Chapter 244: I'll try my best, Doctor

[Finally, this somewhat long (four chapters) crusade against "Uriel" finally came to an end. The sudden "rainstorm" also slowly receded with the help of the "Fourth Divine Key" controlled by Vill-V – of course, this is what it looks like on the surface.]

[In fact, it was just the effect created by you and Vill-V working together... You took the initiative to remove the "Heavy Rain," and Vill-V cooperated by calling the "Fourth Divine Key," just like when the "Heavy Rain" came before, you cooperated with Vill-V and took the initiative to call the Honkai Beast.]

[However, these problems can be postponed for a while. When the "rainstorm" dissipates and Vill-V lets go of the control of the aircraft and lets Hen and Himeko lead the team to find you, they will find that you... are actually intact?!]

[Even that troublesome Honkai beast disappeared? Died?]

[They don't know how you did it, and they can't even believe that you can do all this... After all, you were in a "rainstorm" environment, surrounded by another kind of Honkai beast like a tide, and you actually defeated the previous Honkai beast?]

[This result is really hard to believe.]

[Of course, more importantly... is the changing aura on your body. That dangerous aura is too frightening, and even makes people worry... Have you been infected by Honkai and turned into some strange Honkai creature?]

[If it weren't for the communication from Vill-V again, if it weren't for the "box" controlled by Vill-V flying towards you again, and putting on combat uniform for you again, and hanging it on your body again... I'm afraid it would be difficult for others to let down their guard.]

[After all... this is too abnormal and hard to believe. Coupled with the unpredictability of Honkai, they have no choice but to be on guard against you.]

[You naturally understood this, so you just waved your hand casually, with a smile, and with the help of Vill-V, slowly separated a part of the "box" that was specifically used to collect and seal samples.]

[Then you gradually collected the blue water that had accumulated due to the rain and then scattered it to the ground, and saved the fragments of Uriel, muttering in a low voice, "The Doctor will probably need these," and then...]

[You fainted in front of everyone (pretending).]

[Now, Hen and the others can no longer be on guard against you. After all, no matter what, judging from the existing signs, it was you who completed the subjugation of the Honkai beast. You are a great contributor to the "Fire Moth." Even if there are any problems, they will talk about them later.]

[And seeing how weak you were, you were almost unconscious (acting), and even the worried exclamation of Vill-V during the communication (acting) almost deafened the ears of others... Actually, your completion of the solo crusade was not without cost.]

[This can help people relax a little bit.]

[Therefore, Hen, Himeko, and others hurriedly took you (mainly with Vill-V controlling the "box" as a stretcher) back to the "Fire Moth," wanting to take you to the medical room for treatment.]

[What was unexpected, but somewhat expected, was that just as Hen and the others' aircraft had just returned to the base, Vill-V and Mobius were waiting there.]

[And without giving anyone else time to react, the moment Hen and the others landed, Vill-V and Mobius snatched you from their hands and then carried you together towards Mobius's laboratory.]

[Considering the relationship between you, Mobius, and Vill-V... no one else tried to stop them.]

[However, after the combat report was submitted, the question from the "Fire Moth" came as expected.]

[The key questions are: How did you complete the solo crusade in the "heavy rain"? The environment was too harsh, and you had to face such a strong enemy. It was good enough to survive. How did you complete the crusade intact?]

[Secondly, Vill-V installed a "backdoor" on the equipment of the "Fire Moth"... Never mind, a verbal warning will suffice. Otherwise, the losses in this crusade will be horrific.]

[But why did Vill-V forcibly control the aircraft to take the others away after the "rainstorm"? She even forced others not to support you? This is so strange.]

[As a result, it is not surprising that the "Fire Moth" wants to investigate your condition and examine your body to see if you have been...infected by Honkai?]

[Of course, Vill-V will also be investigated and held accountable, but considering that Vill-V performed very well in this crusade except for that little problem at the end, this investigation and accountability is just a pretense. As long as Vill-V gives detailed reasons, the "Fire Moth" will let her go.]

[Unfortunately, the Fire Moth did not achieve these two goals.]

[First, it was Vill-V... It seemed that she was too worried because of your coma before, so when facing the questioning of the "Fire Moth," she seemed absent-minded and impatient.]

[She even cursed the "Fire Moth" a few words at the end, then abandoned the people who came to investigate and ran to Mobius's laboratory by herself to ask about your condition.]

