Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

"Felix, how does this dress look on me?"

Muelsyse had changed into a traditional black-and-red summer outfit from the Yan State—something Felix had bought during their time in Lungmen. She spun lightly in front of him, the loose fabric flowing with her movement.

She wore a breathable, short-sleeved black top embroidered with delicate auspicious cloud patterns. The bright red sash around her waist added a vivid contrast to the darker fabric, giving the ensemble a lively charm.

Felix couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow… It's strange seeing you in different clothes. I've only ever seen you in that Rhine Lab research uniform."

Muelsyse gave a helpless smile. "That's because my water clone can't actually change clothes. I have to mold its appearance based on whatever I'm wearing at the time. The research suit is just the easiest to maintain."

She tilted her head. "By the way, why haven't you changed? It's rare for us to go out like this… and we'll have to sneak out the back door soon. It'd be bad if Kristen saw us."

Felix remembered that Kristen had already slipped out earlier. His own change of clothes wasn't in the dormitory but in their hotel room. The two quietly exited through the back door of Rhine Lab's cargo delivery station. Muelsyse looked a little uneasy, like someone doing something naughty for the first time. This was one of the rare moments she could afford to slack off—and it excited her. Deep down, she felt like Felix was the bad influence leading her astray.

Back at the hotel, Felix noticed Senomi and Mandragora were still napping in their room. He walked over to the table and flipped through their homework, then called softly:

"Muelsyse."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Can you help me check their homework? I'm not sure if they did it right."

"Huh?"

Muelsyse blinked, surprised, and picked up the assignments Senomi and Mandragora had completed.

"This is Originium Arts homework?"

"Yeah. I don't really know how to handle Originium Arts... Sorry, but I'll have to rely on you."

"Heh… You're kind of like their brother." Muelsyse smiled, settling onto the living room sofa. "Go change your clothes first. I'll check their work... And I want to see you in that Yan summer outfit."

Felix left, still puzzled. Muelsyse smiled quietly to herself, then began reviewing the homework.

Senomi's assignments were mostly history, with a few math problems that required careful thinking. Mandragora's, by contrast, focused heavily on Originium—three entire assignments dedicated to Originium Arts alone.

Muelsyse had a close relationship with both girls and was familiar with their academic progress. Rather than marking their mistakes with red ink, she simply wrote the correct solutions next to the errors and left a cheerful emoticon at the end:

(●′ω`●)

Felix returned quickly, having changed. He noticed he had grown a little taller lately—not drastically, but enough to feel it. His body also looked more balanced and fit than before, a visible result of his consistent training.

Muelsyse had to admit—when Felix returned to the living room, she was momentarily taken aback by how handsome he looked. His light gray hair complemented both black and white clothing effortlessly. If he had a longsword at his waist, she might have mistaken him for a Yan State official.

Felix, for his part, had always wanted to carry a Katana or Jian. Though he often looked awkward using these sword, there was something striking about the way he climbed atop a dragon and brought his blade down—elegant, yet fierce.

Aside from the Ace of Spades and Dawn strapped at his waist, he carried no other weapons. At least there were no daily shootouts here in Columbia, but still, when outside, one had to be ready to protect not only themselves but their companions.

"Let's go," he said.

"Mm." Muelsyse nodded.

The streets of Trimount hadn't changed much. In a mobile city, environmental or architectural shifts were rare. What did change, however, were the people who came and went. Still, Felix noticed that many new businesses had opened along the main road—most of them tech companies.

"The military must be pretty happy right now," Felix commented. "Their orders are always the trickiest part. Being watched by the military is a double-edged sword. On one hand, they're generous and fund a lot. On the other, being under constant surveillance never feels good. Rhine Lab used to deal with a lot of that."

"That was back when Rhine Lab was still developing," Muelsyse replied, walking beside him, her gaze drifting upward. "Actually, nearly every tech company in Columbia—big or small—has ties to either the military or the Maylander Foundation."

"Hmm… I guess it won't be long before they unveil the next generation of military power armor."

