Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 172 172: You’re Drinking Milk

[Honestly, I think your route through the base today has been pretty strange too.]

As Charon carried No. 04 toward the infirmary, Rose(Sleeping Beauty) finally joined the conversation.

"Nothing wrong with that. I was actually thinking about taking a walk through the entire Shore Base soday to see how everyone spends their daily lives. I just didn't expect to accomplish it like this."

[As long as you're happy.]

"S-Sorry, Lieutenant..." No. 04 buried her face into Charon's back miserably.

Her arms and legs clung tightly to him. Her face was pale. It seed NIMPH's automatic calming effect had activated; otherwise, the suffering caused by eating a ghost pepper raw would have been far worse than what she was showing now.

"It's fine. I share so responsibility too."

Charon smiled helplessly.

When he had scavenged those peppers, he'd thought they counted as ingredients and stored them away. Maybe they'd be useful one day.

Now it seed their best use might not be culinary at all.

I should probably confiscate every last one of those peppers later.

...

Outside the infirmary stood No. 08.

Among the lee squad, she was the third-best swordswoman after Rose(lee) and Scarlet.

She stood silently by the door and saluted only after seeing Charon arrive.

"Why are you standing here?" Charon asked curiously.

"Lady Liliweiss entrusted with temporarily serving as Lady Rapunzel's guard."

Her reply was concise.

"I excel at combat. Therefore, combat is all I need to do."

Charon patted her shoulder and sighed.

"You misunderstood what I ant."

"Work is work. Life is life."

"Your sisters aren't all doing things simply because they're good at them. The important part is figuring out what kind of life you want to experience and what kinds of things make you happy."

"Don't worry. You still have plenty of ti. Take it slowly and discover that for yourself."

...

At first, Charon couldn't even tell the girls of the lee squad apart.

But after gaining the freedom to live here, each of their personalities gradually erged.

Their clothing styles, speech patterns, and mannerisms naturally distinguished them from one another.

And with that ca division of roles.

Besides combat:

Scarlet liked farming.

Rose managed the base itself–operations and maintenance.

No. 03 was hyperactive, talkative, and loved running around; she had naturally beco a scout.

No. 04 was extrely curious. As the first Nikke to receive enhanced legs, she specialized in high-speed movent. Since that wasn't very useful inside the base, she helped out in the kitchen.

No. 05 was obsessed with explosions and had effectively changed careers from swordswoman to demolition expert.

No. 06 was the cook. Other than cooking, she hardly wanted to do anything else. Seeing everyone eat happily was enough for her.

No. 07 resembled Snow White in her love for machinery, though she was more of a tinkerer. She had often accompanied Charon on missions.

No. 08 was quiet, serious, and ticulous. She used to resemble Scarlet the most, but after spending so much ti around the Goddess Squad, Scarlet had beco more talkative, while No. 08 ended up becoming the most composed one.

No. 09 was the technical specialist. It had started as a hobby, but maintaining Shore Base forced her to take it seriously. Through practical experience she had beco quite capable, and Rose planned to train her further.

As for No. 10...

...

Chron pushed open the infirmary door.

A petite girl wearing a nurse uniform ca running over with quick little footsteps.

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant! You're here!"

Then she saw No. 04.

Her face instantly turned pale.

"04! What happened to you?!"

She imdiately turned and ran inside.

"Lady Rapunzel! Sothing terrible happened!"

...

No. 10 was the youngest mber of the lee squad.

She wasn't particularly talented with a sword, but she worked extrely hard.

Later, she switched to logistics and maintenance, helping repair everyone's bodies.

Now that Rapunzel was here, she intended to learn as much dical knowledge as possible from her.

Not only how to treat Nikkes.

But also humans.

Because she wanted to protect Chron too.

She was adorable.

...

After bringing No. 04 inside, No. 10 waited nervously for Rapunzel's diagnosis.

Rapunzel rely wore a sowhat peculiar expression.

"Oh my, is your stomach burning?"

"Let's do an examination first."

"Don't worry. We'll definitely make you feel better."

For so reason, when she said the latter half of that sentence, her breathing beca slightly heavier.

"Mm..."

No. 04 nodded obediently, still pale.

...

Although she made it sound dramatic, Rapunzel simply prepared so dicine for her.

Then she promptly sank into her own pink-colored fantasies, occasionally letting out suspicious little giggles.

Charon felt an enormous headache coming on.

Just as he was preparing to leave, Rapunzel suddenly stopped him.

"Commander, Lady Liliweiss shouldn't be left alone for too long."

"If nobody keeps an eye on her, she may already have gotten out of her wheelchair and sneaked off to the training grounds."

[And thus, the cycle continues.]

Rose delivered the perfect comntary.

"I understand."

Charon accepted Rapunzel's request, glanced helplessly at a nearby cara, and headed toward Liliweiss's room.

...

"Speaking of which, Rose."

"You can see what Liliweiss is doing, can't you?"

[Just like Rapunzel said. She's trying to train right now.]

"Of course she is."

Charon sighed and quickened his pace.

Now that he had concrete proof that this woman simply refused to behave herself, there was no point hiding his footsteps anymore.

He rushed over and opened the door.

...

Liliweiss was sitting obediently in her wheelchair.

A book rested in her hands.

She was even nodding along as if deeply engrossed in reading.

Had the book not been upside down, Charon might actually have suspected Rose of making things up.

"The book's upside down, Lilith."

Liliweiss trembled.

"T-This is a new reading-training thod. You wouldn't understand."

Still trying to bluff.

Good.

...

"Tonight's al..."

"I'msorryIwaswrongImovedaroundabitbecausemyhandswereitchybutIreallydidn'tpushmyselfpleasehavercyandforgivejustthisonceCommander!"

Liliweiss nearly dropped to her knees.

"Please, Commander! These past few days I can barely taste anything anymore! If this keeps up, I'm going to beco useless!"

"The fact that you managed to say all of that without taking a breath is impressive enough."

Charon chuckled.

"Tonight's nu is tomato-and-egg stir-fry."

"I made it."

"The tomatoes were grown by Scarlet."

"And there's potato liquor brewed by Rose(lee)."

"Tomato-and-egg stir-fry..."

"Alright."

At least it sounded better than porridge.

...

"But... the liquor..."

Liliweiss's eyes sparkled.

Her voice beca almost pleading.

"Could I maybe have so too...?"

"You're drinking milk."

Charon rcilessly shot her down.

"How cruel! Aaaahhh!"

...

"You'd be better off spending your energy eating properly and participating in the rehabilitation program Rapunzel arranged for you instead of secretly training on your own."

Charon rubbed her hair.

"I'm counting on you to beco the pillar of strength supporting Shore Base."

"Don't disappoint ."

"Umuuu... alright."

"I'll work hard."

She gently rubbed her cheek against his palm.

"At the very least..."

"I can't let my kohais look down on anymore."