Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

The process of forging iron hadn't changed much from the past—except now, the skill level was higher, and the speed of crafting had increased significantly. With the addition of quantum manufacturing, Felix's forging speed had nearly doubled, allowing him to accumulate experience much faster than before.

In essence, gun-type weapons function like staves—usable only by the Sankta race and a select few others. Their mechanism isn't like that of real-world firearms; instead, they operate more like spell-engraved artifacts. Now that Felix had become an Originium Expert, his understanding of Originium-based craftsmanship had deepened. As he forged, he gradually mastered the internal structure of the staff-like guns and naturally began weaving that understanding into his techniques.

The materials in hand were enough to forge two Lumen pistols. Initially, Felix had prepared two sets just in case something went wrong—one as a backup. But now it seemed that precaution was unnecessary. Still, if he could make two, why not?

His old Dawn Revolver was on the verge of retirement. Although it remained a top-tier weapon for most players in the 2.0 era—essentially a magical artifact—it no longer held much value for Felix.

As he hammered away at the Lumen pistols, Felix's thoughts drifted. Should he start rolling for sniper rifle blueprints after upgrading his gunsmith rank? His new Agent subclass granted bonuses to sniper rifles, after all...

But that playstyle—taking out enemies from 800 miles away with a single shot—didn't quite suit him. Wouldn't all his carefully invested defensive stats go to waste?

Besides, his armor was custom-made for close-quarters combat, built to prevent enemies from overwhelming him in melee. Yeah… close combat was more his style. Let them come.

Thanks to quantum manufacturing, Felix worked straight through until four or five in the morning—until finally, the two pistols were complete.

The materials used were slightly different, which gave each weapon a unique finish. Just like no two leaves are ever identical, the guns—though shaped the same—were visually distinct. One was pure white, sleek and pristine. The other was black with a metallic sheen, cool and understated.

One black, one white—like twins. Like destined partners.

He kept the black one for himself. The white one he set aside for Mostima, to serve as her guardian weapon. He remembered how she had looked the last time she left—dressed in her white Notarial Hall uniform. Youthful yet composed. Mature beyond her years, carrying a presence other girls couldn't imitate.

Thinking of her, he glanced at the Lumen's stats, silently hoping for strong bonus abilities.

Otherwise… these kid might not make it.

Lumen: Daytime

[Quality: Purple]

[Attributes: ATK 110–130, Durability 1100/1100]

[Requirements: STR 20, DEX 20, INT 40 | Technician Subclass / Sankta Race]

[Additional Ability: Noble Spells] – DEX +10, INT +15

[Additional Ability: Sky Blessing] – The fifth spell fired deals true damage and guarantees a 120% critical hit

[Additional Ability: Guardian of the Destined One] – Triggers when 10% of max HP is lost, releasing six consecutive spell bursts

[Additional Ability: Black and White] – When used alongside a wielder of Black Lumen, grants +10 to STR, AGI, STA, INT, and SPIRIT, and provides 1% spell lifesteal

Holy hell, this thing's stacked.

Felix stared at the Handgun in front of him, fully satisfied with its form—and overwhelmed with a sense of achievement. He had actually crafted a purple-quality Handgun. Sure, the original blueprint was advanced, but still—this was nuts. It probably came down to the premium materials he'd used. With time, he could keep upgrading both Lumens, pushing their stats and rarity even higher.

As for the Black Lumen, its core attributes matched the White version. Both shared Noble Spells and Sky Blessing, and Black and White worked identically when used together. However, Guardian of the Destined One had evolved into something different:

[Additional Ability: Guardian] – Stuns the enemy, then delivers six consecutive strikes. Costs 5% of the user's max HP. If the target is knocked down, the skill refreshes. Cooldown: 180 seconds.

Ridiculous.

Felix grinned. Money spent or not, that kind of skill was just chef's kiss. If he got his hands on lifesteal equipment down the line, this move could practically be looped.

