NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

"Scarlet, no more drinking today," Green muttered as he shook his groggy head. "Didn't we drink enough yesterday?"

"My Lord, yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. If you keep reminiscing about yesterday's fine wine, how can today's drinks taste as sweet?" Scarlet replied, adjusting her bamboo hat and pointing toward the clear sky outside the window.

"Look outside. A gentle breeze stirs, and the waters are calm. Surely, it's a perfect day for drinking."

"But…"

"Do you not want some meat? I've brought top-quality venison from the surface," Scarlet teased, producing a succulent piece of snowflake venison (Deer's meat) from who knows where.

Staring at the marbled venison, Green licked his lips. It had been weeks since he last tasted real meat. The Ark's meat products were always mysterious in origin, with even the ingredient list kept under wraps. How could such dubious food compare to the genuine delicacies of the surface?

"Maybe just...a small drink?"

"I knew you wouldn't say no, My Lord."

With the venison in hand, Green returned to the command room, which was a chaotic mess but empty of people. Anis and Marian had likely gone back to Nikke's dormitory to rest.

Green approached the kitchen, turned on the stovetop flame, and cooked a dish of savory, tender, braised venison using an array of seasonings. While plating the meat, Scarlet appeared behind him like a phantom.

"My Lord, your culinary skills are remarkable. Have you considered becoming a chef once we reclaim the surface?"

"A chef for whom? You, Scarlet?"

"If you're willing, why not? From then on, I'd hunt, and you'd cook. During our free time, we'd set up a table with fine wine and dishes and invite a few friends over for a gathering—what do you think of such a life, My Lord?" Scarlet asked with a cheeky grin.

"We'll talk about that after reclaiming the surface," Green replied, placing the braised venison on the table and pulling out a bottle of cocktail from the cabinet.

"Just two small glasses today, no more," he said.

"If My Lord insists, then just two glasses. Not a drop more," Scarlet agreed.

"Here, pour the drinks."

Thus began the feast. For the first time in a while, Green was having real meat. After eating so much processed food, he began to thank Mother Nature for nurturing humans for so long.

On the other hand, the alluring aroma soon attracted the three members of the Counters squad.

"Commander, how selfish of you! Having meat and not inviting us?" Anis shouted.

"Master, I want some too!" Neon chimed in as they both dove toward the braised venison, joining the revelry.

Rapi silently sat down, helping herself to a bowl and chopsticks without a word. Marian, still a child at heart, was likely snoozing away, as kids often did.

The gathering stretched late into the night.

Amid the endless clinking of glasses, the number of empty bottles piled up, most of which Scarlet drank. The solemn promise of "just two glasses" was utterly forgotten by the two of them.

"Ugh...why does my head feel so heavy? Is it because the heating's too high?" Green groaned.

"My Lord, lower the heating a bit, or come over and help me take off my shoes. Sleeping with shoes on before bed is...urp…" Scarlet mumbled drunkenly, clutching a bottle as she half-reclined on her chair.

"There's no heating on—it's just the alcohol getting to you," Anis scoffed. "Honestly, I can't believe one of the legendary Pilgrims is such a drunkard."

Anis had seen other Pilgrims before—like the famed "Snow White."

Pure as her name implied, she wielded an anti-ship rifle and coldly trekked through the northern snowfields alone. Whenever she acted, every Rapture in sight was annihilated without exception. Her stoic demeanor matched her role as a leader, serious and sparing of words.

By that standard, other Pilgrims should have shared her aura of gravitas.

But why was this Nikke before her—a Pilgrim, no less—a complete and utter drunkard?

Watching Scarlet's drunken stupor, Anis felt her image of Pilgrims shatter into pieces.

Scarlet, on the other hand, also noticed Anis's puzzled expression and smiled softly. "Heh, young Nikke, you must understand—even Pilgrims are, at the end of the day, just Nikkes."

Anis froze for a moment. "Huh...?"

Scarlet continued, "You're a Nikke, and so am I. The only difference is that I've lived a bit longer than you. As for the title of 'Pilgrim,' it's just a label the others have imposed on me. Even those widely spread stories about us in the Ark might be exaggerated or fabricated."

