NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

"Our clan… or kingdom has had eyes for Alice for a very long time now. The dragonewts… My people continuously study the whereabouts of Alice… and all of her doings. These doings include the good and the bad part of Alice's works. We also tackle the history of Wonderland and how she became like that evil person who controls puppets. It has a deep connection with our species. 'That serves as roots for our empire,' that's what my father told me. I don't know why it was like that. And my father knows a lot about Alice and Wonderland. But he never told me about his plans or the results."

Olivia lifted her head and met my gaze. That merchant girl was confident in the words she spoke. "It is your choice to believe whatever you think is right. But I know that listening to you will save not just this village, but my kingdom. Those were the words that my father mentioned to me when I first left my kingdom. He told me you won't abandon us… NPCs."

"Hmm… I see." I stood up from the chair and walked around the room, hoping to gather all the information Olivia had told me. Although I struggled to believe a stranger, who knows Alice, plans to help me, I had no other choice but to accept this advantage. "What you've said was not enough to convince me… However, we need a pair of hands for the dark elves and against the soldiers."

Although those words I stated were nowhere near the truth, it was what I believed. My sister, Himari, would have told me the same if she was here, listening to this conversation. Himari would have urged me to save these people… despite these creatures being non-player characters that move when the system tells them to act.

"If you plan on communicating with your father or any dragonewts from your kingdom, tell me the details. If I am not available, tell it to Kouran." I added, and opened the door.

"Who's Kouran?" Olivia asked, while tailing behind me.

"Don't worry. Kouran is a dark elf that would cater to you and the villagers of this place. Kouran would be there to escort all of you to the cave. A great war against players and NPCs will happen. But for now, lie low, and listen to whatever Kouran would say. I have a different goal in mind."

But before getting out of the shack, Olivia stopped me from going outside. "Does that plan include talking with Red and Match? I think you've mentioned them before."

With Olivia's words, my eyes widened while giving her my reply. "Yes. We're looking for the two. And I'm afraid they're both going to Wonderland… whether they schemed on helping Alice escape or taking the obelisk, going to that place only spelt doom."

"Obelisk?" Olivia asked, but I did not give her my answer.

She needed not to know about the obelisk and the completion of the game. Olivia had something more to focus on than collecting those obelisks. It was Ryoshi and my job to do that, not hers.

I summoned my windows and slid towards the mail, trying to chat with Kouran and the dark elves. After a few seconds, the messaging application produced a high-pitch sound, telling me that the notification had arrived at Kouran.

Within a minute, I received a reply. Kouran gave me instructions to plan for the villagers to enter the cave.

I turned around towards Olivia and gave her the announcement. "I've sent a message to Kouran. She will come to fetch you by now. Kouran also told me you need to fight against the soldiers while the rest of the elves escort them to the cave. Did I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Olivia answered.

After five minutes of waiting, the bushes and the leaves in the forest rumbled. Five figures emerged from the shadows, with Kouran standing in front of us. Olivia panicked for a second. But after seeing me with a calm expression, she placed her body at ease and listened to the scene.

"Not bad, Wolf. You've found a village in the middle of this jungle. I would make these people of good use for the upcoming war. You can count on me for that."

"Just take them away from my sight. And please don't abuse any of these villagers. They might hate you for it."

"Fuck off." Kouran snarled, and went to Olivia.

Olivia and Kouran talked about the plot and agreed. After their exchange, the villagers followed close to Oliva and trusted everything she said to them. Once Olivia and Kouran finished their talk, Olivia went to me and told me about the road that Red and Match went. She told me that the pair went to the dwarven village. They needed a boat before taking their voyage to Wonderland.

"If you plan to reach Wonderland, Ryoshi and you need to take a boat from the dwarves," Olivia exclaimed.

I gave her a nod and went on our way.

"This is where we part ways once again, Kouran. And Olivia, thank you for taking my side and giving me that information. I appreciate it."

"Just don't get yourself killed. We will meet once we've gathered enough forces to fight against these players. But for now, you need to lie low about the situation. There are thousands of soldiers guarding the forest. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for everything, Ryoshi and Wolf." Kouran said, and lowered her head.

I returned her gestures and replied, "Of course, Kouran. I didn't name myself Fenrir for anything. And besides, the dwarves are in the neutral zone. So there's a chance that the soldiers won't attack them… I think."

"We could always hope for the best," Kouran added.

"I know our meeting was short. But you should know this, my lovely girl. I shall return for you and live a blissful life with you."

"What has gone into your… comrade, Wolf?" Kouran asked, with all the dark elves and villagers staring in our direction."

I snatched Ryoshi away from Olivia and went straight towards the forest. I never knew that Ryoshi had a thing with Olivia. There was no helping it, since that merchant girl had some curving features that would strike any men faltering to the ground.

However, playtime was over. And we needed to catch up with Red and Match before those two retrieve the obelisks. Ryoshi and I also must learn more about the completion of the game. If that includes saving both NPCs and the players, that would be fine for me.

We should all do these things to end this war without shedding an ounce of blood on the ground.

"Goodbye, you two. I hope we meet again."

"You too, Wolf. Take care of Red for me. She also helped the village." Olivia said, as she waved her hands goodbye.

Kouran just flashed me a smirk as she saw Ryoshi and I took off towards the forest. And I had to drag Ryoshi around, for the time being, refusing to leave the forest.

"I finally fell in love with that woman! Okami, why are you so mean!"

"Shut the hell up, Ryoshi. I'm wondering how on earth you are intelligent and at the same time stupid!"

...….

Ryoshi had finally taken the silent route and followed my lead. However, leaving the village in the hands of Kouran left a scar on his face. All those tears that Ryoshi wept got stuck on his face. It almost made him a miserable man, sober from drinking all the alcohol inside a bar.

We traversed through the sea of trees once again and took a brief break on the stones. Although Olivia told us that Red and Match went in this direction, we had no leads on finding the two.

"We will rest here tonight. In the meantime, why don't you make yourself useful and cut down those trees for logs? We also need some twigs and pinecones to start the fire running."

"What are you going to do then?" Ryoshi asked, while kicking the pebbles on the ground.

"Me? I am going to hunt some rabbits, boars, and other monsters lingering in the forest. We can switch places if you want to. Do you want to fight them all at once? I'm sensing ten ogres in the forest and one demonic beast," I exclaimed.

Ryoshi shook his head and motioned his hands for me to get out of his sight. After carving my mouth with a snicker, I went to the forest and located the anomalies roaming around our vicinity.

It was what my system had mentioned. There were ten ogres and one demonic boar fighting against each other. If those two planned on taking down the other, the monster's blood would attract more beasts in this area.

"Why do I have to take care of this rubbish," I heaved out a sigh, and monitored them on the elevated bough.