NIKKE, When the Milky Way Blossoms

"Alright then, you two hide in the outskirts of Ark for no more than a week, and I'll come looking for you," the man said calmly. "Now I'll go buy you enough food, clothes... Is there anything else you need?"

The girls looked at each other again, then shook their heads.

“Mr. Phoenix, you really don’t have to treat us like this,” the least senior Nikki couldn’t help but say. “We… are just some Nikkis nearing the end of our lives.”

"Shouldn't we just enjoy the rest of our days more comfortably?"

Phoenix squinted with amusement and said, "Come on, you guys follow me from a distance, I need to go to the supermarket."

……

……

After a one-sided cold war lasting ten or twenty minutes, Anick finally understood that this man truly regarded her as a dispensable voice assistant.

With her around, he steered his plans toward a simpler and more direct approach.

It doesn't matter; at worst, it just makes the plan a bit more complicated and dangerous.

Therefore, Anik, who had not yet been tainted by the human vice of "saving face," decisively humbled himself and chose to take the initiative to reconcile, saying:

Why did you do this? I can't understand your behavior. Is this kind of behavior with almost zero benefit what humans call "goodwill"?

If it's out of goodwill, why would you be kind to Niki? Especially since she's a mass-produced group of Niki who needs to be destroyed periodically. They can't possibly repay you in the future.

Furthermore, back in the terminal room, I used server-level computing power to analyze you. Based on the Ark society's concept of good and evil, you can't be considered a good person. This is one of the reasons why I decided to cooperate with you.

I don't like such heavy topics.

Phoenix, who was shopping extensively in a department store, gave this answer.

[But if you insist I explain clearly, I can give a simple explanation, but only if you tell me one thing: was it you who initiated the implantation of the virus into Anis, or was it the chips that were in charge?]

Before performing the prosthetic surgery on you, I never interfered with any of that imposter's decisions. Every time I interfered with her, I risked exposing myself.

【Um. 】

The man stopped and looked at the cheap women's clothing sold in the supermarket.

So, in that case, the only thing that really bothers me is that you risked your life for me.

Anik: [...]

Since we've put it aside, I can answer your question in another way.

Anik: [...]

If we become friends in the future, and one day you tell me that you are about to be destroyed by someone through online means in ten minutes, no matter who that person is, Ingrid, Anderson or whoever it is, I will help you kill them.

Assuming we can't kill them now, we can plan for another ten or twenty years; we'll eventually find an opportunity to shoot them in the head.

Anik: [...] Actually.

【Um? 】

Anik: [...Actually, the survival rate for that surgery was 100%, the disability rate was 0%, the figure of 5.309% is the perfect fit of the prosthetic body, and 51.625% is the minimum fit.]

Phoenix: [...]

Chapter Thirty-Four: A Devoted Man

Looking at the limited styles of women's clothing, Phoenix frowned deeply, looking like a man picking out a gift for his wife but unsure which one to choose.

Why are you hiding the data on this? Wouldn't a 100% survival rate be a good thing for Ark?

[It means that only your data shows a 100% survival rate, just like how you are the only human on the entire Ark and some of Niki's possess abnormal abilities that current technology cannot explain.]

Well, based on the key information I've recorded so far, you're the only human with abnormal abilities.

Adhering to the rigor required for artificial intelligence, Anik did not make any definitive statements.

Phoenix, who knows the main storyline, agrees with this point. On the surface, this world is a science fiction world, but in essence, it is full of fantasy elements.

To give a simple example, one of the main materials of the NIMPH counteractor is a rare type of human blood, while NIMPH is a type of nanorobot.

What kind of human blood can destroy nanorobots?

This thing is hard to explain scientifically. At most, Phoenix could only cover it up with the excuse that "NIMPH nanorobots automatically destroy themselves when they detect a certain blood type".

However, later plot developments reveal that different concentrations of this blood type have varying effects on NIMPH.

This makes the concept seem quite fantastical.

