NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

I did not expect to get fooled by our environment. The world did not make any sound, so I thought that nobody was in our vicinity. But I thought wrong after witnessing this figure attacking us with no warnings at all!

"Who are you?" I asked. Even in these grey surroundings, I could not picture the person in front of me. "And what do you want with us?"

"Die, players! I will kill you!" the feminine voice shouted, as she pushed my dagger away from me.

Although I did not need any weapons with this class, having a dagger saved me from using my [first form]. However, my [first form] would not guarantee my victory, especially after fighting those soldiers from before. I knew that ability was a window for me to escape or end the fight.

But with this girl ambushing our rest, the situation changed. There was no opening for us to escape. And even if we did, Ryoshi and I would barely get out of this forest with all the soldiers wandering nearby.

We had no choice but to bust our way through with this shadowy figure.

"Sometimes, we could just talk and avoid fighting, you know?" I jested, buying something to wake up my idiotic friend. "We don't have to fight now, do we? We barely even met each other."

This mysterious enemy knew what she was doing, targeting someone vulnerable while fighting against me. I could not do two things at the same time, which include fighting while defending my friend. All I had to do was to stall time for Ryoshi to wake up.

During our clash, I swept my kick and hit Ryoshi's head. Upon contract, a blaring blast reverberated through the forest, waking not only Ryoshi but the entire woodland. Ryoshi's shriek followed the cracking sound as he expressed his painful experience from my kick.

But before he could even curse me, that guy slid himself onward and readied his bow. I couldn't believe Ryoshi even prepared himself to fight back when someone would attack him in his sleep. He was more than ready to strike back with that bow and arrow clipped in his hand as we faced the abrupt target.

As the moonlight finally shined the eerie opponent, a figure of a woman dressed in blue gown style like in a renaissance attire. However, despite this long dress, the gown's sleeves got cut off. These cut edges allowed the girl to swing from her dress, making it more effortless to move around.

"Woah… Hold my beer, Okami. That ain't a soldier. That girl is Snow White!" Ryoshi exclaimed, with his forefinger pointing at the girl.

"Snow Who?" I asked Ryoshi.

His eyes had stars glittering more than the night sky. It looked like a saviour appeared in our fore than a person who wanted to kill us during his sleep. I could even witness a tail emerging from Ryoshi's back, wagging as a dog would do.

"Dude! Do you not know who Snow White is?!" Ryoshi asked, while punching me on the shoulders.

I punched him back and replied. "No. And I barely passed my literature subject. I don't know who the fuck is Snow White or any other fairy tale you've been telling me."

"What a loser."

After our exchange, Snow White, whom I assumed was the girl in front of me, raised her eyebrow. Judging by her movements, I knew she wanted to attack. However, that warrior girl did not. Instead, she sheathed her sword inside her scabbard and heaved out a disgusted sigh.

"You lots know no bounds for stupidity," the woman snarled, while planning to walk away. "Get out of my sight before I stick this sword between your necks."

"Ah, yes. My friend here is an idiot," I exclaimed.

"No. You are the idiot that I'm talking about," the warrior girl interposed. "That friend of yours knew me instantly. You don't even know who I am."

"Why would I care about you? You should care about me! I am Fenrir! Although it may not look like it, I am using my smurf account. Non-player characters should know that term by now."

The girl nodded at my statement. "Indeed. And you're Fenrir? I remembered him for being an overpowered person who could crater out of nothing but a stick. I could never believe that a wimp like you could slaughter his name."

I knew that line would come and bite my wit's end. However, I did not give in to Snow White's provocations.

"Since it has come to this, do you want to test our expertise in fighting, Snow White?" I asked.

There was no point in communicating with a dwarf, especially a blacksmith. If I would study that girl's clothes, she was not an ordinary dwarf found in the common mines. Snow White was someone popular among the dwarves I recognised.

But the cat got my tongue, as I already forgot the identity of that woman. From all the opponents I faced, none of them rang a bell inside of me. Well, except for Alice. She was the major threat to the entire game and the community.

"Hmph. I've been walking around, fighting soldiers around the cave. If I don't fight now, my muscles might deteriorate," the girl exclaimed. "Fine. I accept your challenge. My name is Snow White, the leader of the seven dwarves and the ruler of the Dwarven Kingdom. I hope you don't bore me with such dull words, Fenrir."

Snow White had the height of a normal person despite claiming herself to be a dwarf. The only feature that made her look like one of her kind was the dress she wore and the rough hands she had.

People in Code knew dwarves as blacksmiths, since most of them build weapons and armours. Those smithies forge swords, shields, and arrows for players and NPCs. That job made their hands as rough as sandpaper.

"Oh, of course, your majesty. But I now go with the name 'Wolf.' Please remember that with your tiny brain of yours, Snow White," I retorted, with a snicker painted on my face.

"For an adventurer, you sure love talking."

After our exchange, Snow White charged straight in my direction. She already took out her dagger beforehand and attempted to slit my throat. When Snow White claimed she planned to kill me, that girl was not kidding around. With the edge of the blade pointing at my neck, Snow White made her move.

However, despite her actions, I dodged the attack and went to the side. But Snow White was no slouch and followed my figure. Even after striking her blade with full force, Snow White manoeuvred her body like water flowing in the river.

The only thing that felt lacking from her body was elegance. Despite the hasty blitz, Snow White moved like a crazy person. She did not care about strategies. All that girl thought of was going for the kill.

"Should I help?" Ryoshi shouted, as he continued watching the battle from afar.

That man knew I could stand on my own. But my opponent showed some skills during our clash.

"What do you think, Snow White? Should I ask my buddy if he could help me?" I taunted, provoking the dwarf girl for more. "This fight would end quickly if I did."

"Shut your crap, Fenrir! You're not even attacking me! I'd bet my entire weapons that you can't attack me with your current level! You're nothing but a fake!"

I heard countless trash talks across the world from different players when I was still Fenrir. Upon hearing Snow White's words, my heartfelt nothing but pity for my opponent. When Robin Hood tried to kill me with his men, I escaped using my [first form]. That spell did not even have its full potential.

I did not even have Fenrir, my pet dog, during that battle.

If I have to compare Snow White against those thousand men, I will choose the latter. This fight did not break a sweat, since she was just one person compared to an army.

"I don't even have to use my [first form], Snow White. That's how easy it is for me to beat you."

After saying my fill, I found an opening and parried her sword. I twirled my blade and disrupted the balance of Snow White, making her tumble to the ground. Despite her descent, Snow White desperately stood up.

However, I set the match and pointed my blade in front of Snow White's head.

"You outlevelled me, Snow White. You even have decent armour and an enchanted dagger. Do you think I would not notice that? And yet, here you are, defeated by the 'fake' that you believed," I growled, and pressed my foot on Snow White's chest. "Have you caught your senses? I am the real deal. When I told you I'm Fenrir, you should've believed me."

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!"