"Alas, if I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have acted that way in the first place."
Young Brian set off once more, still holding little Elysia's soft hand.
But for some reason, the girl beside him grew increasingly silent, as if she had been frightened.
"Xilian, don't be afraid. Daddy is not a bad person. It's just that your aunts weren't very cooperative, so I had no choice but to resort to this."
"You're young and may not understand yet, but the burden on my shoulders represents not just myself, but the future of those around me and many others."
"I don't have time to waste with them, so I can only use methods that cause no harm but are effective enough."
The little girl quickened her short legs, but her face wore a rather speechless expression.
This method was indeed extraordinary. It caused no physical harm to Vill-V and Mobius, yet the psychological blow was devastatingly effective.
From pure young maidens, each with her own unique character, they had been transformed into unfortunate, sullied girls, toyed with until they were utterly bewildered and forced to acknowledge the adult world.
And the look in their eyes as they last gazed at her…
"..."
Elysia sighed silently, knowing that Vill-V, just like Mobius, now resented her for standing by and doing nothing while they got soaked.
But there was nothing she could do. In this short and stout body, she was powerless, able to offer only a few words of persuasion.
"Big brother, can you please not use that method on the uncles and aunts we'll meet later?"
"Of course."
The man kneaded her small, soft hand. "I already know the full contents of the Stigma Project. For the rest of the journey, I won't need to use any special methods."
Mobius had provided the first part of the Stigma Project data, and Vill-V had provided the second part, along with data related to the Divine Keys.
He had already obtained the greatest treasures in the Elysian Realm. All that remained was to collect the sigils of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers needed to develop the Stigma, and to meet the beautiful girls he had not yet encountered.
"Thank you, big brother."
Elysia breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she couldn't save Vill-V and Mobius, she had at least saved Eden and the others. It was a silver lining in a dark cloud.
"Where are we going next?"
"Let's leave it to fate. The order doesn't matter from here on out, as long as I meet each of them once."
The pair left their footprints across area after area. Young Brian led little Elysia, wandering aimlessly through the Elysian Realm. Who knew which lucky soul would be the next to encounter these two.
Some distance behind them, a slender girl felt the weight of a big orange cat on her head, a cat tail curling behind her into a questioning arc.
"How strange. I keep seeing traces of Sister Eli everywhere, but I just can't find her."
The cat was very confused, but the cat couldn't find the woman she was looking for.
"Maybe I should go ask Sister Eden what's going on?"
After changing her objective, Pardofelis's actions went exceptionally smoothly. It didn't take much effort to find Eden, and she also saw Aponia, who was in conversation with her.
"Pardo, you're here."
The dignified nun offered a gentle smile, exuding a kindness that felt like a mother's embrace.
Aponia was wonderful in every way, except that her maternal aura was so strong it made one feel like they were facing their own mom.
"Sister Nia, you're here too?"
A few golden ginkgo leaves fluttered down onto Can's head, adding a touch of wealth to the big orange cat.
Eden greeted her guest, "Pardo, since you're here, sit down and try some pastries I just made."
"Alrighty."
The naturally friendly cat didn't act like a stranger, sitting down and immediately beginning to sample the pastries cooked by the Elysian Realm's financial backer.
The other two didn't shy away from their previous topic just because of Pardofelis's uninvited arrival, showing no intention of hiding anything.
Eden: "This is indeed a very difficult task."
The cat's ears twitched, but her intuition told her it was best not to interrupt.
Aponia: "But she threatened me with Griseo, and it is indeed my fault."
"If I hadn't imposed my Discipline back then, she wouldn't have become like this."
The nun's expression was a mixture of pity and sorrow, her compassionate heart infectious.
"It's not your fault. To maintain order in that situation, using your Discipline to unite everyone was the only way."
Eden comforted her best friend, "You can't only see the bad side; you must also see the correct side."
"We have failed that child, but we can't let that stop us from doing what's necessary."
