The lead Nikke perked up immediately when Ludmilla asked her a question, and her eyes shone with excitement.
"Let me tell you, the outpost now is completely different from what it used to be."
"Completely different?"
Ludmilla looked at the Nikke in front of her. These exhausted Nikkes suddenly seemed revitalized, as if just thinking about that place had given them endless energy.
The other Nikkes also nodded enthusiastically, all talking at once.
"Yes, yes! A few months ago, a commander came from the Ark. He eliminated the Raptures, defeated the tyrant-class Rapture Chatterbox, and cleared out the area within 20 kilometers."
"There are no Raptures there anymore."
"And he even built tall walls."
Ludmilla was shocked.
She knew about the situation at the outpost: the fact that it hadn't fallen already was a miracle.
That was a place the Ark was about to abandon.
Who exactly was this commander who could accomplish such a feat?
"That commander isn't just strong, he's also very, very kind."
"Yeah!"
"He's not only approachable but also treats Nikkes like family."
"He even passed a law granting Nikkes the same citizenship as humans."
"Even if you made mistakes back in the Ark, you don't have to worry about being sent back for judgment."
"You don't have to live in fear of having your memories erased over every little mistake."
If the earlier feats, such as defeating Chatterbox and treating Nikkes kindly, had already surprised Ludmilla, then passing such a law completely stunned her.
Giving Nikkes the same status as humans was something no one had dared to attempt in the past century.
That rule was the foundation of the Ark's existence.
"And they even take in wandering Nikkes! No matter what mistakes you made in the past or what crimes you committed, they let it all go. They provide food, water, and shelter too."
"That's why we call it Gensokyo."
The Nikkes chattered on excitedly. Their cheeks were flushed, and their eyes were filled with anticipation—no, longing.
It was a longing for a new life!
But Ludmilla quickly caught on to one detail.
"You said... 'supposedly'?"
The lead Nikke scratched her head sheepishly.
"Well... to be honest, we've never actually been to Gensokyo ourselves. But we heard about it from other Nikkes who've been there. And a lot of Nikkes are heading there too."
One of the Nikkes beside her nudged her gently, and the lead Nikke quickly realized something.
"Oh, it's getting late. We need to hurry to the next checkpoint before nightfall."
"Thank you so much for your help."
Ludmilla fell into deep thought.
Judging from the way these Nikkes acted, they didn't seem to be lying. But the story they were telling sounded far too fantastical to be true.
No wonder she had encountered fewer lost Nikkes recently—they had all headed there.
Thinking about this, Ludmilla decided to go check it out herself; she had to make sure those Nikkes weren't being deceived.
The lead Nikke froze for a moment before lighting up with joy.
"You're coming too? That's great! We were worried about running into danger on the way, but if you're with us, we won't have to worry anymore."
The other Nikkes also beamed with happiness.
Ludmilla's title, the Queen of Snow, was well-known throughout the wastelands.
And so, the Nikkes set out with Ludmilla toward the so-called Gensokyo described by the other Nikkes.
Along the way, the Nikkes chattered endlessly about the stories they had heard from others.
Equality, freedom, human rights, free medical care, and free food and lodging—all of it left the battered and weary Nikkes longing for such a place.
"Queen, what is Gensokyo?"
Alice, who was holding Ludmilla's hand, asked curiously.
Ludmilla snapped out of her thoughts and affectionately patted Alice's head.
"It's a place where everything is beautiful."
"Everything is beautiful?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Ah! Then Alice wants to go too!"
Alice's eyes lit up with anticipation as she clung to Ludmilla's hand.
Ludmilla gently squeezed Alice's small hand and smiled warmly.
"Alright, let's go."
Meanwhile, inside the outpost, the atmosphere was festive and joyous.
After Ingrid's departure, the other two members of the special forces, Emma and Vesti, arrived. They came to escort Silverlight away, as the mission had been completed.
To show his hospitality, Mo Chen invited them to join the celebration to liven things up.
The two Nikkes readily agreed.
Perhaps it was the presence of fresh ingredients, or the fact that they had narrowly survived the recent battle, or maybe it was because they had never experienced holidays or celebrations before, but the Nikkes were having a great time.
Mo Chen originally didn't plan to attend, thinking his presence might make everyone feel too formal and unable to relax.
But under the pressure of their enthusiasm, he had no choice but to go up and say a few words.
Mo Chen kept his speech short and to the point.
Less was more in these situations—after all, this was a celebration, not a conference. Nobody wanted to listen to a long-winded speech.
Being considerate, Mo Chen simply said a few words about eating and drinking well, and then ended it.
However, the Nikkes in the crowd were still very excited.
"Ah! That's the Commander? He's so handsome!"
"He's so approachable! Not arrogant at all—wow, he even smiled at us!"
"They say these rare vegetables and fruits were ordered by the Commander to be shared with us."
"I wish the Commander could always stay here."
"Of course!"
"I heard the Commander personally defeated the tyrant-class Rapture!"
"No way. Isn't the Commander human?"
"I saw it with my own eyes! I swear!"
Mo Chen quickly left the banquet, fearing that if he stayed any longer, the enthusiastic Nikkes would completely surround him.
It turned out that even as Nikkes, they were still girls—and their love for gossip was endless.
In a crowd, their courage seemed to grow.
While leaving, he was chased by several Nikkes asking for autographs and blessings.
If it weren't for Rapi stepping in, Mo Chen might have been stripped of his clothes by the overexcited Nikkes.
As he made his slightly flustered escape, a beautiful young girl in the distance was watching him. Her bright, clear eyes sparkled like stars, filled with admiration.
"Commander… when can I…"
It was Vesti.
While everyone else was celebrating in groups, she was alone, looking a bit pitiful.
Seeing how popular Mo Chen was, Vesti's eyes glimmered with even more envy.