Yuuki slowly woke up expecting the usual quiet morning aboard the Daedalus.
No emergency alarms.
No Siren attacks.
No Void World pulling him away in his sleep.
Just peace.
Honestly—
It felt suspicious.
Still half asleep, he stretched lazily beneath the blankets.
"…Finally…"
"For once…"
"…the bed to myself…"
Then—
His right hand landed on something unbelievably soft.
Warm.
Dangerously soft.
"Kyaaa~"
A familiar amused voice sounded beside him.
"Ara…"
"Danna-sama seemeth unusually bold this morning."
Then teasingly—
"If thou desirest further indulgence… this wife shall not object."
Yuuki's brain stopped functioning for several seconds.
"…Wait."
He blinked slowly while staring blankly at the ceiling.
"I'm not in the Void World…"
Then immediately trying to rationalize—
"…This is probably a dream."
Still refusing reality—
He turned toward his left side instead.
Unfortunately—
His other hand landed on something equally soft.
Then another voice softly laughed beside him.
"Oh?"
"Would teddy bear like a taste of me too?"
Yuuki's soul nearly evacuated his body.
He immediately shot upright.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?!"
On his right side—
Kaguya calmly sat there in an elegant violet nightgown.
Completely unashamed.
Her fox tails lazily swayed behind her while she smiled beautifully.
"Good morning, husband."
Then innocently—
"It is perfectly natural for husband and wife to sleep together."
"That is NOT how this works!"
But worse—
Far worse—
Was the other side.
Eugen lazily rested against his bed wearing absolutely nothing beneath the blankets except confidence.
She looked entirely too comfortable.
"Morning, teddy bear~"
Then smiling mischievously—
"You were sleeping so peacefully that I simply couldn't bring myself to disturb you."
Yuuki immediately pointed dramatically.
"AHH!"
His entire nervous system entered combat mode.
Meanwhile—
Kaguya calmly tilted her head.
"Why art thou screaming?"
Eugen sighed teasingly.
"You stole brides yesterday."
"Surely this is merely the consequence."
Yuuki looked spiritually attacked.
"…How did security even allow this?"
Eugen smirked proudly.
"I outrank your security emotionally. Jarvis allowed us to sleep as long as we didn't do any inappropriate thing."
Meanwhile—
Inside the room—
Several girls were already woke up due to his screaming.
Because naturally—
Akagi had sensed something suspicious hours ago.
Akagi woke up first.
Then immediately froze.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Akagi's eye twitched violently.
"…Shikikan-sama."
Kaga slowly closed her eyes beside her.
"…Disaster confirmed."
Yorktown sighed deeply as she yawns.
"…Commander."
Anis nearly collapsed laughing.
"OH THIS IS BAD."
Meanwhile—
Kaguya calmly leaned against Yuuki's shoulder possessively.
"This wife merely fulfilled her rightful role."
Eugen hugged his other arm immediately afterward.
"And fiancé privileges."
Yuuki looked utterly broken already.
"…I just wanted ONE peaceful morning."
Yuuki still looked utterly betrayed by reality.
"…How did you two even get past them?"
Yorktown sighed from the doorway like someone exhausted beyond reason.
"…They won rock-paper-scissors."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Kaga quietly rubbed her forehead.
"We held a vote who gets to sleep next to you like last night."
Akagi immediately pointed accusingly toward Eugen and Kaguya.
"These two cheated with emotional warfare."
"We did not," Kaguya replied elegantly.
Eugen smirked smugly beside Yuuki.
"You simply lacked confidence."
Yorktown folded her arms afterward.
"We stayed in the room specifically to make sure they didn't try anything inappropriate."
Yuuki slowly turned his head downward.
Then finally noticed several futons neatly arranged inside his room. They all sneak in during the night. Some of the girls still sleeping soundly despite the noise he just cause.
And there—
Still waking up—
Were Belfast, Ade, Soda, and Cocoa.
Belfast calmly sat up first while adjusting her hair perfectly despite having just woken up.
"Good morning, Master."
Like sleeping beside his bed to prevent romantic incidents was completely normal.
Ade softly yawned nearby.
"…Mission successful."
Soda proudly gave a thumbs up from her futon.
"We protected Commander's purity!"
"Mostly," Cocoa added sleepily.
Yuuki stared blankly.
"…You all slept on the floor?"
Belfast nodded calmly.
"We deemed it necessary."
Then politely—
"Lady Kaguya and Lady Eugen possess dangerous levels of initiative."
"Correct," Yorktown immediately added.
Meanwhile—
Kaguya rested her cheek against Yuuki's shoulder shamelessly.
"This wife merely desired closeness with her husband."
Eugen casually wrapped herself around his other arm.
"And I simply wanted quality fiancé time."
Akagi immediately growled again.
"KIIII—"
Only for Kaga to physically restrain her before another incident happened.
Then—
Jarvis' voice calmly echoed through the room speakers.
"For clarification, sir…"
"I monitored the entire situation."
Yuuki immediately looked upward.
"YOU KNEW?"
"Correct, sir."
"Lady Belfast requested surveillance assistance."
Then after a tiny pause—
"No inappropriate activities occurred."
Yuuki visibly relaxed slightly afterward.
"…Thank God."
"However," Jarvis continued.
"Lady Eugen attempted to move approximately 7.4 centimeters closer to you during sleep at 03:14 hours."
Eugen looked completely unapologetic.
"Worth trying."
"Lady Kaguya countered by wrapping three tails around your torso defensively."
Kaguya nodded proudly.
"Territorial response."
The room immediately dissolved into chaos again.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki quietly sighed while holding his forehead.
But despite everything—
Despite the insanity—
He also realized something comforting.
Even now—
Even surrounded by emotionally dangerous women—
His security remained absurdly tight.
And honestly—
That somehow made him feel weirdly safe.
Yuuki rubbed his forehead while staring at the chaotic pile currently occupying his bed.
"…Can we please not sneak into my room anymore?"
Several girls immediately looked away suspiciously.
"You can just ask normally."
Then pointing toward them firmly—
"And I seriously hope this doesn't become standard procedure once the Citadel is completed."
Eugen lazily rested against the pillows before smiling teasingly.
"So we can sleep close to you?"
Yuuki sighed.
"For a while."
Then quickly adding—
"And properly dressed."
That immediately targeted Eugen specifically.
"…Especially properly dressed."
Yuuki glanced at the clock beside the bed.
"…It's only five thirty in the morning."
Then finally looking toward Eugen again.
"Mind getting dressed already?"
He immediately looked away afterward.
"It's genuinely hard to look at you like this."
Eugen visibly looked delighted by his suffering.
"I could remain this way if teddy bear prefers~"
Before she could continue—
Kaguya immediately wrapped several fluffy tails around Yuuki possessively.
"Thou shalt not seduce my husband unfairly."
Yuuki stood up carefully while trying to untangle himself from fox tails and emotionally dangerous women simultaneously.
"…Every morning with you people is a battlefield."
Kaguya softly giggled.
"Thou art exceedingly adorable when flustered."
Then shamelessly—
"Perhaps we should consummate our marriage soon to ease thy stress."
Instantly—
"DAME!"
Akagi launched herself onto the bed dramatically.
"Shikikan-sama's purity belongs to Akagi!"
Kaga quietly sighed.
"No fair, nee-sama."
Then she joined the pile too anyway.
Yuuki stared blankly at the growing mountain of shipgirls overtaking his bed.
"…Can I wake up one single time…"
"…without getting dogpiled?"
From the futons below—
Anis lazily raised one hand.
"Nope."
Neon immediately nodded.
"Commander's too popular now."
Even Belfast calmly adjusted her night gown while speaking with perfect composure.
"Master created this situation himself."
Yuuki pointed accusingly.
"I rescued people!"
Yorktown crossed her arms nearby.
"And now those people are emotionally attached to you."