"That...does make sense." Anis thought for a moment and nodded before asking, "But you've been coming to this outpost way too often. Shouldn't Pilgrims keep some distance from the Ark? At least leave me with a bit of mystery about Pilgrims."

"Too often, you say?" Scarlet cast a hazy and drunken glance at Green, who was also clearly intoxicated, and chuckled subtly. "My reasons for coming here aren't just for the wine. Well, best not to pry further."

Anis raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Somehow, it feels like you just want an excuse to drink."

"Guh…" Scarlet groaned vaguely before shifting her gaze to Neon. "Neon, want to see a rainbow?"

"A rainbow? Is that some kind of Pilgrim's ultimate skill?" Neon's eyes lit up.

"Yes, it's quite a formidable skill."

"Then I want to see!"

Anis immediately shouted when she remembered what this 'Rainbow' actually was, "Hey! Don't puke in the room! I'm not cleaning up after you!"

The Counters Squad's gathering with Scarlet lasted late into the night. Green, who had been idly chatting and drinking since waking up, was thoroughly drunk again. Still recovering from yesterday's hangover, he found himself coaxed into another day of indulgence by Scarlet.

Before falling asleep, Green clutched his spinning head and stared at his weary reflection in the mirror. He sighed. 

"I've been wasted by wine and revelry… How haggard I've become."

From that moment, he resolved, "Starting tomorrow, I must quit drinking!"

With his newfound determination, Green quickly showered and collapsed into bed, falling into a deep, drunken sleep. 

---

The Next Day

Morning broke, and the sky was once again bathed in golden light. Much like yesterday, Scarlet noisily pushed open the command room door with a loud clatter.

"My Lord, I've brought vegetables today. You know what I'm about to say, don't you? Get up and let's share a drink," Scarlet declared while scratching her butt.

Still buried under his blanket, Green muttered, "Ugh, my head. I can still see two of you…! Also, for some reason, my ass is hurting. Was Mustang here?"

Scarlet walked over to the bed and studied the lump under the blanket for a moment on top of Green's lower half. Suddenly, her cheeks flushed as she looked away. "My Lord, are you truly suffering from headaches? I'd say something else seems a bit...stiff."

Green threw off the blanket before getting up and explained flatly, "It's a normal physiological phenomenon."

"And next time, knock before entering."

"What about today's drink then?" Scarlet pressed while looking at Green's morning boner.

"I really can't drink, Scarlet."

"Is that so?" Disappointment washed over her face, as if being denied a drink was more devastating than battling Raptures. "If you didn't want to drink with me, My Lord, you could have just said so yesterday. But for me to show up today, only to be turned away—it's truly heartbreaking."

Green was at a loss for words. "Scarlet, it's not that I don't want to drink with you, it's just…"

Scarlet's frown immediately flipped back into a grin. "So you can drink? My Lord, no need to say more. Bring out the wine."

"..."

Reluctantly, Green retrieved his last precious bottle of cocktail from his stash, setting it on the table. After pouring Scarlet a drink, he hastily excused himself under the pretext of washing up and bolted out of the command room.

This place was dangerous. He couldn't stay there any longer.

Fearing the relentless allure of Scarlet's subtle charms and her penchant for drinking, Green knew staying longer would inevitably lead to yet another day of drunken revelry.

Outside the Building

Green took a deep breath of fresh air. As he opened his communicator to check for messages from any Nikkes, a notification from Privaty popped up.

Privaty: "I've heard rumors recently that a rather peculiar Nikke has been frequently visiting the outpost. Apparently, she wears a bamboo hat and carries a sword at her waist. Her appearance closely resembles the Pilgrims recorded in Ark's files."

Privaty: "Commander, is this true?"

Privaty: "Please respond."

"She's quick to catch on, huh?" Green muttered.

The central government was notoriously sensitive about Pilgrims. Those in official positions who had too much contact with Pilgrims risked being accused of unfounded crimes and thrown into prison.

Green's Reply: "I don't know."

After brushing off Privaty's inquiry, Green quickly returned to the command center. He grabbed Scarlet's wrist—still clutching her drink—and started dragging her outside.

