The desert night had finally grown quiet.
Only the deep roar of the sand ship engines remained as the massive vessel continued gliding across the endless dunes beneath the moonlit sky.
The raid was over.
Smoke still drifted through parts of the upper deck.
Broken wood littered the floorboards.
Blood stained the railings black beneath the lantern light.
Several damaged sails fluttered violently in the desert wind while exhausted NPC crew members rushed around repairing the ship.
Players who survived the Sand Raid slowly returned from the hallways carrying pirate loot and stolen weapons while loudly talking about the battle.
Some looked excited.
Others looked traumatized.
A few simply collapsed onto the deck in exhaustion.
The atmosphere felt chaotic—
but alive.
CRASH
A grappling line hooked onto the side railing.
Several nearby players immediately turned.
Then Rio climbed back onto the ship.
Her white hair swayed beneath the cold desert wind while crimson blood dripped from the edge of Crimson Bloodmoon.
The surrounding players instinctively moved aside.
Some stared at her in shock.
Others whispered nervously.
The pressure surrounding Rio still hadn't faded completely after using Chronos Eye repeatedly.
She ignored the stares.
Her eyes calmly scanned the deck.
Destroyed pirate bodies littered the area near the stairways.
Several unconscious players were being treated by support classes.
The NPC guards looked terrified.
Then Rio noticed something near the center cargo section of the ship.
A familiar crimson-haired girl sat casually atop one of the wooden cargo crates.
Sayanaki.
She rested Fenrir's Fang lazily over her shoulder while smiling brightly.
Beneath her—
a sand pirate knelt trembling on the floor.
His hands shook violently.
Blood covered one side of his shoulder.
His face had completely lost color.
The moment Rio approached—
the pirate looked toward her like he had just seen death itself arrive.
"P-Please—"
His voice cracked instantly.
"Please don't kill me—"
Rio calmly raised her musket.
The barrel pointed directly toward the pirate's forehead.
Several nearby players froze.
Even the NPC crew stopped moving for a moment.
The pirate's breathing became frantic.
But before Rio could pull the trigger—
Sayanaki suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
Rio glanced toward her.
Sayanaki smiled slightly.
"We keep this one alive."
Rio lowered the musket slightly.
"...Why?"
Sayanaki leaned forward on the cargo crate.
Her crimson eyes narrowed with amusement.
"I want to ask him questions."
The pirate immediately nodded so hard it almost looked painful.
"Y-YES!"
"I'll answer anything!"
Rio stared at him silently for a few seconds.
Then sighed quietly.
"...Fine."
Her musket dissolved into particles of light before disappearing back into her inventory.
The pirate nearly collapsed from relief.
Sayanaki hopped down from the cargo crate lightly.
Then crouched directly in front of him.
The pirate immediately flinched backward.
Sayanaki smiled sweetly.
"What's your name?"
The pirate swallowed nervously.
"...R-Ramos."
"Ramos, huh?"
Sayanaki tilted her head slightly.
Then suddenly grabbed both his wrists.
The pirate panicked immediately.
"W-WAIT—"
Rope materialized from her inventory.
Within seconds—
she tightly bound his hands together behind his back with frightening efficiency.
Rio watched silently.
"...You really came prepared."
Sayanaki grinned.
"I always come prepared."
Ramos looked like he was about to cry.
Sayanaki suddenly stood up.
Then casually dragged him across the deck like luggage.
"COME ON."
"AH— OW—"
Ramos stumbled repeatedly while trying to keep up.
Nearby players immediately moved out of the way.
Some stared at him sympathetically.
Others looked relieved it wasn't them.
One player quietly whispered—
"...That pirate is doomed."
Rio honestly couldn't disagree.
The three eventually returned toward Cabin 41A.
The hallways were still filled with aftermath from the raid.
NPC workers cleaned blood from the floors.
Broken lanterns flickered weakly overhead.
Several players carried piles of pirate loot back toward their rooms while excitedly discussing rare drops.
One group was arguing over who got a rifle.
Another was showing off a stolen pirate coat.
The atmosphere almost resembled scavengers after a battlefield.
Meanwhile—
Ramos looked like he was being escorted to execution.
Sayanaki kicked the damaged cabin door open casually.
The room inside was still partially destroyed from earlier.
The shattered window allowed cold desert wind to continuously pour into the cabin.
Broken wood littered the floor.
One wall still had blood splattered across it.
And somehow—
despite all of that—
Ryota was still asleep.
Peacefully.
Completely unaware of everything that happened.
He continued hugging the silk pillow Rio had made earlier.
Sayanaki stopped walking.
Then slowly looked toward Ryota.
"...How is that even possible?"
Rio sighed tiredly.
"I stopped questioning it."
Sayanaki dragged Ramos inside.
Then pointed toward the floor.
