Love NPC in Nightmare Game - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Deep Sea Creature 5

As if appearing out of thin air, on the lightning-flashing sea, more than a dozen ships came driving towards them head-on.

These ships were mostly smaller than the ghost ship they were on, with the smallest being merely a lifeboat.

They had been drifting along the ocean current aimlessly, yet these ships were charging straight at them against the seawater.

Alvia entered the wheelhouse and tried the ship’s wheel, finding it still usable. He then maneuvered to try and avoid those vessels.

But the raging storm outside was too fierce, and this ghost ship was practically being pushed forward by the sea, unable to evade them at all.

“Zhou Zhou, you take the wheel,” Alvia said calmly, looking at the vaguely visible cluster of ships not far away.

Zhou Zhou didn’t know how to pilot a ship or steer, standing behind Alvia at a loss for what to do to help. Hearing Al’s words, he stared wide-eyed at the unfamiliar wheel: “But I can’t.”

“It’s fine, just keep going the way we’re headed.” As he spoke, he let go of one hand and looked at Zhou Zhou with a very calm gaze.

Zhou Zhou tentatively gripped the wheel with both hands. To his surprise, Alvia simply let go of his other hand too, striding out of the wheelhouse: “I’ll be back to take over in a minute.”

One of the two masts on this sailboat had already snapped, while the sail on the other was tattered with holes everywhere. Braving the wind and rain, Alvia furled that sail before immediately returning to the wheelhouse.

Zhou Zhou held the wheel with both hands, standing ramrod straight with his eyes fixed intently ahead, looking utterly solemn—except his motionless stance made it seem like he’d been frozen in place along with the wheel.

Noticing Alvia’s return from outside, his solemn look broke, his eyes and expression softening as he gazed at Alvia: “We’re going to crash.”

They had noticed the other ships too late, or perhaps those ships had appeared too late. Even changing course now, it was unavoidable. Not just one vessel, but no matter which way they veered, they’d simply collide with a different one instead.

Alvia’s previously dry hair had been soaked by the storm’s harsh winds and rain, black strands dripping water as he slicked it back to reveal a smooth forehead and sharp, chiseled features gazing ahead at the ships: “It’s fine. Even if this boat wrecks, we can just take another.”

Drawing ever closer, it was now clear there were people aboard those ships ahead, their scattered pinprick lights visible in the darkness. They too seemed to be straining to avoid colliding with this sailboat, most of the vessels veering away, except for one whose altered course matched this ghost ship’s new bearing exactly.

Finally, a dull impact shuddered through the hull. Alvia, having retaken the wheel, remained utterly unperturbed, while Zhou Zhou nearly fell over, hastily gripping Alvia’s clothes to steady himself.

“Did the ship break?” Unable to see the hull, Zhou Zhou could only ask.

“I don’t know, I’ll go check.” There was no more need to worry now, most of the ships having threaded through, the one that collided being a small craft, it was the other party that should be concerned.

“I’ll come too.” Seeing Alvia release the wheel without intending to let him take over, Zhou Zhou immediately followed close behind.

The fierce wind and rain outside would drain their life force, so Alvia had intended to leave Zhou Zhou here or send him to the captain’s quarters. But Zhou Zhou was now consumed with curiosity over the collision’s aftermath, quickly overtaking Alvia, who made no further attempt to stop him.

The impact was to the fore starboard side, Zhou Zhou braving the elements to peer over the railing and scan the surface. Above the waterline, the hull showed only fresh gashes, appearing otherwise undamaged.

Craning his neck to search further afield, he finally spotted the small vessel astern, its white hull almost fully submerged now, only the stern still above water at a steep angle—it wouldn’t be long before sinking entirely.

“Is there anyone there?”

Zhou Zhou shouted across the swells toward that ship.

“We’re here! People here!” one person emerged from the listing cabin, waving their arms and shouting for rescue. Immediately another followed, the two calling out while frantically gesturing toward Zhou Zhou.