"…That sounds less heroic when you say it like that."
Meanwhile—
Esche quietly floated near the ceiling watching the entire scene.
Then softly to Nayuta—
"Is this normal?"
Nayuta calmly sipped tea.
"Verily."
"This chaos is now thy daily life, little fairy."
==========
Eventually—
The rest of the girls finally woke up one by one.
Though several complained loudly after being awakened by earlier screaming, fox-related territorial disputes, and Akagi launching herself across the room at unsafe speeds.
Still—
The atmosphere aboard the Daedalus remained unusually lively that morning.
After everyone freshened up and gathered for breakfast—
The command dining hall descended into complete chaos.
Anis stole food from Neon.
Neon argued while still eating anyway only getting karate chopped by Nimi.
The Bulins somehow stacked pancakes into a structurally dangerous tower.
Kaguya picking fights with other shipgirls by asking whether "wife privileges" included feeding Yuuki personally.
Eugen intentionally sat beside him purely to provoke reactions.
And Akagi nearly started another war over seating arrangements.
By the time breakfast ended—
Yuuki already looked tired again.
Meanwhile—
Most of the girls decided to explore the Daedalus properly afterward.
The gigantic flying fortress fascinated nearly everyone.
Corridors larger than city streets.
Automated factories.
Repair bays.
Research labs.
Drone hangars.
The sheer scale of GDI engineering left the newer arrivals speechless repeatedly.
Especially Neon.
The moment she discovered the primary weapons control deck—
She spiritually ascended.
"Look at those railguns…"
She stared through the observation windows almost lovingly.
"And those missile silos…"
Her eyes visibly sparkled.
"…I think I'm in love."
Nimi immediately grabbed her shoulder before she could press random buttons.
"Snap out of it."
"But the FIREPOWER…"
"No." Nimi sighs as she now had to take care of Neon when dragging sleeping Laffey like a sack. Javelin giggles since she missed walking around like this.
Meanwhile—
Kaguya joined Akagi and Kaga touring the aviation hangars.
Rows upon rows of Firehawks and Orcas filled the launch bays.
Maintenance drones moved everywhere while aircraft prepared for standby operations.
Even Kaguya looked genuinely impressed.
"…Most extraordinary."
Akagi proudly crossed her arms.
"These are Shikikan-sama's glorious aerial forces."
Kaguya softly smiled.
"Our husband certainly possesseth overwhelming might."
"KII…"
Akagi visibly twitched again at the wording.
Kaga immediately intervened before another argument started.
Elsewhere—
Wales, Cocoa, Hipper, and Eugen explored the recreational sectors.
Rapi and Anis inspected combat training areas.
Belfast, Ade, and Soda familiarized the newcomers with living quarters and ship protocols.
Even Esche spent time fascinated by the hydroponic gardens growing inside the Daedalus.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki remained inside the command room.
Finally enjoying a moment of relative peace.
At least—
Compared to earlier.
Esche floated quietly beside him near the holographic displays.
Nayuta calmly sipped tea nearby.
Yorktown stood beside the tactical table reviewing fleet reports.
And Enterprise silently watched the morning skies through the massive observation windows.
For a while—
Nobody spoke.
The command room felt calm.
Comfortable.
Then Enterprise quietly broke the silence.
"…You built all this after only ten years on Earth 2.0?"
Yuuki nodded slightly.
"Mostly."
Then softly—
"Vergil handled most of the insane engineering. GDI main base at Earth 2.0 is far bigger than Daedalus."
Nayuta smiled faintly.
"Thou merely enabled his madness."
"…That too."
Yorktown quietly looked around the massive command center afterward. Then, she imagined how the Citadel would look like.
Then softly—
"You finally built the home you never had."
Yuuki paused slightly hearing that.
Then slowly looked around the Daedalus.
The girls exploring safely.
The laughter echoing faintly through comms.
And for once—
He quietly admitted it to himself.
"…Yeah."
"…Maybe I did."
Yuuki casually adjusted several holographic fleet routes hovering above the command table.
"Well…"
"The Citadel should be fully completed by the time we return."
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
Yorktown looked toward him.
"…Fully completed?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Construction probably finished while we were busy saving kingdoms and fighting giant biomechanical nightmares."
Then calmly—
"Which means we officially move into the next phase afterward."
Esche floated slightly closer immediately.
"The retrieval of Laurelin…"
Yuuki nodded again.
"Right."
"Our next mission is locating the Golden Tree Laurelin."
Then glancing toward the tiny fairy—
"And rescuing your sister Oberis."
Esche visibly brightened afterward.
Even her wings glowed softly.
"Thank thee, O Great Hero…"
Then thoughtfully—
"According unto my senses…"
"…thou may also encounter more shipgirls or Nikkes upon the journey."
That immediately interested several people.
Nayuta softly adjusted her hat.
"This humble one shall gladly assist in identifying any surviving Nikkes we discover."
Then calmly—
"Especially if Pioneer-related signatures remain active."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Appreciate it, Nayuta."
Meanwhile—
Nayuta slowly looked around the command room again.
The endless holograms.
The massive tactical systems.
The sheer scale of the Daedalus itself.
Then softly—
"Still…"
"Thy floating fortress remaineth absolutely enormous."
Yuuki laughed quietly.
"…You haven't even seen our actual home yet."
Several girls blinked.
"Our real headquarters is the Citadel, Home Island"
"The GDI Earth Division main base."
Nayuta looked toward him.
"…Earth Division?"
Yuuki casually nodded like it was normal.
"We also have a Space Division."
The room quieted slightly.
Then—
Yuuki expanded another hologram.
Massive fleets appeared above the table.
Gigantic warships.
Orbital stations.
Carrier groups.
Entire formations dwarfing the Daedalus itself.
"This is only part of it."
Then honestly—
"The Daedalus would look like a small state compared to the full space fleet."
Silence.
Even Yorktown visibly stared now.
Yuuki continued casually.
"We also maintain lunar facilities."
"Mining colonies."
"Shipyards."
"Research stations."
Then thoughtfully—
"Vergil's probably building something absurd there right now."
Nayuta looked genuinely stunned.
"…A civilization spanning space itself…"
Esche quietly floated in circles trying to process the information.
Even Enterprise looked speechless for several moments.
Finally—
"Astonishing."
Yorktown softly exhaled afterward.
"You really rebuilt humanity from almost nothing…"
Yuuki looked at the hologram of the Citadel quietly.
The massive artificial island fortress.
The fleets.
The factories.
The cities.
The people finally living peacefully there.
Then softly—
"…No."
"We just finally built a place worth protecting."
A soft mechanical chime echoed throughout the command room.
"Establishing video uplink."
Friday's calm voice sounded through the holographic systems.
A moment later—
The central display flickered alive.
Revealing Vergil.
Still inside the Philadelphia.
And very clearly—
He had not slept.
Multiple holographic screens floated around him simultaneously displaying dissected Rapture schematics, black nanite structures, and regeneration data.
His lab coat looked wrinkled.
Coffee cups littered the background.
Several exhausted researchers could be seen collapsed across workstations behind him.
Vergil casually glanced at the screen.
"Sup?"
Yuuki immediately narrowed his eyes.
"…It's early morning."
"Yup."
Vergil adjusted his glasses lazily.
"Still haven't slept."
Then grinning slightly—
"Raptures are way too interesting."
Several girls in the room quietly exchanged looks.
Yorktown sighed softly.
"…Those two really are alike."
Meanwhile—
Yuuki leaned against the command console.
"So."
"Anything useful?"
Vergil immediately became more focused.
"Yeah."
The holograms around him shifted into detailed scans of Rapture internals.
"Raptures are fundamentally machine-based organisms."
Then another screen displayed the black substance recovered from Pierre and the Hunter-class corpse.
"They're powered by this."
Vergil enlarged the material structure further.
Black liquid-like matter swirled across the screen.