[Hiss...Okay, considering the relationship between Vill-V and you, the Fire Moth will tolerate it.]

[But what's the situation on your side?]

[Mobius used a tough attitude to directly blast everyone out, including the other people in the laboratory and Vill-V (this is why the "Fire Moth" understands Vill-V's attitude and actions). Such an "excessive" move naturally scared a lot of people.]

[And the reason given by Mobius is also very simple – "the little guy needs to accept my physical examination and only my physical examination. The condition of the little guy is caused by me, so... other people should not get in the way! If the little guy dies... then I'm sorry, I will also find trouble with those who hindered me."]

[What Mobius said was very exaggerated and interesting, and it revealed a lot of information... It seems that the abnormality in you and why you were able to complete the crusade alone... seems to be because Mobius conducted some kind of experiment in private?]

['Oh~ I see, that makes sense then' "Fire Moth" feels relieved for the time being and plans to postpone the investigation of you.]

[After all, if they want to investigate, it's better to do it while you're still alive, right?]

[And considering that a single person needs strong combat power to complete the crusade, and your previous support for Mobius... well... the "experiment" that Mobius conducted on you doesn't seem difficult to guess?]

['Probably the "Fusion Warrior Surgery"' many people subconsciously thought of this.]

[But because of this, Mobius's reputation outside has become much worse. Even Cang Xuan and Dan Zhu couldn't help but whisper, complaining that Mobius was too ruthless and dared to use you for such a dangerous experiment.]

[You should know that in the "Fusion Warrior" plan, the success rate given by Mobius herself is shockingly low. But even with this success rate, Mobius dared to let you be a test subject... This can't help but make people doubt Mobius's feelings for you.]

[Many people complained that Mobius was too much. She actually deceived your feelings and pretended to be in love with you, but in fact she just wanted to trick you into being a test bench.]

[However, Mobius does not know about these remarks, and even if she knew, she would not be interested.]

[She is now fully engaged in your problem.]

————————

"..." x2

In the empty laboratory, beside the operating table with only two people on it, Mobius and Nozomi were both silent.

Nozomi lay on the operating table, waiting quietly, allowing Mobius to operate on her body.

Mobius stood aside, repeatedly trying to cut Nozomi's skin with a special scalpel, pretending to perform some kind of surgery.

"...little guy."

"Yes, I am, Doc."

"You are a [human], right?"

This time, Mobius' tone was particularly serious, without any intention of teasing Nozomi or joking.

"Of course I am, Doctor."

Nozomi said with a smile.

"Doctor, could it be that your definition of 'human' is... very narrow?"

"Are you looking down on me, little one?"

"Of course not."

Nozomi said softly.

"So I was answering you very seriously just now, Doctor."

"Is that so…I see."

Mobius paused for a moment, and her tone suddenly became gentle, as if she had figured something out.

"So... you weren't joking with me at that time..."

"Yes, Doctor, I was telling you very seriously at first... Then, didn't you guess something?"

Nozomi raised his head slightly, looked at her hands that suddenly stopped, and spoke softly.

"But when I examined you later, I didn't find anything wrong with you."

"Even though my recovery ability is extraordinary?"

"..."

"Okay, Doctor, no need to make excuses."

Nozomi lay back down and focused his gaze on the light illuminating the operating table.

　　"Rather, I am very grateful that you are willing to cooperate with Vill-V to help me cover for me."

　　"Little guy, you are looking down on me again... No, it's better to say, you never thought that I would refuse, right?"

　　Mobius snorted but still did not proceed.

"Of course. I'm a super rare [specimen]. How could you refuse, Doctor?"

Nozomi smiled and turned his head to look at Mobius, who was reluctant to continue.

"Please continue, Doctor. As I said before, I am yours. Everything about me belongs to you and has been swallowed up by you... So, indulge your research desire, Doctor."

"Perhaps, you can glimpse a step of [evolution] from me... No, you will definitely see it, Doctor. Even if you can't find it, I will show it to you bit by bit."

"Are you challenging me, little guy?"

Mobius narrowed her eyes.

"You are really becoming more and more rude."

"I can't help it~ Doctor, I've almost turned you into a useless person~"

"…."

Mobius subconsciously looked away, not daring to meet Nozomi's gaze... In a sense, Nozomi had indeed raised her into a "useless person" who could do nothing but research and experiments, or who didn't consider anything.