The life countdown displayed above their heads had already halved. Though unintentional on either side, it was still their ship that struck and disabled the other. Zhou Zhou turned back toward Alvia, eyes blinking pleadingly.

Understanding Zhou Zhou’s unspoken request, Alvia nodded once.

Zhou Zhou immediately darted over and threw down a rope ladder coiled on deck, its end just brushing the surface, allowing the two men to leap into the water and swim over.

Hauling themselves up the ladder, they tumbled aboard, thanking Zhou Zhou profusely before collapsing against the deck to catch their breath.

“Thank goodness you let us up, another minute in the sea and we’d have been goners,” one of the men babbled.

The four of them stood outside in the pouring rain, all drenched through. Zhou Zhou shielded his brow with both hands: “Let’s head inside to talk.”

“Wait wait, let the rain rinse off some of this seawater first before going in, or that countdown thing above our heads will keep draining.” The man gestured upward, then added to Zhou Zhou and Alvia, “You two go ahead, we’ll be right behind once these run down a bit.”

Though Zhou Zhou seemed to want to converse with the two more, Alvia had already started walking toward the captain’s quarters, so Zhou Zhou hurried to follow.

The two dripping figures entered the cabin, leaving a trail of wet footprints across the floor. Zhou Zhou lingered by the doorway, wringing water from his clothes, but after squeezing his shirt, it still clung damply to his body.

Removing his suit jacket, he began unbuttoning the shirt to change into something dry.

“Don’t take it off,” Alvia had already seated himself on a stool.

“Ah, but my clothes are soaked through.”

He glanced at the black shirt clinging tightly to Zhou Zhou’s body, then his gaze shifted outside: “Can you be sure you won’t need to go out again tonight?”

Not sure, there might be another mission later that would get him drenched again if he went out. Wearing the wet clothes, Zhou Zhou tilted his head thinking: “Alright then.”

Since he wasn’t changing, Zhou Zhou resumed wringing water from his shirt, twisting the once crisp dress shirt into a shriveled mess.

“Thank you both, thank you so much.” The two from outside entered the captain’s quarters, the words of gratitude spilling out as soon as the door opened: “Eh? You don’t have any lights in here? Just sitting in the dark?”

As he spoke, the newcomer fished out a desk lamp, its brilliance almost blinding, making it impossible to look directly at.

Setting the lamp on the table, he then introduced himself to them: “I’m Wu Yu, and this is my friend Kou Li. What should we call you two?”

Wu Yu had an innately jovial look about him, appearing around thirty years old. His friend cut a bulkier figure. His head had been lowered outside, obscuring his features, but now illuminated by the lamp it was clear this man named Kou Li had a square face and rugged, thoroughly ordinary looks.

Zhou Zhou stood by the doorway, still clutching the crumpled fabric of his shirt, staring at the two for a moment before speaking: “I’m Zhou Zhou.”

Alvia also gave them a brief glance: “Al.”

“Zhou Zhou, Al, good to meet you both. Encountering each other in an instance, it must be fate.” Wu Yu smiled broadly, then eyed the few stools beside Alvia: “Why don’t we sit and chat?”

Alvia extended an arm in a simple welcoming gesture. Though his current appearance was rather disheveled, his bearing remained elegant.

“Thank you.”

Wu Yu and Kou Li both took seats on the stools, Zhou Zhou also stepping forward to sit beside Alvia.

Normally the charismatic social butterfly when meeting new friends, this time Zhou Zhou just silently observed the two.

The atmosphere didn’t freeze up, however, as Wu Yu was a skilled conversationalist, recounting their earlier experiences while expressing gratitude that Zhou Zhou let them aboard. Otherwise, even if their small boat hadn’t sunk, they wouldn’t have been able to complete the next mission.

“Why wouldn’t you be able to do the next mission?” At first silent, Zhou Zhou’s attention was gradually drawn in by Wu Yu.

“This raging storm out there, our little boat would’ve capsized sooner or later. Not to mention who knows if everyone else’s ships would’ve fared any better.” Wu Yu’s face was full of relief, shaking his head worriedly, seemingly concerned for the others.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the ferocious winds and rain outside intensified even further, the already violently rocking ship thrashing more wildly, making it hard to keep one’s footing.

