Chapter 204: My Girlfriend Is the Final Boss

Several days later, Luna received a message.

"Furina was ambushed during an opera performance?"

The Melusine responsible for delivering the news nodded. "Yes. Monsieur Neuvillette said, 'The time has come.'"

Indeed, the time had come.

This was the first step in the plan to bring Furina to judgment.

After days of discussion, everyone had finally reached a consensus: Furina must first be driven into a corner.

There was no doubt this was a trap.

By exploiting Furina's personality and her established patterns of behavior in similar situations, they would gradually lead her to the courtroom.

Neuvillette had said, "I want a trap that is effective but doesn't harm the prey excessively. I even hope it can be gentle."

This was the "gentle trap."

Luna smiled faintly. "Very well, I understand."

It was time for her to act.

-

Poisson.

Furina stood in a secluded corner, her gaze lowered to the water's surface. Though she remained silent, her sorrow and confusion were palpable.

"She's here, just as we expected," Paimon whispered from nearby.

Lumine nodded slightly. "Proceed according to the plan."

Not long ago, during an opera performance, Furina had been confronted by angry theatergoers who loudly accused her of inaction in the face of the impending crisis prophesied to befall Fontaine.

At first, there were only a few scattered shouts. Then, as if a spark had ignited the entire audience, the voices swelled into a chorus of condemnation.

"Lady Furina, you're abandoning us to die!"

"What are you even doing?!"

"Don't just stand there! You're an Archon!"

The accusations grew louder and louder, turning into a one-sided denunciation of Furina.

In a nation ruled by an Archon, when crisis strikes, the people instinctively turn to their God for help, but they are equally quick to blame that God when their prayers go unanswered.

Realizing that words were useless, Furina hastily left the scene.

And now, here she was.

"Just as we thought, Furina couldn't remain indifferent to the casualties in Poisson," Paimon whispered.

They had predicted Furina would come here, driven by her overwhelming guilt.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Tears welled up in Furina's eyes as she crouched down. "I didn't mean to abandon you... but I... I can't do anything. I'm truly sorry..."

It was time.

Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance and nodded. They approached Furina.

"Um..."

Furina startled, leaping to her feet. "Who's there?!"

"Uh..." Paimon scratched her head. Come to think of it, they weren't exactly close to the Hydro Archon yet, but it shouldn't matter. It wouldn't affect their plan.

Lyney and Lynette watched the trio from afar.

Lynette twitched her cat ears. "Logically, wouldn't it be more appropriate to entrust this confirmation task to Lulu?"

Lyney shook his head. "No. Luna is indeed close to Lady Furina, but she's still part of this world. Lumine is different—she's a Traveler from beyond the Sea of Stars, a 'Witness.'"

If Teyvat was a grand stage and its events a drama, Lumine was the audience.

"I see," Lynette murmured knowingly, flicking her tail.

If Luna went to Furina, my little sister would probably get all bristly again... Lyney subtly averted his gaze, keeping the thought to himself.

"They're moving."

Snapping back to attention, he focused his gaze.

The "thugs," Spina di Rosula members in disguise, were closing in on Lumine, Paimon, and Furina—the second and most crucial step of the plan.

"She's running."

Seeing the hostile approach, Furina turned and fled.

"It's our turn to take the stage," Lyney said solemnly.

"Right."

The second step of their plan required trapping Furina in a sealed space.

"Over here, Furina!" Paimon called out, waving her hand.

She pointed to an ordinary-looking house. "The door's unlocked! Let's hide inside before they catch up!" Paimon urged.

"Eh? O-okay, I commend your wisdom!" Furina stammered.

They hurried inside, and Lumine closed the door behind them.

The small, windowless room felt more like a cabin than a house.

Shortly after they entered, the entire space began to shake violently.

"What's happening?!" Furina cried out in panic.

"Another disaster, maybe," Lumine replied.

"Not again... Just like last time, like what happened to the people of Poisson..." Furina muttered, lowering her head and leaning against the wall, her mind elsewhere.

A perfect opportunity.

Lumine and Paimon exchanged a subtle glance.

The most crucial step of their plan had been executed. Furina was now trapped, her fate sealed—she would soon face the Judgment Chamber she knew so well.

But there was another possibility: to get her to confess the truth here, to coax the secrets she had been hiding into the open.

Lumine and Paimon tried to draw Furina out, and as they hoped, she began to speak, sharing things Neuvillette and others had never heard before.

"Yes, for centuries, I've never stopped investigating the prophecy."

"I've tried countless methods, but none of them worked. The prophecy still comes true..."

"There were countless times I wanted to give up. Accepting fate would have been a kind of relief."

Furina pressed her hand to her chest, softly voicing her innermost thoughts.

"But I have no right to decide for everyone who wants to live... Until the very end, I will continue to..."

Furina fell silent.

No, we must be nearing our destination.

If I don't ask now, we'll have to proceed to the final phase of the plan. That's the last thing any of us want.

Lumine spoke softly, "You don't have to bear this burden alone. At least, you can choose to confide in us..."

"Confide..." Furina murmured, repeating the word like a question.

"Yeah, talking about it would definitely make you feel better," Paimon nodded.

Furina hesitated for a long moment, then finally opened her mouth.

Just then—

Crack... The roof and walls of the house began to unravel.

