NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Red's Point of View

(Finally!)

__________________________

The crashing of waves entered our ears as our ship trod forward the ocean. Snow White told us that this ship would transport us to our destination safely. And the raft continued doing its magic until now.

Wolf agreed to steer the wheel, together with his trusty murderer, Hunter, while Match and I rested in our rooms. After six hours, we would switch roles, which would make me the captain, with Match as my right hand.

It had been a week since we ventured into this vast ocean, with nothing to see but the blue waves. Occasionally, there were flocks of seagulls flying over the horizon, keeping us company on this lonely site. But those ended up on the fourth day of our voyage when we reached the point beyond no return.

However, my body refused to sleep. I did not know if I wanted to blame the waves for disrupting my recognition. Or it was just me who was the problem. If I had to guess the causation, it might have been the latter.

I sat from my bed and placed the blanket over the snoring Match. Nothing could disrupt her sleep, not even the sounds of these crashing waves.

"I hope I could sleep too like you, Match," I said, while heaving out a sigh.

With everything said and done, I went outside the room, leaving Match alone inside. We had roughly two hours before shifting our roles again since our last work on the wheels.

After exiting the cabin, my eyes met with a violent storm with rain showering my clothes. As I shifted my view at the deck, Wolf's back greeted my eyes. Hunter also stood beside him with his make-shift telescope he made prior to boarding the ship.

That duo worked as a perfect duo. Amidst our sleep, Wolf and Hunter tried fighting against the storm, with only their sheer minds as their weapons. Those guns turned out to be useless tools against this water, especially inside a ship. We can't use our assassination skills to eliminate the ocean. And we cannot rely on our agility to survive the racing waters of death.

Fortunately for Match and me, we had yet to experience a vicious storm in the middle of the ocean. That darkened clouds only hit those two idiots every time they were on shit. It was as if Wolf and Hunter became magnets for dangerous tasks, leaving Match and me aside.

"W-What are you doing here? You're supposed to be sleeping right now, aren't you?" Wolf asked, as he turned around and noticed me. "Oh, are you going to be a good samaritan and help someone like me?"

"Nope. I'll pass. It would be better if you two died right now. I could even kill you if I'm that twisted," I replied instantly before Wolf could even finish his sentence.

Wolf could only chuckle to himself after hearing my reply. He knew I planned on retorting to his suggestion. But with the looks in his eyes, Wolf must have heard enough from me.

I stayed at the far back and continued appreciating the great waves, leaving Wolf and Hunter to deal with the storm. However, it was not long before the water finally formed a tsunami, forcing the ship to move to the side.

Wolf and I acted simultaneously and dashed straight to the ship's side. Wolf formed barriers around the ship, while I tossed the water, drowning our boat. It was the only thing I could do, considering that I did not know any magic that could help me in this situation.

Ryoshi took the wheel and drove the ship forward, avoiding those waves like an obstacle course. He glided the wheel in each direction, maintaining the raft intact before the waves could crush us in one go.

I wanted to wake Match up, but it seemed my worries were... unnecessary.

Wolf used his first form and shattered the wave's moment, forcing it to break apart into tiny showers. Although it amplified my workload, that action was enough to save our ship. We continuously did these shenanigans for an hour before finally taking a break.

Within sixty minutes, the storm finally left our area. It invited the sun to shine upon us, warming everything in our surroundings. But the three of us were not thankful about what we experienced, considering all the worst plausible scenarios on our ship.

After exhibiting Wolf's strength, he finally rested on the side and closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he continued snoring until he woke up. Although Match and I still had another extra hour, Wolf helped protect the boat. Even though I hated his guts, he did what he could to protect Match and me from drowning.

Ryoshi continued steering the wheel but ended up kissing the ground. Fortunately for us, the wheel maintained its balance as the boat headed forward towards our destination. Our map told us we were still on the right track. Fortunately for us, we received that information despite the storm hitting our ship.

"We could've drowned," Ryoshi exclaimed, while panting near the corner. "W-What absurd power you got there, Okami. And you exemplified such speed, Red. Phew! I'm saved and beaten up!"

Just before he could crawl to the other side, I rushed towards him and tried stabbing Ryoshi with my blade. I used all the spare energy inside of me and tried to injure... or maybe kill Ryoshi while he was not looking.

But within a flash, Wolf came in the nick of time to block my attack. He met my stern gaze with his mouth curled upwards for a smile. He was right there at the corner, sleeping like an infant.

However, little did I know I got fooled by my own plan.

"I told you, Red. No killing of our personnel, especially if I'm around," said Wolf, while nudging my penitent's blade down.

I retracted my dagger back to where it belonged and forced a retreat to my cabin. Wolf wanted to ask where I would head to since it was already our time for the pedals. But he soon realised that I planned on fetching Match back at the cabin.

Wolf never pressed the situation any further and accepted my murderous intentions. Since that guy killed my sister, Wolf could not help but fall silent about the situation. He knew no words would change my ways. And if I stop now, the journeys that Match and I had been through would all become for nought.

I returned inside the room and met with the sleeping body of Match. She was still as adorable as I first left her inside this cabin. Those unforgettable snoring sounds made my journey worth it as I fetched her to the wheels.

Upon arriving at the deck, Ryoshi and Okami went inside the cabin to get some shut-eye. We did this for a week, so we already knew the ropes of managing this bad boy. And if we ever faced some trouble, we won't hesitate to contact Wolf.

Hunter could just drown himself at the bottom of the sea.

Match wiped her eyes and navigated the place using the telescope Hunter used earlier. She also had a compass with her, given by Wolf to tell the direction.

"Match," I said, striking a conversation.

"Y-Yeah?" she replied.

"Do you like the ocean?"

Match shook her head and replied, "Yeah. I love it. I just hope that my bigger sister can be here with us."

"Sorry for bringing that up," I remarked, while sitting on the bench.

Even though there was no one managing the wheel, the boat would continue. So Match and I needed to know how to spend our time while venturing towards the ocean. And the only thing that I could think of was talking to each other.

"Have you thought of a new spell lately?" I asked, while observing her burnt arms.

Although we spent our days together, I could not help myself but ask. Match might have wanted to surprise me. It was better late than sorry.

"Nothing in particular," Match answered, but immediately took back her words. "I was just thinking of ways to use my spells in this…. ocean. If we ever encounter sea monsters, my fire would not work against them. And if we encounter…. pirates, that would be a problem."

Despite her kid-like stature, Match thought about these things without my help. She already considered the enemies we would face while voyaging the waters.

But as I wanted to praise Match more, her thoughts raised a concern to our lives. If we encountered monsters around this area, Hunter would be the only one who could stop those beasts. As much as I hated to admit that, he was the only ranged player that could attack those monsters from afar. He could also use electric arrows from his arcane, dealing extra damage to sea creatures.

I could use my gun, but I doubt that would do something against those water beasts.

"