When Blanca led Klein into the laboratory, Mobius was hunched over the experiment table, busy recording data.
Seeing that it was Blanca, Mobius set aside her task and walked over.
"What brings you here?"
Mobius asked, her tone casual, though she noticed there were three visitors this time...
"Doctor, it's about what I mentioned before… my recommendation for a new assistant after I leave."
As she spoke, she glanced at Klein standing behind her.
"Oh."
Mobius acknowledged vaguely, her gaze shifting to the person beside Blanca.
"This one?"
Blanca pulled Klein forward. "She's a junior of mine… her work ability is naturally excellent."
Mobius looked Klein over. The first impression was rather ordinary—a young girl who seemed a bit reserved, with short green hair.
Wait… let me look again. Yes, still quite ordinary.
"Hmm, I trust your judgment…"
"Come here."
Mobius watched Klein with interest and beckoned her over.
"Ah… yes."
Klein replied nervously before quickly stepping up to Mobius.
"What's your name?"
Mobius asked unhurriedly, then sized up the girl whose hair color was similar to her own.
"Hello, Doctor… I'm Klein."
Klein still seemed somewhat tense, her voice trembling slightly, but it was clear enough.
She stood ramrod straight, like a soldier awaiting inspection.
"Klein, huh…"
Mobius suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a slight chill down Klein's spine. "Have you heard about what kind of place this is?"
"Yes, I've heard."
Klein had naturally heard the rumors too; it would be a lie to say she wasn't a little afraid.
"Scared?"
Mobius asked bluntly.
"N-no, I'm not scared…"
Mobius raised an eyebrow. "Fine, you can stay."
Her decision was swift, after all, she was beginning to find this girl named Klein interesting.
"Thank you…"
Klein said gratefully.
Blanca smiled, then pulled Klein aside to explain some precautions, like some of Mobius's habits and small preferences.
The Doctor prefers quiet, so try not to make too much noise while working... experimental records must be extremely detailed...
Klein listened attentively, nodding from time to time.
Vya, who had been here since they entered, was listening obediently all along.
"Why are you here too, Vya? Where's your sister?"
Mobius asked. As it happened, she had some things to discuss with her today, and hadn't expected Vya to show up on her own.
"Big Sister said she's busy with something~"
"Is that so. Have you spoken with Klein?"
"I have," Vya answered honestly.
"And what do you think of her?" Mobius continued.
"Klein Sister seems like a very nice person~"
Vya replied almost without thinking.
Klein, who was listening carefully to Blanca nearby, heard this.
She paused. They had only just met. It seemed Vya really was as simple and sweet a child as Blanca had said.
"Oh? Why is that?"
"No reason~ Klein Sister just looks very nice~"
Vya wasn't lying. From her perspective, as long as the light from someone didn't make her uncomfortable, they were 100% a good person.
"I see…"
Hearing Vya say this made Mobius even more intrigued.
…
After finishing the rundown of precautions, Blanca hurried off—she had to go back and take care of Griseo. The lab was now left with just Mobius, Klein, and Vya.
"Vya, see that?"
Mobius pointed to a container on the experiment table, inside which was a crystal shimmering with a faint orange-gold light.
It still felt so familiar…
"Vya sees it! It looks like the thing from last time!"
"Just like last time, eat it and then put it back. Got it?"
"Mhm! Vya understands!"
Vya obediently did as told.
Eating the crystal… the flavor vanished quickly again. As before, a faint wisp of energy from the core attached itself to Vya. Sadly, no one would ever know.
"Get ready to record Vya's physical data."
Mobius said to Klein, already preparing the monitoring equipment.
"Ah… right away."
Though Klein didn't quite understand why Mobius wanted this, she complied.
Vya's physical exam was over quickly, and then… the results were pretty much the same as before. Remarkably stable. So stable it was almost unnatural.
An ordinary person's body would only show subtle changes in a short time. But someone like Vya… it was definitely abnormal.
"Mobius Sister, is there anything else?"
Vya hopped off the examination table and patted her skirt.
"Nothing else. Go play."
"Yay~"
With that, Vya scampered off.
"Curious?"
Mobius suddenly asked Klein.
"Yes."
Klein nodded honestly.
"In the future, don't ask why about things. Just do as you're told. Understood?"
"Yes, I understand."
Meanwhile, with Vya. Since there was nothing else at Mobius's place, she thought she'd go out and see if there was anything interesting to do…
She hadn't expected that the moment she stepped outside, she'd immediately step right into empty air…
???
And thus, Vya's entire body began a free-fall descent.
The wind howled past…
Vya felt the air rushing over her. Looking around at the vast emptiness, she was clearly in the sky!
Wow~
Far from being scared, Vya spread her arms excitedly, enjoying the sensation of flight like a little bird.
The ground grew closer. She adjusted her posture, looking down at the streets below.
Thud!
Vya slammed right into the ground, creating a small crater.
As the dust settled, Vya climbed to her feet. The faint pink crystals covering her slowly receded, and the hem of her clothes remained unstained. That was good…
Just then, a little black cat's attention was caught.
Curious, it approached the crater.
Mew?
"Kitty! It's a cat!"
Vya jumped out of the crater and spotted the black cat immediately.
"Meow!!"
The little black cat immediately bolted, and Vya gave chase.
Though she could easily catch up, Vya deliberately slowed her pace because she thought this was fun.
She lost track of how long she'd been chasing—thinking about it, it must have been several blocks…
Vya had forgotten one thing: she still didn't know why she'd ended up in this place.
But obviously, our little Vya wasn't thinking that hard about it.
Suddenly, however, she heard a familiar voice, and saw a familiar light…
"Alright, looks like the show is about to begin!"
…
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. Advanced chapters available on patreon.
patreon.com/intraneer
Give power stones please I survive solely off of number go up.