"What in the world happened?"
Inside the shelter, Himeko leaned back in her chair, looking at the "younger" Mobius with a perplexed expression.
"Ahem!" Mikael cleared his throat habitually. "Well... Dr. Mobius and Klein... uh... found some of Śeṣa's tissue... and, well, they heard snake meat was delicious, so... they made soup... but... Śeṣa's tissue still had a lot of electrical charge... and... Klein ate more, so..."
Mikael raised his eyebrows, staring at the ceiling, his story falling apart.
"Hahahahaha!" Elysia burst into laughter. Mikael, Himeko, and Mobius simultaneously rolled their eyes, a rare moment of unity.
"Just stop... And Mikael, you don't need to clear your throat before making up a story..." Himeko covered her face with her hands, but Mikael clearly saw her shoulders shaking.
"Captain, you're laughing."
Himeko immediately lowered her hands, her face serious. "I am not."
"Captain, I saw you!"
"Me too!" Mobius added unexpectedly.
"Same here!" – Elysia chimed in.
"You definitely laughed!"
"No, I've been professionally trained. I don't laugh... hehe... hahaha... pffft hahahahaha!"
"Fine, fine, none of you want to tell the truth. Whatever. I'll report what happened here accurately, and let Phamas and the others deal with it!"
Himeko waved her hand dismissively. No, she wasn't waving her hand, she was waving the bs flag.
"But..." Himeko's gaze swept over Mobius's youthful face, the envy in her eyes unmistakable. But as her gaze drifted downwards, settling on Mobius's chest, her expression turned a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.
"Mobius, can you explain how you became so... small?"
"What do you mean small?!" Mobius's eye twitched.
"Well... ahem..." Mikael, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, mimed a small chest with his fingers.
He immediately regretted it as the three women glared at him.
"Ahem! Well..." Mikael scratched his head. "Small... small isn't bad... I think it's quite..."
"Quite what?" Elysia took a step closer.
"Cute?" Mikael took the opportunity to pat Mobius's head...
He really hadn't meant to. It was just the height difference. He couldn't resist...
"Anyway! Dr. Mobius's transformation... must be due to Honkai energy!"
With that, Mikael fled at an unprecedented speed.
Leaving the three women in an increasingly awkward silence.
"I'm going to check on Klein."
Mobius declared, maintaining her usual air of unilateral decision-making.
Elysia's eyes twinkled. She leaned close to Himeko and whispered, "Captain, do you... also want to be... younger?"
"No, I don't. It's getting late. You should rest."
"Come on, tell the truth!"
"...Just a little, just a tiny bit!"
"Well, in that case, we have to start with the small details, like clothes and accessories!"
Elysia discreetly stepped aside as Himeko answered her communicator.
A moment later, she turned to Elysia. "The fleets from around the world are in position. Headquarters plans to launch a full-scale assault on the Herrscher from the east, by sea, at 10 AM tomorrow."
---Roasted Chicken Divider---
In the corridor of the shelter's living quarters.
"Hua! Hua! It's bad!"
Hearing Carole's shout, Hua rushed over and covered her mouth.
"Quiet! Don't wake everyone!"
Carole shook her head frantically.
Hua released her hand. Carole's voice was laced with panic.
"Hua! That woman! That woman is alive again!"
As Hua was about to ask, a slimy, sinister voice spoke from behind her:
"Insolent! Which woman?!"
"Eek!" Carole fainted, collapsing into Hua's arms.
Mikael awkwardly lowered the transformation device he'd been holding. Facing Hua's increasingly hostile glare, he touched his nose, stammering, "Well... I didn't expect Carole to be so easily scared... uh..."
He suddenly remembered—he was supposed to be the one reprimanding them!
He lightly slapped Hua on the head... hmm... this height difference was also quite nice...
Hua apologized before he could say anything.
"We shouldn't have... snuck out for a bath... We caused you trouble!"
"I'm willing to accept any punishment!"
"...No..." Mikael ruffled her hair. "Just don't do anything so reckless again. Sometimes, you have to learn to say no, even to Carole. Understand?"
"Big Brother... Mikael..."
"Can you please stop talking like an old man... You're not that old..."
So he was the old man now?
"Alright, I'm just teasing. Seriously, though, we have bigger things to worry about. Don't do this again. Not all soldiers are willing to search for two missing civilians."
"I'm leaving now. Tomorrow, we'll be heading east... Anyway, tomorrow, this disaster will be over... It's the last night. Rest well, Hua."
Mikael pulled two cans of spinach from his pocket.
"I heard you two gave your chocolate and vitamins to others?"
"I... I just thought those who are sick, those who are older... need them more than I do... Carole thought so too."
Hua pouted slightly, looking away.
"Nutrition is important at your age!"
Mikael firmly placed the cans in Hua's hands. Holding the unconscious Carole, she couldn't refuse.
Hua and Mikael's interactions had always been , simple and understated.
Perhaps because they were both rather passive individuals.
So, the words Hua didn't say were:
"I've already promised Captain Himeko that I'll join Fire Moth and become a soldier."
But how would Mikael have responded?
"You're too young, don't be ridiculous."
Or would he have simply turned and asked Himeko to remove her name from the list?
Hua didn't know, so she didn't say anything.
Just as she didn't know why she'd so readily agreed to become a soldier.
Perhaps because she thought joining Fire Moth would help her learn about her hometown.
Or perhaps because... she didn't know where else to go...
When she came to her senses, Mikael was gone.
Not even a silhouette remained.
After navigating countless twists and turns, Mikael finally reached the shelter's other exit, the locked one.
"Heh, you're quite good with kids."
Mobius was waiting for him.
"Let's go, Doctor. Time is of the essence. We have less than twelve hours before headquarters launches their attack."
"Don't worry. With your special constitution, it's more than enough time."
"Oh, right..." Mikael replied casually, then suddenly struck a dramatic pose, whispering, "Snake demon! Help me cultivate!" [common trope in Chinese xianxia novels]
"Does that sound less old-fashioned?"
"...You should really stay away from Elysia... honestly... you rascal..."