After an inspection and clearing by the security team, Yuto and Furina returned to Palais Mermonia.
Yuto had originally intended to bring Neuvillette back with him, after all... it was previously rumored that there was a rift between him and Neuvillette, and if they returned together, they could directly dispel this rumor.
But Neuvillette stated that he still needed to organize the case files, and he also had to investigate case files directly related to words like "disappearance" over the past few decades, perhaps finding some other clues.
In response, Yuto nodded helplessly; he could understand Neuvillette's feelings at the moment.
What happened with Cares back then was... a thorn in his heart, one that couldn't be pulled out until the truth of the case was investigated.
And now, with significant progress in the case, for Neuvillette... this might truly be an opportunity.
Thus, Yuto and Furina walked unhurriedly through the streets of Fontaine.
If it weren't for today's "Judgment" that reversed, reversed, and reversed again, Yuto wouldn't dare to imagine what kind of shocking headlines Steambird Newspaper would come up with.
For example: "Reversal?! The Chief Justice and the Assistant Administrator's Relationship Is Not Good!" or "The Assistant Administrator and the Water God Strolling Together on the Street, Has Their Friendship Changed?".
And these sensational ideas were thought up by Yuto, whose imagination was relatively lacking; compared to the headline editors of Steambird Newspaper, he was probably still miles behind.
While Yuto was immersed in his own thoughts, Furina would occasionally sneak a glance at Yuto, then immediately avert her gaze.
For her now, she couldn't explain many things thoroughly on the street, and she certainly couldn't act the same way she did when she was privately with Yuto.
"Let's talk about it... when we get back to Palais Mermonia?"
Furina thought to herself.
...
Taking the spoutrail, the two quickly returned to Palais Mermonia, and Furina did not, as usual, return to her room to rest and compose herself; instead, she went directly to Yuto's office.
About two hundred years ago, Furina's way of recharging changed from being alone to spending a short while with Yuto.
Perhaps because the state Yuto displayed in his daily life... was truly reassuring, Furina could quickly relax, and then once again put on that mask, continuing to dance on the dark stage.
Looking at Furina, who was sitting opposite him, Yuto, who had just sat down to review today's official documents, was slightly startled, then asked:
"Furina...? What's wrong, is something the matter?"
As Yuto spoke, he glanced at his office door, and after repeatedly confirming that it was completely closed, he felt relieved and spoke to Furina.
"Do you think something was wrong today? Or... did you sense something?"
Furina gently shook her head, her cute ahoge swaying slightly, then she asked:
"How was it? My performance today was good, right?"
Looking at Furina, who was like a child seeking praise, Yuto couldn't help but smile and nod.
"Of course, my esteemed Hydro Archon Focalors, as the embodiment of justice, you bore that heavy responsibility for mortals, chose your opponent, and guided her to show the people the direction of justice."
"As your subordinate, your...Dependents, I sincerely praise all of you..."
"Oh, alright, alright, stop talking!"
Before Yuto could continue with his flattery, Furina suddenly couldn't stand it and quickly interrupted him.
Yuto was also very sensible and closed his mouth, not continuing to speak, but waiting for Furina's next words.
Looking at the smiling Yuto in front of her, Furina's small face couldn't help but blush, and then she asked:
"That matter... how far have you investigated it?"
Hearing this, Yuto frowned slightly and retorted:
"What matter? What investigation? What are you talking about?"
Looking at Yuto, who was acting very much like he was playing dumb, Furina sighed slightly, as if she had already anticipated this outcome.
"You... sent a Melusine to investigate Cares's case before, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Yuto's pupils contracted slightly, then he calmly retorted:
"As Mr. Cares's good friend, I naturally have to help him investigate those matters."
"Is that so...?"
Furina looked at Yuto, who had a very serious expression, murmured a sentence, and then gently nodded.
Yuto's reason was valid.
Because of his relationship with Cares, whether it was from the perspective of the Assistant Administrator investigating a suspicious case or from the perspective of personal friendship...
He could explain it clearly.
But Furina's intuition told her that this matter was not that simple, or rather, what Yuto showed was completely different from what she had imagined.
However, she couldn't say anything now, after all, Yuto had valid reasons, and for her, the Water God who hadn't interfered in political affairs for a long time, suddenly asking such a question...
It might cause her performance, which had lasted for 180,000 acts, to completely collapse.
This was not what she wanted to see.
Thinking of this, Furina took a slight breath, then changed the subject and asked:
"Speaking of which... Yuto, why were you so sure Lyney wasn't the murderer?"
Yuto heard this and gently shook his head.
"I am the Assistant Administrator, Furina. I am not a prophet, nor a Judge, nor some extraordinarily gifted great detective."
"I merely stood in your shoes beforehand and considered more possibilities for you. It's not as miraculous as you say."
Hearing this, Furina nodded gently again, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes fixed on Yuto's face, showing no intention of moving away.
And Yuto, believing he had done nothing wrong, also looked back at Furina quite frankly for a while.
Ultimately... the "loser" of this "contest" was predictable.
Furina stood up with a flushed face, turning around without hesitation, intending to leave Yuto's office.
And just before she was about to push open the office door, she turned her head slightly and softly asked:
"Yuto, if one day you discover... that your life is a play... what would you do?"
Yuto, upon hearing this question, fell silent, and after a long moment, slowly replied:
"Then I would keep acting, until the play ends, until... the story and Melody are sung to the very last measure."