"At first we assumed it was biological corruption."
Then smiling slightly—
"But nope."
"They're nanites."
The room visibly reacted.
"…Nanomachines?" Enterprise asked quietly.
Vergil nodded.
"Extremely advanced self-replicating nanites."
"They invade machinery…"
"…overwrite command architecture…"
"…and convert systems into Rapture entities."
The holograms shifted again.
Spider walkers.
Drone units.
Flying Raptures.
Tentacle systems.
Everything shared identical nanite structures.
Vergil looked disturbingly excited now.
"These things are insane."
Then honestly—
"Machine walkers."
"Drone swarms."
"Adaptive regeneration."
"Self-repair systems."
"They're basically techno-organic combat ecosystems."
Yuuki crossed his arms.
"Can we stop them?"
Vergil nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Then pointing toward several highlighted code structures.
"We managed to interrupt nanite synchronization by altering command pathways."
"Essentially…"
"…we can sever communication between the nanites."
The hologram showed Rapture systems collapsing after command disruption.
"But."
Vergil's expression became more serious afterward.
"These things adapt absurdly fast."
Then another image appeared.
The remains of the Hunter-class Rapture recovered earlier.
Everyone immediately froze slightly.
Because the scans showed something alarming.
The Hunter—
Was regenerating again.
Even after the Ion Cannon strike.
Yorktown narrowed her eyes.
"…That's impossible."
Vergil calmly shook his head.
"No."
"It's just horrifying."
Then zooming further into the scans—
"The central neural core was completely erased by the Ion Cannon."
"But the remaining nanites are still attempting autonomous reconstruction."
The Hunter's body visibly tried rebuilding itself despite technically being dead.
Yuuki sighed softly.
"…So basically zombie war machines."
"Pretty much."
Vergil casually took a sip of cold coffee afterward.
Then softly—
"These things remind me way too much of Ceph Hunters back on Earth 1.0."
That immediately darkened the room's atmosphere slightly.
Because both Yuuki and Vergil remembered exactly how dangerous Ceph adaptive warforms once were.
Then—
Vergil suddenly smirked.
"…Good news though."
Yuuki immediately looked suspicious.
"That smile means trouble."
Vergil ignored him completely.
"We already started developing anti-Rapture countermeasures."
The hologram shifted again.
New weapon prototypes.
EMP resonance systems.
Nanite disruption fields.
Adaptive ion warheads.
Then proudly—
"And I may or may not be redesigning Hunter-class technology into something significantly less hostile."
Yuuki stared blankly.
"…You're building one, aren't you?"
Vergil looked completely unapologetic.
"I'm improving one."
From the background—
One exhausted researcher whispered weakly:
"…He already named it."
Yuuki immediately held his forehead.
"…Of course he did."
Yuuki stared at the exhausted researchers collapsing all over Vergil's laboratory.
Some were literally asleep at their desks.
One girl was still holding a scanner while unconscious.
Another looked like she forgot what blinking was.
Yuuki immediately sighed.
"…Dude."
"Just let those research girls sleep for the day."
Vergil casually rubbed his eyes.
"We will."
Then honestly—
"Suki and Dasha are about five minutes away from chewing my ears off."
Several exhausted researchers visibly nodded in agreement.
Vergil sighed afterward.
"And Eva's probably coming personally to drag me to bed later."
Yuuki immediately smirked.
"…You deserve it."
Vergil ignored him.
Then gesturing toward the massive holographic data flooding his lab—
"Can you blame me though?"
"Aqua tech."
"Magic cores."
"Golems."
"Raptures."
"And now Hunter-class bio-mechanical siege platforms."
He pointed dramatically toward one unfinished schematic.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS CHANGES THINGS?"
Yuuki casually crossed his arms.
"Yes."
"And you're becoming more unhinged by the hour."
"Correct."
Vergil looked completely proud of that.
Then after a moment—
"Oh."
"By the way."
His expression shifted slightly.
"Stop by the Philadelphia once you get back."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"…Why?"
Vergil smirked faintly.
"I have something you'll probably like."
That immediately made Yuuki suspicious.
"…That sentence has historically caused problems."
"Probably."
Vergil shrugged.
"Still worth seeing."
Yuuki sighed.
"…Fine."
"I'll stop by once we return home."
"Appreciate it."
Finally—
Vergil visibly yawned for what might have been the first time all night.
Then he turned toward the exhausted researchers throughout the lab.
"…Alright girls."
"Back to your rooms."
"You all have twelve hours mandatory rest."
Then firmly—
"Make it count."
The researchers practically moved like zombies.
"Yes sir…"
"Sleep…"
"…Finally…"
Yuuki visibly sweatdropped watching them stagger away half-dead from exhaustion.
"…You worked them like a cult."
"They volunteered."
"That somehow makes it worse."
Vergil ignored him again.
Then another massive yawn escaped him.
"If you discover anything else…"
"…send it over…"
"I'll review it after I get some…"
Another yawn interrupted him.
"…sleep."
Yuuki immediately waved him off.
"Just go already."
Then smirking slightly—
"Suki and Dasha are absolutely going to murder you if you keep staying awake."
Vergil visibly grimaced.
"…Yeah."
Yuuki leaned back afterward.
"You know Japanese and Russian girls."
"They take sleep schedules weirdly seriously."
From somewhere offscreen—
Two female voices immediately sounded simultaneously.
"VERGIL."
The man visibly froze.
"…I'm dead."
The transmission abruptly cut.
Silence filled the command room for several seconds afterward.
Then—
Enterprise quietly spoke.
"…Vice Commander Vergil fears his wives more than orbital warfare."
Yuuki nodded instantly.
"As he should."
Yuuki closed the communication channel after Vergil disappeared to his inevitable wife-induced punishment.
Then turning toward the others in the command room—
"So."
"Why don't you girls continue exploring the ship?"
He checked the clock briefly.
"We still have about two hours before the appreciation ceremony back on the island."
Yorktown crossed her arms lightly.
"What about you, Commander?"
"Me?"
Yuuki casually stretched afterward.
"I'm going to train Atago and Takao for a while."
The moment he said that—
Enterprise immediately looked interested.
Even Nayuta raised an eyebrow beneath her hat.
Yuuki tapped his neural interface afterward.
"Atago. Takao."
His voice echoed through the comms.
"Meet me in the training room."
Then smirking faintly—
"Let's start your first day."
Instantly—
"Hai!"
Atago sounded excited.
Takao sounded calmer but equally eager.
"We'll be there shortly."
Yorktown softly smiled afterward.
"…Can we watch?"
Yuuki shrugged casually.
"I don't see why not."
Not long after—
The group arrived at one of the Daedalus' massive combat training chambers.
The room itself resembled a futuristic arena.
Hard-light projectors.
Combat drones.
Adaptive terrain generators.
Weapon racks lining the walls.
And unsurprisingly—
Word had already spread.
Several shipgirls and Nikkes had gathered nearby wanting to watch.
Especially after hearing Yuuki himself would be personally training someone.
Then—
The doors opened.
Atago and Takao entered together.
Both wearing lightweight training attire.
Minimal sports bras and fitted shorts designed for unrestricted movement.
Practical.
Comfortable.
But also—
Very distracting.
Several nearby Nikkes immediately looked impressed.
Neon nearly whistled.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki immediately sighed while rubbing his forehead.
"…I'm fine if it's just us or other girls around you."
Then pointing toward them.
"But please don't wear outfits like that outside in public."
Atago blinked.
Takao visibly paused too.
Then slowly—
Both sisters blushed slightly afterward.
Because they immediately understood what he meant.
Not possessiveness.
Not control.
Just—
He disliked the idea of strangers staring at them like that.
Atago's smile softened warmly afterward.
"Ufufu…"
"Do not worry, Shikikan-sama."
She gently placed a hand against her chest.
"This skin belongs only to you."
Yuuki immediately looked spiritually exhausted.
