NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

"It's not like I want to help you. But I have to, since you are the only hope that the dwarven race could rely on," Draven added, while handing me a scroll. "I hate to admit it, but you're the best bet we have."

Before I could even ask about the scroll's contents, my system gave me a notification. It told me it analysed a map coming from the rolled paper. Draven motioned me to open the pad, which I did, and witnessed something bizarre.

"This is…?"

The map on my right view changed… No. The word "change" was an understatement.

That entire map expanded its dimension, showing more terrains and landmarks. Draven followed my eyes and gazed at the right side of my view, where I could discern the map. He had a pleasurable look in his eyes, telling me he could see the image projected by my system.

Only players could access and perceive the system. Non-player characters could not have these powers, since the game developers did not design Code that way. Instead, NPCs would believe that these players had the protection of god in their souls.

But I was the living proof of it. And yet, how come this dwarf knew the system? How could he see the map and my system?

"You're wondering 'why can this dwarf see my system?', are you, Red?" the dwarf said, and flashed me a snicker. It had more sarcastic remarks than any other people I remembered.

"....." Not a word fled from my mouth after hearing his reply. It was as if Draven read me like a book with no cover. He was a sharp dwarf...

"I will take that silence as a yes, coming from you, Red," the dwarf continued, and nudged his shoulder to mine.

After our exchange, Draven pointed his finger at my penitent's dagger. It was the weapon he mentioned before. I did not know why, but logical reasons were not enough to reason with this short man.

"I could hear that," Draven exclaimed, as if reading my thoughts. I shrugged my shoulders and let him borrow the treasured weapon I had.

"Be careful, dwarf. I could slit your throat at any time I want," I warned, and returned his grin. My words came not from a jest, but from my hidden desires.

"Are you really going to kill me in front of these children… in front of Match?" Draven interposed my train of thoughts, while raising his eyebrow. "If you have the guts, do it."

After hearing such an answer, I cleared my throat and snatched Match away from the shelter. Match, who was unaware of the scenes, floated thousands of question marks above her head. Although that girl was smart at solving puzzles, Match was not a sociable child. She would not dare talk to anyone besides me... or her deceased sister.

I brushed those grim thoughts aside and went to the exit. Staying inside this shelter would bring nothing but wasted time to our clock. If I wanted that ship, I would have to take Snow White back to this place.

It would take me one step to exit this place. However, before Match and I could go look for Snow White, there was some information I needed to gather.

"What does this Snow White look like? I only heard about her from fairy tales," I confessed.

Draven pondered for a while and finally gave me an answer. "She has white and long hair, a sword, and plate armour. The finest armour that you could think of. If you see these features, that's, without a doubt, Snow White."

"What am I going to do if Snow White is already…"

"Then... I will make you a ship, just like I promised. There's no point in mourning for a dead person, anyway," Draven answered, and turned his back to me.

.....

Match and I walked around five miles from the shelter, but we still did not see any signs of Snow White or the six dwarfs. The map told us it was around this minefield. But as we progressed towards this place, all we could witness were corpses of both soldiers and dwarves.

It was the same before, but the field became more gruesome. The bloodstains never left the ground, smearing every nook and cranny with the crimson liquid. It almost looked like an artist painted the land with the sea of blood coming from every creature.

This war only happened around a month ago. However, the damage done exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Did the soldiers do this?" Match asked, as she moved beside me. The girl fiddled her hands as we passed by the mountain of corpses.

I shook my head and replied, "No… the players attacked the dwarven kingdom. If the soldiers could already enter inside, they would not waste time wandering in the forest. This place has more protective barriers than Nirvana."

"And here I thought the elves built Nirvana as an exclusive haven. The players who played this game had more information than any soldiers," I added, and continued walking onward.

It was what I had mentioned. If the soldiers knew this place, they would not sprawl around the forest. They could have entered the dwarven kingdom without batting an eye to the library or me. Those soldiers could also effortlessly answer the riddles. It could make sense if they arrive around this time. But they didn't.

Instead, the soldiers took their sweet time and continued roaming above the surface. Since we were in an underground kingdom, those soldiers could never guess we were below their feet.

But the question still rose from my brain. 'Why did the players kill the dwarfs? I thought they joined the alliance of the adventurer's guild?' My thoughts screamed.

The only reason I could think of was the player's greed. Those players may have thought that this place was still a game. They did not imagine that the NPCs had emotions.

Those scums only thought of us as dull two-dimensional characters created by the game developers. Thinking more about that made my heart boil with anger.

But those dreadful thoughts sank as my hands touched a warm feeling. There were no heaters or machines that could do that to me right now. As I turned my head to my side, Match clipped her hand around mine.

"You look like you're worried about something…," Match murmured, while returning my gaze.

My lips curved upwards upon hearing Match's concerns. Despite seeing her conjure spells and discharging massive amounts of arcane, she was still a kid deep inside her heart. No matter how much time passed by, Match was still the little girl I found near the forest.

We continued proceeding to the trail and located an exit, just like the map had told us. Beyond this point was the place where the dwarves last parted ways with Snow White. It had been half a month since her last disappearance. According to Draven, Snow White's body might have disappeared by now.

However, that man could not let his chances slip from his hands. Draven was still clinging to the hope he once lost after all these days. When he finally saw me, it was as if Draven saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

"We just need to confirm Snow White's status. If she were still alive, we would bring her in. If she had already died, we…" I could not bring myself from completing my sentence, considering the weight of those words.

"Let's just get this over with, Match," I exclaimed, and pushed the gate forward.

As soon as the door opened, the brilliant light changed. A staircase of some sort welcomed my eyes, inviting the two of us over to the other side.

As Match and I stepped foot near the series of steps, the door shut tight behind us. Although the door did not have a one-way mechanism, it only told us to continue forward even if we felt frightened by our choices.

This motivation became a double-edged sword. I could almost taste the bittersweet scent of our sweat right now.

"Are you ready, Match?" I asked.

"Mmm!" Match answered.

We went to the stairs with our hands still intertwined. The torches at the side were the only luminance that the staircase provided, giving us hope as we reached the surface. I could only guess it would take us around fifteen minutes to set foot on the apex floor. If worst comes to shove, Match and I would sleep on these steps and rest for the time being.

And that was what we did.

Around two hours, our legs gave out and refused to heed our commands. Humans could not climb more hours than this from what I remembered. And even if they could, those people were stronger than monsters!

Match and I were fortunate enough to preserve a blanket given by Olivia. Since she was a merchant, it was no wonder she had a spare in her bag.

We rested for a few minutes before resuming our journey.