Although there had been some minor incidents, many things always became simpler once they were laid bare.
"So, my hypothesis is this," Mobius concluded, her tone clinical despite the exasperation in her eyes. "Your Herrscher authority likely revolves around time—a concept even the Honkai cannot reverse." She shot a pointed look at Elysia. "So… Elysia, how long do you plan to keep holding onto Silas?"
"Hmm…" Elysia, still holding onto Silas, thought seriously for a moment. "But I don't want to let go After all, Silas is the very first Herrscher to fight for humanity that appeared after I unlocked my powers"
"So that means… Elysia was actually a born Herrscher? And compared to his past life, Silas is also a born Herrscher now?" Sakura looked surprised. She had always assumed that at the final banquet, Elysia had somehow used a method from Mei to steal the Herrscher authority… because someone else had become a Herrscher in exactly that way after her.
"See? That makes us fated, doesn't it?" Elysia said while rubbing her cheek against Silas's. Silas found his right arm completely immobile… In his previous life, even Lilith never dared to pull something like this.
"Tch…" The corner of Mobius's eye twitched.
Silas thought for a moment. Herrscher of Time powers? His memories of the final battle against the End were already fuzzy. All he remembered was that he had just… naturally used them.
"If that's the case, doesn't this make me even more suited to carry out the Chimera Project?" Silas felt a bit excited. In his past life, every time he integrated a new Honkai gene, he had been tortured to the brink of death. This time, he was already a Herrscher. Even if he didn't have his full powers, it should still be easier than before, right? Wasn't he now the perfect vessel for the Chimera Project?
"Rejected!" ×3
"Eh?! Why?"
"No reason. And I don't need a reason. I disagree." Mobius crossed her arms as she spoke.
Her veto alone was enough. After all, Mobius was the only one who could assist him in carrying out the Chimera Project.
Silas turned to Elysia next, but she pouted in discontent. "I already told you, this time we'll walk with you to the end. Why are you still thinking of fighting alone?"
Because if I don't… I can't save you.
He then looked toward Sakura. She was silent for a moment before speaking. "I… simply don't want you to carry out that plan."
"…Fine." Silas could only compromise. "Then… can I at least start today's training?"
Sakura placed her hand on her sword's hilt again. "I can start at any time."
"Do your best, Silas I'll be cheering you on"
"Elysia…"
"Mmhmm?"
"Before that, could you maybe let go first? It's hard to handle a spear with one hand."
"Mmm… Silas, you're so heartless… Just let me hold you a little longer…"
"Elysia, that's enough!" Finally reaching her limit, Mobius tried to physically drag Elysia away.
"Um, Dr. Mobius, about my wife Blanca's resignation paperwork…" Ato walked in with a stack of documents. "Klein said you were here with Elysia, so I… uh…"
Ato froze. What… exactly was he seeing? Was this something he was even allowed to witness?
Elysia was clinging to the newcomer's arm for dear life, while Dr. Mobius looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown as she tried to pry the two apart. The lady acting as the narrator wore an expression that was… complicated. But why was she just standing there watching?
And the newcomer… oh, his expression already screamed "I've given up on life." In that case, never mind.
Ato's voice drew the attention of all four people. They turned to stare at him in unison. Cold sweat trickled down Ato's forehead.
Forcing a smile, he said, "Ahaha… Seems I came at a bad time. I won't disturb you. I'll just… see myself out."
Turn, close the door, run—done in one smooth motion!
Ato ran full speed back to Mobius's laboratory, where Blanca was chatting with Klein — mostly checking in on Dr. Mobius's recent condition and reminding Klein to take better care of herself. Klein, meanwhile, was tidying up some experimental data as she replied that she was fine.
When she saw Ato rush in, face covered in sweat and gasping for breath, Klein looked at him curiously.
"What's wrong? Didn't you see Dr. Mobius?"
