Nikke: Nullable Type

Time passed in almost concerning calm.

Since Andersen had returned back to his Deputy Chief duties and was working with Burningum, I hadn't heard a peep of news out of the Ark.

As far as I could tell, the incident had been pinned as the result of a Deputy Chief letting power get to his head and wanting to eliminate the 'scum' from the Ark by purging the Outer Rim.

The Central Government was spinning all the stuff that went down in the Ark as a result of that Deputy Chief freaking out from my rise in power and feeling threatened... or something.

I didn't pay too much attention to it since I was running around all over the Outpost doing delayed introductions to the Nikkes under my command, dealing with Anis randomly popping up and demanding girlfriend time, Marian's clinginess from her pregnancy symptoms, and a whole slew of other relationship events.

But before I knew it, it was October 31st.

Halloween.

===

6:00 AM. Saturday.

I woke up like I usually did in my bed within the Commander's Office building, pressed against warm and naked women.

As for who it was today...

Rapi grumbled and hugged my right arm. "It's too early, Commander..."

Marian hugged my left arm, using it like a blanket to drape over her body, still fast asleep.

And then... curled up on my chest like a cat and surprisingly light, was Endless.

I sighed and said, "I'm never sleeping alone again, am I?"

Hearing my voice, Marian slowly stirred. Then she blinked her sleepy violet eyes, glancing at me before smiling. Clinging to my left arm a bit tighter, she said, "Never."

Endless woke up too and reached up to stretch, putting everything on display...

Which reminded me that she didn't have any hair below the neck. Like, perfectly smooth everywhere...

Rapi huffed and nipped my ear. "Pervert."

"What?" I looked at Rapi, amused. Then I traced my eyes down her curves, littered with bite marks at her insistence. "I think you're the pervert here."

Rapi blushed and said, "...It's because of Red Hood. I'm not like this."

"Suuure."

Endless let out a warm smile and then nuzzled against me for a bit. "Mm... Commander is always warm."

"And you've become even more clingy and affectionate than Mari, Endy."

Marian giggled and said, "Well. I can't really do that right now, so I have to make sure you're satisfied, right, Darling?"

I kissed Marian's cheek and said, "You're ridiculous, Mari."

"No you~"

Rapi smiled and then got out of bed, stretching. She picked up one of my dress shirts from nearby, tossing it on, as well as a spare set of underwear and bras she kept in the closet. After that, she said, "I'll head off first then, Commander. Since it's Halloween, I should get ahead of the inevitable crowd seeking rations requests."

Endless slid off of my chest and then dressed herself in a spare commander's coat I had, wearing only that. After buttoning it, she nodded and said, "Logistics must be prepared for trick-or-treat and the Halloween Gala."

I blinked. "There's a Halloween Gala?"

Marian poked my cheek. "Of course there is, Darling. It's the first Halloween the Outpost has seen, so we should make a big celebration for it, shouldn't we?"

"...Right." I slipped out of bed next, absently helping Marian change into a spare maternity dress she kept in my closet. After that, I slipped on my own clothes and said, "...I should find Neon. And Matis. I feel like I'll regret it if I don't..."

Marian giggled after I slipped her into her dress and said, "The clock's ticking, Darling~ You never know what might happen on a day of trickery and treats like this."

Rapi finished dressing herself and then paused. "...Commander. No offering yourself as a treat. Or accepting women as treats. Unless it's Anis. She'll definitely do that tonight."

I rolled my eyes and said, "I'm not that kind of guy, Rapi." I paused. "...Though if Anis shows up in my room dressed as a succubus or something, I have to admit that I wouldn't be able to resist."

Rapi's eyes twinkled. "...Duly noted."

Marian giggled. "You've become more honest, huh, Darling?"

"Considering that my bed these days has a minimum occupancy of three every night, it's inevitable." I stretched and said, "...And I guess it's a good thing my recovery is so good. I'm surprised my hips haven't shattered yet."

Endless nodded, staring pointedly at my waist. "...Commander's waist is a modern mystery."

