Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 3 3: Liliweiss

As for the "NIKKE Project," he was also deeply interested in it. After all, he had personally encountered a being known as a NIKKE before.

"So what does this have to do with you and ?"

Andrew stroked his chin and asked that seemingly brain-dead question with a very serious expression.

"…Did you actually pay attention in class?"

Charon sighed helplessly.

This guy really was living up to his own personality.

"Most likely, we're going to be commanding NIKKE units in the future."

"Oh… wait. Did you just say 'regret'?"

Andrew casually agreed at first, but then suddenly caught onto that keyword.

"Yes."

Charon's eyes also showed a hint of realization.

"After all, if she didn't undergo the NIKKE transformation surgery, she wouldn't have much ti left."

Liliweiss one of the best pilots in the Air Force.

After retirent, she was directly hired as a flight instructor at the Air Force Academy.

If things had ended there, she might have quietly retired as the most beautiful and most popular female instructor in the academy.

But reality was never so smooth.

During one training session, Liliweiss' trainer aircraft detected a Rapture attack ahead of ti.

What was counterintuitive was that, up until that mont, humanity had never observed Raptures capable of flight.

To protect the inexperienced trainee aircraft, Liliweiss could have used her skills to quickly escape the attack range. However, in the end, she was shot down and crashed heavily into the ground. Although she did not die on the spot… there was little difference between that and death.

Even if her aircraft had been equipped with any anti-air weapons, she might have been able to do sothing, but it wasn't. In the end, she could do nothing at all.

That accident marked the first appearance of airborne Raptures, and also the downfall of human air power.

Faced with endless, highly mobile flying Raptures, the Air Force beca obsolete in an extrely short period of ti.

"…What a pity."

Andrew sighed. Even he couldn't joke around in a topic like this.

"But is this so-called 'NIKKE Project' really reliable?"

Charon hesitated for a mont.

Because the woman who had entered the Zero Zone and allowed him to finally escape using Disguise Mode… was a NIKKE. However, it seed she ca from the future of Charon's current tiline.

And the na Liliweiss…

Was indeed the first, and the strongest NIKKE in history.

If asked whether it was reliable, then yes, it was.

Because according to history, Liliweiss truly turned her fate around through NIKKE transformation.

"Maybe," Charon said slowly. "After all, without the NIKKE Project, she would already be dead."

Air crash. Severe injuries. Near death.

For Liliweiss, even if she had survived, she would have spent the rest of her life bedridden. What aning would that have had?

It was better to undergo the transformation. If she succeeded, she could continue to shine in this world. If she failed… she would have died anyway. No difference.

"…Hmm, it says here we should go et her."

Only at the very end did Charon speak.

"Huh?"

Only then did Andrew realize that what Charon had been reading all along wasn't a news page, but a damn email.

Finally catching up, Andrew took out his phone and checked his inbox.

"Shit, I've got one too."

"Of course. There's no way sothing like the NIKKE Project would be exposed to the public before it succeeds. Do you think everyone is as dumb as you?"

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say."

Andrew quickly read the ssage.

"Looks like we don't both need to go. Only one of us is required."

"Yeah. It's just to deliver the ssage to Liliweiss and let her et a future commander… wait are you trying to run away?"

Charon imdiately noticed sothing was wrong.

This bastard was planning to dump the job on him and escape.

"Ah, my wife's calling for a long phone chat. I'm out, next ti I'll treat you to drinks!"

By the ti he finished the last word, Andrew had already vanished at the door, even neatly closing it behind him.

Charon almost laughed in anger, but he could understand.

After all, this was a eting with a woman. And if it wasn't necessary, of course you'd avoid it.

That damn bastard…

Well, this was also one of his strengths.

Charon didn't chase after him. He also wanted to et Liliweiss, the strongest NIKKE in human history.

...

After passing through a series of strict inspections, Charon finally entered the hidden hospital.

From the na, to the location, to the stationed doctors, everything was classified at the highest level.

Just like the NIKKE Project itself, the hospital had only been established a few years ago.

Even the route leading here was an underground railway, completely inaccessible to the public.

After analyzing all the identity checks, Charon concluded that if he had no invitation or clearance, the only way to get in would be to fight his way through, and he might still get lost inside.

That alone showed how much humanity valued the NIKKE Project.

This Disguise Mode really was incredible.

At last, Charon arrived at Liliweiss' hospital room.

Since he had already passed layer upon layer of inspection, there was no need for additional surveillance.

"…Your visitation ti is thirty minutes. Ms. Liliweiss cannot remain conscious for long."

The nurse said sternly, and Charon nodded, carefully morizing the instructions.

Finally, all irrelevant personnel withdrew.

Charon entered the windowless room.

The walls displayed hyper-realistic interactive scenery of the outside world. From Charon's perspective, it was flawless, even simulating wind through a ventilation system.

As long as absolute safety was guaranteed, it worked surprisingly well as psychological comfort.

Liliweiss sat on the hospital bed.

Her entire body, including her face, was wrapped in unknown bandages. The only exposed part was her right eye.

Sensing his arrival, she slowly sat up.

That eye contained almost no light like sothing already close to death.

It was completely different from the woman in the photographs.

In the photos, Liliweiss had a confident smile and unwavering determination.

A woman who could have lived off her looks alone, yet chose to join the military and beca an ace pilot.

A truly legendary life.

But now, that legend stood before Charon like cracked glass one touch away from shattering.

At this point, the only thing keeping her alive was probably the hope of the NIKKE Project.

As Charon had suspected, without it, her future was already gone.

"You're Liliweiss, right?"

Charon pulled up a chair and sat by the bed.

"…Well, in this state, you probably can't talk."

"If you agree with what I say, blink once. If you disagree, blink twice. Understood?"

She blinked.

"Alright, first question."

Charon looked serious.

"Do you like barbecue?"

"When your surgery is over, I know a newly opened BBQ place. It's really good, I'll treat you."

Liliweiss: ?

…What the hell is this guy talking about?