At this moment, the most powerful protectors beside the gods of both nations were gone—Idris and Neuvillette were already high in the sky locked in battle.
If Arlecchino wanted to make her move, this was indeed the perfect moment.
But after a short moment of contemplation, she simply crossed her legs and shook her head.
"Not necessary. We'll keep watching."
Her ruby eyes gleamed with cunning amusement.
"The Hydro Archon's Gnosis? I have far better methods to claim it when the time comes."
"As for the Dendro Gnosis… that's the Doctor's assignment. It has nothing to do with me."
A faint smirk curved her lips. "Consider it a small courtesy to Idris."
The way she said his name made Lyney and Lynette exchange a glance.
They understood their "father" well enough—this was Arlecchino's version of showing goodwill.
Doctor getting embarrassed, humiliated, and outplayed by Idris had brought her genuine joy.
Letting Nahida walk away safely today was simply her way of saying thank you.
And so, the Hearth House trio remained seated to watch the battle unfold—an audience enjoying a private spectacle.
Down below, Furina was breathing a sigh of relief.
For now, at least, Idris and Neuvillette seemed to be only using physical combat and basic elemental arts.
No ultimate techniques, no domain-shattering displays—yet.
That tiny sliver of normalcy gave her just enough courage to keep smiling stiffly at the panicking Maison Gardiennage.
But in truth…
Above them, the two men were not merely trading blows—they were trading words.
Words that echoed far too high for mortals to hear.
And the longer they fought, the harsher the clash grew.
High in the air, Neuvillette parried another sword strike, water bursting from his staff in a violent detonation.
"Idris, is this chaos what you intended? Do you expect us to fight to the death?!"
Idris deflected the blast with a swirl of dendro light. "Hardly. But I'm not going to sit quietly and wait for you to lock me inside the Fortress of Meropide."
"That is the judgment of the Oratrice Mechanique d'Analyse Cardinale," Neuvillette snapped. "A single year of confinement is hardly excessive!"
Idris barked a laugh. "I'm a busy man. One day is already unacceptable—much less a year."
Deep down, he knew exactly why Oratrice judged him that way.
The machine merely followed the shadow of Focalors' plan—the plan that required Idris to conveniently disappear for one year so the prophecy could carry itself to completion.
But Idris?
Disappearing quietly was never part of his vocabulary.
And Neuvillette could tell.
The man in front of him had no intention of surrendering.
Water spiraled in Neuvillette's grip as he thrust forward—three searing beams of compressed water shot out like liquid laser.
Idris dodged backward, wings beating once, and smirked.
"By the way, Neuvillette—I'm aware of your identity."
The Hydro dragon didn't even blink. "Yes. And what of it?"
Idris' voice remained calm, almost casual.
"I've read the ancient records. And my princess—being a God of Wisdom—has told me the parts mortals shouldn't know."
"Long ago, Teyvat belonged to the elemental dragon sovereigns.
When their power was scattered, it seeped into mortals, becoming the foundation of the Archons."
Neuvillette's eyes narrowed.
"And your intention in recounting this?"
"Simple."
Idris folded his wings and hovered with chilling serenity.
"If a dragon wishes to reclaim its full authority… it must judge the gods."
"And the seven elemental sovereigns were once united in purpose."
"Tell me—when you regain your complete power, will you help the other dragons reclaim theirs?"
Neuvillette paused mid-motion, lowering his staff.
A faint ripple passed through his usually unreadable expression.
"That… will be my duty."
"Exactly." Idris smiled faintly. "So here comes the real question."
He tilted his chin.
"When the time comes to strike… which Archon will you target first?"
Neuvillette froze.
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Idris' eyes sharpened.
"Don't bother pretending—you'll target the weakest first."
"Which is, undoubtedly, the Dendro Archon."
Neuvillette's jaw tensed. That slight reaction was enough of a confirmation.
Idris' eyes became dangerously cold.
"Let me make this clear."
"The Little Lucky Grass Princess is ours."
"She is Sumeru's princess."
"And as long as I am alive—you will never lay a hand on her. Not for your duty, not for prophecy, not for anything."
For the first time, fury flashed openly across Neuvillette's face.
"A human dares to threaten a dragon sovereign?"
Idris laughed. "Threaten? No—I'm warning you."
Neuvillette's voice dropped several degrees.
"Even if I agreed to spare her… how many years can a human live? You will die long before I even consider judgment."
"Oh?" Idris raised a brow.
"That's fine. I simply have to live longer than you."
"Which is convenient—because you might just die today."
The subtle, venomous satisfaction in his tone snapped the last string of Neuvillette's restraint.
"Arrogant human… enough!"
The sea answered him.
Behind the Chief Justice, the ocean twisted—rising into vortex after vortex as if pulled upward by an unseen hand.
The sky dimmed.
Clouds parted.
A colossal dragon-shaped mass of water coiled behind him, its roar vibrating across the heavens.
Terror washed over the onlookers below.
Even Furina's face was drained of color.
"By the Primordial Sea—he's using that already?!"
A Maison Gardiennage officer staggered forward, voice trembling.
"Lady Furina—THIS is what you call them playing around?!"
He pointed upward with a shaking hand.
The entire sky had turned into a writhing water-dragon canopy.
Whirlpools had formed in the open sea.
The force of the waves alone had already cracked sections of the distant coast.
Furina let out a tiny squeak and nearly dropped to her knees.
"E-Ehehe… well… um… men's way of… exchanging opinions may have gotten a bit more intense than I expected…"
Nahida sighed softly.
This is far, far beyond "just playing," Furina…
And Idris?
He looked up at the colossal water dragon and grinned like a devil meeting an old friend.
"Come then."
"Show me the wrath of Fontaine's Dragon Sovereign."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito