His sleep is shallow. He wakes up every hour to check his surroundings and, if there are no abnormalities, he falls back into the shallow sleep. He rests his body with this cycle.
However, his sleeping posture resembles that of a lifeless body. He doesn't move at all.
From time to time, curious about it, Rapi, Anis, and Neon quietly approach him, shading their hands over their mouths to check his breathing and make sure he's alive.
It's unclear who started this routine, but Moore seems so untrustworthy to the girls that they share a common understanding that he might easily die if they take their eyes off him.
They repeat this confirmation of his condition and sleep cycle several times, and the next day arrives.
It's still before sunrise, but when he awakens, Moore, who slept with his headset and helmet on, cracks his stiff neck.
"---Commander, are you awake? How's your health?"
"...Not bad. Sorry for causing concern."
Thanks to his shallow sleep, Moore is aware that the girls have been approaching and checking his breathing with their hands shading their mouths.
However, this is not understood by Rapi, and she misunderstands it as a reference to his health condition from the previous day. Nevertheless, he doesn't bother to correct her.
When he woke up, Moore began to prepare for their departure. At that moment, Anis, as if recalling something, asked Rapi.
"By the way, haven't we been able to contact Ark yet?"
"No, we haven't. Even though the concentration of Evra particles should be low..."
"In the northern regions, it's quite common. Something unknown is probably interfering with communication. There are monsters sleeping under the ice. Don't you think that's a common story?"
Ludmila suddenly appears in the room and interjects. Moore wonders where she heard that from.
"We just defeated the monster that was sleeping under the ice yesterday."
Moore mentions it as part of the research base's defense system, and Ludmila shrugs her shoulders with a faint smile.
Nevertheless, the fact that communication with Ark hasn't been restored is concerning. Moore initially thought it might be due to the blizzard, but there might be something else interfering with radio waves.
In any case, they will have to wait for the results of further investigation.
As they hurried with their preparations, Alice suddenly mentioned the words 'Sleeping Beauties' and began urging Ludmila.
"...Can't it wait until later?"
"No, it can't! We haven't seen them in a long time! They might have woken up! Let's go see the bunny girls too!!"
Ludmila sent several glances towards them as if concerned about Moore. It was clear that he and the girls had noticed her gaze, which made it seem as though she didn't want them to know.
Either due to the overwhelming enthusiasm or Ludmila giving in, she nodded and gestured for Moore and the squad to follow her.
They looked at each other's faces as the squad followed Moore, Alice, and Rudmila.
They arrived at a room that was appropriately decorated for a research facility. The interior had the look of a typical research laboratory.
"Let me introduce them! This one is the princess with blue hair!"
Alice gleefully pressed a button that concealed the shutters covering numerous capsules in the spacious room.
Eventually, the interior of the capsules came into view, and the girls gasped while Moore's cheeks twitched slightly in response.
However, he only reacted for a moment and then averted his gaze, trying not to look inside the capsules.
Inside the capsules, Nikke's body, which lacked a head and had limbs damaged, floated in a liquid, resembling a specimen.
"And this one is the princess with yellow eyes!"
One after another, Alice pressed buttons that activated the shutters covering other capsules.
All of them contained Nikke's bodies with only the upper torso or no limbs at all. A common characteristic was the complete absence or loss of the upper part of the head, leaving the inside empty, without a brain.
"Everyone here is a Sleeping Beauty! We're going to wake them up and go to a happy world together! We'll eat sweets together, and... drink milk!"
"...Alice. I suddenly feel like having some milk after hearing that. Can you bring some?"
"Oh! Of course, Your Majesty!"
Although Ludmila's request came out of nowhere, Alice obediently nodded. After seeing her leave the room with a smile, Ludmila let out a deep sigh.
"---These are the Nikes rescued from the surface."
"Yes."
"They're all dead... but what's the point of collecting their bodies?"
"They're not... completely dead."
"Their heads are empty! Heck, there's no brain!"
While Moore had been avoiding looking, he finally made a half-turn in that place, facing away from the capsules. He reached into the pouch of his body armor and took out a cigarette, placing it between his lips, though he hadn't lit it yet.
