NIKKE, When the Milky Way Blossoms

“Yes.” Someone explained, half-jokingly, “Aside from the switch between Emma and Diesel, and the temporary selection of Marian, I have already considered all the other personnel configurations in the past few days.”

"...Is that so? Well, thank you for your hard work."

……

……

After Phoenix finished discussing the details with Anderson, he returned to his hotel suite accompanied by Eunice and Mihara. It was already 11:30 p.m.

"You guys take a shower first, I'll shower after you're done."

The man held the commander's tablet and reviewed the recruit file that Vice Commander Anderson had given him.

【Name: Hua Erqiulei】

Age: 21

Height: 166cm

[Physical fitness data: 10-meter sprint time 77 seconds.]

[Fitness data: 72 minutes 31 seconds for 66 kilometers with weight]

[Physical fitness data: Maximum vertical reach...]

[Physical fitness data...]

Physical fitness...

Just as Phoenix was still wondering if the recruit named Valkyrie might be the gender-swapped protagonist from the original storyline, he heard Mihara's gentle reminder.

"Commander, Yuni and I have finished washing up."

"Oh, I'll go right away."

The man pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. He had to admit that having a three-hour conversation with the deputy commander, who was constantly in high-intensity meetings, was a very tiring and mentally taxing task.

……

……

Splash splash splash splash—

A large amount of hot water kept washing over his body, trying to alleviate Phoenix's fatigue, but also badly washing away his drowsy sleepiness.

Already burdened with many worries, the man was further awakened by the hot shower, finding himself completely sober.

Based on past experience, this familiar feeling...

I'm probably going to have trouble sleeping tonight.

Thinking this, he grabbed a bath towel and quickly wiped the moisture off his skin with the built-in hairdryer.

Once everything was settled, the person lay back on their bed, turned off the light, and prepared to wage an endless battle against insomnia throughout the night.

However, just as Phoenix closed his eyes!

A crisp, melodious clanging of chains suddenly rang out at his feet.

Under the cover of darkness,

Then he heard Mihara's urgent, panting longing coming from someone's side to his ear.

"Hey~ it was the Commander who said it himself... life should be a verb~"

"So~ Phew~ please, Master... continue to fulfill my yearning for life~"

Chapter Sixty: Preparing for the Ghost-Catching Game

When one end of the chain binds a person into slavery, while the other end is controlled by another, the relationship between the two is definitively established at that moment.

The night was very deep.

Located at the head of the bed, the originally dark lightbox suddenly emitted a faint yellow light, illuminating a flushed, drunken face in a hazy way, making her look even more alluring and irresistible.

Beneath those mesmerizing deep purple pupils were a pair of pink eyes that subtly shaped like peach hearts.

Heavy breathing accompanied the private pronouncement of the trial, bringing a crisp punishment to the slave.

Then came what appeared to be a painful plea.

But if you listen more closely, you can hear that the plea is mixed with an incomparably happy joy and longing.

Even the chains that symbolized dominance jingled excitedly from time to time...

Then, urged on by the river of time, the melodious tinkling sound suddenly became more frequent at a certain point, and not only that, it also took on a rhythm and cadence that had never been there before.

Like waves crashing on the beach, endless and wet with mud.

tonight,

It's destined to be a tiring night.

……

……

noon the next day.

Phoenix probably never imagined that the "auxiliary metal support module" that Anick had arbitrarily installed in his spine would one day come in such a useful place.

Not only were the post-war settlement data fruitful, but even sleep quality saw a qualitative leap.

Hua la la la——

The sound of running water filled the bathroom. Phoenix, leaning over the sink, let the cold water wash over his face. As he felt the chill on his skin, he confronted Anik in his mind.

Did you go to bed early last night?

Yes, I went to sleep immediately when I sensed Mihara sneaking in. I swear, I didn't even glance at her!

[Speaking of which, what time did Mihara come to my room?]

【Huh? How would I know what time it is? I didn't time you guys. I set my default wake-up time to 8 AM.】

【Fine. 】

Having temporarily accepted the AI's claim that it hadn't been spying, Phoenix straightened up from the sink, picked up a towel hanging on the wall, and wiped his face as he walked back to the bedroom.

Since it was past lunchtime and the hotel no longer offered lunch, Mihara thoughtfully went out to buy him a meal.

In other words, the only people in the suite for the time being are Yuni, who is watching anime by herself in the lobby, and him, the unconventional commander.

Eunice...

You probably didn't hear it.

Although the girl and Mihara had a wild time together in private, Phoenix couldn't help but feel a little uneasy thinking that the bedroom's soundproofing might not be able to block out the noise from last night.

Suddenly, he understood the embarrassment of parents being caught red-handed by their children.

should……

Boom boom boom!

"Commander! Come out for dinner! Commander!"

Outside the door, Yuni's innocent shouts rang out.

One of the commanders hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, with a "what's the use of it all" attitude, he braced himself and walked out of the bedroom. Amidst Mihara's bright and charming smile and Yuni's mischievous laughter, he pretended nothing had happened and began to eat his lunch.

Skin, huh?

Everyone has to work hard to improve.

……

"Walhem messaged me saying there was a problem with her recording process and the schedule would have to be postponed for a few more days."

Phoenix, wearing only a bathrobe, ate a simple curry rice bowl and said:

"Commander Anderson has asked me to conduct a 15-day intensive training session for a new recruit, so these two days should be my last vacation."

I'd like to take advantage of the holiday and go try out some escape rooms by myself.

"Eh?!"

Upon hearing that there was an escape room game available, the little girl, who was watching cartoons, immediately stood up and sat next to the commander, tugging at his robe and saying with dissatisfaction:

"Is it one of those escape rooms like in 'Saw'? Yuni wants to play too!"

Phoenix: "..."

“Yuni~, the Commander only said he wanted to go play by himself first, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t take us.” Mihara keenly sensed the emphasis in her commander’s words.

"Go play first," but judging from the commander's personality, it's probably not going to be for fun.

"Okay, just wait for me at the exit, and I'll take you through it all again."