Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Before long, some players began setting up small stalls throughout the camp. Following the return of the Dynasty Team, led by Huangtian Houtu, player-to-player trading gradually took off. Many curious onlookers approached the Dynasty Team, engaging in casual conversation and learning that the Pioneer fully supported bartering and the sale of materials.

This instantly sparked an idea among the crowd: scavenging and setting up stalls could be a way to earn a fortune. After all, just like pioneers in Columbia, players often stumbled upon rare resources during expeditions. If they had no personal use for these items, they'd just gather dust in their inventories—better to sell them to someone who needed them.

Players who had been preparing to log off and rest to recover their fatigue meters suddenly felt wide awake. One by one, they jumped out of bed and eagerly rifled through their inventory menus, searching for anything that could be sold for a quick profit.

Before setting up stalls, Huangtian Houtu, and Qiu Muyu approached Felix to discuss the market area's location. Huangtian hoped it would be close to the residential area to make access more convenient for players. Qiu Muyu, on the other hand, preferred a more expansive layout—something closer to a true bazaar, considering the sheer number of participants.

There was a steady stream of people moving through the camp. It took a while just to recognize whose ID was floating above each head. Felix hadn't seen such a lively atmosphere since city life in his previous life.

He made a conservative estimate: the camp now housed at least six figures worth of players. With so many people bustling about, maintaining order became a considerable challenge. Still, Felix handled what he could quickly. He designated a section of the map as the market area and left the remaining layout and management to the players themselves.

As for the idle Ulšulah, Felix remembered her familiarity with the Scar Market and mercenary settlements. He temporarily assigned her to assist with managing the camp's marketplace. Ulšulah agreed immediately, without a hint of hesitation.

In under half an hour, the marketplace had taken shape. Though calling it a "market" might have sounded grand, in reality, it was a lively collection of street stalls. Players laid out their wares—props, gear, and resources—on worn pieces of cloth, clearly marking the prices. Each of them opened their personal stores to nearby players, creating a bustling hub of trade and commerce.

Naturally, the location of the stalls sparked some disputes among the players. After all, everyone wanted to claim the most prominent spot for better visibility and traffic.

Ulšulah handled the matter with fairness and clarity. She introduced a ranking system based on the price and quantity of goods each player offered. However, ranking wasn't solely determined by the value of a single high-priced item—selling a material worth over a thousand LMD didn't guarantee a top spot. That would be unrealistic.

At the same time, she organized a patrol team made up of high-level players—both professional gamers and top players from the Dynasty Team who weren't setting up stalls. Their role was to prevent theft and disorder. Several players gladly accepted Ulšulah's commission. Being entrusted with responsibility and authority, they were effectively transformed into camp managers. The recognition gave them a strong sense of pride and satisfaction.

Xiao Xiaoxue Gao quickly laid out her drawings at her stall. Her secondary profession was as a copyist. While selling her artwork, she also sketched maps. Each completed map rewarded her with experience points. Just one night of work could earn her a good amount of LMD and XP. It was highly profitable.

Players soon gathered in front of her stall to purchase maps. The prices were low for now, since she hadn't explored much of the surrounding "fog." However, she offered a compelling after-sales promise: anyone who bought a map now could pay just one extra LMD in the future to receive updates. This update fee would be far cheaper than buying a new map later on.

Thanks to this added value, her maps quickly sold out—the space in front of her small stall was wiped clean by eager buyers.

At Huangtian Houtu's stall, he displayed raw materials and some equipment he had looted from defeated Sarkaz mercenaries. Though he had no personal use for them, someone else certainly might. While it was possible to buy better equipment from the Pioneers, the items here were cheaper and ideal as transitional gear.

Even foreign players like Kabus—let alone those from the Chinese region—had never witnessed such a thriving market scene. Many had been immersed in long-term PvP gameplay, and moments like this felt especially precious. They squatted in front of stalls, eagerly bargaining and chatting with the sellers.

Meanwhile, Ulšulah served as Felix's eyes and voice in the outside world. The market bustled late into the night. Eventually, as players began to tire, their fatigue and sanity levels started to drop. With that, the market gradually closed down, and the players returned to their tents to rest.