Ludmila, who saw his back, lowered her gaze and hesitated for a moment before explaining the situation.
"...When we rescue Nikke, this is how most of them are, with just their brains missing."
Nikke was an existence close to immortality. As long as the brain remained, they could revive by swapping bodies repeatedly. However, if the brain died, there would be no chance of revival.
"That's why we keep their bodies in a safe place like this, praying for a miracle that someone will find them. This is our job—to make the miracles they wish for come true."
In fact, Ludmila and her team had rescued dozens of Nikkes. However, there were cases where the brains and bodies had been separated for too long, causing synchronization issues or leading to mental breakdowns and amnesia.
Nevertheless, they continued to help the survivors.
"...I find it to be a rewarding job. But..."
Ludmila sighed, struggling to express the indescribable mix of emotions and thoughts. She murmured to herself and addressed Moore, who still had his back turned.
"...I didn't want to show this to you. When faced with the worst-case scenario, it's hard not to imagine a terrible future. I'm sorry... for showing you something unnecessary, especially to you."
To be presented with such a scene without any prior explanation could be unsettling. Ludmila didn't know what words to use, especially since Moore was turning away, as if he didn't want to include it in his field of vision.
"No... I don't think it's unnecessary. I know I'm being rude... but... they're naked, aren't they?"
"What...?"
"Regardless of life or death, they probably wouldn't want a man like me to see them."
With this, he indirectly conveyed to Ludmila that he had been deliberately avoiding looking at them.
His subordinates, who had looked bewildered, now shrugged or let out wry smiles.
"Our commander is quite unusual. He sees Nikke as women."
"Don't call me a weirdo. Except for a tiny fraction, I try to treat women with respect. It's extremely impolite in this attire, but... I'll still give you respect for doing this job."
In response to Anis and Moore's exchange, Ludmila felt the tension leave her stiff body, and a sense of relief washed over her.
However, when Moore, despite everything, expressed his respect verbally, the girls also nodded in return.
"Thank you... but hold off on the respect for a while. Recently, the number of lost and rescued Nikkes has decreased significantly."
She couldn't explain the reason, but she said that the numbers had clearly declined over the past few years. The survival rate for those who returned to Ark shouldn't have changed, but those words strangely lingered in Moore's ears.
---
"This is where we seperate," Ludmila said, exhaling a white breath.
It had been about a 20-minute walk from the research base. They had accompanied him for quite a long distance for a farewell.
"Huh? What? Aren't you coming with us?"
"...They have work to do too. They can't stay with us forever."
Anis asked surprisingly, but Moore's presence, accompanied by six wolves, made her reconsider her question.
Ultimately, the mission of the Unlimited girls was to rescue Nikkes. They had acted together because their mission to reclaim the research base where Nikke's bodies were stored and their mission to reach the research base coincided.
"...Right. We've taken back our home, so we have work to do. Taking care of the Sleeping Princesses, too."
"...Oh, that's a bit unexpected."
"They're more serious than I thought."
Neon and Anis seemed to have a lot of unnecessary comments, but Moore thought to himself as he took a cigarette he had missed smoking from his pocket and lit it with an oil lighter.
"All it takes is distinguishing between what needs to be done and what you want to do. Alice, he and their comrades are leaving here for a while to gain even greater power. Is that okay?"
"Yes! We'll be waiting here!"
"If you could drop by when your work is done, I'd be happy. I'm curious about how the mission turns out."
"...In any case, I'll have to stop by here when I return to Ark. I promise to show my face."
They would have to pass through this research base again to return to Ark eventually. They would meet again sooner or later.
With a cigarette in his mouth and an appearance that might seem shabby at first glance, Moore shrugged his shoulders in response to Ludmila.
"Take care!"
"Until next time. Squad, march forward."
Giving the order, with Rapi in the lead and Anis and Neon following, Moore also prepared to follow, accompanied by the wolves. However, a voice from behind called out to him.
"...Servant, wait a moment."
