NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

I could not contain my anger, knowing that Wolf and Hunter planned on joining our voyage. I sent daggers in their direction while gritting my teeth.

"You're not coming with us, Wolf. Well, especially you, Hunter!" I shouted, whilst pointing my forefinger at the two of them. "This ship belongs to Match and me! We're the ones who requested it from Draven! You just passed by me and helped us fight the players!"

But before I could retort for more, Snow White stood between us and pushed me backwards. My eyes glared at her figure, wondering why I was the only one getting pushed back. But when I found out that my dagger was already in my hands, I calmed my senses down and listened to Snow.

"I know how you feel. But that boat ain't moving without having four members."

I shook my head and retorted, "Four members?! Why would a boat function like that?"

"You actually need more than that if you use a boat. But since you're in luck, our race built something that even four creatures could trek the ocean! No waves could cast you aside, and no whales could turn this baby down. But you better watch out for the Kraken or the gigantic alligator, okay? That would wash the ship off to the shores," explained Snow White.

"When the violent wind hits you, two sailors would flatten the sails. It would depower the boat to keep control while maintaining good speed. You could also bend the mast, tighten the outhaul, and reduce the forestay sag. You probably don't know this, but Ryoshi got the knack out of it. If you also immediately want to set sail, you need someone like him to govern these little things, Red. It's not like you could memorise these on one go," Snow White continued, while glueing her eyes across the ship.

Even Wolf had a reluctant look on his face when he listened to the conversation. Despite hearing the absurd explanation, Snow White's claim hit the mark. Two people would watch the sail's front, while the other pair would set the sails.

Well, at least that was what Snow White instructed us to do.

However, I could not accept such a lousy reason to include both Wolf and Ryoshi aboard. But since Snow White told me a reasonable response. I had no choice but to accept that offer.

I nodded my head and grunted after considering that suggestion. Since this boat had a broad area, Match and I would never operate it with only us. We needed more manpower to move this baby to the waters.

Ryoshi and Wolf were the lucky candidates to take that place.

As soon as I agreed to their proposal, everyone prepared their luggage and placed them on the ship. Upon looking at the boat from afar, I could deduce a pirate ship figure from the boat we would use.

It was not only me who questioned the design. Match also wondered if we were good guys sailing across the ocean or pirates hunting for gold. I could not help but laugh at that comment, considering it came from a child younger than me.

Within a few minutes, we finally finished our preparation and readied ourselves to float. Once we're on the ship, Wolf turned back around and met Snow White's gaze.

"Are you not coming with us?" Okami asked, while tilting his head.

"I am afraid I can't, Wolf. Even if you try to force me, I can't abandon my people. The dwarves still need their leader," Snow White replied.

"What about Kouran and the dark elves? She could manage your people. You could come with us and help complete the game," Wolf retorted.

"She could help my people, and I am forever thankful for that. But I think the dwarves would operate best when they have me around," replied Snow White.

"Dark elf? Where are these dark elves?" I mumbled to myself, while looking far beyond the sands.

I got confused when I listened to their talk. However, I did not have the slightest about the topic. Wolf and Snow White could have had something behind my back. But these two excluded me from their discussion.

After concluding their conversation, Snow White stepped back and waved us goodbye. I pulled the anchor while Match expanded the sails. Ryoshi became the navigator and engineer for our boat, while Okami became the man who would stir the wheels.

I told Wolf that I was the captain of this place, but he insisted that this was a democratic group. He explained that our decision would be everyone's choice. But I already knew those were all craps coming from his mouth.

I will never let Wolf order me around, considering that he was still a friend of Ryoshi. And I will always hunt down his friend and kill him if I have the chance.

Upon unlatching the anchor, the ship finally moved away from the shore. When I squinted my eyes, a figure of a woman stood far from the waves. She had darkened skin colour, which made her stand out from the sands. She looked like a treasure found beside the forest, charming anyone looking from afar.

I could only guess that it was the dark elf that Wolf and Snow White talked about. But after a few seconds, the figure leapt from the ground and disappeared. Snow White also turned towards her rear and vanished from our sight.

"Maybe they're going to a meeting of some sort?" I pondered to myself, with my hand resting on my chin.

But I shook my head and turned my hands away from the rails. I missed all the fun of staring at the place I already knew.

As I went towards the group, the orange skies welcomed our boat, with the flying fishes jumping from the sea. There were dozens of sea creatures swimming underwater while others were tailing our ship.

Snow White also mentioned that we could fish around these places. Those creatures we could catch would become our meal. But since not all of us would have the luxury of catching fish, I volunteered myself to be the fisherwoman. Everyone agreed with my suggestion and crowned me as the chef of the party.

But for this evening, Ryoshi would handle our meals. That guy told me he had prepared some fresh meat from the forest.

"I caught them myself!" claimed Ryoshi, while resting the meat on the flat table.

Since Ryoshi was only the navigator in our team, he set up a make-shift cooking stove and asked Match to kindle the dry woods. Thanks to our storage ability, we did not have to worry about storing chopped woods and pinecones as our firewood.

Ryoshi placed all the boar meat on the grill and seasoned it with spices I had never heard of. The smoke charmed everyone present on the ship, making all of our tongues poking out from our mouths. My saliva already leaked from my lips, craving for the smell surfacing around the boat.

This voyage became a picnic. And the only thing that felt different was the surrounding scenery.

But I still despised these two men boarding our ship, regardless of their cooked food. But beggars had no right to choose their trash, and fate placed me in this pair.

All four of us witnessed the sun setting on the west, with the flock of birds flying in the distance. The change of colour marked our new beginning and the dinner we needed to eat.

"Gather around, people. I've cooked something good," Ryoshi called out everyone's attention, while fanning the flames of our meal.

We rushed towards him like hungry wolves and readied our plates. Well, everyone went to Ryoshi, except for Wolf. Since he was the one stirring the wheels, Wolf had to stay put and watch the wind.

Although I hated these two boys, food was still my best friend. There was no way I would give up such a delicious meal!

Match also had heart-shaped figures popping out from her eyes, with her tongue cleaning her dried lips. Wolf kept glancing in our direction…. No. He maintained a grimacing look every time Ryoshi flipped that meat on the grill. The sizzling sounds calmed everyone's senses as we stared at our food before us.

After waiting for thousands of years, Ryoshi finally prepared the meal. Match and I already organised the make-shift tables and chairs in front of the grill. There was also a spot where we could discern the blue, dark sea at the side, which added more to our atmosphere.

When Wolf found the right wind, he let go of the wheel and sat with us. Despite being enemies with these two boys, I could not help myself but fidget about the food. Match shared the same expressions as I did, with her utensils gripped in her hands.

We gobbled up our share within seconds and begged Ryoshi for seconds. Regardless of our conflict, that man handed me his share and watched me end the meat's life.