"Sit."
Ramos immediately obeyed.
He sat down so fast he nearly slammed face-first into the wooden floorboards.
Sayanaki nodded approvingly.
"Good pirate."
Ramos looked emotionally devastated.
Sayanaki casually sat down on the chair beside the shattered window.
Moonlight illuminated her crimson hair softly while the desert wind blew through the cabin.
Fenrir's Fang rested across her lap.
The atmosphere around her looked strangely beautiful.
And horrifying.
Rio carefully walked toward the opposite chair.
But before sitting—
she glanced toward Ryota sleeping beside her seat.
For a brief moment—
her expression softened slightly.
Carefully—
very carefully—
Rio slowly lowered herself into the chair while making sure not to wake him.
Ryota shifted slightly in his sleep.
Then continued sleeping normally.
Rio leaned back quietly.
"...Unbelievable."
Sayanaki smirked.
"I think we'd need to blow up the ship to wake him."
Ramos looked completely confused.
"...How is he sleeping during all this?"
Neither of them answered.
The cabin slowly became quiet.
Outside—
the desert wind howled endlessly against the ship.
The engines continued roaring beneath the floorboards.
And somewhere in the distance—
another repair horn echoed across the dunes.
Then Sayanaki finally looked toward Ramos again.
The playful smile on her face disappeared instantly.
The temperature inside the room seemed to drop.
Ramos visibly stiffened.
Sayanaki crossed one leg over the other casually.
"Listen carefully."
Her voice remained calm.
Almost gentle.
Which somehow made it worse.
"You are going to sit there quietly until we arrive at Versoza."
Ramos nodded immediately.
"Y-Yes."
Sayanaki continued softly.
"You will not scream."
"You will not run."
"You will not attempt anything stupid."
Ramos nodded even faster.
"I-I understand."
Then Sayanaki smiled.
A terrifying smile.
"Because if you try to escape..."
She lightly tapped Fenrir's Fang with her finger.
The dagger emitted a low metallic sound.
"...I'll kill you instantly."
Silence filled the cabin.
Ramos went completely pale.
Then slowly nodded.
"...Understood."
Sayanaki leaned back against the chair comfortably.
"Good."
Rio quietly closed her eyes for a moment.
The raid was over.
But somehow—
she had a feeling the real problems were only beginning.
The sand ship continued gliding across the endless desert beneath the dark crimson night sky.
The violent chaos from the raid had mostly disappeared by now.
Only faint traces remained.
Broken railings.
Scorch marks across the deck.
Dried blood along the hallways.
The occasional exhausted groan from injured players.
Repair crews still moved throughout the vessel carrying wooden planks, tools, and replacement sailcloth while NPC medics treated the wounded near the lower cabins.
Despite the destruction—
the ship had survived.
And slowly—
normalcy began returning.
Inside Cabin 41A—
silence filled the room.
The cold desert wind continuously poured through the shattered window while the lantern hanging overhead flickered softly.
Sayanaki sat beside the broken opening casually eating food she had bought before the raid started.
Meanwhile—
Ramos remained seated on the floor exactly where she ordered him to stay.
His hands were still tightly bound behind his back.
He hadn't moved even slightly for nearly an hour.
Mostly because every few minutes—
Sayanaki would quietly glance toward him.
And every single time—
he felt like his soul almost left his body.
Rio sat near the opposite side of the cabin quietly staring out the window.
The moonlight reflected faintly across her pale face.
The atmosphere felt strangely calm after the massacre earlier.
Then suddenly—
"...Mnn..."
A sleepy groan escaped from the nearby seat.
Rio glanced sideways.
Ryota slowly sat upright while rubbing his eyes tiredly.
The silk pillow slipped off his lap.
His silver hair was a complete mess.
"...What time is it...?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Ryota blinked slowly.
Then noticed the cabin.
Broken wall.
Blood stains.
Destroyed doorway.
Cold wind.
And finally—
the terrified pirate sitting on the floor.
"...Huh?"
Ramos immediately stiffened when Ryota looked at him.
Ryota blinked again.
Then slowly pointed.
"...Who's that?"
Rio sighed quietly.
"You slept through a Sand Raid."
Ryota froze.
"...I WHAT?"
Sayanaki casually tossed a wrapped burger toward Ramos.
"CATCH."
Ramos panicked and awkwardly caught it with his tied hands before almost dropping it.
Sayanaki took another bite from her own food.
"Eat."
Ramos immediately nodded.
"T-Thank you."
He quickly began eating like a starving prisoner.
Ryota stared blankly.
"...Okay hold on."
He pointed between everyone rapidly.
"What happened while I was sleeping?"
Rio leaned back slightly.
Then calmly began explaining everything.
"The pirate fleet attacked the ship."
"Sayanaki turned one hallway into a horror movie."
