NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

Tap, tap, tap...

The footsteps slowly approached from around the corner of the building, and then the girl named Marian stood before a few members of the Counters Squad.

Green took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and once again saw her. Silver-gray hair, dark armor in the style of Letcher, with two strips of bandages wrapped around her head, almost falling off.

Marian.

This wasn't Green's first time meeting her.

Not long ago, under the alias "Modernia," she nearly wiped out the Counters Squad and used mechanical tentacles to make a large hole in Green's stomach.

But now, Marian stood before him like a newborn child in a fully developed Nikke's body. Her ruby-like eyes no longer held any trace of madness. Instead, they reflected a childlike daze and curiosity about the world.

After a brief silence, Anis was the first to break it, "Hello, I'm Anis, nice to meet you!"

Neon squinted her eyes and smiled, saying, "Hello, I'm Neon. Don't go telling anyone that I'm a spy, okay~?"

Rapi, with a serious face, introduced himself, "I'm Rapi."

"Ah... uh... ah..." On the other hand, Marian glanced at the members of the Counters Squad, but all she could utter were baby-like mutterings.

This caused the three of them to fall silent once more.

Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Ingrid explained, "She can't speak yet. You'll need to teach her little by little."

Anis pursed her lips, "Do we really have to teach her?"

Marian continued to make noises, "Ah ah... ugh ah ah ah..."

It was unclear what Marian wanted to express her emotions, but all she could do was to stare at Green and mutter a long string of unintelligible sounds.

However, with an innocent angel-like smile, she walked toward Green and tightly embraced him.

Rustle...

Rustle...

This young girl, who should have known nothing about the world, held Green in her arms like a baby expressing affection, happily rubbing her head against his chest.

"Commander…"

Marian struggled, her voice awkward, as she called out a single word which was "Commander." That word shocked everyone present.

Green gently patted her head in surprise. "Marian?"

Anis jumped in shock, "She spoke!"

Neon's mouth hung open. "Wow!"

Rapi looked surprised. "Instructor, what is this?!"

Even Ingrid, always calm, couldn't help but feel astonished at this rare scene. "T-the brainwashing was very successful, but Marian still remembers her name and the word 'commander.' The reason is unknown."

Ingrid then pondered, "Hm… If there is such a thing as a soul, it seems it doesn't reside in the brain. Eh, that's really not scientific at all!"

The heavy atmosphere lifted as they watched Marian and Green embrace. Anis smiled brightly, her expression relaxed and content.

"Exactly! That's why it's something incredible!"

Neon also grinned. "Umu! Umu~!"

Afterwards, everyone continued chatting happily for a while.

Once the reunion atmosphere started to fade, Ingrid continued to explain to the group, "Marian has strong learning abilities, so she'll probably start talking soon. You'll need to educate her well, and also… Forget it, it's nothing."

Ingrid glanced at Rapi, cutting off her own sentence. "I'll be heading back now."

Rapi nodded and immediately followed her. "I'll escort you, Instructor."

"Thank you."

Rapi escorted Ingrid to the elevator leading to the forward base, and the two quickly disappeared.

Once Ingrid was out of sight, Anis skipped over to Marian with a proud smile on her face and said, "Alright, Marian, from now on, please call me the All-Knowing, All-Powerful Anis-sama!"

"Ah woo?"

Marian seemed to not understand what Anis meant and just stared blankly. Neon also rolled her eyes slightly.

Anis, are you really trying to take advantage of a baby?

But the morally bankrupt Anis wasn't bothered at all. Instead, she grew even more excited. "Come on, Marian, repeat after me!"

"All, knowing, all, powerful, Anis, Sama! Come on! All! Knowing! All! Powerful! Anis! Sama!"

Marian still didn't understand, but began to stammer through the words: "All... All... know... lack... power... of…"

Anis cheered, "Yes, yes, that's it, that's it!"

"All... power... of... Ah… Ugh…"

Suddenly, Marian seemed to recall something. After saying Anis's name, she smiled and shouted, "The one lacking power!"

"That's not it!" Anis turned red from frustration, "Marian, why can't you just repeat after me properly?"

"The one lacking knowledge and power, Anis-sama! The one lacking knowledge and power, Anis-sama~. The one lacking knowledge and power, Anis—" Marian didn't get it, and just became a repeating machine, endlessly repeating "The one lacking knowledge and power, Anis-sama."

Anis gritted her teeth in frustration. Green and Neon couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.

Neon squinted through her glasses and teased, "Anis, who told you to bully the baby? This is what you get for your misdeeds."

Anis sighed, looking helpless. "I have a feeling our Outpost base is going to get another troublemaker. I just hope Marian doesn't steal my snacks or soda."

Well, that would be impossible, Anis. Green gave Anis a sympathetic look.

Marian's mental state still had a long way to go before recovering to that of an adult. And little children, well, their favorite things are always snacks and drinks.

Once Marian sees Anis open the fridge just once, all of Anis's stock will undoubtedly be wiped out!

After a moment of silence for Anis's soda, Green said, "Let's head back for now. Once Rapi returns, we'll discuss how to teach Marian."

"Alright."

"Agreed."

"Marian."

"Wah?"

"We're heading back."

"Mm!"

Green called out to Marian.

Marian responded happily, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

She stepped forward and hugged Green's arm, just like long-lost lovers reunited, and the two happily strolled together through the Outpost base.

"Ugh." Anis, walking beside them, pouted. "Marian, without even being able to talk, is already hugging the commander's arm and strolling hand in hand. I can't even imagine what she'll be like in the future."

"What's wrong, Anis? Feeling like your position is in danger?" Neon asked with a sly smile.

"If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have felt it. But now that you mention it, I do feel a sense of crisis," Anis glanced at Green, who was immersed in joy, and let out a barely audible sigh. "Neon, do you know that there are two types of women in the world that men just can't resist? Do you know what they are?"

"Which two?"

"First, those who are beautiful. Second, those with powerful firepower." Anis's eyes grew wild, "And that Marian girl... she has both!"

Red flag? Nope, its crimson!

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