"So... what should I do?"
Should she really marry Elysia off?
When she saw Griseo, this thought had gained the upper hand in Aponia's mind. But now, visiting Eden, she felt she had wronged Elysia.
A dilemma.
If she could, she would rather bear this suffering herself.
Eden's expression was gentle, yet for some reason, it sent a chill down Pardofelis's spine.
"Aponia, many times the choices before us are not between good and bad, but between bad and worse."
"As the one making the decision, we can only choose the lesser of two evils to avoid an even worse outcome."
"..."
Her hands, clasped in prayer, tightened, then relaxed in an instant.
Eden was right. She could only choose the less bad option.
"I understand."
Hearing this, the gentle curve of the wine-red-haired woman's lips turned up a little more.
Originally, she had been vexed about what reason to use to push Elysia's romantic life forward. Unexpectedly, Aponia had not only brought her an excuse but also a scapegoat.
Their conversation came to a close. Pardofelis, who had been huddled to the side, too afraid to speak, had finished the pastries and finally realized something from their discussion.
"Sister Nia, Sister Eden, if this involves Griseo, shouldn't we ask for Sister Snake's opinion?"
Griseo had two guardians. Mobius had taken over the responsibility of caring for her from her mother, but due to the MANTIS surgery, she had to entrust her to Aponia.
Matters concerning Griseo should rightfully be decided after discussion between these two guardians, not by Aponia's word alone.
The two mature women looked at each other, forced to admit that Pardofelis had a point.
"Pardo, you're right."
But their reason for seeking out Mobius wasn't for Griseo's sake, but to give the mistress of the Elysian Realm a heads-up.
After all, everyone in the Elysian Realm knew that Mobius was a complete tsundere. She claimed to hate Elysia, but in reality, her affection for her was no less than Eden's.
It was just that her words were too stubborn; not even the end of the world could pry them open.
"Let's go, Aponia. We'll go discuss this with Mobius together."
"Alright."
…
"Damn bastard! I'll kill you two, you damn couple!"
A crystal-clear droplet of water trickled down her delicate neck, disappearing into her firm, tender breasts.
The tingling sensation caused the young girl's body to tighten involuntarily, as if she were once again feeling that indescribable pleasure.
Bang—!
The thought of what she had just endured sent Mobius into a rage. She smashed the alloy cup in her hand against a nearby instrument, causing sparks to fly.
Her expression was incredibly dark, as if someone owed her a billion dollars.
To be treated like that by a stinking man, and for him not even to go all the way at the end, simply pulling up his pants and leaving.
It was as if he were saying to her, "Mobius, you're not charming enough."
Such a humiliating act elevated Mobius's hatred for young Brian to a new level.
And that Elysia…
"I'll remember you, Elysia!"
She was standing right there, yet she just cowered in the corner watching, not saying a single word to help.
She didn't expect the girl to sacrifice herself to the tiger, using her own body to clear a path for her. But at the very least, out of respect for their many years as colleagues, she should have pleaded for mercy on her behalf.
Unexpectedly, that girl was so heartless and disloyal, just watching from the sidelines.
And if one were to think with a more sinister mind…
"Could that woman have been watching me make a fool of myself?"
Given that woman's personality, it wasn't impossible.
If that woman were to threaten her with this dark, wet history in the future, she might never be able to hold her head up high again.
Mobius's expression shifted between green and white, becoming increasingly ugly amidst the unpredictable changes.
She could tolerate falling into the river herself, but she couldn't tolerate that woman, Elysia, standing on the bridge, pointing at her sorry state and laughing her head off.
She had to find a way to make that woman suffer the same fate.
As she pondered, the screen on the lab's main console lit up, showing her an image from the entrance.
It was none other than two of her old acquaintances in the Elysian Realm.
"Eden and Aponia? What are those two doing here?"
For some reason, after what had happened, Mobius found these two who hadn't become wet-crotch people to be rather displeasing to the eye.
