Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

There was one more passenger on the journey back this time. Degenbrecher glanced at Carnelian, and Carnelian returned the look. After a brief moment, Carnelian parted her lips slightly.

"You are... the Black Knight?"

Degenbrecher hadn't expected the other woman to recognize her. She nodded calmly and replied, "My current code name is Degenbrecher. I serve under Felix."

"My name's Carnelian, from Sargon," she introduced herself with a light smile. "I'm traveling across the continent. By chance, I crossed paths with Felix. We fought together and explored some ruins. Now, I'll be heading to Columbia with him."

Then she added, casually, "Interested in a sparring match?"

The corners of Degenbrecher's lips curled upward. "Sure."

ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ——

Wait—why does it suddenly feel like the tone just shifted into some kind of shounen battle manga?

From Felix's perspective, it looked like the two women were simply having a regular conversation. No tension, no drama.

The two Caprinae seemed to reach an unspoken understanding quickly. There had been no real conflict between them from the start. That earlier sizing up—just a mutual evaluation.

"Really? I look forward to traveling with you," Degenbrecher said, shaking hands with Carnelian. Then, with a curious tilt of her head, she added, "By the way, mind telling me what the boss was up to?"

"Hm? Oh, we just killed a bunch of people and cleaned up some remnants of the Witch King."

"..."

Degenbrecher's dark gaze locked onto Felix's back. He felt an icy shiver crawl up his spine.

"...Thank you for looking after my boss."

"Oh—no, no," Carnelian waved her hands frantically. "If anything, I was the one being looked after. I got injured during the battle. He was the one who carried me to the hospital."

"..."

Degenbrecher gave a small nod. It didn't surprise her.

To Felix, money had always been just a tool. He didn't hoard it, nor was he particularly lavish. He simply spent it where it mattered. When it came time to act, he never hesitated. He had rescued her from the Chamber of Commerce, bought Senomi out of slavery, funded Susie's education—there were many such examples.

It wasn't the right place to say more. So, without further discussion, they entered the hotel.

Felix soothed Senomi and Mandragora, then arranged a private room for Carnelian.

Once everything was settled, he carried a box into his bedroom—only to find an angry elf sitting cross-legged on his bed.

"Ah... Muelsyse."

"…Hmph."

Muelsyse turned her head away, pouting, clearly unwilling to acknowledge his presence.

Back then, Felix had seen her chatting happily with Professor Naumann and his wife. Thinking she'd be fine, he hadn't brought her water bottle with him. Besides, he had assumed the trip would only take a few days... not stretch into an entire week.

Mumu had grown very close to Professor Naumann during this time. A little genius in her own right, she found plenty of common ground with the professor and his wife. The three of them often chatted about complex topics with ease. She had not only built a strong rapport with the couple, but even their daughter, Adele, had taken a liking to the elven girl—now affectionately calling her "Mumu."

"This time, I ran into a bit of an incident," Felix explained. "I didn't expect to encounter the remnants of the Witch King. After that, a number of unexpected things happened. It turned into a short adventure."

"The Witch King's remnants?"

Muelsyse's attention sharpened instantly. When it came to serious matters, she never acted like a petulant girl. Quite the opposite—she became focused and analytical. Her playful or quirky side only emerged during daily interactions or casual banter.

She stepped forward and placed her hands gently on Felix's shoulders. Immediately, a stream of cool energy coursed through him—flowing from his shoulders down to his chest and abdomen—as if he were undergoing a full-body diagnostic scan.

"It's good you're not hurt," she said with a sigh of relief. "The Witch King's Arts are corrosive. If they make contact with the body, they can leave behind dangerous residual effects."

After patting her chest and relaxing, Muelsyse suddenly remembered she was supposed to be mad. So she turned away again, refusing to look at Felix.

"I'm sorry," Felix said with a soft smile. "Next time I go on an adventure, I promise to bring you along."

"Hmph... When we get to Columbia, you'll have to treat me to lots of food," she replied without turning around.

"No problem. I'm a shareholder now—filthy rich. I'll just funnel all the Rhine Lab research budget into food and entertainment for you and me…"

"...Uh-huh?"

