"The preparations are finally complete. Now, it's time to put it into practice."
After the wild Kaslana shadow was teleported away by Vill-V, the area around the wooden cabin fell into a brief period of calm. No more wild shadows approached.
Although Mobius was very suspicious of this, under Vill-V's quiet reassurances, and with nothing she could do, she could only reluctantly accept this strange reality with unease in her heart, and instead, focused all her energy on Ren Amamiya.
Using the Jizo Mitama, which was a replica created by the Void Archives, and working in tandem with Higokumaru, Ren completed the goal of corroding the core of the Elysian Realm's database in a shorter time than expected.
Ren did not want to entrust the experience of modifying the collective unconscious to others.
Higokumaru returned to the body of the Jizo Mitama, and Ren personally and slowly gripped the black-and-red hilt that was suspended above the Elysian Realm's typewriter.
When Ren gripped the hilt of the Jizo Mitama again, the world before his eyes seemed to be covered in a layer of strange, red light. He could clearly feel that he was now connected to the entire Elysian Realm Palace through the Jizo Mitama in his hand.
In this strange state of being one with the Elysian Realm Palace, Ren felt as if he had become an omnipotent god. If he wanted to, he could peer into every corner of the Elysian Realm Palace and modify every rule that existed within it.
Looking around, not only at Mobius, who was a native shadow of the Elysian Realm Palace, but also at Raiden Mei, who was just a visitor, Ren felt a sense of clarity that he could modify or delete their existence at any time.
Only Vill-V, who was standing aside with her arms crossed and a mysterious smile on her face, had a red light around her that was so faint it was almost invisible.
It was clear that the authority to modify the collective unconscious was almost ineffective against Vill-V, a resident of the Velvet Room... To modify Vill-V's cognition, he would probably have to at least tear her in half. Considering that Vill-V's strength was definitely a little stronger than Lavenza's, he might have to divide her a few more times to successfully use the authority to modify her cognition.
Seeing Vill-V, who was largely immune to the authority of cognitive modification, Ren's mind couldn't help but recall the experience of Lavenza's cognition being modified by God. He subconsciously began to think of ways to make the authority to modify cognition effective against Vill-V.
Vill-V seemed to have noticed something. The mysterious smile on her face became a little stiff, and her pink-and-white gradient pupils unnaturally glanced at the ceiling, as if she had suddenly become very interested in the patterns on the wooden cabin's ceiling.
"Did... Did you succeed? You should be able to delete the concept of 'Mobius' from the Elysian Realm now, right? As long as you can delete the concept of Mobius in the Elysian Realm Palace other than me, I'll give you the rest of the Will Seed of Gluttony, and I can even provide you with all the help I can."
Mobius swallowed nervously. Facing Ren's gaze, which was covered in a strange, red light, she felt a strong, dangerous sense of panic in her heart.
It was as if Ren could completely erase her existence with just a thought. Even the resurrection ability that Mobius possessed as a MANTIS would not be able to revive her from such a degree of erasure.
This extremely uneasy feeling was unbearable for Mobius. She unnaturally rubbed her slender arms, which felt as if the hair on them was standing on end, and promised Ren in an urgent and hurried tone, hoping that he would fulfill his promise to her as soon as possible.
"It's basically a success... I'll finish what I promised you right away."
Ren nodded slightly at Mobius. The reason he said it was "basically a success" and not "a success" was that when he had integrated his consciousness into the Elysian Realm Palace itself through the medium of the Jizo Mitama, he had also noticed the existence of another hidden, quiet, and tenacious consciousness in this Elysian Realm Palace.
The consciousness, which was suspected to be the Palace Ruler, did not take any countermeasures against Ren's invasion. It just stood in a corner and silently watched Ren's existence, observing his every move in the Elysian Realm Palace.
However, the fact that the Palace Ruler had not made a move now did not mean that it would not take some countermeasures against Ren in the future. It all depended on what kind of cognitive modification Ren intended to impose on the Elysian Realm Palace using the authority of the Jizo Mitama.
Ren could feel that he had only borrowed the power of the Jizo Mitama to steal the authority to modify the cognition of the Elysian Realm Palace, and had not completely grasped this Elysian Realm Palace. If the Palace Ruler really did its best to resist and suppress Ren's authority to modify cognition on a conscious level, the degree of interference he could have on the Elysian Realm Palace would become limited.
Setting aside other thoughts of interfering with the Elysian Realm Palace for the time being, Ren decided to prioritize fulfilling his promise to Mobius.
As a native shadow of the Elysian Realm Palace, the Palace Ruler should not feel a strong sense of resistance to Mobius's heartfelt wish... And even if the Palace Ruler really wanted to fight Ren in the field of cognitive manipulation, Ren, who had abandoned all other thoughts and was only focused on deleting the concept of Mobius from the Elysian Realm Palace, was confident that he would not lose to the Palace Ruler and could forcibly transform this Palace into the way he wanted.
After replying to the anxious Mobius, Ren slowly closed his eyes. As if operating a computer file, he marked the Mobius next to him with a key and put a safety lock on it. Then, he began the work of clearing and deleting all other concepts of Mobius in the Elysian Realm Palace.