"Alright, alright." I chuckled. "Enough bantering. Let's get going before the others get the bright idea to start setting up a grand trick like filling the sky with a giant pumpkin firework..."

===

After everyone showered, cleaned up properly, and headed downstairs together, we all went our separate ways for the day.

Rapi went to help Shifty and Hana do administrative work, the latter two having shifted to de facto support staff...

Along with a Nikke named Mana who literally looked like a generic Korean hot secretary from a doujin or something.

Apparently, she'd been added to my list of Nikkes at some point...

But anyway, it was good that I had proper support staff to deal with the admin side of things now.

Endless went to go patrol with Suri, the latter who was recently vindicated as, quote, 'these damned machines are finally acting normal again' after Rapture units started trying to invade the Outpost recently.

Speaking of Rapture units, Liberalio and Nihilister had been M.I.A. for a while after heading out to explore the surface with Siren.

I wasn't too concerned about it since Liberalio was already dangerously competent on her own. But with Nihilister's raw firepower and Siren's ability to just basically geass people (still looking into that), they were a trio that were practically unstoppable when push came to shove.

Mostly because they had a 100% flee rate when it came to encounters.

As for Marian... she apparently had a girl's day out with my Aunts Snow White, Red Hood, and Scarlet. Also Rose.

The Ark was apparently having a big Halloween celebration all day, so they were going to check it out together.

Which left me on my lonesome...

But not for long.

And the reason for that...

A door slammed open and Indi ran over, jumping into my arms. "Daddy! You had better give me lots of candy today!"

I chuckled and ruffled her electric blue hair. "Don't worry, Indi. We'll go trick-or-treating properly later."

Indi looked up at me with an imperious expression... or so she thought.

It just looked cute though.

But anyway, she nodded and said, "You made an oath! If you don't keep it, I'll curse you in your sleep!"

I smiled. "Sure, Sweetie. Whatever makes you happy."

Indi crossed her arms, feigning being upset at being called Sweetie. But she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

...Which confirmed Shifty's theory about all the Heretic's from the Rapture Queen having Daddy issues, but I wasn't about to poke that can of worms with a ten thousand foot pole.

I set Indi down and then double checked her outfit.

A black dress with golden highlights made of microbots that could be used for her protection in a pinch. Black penny loafers and white stockings. Black and lacy arm-length gloves that she insisted was for protection but was definitely just her idea of 'cool...'

I nodded and said, "So you're just hanging out with Daddy today, huh? Not with your friends Belorta and Mica at the toy store?"

Indi puffed her cheeks and said, "They're busy." She instinctively held my hand and looked at me with her shimmering violet eyes. "Miss Drake broke her toy so they're helping her fix it."

"Drake has toys?" I paused. "...Actually, that tracks. It's a figurine, right?" I started walking outside with Indi.

Indi nodded and said, "Yes. It's cool... but that means everyone's busy." She huffed and said, "It's candy day! How come we can't have fun?"

"Well, Halloween is actually something that starts in the evening. It's still the morning, so nothing's really set up right- Wait." I blinked and said, "It's still early. You're telling me that they're busy right now?"

Indi huffed and said, "It's been since last night. And I went to go look earlier, but they're still busy."

"...I guess that tracks too. Drake is probably being super picky with it."

Outside the Commander's Office, the Outpost was already a bit lively.

Although I still hadn't gotten everyone's names down just yet...

I was pretty sure I saw the Cafe Sweety squad setting up their cafe for the morning.

The trio of Nikkes from... Primadonna? Prima Donna? I think Prima Donna.

Those musical performer Nikkes were walking together and chatting about a concert they were doing later tonight.

I saw the three Nikkes from... Talented? Talentum?

Either way, I noticed them as I walked past the entrance of the Outpost's shopping mall, no doubt plotting to make a profit from the holiday.

When I walked past the maid cafe, Ade waved at me and Indi through the window, already hard at work setting up the cafe for Halloween themed fun.

And as I continued on the way towards Maxwell's lab, I noticed just how different the Outpost had become from when I first arrived here with my squad.