Felix nodded. "With so many tech companies focusing on R&D, the upper echelons of the scientific community are still a mess—but even so, the surge in innovation has brought real vitality to Columbia and Terra's scientific landscape. That's a good sign."

Muelsyse gave a playful tug on his arm. "Alright, enough with the boring talk. We're out to have fun today. Let's find something to eat—I'm starving."

Felix didn't object. Muelsyse led him into a restaurant. After all, he still owed her plenty of meals.

Throughout lunch, Muelsyse kept the conversation flowing. Whether about lighthearted memories or troublesome matters, she chatted freely with Felix. He shared stories of things that had happened during her absence, and she filled him in on her recent research and developments at Rhine Lab.

Once the work talk tapered off, she smoothly shifted the topic to the latest popular movies in Columbia.

Felix picked up on her intention and suggested they go see a movie together after lunch. Muelsyse's lips curved into a soft smile the moment she heard it.

After Felix paid the bill, the two headed to the cinema. The latest film released in Columbia was The Treasure of the Lost Ark. It was an old classic, but the director had revived it for a modern audience. The story centered around a guardian—a tale that had once captivated audiences and still held its charm today.

"In the original version, Yara played the heroine," Muelsyse said, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she chuckled softly. "I heard the director wanted Yara to return for this remake. She even camped outside Rhine Lab's gate every day, like a love-struck fan."

"But in the end, Yara declined. She's stepped away from the spotlight for good… Though personally, I think she'd still be perfect for the role."

Even though Muelsyse had brought Felix to see the movie, she still insisted on paying for the tickets herself.

Felix may have had plenty of money, but that didn't mean it should all be spent without thought. Muelsyse, too, didn't want him footing the bill for everything—especially when he'd already gifted her so many beautiful outfits.

"I heard this film is a masterpiece," she said as they moved toward the ticket counter.

"Yeah, I remember watching it as a kid," Felix replied. "Back then, it was still in black and white."

"It really is an unforgettable memory."

But just as the two shared this moment of nostalgia, Muelsyse suddenly stiffened. Her body tensed, and she instinctively grabbed Felix, pulling him close and hiding in his arms. Through the small space between them, she peeked behind him—and her vision darkened.

Why... why were Kristen and Saria here—in their research uniforms, no less?

This rare, precious moment of leisure had been discovered. Disaster. Was the poor elf about to get a pay cut?

Muelsyse's eyes welled up with tears, and she dared not move an inch.

"Felix?"

As fate would have it, Felix's radiant golden halo and wings made him unmistakably easy to spot—drawing Kristen and Saria's attention immediately.

"Good afternoon. I'm glad to see you enjoying such a rare day off," Felix greeted them with a calm smile. The two of them looked like they'd just finished lunch.

Kristen smiled lightly, while Saria gave a polite nod. "Same to you... Felix, are you here alone?"

"No—"

"W-Wahhh!"

Before he could finish, Muelsyse let out a panicked squeal, clamped her hand over his mouth, and pressed herself flat against Felix.

Kristen and Saria's eyes landed squarely on Muelsyse. In response, she pretended not to see them and started whistling innocently.

"Muelsyse..." Kristen said softly.

Cold sweat broke out on Muelsyse's forehead. Was she really going to lose her salary now?

"Are you interested in this movie too?" Kristen asked.

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Muelsyse made a confused little noise. Kristen and Saria's expressions remained calm as always—but something about them felt... different.

She had seen that expression before... It was back when her mentor first introduced her to Kristen and Saria. At the time, she had met Kristen—innocent as a young girl—and Saria, who could still smile. Like Muelsyse, they had all been the youngest students at the university—exceptional prodigies who had skipped grades.

It was hard to say exactly when things changed, but over time, the expressions on their faces grew colder. After Rhine Lab was established, Kristen spent most of her time in the office, buried in documents, her expression gradually becoming more distant. Saria, tasked with overseeing Rhine Lab's safety, was always present during experiments—ever watchful, rarely smiling.

