"So even Furina herself didn't know the truth? You never told her your full plan?" Neuvillette asked.
Focalors nodded, sounding somewhat emotional.
"Yes. To deceive Celestia, you must first… deceive yourself."
"She's truly remarkable. Over these five hundred years, if her resolve had wavered even once, Fontaine would have met the worst possible ending."
"'Trusting humanity'… was indeed the right choice."
Neuvillette had begun to piece it together.
"Up to this point, I understand how you managed to deceive Celestia."
"But that must be only half the truth."
"The key question is… how exactly did you intend to save the people of Fontaine while allowing the prophecy to occur?"
Focalors smiled and nodded.
"Excellent. The Chief Justice of Fontaine truly does think clearly."
"You must have already realized… the Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale isn't as simple as it appears."
Neuvillette nodded.
"I've long suspected the Oratrice possesses its own consciousness. Lynette once mentioned hearing a human voice inside its core chamber."
"Now it seems that voice… was you."
"Mm~ yes, that's correct on the surface," Focalors replied.
"I merged with the Hydro Archon's Gnosis and became one with the Oratrice."
"But your understanding of it still isn't deep enough."
"The Oratrice wasn't built to deliver justice."
"The truth is…"
"It was built to kill the God of Justice."
Neuvillette was visibly shaken.
"What?!"
"Well, more precisely," Focalors continued lightly,
"It's a machine designed to destroy the God of Justice and her throne together."
She chuckled.
"I'm not the type who would let Furina suffer while I enjoy myself comfortably."
For the past five hundred years, Focalors' task had been to accumulate Indemnitium energy inside the Oratrice.
Some people had noticed something strange long ago:
Only a small portion of the Oratrice's energy powered Fontaine's cities.
The vast majority was being secretly stored.
All of it was saved for today's execution.
Neuvillette was stunned.
Today's trial—and the death sentence—had all been part of Focalors' plan.
"For five hundred years," she said,
"energy was gathered continuously."
"Enough to power Fontaine for thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of years."
"Only energy on that scale could possibly shake the laws established by Celestia."
"Only that could break the structure of the Seven Archons and destroy the Hydro Archon's throne."
Neuvillette finally understood.
"So the Oratrice's verdict…"
"The one sentenced to death wasn't Furina."
"And not Focalors either."
"It was… the Hydro Archon."
"To destroy the throne of the Hydro Archon…"
He looked at her in disbelief.
"You mean…"
"Of course," Focalors said cheerfully.
"I'm simply returning what originally belonged to you."
"In other words, everything I've done was to restore the authority of the Hydro Archon to the planet's Hydro Sovereign."
Neuvillette's expression became complicated.
"But…"
"What's wrong?" Focalors teased.
"Are you about to cry again?"
"The Hydro Dragon Sovereign is about to regain his ancient authority, yet he's making that face?"
Neuvillette spoke slowly.
"From five hundred years ago until now…"
"You did all of this…"
"…just to sacrifice yourself?"
Focalors waved it off.
"Oh, I never thought of it that way."
"Right now I'm still quite proud of myself for successfully tricking Celestia."
Neuvillette couldn't tell whether she was joking to comfort him or truly meant it.
His heart was heavy.
He was finally reclaiming the authority that once belonged to him.
He should feel joy.
But instead—
He felt something far more complicated.
"Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon," Focalors said gently.
"Don't cry."
Neuvillette remained silent.
"If possible," she continued,
"I'd like to put Celestia itself on trial someday."
"After all, Celestia committed a crime similar to Egeria's."
"Egeria stole the power of the Primordial Sea."
"But Celestia stole the power of you Dragon Sovereigns."
"As the God of Justice, returning your rightful power to you is the true meaning of justice."
She reflected softly:
"I've always believed justice is about tracing back to the very existence of humanity."
"If stealing the Primordial Sea's power was Fontaine's original sin…"
"Then beyond all judgments of right and wrong…"
"The mere existence of Fontaine's people as humans is its original justice."
