NIKKE: The Apocalypse Arrives, But the System is 100 Years Late

"Ah! My Queen!"

Alice suddenly seemed to remember something important and hurriedly ran over, interrupting Ludmilla and Mo Chen's conversation.

Ludmilla turned around, curious. "What is it, Alice?"

"The princesses!"

Due to her height, Alice tilted her head slightly upward, her bright eyes wide with excitement as she clenched her small fists. "We need to visit the sleeping princesses!"

Princesses?

Mo Chen paused briefly, then recalled.

In the research facility, there were several Nikkes.

These Nikkes must be the "princesses" Alice was referring to.

Ludmilla glanced at Mo Chen before turning to Alice. "...Can it wait for a bit? The Commander and I have something to discuss right now."

"No!" Alice, usually so obedient, was now unusually insistent. She shook her head fervently, her urgency clear. "It's been so long since I last saw them! Maybe they're awake by now?"

Ludmilla sighed inwardly.

Those princesses were actually...

"My Queen!"

Alice tugged on Ludmilla's hand, swaying it playfully, her voice full of charm.

Her adorable demeanor was impossible to dislike and even stirred a sense of fondness in those watching.

"Let's go see them first," Mo Chen said with a smile. "Our conversation can wait for later."

Ludmilla cast him an apologetic glance, then smiled down at Alice. "Alright, let's go see the princesses."

"Yay! Hehe, My Queen is the best! Ah, and thank you too, Rabbity!"

He opened his mouth, ready to refute the nickname, but sighed in defeat instead.

Let her call me whatever she wants.

Ludmilla, noticing Mo Chen's resigned expression, couldn't help but laugh. The gloom lingering in her heart seemed to dissipate a little.

Alice led Ludmilla by the hand, eagerly hurrying ahead, familiar with the path. Mo Chen followed behind, quietly observing his surroundings.

Compared to the area outside, this section resembled more of a laboratory—or perhaps, a cryo-chamber.

Numerous cryo-pods lined the room, arranged neatly like coffins. The peeling paint on their surfaces suggested they hadn't been maintained for a long time.

Or perhaps, the people who used them were long gone.

"They're here!"

Alice quickened her pace and dashed forward. "The sleeping princesses are just over here!"

The space was vast, with cryo-pods scattered everywhere.

Standing in front of a pod, Alice enthusiastically introduced it.

"Let me introduce everyone—this is the Blue-Haired Princess!"

"Whirr—!"

The cryo-pod opened.

Inside was a Nikke—missing the top of her head.

"And this one—Yellow-Haired Princess!"

The cryo-pod opened, revealing a Nikke with only her upper body—missing the top of her head.

"Every cryo-pod here holds a sleeping princess!"

Alice was brimming with excitement, narrating as though she were recounting a fairy tale of her own kingdom. "We'll wake them up and build a happy nation together!"

"We'll all eat snacks and drink milk…!"

Mo Chen lifted his gaze, silently observing the Nikke remains within the cryo-pod.

Yes.

They were merely the remnants of Nikkes.

Alice seemed completely unaware of this fact—or rather, Ludmilla had shielded her well from the harsh truth.

At that moment, Ludmilla spoke up.

"Alice!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Speaking of milk, I suddenly feel like having some. Could you fetch me a glass?"

"Ah, yes! Right away, Your Majesty!"

Alice happily darted off.

As she watched her figure fade into the distance, she began to speak.

"You already know the truth, don't you?"

"Hm?"

Ludmilla turned to face Mo Chen, her sharp eyes fixed on him, a stark contrast to her usual gentleness.

"For a long time now, I've noticed something. You seem to know far too much about everything here."

"About what, exactly?"

"Don't play coy anymore. You knew about Alice's condition long before I told you. You're familiar with the research facility's layout, and you even knew how to open the security gates. Moreover, you're aware of my 'ability' to disrupt electronics—something I've never shared with anyone."

Initially, Ludmilla hadn't suspected Mo Chen. His demeanor was far too perfect—his character, his behavior, and especially his treatment of Nikkes. It had gradually disarmed her inherent wariness.

But now, as she revisited the past, countless inconsistencies surfaced.

He seemed adept at handling any situation, as if he already knew what was coming.

He knew about Alice's unique thermal anomaly, her tendency to disrupt electronics, the layout of the research facility, and even how to deal with the monstrous form the base had taken.

Even when confronted with the remains of Nikkes in the cryo-pods, he hadn't shown the slightest surprise.

Ah, so that's what she's talking about.

Mo Chen sighed inwardly. 

I let my guard down.

Ludmilla's eyes bore into his, her fists subconsciously tightening.

"So, is there anything you'd like to explain now?"

The air grew heavy.

After a long pause—

"You've figured it out."

Mo Chen exhaled deeply, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "I always knew this day would come."

Ludmilla's heart sank at his words.

Her suspicions were confirmed.

Her gaze grew more complex as she looked at him.

"Then, can you tell me who you really are? Are you an agent of the Ark? One of those high-ranking officials? Or perhaps… a sovereign?"

As she asked these questions, she felt a storm of emotions welling up within her.

She had always considered him to be an ideal partner—meeting all her criteria, fulfilling what anyone would dream of in a companion. At times, she had even found herself drawn to him.

The trials they had faced together had gradually deepened her trust in him.

But now, it felt like someone had told her that everything was a lie.

"I didn't think you'd discover it so soon," he said with a melancholic sigh.

"If that's the case, there's no other choice but to silence you."

Ludmilla's heart skipped a beat, her body tensing instinctively.

Is he really going to kill me?

She felt a strange mixture of emotions, as though a part of her heart had been hollowed out, a faint sense of betrayal lingering.

And yet, Mo Chen's solemn voice cut through her thoughts: "When did you start liking me? Come on, confess now. Honesty brings leniency, while resistance brings severity."

"Otherwise, why are you paying such close attention to me?"

Ludmilla froze, momentarily doubting her ears.

It wasn't until she noticed the teasing glint in his eyes that she realized she had been played. Her expression turned cold as she wordlessly pulled out her machine gun.

"Wait, wait! Even if you like me, there's no need to kill me, right?"

He quickly raised his hands in surrender, his tone helpless. "If Alice finds out, she'll be heartbroken."

Ludmilla fixed her icy gaze on him, saying nothing, making Mo Chen feel a chill run down his spine.

Is she really mad?

He coughed awkwardly, trying to ease the tension.

"Uh, wasn't that funny?"

Seeing his embarrassed look, she suddenly let out a chuckle but quickly suppressed it, shooting him a glare.

"Who told you to spout nonsense? If you got beaten to death, it would serve you right."

"I wasn't spouting nonsense! Just so you know," he shrugged confidently, "this is all in your head—it has nothing to do with me. Besides, I don't dislike you either, right? We're kind of… mutually attracted, aren't we?"

He said it with an air of righteousness.

"Ugh, as if!"