; the city hadn't been swallowed by that sudden sandstorm.

Slowing his steps, he approached the cages. Inside one, a young pink-haired girl huddled, shivering. Her skin had a healthy, flesh-toned hue, and a barcode was printed on her shoulder—her price tag.

Noticing a pair of unfamiliar shoes stop in front of her cage, the girl slowly raised her head, cautiously peeking at the figure before her.

She met a pair of calm, golden eyes—eyes that held no visible emotion.

"May I ask your name?" Felix inquired.

The girl opened her mouth, trying to speak, but her voice was too faint. Her throat was dry and hoarse—no sound came out.

Sensing a potential transaction, the nearby shopkeeper hurried over, putting on his best flattering tone. "Dear customer, her name is Senomi. She's only twelve years old—a rare gem in our establishment. Just look at that natural, flowing pink hair—it's not some cheap dye job."

"Hehehe... Master, take a look at her healthy complexion, her soft and firm little body… Hehehe. She'll surely become your next favorite."

Felix sighed inwardly. He had gotten lucky—this opportunity had landed right in his lap. Originally, this sweet little Senomi was meant to be his very first target. Back then, he had only taken a wait-and-see approach with the Black Knight.

In the past, he'd eat from the bowl while eyeing the pot. Now, he simply held the bowl in one hand and the pot in the other, taking turns between the two—perfectly at ease.

"What's the price?" Felix asked.

"Hehehe, sir," the shopkeeper chuckled obsequiously, "this little one goes for... 200,000 LMD."

Felix shifted slightly to the side, revealing the uniformed Chamber of Commerce staff member waiting at the street entrance. The shopkeeper caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye, and immediately broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't realized the Sankta standing beside him was actually a guest of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Ahem," the shopkeeper quickly corrected himself. "My throat wasn't working properly just now. Master, you can have this little Senomi for just 60,000 LMD."

Felix sighed. It was absurd how a human life could be priced lower than a shoddy pistol on the black market. But the shopkeeper was clearly terrified of the Chamber of Commerce, which explained the sudden drop in price. For comparison, the lowest cost for a slave with average looks typically hovered around 70,000 LMD.

Senomi, though still classified as a slave, had a natural vitality and delicate charm that made her stand out. Even at such a young age, her beauty couldn't be hidden.

Felix made his decision on the spot and turned to leave.

"...Master,"

Senomi stared at him blankly. Her small body trembled, but she slowly rose from the cold ground.

"Let's go."

Felix glanced back at her and then stepped forward.

Bathed in the faint glow of his golden aura, his back radiated a warmth she didn't understand. Senomi felt an unexpected urge to cry, but held the tears back. What kind of future awaited her? Would she be beaten? Scolded? She clenched her small fists tightly and quickly hurried after him. Even if what lay ahead was hell, it would still be better than remaining in this purgatory.

The Chamber of Commerce staff drove them back to Felix's apartment. Once the door shut behind them, Senomi's body tensed again. Her eyes welled with tears... and then, without hesitation, she began to undress.

"Stop." Felix coughed, startled.

Good grief, he thought. If I were a player, the NPC harassment warning would be flashing by now.

"But... isn't master going to do that kind of thing?" Senomi asked tearfully, her voice trembling with fear.

"I didn't buy you for that," Felix replied calmly. "I needed someone to help with chores. That's why I bought you."

Senomi pressed her small hands to her chest, trying to steady her breathing, but her expression was still filled with anxiety. She was still just a child, and everything she felt was written plainly on her face. She must have endured more than a few nightmares back in the slave market.

"Go take a shower. I'll arrange for someone to take you shopping for clothes afterward."

With a wave of his hand, Felix sent her off to the bathroom. Afraid that even a moment's delay would anger him, Senomi moved quickly, rushing to comply.

Senomi's frightened look made Felix want to laugh—but he held it in.

He pulled out his phone and made a call to Degenbrecher.

"Hey, boss, what's up?"

"You're getting used to calling me 'boss' now," Felix chuckled. "I bought a maid from the 'market.' She's had a rough life. From now on, she'll be with us. The problem is—she doesn't have any spare clothes. Do you have time to take her shopping?"

Degenbrecher didn't hesitate. "Oh," she replied casually, not giving it much thought. "I'll be there in a minute."

With a reliable and caring subordinate like her, Felix felt completely at ease.

Not long after, Degenbrecher arrived. She pushed the door open, wearing a mask and a beret. Being under constant surveillance in Kazimierz, she had to be careful not to be recognized. The mask and hat helped conceal her identity, and she didn't want to bring any unnecessary trouble to her employer or her comrades.

The Degenbrecher arrived quickly, and so did Senomi—freshly bathed. She had changed into a rough linen robe, still tattered, and stood nervously at the bathroom door like a child about to be punished.

She spotted a tall, beautiful woman with long golden hair and an imposing presence standing in the room. Overwhelmed, Senomi immediately lowered her head, not daring to meet Degenbrecher's golden eyes.

"That's her?"

"Yeah, that's her. What do you think?" Felix asked.

Degenbrecher looked Senomi up and down. "She's got tight muscles. Probably athletic. At her age, she's just right to start loosening up and training in the basics. Definitely has potential."

"How about teaching her some martial arts?" Felix asked with a smile.

Degenbrecher nodded without a second thought. That was just the kind of person she was—decisive and unflinching. As a warrior and a senior, mentoring a junior came naturally to her.

And of course, she carried the graceful, reassuring presence of an older sister.

She extended a hand to the trembling girl. "Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Degenbrecher."