"…Please stop phrasing things weirdly."
Takao sighed quietly beside her sister.
"Atago-nee…"
But despite saying that—
Even Takao quietly felt pleased hearing Yuuki's concern.
Because ever since confessing to him—
The sisters no longer viewed themselves as merely students or subordinates.
They genuinely considered themselves engaged to him emotionally already.
And Takao especially—
Wanted to become worthy of standing beside him properly.
Not merely as a lover.
But as his strongest disciple.
Her eyes sharpened slightly afterward.
"…I'll do my best, Commander."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I know."
Then—
The training room lights shifted.
Combat systems activated.
And immediately—
Every observing shipgirl and Nikke focused completely.
Because now—
They were about to witness Yuuki train the Sakura sisters personally.
Yuuki walked toward the center of the training room while several hard-light targets materialized around the arena automatically.
Then he turned toward Atago and Takao.
"First things first."
"Your physical capabilities are already absurd compared to normal humans."
The two sisters nodded.
As shipgirls—
Their bodies naturally possessed immense strength and endurance due to their Wisdom Cube structures.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"An average human with proper enhancement training might eventually handle around ten times their body weight safely."
Then holding up two metallic bracelets and matching anklets—
"But shipgirls?"
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"You girls can push much further."
The Sakura sisters caught the equipment he tossed toward them.
The moment they held them—
They immediately felt the density.
"…Heavy," Takao quietly noted.
"These are limiter weights."
Yuuki activated the holographic display nearby.
"Adjustable gravity compression systems."
Then casually—
"We'll start at one hundred times."
Several observing girls visibly froze.
"…ONE HUNDRED?!" Neon nearly screamed.
Even Yorktown blinked.
Atago looked intrigued instead.
"Ufufu…"
"How intense."
Takao narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Commander."
"That amount would crush ordinary steel."
Yuuki nodded casually.
"Correct."
"Good thing you're not ordinary."
The sisters slowly equipped the bracelets and anklets.
The moment activation completed—
Both visibly felt their bodies sink slightly.
The floor beneath them even cracked faintly under the sudden force multiplication.
Atago's tail nearly appeared from sheer pressure.
"…Hoh?"
Takao immediately adjusted her footing instinctively.
"…Heavy."
But neither collapsed.
Instead—
Their shipgirl bodies adapted rapidly.
Yuuki nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Your cores are compensating already."
Then—
He calmly drew his katana halfway.
"Now."
"Try learning this basic combo first."
The observers leaned forward immediately.
Yuuki moved.
One smooth motion.
His left hand shifted the sheath upward as a hit on a dummy.
The sheathed blade angle changed downward as the second hit.
Then—
A flash.
A metallic whisper.
And suddenly—
The katana was already back inside its sheath.
The dummy is sliced.
Silence.
Atago blinked once.
Takao narrowed her eyes sharply.
Neither had actually seen the draw itself.
Only the aftermath.
A target several meters away suddenly split apart cleanly a second later.
"…Simple?" Takao repeated slowly.
Yuuki nodded casually.
"Very."
Both sisters immediately looked unconvinced.
Atago softly laughed in disbelief.
"Shikikan-sama…"
"A sword draw too swift for our eyes to perceive is hardly simple."
Even Enterprise quietly crossed her arms nearby.
"…I didn't see the strike either."
Yuuki sighed softly.
"That's because you're focusing on the blade."
Then calmly tapping his forehead—
"Swordsmanship starts here first."
"Your body follows your perception."
Takao's expression sharpened immediately hearing that.
Meanwhile—
Atago softly smiled.
"…How troublesome."
Then excitedly—
"I wish to learn it even more now."
Atago and Takao slowly adjusted themselves to the overwhelming weight compression.
Every movement now felt drastically heavier.
Even standing normally required effort.
The floor beneath their feet groaned faintly whenever they shifted their balance.
One hundred times gravity amplification was not something ordinary beings could survive.
But they were not ordinary.
Their Wisdom Cubes continuously compensated.
Adapting.
Strengthening.
Optimizing their bodies in real time.
Still—
It was difficult.
Very difficult.
Atago attempted the first motion again.
She raised the sheath upward with practiced elegance—
But the weighted restraints disrupted her timing immediately.
Her draw became sluggish.
The blade failed to flow properly.
Takao attempted next.
Her posture remained cleaner.
Sharper.
But the moment she transitioned into the draw—
The excessive weight dragged down her wrist alignment.
The strike lost its precision completely.
Both sisters frowned afterward.
Because the combo itself looked deceptively simple.
But executing it correctly under those conditions felt brutal.
Nearby—
The observing shipgirls and Nikkes quietly watched the training intensely.
Even Anis looked impressed.
"…That doesn't look human anymore."
Enterprise nodded slightly.
"It isn't."
Meanwhile—
Yuuki calmly stepped forward again.
"Watch carefully."
The room quieted instantly.
This time—
Yuuki demonstrated slower at first.
His hand shifted the sheath upward.
Minimal movement.
No wasted force.
Then—
The blade flashed upward in a clean rising draw.
A second motion followed immediately.
A downward strike.
Heavy.
Precise.
Overwhelming.
Then—
Click.
The katana returned into its sheath smoothly.
The movements looked almost effortless.
Natural.
Like flowing water.
And somehow—
That made it even more terrifying.
Because beneath the simplicity—
Every motion carried absurd control.
Yuuki looked toward the sisters afterward.
"Again."
No lengthy explanation.
No comforting praise.
Just repetition.
Atago and Takao immediately resumed training.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The weighted restraints strained their muscles continuously.
Sweat gradually formed across their skin.
Their breathing became heavier.
Yet neither stopped.
Atago's style remained graceful but aggressive.
Takao's movements became increasingly refined through repetition.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
Their bodies began adapting.
The weight no longer interrupted every motion.
Their footing stabilized.
Their wrists adjusted.
The sheath movements became cleaner.
Still imperfect.
But improving.
Yuuki quietly watched without interrupting.
Then finally—
Takao managed a partial draw fast enough to create a faint slicing sound through the air.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Atago immediately grinned afterward.
"Takao!"
Not wanting to lose—
Atago forced herself harder.
This time—
Her upward draw created a visible gust across the training floor before she lost balance afterward.
Still—
Progress.
Yuuki softly smiled faintly.
"Good."
Both sisters immediately straightened hearing the praise.
Then calmly—
"Again."
The two nearly sighed in unison.
Because now they understood something terrifying.
Yuuki's training methods were simple.
But brutally effective.
And far harder than they first appeared.
By the end of the hour—
Both Sakura sisters finally collapsed onto the training floor.
Completely exhausted.
Their bodies trembled from muscle strain while the one-hundred-times weighted restraints still remained active around their wrists and ankles.
Sweat clung across their skin.
Their breathing came heavily.
And yet—
Neither looked unhappy.
Atago laid sprawled dramatically on the floor while laughing breathlessly.
"Ufufu…"
"So this… is Shikikan-sama's training…"
Even exhausted—
Her eyes still sparkled with excitement.
Meanwhile—
Takao sat upright more properly despite visibly struggling.
But unlike her composed appearance—
There was unmistakable anticipation in her gaze now.
Because she understood something important.
This training worked.
Brutally.
Painfully.
But effectively.
And knowing Takao—
Everyone already realized what would happen later.
Anis crossed her arms nearby.
"…She's absolutely going to secretly practice all night."
Enterprise quietly nodded.
"Without question."
Takao immediately looked away slightly.
"…I have no idea what you mean."
Nobody believed her.
Meanwhile—
Several observing girls now looked genuinely interested themselves.
Yorktown thoughtfully observed the weighted restraints.
Rapi quietly analyzed the stance mechanics.
Even Belfast looked curious.
Because Yuuki's combat style wasn't merely strength-based.
It fundamentally reshaped perception, control, and reaction timing.
Anis stretched afterward.
