Smart kid. V wonders how much of the time between what V remembers and what Nero remembers the boy will share. The question is likely to calibrate himself, but that information can get put to multiple uses. V doesn't expect to learn or know everything about the future, that infinity between him and Vergil that can only be hours. Yet some of it is surely relevant to know, of his interest and right. Vergil knows it all. Vergil remembers it all, but he said nothing of V's memories from that day.

"Vergil told me what he thought I needed to know," V answers that question first. "After I merged with Urizen, he and Dante left you to finish destroying the qliphoth roots in the demon realm."

That summarizes it really. A single sentence without notably more detail. His lips curl up. "I know that must leave a great deal out, even of what I cannot remember. I'd just caught Malphas's attention and thought it likely my mission would fail."

Someone saved him. It's the only explanation for how he'd make it farther. V considers Nero again. Process of elimination would suggest it was him. Dante forged ahead without waiting for them, and everyone else remained in the van. Yet it's too large a thing to assume based purely on that logic, when so much happened that chaotic day.