Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 169 169: Daily Life at Shore Base

In the server room, located right next to the simulation chamber, two Nikkes were currently scrambling around energetically.

The flow of data streams glowed like tangible light as it traveled through the cables. This was a special effect deliberately created by Sleeping Beauty to help Snow White, who was hanging from the ceiling, understand what was happening.

On the ground, anwhile, was Close-Combat Nikke Unit 09. Although she didn't speak much, outside of combat she was particularly skilled in technical work. Before this, when Rose and the others were maintaining the base's electronic systems, 09's craftsmanship had been the key support.

She couldn't be called exceptional, but she was obedient, not lacking in intelligence, and fully qualified as an assistant.

Right now, 09 was lying on the floor organizing cables, labeling and arranging them neatly according to the functions required by Rose.

There was no helping it. If things weren't labeled from the very beginning, once everything beca ssy later, the entire system would have to be dismantled and rebuilt from scratch.

When Charon walked into the room holding a plate of fruit, this was what he saw.

"Snow White," Charon called up.

"Commander!" Snow White looked down in surprise. Startled, she nearly slipped off the suspension platform, but quickly adjusted her posture and slowly descended.

"C-Commander, why are you here?" Snow White's expression carried confusion, but also a kind of exhausted fatigue that made her seem detached from reality.

Nikkes were not incapable of fatigue; they could temporarily override it by overclocking their cores. However, if possible, it was still better to rest daily, as it would extend core lifespan.

"Here." Charon handed her the fruit. "Eat this, and go rest."

"But–but I still have a cabinet to handle…" Snow White looked back.

Following her gaze, Charon saw a server cabinet packed full of equipnt.

"09 and I can't even move it…"

[So I told you to call soone strong from the start.]

"But everyone is busy…"

"Um, we could call 07! She can equip a Rapture chanical arm!" 09 raised her hand weakly.

"…Have your limbs beco modular or sothing?" Charon stared blankly.

"Modular?! Limbs?" Snow White looked horrified.

"Uh… kind of?" 09 laughed awkwardly, looking away.

[Anyway, if that server rack isn't physically moved, the cooling airflow alignnt in this room will be off. I calculated that layout perfectly. It can't be wrong.]

Charon sighed. This was supposed to be the most suitable environnt for Liliweiss to work in, but it had run into an unexpected issue.

"Snow White, I'll call 07 over to help. Once you adjust the cabinet, go back and rest. Understood?"

"Yes!" Snow White answered loudly.

"Also, Liliweiss told to pass a ssage to you: if you don't rest, she'll confiscate your toolbox."

"!" Snow White's face went as pale as her na. "I–I-I'll rest! Please spare , Lady Liliweiss!"

"It's fine. As long as you behave, Liliweiss won't do anything to you." Charon patted her head. Snow White simply clutched her clothes without resistance.

Leaving the server room, Charon sighed.

"Rose, where is 07?"

[In the equipnt area. If you want, I can call her over directly.]

"…Then why didn't you say that earlier?"

[I just happened to get to it now. Besides, you look like you've got too much free ti anyway. Keeping you busy isn't a bad idea, right?]

"Fair enough."

Between major events, that kind of idle downti would be wasted just playing gas for seven days straight in a corner. As a commander, he couldn't exactly give the impression that their leader was lazy.

The vast Shore Base actually only had a little over ten people right now, so it was rare to run into anyone on the way.

The equipnt area, as the na suggested, was where gear was repaired and maintained. Workbenches and tools were fully stocked. If she hadn't been assigned to study simulation chamber construction, Snow White would have stayed here all the ti. But now, soone else was there.

Even before he approached, Charon heard a slow, lazy piece of Arican country music flowing through the doorway like a stream.

Alright. He already knew who it was.

Pushing the door open, he saw a pile of discarded tires stacked into a makeshift bed in the corner. A fiery-haired Nikke was lying there wearing sunglasses, legs crossed, swaying to the rhythm while holding a bottle of… machine oil.

"When did you start being able to digest machine oil?" Charon complained as he walked in.

Only then did he notice that 07 was polishing a small part at the workbench, seemingly unaware of his arrival. In another corner, 05 was also present, spacing out before snapping to attention and saluting after noticing him.

"Ah? No no, I just think this pose is cool." Red Hood grinned. "So, Commander, you wanna try it too?"

"No thanks. I feel like I might actually drink it on impulse."

"Anyway, what are you here for?"

"To find soone… and also to ask why you're here."

Red Hood pointed her thumb at a tape player behind her.

"Because I wanted to listen to this. The lounge has been turned into Dorothy's tea room now. Do you know she tried to use classical music to f*cking assault my ears? So I ca here to listen to my favorite country music instead. Don't you think this vibe is great?"

"…Yeah. That sounds like sothing Dorothy and you would do."

Charon shrugged, then found 07 and relayed Snow White's request. 07 imdiately got to work replacing the parts with chanical arms.

Red Hood watched for a while out of curiosity, but then started feeling a bit physically uncomfortable–especially when she rembered her own arm had also been replaced, making her expression twist slightly.

After the chanical arm was installed, 07 left in a hurry. anwhile, 05 sohow appeared beside Charon, looking like she wanted to say sothing but didn't dare.

"Uh… Commander…" 05 stamred shyly, glancing at his face.

"Hey, what's up?" Red Hood cut in, patting her shoulder. "This kid is trying to build a delayed fuse for her bomb, but she's missing precise clock gears. Dorothy has so antique clock parts, so–"

Charon's eyebrow twitched.

Another chain quest today, huh.

But… he didn't mind.