"…You know."
"I kinda want training too now."
Neon immediately raised her hand dramatically.
"ME TOO."
Then excitedly—
"I want Commander to teach me bigger guns."
Enterprise softly crossed her arms.
"I'd like firearms training as well."
Belfast calmly smiled.
"Blade techniques would also be most welcome."
One by one—
More girls began expressing interest.
Ranged weapons.
Swordsmanship.
Movement training.
Close combat.
The Daedalus might genuinely become a giant combat academy at this rate.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki simply sighed with tired acceptance.
"…I accidentally became everyone's instructor."
Then—
He looked down toward Atago and Takao still recovering on the floor.
Both sisters visibly looked proud despite exhaustion.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"…You two did well."
Then gently—
He crouched beside them.
And began giving them ear rubs.
Instantly—
The sisters melted.
Atago made an embarrassingly pleased sound while leaning fully into his hand.
Takao tried maintaining dignity for approximately three seconds before failing completely.
"…Nn…"
Nearby—
Three foxes immediately froze.
Kaguya narrowed her eyes.
Akagi visibly puffed her cheeks.
Kaga quietly stared at the scene.
Complete envy radiated from all three.
Neon immediately pointed dramatically.
"FOX JEALOUSY DETECTED."
Akagi immediately protested.
"Shikikan-sama!"
"Akagi also trained emotionally today!"
Kaguya elegantly stepped closer afterward.
"Surely thy wife deserveth reward as well for enduring years of loneliness without her husband."
Even Kaga softly added—
"…Kaga requests equal treatment enduring Nee-sama's whims."
Yuuki stared at the growing fox problem around him.
Then sighed deeply.
"…I'm never escaping this, am I?"
"Nope," Yorktown answered instantly as she smiled.
===============
The appreciation ceremony that evening was far grander than Yuuki expected.
The kingdom spared no expense.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the massive royal hall.
Long banquet tables overflowed with food and drinks.
Musicians performed elegant orchestral music near the center platform while nobles and officials gathered throughout the palace.
But the true centerpiece of the evening—
Was the GDI.
Word had already spread across the island.
The mysterious floating fortress.
The impossible war machines.
The women who fought beside the "Great Hero."
And most importantly—
The new barrier protecting the kingdom.
The newly activated Super Gap Generator now shimmered invisibly around the island.
Far stronger and more stable than the original Sacred Tree barrier.
Yuuki had already assigned automated maintenance drones to periodically service it remotely after the fleet departed.
The king nearly viewed it as divine protection.
Meanwhile—
The massive palace doors finally opened.
And the GDI group entered together.
Unlike the previous party—
This time Yuuki and the girls wore their standard uniforms instead of ceremonial dresses.
And somehow—
That made them even more intimidating.
Yuuki entered first in his black Mark 86 GDI commander uniform.
Long white coat.
Silver accents.
The calm presence of someone who had led wars across lifetimes.
Behind him—
Shipgirls and Nikkes followed naturally beside him.
Military elegance.
Battle-hardened confidence.
Beautiful yet dangerous.
The moment they entered—
The entire hall noticeably reacted.
Several noble ladies visibly swooned almost immediately seeing Yuuki in full commander attire.
Whispers spread rapidly across the room.
"That's the hero…"
"He's younger than expected…"
"So handsome…"
Meanwhile—
The girls around Yuuki immediately noticed the attention.
Akagi's eye twitched instantly.
Kaguya softly smiled while radiating territorial energy.
Eugen looked amused.
Then—
Several noblemen attempted approaching the shipgirls and Nikkes throughout the evening.
Which honestly was unsurprising.
Yorktown's elegance attracted attention naturally.
Illustrious looked almost angelic.
Atago's charm overwhelmed several unfortunate young nobles instantly.
Even Rapi and Enterprise received numerous respectful approaches due to their beauty and composure.
Yet—
Every single attempt ended the same way.
Polite rejection.
Because despite their kindness—
None of the girls showed genuine interest.
Their hearts already belonged elsewhere.
Yuuki was not merely their commander anymore.
Not merely someone they admired.
Through Wisdom Cubes and emotional bonds—
He had become their greatest source of warmth.
Their home.
Their peace.
No shallow flirtation from nobles could compare to that connection.
Illustrious gently declined one noble with her usual graceful smile.
"I deeply appreciate the compliment."
Then softly—
"However, my heart already reside elsewhere."
The poor nobleman looked spiritually defeated afterward.
Meanwhile—
Another attempted speaking with Eugen.
The Ironblood cruiser calmly smiled while sipping tea.
"Apologies~"
Then lazily glancing toward Yuuki across the hall—
"This one only wishes to entertain her teddy bear now."
The noble immediately lost all confidence.
Even Kaguya received countless respectful greetings due to her overwhelming noble aura.
After all—
She genuinely carried herself like ancient royalty.
Yet the fox woman merely smiled elegantly behind her parasol.
"This one already possesseth a beloved husband."
Then proudly—
"And he standeth over there."
Akagi looked dangerously smug hearing that.
Though only because she immediately followed with—
"Shikikan-sama is also Akagi's beloved husband."
"KII—"
The fox rivalry nearly resumed in the middle of the royal banquet before Kaga intervened again.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki quietly watched the scene unfold while holding a drink.
And strangely—
For the first time in multiple lifetimes—
He didn't feel like a lonely commander standing apart from everyone else.
Because this time—
Wherever he walked—
His people walked beside him too.
As the celebration continued—
The king eventually stepped forward toward the center of the grand hall.
The music gradually softened.
Nobles and citizens alike turned their attention toward the royal platform.
Then—
The king bowed deeply toward Yuuki and the gathered GDI members.
A gesture that shocked many nobles present.
Because a king bowing so deeply toward outsiders was nearly unheard of.
Yet his voice carried absolute sincerity.
"To the honored warriors of the Global Defense Initiative…"
"…our kingdom owes you an impossible debt."
His eyes briefly lifted toward the distant skies beyond the palace windows.
Toward the invisible barrier now protecting the island.
"You defended our people."
"You restored our homes."
"And even after losing our Sacred Tree…"
"…you ensured this island would never stand defenseless again."
The hall erupted into applause afterward.
But Yuuki quietly stepped forward instead.
Then calmly—
"There's also something I should apologize for."
The hall gradually quieted again.
Yuuki's expression remained composed.
"Pierre's death…"
"…was unavoidable."
Several nobles lowered their gazes afterward.
Because despite everything—
Pierre had still been the prince.
Yet—
No outrage appeared.
No grief-filled protests.
Only complicated silence.
Because the people of the island had suffered under him for years.
Fear.
Manipulation.
Cruelty.
And finally—
Rapture corruption.
Yuuki continued quietly.
"The nanites had already consumed him completely."
"There was no saving him anymore."
The king slowly closed his eyes afterward.
Then softly nodded.
"…We understand."
And honestly—
Many people looked more relieved than saddened.
Pierre's death hurt the royal family.
But his existence had hurt the kingdom.
Now—
At least the Sacred Tree would finally be free to choose its own future properly.
Meanwhile—
Invisible to everyone else—
Esche quietly sat atop Yuuki's shoulder.
The tiny fairy happily watched the banquet while swinging her legs softly.
No one present besides the shipgirls and Nikkes could see her.
Yet she looked delighted simply experiencing the warmth of the celebration.
Especially because—
For the first time in a very long while—
She no longer carried the burden of guarding the island alone.
Nearby—
Servants continued offering expensive wine and alcohol throughout the hall.
Crystal glasses.
Royal liquor.
Ancient island vintages.
But surprisingly—
None of the shipgirls or Nikkes accepted any.
Even Eugen quietly declined.
Which honestly surprised Yuuki slightly.
Because according to her own stories—
She used to drink heavily long ago.
For fun.
For distraction.
Sometimes simply to drown out emptiness.