"I boarded the enemy ship."
"Destroyed it."
"Destroyed another one after that."
"And we captured him."
Ryota slowly processed the information.
Then looked toward Ramos.
"...You survived her?"
Ramos looked emotionally exhausted.
"...Barely."
Sayanaki smiled proudly.
"He screams very loudly."
Ramos looked like he wanted to disappear.
Ryota stared at him for another moment.
Then frowned slightly.
"...Wait."
He looked toward Sayanaki.
"Why keep him alive?"
Sayanaki finished chewing quietly.
Then pointed toward Ramos with her food.
"Because something about him is weird."
Rio nodded slightly.
"Very weird."
Ryota looked confused.
"...Weird how?"
Sayanaki leaned back against the chair.
"When I fought him earlier..."
"He wasn't fighting like a combat NPC."
Ramos immediately lowered his head.
Sayanaki continued calmly.
"He couldn't properly hold a weapon."
"His stance was awful."
"No physical conditioning."
"No combat instincts."
"No skill reactions."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I beat him instantly."
Ryota blinked.
"...Isn't that normal for weak enemies?"
Rio shook her head immediately.
"No."
She crossed her arms.
"Even low-level combat NPCs are still built for combat."
Ryota tilted his head.
"...Built?"
Rio looked toward him seriously.
"There are two main types of NPCs in Evermount."
Her voice became quieter.
"Combat Class."
"And Civilian Class."
Ryota listened carefully.
Rio continued slowly.
"Combat NPCs are designed specifically for fighting."
"They can become mercenaries."
"Guards."
"Raid fighters."
"Guild recruits."
"Some can even officially join player guilds."
Ryota blinked.
"...Wait seriously?"
Rio nodded.
"They have combat programs."
"Physical enhancements."
"Proper physiques."
"Weapon handling."
"Combat instincts."
"Some even possess skills or specialized weapon mastery."
Ryota looked surprised.
"...That's honestly kind of insane."
Rio nodded again.
"But all combat NPCs share one important trait."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...They respawn."
Silence filled the cabin briefly.
Ryota frowned.
"...Like players?"
"Not exactly."
Rio looked toward the broken window quietly.
"When combat NPCs die..."
"They reset."
"Their memories are erased."
"Their personalities partially revert."
"It's basically a system reset button."
Ryota stared silently.
"...That's horrible."
Rio's expression remained calm.
"Most players don't care."
The desert wind howled softly through the cabin.
Then Rio looked toward Ramos.
"But civilian NPCs are different."
Her voice softened slightly.
"They have more emotional depth."
"More individuality."
"More advanced personalities."
"They behave more naturally."
Ryota slowly looked toward Ramos again.
Then quietly asked—
"...And if they die?"
Rio answered immediately.
"They die permanently."
The cabin became silent again.
Even Ryota looked disturbed now.
Ramos lowered his head quietly.
His tied hands trembled slightly.
Ryota slowly looked back toward Rio.
"...Then why is he with sand pirates?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"Exactly."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's the strange part."
She looked toward Ramos directly.
"When I fought the pirates during the raid..."
"Some of them surrendered."
Ryota blinked.
"...Surrendered?"
Rio nodded.
"They're being held captive downstairs right now."
"But that's abnormal."
Sayanaki's crimson eyes sharpened slightly.
"Very abnormal."
Rio continued calmly.
"Sand pirates in Floor Two aren't programmed like this."
"They're designed to attack players aggressively."
"They ambush ships."
"Raid settlements."
"Attack caravans."
"They're hostile AI."
Ryota frowned.
"...So surrendering isn't normal?"
Rio shook her head.
"Not at all."
"They're programmed to fight until death most of the time."
"They also naturally attract raids."
Ryota blinked.
"...Attract raids?"
Rio nodded.
"Sand pirate activity increases the chance of large-scale Sand Raid events."
"Approximately twenty percent depending on region density."
Ryota looked horrified.
"...This floor is insane."
"No arguments there."
Sayanaki suddenly stopped eating.
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly.
She slowly lowered the food in her hand.
Then looked directly toward Ramos.
The pressure inside the cabin changed immediately.
Ramos visibly froze.
Sayanaki's crimson eyes stared into him sharply.
"I'll ask one more time."
Her voice remained soft.
Calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Why..."
"...is a civilian-class NPC with sand pirates?"
Ramos remained silent.
Sayanaki's expression darkened slightly.
"Answer carefully."
Her hand slowly rested against Fenrir's Fang.
"Because otherwise..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...I'll kill you."
Ramos immediately turned pale.
Ryota stiffened slightly.
Even Rio quietly watched him now.
The cabin became completely silent except for the sound of the engines beneath the ship.
Ramos lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled weakly.
Then finally—
he spoke.
"...Because I didn't have a choice."