“I didn’t just jinx us, did I?” Wu Yu hurriedly stood to peer out the window, but could only see forward from here, not back, so he sat down again dejectedly.

Suddenly Zhou Zhou stood up, the other three all looking up at him.

“I’m going to check outside.”

Wu Yu: “Ah? But it’s pitch black out there, and those other ships are long gone anyway, right?”

“It’s fine.” Zhou Zhou headed for the exit. Among those vessels that had just brushed past, he didn’t know if Xue Li and Ke Li were on any of them. This ship was the largest craft, and if it was rocking this violently, perhaps the others really would capsize like Wu Yu said, he still wanted to go take a look.

The moment he went out, Zhou Zhou nearly got blown away by the powerful gusts, only Alvia’s timely grip on his arm preventing him from taking flight.

“Why did you come out too?” The crashing waves were too loud, Zhou Zhou had to shout to be heard.

Rather than reply, Alvia shielded him as they made their way aft, his steady stride utterly unaffected by the howling storm. Though Zhou Zhou turned back a few times meaning to thank him, Alvia just cut him off each time: “Watch your footing.”

Zhou Zhou nearly slipped on a loose plank, his head snapping back to bump against Alvia’s chest before being steadied by the arm around him.

That plank seemed to be the one he’d taken from the small boat earlier, somehow not yet blown away. Not daring to look back again, Zhou Zhou focused ahead toward the stern. The distant ships were indeed hard to make out clearly, but his eyesight was good enough to spot several capsized vessels, only their upturned hulls visible amidst the swells.

There were also many people swimming this way across the surface. Though unclear why those ships had been traveling against the current flow, going with it would certainly be less taxing for the swimmers.

“Rescue them?” Alvia was very close behind Zhou Zhou, practically leaning against his back, his voice by Zhou Zhou’s ear easily audible without needing to shout over the roar.

Zhou Zhou instinctively shrank his neck a little, blinking rapidly before responding: “Yes, Xue Li and Ke Li might be among them.”

The rope ladder from earlier hadn’t been retrieved, but when they circled around, they found it had already been pulled back aboard and left haphazardly on the deck.

Letting the ladder down again, Zhou Zhou stood at the stern watching those figures struggling to swim their way closer, the countdown timers visible above their heads, some already blinking red—a sign they were about to hit zero.

A swell washed over, more swimmers surfacing to continue toward the ship, while those whose times ran out simply vanished, eliminated from the instance.

“Don’t get too close to those two.” Alvia’s voice came by his ear again.

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

Zhou Zhou turned to look at him, Alvia being slightly taller. From this angle, Zhou Zhou could see his clean jawline, raindrops trailing down his cheeks.

“I just do.” In a rare show of petulance, the normally earnest and somewhat naive Zhou Zhou snapped back, whipping his head to fix his eyes on the distant players.

The group of players with green or red values displayed above finally swam up to the ship’s side. Among them, Zhou Zhou spotted Xue Li and Ke Li.

He felt an surge of excitement, quickly making his way over to the ladder and watching intently as the players climbed aboard one by one.

Only after Xue Li and Ke Li had also clambered up did he happily call out their names.

Having swum a considerable distance through the raging storm at sea, the two were exhausted, sitting on the deck to catch their breath before feebly waving at Zhou Zhou’s greeting.

“Zhou Zhou, let us rest a minute before talking.”

Zhou Zhou nodded, waiting for everyone to board before scanning the surface to ensure no one was left behind, then hauling the ladder back up.

The entire deck was now occupied by seated players—there seemed to be quite a few in this instance. Knowing their waterlogged clothes would drain life force, they had all let the rain rinse them for a while before standing.

Ke Li and Xue Li were no exception, only rising with Zhou Zhou’s assistance after letting the downpour wash over them for a bit.

Perhaps because only the captain’s quarters showed any light, or because Zhou Zhou and Alvia had gone there with the first two they rescued, the rest of the players all followed suit toward that room.

