I'm No MOTH Hero

Elysia was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Only after seeing Mei's eyes turn cold did she manage to gasp out, "That's Mobius's highly concentrated mustard. If you dilute it with water at a one-to-one-hundred ratio, it's just like regular mustard."

"Mobius gave Lin highly concentrated mustard? Is that… hate?"

"Lin is a fundamentalist, so his ideology is completely opposite to Mobius's. In a sense, they really don't get along," Elysia explained, answering Mei's question after their prank. "But this mustard is actually Mobius's way of showing kindness to Lin."

"…I have to ask, is the meaning of 'kindness' in the previous civilization the same as the one I understand?"

"Of course."

"…" Another incomprehensible explanation and a bizarre action. Mei decided to assume Mobius was just someone who really liked mustard.

"If Lin gives it to you and you carry it around, Mobius might see it and tone it down a little."

"I guess I should thank him then, it makes me feel like I'm carrying a yellow paper charm for exorcism." Mei suppressed the urge to complain and put the tube of… highly concentrated mustard away. She then asked about what she considered a crucial clue, "Mobius, she's one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, right? The Dark Side of MOTH is her, isn't it?"

"Well, calling the Dark Side of MOTH is a bit too general… but it's basically right. What else do you know, Mei?"

"Flame-Chaser number CM-003. She was among the first batch of Flame-Chasers, along with Kevin, you, and Sakura. And she's the one who created Flame-Chasers herself."

"Wow, you've investigated even that aspect so thoroughly."

"…Besides the number, you told me yourself."

"I'm so happy you remember what I said, Mei~" Elysia brushed aside the fact that she had leaked information. "But saying she 'created Flame-Chasers' isn't quite accurate. That technology was actually the result of many people working together. But you've already done a great job, so don't worry about this small mistake."

Mei hesitated for a moment, looking at Elysia's smiling face, and then cautiously stated her final conclusion: "From all indications, Mobius doesn't have a good relationship with you or Lin."

The highly concentrated mustard she received further solidified Mei's belief.

"How could that be? We all see each other as irreplaceable comrades. And Mei, you'd better not tell Mobius that her relationship with Lin is bad… uh, or that it's good. Just don't mention anything between them. It's a very delicate 'balance,' and if it's broken, there will be punishment."

Mei raised her slender eyebrows. "I can't believe that guy in the helmet would have conflicts with others. I thought he'd either stay silent or walk away when faced with a problem."

"Not Lin, it's Mobius."

"…I'm getting more and more confused about how you all interact."

"It's very easy to understand. It's just that you're completely unaware of what happened back then. Given how hard you've worked to uncover the truth, I'll give you a special secret."

Elysia's expression turned calm, her voice imbued with a mix of emotions as she slowly said, "The first Flame-Chasers were indeed only four people. Kevin was the first successful case of Hypervariable Surgery, so his number is CM-001."

Mei noticed Elysia's choice of words: "The first 'successful'…"

"That's right. The first successful one doesn't mean Kevin was the first person to undergo Hypervariable Surgery." Elysia held up a finger. "The first person to undergo Hypervariable Surgery was actually Lin. His Flame-Chaser number was forcibly set to CM-000, precisely because his surgery failed."

"So that guy isn't as simple as he makes himself out to be." Mei frowned. She had had some suspicions before, which were now confirmed by Elysia.

"There were some complications when Lin underwent the surgery. Some people opposed performing an operation with a success rate of practically zero, but he insisted on being the first volunteer. It's quite moving when I think about it now."

"Someone opposed it? Who? Kevin? Hua? Or you?"

Elysia lowered her head, hiding her expression behind her bangs, and said softly—

"It was Mobius."

Chapter 31: Swearing

"MOTH doesn't have many elite members right now. You barely qualify, so MOTH won't approve any mission requests for you until your injuries are completely healed," Mobius said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The golden lacquer of her earring gleamed under the light. She casually placed her cup on the table and picked up a document from the messy pile of files.

Mobius knew exactly what those people were thinking. The so-called recovery period for Lin was just an excuse. Soldiers were expendable. Judging by their insistence on Lin rescuing Mei, their attitude towards this so-called "elite" was no different from that of a slightly better rifleman.

