Chapter 137: Furina and the Phantom Thief's Secret Holiday (2.5k words)

Strangely enough, Furina didn't dream at all. One moment her eyes were closed, and the next, the scenery outside her window had completely changed.

Night had quietly fallen, and only a small lamp illuminated the cozy cabin.

"Mmm..." Furina murmured groggily, catching that delicate fragrance again.

She turned her head and met Luna's gaze.

"Did you sleep well, Miss Furina?" Luna asked, sitting on a stool by the bed, propping her chin on her hand and offering a gentle smile.

It took Furina a few moments to remember.

Oh right, I'm currently being held captive by the Phantom Thief White Cat...

Yet she had fished with her, shared lunch with her, and even slept unguarded right under her nose.

What exactly am I doing? Furina wondered absently.

"Yeah, I slept okay," she replied softly.

There was no need to worry about what would happen after waking, nor dwell on what had happened before falling asleep.

Since the first fragment of her memory formed, she couldn't recall ever having such a peaceful slumber.

"...Did you do this on purpose?"

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," Luna chuckled lightly.

She sat on the edge of the bed, leaned closer, and removed her gloves.

Her slender fingers gently pinched Furina's ear, then traced its contours before pressing against her cheek. With a soft touch, she turned Furina's gaze upward.

"Unless you're more explicit, Miss Furina, I won't understand what you mean."

Furina's cheeks flushed crimson as she averted her gaze. "You're truly a cunning one."

"If the Phantom Thief weren't cunning, I'd already be locked up in the Fortress of Meropide. But if Miss Furina is dissatisfied..."

Luna's hand slid down, gently pressing against Furina's chest. Feeling her heartbeat, she added, "You can go back now. I won't stop you. I've already had my fill."

Go back?

Return to that stage filled with scrutinizing eyes, and continue relentlessly performing as the Hydro Archon Focalors?

Furina felt a little dazed.

The hand touching her skin was as warm as a winter hearth. Wherever Luna's fingertips landed, waves of comforting warmth spread through her. Furina had never felt so light, so relaxed, so weightless.

Though she hated to admit it, all of this was thanks to the Phantom Thief White Cat.

"Did you bring me here just for this?" she countered.

"You can think of it that way."

But she wouldn't admit it.

Why does she have to be so mysterious at a time like this? Furina pouted irritably.

"Want to go back? I can take you. After all, this counts as part of our date," Luna offered.

Should she go back?

Furina felt a pang of reluctance, but she knew she had to return to the stage.

The final Judgment promised in the mirror hadn't arrived yet, and the crisis was far from over.

Her own whims versus the safety of Fontaine—which weighed more?

The answer was clear: Fontaine's safety came first.

"...I'm hungry," Furina suddenly said.

But there was no harm in having dinner before leaving, right?

This wasn't indulgence; it was simply satisfying a basic physical need.

Besides, Clorinde might arrive during that time.

Then they could capture the Phantom Thief White Cat and kill two birds with one stone!

Convincing herself, Furina sat up.

"It is dinner time, after all. Luckily, I bought some ingredients. I'll take care of dinner."

Outside, Luna rekindled the fire and began cooking.

Furina hugged her knees, sitting quietly to the side and watching. No one questioned her unusual silence.

The pot lid clanged shut, the fire crackled, and sparks danced into the air before vanishing.

The waves continued to crash against the shore, the water reflecting the familiar moonlight and starlight. Tonight's moon was as bright as it had been before.

"Too bad there aren't any Blubberbeasts here," Luna said with a smile.

Furina pursed her lips.

Sure enough, she was thinking about their first proper encounter too.

Even if there were Blubberbeasts, she wouldn't go play with them!

"The soup will take a while longer to simmer. Come, Miss Furina, let's take a stroll around here."

Luna stood up and reached for Furina's hand.

"I-I can walk on my own! Don't underestimate me, Focalors," Furina said awkwardly, shaking off Luna's hand and rubbing her wrist.

"To me, it's all the same. Whether you're the God Focalors or the star Miss Furina, you're a treasure in my eyes. I'm simply cherishing Fontaine's one-of-a-kind gem," Luna replied nonchalantly.

"And your way of cherishing this 'gem' is by kidnapping her?"

Luna's eyes widened. "Oh? But Miss Furina insisted on becoming my 'guest.' How could you say I kidnapped you?"

Furina was momentarily speechless.

Those were indeed her exact words from not long ago, but she hadn't expected them to boomerang back and hit her so squarely.

But... but I can't take them back now... She felt a wave of embarrassment.

Luna smiled faintly, which only deepened Furina's frustration.

Fortunately, a cool sea breeze quickly dispelled her irritation. Furina glanced at the white figure walking ahead, then lowered her gaze to the footprints left behind.