Scarlet blinked in surprise, then smiled playfully. "Ara, Ara~! So bold, holding my hand like this. Are we eloping, My Lord?"

"Now's not the time for jokes," Green sighed. "I'm sending you back to the surface. You shouldn't come here for a while."

"What's going on?"

"You've been visiting too often. The central government has caught wind of it. If they confirm you're still here, they'll likely send people to capture you."

"I see. I've indeed been careless lately…"

Scarlet reflected on her recent frequent visits. Her days spent alone on the surface—farming without seeing familiar faces or enjoying a drink—had left her feeling lonely. The rare times she could share a drink with Green at the outpost had become an irresistible comfort.

As Green escorted Scarlet to the elevator leading to the surface, two mass-produced Nikkes guarding the area saluted but hesitated to grant them access.

One soldier finally spoke up, "Commander, we haven't received a mission notification from the central government regarding you."

"Moreover, this Nikke isn't part of the Counterforce squad, correct?" added the other.

"She's a new recruit from the Northern Base's Unlimited Unit, here on a covert mission. I'm tasked with transporting her to the surface and will return shortly. Please clear the way," Green lied smoothly.

"Understood."

Ding! The elevator doors opened.

Green and Scarlet stepped inside, and with the hum of machinery, they soon reached the surface. When the door slid open, a breathtaking view emerged.

The morning sun cast its warm light as a gentle breeze blew. The landscape was barren, littered with debris and rusting metal, with only the occasional patch of green breaking the monotony. The elevator's surroundings were relatively safe, thanks to regular patrols clearing out Raptures.

"I'll walk you a bit further, Scarlet," Green offered. "Where's your home?"

"My Lord, have you forgotten? I'm a wanderer. On the surface, I have no home to return to," Scarlet said, adjusting her bamboo hat with a sigh. "I do have various bases scattered around, though. Whenever I settle somewhere, I cultivate the land and grow food. But I never stay for long."

Green gazed at her profile, noticing a tinge of melancholy. "Do you get lonely?"

After a moment of silence, Scarlet pointed to the sky. "Loneliness is inevitable. But at least there's the wind, trees, streams, and the moon to keep me company. Once you get used to it, it doesn't feel as lonely."

"But it's still lonely, isn't it?" Green asked gently. He reached into his pocket and tossed something into her hands. "Here. A gift for my sword master."

Scarlet caught it and looked down to find an old, rare bottle of craft grain liquor. Its value far surpassed the wine from the previous day. On the Ark's network, it would fetch a hefty price from any enthusiast.

She stared at the bottle, surprised, before turning to Green. His soft smile met her gaze. "This is my last treasure, Scarlet. Savor it when you're back, don't down it in one go."

"My Lord…" she murmured, a light blush tinting her cheeks. For a moment, her core began to heat up. However, it wasn't due to malfunctioning. It was a feeling of warmth that Scarlet hadn't felt for 100 years.

In that moment, she realized it wasn't the outpost she cherished—it was him.

"My Lord," she whispered again, clutching the bottle. "This wine is far too precious to enjoy alone. Since I'm already on the surface, why not have one last drink with me?"

"Another drink?" Green hesitated. "What if Raptures appear…"

"Ha! Did you forget I'm the unrivaled swordmaster?" Scarlet chuckled, patting the sword at her hip.

She took his hand, leading him through the wasteland until they found a hilltop where the breeze was just right. Sitting down, she produced two small bottles from her pocket, twisted open the grain liquor, and filled them both.

"My Lord, look at the distant mountains and streams. Don't you think they're more beautiful than the Ark?"

"The surface is much more beautiful," Green admitted.

"I think so, too." Scarlet raised his bottle toward him. "My Lord, did you know that in the distant past, humans would use a shared drink to express their affection for someone?"

"Then let me offer you one, too," Green said, raising her bottle in return.

Under the soft morning light, they exchanged cups and drank. As Green glanced at Scarlet, the sunlight illuminated her slightly flushed cheeks. She leaned on his shoulder, murmuring,

"I drink to your happiness, and together we forget all worries. When the storm passes, please share another drink with me, My Lord."

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