The reason they were now feigning concern for Lin's well-being was likely due to the division among the higher-ups regarding Mei. Lin's importance was neither insignificant nor overly crucial, but he was currently enjoying a surge in popularity as a great contributor after the Third Honkai War.

Furthermore, they couldn't quite figure out what Lin was thinking. Compared to others, Lin lived like an ascetic: no smoking, no drinking, a precise daily routine down to the second, no purchases beyond necessities, no social interaction, and he rarely logged into the internal network. It was impossible to curry favor or recruit him.

Was he truly a saint devoted solely to humanity? Yet, before joining MOTH, he was just a normal high school student, orphaned and living off part-time jobs. There was no sign of a willingness to sacrifice himself for a greater cause.

There must be ulterior motives.

So, after much discussion, they decided to start by addressing Lin's Honkai Sickness.

"Mei and her little follower are being transferred to the Fifth Science Department for research on Honkai Energy Adaptability. You'll be going with them, as expected. If there's any place most likely to develop a cure for Honkai Energy erosion, it's there."

Mei had joined MOTH too recently to be immediately thrown into work. Although she had proposed some… horrifying theories, the conditions and practical applications to support them were insufficient. Therefore, during this period, she would be studying Honkai-related matters in places with relatively mature research achievements.

Given her capabilities, she should be able to officially start working within two months. What kind of change in MOTH's high-level perception of her would occur then was unknown.

"I'm going too? But right now…"

Lin suddenly sensed something. He glanced at Mobius, who was engrossed in her documents. Seeing that she wasn't looking up, he tried to tap his toes on the ground, frowning as he put some force into pressing his sole down.

A solid sensation.

Mobius, looking down, curved her lips into a smile.

Lin thought for a moment, then pushed himself up with his hands, leaving the operating table and standing on the ground.

"…"

He took a few steps forward, his gait steady.

He still felt a sense of weakness throughout his body, but it was much better than before, when even standing was difficult. At least basic walking was now achievable.

This couldn't be a sudden miracle.

Lin looked at Mobius. She had just put down the paper file she was holding and revealed a chilling smile.

It must have been the serum she injected earlier.

"Muscle atrophy isn't a major issue for living beings, and stimulating muscle tissue to return it to its previous state is even less of a problem for me," Mobius explained simply and clearly, as if using an unknown drug on a human body was the most natural thing in the world.

Lin stretched his arms in place, testing the extent of his recovery, and asked, "What are the side effects?"

Mobius sneered, "What do you take me for, some graduate who's still in college? A drug of this caliber would have side effects? It's just that if you keep showing up in a wheelchair like a cripple every time, I'll find it really annoying."

Lin pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Is there more?"

Mobius had expected this. She pointed to several syringes in a sealed bag on the table. "Once a day. Let me remind you, don't think you can cure yourself in one go. I don't want any more rumors spreading that everything from Mobius's lab is poison."

Lin silently took the bag of medicine, the color alone hinting at Mobius's twisted sense of humor.

In a way, that wasn't entirely a rumor.

"If you're done, you can leave. The knowledge involved in my next experiment isn't something you can help with."

The laboratory lights were quite bright. Beneath the predominantly white walls, however, were piles of disorganized documents and files. Only the experimental equipment was neatly arranged; everything else—cups, instant coffee packs, wrappers, empty instant noodle containers, even bedding—was haphazardly piled together.

Although the lab smelled faintly of formalin, Lin felt a wave of stench rush into his nostrils upon seeing the mess.

Mobius casually picked up a noodle container and glanced at Lin, who stood frozen. "What? You want some instant noodles too?"

"Instant noodles?" Lin's memory of the term was tied to the time Kevin invited him over and offered to cook. He clearly remembered Kevin bringing out two identical blobs of black mush from the kitchen, one called "tomato scrambled eggs" and the other "stir-fried peppers with meat." Helpless, Lin had eaten instant noodles for the first time in his life with Kevin.

Lin asked expressionlessly, "...Why don't you eat at the cafeteria?"

Mobius scoffed dismissively. "It wastes time and energy. And... I don't want to be gawked at like a monkey."

Mobius rarely left her lab, but her infamous reputation and distinctive green hair had spread far and wide. Even the rats in MOTH dared not approach her laboratory. If she ever stepped outside, it would cause a commotion, even if it wasn't her intention.

Lin nodded. "I'll cook."