He stopped and turned slightly, looking over his shoulder, and Ludmila approached. Her subordinates also noticed that he had stopped and halted as well. Moore signaled for them to move forward.
"...You too, Alice. Go ahead. I'll just say this just in case."
The six wolves, perhaps understanding his command, obeyed and began to run. Ludmila also gestured for Alice to return the way they had come. After nodding, Alice skipped away, and with her golden hair swaying, she turned to face Moore.
"...Meeting someone new is like two contrasting worlds coming into contact. You might feel discomfort or fear."
Gradually, the cold wind, carrying bits of snow, intensified. To ensure her words reached him clearly, Ludmila extended her hand a little closer to him and looked up at the tall figure before her.
"Even if that discomfort becomes unbearable, even if that fear grows larger, absolutely, you must never destroy the other person's world."
Her voice, emphasizing each word as she spoke, was met with Moore's attentive ear.
"Even if you acknowledge the other person's world and, in the process, concede a part of your own, make sure to never destroy the world that is most important to the other person, the world they've lived in for so long."
"...Understood. It's Her Majesty the Queen's command. I'll keep it in mind."
"Haha, you're a good child. I like obedient ones. But..."
With a mix of teasing in her tone, Ludmila smiled at Moore's nod and then, with deliberate slowness, she used her fingertip to pluck the cigarette he had been about to light, taking it away.
"This is in the way."
A particularly strong gust of cold wind tousled her golden hair. As it briefly obscured Moore's field of vision, he felt a soft and warm touch on his cheek for a moment.
"---It's a reward from the Queen. Do you like it?"
"I think it's a reward too extravagant for a mere servant like me."
"I am the Queen. What's wrong with giving a reward to a servant?"
Taking the cigarette she had taken from his dry lips and placing it between her own moist ones, Ludmila turned on her heel and began to walk away.
It was a pity that she took the cigarette with her, which he had barely smoked half of, but...
"Well, I'll accept it."
---With that muttered words, Moore also turned on his heel and started walking away, his back to Rudmila.
His sleep is shallow. He wakes up every hour to check his surroundings and, if there are no abnormalities, he falls back into the shallow sleep. He rests his body with this cycle.
However, his sleeping posture resembles that of a lifeless body. He doesn't move at all.
From time to time, curious about it, Rapi, Anis, and Neon quietly approach him, shading their hands over their mouths to check his breathing and make sure he's alive.
It's unclear who started this routine, but Moore seems so untrustworthy to the girls that they share a common understanding that he might easily die if they take their eyes off him.
They repeat this confirmation of his condition and sleep cycle several times, and the next day arrives.
It's still before sunrise, but when he awakens, Moore, who slept with his headset and helmet on, cracks his stiff neck.
"---Commander, are you awake? How's your health?"
"...Not bad. Sorry for causing concern."
Thanks to his shallow sleep, Moore is aware that the girls have been approaching and checking his breathing with their hands shading their mouths.
However, this is not understood by Rapi, and she misunderstands it as a reference to his health condition from the previous day. Nevertheless, he doesn't bother to correct her.
When he woke up, Moore began to prepare for their departure. At that moment, Anis, as if recalling something, asked Rapi.
"By the way, haven't we been able to contact Ark yet?"
"No, we haven't. Even though the concentration of Evra particles should be low..."
"In the northern regions, it's quite common. Something unknown is probably interfering with communication. There are monsters sleeping under the ice. Don't you think that's a common story?"
Ludmila suddenly appears in the room and interjects. Moore wonders where she heard that from.
"We just defeated the monster that was sleeping under the ice yesterday."
Moore mentions it as part of the research base's defense system, and Ludmila shrugs her shoulders with a faint smile.
Nevertheless, the fact that communication with Ark hasn't been restored is concerning. Moore initially thought it might be due to the blizzard, but there might be something else interfering with radio waves.
In any case, they will have to wait for the results of further investigation.
As they hurried with their preparations, Alice suddenly mentioned the words 'Sleeping Beauties' and began urging Ludmila.
"...Can't it wait until later?"
