Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

To Felix, this was less a "settlement" and more a small town. From the outside, it was ringed by wooden palisades for defense, with infected patrols pacing the perimeter. The sight made him feel as if he were approaching a military base, not an ordinary infected community.

Perhaps this was the influence of Frostnova's father—Patriot. While there were ordinary infected among the residents, the majority were battle-hardened warriors, fiercely loyal to him.

"You might be pretty popular here," Frostnova remarked.

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Uncle Sam—the craftsman who repaired our camp's gear—passed away last month. His apprentice… well, he's not very skilled yet. If you were willing to help…"

She trailed off, lips pressing together, as if realizing how odd it was to say such a thing. Life on the snowfields had long stripped away sentimental notions. Out here, people were bound only by necessity and self-interest. And yet, as she spoke with Felix, she realized she'd let go of some of her guardedness without noticing.

"As long as there's fair pay, I don't mind," Felix replied.

"Mm."

The Military truck rolled into the camp. Several patrolling Shield Guards stepped forward for inspection. After Frostnova explained their arrival, they gave Felix—clearly an outsider from Laterano—a few curious looks, curled their lips, and left quickly, no doubt to inform the camp's commander.

Frostnova and her Yeti Squad members followed close behind, assisting with introductions and explanations.

Patriot and Frostnova each led different units. Patriot commanded the Shield Guard, the camp's most formidable combat force. Frostnova led the Yeti Squad, a smaller, more versatile team specializing in scouting, hunting, and stealth. Patriot had no direct authority over the Yetis, but their members all knew the two leaders were father and daughter—and none would disobey his orders.

Even so, Patriot clearly intended to cultivate his daughter's independence. Since Frostnova had formed the Yeti Squad, he had never interfered with their missions.

Inside the truck, Felix and Carnelian sat quietly while Avdotya fidgeted nervously.

Her fear was understandable. She had never experienced anything like this before. A quiet young woman with a love for literature, she found it hard to be surrounded by armed infected—perhaps not out of prejudice, but from the sheer unease of their imposing presence.

Felix glanced at Carnelian, who caught his meaning instantly. She took Avdotya's hand and reassured her gently, promising that she and Felix would keep her safe.

"If it's just conversation, you won't catch the infection," Felix added. "Oripathy isn't that easy to contract. In the Ursus mines, the most common way is prolonged exposure to highly contaminated areas. The other two ways are through cuts or punctures from Originium, and through direct blood contact."

He noticed figures approaching from the distance. Smiling at Avdotya, he said, "Don't worry. I'm here to protect you. You're our guide, after all."

With that, Felix stepped down from the Military truck and faced the approaching group.

Avdotya quickly moved to follow Felix, her fingers curling tightly around her sleeves. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but the sense of security his words gave her was something she had never experienced before.

Then Felix saw what could only be described as a moving mountain.

It wasn't exaggeration. Even in a game, level suppression, bloodline advantages, and sheer stat disparity could make certain bosses feel insurmountable—and this one was exactly that.

The newcomer was encased in heavy protective armor. His head was not human, but a horned helm with eyes glowing a deep, ominous red. A massive shield rested in one hand, a giant halberd in the other. His presence parted the crowd like a force of nature.

Patriot. Among players who had joined Reunion, the nickname "Big Daddy" had stuck. The first impression he gave was immovable strength, like a mountain. The second was the ferocity of his battle style—like an unstoppable torrent.

No player had ever defeated him. Even at the end of version 3.0, everyone knew the truth: if Patriot had lived into version 6.0, even the strongest then might not have been able to match him.

"Hello," Felix began. "My codename is Pioneer."

He knew Patriot was a man of few words—possibly because Oripathy had damaged his throat—so Felix took the initiative to control the conversation.

"As you can see, I'm a Sankta who travels this land of Terra. My goal is to help people wherever I go, solving the problems they face."

"Of course, I also serve as a messenger in these parts. This time, I came to Ursus on assignment, but on my way out I was caught in a blizzard and lost my way in the far north."

"…"

Patriot was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice deep and unyielding, like stone striking metal. "Your way of speaking is familiar."

"Do you know Lady Kal'tsit?"

Felix smiled. As someone who had witnessed Patriot's final moments in his previous life, he knew the man and Kal'tsit went way back. Clearly, Patriot was picking up on something—Felix's manner reminded him too much of the Riddler.

Though Felix no longer considered himself one, perhaps the word "Terra" still carried that lingering aura.

"I've been to Kazdel and met Lady Kal'tsit once. We had a great discussion about traveling the land. She often shared words of wisdom, and I learned a lot from her."

Patriot said nothing more, only studying Felix.

Frostnova glanced at her father nervously. If he turned them away now, what then? She and her team owed the Pioneer a debt—wouldn't it be shameful to repay him with rejection?

"Sankta. Outsider." Patriot's voice rasped, each word heavy. He stepped aside. "Frostnova will ensure your safety."

With that, he turned and walked off, shield in one hand, giant halberd in the other.

The Shield Guards behind him exchanged curious glances with Felix, some sneaking a look at Frostnova, before falling back into formation.

Felix scratched his head. "Uh… so what exactly did your father mean?"