She stepped lightly into one, and indeed, it felt different.

Her foot was slightly smaller, while Luna's was a bit larger. Furina compared them visually.

"Phantom Thief White Cat, why did you become a phantom thief?"

"Miss Furina, why did you become the Hydro Archon?"

Furina hadn't expected the counter-question, and no one had ever asked her that before.

Yet the answer seemed self-evident.

"Because only I could do it," she declared.

Only she could play the role of the Hydro Archon Focalors.

Furina took a deep breath. "...Besides, the Divine Throne itself was prepared for me! Only I can lead Fontaine to a glorious future, and only I can bring justice and righteousness to its unfortunate citizens!"

She spread her arms wide and spun in a circle.

"The people of Fontaine need me to present them with a perfect performance!—Are you satisfied with my answer? Now it's your turn to answer me."

Luna chuckled. "I don't recall agreeing to take turns answering questions with Miss Furina."

How underhanded!

Before Furina could protest, Luna produced a Kamera and handed it to her. "However, if Miss Furina could take a few photos for me, I might just satisfy your curiosity."

Take photos for her?

Furina thought it wasn't entirely out of the question, but why so suddenly? Is it because we're about to part ways? She instinctively accepted the Kamera. When she looked up, Luna had already moved to the side, striking a pose.

"I can't believe you're making me do this. Fine, since your hospitality is... adequate, I'll grant your trivial wish. What kind of photos do you want?"

"Something that will make Miss Furina blush crimson."

Furina's face flushed. "No! Absolutely not! Ahem. That's an utterly indecent request! Do you think I'm interested in seeing your body?"

"Aren't you?"

Furina glanced at Luna's figure. The tight Phantom Thief uniform clung to her graceful curves.

"...No. Just don't joke around at a time like this."

Luna brushed it off with a smile. "You decide."

"Whether it's something amusing,"

"or something silly,"

"or even something a little undignified... I'll obey Miss Furina's every command. You shouldn't let this opportunity slip away, you know. This is your only chance to manipulate me however you please."

Perhaps there would be others in the future, but for now, this was the only one.

The blush on Furina's face hadn't faded; instead, Luna's words made it even more vivid.

Why does she always say things like that...?

Does she find teasing me so amusing?

Since Luna said she could tease her however she wanted, then—Furina had a brilliant idea.

"Then lie down there."

"And raise your hand, pointing forward."

As Furina spoke, she walked over to Luna and tugged at her clothes, crumpling and tearing them until they looked as if they had been battered and torn.

Luna offered no resistance, of course.

"Perfect! Stay exactly like that! And don't move, really!"

Furina stepped back a few paces, then flipped the Kamera around, raising the lens to capture both her face and the "defeated" Phantom Thief White Cat behind her.

Click!

A world-renowned masterpiece, "Phantom Thief White Cat Kneeling Before Furina," was born.

Furina picked up the photo and burst into laughter. "Hahaha! White Cat, look at this! You look like a generic villain from a shadowplay!"

Her laughter abruptly stopped.

Wait, will White Cat be angry about this?

Furina suddenly felt uneasy. Luna stood up, brushed the sand off her clothes, straightened her attire, and took the photo from Furina's hand.

"Then Miss Furina must be the righteous hero," Luna said with a smile, seemingly unbothered.

Furina sighed in relief, then felt a pang of embarrassment. Doesn't this make me look childish?

"W-well, I am the God of Justice, after all!" she stammered.

Luna handed the photo back to Furina. "And your photography skills are quite impressive. Please continue taking photos for me, Miss Furina."

Click, click... Furina was getting serious this time. She knew she couldn't match Charlotte, the reporter from The Steam Bird, in terms of photography skills.

But she was a top-tier film director, and photography and filmmaking shared certain fundamentals.

Composition, timing, camera angles... This was an unpaid job, but she was thoroughly enjoying it—because the Phantom Thief White Cat was simply so photogenic!

No matter what pose Furina asked her to strike, she executed it flawlessly.

It was no exaggeration to say that photographing her was a pleasure. Furina could freely capture fleeting moments of beauty, endlessly creating captivating images.

"But why did you ask me to take your pictures?"

Luna responded to Furina's direct question with a gentle smile.

"Beautiful moments are always fleeting, Miss Furina. Haven't you ever felt that way?"

"No matter how dazzling or moving they are, they eventually fade into silence and obscurity. But if we leave traces behind, we can follow those threads to relive those experiences and feel everything we felt then..."

Luna approached Furina as she spoke.

"The reason I wanted Miss Furina to take my picture is simple."

She took the Kamera from Furina's hand, raised it, and pointed the lens at them.