Leaving the now-quiet market behind, Ulšulah made her way back through the camp until she reached the largest tent, still aglow with light.

Without hesitation, she lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

Felix hadn't gone to bed. The tent had become a makeshift studio, complete with an open flame and a well-equipped tool bench. Looking up from a blueprint, he greeted her, "You're back."

"Yes," she replied.

"You should get some rest too. Degenbrecher and Senomi are already asleep. You've worked hard today. I'll give you a raise," Felix said, shifting his gaze back to his work.

The largest tent, located at the rear of the camp, had been prepared for him by the players. It was their way of acknowledging him as their "commander." Felix didn't refuse the gesture. While the market buzzed outside, he quietly focused on his workshop inside.

Ulšulah opened her mouth, her red lips moving slightly. "They're a little different from us."

Felix raised his head, his golden eyes calmly meeting hers.

"We'll never have that kind of security, happiness, or smile," she said softly.

"You're wrong," Felix replied in an even tone. "Are the mercenaries you're referring to representative of all Sarkaz?"

"Is it really true that there are no other Sarkaz in this land who share my ideals—who dream of building a homeland from scratch, one that belongs solely to them? Can you say for certain there aren't any? Are there no Sarkaz who live and work in other countries? Even if they're looked down upon, they still manage to carry on with a smile. Can you really say there aren't any like that?"

"Yes, they are different from you," he continued, "because they possess the immortal Originium arts—and you don't. But all it means is they've chosen a different way of life. I don't know if it's the best path, but at the very least... I believe it's worth trying."

Ulšulah's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm going to rest," she said quietly, and turned to leave.

The Sarkaz had been the first race to come into contact with Originium—and were also the first to bear its "curse." Felix lowered his gaze. Just how many secrets were buried in this land, waiting for him and the players to uncover?

One thing was certain: Kazdel was an ancient and the promised land.

If only the players could unearth some ancient weapons or Originium staffs, he mused.

But for now, the priority was to process the materials the players had collected. Tomorrow, he would need to post production tasks on the task board. After all, in a player base with a six-digit population, he couldn't be the only one hammering metal. He needed help. Thinking about it, he couldn't help but miss the automated factories from his past life. With industrialized construction processes, he could simply lie down and gain experience.

After a short nap, Felix got up again in the pre-dawn darkness and resumed forging metal, occasionally browsing the forum as he worked.

One post in particular caught his attention. A player who had taken up mining had shared his experience. The top-rated comment read:

"Go watch Magic ZX's first video—the pioneer explains the origins of the infected. If you keep mining, you'll end up in prison!"

By the 300th comment, the original poster had replied:

"Too late, send it!"

He'd attached a screenshot of his personal interface. Next to his name, a new buff had appeared: Infected.

"6666666!"

"I heard infected people can cast spells without a wand. Is this Harry Potter? What kind of fate did the OP unlock?"

"Fury!"

"Can you post a survival guide for infected players? I want to know what it's like to live in the wild as one."

The comment section was full of amusement—everyone seemed entertained, except the original poster himself. Judging by his updates, though, he was already planning his escape, swearing revenge on the noble who had tricked him before disappearing.

At the same time, he opened a new thread to warn other players in Ursus:

"Don't go to the mines! Don't go to the mines!"

With the fun over, Felix refreshed the forum—and noticed a new post had been marked as a masterpiece. Looking closer, he saw that Magic ZX's second video had just been released.

Feeling a bit bored, Felix clicked on the video and discovered that the number of concurrent viewers had already surpassed six figures—an astonishing feat.

Incidentally, players could log off while sleeping in the Ark to restore fatigue, so there was no need to worry about truly "falling asleep" in-game.

The second episode was titled: "The Pioneer and the Black Knights."

"Hello everyone, I'm your Magic ZX. As the saying goes, I travel the world and witness countless wonders with joy. No matter when or where I roam, my passion for exploration never fades. Welcome to the latest Magic ZX tutorial and strategy introduction video!"

"Today, I bring you a personal look into the life of the Pioneer. At the same time—yes, you've seen the video title—I'll also be introducing an NPC known as the Black Knight!"

