Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 55 55: If You’re Neither Alive Nor Dead, Then You’re

As expected… by the ti Ana arrived here, Liliweiss had already established the Goddess Squad and made a na for them.

In her tiline, they were actively fighting as well.

Charon's interest in the Goddess Squad wasn't fake, and because of that, Ana seed to grow a little closer to him.

There was even a hint of childish logic in her attitude:

"If I like the Goddess Squad, and you like them too… then we're friends!"

Charon, however, didn't reveal his identity.

After all, once the disguise mode ended, that identity was gone.

He had, quite literally, blown up alongside those Raptures.

Dead beyond doubt.

…No one was seriously going to insist on "seeing the body," right?

If your life or death was unknown, then you were dead.

...

Talking about the Goddess Squad completely opened Ana up.

The earlier distance between them quietly faded as she spoke excitedly.

But Charon could tell, she was also using this topic to suppress the pain in her heart.

Too mature.

Far too mature for her age.

Taking the opportunity, Charon learned more about the squad's recent activities.

Since the Fairy Tale models had joined, Liliweiss had appeared less frequently.

Most of the ti, the others handled the fighting.

But whenever sothing exceeded their limits, she would step in.

One dagger.

That was all she used.

Whether facing close-range monsters or long-range heavy hitters, every ti she moved, it was one person, one blade.

And after a blur of motion–

the Raptures would already be reduced to fragnts of every imaginable shape.

...

Among civilians, many people found that dagger… unsatisfactory.

How could a "Goddess" use sothing so plain?

Unacceptable!

They even tried crowdfunding to get her a cooler, more impressive weapon.

She politely refused.

So didn't give up and sent weapons anyway, only to watch them last less than three seconds in her hands.

No matter the weapon–

if it survived two battles, it was already a miracle.

Aside from that ordinary-looking dagger–

nothing had ever accompanied her into a third fight.

Eventually, after countless gentle refusals, people gave up.

That dagger…

was the only one she would ever use.

...

Even VTC had once proposed studying its "indestructible" properties.

She rejected them outright.

No room for negotiation.

To this day, no one knew where that weapon ca from.

Not even Colonel Andrew.

Not even the other mbers of the Goddess Squad.

...

Thinking about it–

Charon hadn't even asked what happened to Rose.

But then again…

Ana admired the Goddess Squad.

What would she know about a logistics hacker?

He'd have to find out next ti.

What surprised him more was this:

Ana,so young, yet she rembered all of this in such detail.

She truly loved them.

"But… you do know the price of becoming a Nikke, right?" Charon finally asked.

"…Mm. It doesn't matter."

Ana lowered her head.

"My mom and dad… are gone."

Her voice didn't shake.

"I want to use a Nikke's power… to avenge them."

…

This child…

Was strong.

"Alright," Charon said softly. "I'll take you back."

"But the road might be dangerous. I need you to stay calm, and trust in the power of those shoes. They will protect you. Okay?"

"…Mm. I'm ready."

Their rest was over.

Everything in the room had been collected.

The dical kit was the only real resource point, fully stocked.

Charon was already back at full condition, so he packed it for ergencies.

"By the way… where did that mirror shard co from?"

At last, he asked the question that had been bothering him.

The purple-glowing fragnt on the dressing table had caught his attention long ago.

Ana froze.

She glanced at it, and her face turned pale.

Her body instinctively moved behind Charon.

"…It's… a piece of a monster…"

After her explanation, Charon understood.

It was likely so kind of entity triggered by fear or negative emotions.

But Ana…

Wasn't normal.

Not only had she resisted it, her reaction had been so strong that the process ended imdiately.

Based on the purple energy, it was probably a multi-layered death trap.

But she had broken it at the very first step.

A monster… killed in the most unfair way possible.

Maybe even, the only chance it ever had to be defeated.

Charon walked over and picked up the shard.

...

[Na: Mirror of Truth · Fragnt]

[Type: Tool]

[Quality: Gold]

[Recycle Value: 480,000 Zero Coins]

[Uses: Unlimited]

Effect:

Within the mirror–there is no falsehood.

Note:

"Everyone claims to desire the truth.

Until the truth is truly laid before them."

Charon's hand trembled slightly.

…How much?

He glanced back at Ana–

Then back at the item.

His pupils shook.

After a brief internal battle, he swallowed hard and forced himself to stay calm.

"It's been purified," he said. "You did well. It's a very powerful item now."

"…Not as strong as your shoes, but with it, you won't be deceived by false things."

Ana still looked confused.

Charon didn't give her ti to think.

He quickly wrapped the shard in bandages from the dical kit so she could hold it safely.

If he didn't finish this quickly, he might lose control.

Four hundred eighty thousand…

This girl…

Was truly blessed.

The shoes.

The mirror.

Both were invaluable tools for survival in this zone.

She looked at the item–

Then at Charon's barely restrained expression.

For so reason, she smiled softly.

"Mr. Charon… when we get out safely… I'll give this to you. Okay?"

"Deal."

Charon lit up imdiately.

He grabbed her small hand and shook it enthusiastically, his expression deadly serious.

Ana trembled at the sudden contact.

Her gaze shifted away, she couldn't look directly into those clear eyes.

His face… was too close.

…

Once everything was ready–

Charon stood in front.

Ana stood behind him.

"Listen," he said. "Outside might be worse. Dirtier than I was earlier. If you're scared, you can hold onto my clothes."

Ana nodded firmly.

She reached out and pinched a tiny corner of his sleeve.

Both of them looked at the door.

The garbage field outside looked like a one-way trap, but with the shoes, she could avoid all filth.

Even climb walls… reach the elevator shaft.

And besides–

There had to be a proper exit.

No system-designed map would trap players forever.

If there wasn't one, then it was hidden.

"Stay close."

Charon pushed the door open.

And what greeted them, was no longer the sa garbage field as before.

But the face of another world.