NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Chapter 37 - Red Versus Wolf (Okami)

I crept closer to the gates and waited for a few moments to gather my courage. Sweat filled the follicles in my hair, but I paid no concern to them right now. With a deep inhale, I had the energy to push the door open. The stone keeping the two ingresses together nudged apart, welcoming me to enter inside.

'I have to be ready to kill someone inside.' The thought never escaped my head as I entered the room.

I stepped my foot into the divine hall, painted with viridescent colour. A gust of wind blew from the insides despite the windowless room. It almost tickled my skin. But with a feral wiggle, the sensation had worn out.

"This place is huge," I mumbled, and continued moving onward.

I never knew what was inside a royal room. All I perceived was this was a restricted room that only the imperial people could enter and get outside unscathed. There was not a chance for me to experience a lavish life, let alone a vast room.

The divine energy kicked in like a stream of water. I did not know what was touching my skin. It made me think that the room meant not for me, but royalties with prominent lineages. Although I technically saved Queen Guinevere and her daughter from the crash, I was still a visitor inside Nirvana.

The surging arcane of various elements entered my veins, with my system identifying all of it.

However, I had no affinity with the elves, so the boost of wind arcane did not add to my core. If I had magic, I would like to see that happen. I finally knew what coated inside this room.

It came from the emerald obelisk nearby. But I had seen nothing within this chamber that would resemble the gemstone.

My system announced that I had entered the Elven Throne, with La Finta's name written on the sides. The map extended into a vast shape as my system charted everything my eyes followed, including the next door. A hinge caught my eyes resting on the greenery floor, but I knew nothing about the place hidden below ground. It also served as the passage through the basement, but my system never described it on my map.

That hinge differed from the next gate at the panel.

"It must be another layer of the castle," I murmured, and carried on with my expedition.

My eyes expanded and met the leaf-shaped throne settled in the middle. It had a green hue covering its exterior designs, paired with intricate lines of the leave's lamina. The lily pads nestled beside the chair enhanced the decor of the chamber. It had a fresh scent of nature and leaves that continued to dance in the breeze.

My feet became wet as I crept closer and stepped at the lily pads. However, the liquid was not deep enough to drown me underwater. It only tricked my mind, thinking that I was voyaging near a lake.

It almost made me hallucinate I was inside the forest, outside Nirvana. But as soon as I blinked, I knew I was inside the royal throne.

My orbs followed the figure, moving at the door to the furthest panel. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at the shape. It was La Finta, who had other plans despite the happenings outside. The two prominent figures went separate ways, but La Finta entered here among any other spaces. She was alone, and that was the only thing I knew.

However, that was not the case, for now, as the door behind her shunned me inside the throne.

"How convenient," I grumbled, and headed forward.

I passed by the leafy throne and was remotely close to the door. But something stopped me from entering the other room. It was not an unknown force that made my body motionless.

My eyes caught sight of the vermillion dot stationed near me. I looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. I did not want to brush the thought aside, since neglecting this situation might kill me afterwards.

"I did not think I would see you here." The red dot zoomed straight behind me.

The voice came from a man whom I remember.

A blaring sound shut the door close, leaving the scarlet mark and me alone inside this room. There was no noise from the other door, so I thought La Finta had taken her time from the parallel side.

"You. How are you here?" I gyrated around and saw him staring into my eyes.

He was the bigbadwolf that I met before, the player who guarded the royalties with his life but ended up protecting us inside the carriage.

"I know what you're thinking," the player blurted. "I go by the name Wolf, not bigbadwolf. And yes, we met last time. Although, you were very unwelcoming to me."

"I don't care."

The adventurer named Wolf saw right through me despite my [shadow walk] being in an active state. Nobody should suspect me here inside or even notice my figure, unless there was something that I had missed.

"You might wonder how on Earth, or Code, I caught you red-handed there. You see, we are both assassins, and I have technically the same skill as you have. Wonderful, isn't it?" Wolf voiced his thoughts while preparing his blades.

His hands fiddled inside his pocket. I knew Wolf was reaching out for something. I must be cautious about this player.

"You are a talkative one, are you?"

"I don't know. Maybe I am just stalling for time."

Upon his answer, Wolf slipped through my sight and appeared inside my shadows. It was a skill that I had recognised since I can use the same ability as Wolf did. Little did I know the player spoke the truth.

My right eye burned and glowed in front of me. The sensation was akin to my face drawing near to the coursing flames. A dozen drops of sweat cascaded down my cheeks, melting me away with this awful increase in temperature.

The bright radiance shone at Wolf rushing towards me. Upon glancing behind the figure, my reflection greeted me, and my right eye turned into a milky ray of light.

This occurrence happened twice already since the day I first fought against this player. My system told me it had full control over my body. I knew it was the case since I cannot fight against anyone on my own. I had no experience battling with people. Despite my lack of skill, the automated voice inside my head kept steering my body in times of need.

I could read his movements, but I did not have the reflexes to dodge them in time. Although my body jerked at the sides, his leg kicked me backwards. An instinctive cough escaped from my lungs, followed by droplets of saliva dripping from my lips.

The pain radiated through my abdomen as if stretching my muscles into a coil. I stood up and shook the pain. There was no time for me to grimace the sensation.

"Who is Clementine? And why did you kill King Arthur? Were you the one who placed the mission to kill Arthur?" Wolf asked, but I did not listen.

It was time for me to attack.

I raced towards the man and readied my dagger. My penitence's blade stretched out for him, but I could not reach the player. The tip never landed on his skin. Instead, Wolf used his arms and pushed me back to the sides. I tumbled over and slammed my back against the wall.

My [shadow walk] lost its effects after the hit.

"Why are you doing this?" Wolf said, but shook his head and corrected himself. "No. The question is, who told you to do this? An NPC should not have the wits to think for herself. Why are you different?"

I hesitated to answer. Although I knew Wolf could relate to my past since he has a sister, we were two worlds apart. Wolf's sister was still alive, and mine became pixelated dust inside this game.

"You would never get it," I scowled. "You're a hindrance, so get out of my way!"

I returned Wolf's glare and observed his body. Before I could even launch an attack on him, a sudden static cracked my windows, rendering me confused and immobile. I jerked my hands and caressed my head. My body fell to the ground from the throbbing pain radiating on my skull.

Thousands of images addressed my eyes. The entire world changed in front of me. I was not in the forest room but a shabby house and tattered walls. Sliding my view, a person sat next to me. A girl sleeping on my shoulders soon welcomed my eyes.

I cannot move.

"It would be alright, Himari. I will think of something so you can eat." A voice echoed through my ears.

He had the voice of an angel, soothing every cell inside my body.. The sense of helplessness crawled inside of my brain, reliving the life of the character I'm seeing.