Centi/Story

Spoilers!*"Your greatest villain Drake shall warn you, SPOILERS AHEAD!"*The following article or section contain **spoilers!** Viewer discretion is advised.

Overview**Story**VoicelinesGallery

## Behind the Scenes

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Kim Eun-ah

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Anairis Quiñones

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Mikako Komatsu

## Profile

A Nikke who works in Mighty Tools, the group that handles the Ark's construction and architecture projects. Apprenticed under Liter, Centi is passionate about her work and aspires to become the "Queen of Architecture", though sometimes she gets carried away when it comes to a job.

### Nikke Backstory

An artisan with incredible strength who puts her heart into everything she does, never failing to get the job done at Mighty Tools. As Liter's first apprentice, she has great respect for her mentor. She always listens to what Liter says, and studies her techniques in earnest.

## Story

### Character Story

#### Episode 1 - I Want to be the Queen of Architecture!

While in the Commander's room, Anis was suggesting that he should take initiative when applying for a consultation. This is a sentiment Neon agrees with, although she uses the metaphor of heading to a gun range and firing a few rounds in the meantime. Conveniently, Rapi notices a consultation application by his feet. While reading it, they learn it was from Centi, a surprise to Anis since she doesn't seem like someone who would have many problems outside with work maybe(?), who was looking for someone to help her become the queen of architecture, but doesn't know how to go about it on her own. The protagonist asks his squad to call her over so he can help.

After some waiting, the woman who sent in the form arrives and she assumes he called for her to help her out. He informs her he knows little to nothing about architecture, but she was aware of his innate abilities to strengthen Nikkes who bond with him, allowing them to reach their full potential and wanted to experience that as well. Anis warns her she may be going about this all wrong since all she will do is follow someone else's orders and reiterates her commander's lack of engineering skills. Be that as it may, Centi feels it's the best idea she can follow. She has trouble on her own and becomes paralyzed with indecision and doubts. After sending herself down a dark mental rabbit hole of all the terrible things that can go wrong, he still agrees to help her as best he can.

The two move to a clearing near the Outpost so Centi can construct her first project. She thinks he chose an optimal location to start building in terms of location, foundation, and relative cost so she's ready to get started. After learning the protagonist doesn't have any blueprints for her to work off of though, she realizes this is going to be more of a challenge than she thought. Despite this setback, she's determined to earn her future title.

Arriving seemingly out of nowhere with supplies and equipment while riding an excavator, she admitted to scavenging parts and loose materials she found on the surface. As she was beginning her work, she seemed to have dug into something as hard as iron. Asking the commander for advice on how to proceed, he tells her to dig out whatever she hit. After she does however, a spout of water gushes out of the ground. The two realize Centi tapped into a water pipe that was connected to the Nikkes' Dorm. After now understanding why this lot was abandoned, the two are at a loss as to what to do. He receives messages from his squad sharing that the water in the Outpost is not working and Rapi will investigate. Fearing the consequences of what will happen if his Nikkes discover they were responsible and after Centi estimates it would take a day at least to finish due to all of the materials she would have to transport, he suggests the best they can do now is retreat and hope for the best. The two leave at a quick pace.

#### Episode 2 - It's All About the Grandeur

After her last incident, Centi apologizes for what she did and understands she should've gotten a layout of where she was building beforehand. She acted so carelessly because she was following her orders to "Erect a building in this location." Centi makes sure to follow her clients requests as best she can, but the commander tells her to use her own discretion when given a misguided or unreasonable order. While she considers that insubordination, he assures her she's allowed to do that. She doesn't understand what he's saying at all, so the two focus their attention on fixing the pipe she broke.

At a general store in Ark City, Centi has gotten the supplies she needs packed up and ready to be transported. Once she mentioned that everything she bought costs 5 million credits but she used credit since she made it a priority to fix her mistake. Because of that, the hothead manager might bury them in concrete if he isn't reimbursed within two days. After the protagonist starts to get a bad migraine, Centi agrees to take on some big assignments to earn the money they need.

One of these jobs Centi took on was for Yan. She was surprised to see Rookie here since she was hiring construction workers, but he informed her he needed the work. Since the two were close, she decided not to pry. After showing them around a rundown store a previous construction team messed up, Yan wants to tear the interior down and start from scratch. Since she was short on time, she was unable to get access to new blueprints, but allowed them to use the ones available for reference. Centi is confident she can pull this off. After Yan reminded them this will be the first store to open up in this area, there will be a press horde coming to report on it, advertisements role out next week, and all of which mean they are pressed for time, Centi promised Boss she won't screw up this time and hopes this job will be her claim to fame.

The avid builder has been at work for some time now and has asked the protagonist for his preferences on the materials she should use. Starting from the windows, moving onto the walls, followed by the kitchen and cabinets, he only suggests using the finest, nicest, most expensive, and quality materials to renovate this fixer upper.

After several weeks, her masterpiece is finished. Filled with panoramic windows, made with top-of-the-line materials from Missilis, and decorated with cedarwood and marble ornamentation, the two are happy with what Centi has created. Wanting their client's final approval, they contact Yan so she can look it over herself. The two share congratulations for a job well done.