Yet now—
Eugen calmly set aside the offered glass untouched.
Yorktown quietly noticed.
"You don't drink anymore?"
Eugen softly smiled afterward while glancing toward Yuuki.
"…Not for the past ten years."
Then gently—
"I used to drink because it made me feel warm for a little while."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"But now?"
She quietly held a hand against her chest.
"…I already possess far greater warmth than alcohol could ever provide."
Yuuki visibly looked away afterward.
"…You people really say dangerous things casually."
Eugen merely laughed softly.
And honestly—
The others quietly understood her feelings too.
Because none of them needed intoxication anymore to enjoy themselves.
Not when they already found something far more precious.
Connection.
Belonging.
Warmth.
Home.
So instead—
The shipgirls and Nikkes simply enjoyed the celebration naturally.
Laughing together.
Talking together.
Living peacefully together.
And for Yuuki—
Watching them smile freely beneath peaceful lights instead of burning battlefields—
Was already more valuable than any victory feast he had ever attended.
By the time the celebration finally ended—
Night had already fully settled across the island.
Outside the palace—
The skies glowed softly beneath the massive shadow of the Daedalus floating high above the kingdom once more.
Kodiaks resumed defensive formations.
Firehawks patrolled the distant skies.
The entire GDI fleet gradually reorganized itself for departure.
Inside the royal courtyard—
Yuuki softly stretched afterward.
"Well then."
He glanced toward Esche floating invisibly nearby.
"Shall we go?"
The tiny fairy immediately brightened.
"The Laurelin Tree awaiteth us."
Anis meanwhile looked spiritually exhausted after the royal banquet.
"…Yeah."
"I physically cannot eat another bite."
Neon dramatically groaned nearby.
"The desserts defeated me…"
Unfortunately—
Neon had eaten so much that Nimi now carried her over one shoulder.
And because reality enjoyed comedy—
Laffey had fallen asleep beside Neon too.
So Nimi ended up carrying both of them simultaneously.
"…Heavy."
Laffey sleepily raised one hand while half-asleep.
"…Laffey apologizes minimally."
Javelin laughed seeing the scene.
"Nimi gained another child again!"
Neon immediately protested weakly.
"I'm not a kid…"
Then quietly—
"…carry me softer…"
Nimi sighed deeply.
"…Definitely children."
Nearby—
One final persistent nobleman still attempted speaking with Rapi before departure.
"Lady Rapi, surely perhaps we could still—"
Rapi immediately shut him down with absolute efficiency.
"I'm already married."
The noble froze completely.
"…M-Married?"
"And I have two kids."
The poor man looked utterly devastated.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki nearly choked hearing that.
"…Wait."
"When did this happen?"
"Recently, the moment our hearts connected." Rapi answered while looking away from him.
Yuuki sighs as he didn't expect Rapi would admit him as her husband. "Oh, so.. who are our kids?"
Rapi calmly pointed toward Anis and Neon.
"These two."
Anis immediately pointed at herself.
"…I'm the older daughter?"
Neon looked deeply offended despite being carried like a sack.
"Why am I the younger one?!"
Rapi remained completely serious.
"Because you act younger."
"That's unfair."
Yuuki could only laugh helplessly afterward.
"…Ahahaha…"
Yorktown quietly smiled watching the interaction.
Then softly—
"In that case…"
"…I suppose I'm married with quite a lot of children myself."
Several shipgirls immediately reacted dramatically.
"Hey!"
Even Enterprise sighed softly.
"…That somehow feels accurate."
Because honestly—
Yorktown already acted like a calm mother figure toward half the fleet anyway.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki quietly looked around at everyone gathered together.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Fairies.
His strange little family.
Then toward the distant fleet waiting in the skies.
Another mission awaited them now.
Another journey.
Another unknown island.
Another chance to find more survivors.
More allies.
More warmth.
Yuuki softly smiled afterward.
"Alright everyone."
"Let's head to the Daedalus first."
Then looking toward Esche—
"And after that…"
"…we go find Laurelin."
============
The Daedalus fleet slowly departed from the island beneath the light of the moon.
Massive engines hummed across the skies while Kodiaks repositioned themselves into escort formation.
Firehawks returned to patrol routes.
The newly installed Super Gap Generator shimmered invisibly around the island one final time before distance hid it from view.
Far below—
The island's people gathered near the shores and rooftops waving goodbye toward the departing fleet.
Children especially looked amazed watching the gigantic flying fortress disappear into the clouds.
Then—
The Daedalus activated stealth systems.
One by one—
The ships gradually vanished from sight.
Leaving behind only clouds and quiet skies.
Meanwhile—
Back aboard the Daedalus—
Dinner was unofficially skipped entirely.
Mostly because everyone had nearly overeaten at the royal banquet already.
Still—
That didn't stop everyone from gathering together again.
Unfortunately for Yuuki—
They gathered specifically inside his room.
Again.
Yuuki stood near the doorway staring at the absurdly crowded room.
"…Why is everyone here again?"
Illustrious softly smiled while elegantly holding his arm.
"Everyone decided to bunk here tonight."
Yuuki immediately looked toward Belfast.
"…Again?"
Belfast bowed gracefully beside him.
"That is correct, Master."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes suspiciously afterward.
"…I assume you two won rock-paper-scissors tonight?"
Illustrious looked entirely too pleased.
"Indeed."
Then gently leaning closer—
"This one wished to share a bed beside her beloved husband-to-be."
Yuuki immediately looked tired again.
Meanwhile—
Belfast calmly hugged his other arm.
"Sharing a bed beside one's Master is among the highest honors of a maid."
Then softly smiling—
"Though becoming Master's wife would naturally surpass even that."
Yuuki looked spiritually endangered.
"…Belfast."
"Yes, Master?"
"…You've become bolder."
"Thank you, Master."
The room itself had already transformed into a giant sleepover zone again.
Futons lined the floor everywhere.
Blankets and pillows scattered across the spacious quarters.
And somehow—
Everyone naturally settled into little groups.
Several watched movies projected onto the wall-sized holo-screen.
Neon in particular looked completely invested in a Jason Statham action film.
Every explosion made her spiritually ascend.
"LOOK AT THAT FIREPOWER!"
Anis sighed nearby.
"You've said that twelve times already."
"Because it keeps being TRUE."
Every explosion made her eyes sparkle.
"NOW that's absolute cinema…"
Anis lazily threw popcorn toward her.
"You only like it because everyone has guns."
"Correct."
Nearby—
Atago quietly chatted with Rapi while occasionally glancing toward Yuuki.
Takao secretly practiced sword draw motions using a wooden stick despite supposedly "resting."
Eugen continued teasing Hipper relentlessly.
"Kommmandant clearly prefers mature women."
"H-HUH?! Shut up!"
Akagi meanwhile looked utterly devastated.
"…Impossible…"
Across from her—
Kaguya calmly placed another captured shogi piece down.
"This wife winneth again."
"KIIII…"
Kaguya calmly sipped tea nearby with absolute elegance.
"Thou shouldst improve thy strategic intellect."
"It was a fluke!"
"Defeat remaineth defeat."
Akagi looked ready to explode again.
Only for Kaga to calmly place a hand on her shoulder.
"…Accept your loss, nee-sama."
Even Kaga quietly sighed seeing her sister lose repeatedly. Reminds her of Akagi repeated loss against Amagi.
Elsewhere—
Eugen spent the evening teasing Hipper nonstop.
"Little sister truly looked cute getting flustered today~ You can start dressing bolder to catch his attention. He might like school swimsuit."
"H-Hey!"
"Stop saying weird things in front of everyone!"
Near the couch—
Nayuta calmly spoke with Esche about ancient magical civilizations while the tiny fairy floated happily nearby.
Nimi quietly sighed while sitting against the wall.
Because both Laffey and Unicorn had fallen asleep against her lap simultaneously.