The roof lifted into the air, the walls toppled outward with a thunderous roar, and when the dust settled, Furina found herself in the most familiar place imaginable—

—the interior of the Opera Epiclese.

Countless spectators filled the seats, each wearing a unique mask that obscured their expressions.

The Special Task Force stood rigidly at attention throughout the hall, their gazes fixed on Furina. Clearly, their target wasn't the perpetrator, but Furina herself.

Turning around, Furina saw Neuvillette seated in the Judge's chair, looking down at her. On stage, Lyney removed his hat and bowed with a flourish.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Masked Audience, my warm-up act is complete. It's time to begin the Judgment of a God."

Furina stared blankly, shrinking back in unease before suddenly chuckling.

"So that's it... this entire scheme was directed at me."

"I acknowledge your efforts, but isn't it absurd to put the God of Justice on trial?"

Furina crossed her arms. "I am Focalors, the God of Justice—the very embodiment of justice itself!"

Just as I suspected, Neuvillette thought. This meant their final attempt had failed. Furina refused to reveal her secret.

If that's the case...

He sighed softly, his voice calm and steady. "Then you reject the Judgment? Very well. You will have one chance to defend your honor through a Duel."

"And your opponent will be..."

Clorinde approached slowly. "Me."

Furina looked slightly flustered. "Are you really going to duel a God?"

Clorinde silently pointed her sword at Furina.

"Lady Furina, please do not entertain any thoughts of escape," Neuvillette declared. "The Special Task Force is fully armed. Any attempt to evade Judgment will be immediately considered an admission of guilt."

Chevreuse silently chambered a round in her rifle.

Furina glanced around at the assembled crowd.

The Masked Audience awaited a sensational drama.

Neuvillette had openly voiced his doubts, suspicions, and intentions to judge her.

The Special Task Force, guardians of order and justice, stood poised to apprehend her.

The magician who had once applauded her performances now stood firmly against her.

The Travelers from afar had taken their side as well.

Amidst the crowd, Furina spotted Navia, Chiori, and Charlotte.

Even Arlecchino was present... only Luna was missing.

Every eye in the room was fixed on Furina's face, searching for any sign of weakness, desperate to pry into the secrets hidden within her heart.

Furina clenched her fists, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Then, she exhaled softly and raised her hands.

"Has Lady Furina surrendered?"

"Ugh, what's this? How boring! Aren't they going to fight?"

"Is this all the God of Justice can do?"

"If you can't handle it, step down!"

The masks seemed to amplify the audience's innermost thoughts, and a torrent of merciless words poured forth.

Chiori frowned slightly. The Special Task Force, Clorinde, and the Masked Audience were all just pawns, used to force Furina into a corner and reduce her to a mere figurehead.

But these bloodthirsty Fontainians were even more despicable than she had imagined.

Masks magnified one's desires, easily twisting their wearers into something grotesque.

Yet, surprisingly, Furina showed no reaction to the jeers.

"I raise my hands not in surrender, but to accept Judgment."

Furina took a deep breath.

"I deserve to be judged."

Whether for failing to save those dissolved by the primordial sea or for deceiving the people of Fontaine for five centuries...

A Duel was impossible. The only option left was to face Judgment head-on.

Furina steeled her resolve.

I will protect you all.

"Hail! Cheer! Applaud! This fantastical delusion will leave an indelible mark on the stage, etching itself into history as its final act—"

Furina pirouetted lightly.

"The Judgment of Hydro Archon Focalors is about to begin!"

"Oooooooh!"

The audience erupted in cheers.

Yes! This is the kind of drama they've been waiting for!

Neuvillette sighed inwardly.

Even at this critical moment, does she still cling to the past?

"The accuser," Neuvillette said, tapping his staff.

"That's me," Lumine replied softly.

"The accused."

"That would be me," Furina declared, folding her arms.

Then, she suddenly burst out laughing.

"But I request a stand-in defense attorney!"

What?! Everyone gasped in shock.

A stand-in defense attorney? How is that possible?!

Paimon panicked. "A stand-in defense attorney? B-but that's impossible!"

"This isn't supposed to happen!"

"Who would dare defend Furina? No—who could Lady Furina possibly accept as her defender?"

This wasn't part of the plan at all!

Navia felt a growing sense of foreboding.

Neuvillette remained silent for a moment.

"Who is the stand-in defense attorney you have requested?"

Tap... tap... The distinct sound of footsteps echoed clearly through the court, drawing all eyes.

A flash of golden hair entered the scene.

Luna approached Furina, her face unmasked.

"It's me. I will defend Lady Furina," Luna said, adjusting her gloves with a smile.

Lyney's eyes widened in shock, while Lynette fell silent.

Clorinde narrowed her eyes.

Chiori reluctantly averted her gaze, muttering, "Just as I suspected."

Chevreuse quietly observed Luna.

"Why..." Navia whispered, her voice trembling.

Why you?

Luna, who had discussed the "trap" with them, worked alongside them to counter the Fontaine Prophecy, and sought the truth with them, was now standing firmly on Furina's side.

Had she been planning to betray them from the start?

Had she been Furina's agent all along?

"You seem rather surprised, Miss Navia."

No... that's not Luna!

Navia immediately hissed, "It's you..."

The Phantom Thief White Cat!

Arlecchino leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and rested her hands on her lap. She gently closed her eyes and let out a faint, inaudible sigh.

So you chose this path after all, Luna.