#### Episode 3 - And the Client Says...

Upon seeing their artistic expression, Yan is blown away. She considers Centi's work on par with the upscale boutiques on Royal Road. Unfortunately, there is one problem; they went too overboard for something that's supposed to look like an ordinary store. She mentions that she made it clear in the details as to what she was looking for and while Centi read through them, she was once again following orders. The commander accepts full responsibility since she was heeding his instructions. Now Yan was developing a migraine of her own.

Back in the Commander's room, the two were viewing the store's grand opening on the news. It's clear what they achieved was far greater than what was supposed to be advertised. It appears like an ordinary shop on the outside, but looks like something found on Royal Road on the inside. After watching Yan having to explain why there is a disconnect between what she promised and what she delivered, the two stopped watching. Even though they messed up, she still paid them the full amount without hesitation. Centi was also able to pay off their debt and fixed the pipe. The up and coming queen of architecture is ready to take on new commissions, but Boss isn't certain he can properly give her orders. Apparently, she had the idea he was going a bit too grand with his suggestions and didn't question them because her mind was cluttered between what Yan told them to do and not understanding what she wanted. After hearing the commander's suggestions, she decided to follow his lead. While it did make her feel better, she now somewhat realizes what he meant by not following misguided orders. While he was glad she was starting to learn, after sharing that she might fully understand it after another mistake or two, the protagonist felt another aneurysm coming.

Unfortunately, word of their work has been spread around so no one wants to hire them, but now Centi has time to continue building near the Outpost. After begging her to not do that, she coincidentally receives an order from a hotel manager from Royal Road that wants them to build a restaurant in his inn. Having turned a fiasco into an opportunity, the two are eager to begin their next project.

#### Episode 4 - Modern, Yet Classic!

On their way to the site of their next big project, Centi was elated to be working on Royal Road, the architecture capital of the Ark. Boss reminds her not to get too cocky, but Centi thinks she's improved since he first accepted her commission. After seeing where they will be working, Centi starts to think they may be in over their heads. Despite that, she is confident they will succeed so long as they are together and will do as she is told, something he ironically tells her not to do.

The two notice the site looks very decent even after already being renovated. With the Manager absent and with barebones blueprints, the only thing the two have to go off of are the words "Modern, yet Classic!" The two start to stress out, but Centi still trusts Boss to guide her through this. He suggests making a big impression, similar to what they did last time and she can see his point.

Actual construction began the following day. Centi regularly asks the commander for advice as usual but now seems to be mentally questioning what he tells her. He doesn't understand why she makes noises after every suggestion he makes, but she doesn't tell him her reasoning.

On the final day of the renovation, the two are once again impressed with the outcome of their labor. Centi admits to having had doubts during construction but before she could elaborate, the manager appears to check on their work. He was impressed by their previous work and gave them free reign to do as they wished and let their creativity run wild (which is why the blueprints were so barren). He was exceptionally happy with what they came up with for the banquet hall. He admits hiring them could've come at the cost of letting their artistic liberties take too much precedent. In the kitchen for example, it would be dangerous if the lighting was the same as in the hall since the chefs work with many sharp objects. The same also applies if the walls are covered in grease. Certain they didn't make any mistakes, he heads to the kitchen. Upon realizing he ordered Centi to do the opposite of what she was supposed to, he began to worry.

#### Episode 5 - The Perfect Combination

Centi can tell something was on Boss's mind and after explaining his fears about what he told her to do before, she admits to also realizing his mistake at the time. He wants her to tell him if she did as she was told or not, and she exclaimed she remembered their conversation about misguided orders and while listening to everything he suggested, she deeply questioned if what she was being asked was misguided or not. She never brought this up to him because she didn't have a good answer most of the time. Despite that, she is confident the manager will approve of the final project. While not knowing what she ended up doing, he can only trust that she made the right call.

After the manager was finished inspecting the kitchen, he informed them it looked identical to the hall. The lighting was too dim and the walls were more decorative than practical. However, all the countertops have separate ceiling lamps for proper illumination and the backsplash behind the stove was made of gold-leaf copper tiles which make it easy-to-use and is hygienic. Centi constructed a design that was both practical and appealing, a balance none of his previous clients could accomplish. He was very pleased with the work the two did. After thanking each other repeatedly for being a big help to the other, the manager thought they looked adorable together and gave them their payment. He hoped to be able to work with them in the future and wished them luck in their careers. Centi was so happy she picked up the commander and tossed him into the air.

On their way home, The protagonist was messaged by Liter asking what her protégé has been up to since she's been receiving a lot of orders for her services. He considers this a good thing, something she agrees with, and proudly shares that Centi is a true professional architect now. The person he was talking about can tell he was happier than usual and while she thought that was because of their pay, he was actually glad the two were able to work together. She admits to feeling the same way and believes they're so close, their minds are in sync so she knows what he's thinking. After asking him to say her name, she informs him about the order she placed in advance for another one of their future projects. She even bought bulk supplies at a 10% discount.

Since the two have been working together for a while now, Centi is capable of handling almost everything, except paying the bill. Turns out, she bought these supplies from the same place she bought others and she used credit again.

Remembering what she said the owner would do to them if he doesn't get compensated on time, he tells her to cancel the order immediately. After calling him back, the two learn that they can't void an order once already placed. As the commander's head starts to palpitate and his vision blurs, he determines that the two of them have a ways to go before seeing eye to eye.

## References

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