"Hi~ Vill-V, it's been a week. Did you miss me?"
Elysia stood at the doorway in brilliant attire, arms spread wide, smiling as brightly as sunlight itself.
If one didn't know better, they might think she was about to host another grand ball here.
"Haa—" Vill-V took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. Elysia always appeared at the most unexpected moments. Oh, my poor heart.
Then Expert asked coldly, "Miss Elysia, why are you here?"
Expert cared deeply about whether there were any disruptive elements during the research process—and Elysia would definitely rank at the top of that list.
As a combatant, she couldn't possibly have come to the workshop to assist with research, could she?
Although Expert currently held some fondness for Elysia, safety and efficiency in the work process always came first.
Work was work. Feelings were feelings.
At a ball, one could speak freely and indulge oneself.
But during work, one had to be extremely cautious.
If it were Dr. Tesla, she might have arranged a "one-on-one duel" between Elysia and the Herrscher's corpse to gather data. But Expert was not the hot-tempered Tesla. She had no need for such crude methods.
What if Elysia got hurt?
Hearing the tone that seemed to bar her from entry, Elysia lowered her head with a pitiful expression, clutching the hem of her skirt behind her and saying sadly, "Eh? Vill-V doesn't welcome me? I'll be heartbroken, you know..."
"After all... that's a Herrscher. As MOTH's strongest warrior, how could I rest easy... letting someone else protect my beloved great Expert?"
"I don't want to see my adorable Vill-V fall into any danger~"
Looking at Elysia's aggrieved face, Expert's hardened heart softened. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded helplessly.
"Sigh—" Faced with a crying, adorable girl, Expert simply couldn't remain tough.
Forget it. As the Herrscher of Human, Elysia surely possessed more methods than others to handle any unexpected issues with a Herrscher Core. With Elysia watching over things, the experiment would indeed be safer.
"I understand." After saying those four words in a powerless tone, Expert immediately withdrew, switching places with Conductor.
The moment Conductor appeared, she was met head-on by Elysia's cheerful embrace. "Hehe, I knew it. Expert, you're always so kind and considerate."
"I'm Conductor..." Conductor sighed as she allowed Elysia to gently hug her arm.
Expert, oh Expert, I thought during the ball you had already surrendered beneath Elysia's crystal skirt. Seems I worried too much.
As expected of the most reliable Vill-V—your face-changing speed is even faster than Magician's.
But, Expert, you've overlooked Elysia's maiden heart.
Although we still don't know whether Elysia is self-aware, what we are about to do is turn a Herrscher into a machine.
Even if Elysia truly can make the experiment safer, letting her stand by and watch—once she learns of her own identity as a Herrscher, how painful will that be for her?
After such a long journey, finally finding someone similar to herself... only for that someone to be forged into a cold weapon by her own hands...
Expert, you should have refused her outright, if you truly cared about Elysia.
Hmm, Elysia... so soft...
While being embraced by Elysia, Conductor thought many things.
In fact, in the original course of events, Elysia had already come into contact with every Herrscher through Dr. Mobius' operating table. Now, the only difference was that the subject had changed to Vill-V.
As a Herrscher and a direct party to Honkai, Elysia naturally harbored more confusion than others. That was why she had used a few small methods to come to Vill-V's side.
Vill-V, however, was unaware of this detail from the original storyline. Since Expert had already agreed, Conductor found it difficult to go back on it. She therefore added, "Miss Elysia, we may take certain extreme measures later. If you feel that..."
Conductor trailed off, not even daring to meet those enthusiastic pink-and-blue eyes.
"Don't worry, Conductor. Elysia's maiden heart can embrace all things~"
"Besides, with you by my side, Vill-V, I'll make you the focus of my gaze~"
Since Elysia had said so much, Conductor had no reason left to refuse.
And thus, Elysia's participation in the Second Herrscher Research became a foregone conclusion.
Noticing that Dr. Mei had been waiting nearby for quite some time, Elysia released Vill-V, mischievously stuck out her tongue at her, and then pulled her toward the director's office.
The S-1 Director's Office was enormous—five large rooms, three lounges, fully equipped facilities. It was more luxurious than a presidential suite. As expected of MOTH's premier experimental institute.
Like the owner of the place, Elysia introduced everything to Vill-V as they walked.
Upon entering the management control room, Vill-V saw Newton and Dr. Mei. Due to Dr. Mei's arrangements, the other researchers had been temporarily reassigned.
Taking advantage of the moment, Elysia also requested to lend a hand from Dr. Newton. As half one of their own, and with Dr. Mei's tacit approval, her request was granted.
Of course, this did not mean Dr. Mei fully trusted Elysia. Rather, Elysia had invoked the name "Vill-V."
In Elysia's telling, her relationship with Vill-V had already reached the level of honeyed intimacy.
Of course, Elysia wasn't lying. They truly were such good friends. There were simply a few little secrets between girls that both understood without speaking.
And that small hug just now had also served to prove to Dr. Mei that her words were genuine.
Dr. Mei, a heterosexual, did not quite understand—but she was deeply shaken nonetheless.
Well-read and scholarly, Dr. Mei was not unfamiliar with literature about girls' love.
Vill-V felt that Dr. Mei's expression toward her seemed somewhat strange. Then again, Dr. Mei rarely showed much expression at all. Perhaps she had imagined it.
"Wow, so much secondary soulium!" Vill-V stared at the soulium materials displayed on the warehouse monitor, her eyes sparkling.
Dr. Mei lightly tapped the rejected application file and said calmly, "Sigh, unfortunately we weren't able to secure the special soulium currently under development. Those special variants are still unstable and cannot be officially deployed."
"What a pity." Vill-V replied with faint regret.
It was likely for this very reason that, in the original course of events, Vill-V could only design the Second Divine Key—Cosmic Juggernaut—in the form of a locomotive.