"Huh." I looked around at all the functional buildings.

A courthouse, a seedy club... a theater, cafe, hospital... even a library.

It was a proper city now. Not just a literal outpost for resupplying while on the surface, but an actual civilization.

And there weren't just Nikkes around now either.

I could see a few normal humans walking around. Former denizens of the Outer Rim for sure, considering how emaciated they were. But they were happy and relaxed, casually chatting with the Nikkes they came across.

Altogether...

"...How the hell did it end up like this?"

I just wanted to have a secure spot on the surface as a base so I could launch a proper campaign to reclaim land for humanity... but somehow ended up rebuilding civilization instead?

Indi rolled her eyes and said, "This is because Daddy is too good at degelation."

"Delegation, Sweetie. And I guess that's true, huh?"

I would be the first to say that I was not good at governing. And according to Pops, I was a terrible Commander too since I didn't give commands as much as fight on the battlefield.

I was very clear on my role and abilities. And, for the most part, those consisted of two things: exterminating baddies and giving ideas to people who could use them better.

...But apparently, I excelled at that to the level where everything was running smoothly without my active interference?

'Come to think of it...'

Originally, I was in a pinch.

Since I started out with just me, Marian, Anis, and Rapi, we were strictly a combat crew.

When Neon joined the party, we opened up a bit since she was somewhat tech savvy.

And when I got to the Outpost and made Sophia, that was when things kicked into high gear.

'Sophia definitely helped contribute to this a lot...'

I had a ton of ideas and knowledge in my head, and Sophia helped bring most of that to fruition.

But if it was just us, it wouldn't have gone as well or as fast.

Hana, Suri, and Nami helped out by getting more hands on deck, allowing us to free up some time. Especially since Nami was talented at HR and logistics while Hana was at least competent at both too.

Then Matis joined, freeing up even more personnel since Drake and Laplace were forces of nature... in more ways than one. And Maxwell was a brilliant weaponsmith as well as researcher.

And now, somehow or another, it had all ballooned to this... and it would keep ballooning too since I was, apparently, continually adding more competent personnel to my command.

That also didn't even begin to account for the fact that Syuen had voluntarily become a Nikke under my command and was working with Maxwell to brainstorm things... Or the fact that Neon and Endless were definitely adding fuel to that fire.

I chuckled and said, "I guess I don't have to worry about the other stuff now, do I?"

Indi rolled her eyes. "Obviously, Daddy. You're strong. You should just go fight Mother and beat her up since she wants to destroy all humans. Then YOU can take over the world."

I ruffled her hair and said, "That's right." I paused. "Maybe not the taking over the world thing. That sounds like a lot of hassle."

Indi puffed up her chest and said, "Then you should give it to me, Daddy! I can take care of it!"

"Suuure you can."

Indi pouted and then lightly kicked my shin. "Meanie! I'll be a strong and competent woman again! Just you wait!"

I laughed. "We'll see, Sweetie."

We continued on our way to Maxwell's lab. As we did, mass-produced Nikkes, new citizens that were formerly from the Outer Rim, and a few of the other Nikkes under my command I hadn't had the chance to formerly greet yet waved at me.

I waved back, along with Indi.

And then we finally arrived at Maxwell's lab.

But the moment we walked inside...

"With these new armaments, the Heroes will prevail!"

"Golden Hero, Laplace!"

"Violet Hero, Wisteria!"

""Together, the Royal Heroes will strike you down, Villains!""

...We were met with Laplace and Syuen doing back to back poses in front of a mirror while Maxwell facepalmed.

But it wasn't just them.

"Mwahahaha! You believe a few upgrades will allow you to strike down us villains? The True Humans?"

"Kyahahaha! With Terrifier repaired and my new mask... How can the Demon Lords lose?"

"Demon of Humanity... Vanitas!"

"Demon of Dragons... Drake!"

""Together, the Demonic Beasts will judge you False Heroes!""

Maxwell noticed me standing there and quietly mouthed 'save me.'

I sighed.