"Fu Ning, can you change your outfit?" Furina looked at Fu Ning's all-black ensemble with visible disdain.
Fu Ning glanced down at his clothes. This was the combat uniform he had worn on Blue Star—the pure black suit infused with his black hole ability. It optimized his combat capabilities and was also suitable for daily wear. Personally, he thought it looked pretty good.
"What's wrong with my outfit, Lady Furina?" Fu Ning asked, genuinely confused.
Furina gave him a long look, sighed, and said, "Dark Demon God, Dark Demon God… you really do live up to the name."
"You've been wearing this same outfit for a year! Have you never considered changing clothes?" she asked in disbelief.
Fu Ning frowned slightly. "No, Lady Furina. I'm still not that strong yet. This combat suit allows me to fully utilize my abilities and better protect you."
"…"
"Come on, we're in Fontaine! There's no danger here! Besides, isn't Neuvillette around? Why are you acting like we're on high alert?"
"Follow me to the shopping district—let the Hydro Archon personally pick an outfit for you!"
Furina grabbed Fu Ning's arm and pulled him along toward the city center.
Fu Ning hesitated for a moment.
The being who claimed to uphold the Heavenly Principles… still hadn't reappeared.
He looked up toward the distant island floating in the sky. The enforcer of justice who once attacked him remained a thorn in his heart.
That entity, however, seemed to transcend the Seven Nations.
Now that he was recuperating in Fontaine, there was no immediate need to worry—at least for the time being.
With that thought, Fu Ning allowed Furina to drag him along.
This was the most prosperous commercial district in all of Fontaine. Choosing a new outfit here was effortless.
Even someone as obsessed with black as Fu Ning was drawn to a luxurious uniform the moment he saw it: white trousers, a light blue chiffon shirt, and a dark blue jacket embroidered with gold thread in elegant wave-like patterns. The embroidery even featured blooming flowers symbolizing water.
A pair of gloves—one black and one white—adorned his hands, highlighting his uniqueness.
But what truly caught his eye was the dark blue cloak, its fabric shimmering faintly with embroidered stars of purple.
Furina noticed his gaze and followed it to the uniform on display. She crossed her arms, looked Fu Ning up and down, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good, Fu Ning. I didn't expect you to have such good taste."
She beckoned the shop attendant, pointed at Fu Ning, and said, "That one. Customize it to fit him. Send both the clothes and the bill to the Palais Mermonia."
The store's efficiency was astonishing.
The order was placed in the morning.
The clothes arrived at the Palais Mermonia by noon.
By the afternoon, everything was ready.
No wonder the store was so well-known.
After changing into the new outfit, Fu Ning stood before the mirror.
Even he was surprised—he looked handsome.
He gathered his long, loose hair and examined himself.
Fu Ning was naturally lazy, and the main reason he kept long hair was simple:
He didn't want to bother getting haircuts.
Strikethrough.
No—he just thought long hair looked cool.
Perfect. His face wasn't particularly stunning, but it was above average. And with the unique aura of a transcendent being, amplified by his energy, he now gave off a striking, unforgettable presence.
Furina stood beside him, inspecting him carefully.
"Hmmm… something still feels off…" she muttered.
"Right! Your hair!"
Furina suddenly recalled both her own and Neuvillette's appearance.
All three of them wore blue-and-white themed clothing. Her hair and Neuvillette's were also blue and white. Only Fu Ning's long, jet-black hair stood out like a sore thumb.
"And your eyes! Ugh! Why are your eyes black if you're the Dark Demon? Wouldn't blue suit you better?" she complained, lightly punching him.
"…Was that an automatic attack?"
He closed his eyes and channeled his elemental water energy into his pupils.
When he opened his eyes again, his left eye was light blue, and his right was dark blue.
The opposite of Furina's—hers were dark blue on the left and light blue on the right.
Furina's eyes lit up. "Oh! Fu Ning, you're full of surprises. You even know how to change your eye color!"
"Can you do your hair too?"
Fu Ning rested his chin on his hand, considering. "Hmm… well, in that case…"
"Auxiliary talent: Sequence Five!"
With a wave of his hand, blue and white light enveloped him before gradually settling into his hair.
His once-black hair now shimmered with a gradient of blue and white.
Furina's eyes sparkled with excitement. She immediately grabbed Fu Ning's arm and rushed straight to Neuvillette's office.
"Hey, hey, hey! Look, Neuvillette!"
Furina proudly showed off Fu Ning's new look.
"Ta-da! Fu Ning's all dressed up! Isn't he dashing? Only someone this stylish and strong is worthy of guarding me, the Hydro Archon of Fontaine!"
Neuvillette, clearly in the middle of official work, glanced up briefly.
He nodded and replied flatly, "Yes, Mr. Fu Ning is quite handsome."
Then he promptly returned to his documents, adding dryly, "Lady Furina, please remember you've postponed several days of official duties. I ask that you attend to them soon. They are important matters."
Furina's cheerful expression froze.
Official duties? How was she supposed to approve official documents?
Still, she nodded with a guilty conscience. "I know, I know. I'll get right on it, Neuvillette."
Fu Ning stood silently behind her, trying not to laugh.
Because he knew Furina would never do any of that paperwork.
Eventually, all of it would fall to him—and to Neuvillette.
Compared to dull paperwork, Furina much preferred her stage plays and scripts.
Over the past year, Fu Ning had lost count of how many times Neuvillette had scolded Furina over this exact issue.
Every time, she agreed.
Then she'd dump the work onto Fu Ning without a second thought, saying, "As a loyal follower of the Hydro Archon, it's only natural that you help with her workload!"
Fu Ning stepped forward, smiling as he stood between Furina and Neuvillette.
"All right, Neuvillette. Lady Furina has already contributed enough to Fontaine. Don't pressure her."
"As her retainers, it's only right that we help ease her burdens."
Neuvillette replied calmly, "You're quite protective of her. But under Fontaine's laws, I am not Lady Furina's subject. I have no obligation to share her responsibilities."
Fu Ning waved it off casually. "That's fine. I don't mind."
Furina's eyes sparkled again.
"See? See? Neuvillette! Learn from Fu Ning! That's how you treat your Archon!"
Neuvillette simply rubbed his temples and sighed helplessly.