"…Why am I always the pillow…"
Laffey sleepily answered without opening her eyes.
"…Because Nimi is warm…"
The Bulins meanwhile had completely occupied Sandy.
Using her as a giant living pillow fortress.
"Buli comfy!"
"Commander's anti-air destroyer soft!"
Sandy looked spiritually defeated.
"…I became furniture…"
Nearby—
Javelin and Unicorn quietly played chess together.
Though Javelin clearly had no idea what she was doing anymore.
Yorktown and Enterprise sat together near the observation windows speaking softly while watching the stars outside.
Avrora and Wales shared snacks nearby while quietly discussing Yuuki.
"He truly attracts unusual people," Wales noted calmly.
Avrora softly smiled.
"Da, but he also give them peace."
And in the middle of it all—
Yuuki sat on the bed with Eldridge quietly curled against his chest holding him like a teddy bear. With Illustrious and Belfast leaned on each arm.
"…Warm."
Meanwhile—
Ade and Soda giggled together while chatting happily with Cocoa nearby.
The room buzzed softly with warmth.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
Alive.
Yuuki slowly looked around afterward.
At all the conversations.
The laughter.
The chaos.
The people who chose to stay beside him.
Then quietly—
Almost to himself—
"…How did my room become the entire fleet's living room?"
"Because this is where everyone feels safest. You would be safe with us as we are safe with you."
Yorktown answered softly from across the room.
And strangely—
Nobody disagreed.
Amid the relaxed chaos inside Yuuki's room—
Nayuta quietly approached alongside Esche.
Compared to the others lounging around casually—
Nayuta's appearance stood out strangely well.
She wore relaxed clothing instead of her usual more elaborate attire, yet still somehow carried herself with composed elegance.
Even her manner of speaking casually felt refined.
Meanwhile—
Esche floated comfortably beside her while holding a tiny cup of juice almost her size.
Yuuki looked toward the fairy afterward.
"Esche."
"Mind telling us more about Laurelin and Telperion?"
The room gradually quieted slightly.
Even some of the girls watching movies lowered the volume to listen.
Because despite everything—
The fairy trees clearly mattered greatly now.
Esche softly nodded.
"Certainly."
Then slowly—
"Our trees are ancient magical entities created long before modern kingdoms existed."
The room's holographic projector automatically displayed faint visualizations from Esche's memories.
Massive ancient lands appeared.
Continents far larger than the current world.
And within them—
Two colossal glowing trees standing beneath golden skies.
Silver and gold light intertwined together beautifully.
"Telperion and Laurelin once stood side by side."
Esche's voice softened warmly.
"We protected the ancient lands together."
Then sadly—
"But over countless ages…"
"The continents slowly broke apart."
The holograms shifted.
The great lands sinking.
Oceans separating civilizations.
Ruins swallowed by time.
"Our trees lost the sacred nutrients sustaining our true forms."
Then quietly—
"So we regressed."
The massive divine trees slowly shrank within the visions.
Becoming weaker.
Smaller.
Dormant.
"Eventually…"
"…we became vulnerable."
Several girls listened silently now.
Esche continued softly.
"The old magic civilizations protected us afterward."
The holograms showed ancient ruins.
Hidden sanctuaries.
Magical seals.
Deadly traps guarding sacred chambers.
"They concealed our weakened trees within hidden ruins."
"In exchange…"
"…we protected their descendants."
Then—
The holograms darkened.
Sirens.
Raptures.
Machines invading ancient lands.
Civilizations collapsing.
Magic fading.
"But everything changed after the arrival of the machine invaders."
The fairy looked genuinely sad now.
"Raptures."
"Sirens."
"Humanity weakened."
"Our chosen successors disappeared one by one."
The room grew quieter hearing that.
Because suddenly—
The Sacred Trees no longer felt like simple magical objects.
They were survivors too.
Lonely guardians left behind from another age.
Esche slowly looked toward Yuuki afterward.
Then softly—
"That is why we chose thee."
The tiny fairy floated closer to him.
"Our greatest source of light."
Several girls nearby quietly smiled hearing that.
Because honestly—
None of them disagreed anymore.
Esche gently placed her tiny hands against her chest.
"Now…"
"This one wisheth to find Oberis and Laurelin again."
Her small expression softened hopefully.
"So that we may stand together once more."
Then quietly—
"Under thy protection."
"Safe."
"No longer alone."
Yuuki leaned back slightly while the room gradually quieted again.
"Then we're on the right course?"
Esche immediately smiled brightly.
"Yes, my lord."
Her tiny wings fluttered softly.
"She lieth within this direction."
A holographic route projection appeared above the table showing the Daedalus fleet's current trajectory across the ocean.
Then—
Nayuta quietly adjusted her hat.
"O Great Hero…"
"It would seem another one of my clones also resideth somewhere within this direction."
Several girls looked toward her immediately.
Nayuta calmly continued.
"Perhaps she possesseth greater knowledge regarding the current state of this world."
Then after a brief pause—
"And additionally…"
"…I detect two more Nikke signatures."
That immediately interested several people.
Yuuki crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"I see."
Then toward the holographic map—
"Estimated arrival?"
Nayuta softly nodded.
"At our current speed…"
"We should arrive by tomorrow afternoon."
Yuuki relaxed slightly afterward.
"Good."
"Then we can take things easy tonight."
Unfortunately—
Cocoa suddenly raised her hand nervously afterward.
"U-Um… Master?"
Yuuki looked toward her gently.
"What is it, Cocoa?"
The maid clasped her hands together anxiously.
Then softly—
"…Can I bind myself to you?"
The room noticeably quieted.
Yuuki blinked once.
"…I'm not entirely sure what you mean."
Cocoa looked toward Ade and Soda.
"They told me…"
"…they drank a drop of your blood."
Several girls visibly became more serious hearing that topic return.
Cocoa continued quietly.
"The blood removed the NIMPH control restrictions placed upon them."
Then softly—
"And connected their hearts to yours."
Her expression became more vulnerable afterward.
"I wish to do the same."
The room became completely silent now.
Then—
Nayuta stepped forward calmly.
"O Great Hero…"
"Please allow this humble one to undergo the process as well."
Yuuki looked toward her carefully.
"You're technically a clone though, right?"
Nayuta nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Then thoughtfully—
"However…"
"Perhaps connecting myself to thee would also establish resonance with my original self."
Several girls focused immediately.
Nayuta's eyes softened slightly.
"It may allow thee to locate her."
"Or perhaps…"
"…allow her to find thee."
That made the room even more serious.
Because unlike the others—
Nayuta's existence still carried many unknowns.
Then—
Belfast quietly stepped closer.
"Master…"
Her voice carried clear concern.
Illustrious beside her looked equally worried.
"You intend to perform that procedure again?"
Yuuki slowly nodded.
"If it can free Cocoa and Nayuta from Ark restrictions…"
"…then yes."
Immediately—
Vestal placed her teacup down.
Her expression became firm.
"Commander."
"We'll need to monitor you closely this time."
The last incident still clearly worried her.
Especially after seeing what happened when Yuuki's blood forcibly synchronized with others previously.
Even Akashi looked uneasy now.
"Nyaa… Commander looked scary last time…"
Without another word—
Vestal quietly left the room.
Several minutes later—
She returned carrying a secured medical vial.
Inside—
A faint amount of glowing blood rested within the container.
Extracted previously after the synchronization process involving Rapi, Anis, Neon, Ade, and Soda.
Now—
It would be Cocoa and Nayuta's turn.
Ade gently held Cocoa's hand afterward.
"You really don't have to force yourself if you're uncertain…"
But Cocoa slowly shook her head.
"I want to."
Then softly—
"I want to feel Master's heart too."
Her voice trembled slightly afterward.
"I want freedom from the Ark."
"I want to understand what was hidden from me."
Meanwhile—
Nayuta quietly stepped forward too.