But now... Kristen wore a faint smile, the kind one might expect from an excited young girl. Saria, too, had a slight curve to her lips. The sight made Muelsyse's nose sting with emotion.

"Wuwuwu——"

With tears in her eyes, Muelsyse rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Kristen and Saria. "You're back… You're both back."

"What are you talking about? You're not making any sense," Kristen laughed, as though something had tickled her. Saria looked helpless, but she didn't push Muelsyse away. Perhaps she thought rejecting the hug would be too harsh, so instead, she gently patted her on the shoulder.

Felix burst into laughter at the sight. He knew well the bond between the three women. They had been classmates in university and had gone on to start a company together after graduation. The closeness they shared was undeniable, and their relationship needed no defense.

It took a while before Muelsyse finally let go of them. Smiling, she asked, "So, what brings you two out here?"

Kristen hummed thoughtfully. "Felix once told me that science cannot be separated from society and people. I think researchers at Rhine Lab should spend a day or two out in the world… Wouldn't you agree, Felix?"

"I prefer to describe it as 'staying grounded'," Felix said with a nod. "No matter the profession, no one should lose touch with society. Especially not scientists. It's unhealthy to be trapped in the small world of a lab day after day."

"That's why I'm thinking of designating every Sunday as a rest day for Rhine Lab researchers," Kristen concluded. "On that day, everyone can put aside their work and go out to do some long-overdue field research."

Muelsyse raised her hands excitedly. "Awesome! I like Kristen and Felix the most!"

After their laughter settled, Kristen glanced curiously at their clothing. "Muelsyse, Felix, are those outfits from Yan Country?"

Muelsyse clasped her left wrist behind her back with her right hand. "...Yes. Felix bought them for me during his mission in Yan Country."

Saria offered her own comment. "The fabric is nice. And you two look good together."

"Do we... match?" Muelsyse asked, flustered. But she quickly recovered and countered, "Kristen, Saria—your research uniforms match pretty well too!"

Kristen laughed again, and Saria smiled. The latter's gaze lingered on Felix's face. Sensing it, Felix looked back at Saria.

The latter blinked slowly, warmth in her eyes, as if silently expressing her gratitude.

Felix responded with a gentle smile.

Saria rarely displayed her emotions. Rather than speaking or outwardly expressing how she felt, she chose to act—using strength and action to achieve her goals. That was the lesson her father had instilled in her.

Cry quietly because your classmate broke your toy? Can't you fix it yourself? Feel envious when seeing other happy families? No—you endure.

That strict upbringing shaped Saria into who she was. It would be difficult for her to change such a deeply rooted way of life.

This was also why Felix personally took on the responsibility of educating Senomi and Mandragora. He wanted them to grow into girls he could trust with confidence in the future.

The group bought four movie tickets, arranged in two rows. Felix and Muelsyse sat in the front row, while Kristen and Saria took the seats behind them. As the cinema gradually dimmed, Felix allowed himself to fully enjoy this rare holiday.

As a player in his past life, he hadn't paid much attention to such things. Back then, Columbian action blockbusters, the elegant operas of Siracusa, and the martial arts films from Yan Country were all shared by word of mouth—considered must-sees among players.

But in his previous life, Felix never had the patience to truly live in this world. Now, reincarnated as an NPC, he came to realize that Terra was indeed full of hardship—and learning to find joy amid that suffering was a rare gift.

After the movie ended, Felix and Muelsyse left the cinema, chatting about their impressions of the film. They parted ways with Kristen and Saria at that point; the two were headed off to browse the latest tech products on display, taking a different route from Felix and Muelsyse.

Muelsyse led Felix to a street lined with small shops—not only filled with trinkets and crafts that Muelsyse liked, but also showcasing many innovations from Raythean Industries, which suited both of their interests. Muelsyse had clearly planned this outing in advance. In fact, she had mapped out today's itinerary in her mind well before they arrived.

And just in case, she had more than just Plan A—Plans B, C, D, and beyond were ready to go. After all, Felix had only recently returned, and even a water clone couldn't stay by his side at all times.