"No, it can't! We haven't seen them in a long time! They might have woken up! Let's go see the bunny girls too!!"
Ludmila sent several glances towards them as if concerned about Moore. It was clear that he and the girls had noticed her gaze, which made it seem as though she didn't want them to know.
Either due to the overwhelming enthusiasm or Ludmila giving in, she nodded and gestured for Moore and the squad to follow her.
They looked at each other's faces as the squad followed Moore, Alice, and Rudmila.
They arrived at a room that was appropriately decorated for a research facility. The interior had the look of a typical research laboratory.
"Let me introduce them! This one is the princess with blue hair!"
Alice gleefully pressed a button that concealed the shutters covering numerous capsules in the spacious room.
Eventually, the interior of the capsules came into view, and the girls gasped while Moore's cheeks twitched slightly in response.
However, he only reacted for a moment and then averted his gaze, trying not to look inside the capsules.
Inside the capsules, Nikke's body, which lacked a head and had limbs damaged, floated in a liquid, resembling a specimen.
"And this one is the princess with yellow eyes!"
One after another, Alice pressed buttons that activated the shutters covering other capsules.
All of them contained Nikke's bodies with only the upper torso or no limbs at all. A common characteristic was the complete absence or loss of the upper part of the head, leaving the inside empty, without a brain.
"Everyone here is a Sleeping Beauty! We're going to wake them up and go to a happy world together! We'll eat sweets together, and... drink milk!"
"...Alice. I suddenly feel like having some milk after hearing that. Can you bring some?"
"Oh! Of course, Your Majesty!"
Although Ludmila's request came out of nowhere, Alice obediently nodded. After seeing her leave the room with a smile, Ludmila let out a deep sigh.
"---These are the Nikes rescued from the surface."
"Yes."
"They're all dead... but what's the point of collecting their bodies?"
"They're not... completely dead."
"Their heads are empty! Heck, there's no brain!"
While Moore had been avoiding looking, he finally made a half-turn in that place, facing away from the capsules. He reached into the pouch of his body armor and took out a cigarette, placing it between his lips, though he hadn't lit it yet.
Ludmila, who saw his back, lowered her gaze and hesitated for a moment before explaining the situation.
"...When we rescue Nikke, this is how most of them are, with just their brains missing."
Nikke was an existence close to immortality. As long as the brain remained, they could revive by swapping bodies repeatedly. However, if the brain died, there would be no chance of revival.
"That's why we keep their bodies in a safe place like this, praying for a miracle that someone will find them. This is our job—to make the miracles they wish for come true."
In fact, Ludmila and her team had rescued dozens of Nikkes. However, there were cases where the brains and bodies had been separated for too long, causing synchronization issues or leading to mental breakdowns and amnesia.
Nevertheless, they continued to help the survivors.
"...I find it to be a rewarding job. But..."
Ludmila sighed, struggling to express the indescribable mix of emotions and thoughts. She murmured to herself and addressed Moore, who still had his back turned.
"...I didn't want to show this to you. When faced with the worst-case scenario, it's hard not to imagine a terrible future. I'm sorry... for showing you something unnecessary, especially to you."
To be presented with such a scene without any prior explanation could be unsettling. Ludmila didn't know what words to use, especially since Moore was turning away, as if he didn't want to include it in his field of vision.
"No... I don't think it's unnecessary. I know I'm being rude... but... they're naked, aren't they?"
"What...?"
"Regardless of life or death, they probably wouldn't want a man like me to see them."
With this, he indirectly conveyed to Ludmila that he had been deliberately avoiding looking at them.
His subordinates, who had looked bewildered, now shrugged or let out wry smiles.
"Our commander is quite unusual. He sees Nikke as women."
"Don't call me a weirdo. Except for a tiny fraction, I try to treat women with respect. It's extremely impolite in this attire, but... I'll still give you respect for doing this job."
In response to Anis and Moore's exchange, Ludmila felt the tension leave her stiff body, and a sense of relief washed over her.
However, when Moore, despite everything, expressed his respect verbally, the girls also nodded in return.