Leaning in close, she pressed her cheek against Furina's.

She pressed the shutter.

"I wanted to give our date a perfect ending." Luna plucked the photo from the Kamera and placed it in Furina's hand.

Then, she casually wrapped her arm around Furina's waist and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

A cool, moist, and soft sensation pressed against Furina's cheek.

Furina was momentarily stunned, unaware of what had happened until the sweet scent permeated her skin. Then, a sudden heat and blush surged across her face.

My... my cheek was kissed?!

Luna cupped Furina's face in her hands and whispered, "I want Miss Furina to remember me forever. The moment you see this photo, I want you to recall everything from today—this kiss."

"And to realize one thing clearly—"

She moved behind Furina and whispered in her ear, "It was me, the Phantom Thief White Cat, who stole you away."

"Your time."

"Your radiance on stage."

"And Miss Furina's lovely heart. I've taken it all."

Furina trembled.

She wanted to turn around, but Luna's hand covered her eyes once more.

"Good night, my Miss Furina. Remember to eat a good dinner. I've left you a gift. Let's meet again soon. If you wish, I'll gladly take you on another date."

"Don't forget to dream of me."

The warm words faded into silence.

Furina cautiously opened her eyes and turned around. No one was there, and even the footprints on the beach had vanished.

It was as if Phantom Thief White Cat had never existed, as if it had all been a dream.

Her heart raced. Furina touched her cheek, still damp with moisture.

The cool breeze that swept across her skin felt like a scalding burn, making her purse her lips.

She... she actually kissed me...

So she really is... isn't she? In her confusion, Furina picked up the photo card.

In the photograph, Furina and the Phantom Thief were pressed cheek-to-cheek, their faces squeezed into the frame. Furina looked somewhat dazed, while the Phantom Thief wore a radiant smile. This was not something meant for others to see.

Furina touched the photograph, recalling what Phantom Thief White Cat had said earlier:

Dinner and a gift.

She tucked the photograph away and returned to the abandoned cabin.

The stew was ready, steaming and fragrant. Bowls and spoons had been prepared and placed on a nearby stone.

There was also a card and...

"A mask?"

The familiar mask lay atop the card.

Without a doubt, it was the very mask Phantom Thief White Cat always wore.

The card read:

"Please accept my mask as a gift, Miss Furina. Of course, if you don't want it, you can throw it away. But it would break my heart."

This is the gift? Furina picked up the mask.

Its hard, smooth texture felt pleasant to the touch.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but it seemed to retain a faint warmth and a familiar scent.

"And when asked what I did to you, this gift and the photograph you took will surely come in handy. Miss Furina, you know what to do."

"You ask why I became a Phantom Thief? The answer is simple."

"—Because power lies within reach. Why wouldn't I seize it? And to be able to claim such a precious treasure as the lovely Miss Furina... I see no reason to refuse."

Furina flipped the card over. On the back was one more line:

"I hope you enjoyed your holiday today, lovely Miss Furina."

Holiday... Furina looked up and exhaled deeply.

Furina picked up her bowl and spoon, sat down, and began eating the stewed soup with a casual air.

"Phantom Thief White Cat?" she called out tentatively.

Only the sound of crashing waves answered.

Didn't she say one day? The day wasn't even over yet. The firelight stretched Furina's solitary shadow long across the beach.

But soon, the sound of hurried footsteps grew louder, approaching from the distance.

"Lady Furina!"

Furina turned to see Clorinde sprinting toward her.

"Are you alright?" Clorinde gasped, breathless.

"You... you haven't been running this whole time, have you?"

"Are you safe? Please answer me."

Furina paused, then nodded. "Yes... as you can see."

Clorinde exhaled in relief. She immediately scanned their surroundings warily. If Furina was here, then the Phantom Thief White Cat must be nearby too...

"She's not here."

"Hmm?"

Clorinde's gaze seemed to ask: Then where did the Phantom Thief White Cat go?

Furina opened her mouth to speak.

She couldn't possibly reveal the brief time she'd spent with Phantom Thief White Cat. But what else could she say? Furina pondered for a moment, recalling the message on the card:

You know what to say.

As the Hydro Archon Focalors, as the God of Fontaine...

Could it be that Phantom Thief White Cat had foreseen everything? As Furina pondered this, she retrieved the "White Cat's Crushing Defeat" photograph and the mask she'd taken earlier.

Then, with a smug grin, she declared:

"Need you even ask?!"

"I turned her own trick against her! After she lured me here, I unleashed my divine power and crushed her completely!"

"It's a pity the Phantom Thief still managed to escape. To evade even Focalors' divine power... that woman is truly extraordinary."

The time she'd spent with the Phantom Thief would have to remain a secret.