Especially after Nozomi helped Eden fund the laboratory, Mobius no longer had to attend any extra cocktail parties and could completely immerse herself in her own research and experiments.

There was no need to worry about funding at all. Apart from the necessary tasks for the "Fire Moth," she could conduct her own experiments at will. Nozomi would find the experimental subjects and handle the negotiations. Even her daily life would be arranged clearly by Nozomi. She didn't have to worry about anything... This was simply Mobius' ideal life.

It is precisely because of this... after learning the news from Vill-V, Mobius took on this "drama" so decisively and was willing to bear another "bad reputation"... it didn't matter anyway.

Not to mention, she really likes the little guy, whether it's purely emotionally, in life, or... in her career.

Who can blame the little guy for always bringing her some surprises? And this time the surprise was too big, so big that even Mobius could hardly bear it.

"...little guy."

Mobius spoke again, but this time, she didn't look at Nozomi. She just lowered her head and spoke softly.

"Yes, Doc."

Nozomi's voice was still so steady and gentle, even giving people a feeling of flowing water.

And his eyes were still on Mobius as if waiting for her to continue.

"Do you know why I always want to make people [evolve]?"

"You didn't tell me, Doctor."

"Ah... that's right. After all, this story isn't very wonderful to me, and no one else wants to hear it either."

"You can tell me, Doctor."

"I'm going to talk to you, don't interrupt."

Mobius glared at Nozomi with a somewhat annoyed tone, but judging from her expression... she looked a little coquettish no matter how you looked at her.

"Actually, it's nothing... ah... it was a long time ago. After all, I was only nine years old at that time."

"A small doctor... should be very cute~"

"I told you not to interrupt!"

This time, Mobius was really embarrassed and angry. She reached out and twisted Nozomi's waist, then continued.

"At that time, my father was infected with a strange disease... If you think about it carefully, it should be considered a prelude to the Honkai, but it was not very obvious."

"It's quite funny when I think about it. My father, a well-known pharmacist and doctor, didn't have any way to treat him after he got sick..."

"Afterward…"

...…

Then, Mobius talked a lot, describing what happened on her ninth birthday, and also talked about many other things, things that Nozomi didn't know, and others didn't know even more.

For example, her father, who was originally a pharmacist with a very gentle personality, became moody and often committed domestic violence after contracting a strange disease... Mobius also said that she understood the reason for everything. After all, he was tortured by the disease for so long, it was good enough that he did not go crazy.

Like the side effects of the drugs her father took, like the conversation she had with her father that day, like why she was so obsessed with making humans [evolve], and... after that, why she left her home.

"Is that so..."

After quietly listening to Mobius finish her story, Nozomi nodded in understanding and then asked with a smile.

"Doesn't that mean that you, Doctor, will celebrate your birthday alone from now on?"

"..."

"Did I get it right?"

"Shut up!"

Mobius glared at Nozomi fiercely.

"That's okay. I can spend time with you in the future, right? We've been together several times before, and so have everyone in the lab... At worst, we still have Elysia~"

"..."

Mobius didn't say anything, but judging from her profile, she seemed to be somewhat happy.

"...Doctor."

"Um."

"If there was a chance... if your father had not treated you like that before, or even just on that day, then... would you forgive him? Would you still leave? Leave your home?"

"...I have no idea."

Mobius was silent for a while before answering slowly.

"I haven't thought about this kind of thing, but... little guy, if you really want an answer..."

Mobius turned around and looked at Nozomi.

"I will never forgive him, absolutely."

"but..."

Mobius was silent for a while before speaking softly.

"I would probably... choose to stay."

After all... he's a father.

"I see…"

Nozomi understood and nodded.

"I see. I'll try to show you, Doctor."

"Ha... What? Do you want to go back to the past and change everything?"

"I'll try, Doctor."

Nozomi said seriously.

"...Okay."

Mobius seemed to have thought of something and suddenly smiled.

It is not as dangerous as before, like a snake, or filled with a special kind of charm.

Just gentle and soft, which was a little unlike her.

Mobius placed one hand on the operating table and, with a little effort, supported her body. She leaned forward and moved in front of Nozomi. She used her other hand to gently support his chin so that he could face her.

Then, softly and tenderly, she kissed him on the lips.

"If you can really do it..."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

After saying that, Mobius stood up again and picked up the scalpel.

"Okay, little one, show me... all of you."

"Please, Doctor."