"In other words—"
"Existence was Egeria's justice."
"And for me…"
"Justice means continuation."
"Breaking the prophecy and allowing Fontaine's people to live—"
"That is the greatest justice right now."
"For too long…"
"All of us—myself and the people of Fontaine—have carried this sin."
She looked at Neuvillette.
"Chief Justice Neuvillette…"
"When you reclaim the full power of the Hydro Dragon…"
"What judgment will you give us?"
Neuvillette's voice trembled slightly.
"When I was invited to Fontaine five hundred years ago to become Chief Justice…"
"That was your plan too, wasn't it?"
"Now I finally understand the meaning of this position."
"At first, I had no interest in humanity."
"But over these five centuries living among them…"
"I gradually began to understand them."
"Clever… Focalors."
"By now you must know," he continued,
"I could never deliver a guilty verdict."
After five hundred years among Fontaine's people—
There was no way he could condemn them.
Focalors had calculated everything.
"Oh dear," she said lightly.
"It looks like the time for execution is almost here."
"I suppose this 'criminal' must prepare for her curtain call."
She looked up at the enormous sword-shaped energy above her head.
"Even though I sound relaxed… facing death is still a little frightening."
"Perhaps that's one thing gods and humans share."
She smiled warmly.
"Goodbye, Neuvillette."
"I hope you enjoyed the role you played in this five-hundred-year play."
Neuvillette froze.
Focalors turned away.
She began humming softly.
Then she danced—light steps, spinning gracefully.
In another space, Lumine watched Furina performing the same dance on her stage.
The divine figure moved like a butterfly fluttering through flowers.
The dance was cheerful.
Yet the two spectators—Lumine and Neuvillette—felt overwhelming sorrow flooding their hearts.
Finally, Focalors ended with a perfect curtain-call bow.
The giant sword above her stopped spinning.
Then it fell.
On Furina's stage—
Her hat dropped to the floor.
Neuvillette watched Focalors' execution in disbelief.
An immense surge of Hydro energy erupted and flowed into his body.
He looked at his hand.
Countless thoughts flooded his mind.
At last—
He had reclaimed his authority.
But the price was the fall of a god who had devoted everything to her people.
Inside the Opera House
Furina sat motionless in her chair.
Her eyes were empty.
Small glowing lights drifted toward her.
They reflected in her eyes.
A voice echoed gently.
"You've worked hard all this time, Furina."
"From now on… live happily as a human, just as I always hoped."
Those were Focalors' final words.
Outside, the sky began pouring rain harder than ever before.
A beam of blue light shot up from the opera house.
High in the sky floated Neuvillette, eyes closed.
The torrential rain seemed to reflect the emotions of the now complete Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
After a long moment—
He opened his eyes.
Looking down upon the world, he spoke.
"Chief Justice Neuvillette hereby declares…"
Power surged through him.
"I pardon the sins of all the people of Fontaine."
The ancient dragon's power soared into the sky—
Then fell back as rain.
The Battle with the Whale
Back in the opera house, most people still didn't understand what had happened.
"It's time to end this," Neuvillette said calmly.
"The whale must be dealt with."
Everyone was confused. Earlier he had said he lacked the power.
But now—
"I have obtained the strength necessary to defeat it."
"I can strip the Primordial Sea's power from its body."
"Now is the moment to pursue it."
Neuvillette turned to Lumine.
"The Oratrice is gone. To carry out justice, I need an executioner."
"Me?" Lumine asked in surprise.
"The source of Fontaine's calamity…"
"The beast that manifested the prophecy…"
"Its name is the All-Devouring Narwhal."
"Come with me. The time for execution has arrived."
Soon they caught up with the Narwhal and battle erupted.
With his restored power, Neuvillette easily suppressed the monster.
But suddenly—
A strange power wrapped around the whale.
Its body shrank rapidly until it fit inside the palm of a mysterious woman.
In her other hand—
She held an unconscious Tartaglia.