Ato tossed the paperwork onto the table, grabbed a large gulp of water, and said with lingering fear,
"I saw her… she… might be busy right now, yeah…"
He hadn't dared to look back the entire way here. Come to think of it, had he stumbled onto something he really shouldn't have? Would Dr. Mobius silence him to keep it secret? Was it too late to grab Blanca and flee the continent?
Klein didn't think much of it.
"Oh, maybe Dr. Mobius just has some kind of experiment going on with that new recruit. After all, the new recruit's resistance to Honkai energy is about the same as Elysia's."
This was something she had just finished filing away — although, come to think of it, why had the doctor sent her away when examining Elysia earlier?
Ato, for his part, didn't dwell on it. All he thought was that Fire Moth had gained another exceptional warrior… though that warrior's future might be full of chaos.
In the training room, after Ato left, Mobius and Elysia resumed their tug-of-war as if he'd never interrupted them.
"Elysia, know your limits!" Mobius growled through clenched teeth.
"Hmm?" Elysia tilted her head, pressing closer to Silas. "Does this bother you, Silas~?"
Silas: "…"
The soft pressure on his arm made him think of something: Elysia was 163 cm tall and 54.8 kg, while Mobius was 173 cm and 54.7 kg…
He found himself noticing their figures.
Elysia suddenly looked up, feigning innocence. "Silas, are you thinking something rude?"
Silas: "…"
So it's true — girls must have a natural radar for when someone's thinking about their weight…
Off to the side, Sakura glanced at Elysia, then at Mobius, then looked down at herself…
Do boys always pay attention to that?
It was as if Ato had never shown up at all.
Everyone here knew him well — while he could be flippant most of the time, in certain moments he was the most reliable comrade you could ask for.
Sensing Elysia's mood starting to sour, Silas quickly switched topics. "Speaking of that, seeing Ato just now reminded me — if I remember correctly… Griseo should only be two years old at this point, right?"
"That's right. Why?" Elysia still seemed a bit put out by his earlier thoughts.
Mobius reacted quickly (successfully distracted), releasing Elysia and lowering her gaze in thought. "True. But we were all reset to this time. As for Griseo… a child that young usually doesn't retain many memories."
Silas: "…"
Did this mean he had unintentionally erased Griseo with the reset?
"Ah—" Elysia was finally distracted. "So that means… we'll have to meet Griseo all over again?"
Was that really such a bad thing? If they could get Griseo to support her and Silas, wouldn't that be even better?
Silas decided to steer the topic back. "So… can I start training now? The Third Eruption is coming, right? Since Kevin and the others have also been reborn, shouldn't we give them a little surprise?" For example, letting him train now so he could take part in defeating the Third Herrscher.
Meanwhile, in Mobius's Lab
The topic turned to Mobius's new "lab rat." Holding little Griseo in her arms, Blanca said, "I've also looked at that boy's file, and Ato told me he's a very outstanding young man. Do you think Dr. Mobius and he…"
Ato choked. "…Uh, isn't Silas still underage?" Shouldn't it be with someone his own age, like Elysia?
Klein thought for a moment before speaking. "That's true. But Dr. Mobius does seem very interested in the newcomer. After all, as a test subject— I mean, as an assistant, he's a perfect match for her needs."
Blanca glanced at her husband. "What's wrong with being underage? He'll be an adult soon, won't he? Once he's grown up, it's the same thing. Honestly, Dr. Mobius is always buried in her research — maybe it's time she found herself a partner?"
Ato: "…"
What he was actually worried about was Silas waking up one day to find himself strapped to an operating table.
Still, he tried to hint again. "Blanca, I still think people the same age have more in common… you know, like Elysia…"
"You've got to believe me — when love arrives, a mere difference of a few years is nothing," Blanca said with a shrug. "Besides, Dr. Mobius is actually a bit like a shy girl when it comes to this sort of thing."
Ato: "…"
The problem was, the gap between them wasn't just "a few years" — it was closer to ten.
But seeing the unshakable conviction in his wife's eyes, he decided to yield. "You're right, age isn't the problem…" Don't worry, Elysia — I'm still rooting for you. Go for it!
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