Originally, when Higokumaru had invaded the Elysian Realm's database, the white papers ejected by the Elysian Realm's typewriter had covered the entire floor of the wooden cabin's study. But as Ren erased the traces of Mobius in the Elysian Realm Palace, the scarlet characters on the white papers gradually faded and finally disappeared completely, leaving only blank, pure white papers.
While performing the deletion, Ren paid close attention to the movements of the Palace Ruler's consciousness. To his surprise, the Palace Ruler's consciousness really did choose to remain inactive, just curled up in a corner and silently watching Ren's cognitive modification of the Elysian Realm Palace, showing no signs of stopping him.
"It's done... Now, besides you, it's impossible for another Mobius to be born in the Elysian Realm Palace."
Ren opened his eyes again. The Jizo Mitama tachi naturally dissipated into crimson smoke as he released his grip. After completing the cognitive modification of the Elysian Realm Palace, he turned to Mobius and gave his report of the completion of the commission.
Until the very end of his modification, the Palace Ruler had not made a move to stop Ren from rewriting the overall cognition of the Palace. Therefore, Ren had only spent less than ten seconds to successfully complete the cognitive manipulation of the entire Elysian Realm Palace.
"What a great experience. This valuable experience will surely be useful at some point in the future."
The concept of Mobius had been deleted from the overall concept of the Elysian Realm Palace. Therefore, the other shadows of the Elysian Realm Palace, who would have originally come to stop Mobius, would naturally no longer rush here one after another.
The incident had finally come to an end. Ren completely relaxed. He stretched his body and let out a satisfied sigh.
After personally using the means of cognitive modification, Ren had gained a new understanding of the authority of cognitive modification, and also had some ideas on how to resist and fight against the cognitive modification authority used by God.
The next time he was attacked and erased by the false god on a cognitive level, Ren was confident that he could resist the false god's authority and would not be easily erased from social existence.
"It's done... But, I see that Vill-V still remembers me."
As the Jizo Mitama tachi was put away, the feeling of being on pins and needles, as if she could be erased at any moment, finally disappeared. Mobius's constantly tense body could finally relax.
And when she relaxed, she put her hands on her hips in annoyance and glanced at Vill-V, who was looking at her with a smile.
"Don't say such things when you already know the answer, Mobius. Since I'm standing right here, how could I just let Joker successfully modify my cognition?... In the field of cognition, I'm a real expert."
Vill-V touched the top hat with the mechanical gears on her head. A proud expression appeared on her face, and her tone was very proud.
"...You're one thing. You probably don't have any interest in creating another inferior imitation of me. The others in the Elysian Realm should have really forgotten the existence of 'Mobius', right?"
Mobius sighed slightly. As one of the few research-oriented talents among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, she actually had a good relationship with Vill-V, and they understood each other well.
Mobius believed that Vill-V would not be obsessed with creating a new fake Mobius to fill the void she left in the Elysian Realm. And with Vill-V's authority as the administrator of the Elysian Realm, she should know the answers to these questions.
"That's right. Besides me, everyone in the Elysian Realm Palace has forgotten the existence of Mobius, and even think that Mobius never existed in the first place."
Vill-V gave Mobius a thumbs-up and answered her in a matter-of-fact tone, which made Mobius's heart relax.
"...That's for the best. Without their interference, my plan to leave the Elysian Realm and return to the real world will be much smoother."
Good.
A complex look flashed in Mobius's eyes, but she still feigned a look of relief.
To completely part ways with her comrades of fifty thousand years, and to have personally made them forget her existence, it was naturally impossible for Mobius to not feel anything.
But compared to her own wish, Mobius had finally made up her mind to abandon everything from the past and had come this far by asking for Ren's help.
Without the interference of Elysia and Aponia, it would be much easier for Mobius, who was lurking in the dark, to capture the World Serpent helmsmen who came to the Elysian Realm for trials. As long as she could find a suitable and satisfactory vessel, she could transfer her consciousness into someone else's body and completely escape the shackles of the Elysian Realm.
"If you want to go to the real world, you can just ask Joker, you know? As long as you make a contract with Joker, you'll be able to leave the Elysian Realm naturally..."
Vill-V raised a finger with a smile. However, before she could finish, Mobius's angry voice interrupted her.
"Ha? What are you joking about, Vill-V? Do you think I'm the kind of woman who would willingly submit to others and be a useful tool? Of course I'll leave the Elysian Realm and go to the real world, but I'll do it with my own strength, in my own way."
Mobius raised an eyebrow and retorted sharply.
"To want to obtain a body that can walk in the real world with your own strength is certainly admirable... But Mobius, you seem to have forgotten that you haven't paid Joker the reward you owe him for completing the commission."
Looking at the signature, evil, mischievous smile on Vill-V's face, Mobius's body suddenly froze. She suddenly had a strong, ominous premonition, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"For Joker, the sin of Gluttony, born from the twisted desires of the egg of your heart, is the most important and indispensable piece of his puzzle, you know~~~"
Seeing Mobius, who had finally realized something and started to tremble, a joyful smile bloomed on Vill-V's face.
After collecting six different sins, the Will Seed of Gluttony, represented by Mobius, had indeed become the most important existence for Ren Amamiya. Vill-V didn't think she was lying.