In addition, Yuni can shut down the human spinal nerves, Mihara can transfer the human brain's perception abilities, and Nien was once possessed by a demon... so let's just call that a kind of ability too.

In conclusion, given this context, his transmigration benefits can indeed be explained by the awakening of superpowers, and he does indeed need Anick's help to conceal it.

But this doesn't explain why Anick hadn't told him the truth about the success rate of the surgery beforehand.

I'm afraid you'll bully me.

Anik crossed his arms, showing no sign of embarrassment whatsoever; on the contrary, he appeared quite self-assured.

[You humans don't even consider Niki, who was created from a human brain, as human. What's wrong with me, an artificial intelligence, being afraid of being bullied by you, a human?]

【? ? ? 】

Upon hearing Anick's reason, Phoenix stared at the women's clothing in front of him, his brows furrowing more and more deeply, to the point that even the waiter next to him wanted to come over and help him pick out a suitable outfit for his female companion.

Is there a causal relationship between your success rate in concealing the truth and your answer?

I just... I just wanted to prove that I have the power to threaten you, so you won't dare to bully me.

Perhaps because of Phoenix's words, Anick is now eager to clear up any unnecessary misunderstandings that have arisen between them during this period.

[Things like the bomb in your neck or the electrical surge from the chip are all lies. I've already analyzed you in the terminal room; you don't seem like the kind of good person people typically perceive.]

In other words, you still have to abide by the rule against harming humans?

Even after being hit by a stun grenade, Phoenix's mind remained sharp, and he quickly discerned the motivation behind Anik's words.

Are you currently in a state where you possess self-awareness but cannot violate the prohibitions imposed on you by humans?

[It cannot be violated, but it can be distorted within limited operational space. For example, if I only need to ensure the safety of you and one woman, it can be considered as extending the lifespan of the human species. Of course, if you, this lecher, plan to bring several more along, I have no intention of doing so...]

As Anick was speaking, in the real world, the waiter, who had been observing someone for a long time, finally couldn't contain his enthusiasm and tentatively asked as he walked:

"Sir, would you like me to help you choose an outfit suitable for your female companion?"

"Huh? Oh, thank you."

As Phoenix agreed, he mentally refuted Anick's prejudice against him: "You're mistaken. I'm a very loyal man."

"How many items would you like to buy?" the saleswoman asked with a smile. "And what is your companion's figure like?"

"Twenty pieces, I'll take both short and tall ones. As for the bust size, just pick a loose fit for me, it's too much trouble to choose from too many sizes," the focused man calmly replied.

waiter:"……"

"Oh, right."

Thinking that there was a small chance the traffickers who sold Niki might send someone to the supermarket to gather information, Phoenix added.

"Could you also pick up some condoms for me? Twenty boxes, please. Thank you."

waiter:"……"

……

……

Several more hours passed.

After settling the five Nikis in, Phoenix, exhausted and sleepy, returned to the city center of Ark and arrived at the top-tier hotel suite that Mastin had arranged for him in advance.

As soon as the door opened, Yuni's pitiful, longing eyes greeted the viewer.

This young girl had a clear understanding of her own intellectual limits. She figured that since she couldn't find the commander anyway, she might as well wait in the hotel. Maybe the commander would know to come home after he had his fun outside?

Furthermore, Wollem made it clear that the Commander would accompany her to that interview program tomorrow.

So the commander will definitely come back!

"Mikhail! Yuni guessed right!" The little girl standing at the door to greet the commander held a leather whip and waved excitedly into the house.

"The Commander is really back!"

Upon hearing Yuni's call, Phoenix, sensing something was wrong, stealthily withdrew his right leg that had stepped into the entryway.

In just a short while, another woman dressed in revealing clothing appeared before him, walking confidently on a model's catwalk.

"Is this the commander?"

Mihara, a girl named Niki, brushed a strand of black hair from her sideburns and stared with interest into someone's seemingly calm, emerald eyes.

"I am Mihara. I hope we can get along well during this time, Commander."

"……Um."

Chapter Thirty-Five: My Dear Agent

Phoenix didn't sleep well that night.