Lauvik chuckled softly as he watched the two people, who had originally been at loggerheads, gradually lower their defenses and emerge from a state where conversation was impossible.
"Alright, it's not too late to talk about this after our performance."
"Besides... rather than an apology, I think continuing the performance and not wasting the effort Audrey put into nurturing us is the best tribute and apology to her."
Hearing Lauvik's words, Weil Mang's gaze slightly sharpened, then he nodded apologetically.
Paimon gently nodded as she looked at the two individuals who had completely calmed down, then she said with a grin:
"Since you two have calmed down, what about the ending of The Daughter of Water?"
As Paimon spoke, she turned her gaze towards Furina, who had just been speaking eloquently, seemingly wanting her to provide an answer.
Furina, however, seemed to have already thought of a solution, and she said matter-of-factly:
"Of course—a temporary retreat from the stage, to reflect on what was overlooked amidst the torrent of emotions."
"The story's ending should return to Audrey herself; she is the sole lead."
Hearing this, Lumine paused slightly, as if remembering the relics she had seen while searching Vasher's laboratory.
"Perhaps there really is a way to know what she was thinking."
Furina placed her hands on her hips, nodded with a smile, and then continued:
"Although that's what I said, we've only seen the result of 'Audrey being dissolved' and don't know if she left behind anything deeper."
"What did she experience when she disappeared? Did she commit suicide to avoid humiliation? Or is there another hidden story? We don't know any of these details."
"In my opinion... we should at least continue to investigate."
Furina slightly raised her head to look at Yuto, who stood to the side, a hint of cunning flashing in her beautiful heterochromatic eyes, as if... taking a small revenge of her own?
And Lumine and Paimon, because Furina had suddenly stopped speaking mid-sentence, also followed Furina's gaze towards Yuto, a look of realization flashing in their eyes.
"Oh! Although Furina is no longer the Water God, Yuto, as the Assistant Administrator, must be able to find some evidence or something from the Marechaussee Phantom's registry, right?"
Hearing Paimon's words, which sounded like praising one while stepping on another, Yuto's mouth twitched slightly, then he nodded helplessly.
"That's right, but... to be safe, I still hope Mr. Weil Mang can search other parts of the troupe; perhaps he can find more clues."
Weil Mang, suddenly called out, looked up in astonishment, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.
"Huh? Me, me?"
He pointed to himself, seemingly not understanding why Yuto specifically asked him to search.
"Since you are the person in the entire troupe who knows the most about this matter, you might want to think about whether Miss Aurett told you anything, or where she might have left things related to her."
"According to the personality you described... I estimate she had already made preparations."
Yuto said with a smile.
Looking at the smiling Yuto before him, Weil Mang nodded blankly, as if agreeing.
It seemed that with everything arranged, and perhaps feeling she had had her small "revenge" on Yuto, Furina nodded with satisfaction.
"Using Audrey's true feelings as the ending for the story of The Daughter of Water... no one would question it, right?"
The troupe members nodded, not speaking.
"Let's go, then, to the Marechaussee Phantom and Palais Mermonia. As for the members of the troupe... I'll trouble you to search as Yuto suggested."
"No matter what the final search results are, how about we meet tomorrow noon at the theater where you usually train?"
Claude nodded, then quickly led the troupe members back to Fontaine.
—After all, they didn't have Visions, and it was getting late... it was still a bit dangerous to stay outside.
Moreover, the small theater and Palais Mermonia were not in the same direction, so they couldn't possibly ask one of these individuals to escort them back before going to Palais Mermonia, could they?
Watching the large group depart, Furina nodded with satisfaction.
"Mm~ It's time, we should set off too~"
...
Furina and the others arrived at Palais Mermonia right on time, and upon entering, they saw Sedene wandering back and forth in the empty hall.
Her small ears twitched slightly, as if she had heard the sound of them pushing the door open.
"Hmm? Lord Yuto, and Lady Furina? Why are you here? Is there something you need to handle?"
Yuto nodded and gently ruffled Sedene's little head, then continued:
"Yes, we want to investigate the items left behind by the victims of the Serial Disappearance of Young Girls."
"Of course, if possible... I'd also like to see the interrogation files; there's something that has me quite curious."
Hearing this, Sedene first blinked, then nodded as a matter of course.
"No problem, no problem, but... those matters happened a long time ago, so there might be some procedural complications."
As Sedene spoke, she cast her gaze upon Lumine and Paimon, who stood behind Yuto and Furina, and changed her tone:
"However, since the people who submitted the evidence are present, there's no need for special registration. Please wait a moment, my two Lords, I'll go handle the procedures now~"
As Sedene spoke, she hopped away from the counter and headed to the Palais Mermonia's archives, beginning the basic registration and search.
After Sedene completely closed the archive room door, Paimon blinked slightly, then asked:
"Hmm... So even Yuto, as the Assistant Administrator, needs to register and report to look up things?"
Yuto nodded as a matter of course.
"Of course, that's the rule. As the one who sets the rules, I certainly cannot overstep them, nor can I receive even a hint of special treatment."
"Otherwise... wouldn't I be selling both the spear and the shield, contradicting myself?"
Hearing this, Paimon nodded knowingly, then changed the subject.
"Then why does Yuto want the interrogation transcripts? Did he find something unexpected?"
Yuto nodded, then expressed his viewpoint.
"The reason is quite simple: there's a significant blank in this matter."
"What happened during the period from 'Audrey arranging the troupe members to go outside Fontaine' to 'Audrey being confirmed missing'? Was the real culprit caught?"
"Those are the questions I want to know."
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