Vill-V is Earth's greatest genius. There is no doubt about it. Nobody could surpass her talent and potential. Not even Mobius.
A testament to that regard was their first meeting.
Vill-V wrongly assumed that Fire MOTH is the biggest evil organization orchestrating the descent of honkai throughout the world. She attacked their Mu Continent Headquarters with her creations. She was a one-man army who threatened the most technologically advanced organization in the entire world.
Though she was defeated in the end, her capabilities shook Fire MOTH. Some viewed her as someone far too dangerous to be left alive. Some wanted to use her genius to their own benefits. Some wanted to pull her in the grand cause of saving humanity.
The series of deliberations left them with no clear answer to how she would be dealt with. Vill-V was sent to an uninhabited island during this period.
It took a lot of time for the decision to recruit her to the Fire MOTH to be made. Mobius was the personnel assigned to pick her up.
One could imagine her surprise when the previously uninhabited island was turned into a monkey battle royale. Vill-V built weapons from the scraps throughout the island. Then she taught these monkeys how to handle them. It resulted in the said battle royale.
Still, it was a small matter compared to what her first meeting with Mobius amounted to.
The very moment she met eyes with Vill-V, Mobius was reminded of herself—of her struggles and the crossroads she once faced.
Since then, she treated this fellow genius slightly differently from others.
'What is she up to now..?'
Mobius wasn't bothered by the freezing atmosphere within the lounge. Instead, she curiously looked between Vill-V and Shi Tian.
"Of course, of course. I can wait! What kind of huge performance doesn't need a lot of preparation?"
As if the foreboding feeling within Mobius was an illusion, Vill-V showcased her typical self.
Unbeknownst to her, it wasn't just her who caught onto things.
'This kind of familiar gaze…'
Shi Tian also did.
*****
The talks inside the lounge took longer than anticipated. Vill-V did not flare up, choosing to discuss things related to their findings. I was surprised Elysia had the patience to sit through it until the end.
Hence, I find myself cooking at the Elysian Realm's kitchen. It is reminiscent of a modern kitchen. The ingredients stored are real. It is now possible for digital lifeforms to enjoy the 'taste' of real food through something known as 'information conversion'—a discovery of Vill-V's.
My thoughts lingered around the brief encounter earlier.
I am no longer inexperienced. More than a thousand years of life experience surpasses nearly everyone in the solar system. Nearly everyone because there are beings like Vita and Leylah, the Goddesses of Venus and Mars, respectively.
It took a while before that feeling matched with one of my memories.
Seele.
Mei.
Griseo.
Three names popped up inside my mind.
…
…
…
What am I getting into again?
I can see where Vill-V is coming from. Her insecurity and fear of herself led to her split personalities.
Quoting her own words:
'I would no longer be myself once it continues.'
Vill-V was scared she would tread onto a future where she would find herself unrecognizable.
It wasn't unfounded. Mobius' simulated self is an example of it. Her drive to reach infinity stemmed from her anger back when she was a child.
She viewed her despondent and pathetic father as that of a wretched monster. Mobius hated the notion of humanity devolving into such a state.
Vill-V viewed herself in the same way Mobius did to her father… at least that is how I understood it through the knowledge I have.
She also has an evil side, to boot.
Vill-V divided herself into different entities, but there is one who took half of her share.
An entity known as the Evil Vill-V.
She was the one who collaborated with the Herrscher of Corruption, leading to the Elysian Realm's collapse. She was said to possess half of Vill-V's potential as she served as the "dumpster" of her negative emotions.
Simply put, the Evil Vill-V is a culmination of possibilities Vill-V never turned out to be. That included her 'unrecognizable' self.
With all of these reasons, it is no longer surprising to see Vill-V with a messed up mental state. The question of what to do later will be saved for later.
I focused on the pan I am holding.
I did not use any complicated techniques for cooking. I did not replace everything found in their kitchen. Their messy mental states might be resolved by a plate of good food… or so I am hoping.
For Mobius, I whipped up a bowl of soba. It is in courtesy of her overconsumption of cup noodles.
For Vill-V, I decided on a platter. Her chaotic nature makes it difficult to grasp what kind of food she likes.
For Elysia, it is a mix of a spicy mapo tofu and three slices of blueberry cheesecakes. The spice would enhance the experience of eating sweet desserts.
The cooking session did not last long. I cheated by using my capabilities as a cultivator, cutting the cooking time in twenty minutes.
By the time I arrived in their dining room—a huge table consisting of thirteen seats—everyone sported various looks.
Mobius' snake-like eyes flickered. Vill-V greeted me with an "woah!"
Elysia…
Well, she was practically drooling the moment she saw the cheesecakes.
"It's the same as I have eaten back then!" She remarked.
"Interested in an unlimited dessert buffet?"
"N-no! Cute girls have to keep watch of their dessert intake."
But that's not what she said before, no?
I was about to speak out when Elysia got ahead of me.
"Anyways~! Why the spicy tofu?"
"Don't we eat sweets to counteract spicy foods? It's something similar to that."
"Oh…"
The food worked wonders. It is as random as it could be. Everyone took it well, still. Defusing that tense atmosphere made by Vill-V is necessary for any of our future plans… collaborations.
As long as her plans aren't as crazy as the one she proposed, I am open to hearing it.
For a while, we enjoyed a momentary peace.