NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Our stomping feet were the only blaring noise that resonated inside the dungeon. I did not feel tired since I had more strenuous activities worth mentioning back in my old days than taking these extended stairs.

But the distance was not something I could scoff at, given the time spent underground. It was an amazing feat that oxygen still travelled through this bottomless pit.

"Are we there yet?" A grunt escaped from my mouth.

"Quit your yapping, player! We'll arrive if we arrive!" the elf shouted and gave me her answer.

If I was in a situation dating an elf girl, the ranger's attitude would become priceless. However, the elf was guarding me towards my inevitable doom. She was like a demon, pointing me towards the stairs of hell.

We had been going down the stairs for thirty minutes and still saw no signs of anything changing from the wall. The dirty brown panels kept greeting my eyes as if the basement went beyond finite.

After one damn hour of trekking the series of steps, we finally hit the ground.

"Do you hear that?" I asked, and tried looking around.

But the female guard grabbed my head to look only forward. She did not want me to wander around. The elf grunted and shoved me forward.

"That sound is nothing," she answered.

We continued marching forward to the dark prison. The only light that shone on our roads was the flickering lantern that had almost run out of juice. At my sides, there were dozens of players curling up like fetuses, mumbling to themselves. Others who were not players glared at our walking figures and passed them by.

This place was indeed a dungeon for criminals of war. These elves included players in their prison, and that was the place we planned to go right now.

"This is a lovely place! It's quiet, the interior designs are wonderful for my eyes, and the food must be delicious, right?" I tried breaking the silence, but the elves wouldn't budge.

Those long-eared elves glued their faces with serious tissues that never changed their expressions. They were like robots, but alive with a beating heart!

"Okay. You guys don't want to talk," I grumbled, and got tossed towards the front.

A smacking sound echoed in our surroundings as my head hit the ground flat. My face kissed the soil, but I got up and looked back at the rangers.

"You wouldn't mind if I eat first, do you?" I begged for food, since I forgot to grab something along the way.

The gurgling sounds of my abdomen created some noise in our conversation. But the elves did not care about my present condition.

"Stay here for six hours. We'll kill you by that time," the elf announced while glaring into my eyes. The girl wished for me to die. I knew it since I had those eyes when I leered at the boss, who swindled us with the last dividend I had. "Try not to die until we come back here, okay?"

The three wardens took off and went back to the surface, leaving me behind here inside the jail. All I could think about was the juicy steak I forgot to eat before going here inside Code. It had been hours since I last ate. But I was still fortunate enough that Code wouldn't kill anyone for hunger. Even if I did not eat for four days, I would still be alive here in this world.

However, that situation differed from my actual body on Earth. My vessel needed something to survive. I could only hope that Himari and Ryoshi's parents would place me in an intravenous so my body could take the nutrients it needed to live.

"Hey! Are you new here?" A sudden voice of a man echoed inside the bars. It made my body jolted out of fear and retreated to the corner.

I hurriedly looked behind my back and equipped myself with the beginner's blade. But because the elves tied my hands up, I could not wield my weapon.

"I tried equipping my bow, but this lock wouldn't let me grip my weapon. It's okay. We'll be safe here for now," the man continued, and walked in my direction.

His figure materialised from the shadow, revealing its recognisable outfit of a hunter. The man did not bother changing his face to make it more unique. Instead, the guy just plainly mimicked his facial features and used them here in the game.

"You know I have been looking for you, Ryoshi." Upon hearing his name, Ryoshi stepped back and became wary of my existence.

"Why do you know me? Are you one of them that's here to get rid of me?" Ryoshi exclaimed.

The man tried reading my history through his system, but failed to do so. I knew that trick since I was the one who taught him that! I even explained that information to Red.

"I told you to wait for me before playing this game, dammit!" I smacked his head, using my bare hands. A thumping sound reverberated through the walls.

"Okami? Is that you?" Ryoshi asked with glittering eyes. It was as if he had found the lost hope from afar. "I knew you'd come and find me!"

Another flying fist hit his head. That hand came from mine. "Yeah! And look where we are right now! I swear if we go back to the surface, I will break your games."

"Not my babies! Those are my precious gems!" A squeal fled from his lips as Ryoshi pleaded for my consideration.

"You! What happened to you? Why did the elves take you inside their prisoner? Shouldn't you be inside the Mainland? Or the kingdom of Freiy?" I asked, and changed the subject.

Ryoshi did not become amused after shifting to a different topic, especially when it involved his precious games. But our lives were more important right now, given that Code became a death game.

"I did, and I-," Ryoshi said, but he paused for a second, thinking something before continuing his sentence. He looked me in the eye and resumed his statement. "I killed a little girl. It was a mistake. I was new to this game, and I didn't know my arrow would hit her. I wanted to help, but I guess I shouldn't play the hero if I can't, right?"

"After killing the girl, I ran as far as I could and stumbled upon a viaduct. I reached the mountain's bottom and saw a long-eared elf walking through the cave. I thought she had gone mad, but the elf went through the cavern. I followed her tracks and ended up here, captured by their kind. And then I realised that Code became a death game."

My eyes widened in shock after hearing his story. I knew something about that occurrence, but I wanted to be sure.

"Do you remember a girl wearing a red hood beside that little girl?" I leaned closer to his face and asked.

Ryoshi gave me a nod. "Yeah. I think she was the girl's big sister. Why'd you ask? Do you know them?"

I did not know what to say. 'Should I tell Ryoshi everything? About Red and Clementine?' I asked, but nobody gave me an answer.

"I might, but I think I might be mistaken. Well, for now, let's focus on escaping here alive." I lied, and took a sharp turn once again to drive the topic away.

There was no point in explaining to Ryoshi right now about how he killed Clementine and became the catalyst for Red's revenge. But I doubt even if Ryoshi did not kill Clementine, Red would stop her goal, killing the game developers of Code.

But that would mean that Red would have her eyes on Ryoshi, my best friend. If we ever meet again, Red would surely kill him on the spot. I, who needed her explanation, would defend my best friend from Red's assault.

I was sure that event would happen eventually, but I did not know when.

"Yeah, you're right. Escaping here should be our utmost priority." Ryoshi seconded my claim.

He stood and searched for something on the bars. Ryoshi's eyes wandered around the grey metallic rods that constricted us inside the dungeon. It felt like a real prison inside these walls We were also in an underground dungeon. If an earthquake occurs, we could die without a split second to react.

"What's our plan, especially when we have this tied on our hands?" Ryoshi expressed, and presented his hands coiled together.

He had a point, but I knew how to destroy it.

"I can unfasten that lock and break free from this place. But the question is, are the elves waiting for us upstairs," I expressed. "I can't handle them with this smurf account. Maybe with Fenrir, but I can't access anything right now."

I revealed the dagger in my hands and showed it to Ryoshi. "All I have is this beginner's blade. It isn't dull, unlike a knife.. But against those arrows, we would die before we could even escape Nirvana."