Muelsyse finally broke into a smile again, her expression returning to its usual cuteness. "That's a bit much. We don't need that much. Just a good meal… or maybe a movie."

"Deal."

Her eyes drifted to the weapon box in the corner. "What's this? Is it a new weapon you're working on?"

Felix shook his head and opened the long case, revealing what lay inside. "No. This is the reward from our little adventure."

"This is… an ancient weapon," Muelsyse murmured, her eyes widening slightly.

As an elf—water clone or not—she possessed a natural affinity for Originium. The moment she laid eyes on the weapon, she could tell: the Originium embedded within it was incredibly old.

"I can't equip it just yet," Felix said, holding the weapon carefully. "The requirements are too high. It's from the Witch King era. Not quite prehistoric, but by today's standards… definitely ancient."

"For now, we need to focus on restoring it. Then we'll study its performance."

Muelsyse nodded in agreement. "According to the investigation reports from Kazdel, ancient weapons often possess unique traits. Be careful when you attempt to use it, Felix. I must be there during your first test."

The topic came to a natural pause, and though Muelsyse had forgiven Felix, she still insisted he recount all the details of his adventure. As Felix described the events, he introduced Carnellian—a Caprinae Caster with remarkable physical strength—who would be joining them on the journey to Columbia.

After hearing this, Muelsyse let out a soft sigh of relief. "Don't go doing such reckless things again," she warned gently. "I'll worry about you."

Felix lay sprawled on the bed, arms and legs stretched out. He let out a groggy hum in response, half-asleep.

"You must be exhausted. Take today to rest," Muelsyse said, walking over to him. She lightly touched his cheek with a cool wash of water. "But take a shower before you sleep, alright? You're not clean like this."

Felix didn't resist. He obediently went to shower and, upon returning to bed, fell asleep almost immediately. Muelsyse, too, resumed her rest in Columbia. Her water clone quietly dissolved back into clear water inside the bottle.

That night, not a single word was spoken.

—

The next morning, Felix woke up and greeted Carnelian, who was still yawning as she entered the room. He munched on a piece of bread, nodding in her direction.

"You're up early," Carnelian said through a yawn. She spotted the two little girls from the previous day eating vegetables and drinking milk obediently at the table. Noticing her gaze, they turned to look at her with curious eyes.

"Wow, what a cute little sisters," Carnelian said with a cheerful laugh.

Felix gently ruffled the girls' hair and introduced them. "The one with pink hair is Senomi, and the one with black hair is Mandragora. Let's talk more in the afternoon—they've got school now."

Carnelian picked up her utensils and began eating. Her table manners weren't particularly elegant, but there was a natural charm in her boldness. Somehow, watching her eat was quite appetizing.

"Alright then. I'll just explore Leipzig a bit this morning."

After temporarily parting ways with Carnelian, Degenbrecher resumed her solo training. Meanwhile, the roles of school escorts had quietly shifted—Felix and Muelsyse now stood in as the parents, sending Senomi and Mandragora to school and watching them walk through the gate from afar.

By now, Susie was about to graduate, and Snowsant was probably already on the Convoy heading for Columbia.

At Rhine Lab, Felix had finally begun preliminary forging of smart materials. However, he was still missing several key components—chips, circuit boards, and more. For the moment, he decided to focus on developing the materials required for Lumen.

Although the trip to the mobile city had been full of twists and turns, it had ultimately paid off. He'd secured both valuable materials and an ancient weapon. It was worth all the trouble... Perhaps his good fortune was thanks to Senomi and Mandragora clinging to him tearfully, reluctant to say goodbye before his departure.

Felix turned to Muelsyse beside him and said, "Let's go. I'll come with you to visit Dr. Naumann."

"Aren't you going to take the day off?" Muelsyse asked, blinking. "You look a little worn out. That exploration must've drained you."

"We're leaving soon, aren't we?" Felix smiled. "I want to attend one more class before we go."

Muelsyse didn't try to persuade Felix further. Instead, she simply smiled, pleased that he had agreed to accompany her to William University.

Since Professor Naumann had a class that morning, the two of them headed to the university library, moving about as though they were already familiar with the place. Without wasting time, they began reading.

