Why does this NPC seem to know nothing when asked?

Zhang Wei seemed unaware of Bai Shuang’s observation.

He clapped his hands with a smile and actively changed the subject: “Alright, let’s not talk about that for now.”

“I usually enjoy puzzle and mystery games. I’m pretty good at that kind of stuff.”

“What about you all? Maybe we can help each other out later.”

The middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke weakly: “I’m just an ordinary office worker. I’d rather not say my name.”

“I work with code all day, but…”

He smiled bitterly and spread his hands, his tone full of helplessness: “Without a computer here, I doubt my skills will be of any use.”

Zhang Wei quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “Uncle, don’t say that.”

“You’re the only working adult here. Your experience and maturity are way ahead of ours. You’ll definitely be able to help.”

Then his gaze fell on the curly-haired girl.

She twisted the hem of her clothes, her face slightly red, and said quietly: “My name is Li Qiao. I’m a high school student. I don’t have any special skills…”

She thought hard for a moment before asking uncertainly: “Does math count? I’ve participated in math Olympiads before.”

“Of course it counts!” Zhang Wei enthusiastically supported her.

“If the dungeon throws a math problem at us, your skill will come in handy!”

After introducing themselves, Zhang Wei, the middle-aged man, and Li Qiao all looked at Bai Shuang, waiting for her to speak.

Introducing herself…

Bai Shuang raised her hand and casually brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

The strands slipped smoothly through her fingers, the movement elegant and a bit casual.

She looked up at the three of them and said flatly, as if talking about the weather: “I’m a student too. I’m good at fighting.”

As soon as she said that, silence fell over the room.

The three of them looked at each other, unable to figure out what connection “fighting” and “student” could possibly have.

Zhang Wei let out two dry laughs, at a loss for words.

After thinking for a few seconds, he forced himself to say: “Alright, then you’ll be in charge of fighting from now on!”

Clearly, he said that, but in his mind, he still thought Bai Shuang’s “good at fighting” meant ordinary schoolyard brawls.

He didn’t think deeper.

Just then, everyone froze.

The previous round of introductions seemed purposely designed as a buffer time.

The moment it finished, light blue screens materialized in front of each of them.

[Beginner Dungeon Opening]

[Dungeon Name: Seven Stars]

[Dungeon Introduction: Small Grove Interest Class. Seven of the city’s top extracurricular tutoring classes. The best tutoring class you can choose!]

[Main Quest: Leave the tutoring class]

[Clear Reward: Formal Player Qualification]

[Friendly Reminder: You cannot die in the beginner dungeon. Please act boldly, prospective players.]

‘Hmm… a tutoring class.’

After reading the screen, Bai Shuang immediately began observing her surroundings.

The room was pitch black.

No lights were on.

Only a few faint rays of light seeped through the gaps in the curtains, barely outlining the general shapes.

The walls were covered in two different colors of wallpaper.

The bottom half was a dull green, the top half a light beige.

A clear boundary line ran between them.

Based on the layout, this place seemed to be a classroom.

They were standing on the podium.

Turning around, they could see rows of neatly arranged desks.

The desks looked fairly new.

The surfaces were smooth without obvious damage, but there were signs of use.

In the corner of the classroom stood a wooden bookshelf, its compartments packed with books.

Bai Shuang walked over and randomly pulled out a book to check.

It was a novel.

When the author played soccer, he once made another author who used a wheelchair act as a goalkeeper.

She flipped through two pages, found no useful information, and casually put it back.

Just then, she suddenly turned her head, her crimson eyes fixed on the classroom door.

Zhang Wei, who had been sneaking glances at Bai Shuang, immediately noticed her change in demeanor.

His heart tightened, and he quickly looked toward the door as well.

A faint sound came from outside, followed by…

“Thump – thump – thump -“

The muffled knocking was clear, one after another.

Slow in rhythm but carrying an inexplicable pressure.

The knocking instantly reached everyone’s ears.

Except for Bai Shuang, who remained calm, Zhang Wei, Li Qiao, and the middle-aged man all felt their hair stand on end.

Their bodies tensed immediately.

There were only two thoughts left in their minds:

‘What is out there?’

‘What is out there?’

As for the unknown visitor, Bai Shuang made only one preparation.

[Halo.]

[Here.]

[Get ready to fight.]

[OK~]

Zhang Wei, Li Qiao, and the middle-aged man stood frozen, completely at a loss.

At that moment, Bai Shuang didn’t hesitate at all.

She walked straight toward the classroom door.

“Holy shit! Don’t…”

Zhang Wei’s heart clenched.

He instinctively growled to stop her.

They knew nothing about what was outside.

How could she open the door so recklessly?

But before he could finish, Bai Shuang’s hand was already on the doorknob.

She pulled gently, and the door swung open.

Zhang Wei’s remaining words got stuck in his throat.

His face was full of helplessness.

They didn’t even know what dangerous thing was at the door.

Why did she just open it?

But the expected danger didn’t come.

Everyone stared nervously at the door.

Bai Shuang stood there, apparently whispering something to whatever was outside.

Then she turned and walked back inside.

To everyone’s surprise, she was holding hands with a little girl about seven or eight years old.

The girl wore a simple white dress, her hair plastered to her cheeks.

She looked at the group with a dazed expression.

Zhang Wei swallowed: “This… who is this?”

Bai Shuang glanced at the girl hiding beside her and said flatly: “She’s the one who was knocking.”

The group looked the girl over again.

Small, thin, wearing a clean white dress.

She looked harmless.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

‘What was it? It wasn’t some demon or monster. Just an NPC from the dungeon.’

‘Huh? NPC?’

Zhang Wei suddenly snapped to attention.

His eyes lit up.

If she was an NPC, maybe she could give them clues about the dungeon!

He immediately crouched down to match the girl’s eye level and asked in a creepily gentle tone: “Little friend, what’s your name?”

The girl flinched at his sudden approach and instinctively hid behind Bai Shuang, clutching the hem of her skirt.

‘Stop pulling. You’re going to tear it off.’

Of course, Bai Shuang didn’t blame her.

The man across from her was really frightening.

Bai Shuang even suspected he had been a creepy uncle before.

After a few seconds, the girl seemed to confirm that the man meant no harm.

She slowly poked her head out and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito: “I… I think my name is Zhao Na.”

‘Think?’

‘What does “think” mean?’

After a brief hesitation, Zhang Wei patiently pressed on: “Do you know where you are right now?”

Zhao Na blinked her watery eyes.

Her face was full of confusion.

She shook her head and said, “I don’t know.”

‘Great. Another “I don’t know.”’

‘Why was this NPC so clueless?’