Chapter 184: "Rebirth"

[When your remaining body was brought back to the "Fire Moth", everyone was shocked, and then they were filled with regret]

[Everyone is shocked that you are still alive in this state. Your strong will to survive is amazing, but then everyone feels sorry and laments because you are no different from dead at this moment.]

[Four-fifths of your body is covered and replaced by crystals. Only your head is in good condition, but it is also very dangerous at this moment... because the Honkai energy emitted by the crystals on your body is slowly spreading towards your head. Once the Honkai energy spreads there, it will attract the nanometals that are still remaining in your body, allowing the crystals to spread there.]

[It's like you've exceeded a critical point. You can no longer recover and can only fall uncontrollably towards the "metal block". In the end... you will most likely become an "Originium", or will you just break into pieces?]

[Well... it doesn't matter. At least you solved a big problem, didn't you? If you let that Honkai Beast get out, we don't know what kind of casualties it would cause. Besides, you did survive, didn't you? You didn't die directly on the battlefield, which is already good~]

[However, your relaxed attitude does not make others relax... Many people even feel extremely nervous and blame themselves.]

[The most obvious one is Vill-V... When she saw you, she seemed dazed. Although she managed to maintain a relaxed look in front of others, anyone could sense the panic in her words.]

[Later, it was only after you asked the others to leave some space for you and Vill-V that Vill-V slowly took off the "mask" she was wearing.]

[With a slightly dazed tone, she slowly expressed her attachment to you, and at the same time took out her latest research - a nanorobot called "Soulium", which she was going to use to optimize the "ore disease treatment" and could even develop more uses.]

[It's a pity that her results came out too late and couldn't… help you in any way.]

[In response, you still comforted her skillfully, stretched out your hands that were already covered with crystals and no longer looked like a human, gently touched her head, and then ruffled her brightly colored hair and held it in your palms, as you did in the past, joking with a light tone... Unfortunately, the effect was not very good.]

[Vill-V just sat beside you without saying a word, letting you play with her hair, without complaining or resisting... until finally, she opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but finally swallowed it back.]

[She seemed to have thought of a solution, but was a little hesitant.]

[She didn't say a word until she got up and left.]

[But you stopped her before she left and told her... you believed in her judgment and her ability. If she had any ideas, she could just go for it. You would support her.]

["After all… I want to live, don't I?" — You shrugged and said this in a joking tone.]

[Vill-V paused for a moment, hesitated for a long time, then nodded slowly, thanked you in a weak voice... and ran away quickly.]

[Apart from Vill-V, the ones who are most worried about you are Eden, Sakura, Irine, and Rosemary (Narcissa).]

[When Eden came to visit you, her eyes mostly lingered on your hands and throat. Although she didn't say it explicitly, you could sense the regret and pain in her words... Come to think of it, I just told her to take good care of her hands and throat, but now you are the one who has problems first.]

[Haha... a little helpless, isn't it?]

[And Sakura blamed herself for not fulfilling her "bodyguard" duties... You know, according to her identity and duties, Sakura is still your assistant and bodyguard. It's just that because of your outstanding performance on the battlefield afterward, everyone, including Sakura herself, temporarily forgot this fact.]

[This makes Sakura blame herself even more... She even said she was protecting someone, but didn't she protect anything?]

[Not to mention Irine. As someone who has experienced this Eruption, she understands your original thoughts and is grateful for your decisiveness, which allowed the remaining team members and survivors to survive. However, this still makes her feel extremely uncomfortable...]

[Especially when she watched your body "broken" in half in front of her.]

[As for Rosemary... She came with Griseo. To be honest, you don't want the children to see you in this state. It would be bad if it leaves some psychological trauma on them.]

[But Rosemary and Griseo don't seem to mind this, and Rosemary rarely expresses a tough attitude. She must see you.]

[Because she is afraid that she will not remember what you look like after a while...]

[Finally, it was Mobius... Ha, after you woke up, she scolded you, saying that she was upset that you didn't value your life and that she had to watch a "special" person dying in front of her, which made her even more angry.]

[Although Mobius said so, Elysia, who came with her, smiled and exposed her disguise... Elysia said that when you were brought back by Irine, Mobius was extremely nervous, and that look surprised many people.]

["I'm just worried that the little white mouse I found with great difficulty will die without my consent, okay?!" — This is how Mobius refuted.]