Felix's visit to Professor Naumann and his wife wasn't just out of simple curiosity—though he wouldn't deny his interest in their deep knowledge and experience. Every conversation with them yielded something new, but more importantly, these interactions granted him valuable experience points.

With his gift of genius, Felix could master knowledge at an extraordinary pace. Even attending lectures gave him a noticeable edge. At this rate, he could finish a four-year course in just two years.

Currently, his progress in the Ecologist and Originium Scientist classes stood at about 5%. Unlocking them would likely take another one or two years of study.

Still, Felix didn't set his expectations too high. He had no intention of unlocking the Catastrophe system or becoming a Catastrophe messenger. That profession carried a high risk of oripathy, and Felix valued his one life far too much to take such a gamble.

After classes ended, Muelsyse chatted with Professor Magna Naumann, while Professor Katia Naumann stayed behind to tutor students. Felix listened to their conversation from the side while watching Adele quietly reading at a small table nearby.

The Naumann family was a household of scholars, and Adele's favorite hobby was, naturally, reading. During Felix's absence from Leipzig, Adele had taken Senomi and Mandragora out to play and even hosted a reading club for them, recommending some of her favorite books.

After finishing the final page of her book, Adele reluctantly set it down. She looked up and saw Brother Felix smiling at her from across the table. A little flustered, she smiled back. "I'm sorry, Brother Felix... I got so caught up in reading, I didn't even notice you."

"Don't worry about it," Felix said with a light chuckle. He stood up, picked up the kettle, and refilled both their cups. "I was reading too, Adele. It's fine."

Adele took a sip from her glass and glanced at the book on the table—Environmental Evolution and Catastrophe. Her mother had mentioned it was a textbook used by sophomores in college.

"Brother Felix, where have you been these past few days?" she asked. Her two close friends had told her that their brother had been away on business for quite some time, and they were worried he might have run into danger.

The only thing they felt was worry. As for whether they feared Brother Felix would abandon them... that was out of the question. They trusted him completely. He was family—he would never leave them behind.

If Felix knew what those two little girls were thinking, he would wholeheartedly agree.

He shared with Adele the adventures and experiences of his recent journey—though those details aren't recorded here. To Adele, it was like an entirely new world had opened up before her.

As a girl who loved reading and had endless curiosity about the world, Adele was completely enthralled by Felix's tales. Her eyes sparkled with wonder, as if she had stepped into the story herself—becoming the protagonist, free to explore the vast lands ahead.

"Awesome... Brother Felix, exploring sounds so fun."

"When you grow up, we can explore this land together."

"Okay!"

The little sheep smiled sweetly and held out her pinky finger. "Brother, it's a promise."

Felix extended his pinky and hooked it with Adele's. "Yes, it's a promise."

---

Felix was in a good mood. He had quietly planted a seed in young Adele's heart. He had only been in Leipzig for a month, and he wasn't sure if he could win Adele over the way he did Susie. After all, Adele had a perfect family, didn't she?

If Adele's life continued on its current path, she would likely complete her studies at William University and go on to become a scholar.

Who could say what the future held? For now, Felix simply wanted to be Adele's friend—not her brother.

After completing the leave of absence procedures for Senomi and Mandragora, Felix and Muelsyse bid farewell to Professor Naumann and his wife. Felix extended an invitation for them to visit Trimount, Columbia. They smiled and agreed pleasantly, though considering their busy schedules as professors, it seemed more like a polite gesture than a firm commitment.

Before parting, Adele gave a book to each of the girls. Senomi and Mandragora also prepared gifts in return—Senomi gave Adele a Kazimierzian knight novel, while Mandragora offered a history book of Victoria. The three little girls were full of joy as they exchanged gifts and smiled brightly while saying goodbye.

Felix and Carnelian sat in the front row, while Degenbrecher took the back seat to watch over the children. Before departure, he is informed by Magic ZX and the others that over the past month, the players had earned far more completing tasks in the city than they ever did in Novice Town.

When they heard that their pioneer was about to lead them to a brand-new map, their excitement was instantly reignited.

A Military truck and three off-road vehicles set off across the land of hardship—headed straight for Columbia.