The sea was calm, without a single ripple. Sunlight spilled across the water's surface, shimmering with a sparkling, crystalline light.
Inside the Deep Laboratory, Elysia was chatting with Einstein.
Einstein said:
"Vya should be with 026. I'll check the surveillance later to see exactly where she is."
Pushing up her glasses, Einstein added helplessly:
"Vya's still so flighty and impulsive. She's probably picked that up from you."
After all, this 'Elysia-onee-san' was hardly a model of propriety herself.
Elysia's smile widened even further:
"Alright, alright, I'll take that as a compliment~"
Einstein couldn't help but cover her face, utterly defeated by Elysia's shamelessness.
"By the way, why did Dr. Mobius rush back in such a hurry? Do you know what happened?"
Einstein changed the subject, recalling Mobius's hurried departure with some curiosity.
"How would I know?"
Elysia chuckled, spreading her hands.
Einstein nodded.
"Not long ago, she was asking me about combining bionic technology with Armed Doll technology…"
"Though it's really completely unnecessary…"
Einstein picked up the thread.
"The current generation of Armed Dolls has already accumulated substantial combat and learning experience, enough to handle the vast majority of Honkai beast types. There's no need for these flashy, complicated integrations."
She guessed it was probably just a passing whim of Mobius's.
Elysia blinked, praising her:
"My, Einstein is so amazing~ So knowledgeable!"
"Stop…!"
Einstein quickly cut her off.
"Just tell me what you came to discuss. I don't have time to waste here with you."
"It's about the Armed Dolls~"
Elysia laughed and briefly outlined her request.
…
"An Armed Doll modeled after you?"
After listening, Einstein looked at Elysia with some surprise.
Elysia beamed with a radiant smile:
"That's right! As my good friend, you'll definitely help me, won't you, won't you?"
"Uh…"
Einstein held her forehead, her tone full of resignation.
"You really are something, Elysia."
Though filled with a myriad of objections internally, she couldn't withstand Elysia's relentless, wheedling assault and ultimately had no choice but to surrender.
After all, it seemed like no one could truly refuse Elysia.
Even Mobius probably agreed silently in her heart first before stubbornly and vehemently refusing out loud!
"Yay~"
Elysia cheered immediately.
"Now let's discuss the other stuff, like decorations and functions?"
"Let's be clear, Elysia."
Einstein emphasized.
"I'm only providing technical support. Don't come to me for the design and decorative elements."
For a moment, she wasn't sure if agreeing to this was right or wrong.
But thankfully, her recent research at the Deep had made a phased breakthrough; she could now artificially alter the tidal-wave-like phenomena of the Deep Eye.
Being in a fairly good mood, she decided not to dwell on it further.
"No problem! Even if I can't do it myself, I'll ask Vill-V for help!"
Elysia promised, patting her chest.
Whoosh!
Right then, your little cutie suddenly appeared!
An adorable Vya jumped out from thin air, plummeting straight down towards Elysia. With quick reflexes, Elysia caught Vya securely in her arms.
"My, my, whose little darling is so good at finding the right spot~♪"
Elysia hugged Vya, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents.
Vya cheered in her embrace:
"Sis! It's Vya! Vya's back~"
Not long before, after bidding farewell to the Mobius within that World Bubble, Vya had first returned to the Sea of Quanta.
She looked around inside and immediately spotted the marker for Elysia's location. So, she simply used Dudu to slice open space and instantly teleported over.
After returning, Dudu dutifully scurried back to 'study,' probably feeling from the recent experience that it still needed to enhance its abilities further.
There wasn't a trace of surprise in Elysia's eyes, only delight.
Einstein merely clicked her tongue, Vya's sudden appearance seeming rather par for the course by now.
"Alright, Elysia…"
Einstein began, issuing what amounted to a dismissal.
"Your purpose for coming here seems fulfilled. You should probably go."
"Oh, I think we could discuss the details a bit more~"
Elysia wanted to stay longer.
"I have work to do. Next time."
Einstein said, turning to leave.
She had something else to attend to—the matter of Armed Dolls developing self-awareness. She needed to ponder it properly.
"Hey, wait!"
Elysia quickly called out.
Einstein's voice floated back from the distance:
"I'll send you the specific technical plan. You can design the appearance and such yourself."
"Yay~"
Elysia hugged Vya and jumped for joy.
"Thank you~"
She looked down at Vya in her arms and said with a smile:
"How about we make a doll modeled after our little Vya too?"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked Vya's smooth little cheek.
"Okay~"
Though her words were a bit muffled, Vya would obediently agree to anything Elysia said.
…
"Sis, look at this!"
Vya suddenly remembered something, pulling the earring from her pocket and showing it to Elysia.
"Wow, isn't this Mobius's… Huh? It seems a bit different though."
Elysia looked closely, somewhat surprised. At first, she thought Mobius had given it to Vya…
But Mobius treasured her earrings so much; she wouldn't just give one away casually. Moreover, Elysia had seen Mobius's earrings. While similar, the style of this one was slightly different.
"Vya, quickly tell your sister, what exactly happened?"
Elysia asked curiously.
So, Vya recounted everything about meeting the other Mobius in another world to Elysia…
About running up and down those strange steps.
About the suddenly appearing, unclothed Mobius-sis.
About her telling Mobius the story of the little white snake.
About the different version of the little white snake story Mobius told her, and finally, about Mobius taking
this earring from within herself and giving it to her…
After listening to Vya's tale, Elysia nodded and said with a smile:
"Mhm, I see. Just as I thought, my little sister is the best. No matter where she goes, she wins people over~"
Vya, feeling a bit bashful from the praise, giggled:
"Hehe ᜊ•ᴗ•ᜊ, thank you, sis!"
…
(Plotting is such a hassle ＼(`Δ')／, and there's no time.)
…
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