"O Great Hero…"
"This one possesses knowledge…"
"But not truth."
Her eyes lowered slightly beneath her hat.
"I know the world."
"But I do not know my own past."
Then softly—
"If this truly allows me to become complete…"
"…to reconnect with my original self…"
"…please allow it."
The room fell silent afterward.
Not fearful.
Not doubtful.
Just heavy.
Because everyone present understood what this really meant.
This wasn't merely bonding.
It was trust.
The willingness to place their minds, memories, and true selves into Yuuki's hands completely.
The atmosphere inside Yuuki's room shifted completely.
The earlier warmth and laughter faded into tense silence.
Even the movies had been paused.
Every shipgirl and Nikke quietly gathered closer while Vestal carefully prepared the synchronization process.
At the center—
Cocoa and Nayuta stared at the glowing drop of Yuuki's blood inside the vial.
Both already possessed partial emotional resonance with him through proximity and trust.
But this—
Was different.
This would establish a true connection.
Not merely emotional.
But spiritual.
Mental.
A direct synchronization of hearts and memories.
To completely bare themselves before another person.
No lies.
No hidden selves.
Only truth.
Vestal quietly looked toward them one final time.
"You can still stop now."
Neither moved away.
Instead—
Cocoa softly smiled first.
"I trust Master."
Then—
Nayuta gently lowered her head.
"This humble one placeth her faith in thee, O Great Hero."
Yuuki quietly watched them both.
Not as commander.
Not as some legendary figure.
Just as someone entrusted with something deeply personal.
Then—
The synchronization began.
The glowing blood reacted almost immediately upon contact.
Soft light spread across Cocoa and Nayuta simultaneously.
The room's systems flickered faintly.
Several girls instinctively stepped closer worriedly.
Then suddenly—
Both girls' bodies weakened.
Cocoa swayed first.
Nayuta followed moments later.
Before either could hit the floor—
The others immediately caught them.
"Aah—!"
Ade and Soda quickly supported Cocoa together.
Meanwhile—
Yorktown and Belfast carefully caught Nayuta.
The two unconscious girls were gently laid down afterward.
Nayuta upon Yuuki's bed.
Cocoa resting beside Ade and Soda.
The room remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
Yuuki slowly closed his eyes as he fell Illustrious's arms.
And once more—
He descended into a Nikke's Inner World.
=============
Far away—
Deep beneath the ruined surface world—
The Ark remained alive.
A massive underground civilization hidden beneath layers of steel, concrete, and fear.
At its center stood the towering corporate sectors belonging to the "Big Three."
The companies responsible for Nikke production.
Control.
Resurrection.
Ownership.
And tonight—
For the seventh time—
Emergency alarms suddenly erupted across one of the central monitoring facilities.
Red warning lights flooded the chamber.
Technicians immediately froze in panic.
A terrified operator stared at the central system screen.
"W-We've lost another two!"
"What?!"
Another researcher nearly stumbled toward the console.
The monitors rapidly displayed corrupted data streams.
Then—
Two names vanished completely from the backup registry.
Cocoa.
Nayuta.
Data erased.
Permanent.
Inside the executive conference chamber—
The three CEOs immediately received the alert.
And for the first time in years—
All of them looked genuinely shaken.
A sharply dressed man with an absurdly extravagant outfit slammed his hand onto the table.
"Non!"
His heavy French accent worsened under stress.
"First Rapi, Anis, and Neon…"
Then furiously—
"Then Ade and Soda…"
"And now Cocoa and Nayuta?!"
Nearby—
A tall authoritative woman immediately stood from her seat.
"This is impossible."
Her voice carried genuine alarm now.
"Vapaus blood alone shouldn't be capable of this."
Then colder—
"Even corrupted Nikkes retain retrievable backup structures."
Another figure quietly sat in silence nearby.
A small woman with black hair lined with purple highlights.
Unlike the others—
She looked less angry.
And more deeply disturbed.
"…No."
Her voice remained calm.
"Something else is happening."
The room slowly quieted toward her.
She tapped the holographic screen again.
Seven Nikke profiles remained highlighted in red.
Rapi.
Anis.
Neon.
Ade.
Soda.
Cocoa.
Nayuta.
All backup records—
Gone.
Not corrupted.
Not damaged.
Erased.
As though the systems themselves willingly severed ownership.
The purple-haired woman narrowed her eyes.
"Do you understand what this means?"
Nobody answered.
So she did.
"Their Bastion Cubes can no longer be retrieved."
"Even if their bodies are destroyed…"
"…they cannot be reconstructed anymore."
The room became deathly silent.
Because this shattered one of the Ark's foundational assumptions.
Control.
The Ark controlled Nikkes because it controlled resurrection.
Because backups existed.
Because memory storage existed.
Because no Nikke could ever truly escape the system.
And now—
Seven had.
The French executive looked furious now.
"This should not be possible!"
"Even Eden's renegades still possess backup traces!"
"Even Heretics maintain recoverable structures!"
The woman beside him clenched the table harder.
"And Vapaus subjects still leave remnants behind…"
Then staring toward the erased files.
"But these seven…"
"…completely severed themselves."
No recovery.
No override.
No reset.
Nothing.
The purple-haired woman slowly spoke again.
"…It's almost as if…"
She paused briefly.
"…someone rewrote the foundation of their existence itself."
The room chilled slightly hearing that.
Because all three CEOs now understood the true danger.
If this phenomenon spread—
The Ark would permanently lose authority over its Nikkes.
Not merely physically.
Existentially.
No backups meant no ownership.
No resurrection meant true freedom.
And freedom—
Was the one thing the Ark was never designed to allow completely.
The central monitor suddenly displayed the erased profiles again.
Seven names.
Seven vanished chains.
And somewhere beyond the Ark—
A man none of them fully understood continued unknowingly breaking the system itself.
=========
Far away from the Ark—
Beyond ruined cities and forgotten battlefields—
High within the quiet mountains hidden beneath drifting clouds—
A small remote village rested peacefully among ancient forests.
Unlike the underground Ark—
This place still knew sunlight.
Still knew wind.
Still knew silence untouched by machinery.
Traditional wooden homes lined the mountain paths while paper lanterns swayed gently beneath the night breeze.
And at the very center of the village—
Inside a quiet shrine-like residence—
A lone woman sat in meditation.
Her appearance resembled Nayuta almost perfectly.
The same platinum-silver hair.
The same calm eyes.
The same graceful aura.
Though unlike Nayuta—
Her presence felt older.
Sharper.
More complete.
Blue-white kimono sleeves rested neatly across the tatami floor while faint energy symbols glowed around her meditation chamber.
For hours—
She remained perfectly still.
Until suddenly—
Her eyes snapped open.
The symbols around the room violently flickered.
Then—
Pain.
An overwhelming pulse surged directly through her mind.
The woman immediately gasped softly while clutching her chest.
"…What…?"
A powerful resonance flooded through her consciousness.
Warmth.
Light.
Memories.
A connection.
Something impossible had suddenly touched her existence directly.
Then—
For the first time in years—
She felt another version of herself.
Nayuta.
Not merely sensed.
Connected.
The woman's breathing became unstable.
Her carefully maintained mental barriers cracked instantly beneath the overwhelming synchronization.
Memories she never possessed flashed across her vision.
A floating fortress.
A black-haired commander.
Shipgirls.
Warmth.
Laughter.
Freedom.
And then—
A heartbeat.
Not hers.
His.
The woman's body trembled violently afterward.
"…Impossible…"
The floor beneath her cracked slightly from uncontrolled energy.
Then suddenly—
Her strength vanished completely.
She collapsed sideways onto the wooden floor.
The meditation circle shattered into fading light around her.
Her long silver hair spread across the tatami as consciousness slowly faded.
Yet even while collapsing—
One final emotion remained inside her heart.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
But longing.
Because somewhere—
For the very first time—
She had felt truly connected to someone.