As a Sankta, there was no cost to wielding a Handgun. Physically, it wasn't a burden. In fact, Sankta could rapid-fire ordinary guns with ease—Lateran even held a speed-shooting tournament every year.

But the Guardian Gun was something else entirely.

The sixth shot from a Sankta Guardian Gun wasn't just another bullet—it was a piece of your life. Most couldn't handle it. Firing that sixth round required both immense physical endurance and mental resilience.

Back then, Felix could fire off dual pistols in battle without restraint. But those weren't Guardian Guns.

You only earned one when you came of age.

He'd be heading to Laterano at the end of the year. Maybe then, he'd finally find out what it felt like to pull that mythical sixth trigger. Would it apply a stun debuff? A mental check? Or would it just knock him out cold?

He carefully packed both pistols into the weapon case, let out a deep yawn, and made his way back to the dorms. At this hour, going home didn't make sense—he wouldn't get enough rest anyway.

Might as well crash here for the night.

Felix's dorm had expanded quite a bit—and the view had drastically improved. There was now a small window, and through it, he could see a lush spread of greenery outside. Judging by the arrangement, it looked like the ecological garden Muelsyse managed.

But what really caught his eye was the tree trunk standing in the center of the room.

It looked completely ordinary.

Felix stepped closer and ran his hand over the bark. This wasn't some decorative fake. Even he could feel the faint, pulsing vitality emanating from the tree. It was alive.

He remembered seeing Muelsyse napping beneath a tree just like this one.

Aside from that, the entire room bore her aesthetic. Green plants dotted the corners, softening the space with natural beauty. The carpet was made of real grass—lush, soft, and clearly handpicked from the ecological park. Every detail whispered her name.

The greenery had a grounding effect. Felix felt the tension in his body slowly melt away. The atmosphere was serene—like coming home. And with that comfort came the realization of how exhausted he was. He let out a long sigh.

Maybe I really can't stay up late anymore. He was getting older. Maybe it was time to drink more berry tea and start following those obscure health tips from that one-eyed priest and the legendary mercenary.

Yawning, Felix stepped into the bathroom to wash up. After that, he crawled into bed and fell into a deep, much-needed sleep.

When he finally woke, it was almost noon—perfectly reasonable, considering the late night.

After a quick wash and a change, he stepped outside and realized that his dormitory was directly adjacent to the ecological park. The window in his room actually opened into it, practically making his dorm an extension of the garden.

"Ah, Felix, you're awake."

Muelsyse was tending to rare plants arranged on a cultivation rack. She turned toward him with a soft smile. Several small, fluffy, feathered creatures fluttered around her—two landing on her shoulders, and another playfully perching on her head.

"You decorated my room, didn't you? I really like it," Felix said.

"Oh? And what exactly do you like?" Muelsyse's question had a mischievous edge, but her curiosity was genuine. After all, every piece of furniture, every detail—she had chosen them with care.

Felix turned his head toward the tree at the center of the room.

"I've always wanted to fall asleep under a tree—see what it's like."

Muelsyse's lips pressed together, her eyes flashing with a strange, unreadable light. She tilted her chin and offered, "Then… should I call you over next time I take a nap during lunch?"

"Sure. Though… don't you usually sleep in water?"

A faint blush touched Muelsyse's cheeks. "That's only sometimes... That last time you saw me? Total accident. Anyway, I need to get back to taking care of the plants."

"Got it. I'm giving a few apprentices a tour of the studio today. Ping the terminal if you need anything."

Their personal relationship was one thing—but work was something else entirely. When it came to Rhine Lab, both Felix and Muelsyse were professionals to the core. As department heads, they were constantly buried in new orders, projects, and responsibilities.

After leaving Rhine Lab, Felix headed to the hotel where Feist and the Hart siblings were staying. He called them down, and the group returned to Rhine Lab in a rather lively procession.

By the way, Feist's grandmother, Catherine, was currently looking for a place to rent in Trimount. Felix thought it might be a good idea for her to move across the street from Snowsant's grandmother. That way, the two elderly women could have companionship—and probably plenty to talk about.