She opened a spatial portal and tossed both the whale and Tartaglia inside.
Then she turned casually toward them.
"Thanks for cleaning things up."
"That was supposed to be my job."
"I was in seclusion for a while, and somehow my disciple ended up fighting my master's pet."
"I expected they might meet eventually… but earlier than I thought."
"My mistake. I'll punish myself with three million sword swings when I return."
Her words stunned everyone.
If Tartaglia was her disciple—
Then the whale…
Was her master's pet?!
Paimon guessed her identity.
"You must be Skirk, Childe's master!"
Skirk replied calmly:
"I simply have nothing to say to the weak."
"You defeated the Narwhal without relying on power from beyond this world."
"That means you are worthy of speaking with me as equals."
[Chat Group]
Tartaglia: 🤡
Kaeya: Hahaha! The tragic mood just collapsed instantly. Childe thought his master was a quiet, mysterious type—but she just thinks he's too weak to talk to! 😂
Zhongli: Tartaglia's comedy truly lightened the mood. Thank you. 😅
Venti: That clown mask suits him perfectly. 🤭
Tartaglia: Master, I know you're in the chat! Say something!! 😫
Paimon: Maybe she really just doesn't want to talk to you… 😮
Tartaglia: Impossible! Absolutely impossible! She must be in cultivation retreat! Strong people like her are always training! 😤
Gu Chen: I think she saw it… she just didn't feel like replying. 😏
Skirk: The Sect Leader is correct.
Paimon: See? She replied to him but not to you. Maybe she's embarrassed to have such a weak disciple. 🤷♀️
Tartaglia: 💔🤡
The True Master
During their conversation, another name emerged.
The person who kept the Narwhal as a pet:
The Foul — Surtalogi.
Other names were mentioned too:
The Visionary — Vedrfolnir
Gold — Rhinedottir
According to Skirk, Surtalogi was someone who pursued ultimate power, much like Rhinedottir.
Then Skirk gave a warning.
"When the Narwhal fought you earlier, it exhausted nearly all its power."
"That level of Hydro energy…"
"The planet's deep sea cannot absorb it easily."
"In theory, Fontaine should already be in chaos right now."
"In other words…"
"The prophecy you feared…"
"Should already be happening."
Paimon panicked.
But Lumine remained calm.
Witch N had said the prophecy must occur.
Just not in the way people expected.
Neuvillette nodded.
"It's fine."
"Focalors… already deceived Celestia."
The Prophecy Fulfilled
Back in the opera house—
Furina sat alone, crying.
Water slowly rose toward her feet.
Just like the prophecy:
Everyone dissolved in the sea, leaving only the Hydro Archon weeping on her throne.
Across Fontaine—
The city was submerged.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
Someone surfaced, gasping for air.
Navia rowed over and rescued him.
In the distance, Wriothesley's ship surfaced and began rescuing people.
Underwater, Freminet, Lynette, and Lyney were helping citizens.
Then someone noticed something.
The water level was dropping.
"The water is going down!"
"It's receding!"
"We didn't dissolve!"
"The prophecy was wrong!"
Cheers erupted everywhere.
At the opera house entrance, Furina stared at the retreating water.
The people of Fontaine were alive.
"…The prophecy…"
"…was false?"
The storm clouds cleared.
Bright sunlight poured down.
It hurt her eyes.
Fontaine had suffered a flood—
But no one dissolved.
The prophecy had been fulfilled in form…
Yet its true outcome had been changed.
Furina didn't know how to describe what she felt.
Perhaps this was freedom.
For five hundred years, the burden on the young girl's shoulders had finally lifted.
And once it was gone—
Endless exhaustion flooded in.
Was it worth it?
Furina didn't know what the version of herself in the video would say.
But right now—
Holding the little cake her people had given her…
Hearing them shout:
"Thank you for your hard work, Lady Furina!"
She finally had her answer.
Yes.
It was worth it. 🌊✨
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