"By now, many of you must be curious. Who is this Black Knight? For those of you in Kazimierz, have you noticed that a certain cool, heroic big sister has been appearing beside the Pioneer?"

As he spoke, Magic ZX revealed a series of screenshots featuring Degenbrecher in various military poses. Clad in uniform, her expression remained stoic, occasionally softening into a confident, charming smile that left a lasting impression.

"Oh my god, I'm drowning in feels."

"I'm going to worship this queen!"

"She's gorgeous—totally my type. Please, can I be the Black Knight's loyal dog?"

Magic ZX had clearly hooked the players' attention, and with their curiosity piqued, he began recounting their experience upon entering Kawalerielki, the capital city of Kazimierz. After arriving, players received tickets from the Pioneer to attend Kazimierz's most iconic event—the knight competition.

Footage followed, showing recorded gameplay from the arena. In one clip, the Black Knight swung her sword effortlessly, sending a fully armored opponent crashing to the ground. Her movements were fluid and powerful, prompting a wave of "66666" from the chat.

"That's right," Magic ZX narrated. "The true identity of the Black Knight is that of a professional competitive knight. She's participated in two previous tournaments—and won both. If she wins this one, it'll mark her third consecutive championship!"

The scene then shifted to a humorous skit. Dandao Dantart, and Magic ZX approached a knight to request a sparring match. Unsurprisingly, Dandao Dantart were each disarmed within two rounds. As a stealth-based class, Magic ZX managed to hide in the shadows for a few extra rounds—only to be swiftly discovered and disarmed as well. Off to the side, Qiu Muyu clapped with amusement as the knight gave a proper salute and walked away.

"Ahem… that knight's danger rating is pink," Magic ZX explained sheepishly. "Clearly, the stat gap is too wide. Challenging someone that far above your level is pure folly. Let this be a painful lesson… and all I ask in return is a one-click triple combo—like, follow, and subscribe!"

The comedic moment drew hearty laughter from viewers. Many expressed interest in apprenticing under such NPCs or seeking mentorship, even fantasizing about meeting them in real life.

Following that, the video jumped to the grand finale—the showdown between the Black Knight and the Light Knight. The Black Knight remained calm and graceful throughout, in stark contrast to the Light Knight's manic ferocity. One moved like a still lake, the other like a raging flame. Their duel had players watching with bated breath, their eyes wide with awe and a hint of fear.

"The Black Knight disappeared after winning the championship. I heard she had left Kazimierz. But just a few days later, when the Pioneer led us away from Kawalerielki, we actually saw her again. She was following the Pioneer—and even called him boss! How did those two end up like that? It's still a mystery."

"At the same time, the Pioneers rescued a little mouse girl named Senomi from the slave market. She seemed extremely wary of everything. But since she was saved by the Pioneers, we can only look forward to her role in future story developments."

Following that, the video showcased the journey's scenery. Magic ZX recorded the vast landscape of Ursus—complete with tight security and heavily armed soldiers in uniform, their expressions hostile and unwelcoming. This made all the players gulp nervously before they continued their march toward Kazdel.

"We who followed the Pioneer never expected that he, a Sankta, would actually set foot in Kazdel. But given his actions and values, we're not surprised. To him, all lives are equal—even the Sarkaz, who are discriminated against by Terrans, are no different from Sankta in his eyes."

"I don't want to call him a saint. Instead, I believe Pioneer is the perfect title for him. He's someone who roams the world, connecting the stars scattered across the earth. He's someone who travels far and wide, resolving people's suffering wherever he goes."

"What lies ahead in Kazdel? What dramatic and perhaps inhumane stories will unfold between the Black Knight and the Pioneer? We'll dive deeper into that in the next episode!"

With that, the latest Magic ZX video came to an end. Its popularity and impact were just as overwhelming as the previous one.

Players flooded the comment section:

"Yet another reason to follow the Pioneer! Hehe… Black Knight Queen, hehe… Senomi little loli…"

"Is this what it feels like to raise a child? If possible, I'd love to raise a cute daughter in the Ark too, and spoil her—hehehe…"

"Hehehe… The Black Knight is wrapped up so tightly, I bet she smells kinda funky, right?"

"Damn, I'm stuck in this Tundra!"