[You just smiled at this and thanked Mobius for caring about you so much... Then, you also smiled and said that your current situation is just a perfect "observation sample"? If Mobius wants, she can take it for research. Of course, it would be even better if she can find a way to keep you alive.]

[Mobius scoffed at this. After all, you were her "guinea pig" in the first place. Isn't it natural for her to study you? Why would she need you to remind her?]

[However, after being silent for a while, Mobius still said... She does have a way to try to save your life, but the technology of that method is not yet mature and it is still very dangerous. Even in theory, the success rate is not high.]

[You don't mind this... You've already become like this, how much worse can it get?]

[With your tacit consent, Mobius fell silent again and then revealed a look full of disgust and irritation... She hates your attitude of not cherishing your own life and even ignoring death.]

[You just smiled calmly at this... It's not that you don't value your life, but compared to waiting for death to come, it's better to fight for the possibility of survival, even if this possibility is as weak as a candle flame.]

[Besides, you are not indifferent to death... It's just that as a doctor, you have long been accustomed to the decline of life and regard it as something that will happen eventually.]

[Moreover... who can tell clearly whether death is an end or a "liberation"? Right?]

[As for the Fire Moth, because the Honkai you encountered was too special, especially according to your statement, that special Honkai beast was born from Originium, so the Fire Moth has temporarily given up the plan to use Originium weapons on a large scale.]

[However, it can still be used in a small area. After all, according to subsequent investigations, as long as the coverage of the "Originium weapon" is limited to a smaller area, a safe small "Originium" mining area can be formed.]

[But "Fire Moth" still restrained the use of this weapon. If another special Honkai beast came, it would be bad. It would cause the grassroots staff to distrust this weapon, which would lead to more problems... This kind of thing cannot happen!]

[After all, many people have tasted the sweetness of "Originium", a method of using Honkai energy safely and stably. Therefore... since it is impossible to establish a mining site on a large scale, why not establish a small-scale mining site~ Wouldn't it be better to speed up the frequency a little?]

[they can't let the people below reject this kind of weapon. they have to make them believe in the convenience it brings. Only in this way can they obtain more "Originium" and gain more benefits… Just restrain themself a little and learn to take things slow~]

[As for you, "Fire Moth" naturally expressed their sympathy and concern. No matter what, you are one of the contributors to the research of "Ore Disease Treatment". Whether it is for show or to make the people below continue to believe in "Originium Weapons", they must express their concern for you.]

[At the same time, they also provided a large number of funds to Mobius and Vill-V, and even issued an order to "make every effort to treat you", which seemed to show that they were particularly concerned about your life.]

[As for the actual situation... only they themselves know.]

[After all, they have already issued the task of rescue. As for whether it will succeed, that is the problem of Mobius and Vill-V.]

[If it succeeded, then of course they had some credit, after all, they gave the order and provided a lot of financial support.]

[If they failed, it's because Mobius and Vill-V's skills were not good enough, it's none of their business, right? After all, they don't understand these things, so they can only leave it to professionals... In the end, it's their own fault that they didn't save the girl, right?]

[Besides, given your current condition, most people don't think you can survive. They basically assume that you are on the verge of death. It's not impossible that we will suddenly receive a death notice from you one day. It's just that everyone still wants to believe in that illusory hope of rescue…]

[Since it's like this, why not focus on what happens after your death? For example... after your death, should the "Originium" that your body turns into be contributed to the "Fire Moth" to join the "Fire Moth" in its fight against the Honkai?]

[Although that is indeed what they said, but saying it so bluntly... makes you feel a little uncomfortable.]

[Because this is too cold and heartless. Even if everyone knows that this is right and this topic is unavoidable, but saying this in front of you... is really chilling.]

[However, not many people object to the term "Fire Moth". After all... this is an unavoidable topic.]

[However, Mobius and Vill-V strongly opposed this. Vill-V even attended a meeting of the "Fire Moths" for the rare occasion, just to vent her anger at the meeting and criticize their pessimism and indifference.]

[After that, Vill-V even rejected all the tasks assigned by "Fire Moth" with a tough attitude and concentrated on studying your affairs... and "Fire Moth" was forced to stop her due to the previous orders, and even had to rely on her to provide funds.]

[And Vill-V also joined forces with Mobius to discuss your "treatment" plan.]

[Vill-V will save you. Vill-V will never give up on you... absolutely.]

[She... can't lose you, the place where she can "rest" in peace.]

[Finally, after tedious and somewhat lengthy preparations, the treatment plan for you is finally complete...]