They too realized staying outside in the cold would deplete their life counts, though a few headed for the wheelhouse and aft cabins instead.

“Don’t go to 105, there’s no floor in 105,” Zhou Zhou called out in warning to those heading aft.

They turned back with puzzled looks at Zhou Zhou before nodding and continuing on.

The two already in the captain’s quarters made no comment seeing Zhou Zhou bring such a large group, being latecomers themselves.

With so many players crammed into the modest space, it was now completely full, no room even to sit.

Wu Yu and Kou Li also stood to make space, Wu Yu smiling broadly as he greeted everyone and inquired about their circumstances. Learning their ships had all been lost to the storm, he immediately offered reassuring words that they would be safe here.

Alvia gave him a few cold looks but said nothing.

Zhou Zhou, meanwhile, paid no attention to their conversation. If the bright lighting indoors wasn’t obvious enough after the raging exterior, Xue Li’s rain-soaked clothes hugged every curve despite being non-transparent when wet. From his own newly purchased attire, Zhou Zhou found an oversized hoodie and handed it to her.

“Our Zhou Zhou is still so thoughtful,” Xue Li promptly donned the hoodie over her outfit, pinching his cheek affectionately.

Zhou Zhou smiled back at her, then noticing a few other girls in the crowded quarters, he squeezed through to offer them clothes too.

He had bought plenty of hoodies, so he gave the other women similarly loose, pullover styles in various colors.

Surprised but polite, they thanked Zhou Zhou as they accepted the garments.

Some nearby male players scoffed derisively, apparently seeing it as obsequious behavior. But after distributing the clothes, Zhou Zhou simply returned to his companions without any further attempt to converse with the women.

“You should wear one too,” Alvia told the returned Zhou Zhou.

“Ah, but we might have to go out again soon,” Zhou Zhou said blankly.

“Not until this storm passes.”

They had found Xue Li and Ke Li now, and with no new mission directives, there was indeed no need to venture out again. Zhou Zhou nodded and began undressing.

But no sooner had he removed his rumpled suit jacket than Alvia, anticipating his intention, stopped him: “Just put a hoodie over your shirt, undressing in front of all these people is improper.”

Though wet clothes were uncomfortable, meeting Alvia’s stern gaze, Zhou Zhou could only pout and pull a hoodie on over his damp shirt.

Ke Li eyed Xue Li’s fitted black hoodie enviously, turning to Zhou Zhou: “Zhou Zhou, do you have any more clothes? I’d like to change too.”

“Why are you butting in? Are you a woman?” Xue Li glared at him. These were items Zhou Zhou had spent points to purchase, he might not even have enough for himself now after giving so many away to the female players. She intended to replenish his supply after this instance, but the same couldn’t be said for the others, why should they take Zhou Zhou’s clothes?

“But I’m cold,” Ke Li said plaintively. He was lightly dressed, never expecting this storm-tossed sea voyage in the instance.

Zhou Zhou quickly retrieved another black hoodie for Ke Li, who immediately donned it.

Xue Li just rolled her eyes at Ke Li without further comment.

Looking down at his own black hoodie, Zhou Zhou noticed he had given Xue Li and Ke Li matching black ones too, only the prints and patterns differed while all the others were various bright hues.

“Hey, the three of us are wearing couple outfits,” Zhou Zhou remarked in surprise. He had simply grabbed whatever was on hand without thinking, yet they happened to match by chance.

Xue Li and Ke Li eyed each other too. As disdainful as they often were toward their siblings, the trio did unmistakably look like they were together.

The three of them shared a laugh at the coincidence, Ke Li going along despite not fully understanding the reason, until his gaze fell on Alvia and the mirth drained from his face.

Having slicked his forelock back, Alvia’s chiseled features and penetrating aura seemed even more intense, his icy blue eyes now unobscured, meeting that gaze felt like being frozen solid.

Ke Li shuddered, wondering if he really was just too lightly dressed after all, it felt so cold~