"...What did you say?"

"I promised you before."

Mobius froze, then remembered that he had indeed promised to cook for her.

"And these," Lin pointed to the indescribable polymer of garbage, his eyelids twitching. "Dr. Mobius, how do you think you and a Honkai Beast smell?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think you smell pretty similar." Lin took a barely perceptible step back.

Mobius's expression solidified on her delicate face. This was the first time Lin had spoken so harshly.

"Director? Director? Director!"

"Don't come near me!"

Delta suddenly opened his eyes, yelped, and jumped up from the ground, leaping three meters into the air. Sweating profusely, he pointed a screwdriver at his bewildered subordinates.

"H-huff, huff..." He panted, his confused mind unable to grasp the situation. He squinted at the scene before him. What's going on?

"Director, are you alright? You suddenly passed out. You should really go rest," the subordinate at the front said, looking at the mentally unwell Delta with concern. He spread his hands, urging him to take a break.

Delta stared blankly at the screwdriver in his hand. "I... passed out..." After the dance party yesterday, he had immediately thrown himself back into research. The prolonged high-pressure work had finally taken its toll on his body.

He put down his tools, his mouth dry, and sighed. "But the Titan research is still stalled."

"But Director, there's no need to rush so much."

"...Disasters never stop to wait for you."

Delta's gaze drooped, shadowed. A figure flickered before his eyes, then vanished into the light.

Chapter 32: Righteously Indignant

Lin held his nose and picked up a loose silk fabric. "What is this?"

Mobius replied sullenly, her face contorted in displeasure, "Stockings."

"From last week?"

"From last month."

Lin casually tossed it into the trash can. It was hard to imagine that someone as organized and intelligent as Mobius could live in such a mess. Perhaps in her lab, she was the supreme ruler, and she had always been immersed in experiments and surgeries. Her personal space was just like Kevin's home, even down to the instant noodles being placed within easy reach. Things she needed and didn't need were mixed together. Once used, she'd get a new one, hoarding items like a hamster, filling every available space.

Lin wasn't exactly a neat freak, but to maintain his physical condition, he kept his living environment and routines meticulously organized. Having lived alone since childhood, his habits were healthier than most people could match. Therefore, Mobius's dark and damp den, resembling a snake's burrow, looked like a mass grave to him.

After a simple cleanup of the trash, Lin looked at the still messy room and asked, "Where do you keep your cosmetics?"

"I never use cosmetics," Mobius said, crossing her arms by the doorway with disdain, finding Lin's question redundant.

"You never use powder puffs, blush, or perfume, but you occasionally use cleansing cream, eyeshadow, and lipstick. It's just that the colors are quite light, and with your hair and eye color being more prominent, it's usually not noticeable."

"You..."

Mobius got goosebumps all over.

What's with this guy? Why does he observe so clearly after only meeting a few times? She knew that besides herself, even Bianca couldn't tell she occasionally wore light makeup.

Before long, Lin found the cosmetics he mentioned in some corners, all neatly arranged together so she wouldn't have trouble finding them when needed.

"Meddling." Seeing him work so diligently, Mobius felt an unnamable anger flare up inside her.

Lin's injuries didn't hinder his efficiency. He spent just over ten minutes cleaning Mobius's private office inside and out, tidying everything up and organizing the documents on the desk.

Mobius silently gazed at the refreshed office. Was it her imagination, or did the lights in the room seem brighter?

It was... not bad?

However, it wasn't over. After a short break, Lin, with Cangxuan and Danzhu looking on in horror, picked up his cleaning tools again and began to clean the entire laboratory.

"Why are there craft knives and clippers in the laboratory?" Lin frowned as he picked up an unpainted GK figure. "Does your lab also outsource figure assembly?"

Everyone in the laboratory turned to look at Danzhu, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

"Danzhu, I told you not to bring your personal hobbies into the laboratory." Mobius narrowed her eyes, resembling a venomous snake flicking its tongue, terrifying and dangerous.

Danzhu's pupils darted around as he mumbled, "This, this..."

It seemed like if the head is crooked, the lower body would be even worse.

Lin shook his head.

"Unbelievable, that guy in the helmet is actually working as an assistant in the laboratory. Isn't he known as the Ruthless Honkai Resistor who only kills Mortals and Honkai Beasts?"