————————

"Old woman, is your plan feasible?"

While adjusting the parameters, Vill-V complained to Mobius on the other side.

"What? Are you not confident in your method? You know, this is a plan we worked out together, okay?"

Mobius raised the corner of her mouth slightly, speaking with a hint of sarcasm, while frowning and speaking with some displeasure.

"Also, I'm not old."

"Oh, yes, yes, she's just an old woman who's almost 40 and still pretends to be young from time to time."

"I hope you'll be more careful with your words, Vill-V. Don't think that just because you have a good relationship with Little White Mouse, I won't cause you any trouble."

"Hehe."

Vill-V sneered twice and didn't care about Mobius's threat.

"Hehe, I don't know why the little white mouse is so close to a mentally ill person like you. Just because you knew him a long time ago? And... how did you put it? Um... should you be considered [Extreme Evil] now?"

Mobius said casually.

"But never mind. It's fun to see you like this... Have you adjusted the parameters?"

"It's already been done."

"Now, keep quiet. I don't want the operation to fail due to some unnecessary minor problems."

Mobius put on a serious expression and took out a container containing the remains of an Honkai beast. Inside was the special Honkai beast that was born from the "Originium" and was defeated by Nozomi.

This is the most likely method Mobius has researched to save Nozomi... Since the Honkai beast can be born from the "Originium", as long as Nozomi has similar properties, can he also survive in the "Originium"?

Moreover, the Honkai beast was born like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. If Nozomi could do the same, could he also be "transformed" or even... "reborn"?

"Ah... I'm really looking forward to it..."

Mobius muttered to herself.

"And... [Sariel] Ah... Those guys at the "Fire Moth" are really boring. They actually gave it a name related to the moon and killing. Haha... That's true. After all, its appearance has caused a series of bad things~"

"But maybe it's unexpectedly a good match for you, little white mouse... After all, you seem to have a certain "two sides" like it..."

"Okay, let's get started, little guinea pig."

There was a hint of madness and determination in Mobius' eyes, but more of it was... anticipation.

She hopes that Nozomi, whom she values and her beloved "little white mouse", can bring her surprises.

"It may take a while, but... it doesn't matter, we will succeed, right?"

"Then you will feel yourself..."

"It's like being reborn."

By then, she will also witness, as she wishes, a great "evolution" of life.

...

The operation lasted a whole day, and when Mobius finished, she was almost exhausted... Fortunately, Nozomi's warning to Klein allowed Mobius to exercise in her spare time; otherwise, she would not have been able to survive the operation.

After the operation, there was a long and agonizing wait... During this period, Mobius would spend half a day every day observing Nozomi's condition, and Vill-V was even more straightforward, directly canceling all subsequent arrangements just to stay by Nozomi's side.

On the first day, everyone was waiting with great anticipation.

On the second day, the people who did not get a response gradually dispersed.

On the third day, everyone's expectations gradually turned into loss and sadness.

On the fourth day, "Fire Moth" came to inquire and hoped that Vill-V would return to her post and continue to work hard to fight against Honkai, but she refused.

Day 5…

Day 6…

Everyone's patience gradually wore thin, and their once hopeful hearts faded... There was no movement for nearly a week, and even Mobius and Vill-V couldn't help but fall into anxiety.

But on the seventh day...

"sigh..."

Vill-V breathed steadily... In order to wait for Nozomi to wake up, she had been living in Mobius' laboratory recently. She had never left this place, just to see Nozomi the moment he woke up.

However, the long period of waiting made her feel mentally tired. After losing Nozomi, a place where she could "rest", she felt even more "tired."

Because of this, even if someone poked her face with cold fingers, she couldn't wake up. Or maybe... she sensed a familiar presence, so she let her guard down temporarily.

Thus, she just frowned and made a somewhat unhappy hum...

The visitor was well prepared for this.

He leaned down and spoke softly, like water.

"Vill-V, if you don't get up, I'm going to rip your skull off."

"Ah—I'm awake!"

The familiar tone and words made Vill-V jump up reflexively, and then she froze.

She shifted her gaze somewhat stiffly to the person next to her.

"...Brother?"

"Hmm?"

"Nozomi..."

"Yes, it's me."

Nozomi smiled and nodded.

Immediately, Vill-V threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, her only remaining place of peace.

Even if the temperature from his hands was cold, even if she couldn't hear his heartbeat in his chest.

But... it didn't matter.

At least, he was there.