Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 23 23: What the Hell Is This Extraction Point

"So this… is the orbital elevator…"

The city that once surrounded it was now nothing but ruins. Countless Raptures road through the broken remains. From above, their sheer numbers were enough to trigger trypophobia on the spot.

At the edge of the city, Charon and Liliweiss moved carefully.

This ti, he didn't let Liliweiss go on a rampage like before, not because she couldn't handle it, but because there were simply too many enemies. And with Raptures constantly descending from the orbital elevator, even the two of them couldn't fight head-on against forces like this.

Technically, their mission had already been completed.

Even from distant hills, the observation range had been sufficient. Most of the sensors and recording equipnt had already been deployed there.

What they were doing now… was extra.

If they could reach the relay station and bring back materials directly, that would change everything.

Not long after, they reached a basent.

Outside was a sewer system, complex, interconnected, and with far fewer Raptures than the surface.

If they wanted to get close to the orbital elevator, this was practically the only route.

Liliweiss knew Charon was pushing beyond the mission scope.

But she still followed him.

Not just because of rank.

But because she trusted him.

After all, the one in real danger here wasn't her, it was him.

And that alone was enough to earn her respect.

The only issue?

Ever since reaching the city outskirts, Charon hadn't let her fight at all.

Almost every Rapture they encountered had been quietly eliminated by him using suppressed weapons.

The reason was simple:

Gluttony.

Even though they had "killed" it before, Charon knew sothing was off.

No drop. No loot box.

Which ant, it wasn't dead.

And if it wasn't dead, then its location was obvious.

The orbital elevator.

The place where Gluttony had been sighted again and again.

Based on updated intel, the reason it had tracked them before was likely because of Liliweiss's explosive movent speed, her power had drawn it in.

So near the city, Charon stopped her from fighting.

And sure enough–

No tremors.

No signs of Gluttony.

"Rose, do we have a backup of the sewer map here?"

[Let check… ah, got it.]

A full map appeared on their screens, complex and detailed.

[Looks like the original builders designed this sewer system as an evacuation route. There are multiple paths leading near the orbital elevator.]

"So they predicted the Rapture invasion or sothing?" Charon joked.

[...]

Silence.

Sotis, silence is an answer.

"Wait… seriously?"

[It's just a theory among so of us. No evidence. No one would believe it anyway.] Rose sighed lightly. [Alright, based on your current position, I've mapped out four possible routes. Each leads to a different exit.]

"Nice work, Rose."

Charon snapped his fingers, then turned and saw Liliweiss leaning against the wall, arms crossed, cheeks puffed.

"…Uh, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She turned away and walked off, staring at the screen.

[Idiot commander, go after her. Girls are delicate, you know~ Oh, and by the way, she can't hear this channel right now.

That girl really only calls her "big sister" in private, huh…

Charon quickly jogged after her.

"Liliweiss, wait up!"

She didn't stop, but she didn't speed up either. Just kept a pace he could catch if he tried a little.

If she wanted, she could vanish in a second.

Charon thought for a mont… then ca up with a mischievous idea.

He cleared his throat, switched to the shared channel, and matched her walking rhythm:

"One-two, one-two, one-two…"

As a forr soldier, hearing marching cadence synced perfectly to her steps–

Liliweiss instantly broke.

She turned back, flustered, cheeks puffed even more than before.

"Com-man-der!"

She stomped back, grabbed his hand.

"You're walking… way too slow!"

The mont their hands touched, her body tingled again.

The sewer was cold. Even if her Nikke body wasn't affected much–

His warmth still spread through her.

She had gotten used to holding his hand.

But every ti felt different.

I like this…

She had already forgotten she was supposed to be upset.

Charon simply held her hand back.

And in that mont, he realized–

She wasn't just the perfect, untouchable goddess admired by all Nikkes.

She had emotions.

Fears.

Monts of weakness.

She could rely on others.

She was… just a woman.

Thanks to Rose's map, they navigated flawlessly.

But out of four routes, three were unusable, either swarming with Rapture or completely destroyed.

Only one exit remained.

Ironically, it was the farthest from the logistics center near the orbital elevator.

Though "far" was relative.

In a straight line?

Less than 200 ters.

And yet–

That distance might as well have been impossible.

Charon carefully lifted the sewer cover and peeked out with a portable periscope.

What he saw–

Raptures. Everywhere.

From a few ters tall to over ten.

Even higher-tier ones–possibly lord-class.

"…This is bad."

He was about to pull back and rethink–

When suddenly, his system map activated again.

As if triggered by his observation.

A green extraction point lit up.

Distance: less than 300 ters.

The problem?

To reach it–

They had to pass through the logistics center.

And cross to the other side of the elevator.

"…You've got to be kidding ."

Inside his head, curses exploded.

What the hell kind of extraction point is this?!