This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [368]

"You—you—you…!"

Furina hastily crossed her arms over her chest, kicking her legs out to put some distance between herself and Luo Qing. She retreated to the head of the bed, her eyes wide with shock.

"Those… those scenes… were they real?!"

"Of course," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly, arms crossed.

"Why would I lie to you?"

"..."

Furina fell silent.

Before seeing Luo Qing's interactions with those goddesses, she might have assumed his interest was purely in obtaining a Gnosis. But now, it was clear that the Gnosis was just a cover.

His real target was her.

This guy…!

"You—you—you…!" Furina stammered, suddenly feeling as if she had unraveled everything. Pointing dramatically at Luo Qing's nose, she exclaimed, "So the Gnosis was just your excuse. What you really want is… me, isn't it?!"

"Uh?"

Luo Qing blinked, momentarily stunned.

What kind of misunderstanding was this?

"What would I even do with you?" Luo Qing muttered, clearly perplexed.

"Hmph, you must be captivated by my divine beauty, just like those others!" Furina declared proudly, placing her hands on her hips and even puffing out her modest chest.

Even though Luo Qing often flicked her forehead and made her look silly, she couldn't deny that his taste wasn't terrible.

After all, she was an elegant, adorable, intelligent, and all-around perfect Archon. It was only natural for someone to be smitten with her.

And if Luo Qing truly could resolve Fontaine's crisis with his own hands…

Perhaps giving him a chance to pursue her wouldn't be out of the question.

For a moment, Furina's thoughts drifted far, far away.

But the next second, Luo Qing's calm voice brought her crashing back to reality.

"What are you imagining? If I had a choice, I'd take the Gnosis, obviously. What would I want you for?"

"Hmm?!"

Furina snapped out of her daydream, disbelief written all over her face.

She shuffled closer on her knees, pointing to her soft, pale face as if trying to make a point. "Look carefully! This face! This charm! This brilliant, wise, beautiful Archon—are you seriously saying you'd choose some useless Gnosis over me? What's it good for? Are you out of your mind?!"

"..."

Luo Qing was speechless.

Why is she trying to sell herself now?

Besides, wasn't the whole point of taking her because she was the Hydro Archon? And since the Gnosis belonged to her, taking her meant taking the Gnosis too.

Without the Gnosis, what would he even do with this silly girl?

Turn her loose to cause chaos with Makoto and Bu'ehr back home?

"It's simple," Luo Qing replied, arms still crossed.

"You're weak, can't cook, have no special talents, and you're insufferably tsundere. Aside from an obsession with desserts—which reminds me of someone else—what use would you be to me? You'd just be dead weight."

"..."

Furina stared at him in stunned silence.

"That's uncalled for! Take it back!" she demanded, folding her arms and glaring at him.

"I'm just stating the facts."

"I don't care!" Furina huffed. "I'm angry now. And I won't be appeased! You'd better give me a good explanation!"

"Uh…"

Luo Qing scratched his head, wondering what he had done wrong. After a moment of thought, he leaned in and asked, "How about I treat you to some tri-color dango?"

Furina perked up. "When?"

"..."

You'd get along perfectly with Ei.

"Alright, alright. Enough fooling around." Luo Qing waved a hand dismissively. "Whenever you want dango, just come by my place. But for now, it's late. I'm heading home."

"Oh…"

Furina's playful demeanor dimmed slightly at his words.

"Alright then. Goodnight, my dear Lady Furina."

Luo Qing gave a small bow and turned to leave. But just as he was about to step out, Furina's soft voice stopped him.

"Wait… About the magic show… Are you sure you won't come?"

"What?" Luo Qing turned back, puzzled.

"There's room for one more beside my throne…" Furina twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, avoiding his gaze. "If you want, this Hydro Archon might grant you Fontaine's highest honor and let you stand next to me while watching Lynette's performance…"

"Why would I stand next to you to watch?" Luo Qing asked, genuinely confused.

"Hey! My spot is the best seat in the entire opera house! Letting you stand next to me is a divine blessing! Most people would kill for that chance!"

"So… you're inviting me to watch with you?"

"Who—who's inviting you?!" Furina's face turned bright red. "I just asked! You can come or not; I don't care!"

"Oh…"

Looking at the flustered and blushing Hydro Archon in front of him, Luo Qing suddenly found her rather adorable.

Her soft, dumpling-like cheeks looked incredibly pinchable.

"Then I'll pass. See you."

With that, Luo Qing left the room, even closing the door behind him.

Furina sat frozen on her bed, stunned.

It wasn't until long after Luo Qing had gone that she finally processed what had just happened.

Did he… reject me? Again?!

"Luo Qing!!"

---

A Few Days Later – Opera Epiclese

Although Furina had initially invited Lumine and Paimon to join her in watching Lynette's magic show, she had hoped Luo Qing would also come.

But even after inviting him twice, he refused to show up.

Sitting in her designated spot early that morning, Furina arranged herself in the most majestic and dignified pose she could muster, hoping to impress Lumine and Paimon when they arrived.

Her plan had been to have Luo Qing stand beside her, boosting her image and status in their eyes.

But that plan fell apart when Luo Qing refused to come.

By the time Lumine and Paimon finally arrived—after Furina's legs had almost gone numb—they only noticed her after Neuvillette subtly pointed her out.

Unbelievable. It took them this long to notice me? Furina fumed internally.

And my legs are numb…

"She's sitting like that? Doesn't it hurt her legs?" Paimon whispered, staring at the proud Furina.

"Perhaps she hasn't noticed us talking about her…" Lumine replied.

"There's no need to concern yourselves," Neuvillette said, glancing at Furina.

Though his voice remained calm, an odd emotion stirred within him.

That night, Luo Qing had returned home quite late. Could it be…?

"Let her continue as she is. Focus on the performance instead."

"Got it!"

Lumine and Paimon nodded, taking their seats.

Meanwhile, in a concealed spot toward the back of the theater, Navia had slipped in unnoticed, her Void Terminal glowing faintly.

High above, Furina observed the scene below with satisfaction.

Even without Luo Qing, her commanding aura was working perfectly.

See? They're too scared to even speak!

But just as she was basking in her own perceived grandeur, Furina felt someone's gaze on her. She glanced toward the far corner of the audience.

There, Luo Qing sat, casually meeting her eyes.

Bang!

A loud crash echoed through the opera house.

Lumine looked up sharply toward the sound, only to see Furina sprawled on the ground below her throne, tearfully rubbing her leg.

"..."

---

T/N: oml

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