Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 86 86: The Truth Behind the Melee Squad

On the way back, the Nikkes remained silent.

Even though everyone had survived once again, nobody looked particularly happy.

Because everyone understood one thing:

Maybe next ti.

Or the ti after that.

Sooner or later, soone would die.

Especially the Nikke who had nearly undergone Mind Switch earlier–she now had to be carried by her squad mbers. The mont her feet touched the ground, she showed signs of a stress response bordering on panic. They needed to get her sowhere safe as quickly as possible so she could slowly calm down.

The calming effects of NIMPH were becoming weaker and weaker.

...

When they returned to base, Barnes glanced at the number of people who had co back.

For so reason, he suddenly seed too exhausted to even continue speaking. His brows remained tightly furrowed, and after a few perfunctory words, he hurriedly left.

...

Training Ground.

None of the Nikkes were training today.

Right now, they needed rest.

In fact, they no longer even had the ti or energy for proper training anymore.

"Why does the Lieutenant look unhappy?" one Nikke whispered quietly. "We completed the mission successfully…"

"Maybe because we didn't bring back many spoils," another replied weakly. "Also… we look too miserable right now. Let's clean ourselves up and try to achieve a major victory next ti…"

Her voice gradually faded.

A major victory?

Against enemies this strong?

With what exactly were they supposed to achieve that?

In just one month, their situation had beco completely different.

The ambitions they once held had been washed away by endless Raptures… and a future with no visible end.

Rose remained silent.

Normally, she would already be comforting the others.

But today…

she no longer knew what to say.

The mont she saw Scarlet's damaged leg components, even she could no longer continue pretending everything would be fine.

"Co to think of it," one Nikke suddenly muttered, "how long has it been since we last received supplies?"

"A week ago," soone imdiately answered.

"Food supplies, repair components… none of it has arrived for an entire week."

"If this keeps going… we really are going to…"

"The Lieutenant says the war situation is tense, but…"

"And the Second Lieutenant too… if we can't repair our damaged bodies soon, then if sothing happens to him, we…"

The Nikkes quietly discussed among themselves.

Doubts toward the governnt.

A growing resentnt toward the Lieutenant.

Fear of the Raptures.

But when it ca to Ron Second Lieutenant–

almost every single one of them viewed him positively.

Unlike other humans, he never treated Nikkes as disposable tools.

When danger ca, he never abandoned anyone.

He even risked his own life for them.

He had even gone so far as to retrieve a Nikke's weapon from the hands of the Raptures.

And when supplies failed to arrive, it was the Second Lieutenant who found food for them, keeping the squad alive.

Otherwise, going onto the battlefield hungry would only have made them die faster.

They truly wanted him to stay safely in the rear.

At this point, it had nothing to do with fear of punishnt anymore.

They simply didn't want Charon to get hurt.

...

"Sis…"

Scarlet watched Rose crouched beside her, repairing her leg components.

For once, guilt slipped into her voice.

"I'm sorry."

If not for the Second Lieutenant, Rose would definitely have lost her weapon permanently, which would have affected her combat ability in future missions.

And if that happened…

sothing truly terrible might have followed.

"What are you talking about, silly girl?"

Rose looked up with a slight frown.

"The ones at fault are logistics–not you. If your maintenance had been handled properly, none of this would've happened."

She released Scarlet's leg and stood up.

"Anyway, I need to talk to the Lieutenant again. The food the Second Lieutenant found isn't unlimited. If we don't get proper supplies soon, we're all going to die."

Then she smiled gently.

"There. Can you move now, Scarlet?"

Scarlet flexed her leg a few tis before nodding.

"Luckily, it was only a loose screw."

Rose stood up fully, forcing a warm smile onto her face.

"Don't worry, everyone. I'll make sure to secure supplies for all of you."

"I'm coming too," Scarlet said seriously. "Two people should be more effective than one."

"Alright. Then we'll go together."

The other Nikkes all looked toward the two sisters.

If both aces went together, then surely that Lieutenant would finally do sothing… right?

But before they could even reach the door, it suddenly opened on its own.

A familiar figure stepped into the training ground.

Charon.

And on his back was a massive bag.

Charon glanced once toward the darkness behind him before shutting the door, sealing the cold night outside.

Rubbing his hands together, he muttered:

"Damn, it's pretty cold. You girls really can't feel it?"

As he spoke, he set down the bag and rummaged through it.

Eventually, he pulled out a coal-burning heater.

Then ca honeycomb coal bricks, fire starters, tal tongs, and an entire tool set.

A short while later, the heater was successfully lit.

Only then did Charon finally sigh in relief, rubbing his hands beside the warmth.

"Co sit over here, everyone. Even Nikkes can feel cold eventually. It'll be warr near the stove."

The sword sisters exchanged glances.

Their desire to go confront the Lieutenant vanished instantly.

Deep down, they already knew talking to that man was pointless.

This wasn't the first conversation of its kind.

The Lieutenant always repeated the sa excuses:

"The war situation is difficult,"

"Supplies are limited,"

and so on.

No supplies.

Only endless missions.

Compared to that useless Lieutenant–

the man in front of them felt far more reliable.

Before Rose could even react, Scarlet had already sat down beside the heater first.

Rose opened her mouth slightly, only to stop herself midway.

"Second Lieutenant," Scarlet imdiately said with a dark expression, "do you realize how dangerous what you did today was?"

"Why couldn't you just stay outside like you were supposed to?"

"Uh… well, I just wanted to make sure all of you got out safely…"

Charon's voice gradually grew quieter.

Even he sounded guilty.

"If you die, then even if the rest of us survive, we'll still all end up getting dismantled together! Do you even understand how serious that is?!"

Scarlet was in the middle of lecturing him when Rose suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Alright, Scarlet. There's no point talking about that now."

Then she smiled softly.

"Besides… if it weren't for the Second Lieutenant, we probably would've died long ago."

Scarlet fell silent.

Of course she knew that already.

That was exactly why she got angry whenever Charon recklessly threw himself into danger.

His swordsmanship wasn't even finished yet, and yet he constantly rushed toward the battlefield like so lunatic.

He seriously didn't act like a normal human at all.

She was angry.

The kind that couldn't be soothed easily.

Soon, the rest of the girls also gathered around the heater.

Ten people sat neatly around the small stove–including those who had originally been resting in the dorms.

This had practically beco their daily routine.

Staying alone in their rooms was worse.

If they sat there alone with their thoughts for too long, they might actually trigger Mind Switch.

...

"Actually," Charon suddenly said quietly, "I ca here tonight to tell you all sothing."

His voice dropped lower.

"It's about the truth behind the lee squad."

At that instant–

Rose's breathing suddenly stopped.

She looked at Charon with almost pleading eyes.

But due to his angle, he never noticed her expression.

"I need all of you," he continued softly, "to prepare yourselves ntally first."