However, despite her feelings, she couldn't neglect the duties of a host.
"You two have business with me?"
Mobius led the two visitors into the room and casually found a table to sit at.
She had no time for idle chit-chat with them now. Her top priority was getting revenge on the disloyal Elysia.
The dignified and elegant Eden spoke first, "Mobius, you seem... a little different than before."
The current Mobius still had the same appearance she usually presented to everyone.
A youthful face and figure, her dark green, form-fitting dress outlining curves far less explosive than her adult form.
A trident-like headpiece stood on her head, and her long, naturally flowing green hair was slightly curled at the ends.
Yet, the alluring aura she usually carried had faded significantly.
And Eden wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt that the current Mobius had more of a womanly charm, as if she had matured overnight.
"..."
Mobius's face darkened. "You don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it myself."
"Spit it out. What do you want? If you have no business, please leave. I don't have time to entertain you."
It was clear that Mobius was not in a good mood and had no time for pleasantries.
Aponia didn't hesitate and stated her purpose, "Mobius, I came to you to seek your opinion on a matter concerning Griseo."
Her explanation elicited a cold sneer from Mobius.
"You made a mistake, and now you want to drag Griseo into it."
"..."
Aponia fell silent, repenting for the mistake she had made.
But as for that girl Rin's demand regarding Elysia…
"I agree! Let me join in!"
Elysia must be married off. That woman must learn what cruelty means.
She dared to stand by and watch her, her dear friend, suffer? Then she must pay the price for it!
Aponia and Eden's expressions were peculiar, a mix of joy and relief.
Just as they were about to further express their thoughts, a fourth person arrived uninvited, "If you're really going to do something like that, please be sure to include me!"
A magician dressed in steampunk style appeared at the door, leaning on the frame. Her constantly trembling legs and the uncontrollable flush on her face made it seem as if she were carrying a little toy with her.
"Vill-V, you are…"
At that moment, Mobius looked at Vill-V as if she were seeing a long-lost sister from another mother!
Not born in the same year, month, or day, but fated to die on the same year, month, and day!
Just based on Vill-V's current state, all past grudges were wiped clean. From now on, she was her dearest, dearest friend!
"Come, come and talk. Let's sit down and discuss this slowly."
Mobius grabbed Vill-V's arm, intending to guide her into the lab.
The moment she was grabbed, the Elysian Realm's magician shuddered, feeling that incessant sensation wash over her once more.
That damn Inner World Protagonist hadn't restored her body to normal when he left; it was still in a state of tenfold sensitivity.
Originally, she had planned to build a small robot to communicate with Mobius remotely, hoping to get a solution from her colleague who had extensively researched the Herrscher of Corruption.
But unexpectedly, the more clothes she changed, the wetter she got. She couldn't stop.
The transformation of pain into pleasure left her with nowhere to hide.
Left with no choice, she had to come in person.
Mobius's grasp nearly sent her to see the Buddha again.
What a sin!
"You... mmph... let me catch my breath first."
Vill-V spoke in broken phrases, stunning Mobius.
This state... it was as if she were carrying the Inner World Protagonist with her at all times, giving her a deep massage.
That guy's ability could even do this?
Effective from a distance?
This man is terrifyingly powerful!?
Mobius was utterly astonished. Vill-V, leaning against the wall, trembled as she found a place to sit.
The sensation of sitting down caused Vill-V's eyes to roll back for a moment, her breathing growing heavier, her face flushing even more.
If she didn't resolve this quickly, she felt like she was about to break.
No, she had to switch to another personality to handle this. She could no longer bear it alone.
Unable to communicate directly, her personalities switched several times. The genius scientist's expression changed like a revolving lantern.
None of them wanted to be the victim; they all wanted someone else to bear the burden.
The personalities that usually took turns controlling the body all refused to endure this. In the end, a dark shade took over Vill-V completely.
Evilest Vill-V!
Her eyes rolled back. This feels too good!
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