NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Despite lying on the ground, Snow White spit at me and cursed. "Go! Kill me, you fucker! I dare you! You're all the same players who would kill all of my brethren!"

The saliva scattered on my face, but I did not flinch or look away. My body knew that I needed to hear Snow White's statement. This death game had gone too far for the NPCs. However, I could not find any sympathy for them, except for Red Riding Hood.

Maybe she could show me the way and reach my heart.

"All the same? Okami, what is she talking about?" Ryoshi asked, clueless about Snow White's words.

Despite having "a plus" grades, Ryoshi could not follow the conversation. Even if he could, he would have an arduous time analysing the meaning behind those words.

As a man who lived in peace, my friend would not realise the weight of that statement. I, who heard Snow White's words, felt a chill spinning in my nerves.

"What happened to the other dwarves? What happened to the battle?" I asked.

Before arriving at this place, I read an article about the dwarves fighting against players. According to the journalist, their battle became grim, with the dwarves on the losing side.

Even before the soldiers arrived, those players attacked the dwarven race. If I had to put it in words, the adventurer's guild was the one who attacked them.

Nobody knew that dwarves could fight. These small people wanted to make weapons for players and NPCs to fight for them. And when the tables turned against them, the seven dwarves with their queen battled at the front lines.

However, those dwarves lost their fight. They bit more than they could chew.

"Killed…" Snow White answered, while looking away in disgust.

Lying to me right now would bring matters worse. So Snow White did the best option and stayed true to her goal.

"Who killed them?" I queried once more, hoping to squeeze any more answers.

Snow White cleared her throat and replied, "A man who called himself Robin Hood. He let the children and their families escape while that bastard slaughtered my team."

If I had to place the pieces of this puzzle, I could deduce that Snow White withdrew from the battlefield. The dwarves thought that if she was still alive, they could turn the tides in their favour.

Little did they know the soldiers of Asimov arrived after that wretched battle.

"And then I saw an army armed with mysterious weapons. I almost thought those were legendary cranes built at the hands of my father. However, it wasn't like that. Those weapons… hunted me down. And it led me here... It led me to you," Snow White continued, with her hands clenched in anger.

"What do you want to do now?" I asked, and met her gaze. "Do you want to fight and seek revenge against those soldiers… or do you want to protect the dwarves sheltered underground?" 

If Snow White answered the former, I would kill her without thinking twice. Those people who wanted revenge more than protecting their family deserve death with these hands. I would not care to stain my palm with blood for the sake of justice...It was the justice that I believed in until now that kept me moving onward.

But I would not kill Snow Whtie if she chooses the latter. A warm heart would mean that these NPCs value their humanity rather than becoming killing machines. I would reconsider my judgement and observe for more if they shattered my expectations.

Snow White and I had the same goal. We wanted to get rid of our enemies, since the players and soldiers became my opponents too. However, I had this overwhelming power. I wanted to use this power for good aside from getting my revenge.

"So, what is it? Do you want to take your revenge on these soldiers and players? Or do you want to come with me and protect those families stuck inside your kingdom? We don't have all day. Those soldiers won't wait for us and your answer." 

I kept the pressure rolling, knowing that time was the most valuable resource that we had. And I did not plan to lie, knowing that those bastard guards would come here soon. If I wanted to make a move, now was the right time.

The only thing that took my interest was this girl, Snow White. It was also the only reason why I wasted my time here, hearing her explanations.

"So what are you going to do?" I continued pressing her for some answers. 

However, it was a matter of time before that maddened dwarf answered my questions.

"I will seek vengeance!" 

Upon hearing the end word of her sentence, I jumped into action and pointed my blade over to her neck .But before anyone could react to my actions, Snow White continued where she left from her sentence.

'Too bad… you chose the wrong fate,' I thought, as I aimed for the kill.

"But… I would rather be inside my kingdom. If you could grant me that wish, Fenrir...or Wolf, I will be forever in your debt," Snow White concluded.

It was a good thing that my reaction time was still superb until now. If I had the sluggish analysation, my hands would have slipped and killed Snow White on the spot. However, because of her resolution, I retracted my blade and replaced it with a helping hand.

Even Ryoshi, my best friend, could not believe what happened.

"I thought you're going to kill her!" he cried, while chewing off his teeth.

A laugh escaped from my mouth as soon as I heard his comment. "I planned to. But Snow White here showed me some respect. I wouldn't even think twice if she didn't change her sentence."

My honesty sparked a bond between Snow White as the girl accepted my hand. I pulled her out from the ground and met her eyes.

"Are you… different from those humans?" Snow White asked, with a stern look on her face.

I returned her gaze and answered, "Of course. If I weren't, you would have said goodbye to your neck right now."

Snow White's hands caressed her neck as she heard my statement. Regardless of the place, my word would always be my bond. I had the responsibility to protect my sister, so that trait glued onto me like a leech. 

It fed me great friends and trustworthy people. If I became an irresponsible brother, Himari and I would have died in the streets before we could play this game.

"What's our plan, Okami? I am all ears. This life belongs to you," Snow White said, while kneeling on the ground.

I knew that NPCs, especially dwarves, were a handful of species. But never did I expect someone would kneel in front of me. Although I felt like a king standing on my throne, it did not feel right.

I could hear faint laughs of Ryoshi watching us from afar, judging me with his hideous look. As I turned my head towards him, Ryoshi covered his mouth and bursted into tears.

"W-Where are we going, K-King Okami! BWAHAHA!" Ryoshi exclaimed, as he went ahead. 

However, I did not let him. There was no way that I would let this event slide! I took his insults seriously and smacked Ryoshi in the face. A blaring sound reverberated through the forest as soon as my fist came into contact with his skull.

I could only pray that the soldiers heard nothing even after what happened. It would be a drag if they found we were hiding around the woodlands. 

"Pay him no mind. He's an idiot. You will only get dumber if you associate with him," I warned Snow White about the consequences of spending time with Ryoshi. 

"I am in pain. But that doesn't mean I approve of the things you have said! I'm the smarter guy here!" Ryoshi retorted.

"Yes, Okami. I will not talk to Ryoshi. I swear in my dwarven's name!" Snow White enthusiastically replied, as she stood from the ground. "So we are going towards the rabbit hole?"

"Yes," I answered. "It's the other entrance of the dwarven kingdom. If I remember the layout correctly, nobody knows this passage but me?"

"You are correct, Okami."

After our exchange, Snow Whtie handed out a map of the dwarven mines. The map contained all the terrains we needed to know before arriving at the place. I also had a powerful map linked in my system. However, it did not have any details unlike this one.

"Good job, Snow Whtie! With this, I think we could arrive faster on that pit!" I shouted, and tossed the map upwards.

"Okami, What are you doing?!" Snow White screamed, with her hands raising upwards.

"Come on, Snow White! Is this the first time you saw a map transforming into a vehicle?" I asked, whilst revealing a smirk on my face.

"...And they completely forgot about me," Ryoshi murmured to himself while all of this happened.