Chapter 4: You're Not Allowed to Attend the Party
Drake's false information was like a bomb dropped into deep water, causing the group chat's activity to skyrocket.
All the Nikkes were now asking about the truth behind the news.
Rupee: "Is Big Bro Commander really going to choose a Nikke tonight?? It has to be Rupee!"
Drake: "Yes, and they'll sleep together."
Sugar: "Can I kiss while sleeping?"
Rapi: "No. Nikkes are subordinates to the Commander. Please don't overstep boundaries."
Sugar: "Alright then, I'll rephrase: Can I sleep while kissing?"
Rapi: "..."
Rapunzel: "In the darkness of night, facing the trembling Nikke at the Commander Center, the older brother removes his clothes, turning into a beast, and uses his strangely shaped spear to pound the Nikke to her knees, forcing her to become his slave for the entire night… haa, haa…"
Rapunzel: "At dawn, the brother gazes upon the limp, boneless Nikke lying in bed, a sly smile on his face. He gently strokes the fragile body with his large hands and whispers in her ear: 'Whatever happened between us, you mustn't report to the Central Government. And don't tell any of the other Nikkes. Don't forget—I know your serial number, and I know which squad you belong to…'"
Soline: "Is Commander really that kind of person???"
Rapunzel: "Of course! No one understands him better than I do. Beneath that cold exterior lies a burning desire, and his goal is to make every Nikke in the Outpost into a version of himself… haa, haa… I can't… I can't stop the delusions in my head!"
Grim held his phone, almost spitting his coffee all over the Commander Center desk.
Damn it, Rapunzel, why is your imagination so detailed?!
"But Rapunzel's half right."
Grim put down his coffee cup, savoring the image of the Nikkes in his mind.
Nikkes were incredibly cute and sexy creatures.
And as a man with a normal mind and physiology, how could he not be tempted?
However, if Grim tried to make a move on a Nikke in the Commander Center at night, the difficulty
would be too high—unless the other side was willing to cooperate.
As a Commander frequently assigned to Surface missions, Grim knew better than anyone how heavy a Nikke's body was.
Generally, combat-type Nikkes weighed between 100KG to 300KG, with some special models—those with unique cores and heavy weapons—being several times heavier Although there were lightweight bodies for daily use, Nikkes rarely switched unless they were on extended leave or attending formal events.
The first reason was that switching to a backup body required permission from their superior. While the process wasn't long, many Nikkes avoided it to maintain their psychological sense of "being
human," only doing it in cases of battle damage or maintenance.
The second reason was that Ark was never truly peaceful, and emergencies could happen at any time. Filing a request for body change during a crisis would be troublesome.
And to face a Nikke over a hundred kilograms, Rapunzel actually said Grim—just a mortal man—should be able to "handle" them.
To this, Grim could only say: If he didn't shatter his pelvis, that'd already be a win.
"But with my current physical condition, I should be able to manage, right?"
Temporarily setting aside those thoughts, Grim stood up from his office chair, opened a drawer, and pulled out a black-silver pistol along with its matching gun oil. He began routine maintenance.
As Grim stared at the pistol, memories slowly resurfaced.
Back then, he had used this weapon to execute his exclusive Nikke—Marian—who had been corrupted by the Rapture.
That day, he saw Marian being torn apart by the Blacksmith. Her arms and legs were shredded, leaving only her glowing red eyes, a broken body, and the phrase "I'm here" repeating from her mouth.
"Corrupted Nikkes become Rapture allies."
"Nikkes can't execute other Nikkes. Commander, please do it."
At Rapi's urging, Grim's finger pulled the trigger.
But why did his hand tremble?
The dark muzzle hadn't fired a bullet in a long time.
Grim took a deep, shaky breath, chest full of grief and rage, rendering him unable to act.
After all, forcing a Commander to personally execute his own exclusive Nikke was far too cruel.
"Commander… I'm here…"
"Marian?"
In a daze, Grim heard Marian's voice.She reached out and gently placed her hand on his, which was holding the trigger.
Though corrupted by Rapture, she still smiled and gently whispered, "Commander, I'm glad you bandaged me up…"
That was the first time she had ever felt kindness since being created as a Nikke.
Then, with her finger, she pressed down hard, pulling the trigger for Grim.
Bang!
The bullet of the past struck Grim in the forehead, snapping him out of that painful yet tender memory.
And from that day, a lifelong mission was born in Grim's heart—one he would pursue to the very end.
Eliminate the Raptures.
Free the Nikkes.
He would never let another Nikke be corrupted again.
And Marian…
A trace of anxiety showed on Grim's face.
Even though he had led the Counterattack Squad to defeat Punishment, Marian had still been corrupted by Screamer in the final moments.
The only way to save her was to hand Marian over to Ingrid for a complete brainwash.
Grim had done it.
He had to—for Marian's sake.
But that also meant she would never return.
She would become like a newborn, with no memories, no intelligence—everything starting from scratch.
Would Marian still remember him then?
Grim felt uneasy.
Even though he had the knowledge of a transmigrator, he wasn't sure whether the story would continue like it had in the game.
Now, the only thing he could do was wait.
Feeling a bit out of sorts, Grim opened the group chat to see what kind of weird topic the Nikkes were discussing now.
——Commander Fan Club——
Lucky Bunny (Blanc): "I want to attend the party."
Doesn't Want to Wear a Mask (Maiden): "Me too."
Extremely Tired Office Worker (Yulha): "+1"
Rapi: "The Commander Center is not a love hotel. Please have some dignity. Even if there's an event, unauthorized Nikkes are not allowed to attend the party."
Privaty: "Not allowed? Rapi, you seem confused today, you even typed it wrong."
Privaty: "I get it. You just want everyone to stay away so you can secretly enjoy all the fun for yourself, right!"