"Thank you... but hold off on the respect for a while. Recently, the number of lost and rescued Nikkes has decreased significantly."
She couldn't explain the reason, but she said that the numbers had clearly declined over the past few years. The survival rate for those who returned to Ark shouldn't have changed, but those words strangely lingered in Moore's ears.
---
"This is where we seperate," Ludmila said, exhaling a white breath.
It had been about a 20-minute walk from the research base. They had accompanied him for quite a long distance for a farewell.
"Huh? What? Aren't you coming with us?"
"...They have work to do too. They can't stay with us forever."
Anis asked surprisingly, but Moore's presence, accompanied by six wolves, made her reconsider her question.
Ultimately, the mission of the Unlimited girls was to rescue Nikkes. They had acted together because their mission to reclaim the research base where Nikke's bodies were stored and their mission to reach the research base coincided.
"...Right. We've taken back our home, so we have work to do. Taking care of the Sleeping Princesses, too."
"...Oh, that's a bit unexpected."
"They're more serious than I thought."
Neon and Anis seemed to have a lot of unnecessary comments, but Moore thought to himself as he took a cigarette he had missed smoking from his pocket and lit it with an oil lighter.
"All it takes is distinguishing between what needs to be done and what you want to do. Alice, he and their comrades are leaving here for a while to gain even greater power. Is that okay?"
"Yes! We'll be waiting here!"
"If you could drop by when your work is done, I'd be happy. I'm curious about how the mission turns out."
"...In any case, I'll have to stop by here when I return to Ark. I promise to show my face."
They would have to pass through this research base again to return to Ark eventually. They would meet again sooner or later.
With a cigarette in his mouth and an appearance that might seem shabby at first glance, Moore shrugged his shoulders in response to Ludmila.
"Take care!"
"Until next time. Squad, march forward."
Giving the order, with Rapi in the lead and Anis and Neon following, Moore also prepared to follow, accompanied by the wolves. However, a voice from behind called out to him.
"...Servant, wait a moment."
He stopped and turned slightly, looking over his shoulder, and Ludmila approached. Her subordinates also noticed that he had stopped and halted as well. Moore signaled for them to move forward.
"...You too, Alice. Go ahead. I'll just say this just in case."
The six wolves, perhaps understanding his command, obeyed and began to run. Ludmila also gestured for Alice to return the way they had come. After nodding, Alice skipped away, and with her golden hair swaying, she turned to face Moore.
"...Meeting someone new is like two contrasting worlds coming into contact. You might feel discomfort or fear."
Gradually, the cold wind, carrying bits of snow, intensified. To ensure her words reached him clearly, Ludmila extended her hand a little closer to him and looked up at the tall figure before her.
"Even if that discomfort becomes unbearable, even if that fear grows larger, absolutely, you must never destroy the other person's world."
Her voice, emphasizing each word as she spoke, was met with Moore's attentive ear.
"Even if you acknowledge the other person's world and, in the process, concede a part of your own, make sure to never destroy the world that is most important to the other person, the world they've lived in for so long."
"...Understood. It's Her Majesty the Queen's command. I'll keep it in mind."
"Haha, you're a good child. I like obedient ones. But..."
With a mix of teasing in her tone, Ludmila smiled at Moore's nod and then, with deliberate slowness, she used her fingertip to pluck the cigarette he had been about to light, taking it away.
"This is in the way."
A particularly strong gust of cold wind tousled her golden hair. As it briefly obscured Moore's field of vision, he felt a soft and warm touch on his cheek for a moment.
"---It's a reward from the Queen. Do you like it?"
"I think it's a reward too extravagant for a mere servant like me."
"I am the Queen. What's wrong with giving a reward to a servant?"
Taking the cigarette she had taken from his dry lips and placing it between her own moist ones, Ludmila turned on her heel and began to walk away.
It was a pity that she took the cigarette with her, which he had barely smoked half of, but...
"Well, I'll accept it."
---With that muttered words, Moore also turned on his heel and started walking away, his back to Rudmila.
