"Get out!"
With a sharp cry, the disheveled Lin was thrown out of the laboratory, landing face-first at someone's feet.
The muscles on Su's face twitched as he kept his eyes closed, "looking" at Lin on the ground. He felt this scene was strangely familiar. Had his life fast-forwarded a few years?
"Lin, are you alright?"
Lin stayed on the ground, head down, typing rapidly and turning the screen toward Su. Su had no choice but to open his eyes to read the text.
[I'm fine. At least she didn't strip me naked before throwing me out.]
[Is there something you need?]
"How did you know I was looking for you?" Su was surprised that Lin guessed he was there for him rather than Mobius.
Lin didn't say. He slowly stood up, brushed the dust off himself, and continued typing.
[So, what's the matter?]
"Um..." A ripple appeared on Su's calm, lake-like face. He said hesitantly, "It's about Dr. Vil-V..."
...
"After waking up today, Dr. Vil-V mental state has shown some issues." Su explained as he led the way. "Dr. Mei asked me to confirm if she was affected by the Eighth Herrscher, but I didn't sense any mental corruption. Instead, it seems more like... Dissociative Identity Disorder."
Lin was familiar with the term. It was more commonly known as Multiple Personality Disorder—the existence of different personas within one body.
"Since waking up, Dr. Vil-V personality has changed significantly compared to before. Although she can communicate normally and hasn't suffered memory loss, overall, she has become very... shy."
In saying the word, even Su felt his own tone was strange. After all, that Vil-V had always given off the vibe of a conceited, self-centered, and eccentric genius. To suddenly turn into a shy girl was such a strong contrast—it was no less jarring than the difference between the person who occupied Lin body and Lin himself.
"I may be a doctor, but I'm not a psychiatrist. I only have a general understanding of DID."
"..."
Lin wasn't a psychology expert either. Since Su came to him instead of a psychiatrist, it meant it had something to do with him.
"And... Dr. Vil-V said she wants to see you."
[Understood.]
Lin had intended to visit Vil-V anyway; he had noticed something was wrong when he was pierced yesterday.
"We're here. I have other matters to attend to. If anything happens, you can contact me via the communicator."
"..."
After Lin nodded, Su turned and left. Lin stood before Vil-V personal room—a place he had never been before. He stood in silence for a long time, his hand over the doorbell...
Just a second before he could press it, the door was opened from the inside.
...
The layout of Vil-V room was the same as her Spiral Workshop, filled with a highly individualistic style, like a museum of quirky inventions. Everywhere were little mechanical oddities made of gears, belts, and parts—at least, Lin had never seen a robot that could spit out a lipstick, which then spit out an even smaller robot.
Of course, compared to Vil-V herself right now, these trifles were not worth mentioning.
Vil-V was still wearing her eye-catching retro-mechanic style fitted outfit, but now she was barefoot, her crystal-clear toes exposed without her boots. She also wasn't wearing the hat Lin had given her, revealing a head of hair with a unique style and color.
And... a bashful smile that was impossible to get used to.
In Lin established memories of Vil-V, every time she smiled, it was an exaggerated performance—just as a magician uses various means to distract the audience, her smile was part of her "magic."
So who was this fidgety and shy girl? Did Vil-V ever have the habit of bowing her head forty-five degrees and peeking at others from the corner of her eye?
"Lin... are you okay?" Panic appeared in her eyes when she saw the bandages around his neck.
[No problem. Just need to rest for a while.] Lin typed on his communicator as usual.
But this action caused Vil-V to show a look of disbelief. "You... you can't speak anymore?"
"..."
Lin wanted to say he would be fine after a while, and with Fire Moth's medical technology, they could even make him a new set of vocal cords. However, seeing Vil-V nervous, clenched little fists, he stayed silent for a moment and typed:
[Regrettably.]
Vil-V face turned deathly pale.
[But it's okay. It was all for you.]
Vil-V expression became even more terrified. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.
[As long as you weren't hurt, it was all worth it.]
Lin watched the changes in Vil-V expression... Indeed, she was very different from the usual Vil-V. Just as he saw that she had taken him seriously and was about to cry from guilt, he wanted to type that he was joking.
Instead, he was suddenly pulled into a tight hug, and the communicator slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor.
"I'm sorry... it's all my fault... You've already lost so many senses, and I still made it so you can't even speak..."
"..."
Lin wanted to say it wasn't her fault. If he hadn't pushed her away, she would have been the one pierced, and while Lin could come back to life, Vil-V definitely couldn't. They had both simply acted on instinct in that situation.
But seeing Vil-V burying her head in his neck and sobbing, Lin could only sigh softly and pat her back.
Perhaps this was the real Vil-V—a fragile girl hidden beneath a genius exterior.
At that moment, a thought struck Lin: between the usual Vil-V and the current one, which was the primary personality? The usual Vil-V spent the most time on the outside, so logically she should be the primary, but this Vil-V seemed completely unaffected by her, yet possessed all her memories.
While he was thinking, Vil-V stopped crying. She looked up at Lin helmet, a determination familiar to him appearing in her red eyes.
"I will definitely cure you, Lin. Not just your vocal cords, but all your senses. I will definitely cure them, as long as I set my mind to it..."
"..."
Lin was stunned. He hadn't expected her to think of this. But if even Mobius—a specialist in biology—couldn't do it, could Vil-V?
Nevertheless, he nodded. This caused Vil-V to break into a smile again. Only at times like this did Lin sense her unique aura—familiar yet different.
"Also..." Vil-V suddenly lowered her head bashfully, her eyes darting around shyly. She whispered, "When that person was in control of your body... he said you often peeked at my armpits... Do... do you want to see them now?"
"...?"