It was Feist's first time visiting a city steeped in technology.

His memories of old Victoria, particularly Londinium, were filled with a different kind of image: endless factories, smokestacks belching fog that turned the sky gray. Shirtless workers in rust-stained vests pounded steel with hammers, their sweat mixing with the soot on their backs.

Trimount was nothing like that.

Sure, there were workers here too—but the atmosphere was entirely different. Instead of brute-force labor, there were researchers of every race in white coats and glasses, moving with quiet focus through the campus.

Colombia, after all, was a country built by immigrants. Its advanced technology naturally attracted a wide range of people from all over the world, all eager to push the boundaries of science.

It was somewhat similar to Victoria in that both nations recruited talent—but Victoria preferred to raise its apprentices internally. Occasionally, it extended offers to permanent foreign residents, but the only requirement was absolute loyalty.

To Feist, all of this felt surreal. Like a country boy stumbling into the heart of a futuristic city.

The equipment he used to handle in Londinium's factories? Outdated scrap compared to what he was seeing now.

Even the glowing ground beneath his feet and the sleek, modern sliding doors were enough to stun him. But when he followed Felix into the workshop and saw the cutting-edge machinery inside, his jaw nearly dropped. His glasses almost slipped right off his face.

"Feist, if I remember right, you're eighteen or nineteen this year?" Felix asked casually.

Feist could feel the subtle glances from the other researchers—people in workwear, laser-focused on their tasks. He felt a wave of unease and self-consciousness. These were graduates from top universities—textbook geniuses. Meanwhile, he…

He hadn't even finished junior high.

He'd struggled with school, never felt connected to the textbooks, and eventually dropped out. He'd poured himself into work, becoming an apprentice in a military factory. That had been his life.

Even now, it all felt like a dream. Very few apprentices ever made it out of the factory system. The only exception was when nobles, impressed by raw talent, took interest and poached workers for their own enterprises.

Did that mean Teacher Felix truly saw something in him?

"I'm eighteen," Feist answered quietly.

"That's a good age," Felix mused aloud, resting his chin on his hand. "You could even go to college."

Feist blinked, caught off guard.

"I won't be staying in Trimount permanently," Felix continued. "And I won't have time to give you full one-on-one instruction. But I can recommend you to the University of Science and Technology here. It'll help you grow as a machinist."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Feist's face.

He had always accepted that his future was limited—apprentice now, factory worker later. That was his ceiling. He had no illusion of becoming like the sons of nobles, studying in prestigious schools. Some of that was due to circumstance: his father had died, his mother had left, and he'd been raised by his grandmother. He'd always wanted to grow up fast, to take care of her.

This offer—this future—felt like something out of someone else's life.

He had his own troubled past.

All who live on this land carry some form of pain.

"I can give you this opportunity," Felix said calmly, "but you'll have to take university seriously."

He pointed to the badge on his chest—boldly stamped with the word Director.

"They say a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good one. Feist, do you want to stay on the assembly line forever, or become a mechanical craftsman who can design his own creations?"

Feist scratched his head and gave an awkward smile. "Teacher Felix… are you really going to recommend me for admission? I mean, I…"

"I have contacts in the scientific community. You don't need to worry about that."

Felix turned to the Hart siblings with the same smile. "And you two—I think the same applies. Work isn't everything."

John Hart nodded solemnly and gave his sister's hand a tight squeeze. "Thank you, teacher."

Just then, Snowsant approached Felix with a file in hand. She had been at Rhine Lab for nearly a year now and had grown increasingly comfortable with her responsibilities. It had to be said—she looked great in the institute's research uniform.

"Snowsant," Felix said, "these three will be joining the Mechanical Power Department. They're still in the learning phase. As their senior, I'm counting on you to look after them."

Snowsant froze for a moment—this was the first time she'd received an order like that from Felix. Lead the juniors? Was she ready for that?

But then she caught the look in his eyes—steadfast, encouraging.

She clenched her hands behind her back and nodded, more to herself than anyone else. "Understood!"