Why did everything with Patriot sound so cryptic? "Responsible for your safety"—was that an acceptance? A guarded welcome? If so… where was the actual welcome?

"Literally," Frostnova replied. "Your safety in the camp is my responsibility."

Hands on her hips, she spoke evenly, her gaze flicking toward Carnelian and Avdotya as they climbed out of the Military truck. Then she turned and gestured ahead. "I'll arrange accommodations for you. But let me be upfront—we don't have much food or supplies to spare for guests."

"Don't worry," Felix said. "Everyone's life is hard. I'm not picky."

The four of them followed a cleared path through the camp. A group of infected children darted past, laughing as they disappeared around a corner. Felix's eyes lingered on them until they vanished from sight.

"They're mostly survivors from the mines," Frostnova explained. "Abandoned when they were still young, left without any protective gear. For them, death was the only future. Our Yeti Squad makes regular trips to rescue any infected with a chance of survival."

"I admire that," Felix said, nodding. "Standing together is a righteous act."

Frostnova turned her head away, her voice nearly lost to the cold wind. "I'm one of them…"

Felix caught her words. "That's exactly why you deserve praise. In the northern infected settlements of Ursus, I've seen far too many people whose condition only brought out the worst in them. There's a saying: 'Sweep only the snow before your own door, and don't worry about frost on your neighbor's roof.' It means not to meddle in others' business."

"But sometimes," he added with a faint smile, "you need to meddle. You were saved once, and now you're the one saving others. I'm sure many of these children will grow up wanting to do the same because of you."

Frostnova's gaze slid toward him. In her peripheral vision, she caught the light-haired Sankta smiling warmly, speaking gently. His golden eyes rested on her, yet it seemed he was looking at something far beyond.

"You have… many ways of talking," she murmured, turning her head away.

Felix only smiled. He still remembered the night Oak Grove County burned—the relief he felt seeing Mandragora alive after breaking into that house. Saving one person is saving a life; saving everyone isn't the only measure of success.

People said great power carried great responsibility, but he disagreed with the idea that saving only a few meant failure. If you save even one life, you've already earned more than enough.

The settlement's houses were built from local timber mixed with clay, sturdy and well-sealed against the cold. At night, the interiors went black, lit only by kerosene lamps. Firewood, at least, was plentiful—there was a small forest nearby that kept the stoves burning.

Felix, Carnelian, and Avdotya were given a small cabin. A three-bedroom inn was out of the question here, but Carnelian didn't mind, and Avdotya had shed her noble airs long ago. As for Felix, he was almost excited to live like the locals. He might not be infected, but there was something satisfying about sleeping in a wooden hut and experiencing the wilds firsthand.

He still remembered his summer camp days in his previous life—the cabins there had been wooden like this. Of course, they lacked the earthy scent and warmth of this one, but Felix still caught a faint taste of that past.

Avdotya had already started busying herself. Of the three, she had once been the one who could barely lift a hand or shoulder any load, but she had changed. She understood her situation—if she wanted to survive on this land, she had to master a skill. For now, she was tagging along with Felix and Carnelian as their guide, but she knew that role was only there because of Felix's kindness.

Anyone could be a guide. In fact, any eloquent Ursus could probably do it better than her.

And because she knew it was kindness, she refused to take advantage of it. She wanted to prove her worth—if only to herself.

Pride still lingered in her heart. Maybe it was the remnant of her noble upbringing, but Avdotya had long since scrubbed the word noble from her identity.

"Boss, what are we going to do after we settle in? Trade with them?"

Carnelian had noticed the difference between infected adventurers and ordinary infected. The adventurers were freer, rougher around the edges, yet united and loyal. The ordinary infected, however, were a mixed crowd—their solidarity more fragile than it looked.

And another thing: there were no old folks or children among the adventurers. Thinking about it, she realized that was natural—no elderly or little ones roamed the land as adventurers. How they had met their end was anyone's guess.

"It's about building good connections," Felix replied casually. He glanced at Avdotya working, then stepped forward, bent down, and began helping her.

"Felix, you planning to take Frostnova with you?" Carnelian's eyes lit up, then her lips curled. "You've already got a big family. You really want to add her? She's only a bit younger than you, right? You think your words alone can convince her?"

"Don't doubt your boss," Felix said with a soft snort. "And don't make it sound so bad—what do you mean kidnap?"

"I just want to influence her, to push her further," he said with a small smile. "So—do you think she'll come with me?"

Carnelian shook her head.

"Exactly," Felix said quietly. "Frostnova is a warrior—sharp, unyielding. She has her own goals, her own mission. It'd be a waste to keep someone like her close and not let her shine."

Carnelian thought for a moment. "If your company actually opens, maybe then?"

Felix smiled. "Honestly, you'd do well in management. Seems my instincts were right. Might be worth letting Senomi assist you in the future."

"What about Avdotya?"

The name made Avdotya jolt. Her wolf tail instinctively curled around Felix's leg, the one closest to her. Realizing what she'd done, she quickly pulled it away, cheeks heating. The reflex alone made it clear—she had already come to see Felix as her anchor.

"As for Avdotya…" Felix said, his voice light, "that depends on her."

She looked up and met his faint smile, his golden eyes carrying a warmth that reached her.