Grand Narukami Shrine.
The moment Yae Miko caught sight of the woman who looked identical to Furina appearing on the light screen, everything clicked.
"So it was her all along—manipulating the verdicts from behind the scenes."
"I knew it. Furina is just like the Raiden Shogun Ei created—
the Water Archon in name, but not the true one."
"Still… a nation built on law having no death penalty at all?
That really is strange."
Yae Miko couldn't quite make sense of Fontaine's criminal system.
But Vacher's reaction said it all.
The instant the words death sentence were spoken, terror completely consumed him.
[Hu Tao]: "Vacher looked calm when he was declared guilty, but the moment he heard 'death sentence,' he completely lost it."
[Yanfei]: "Fontaine doesn't have capital punishment. No matter the crime, offenders are only exiled to the Fortress of Meropide."
[Faruzan]: "I've heard of that place. It's practically another country entirely—separate from Fontaine."
[Kamisato Ayato]: "Personally, I believe capital punishment is the most effective deterrent."
[Lisa]: "If people knew that killing meant paying with their own life, they'd think very carefully before acting."
The serial disappearance case left everyone shaken.
They had known for years that Lus, the drink, caused extreme emotional fluctuations.
Yet no one ever investigated it.
That negligence allowed Vacher to roam free for decades—
countless innocent girls vanished and died because of it.
A single case, yet the greatest mockery of Fontaine's legal system.
[The case is resolved.]
[But the people of Fontaine feel no joy.]
[They fear dissolving in Primordial Seawater, and they are equally lost over the first death sentence in Fontaine's history.]
Palais Mermonia.
Neuvillette hurried toward Furina's office.
The scene of the trial replayed endlessly in his mind.
When the death sentence was delivered, he—like everyone else—had assumed the Oratrice had malfunctioned.
"Two major judicial anomalies in a row… and she just walked away like nothing happened?"
"She didn't even answer the citizens' doubts—she simply left the Opera Epiclese."
Irritation boiling over, Neuvillette pushed the door open without knocking.
"Lady Furina."
"What exactly is going on with the Oratrice's death sentence?"
"The judgment regarding Childe was already abnormal.
Why has a death sentence appeared now?"
"You must give me an explanation. The people are waiting outside."
He launched straight into questioning the silent Furina seated on the sofa.
This wasn't misplaced anger.
Strange events had piled up nonstop.
The prophecy had been confirmed as real.
Fontaine's people were on the brink of panic.
If left unchecked, societal collapse was inevitable.
Furina lifted her eyes briefly—then lowered her head again.
Behind her, Clorinde fought to suppress her panic and subtly gestured to Neuvillette.
He froze, following her gaze—
And only then did he notice a stranger seated in the main chair.
"…Who are you?" Neuvillette asked.
Before Aerin replied, Neuvillette's pupils shrank sharply.
No one dared sit in Furina's seat.
No one dared frighten Fontaine's Duelist into silence.
In an instant, Neuvillette connected the man before him with the terrifying figure from the rumors.
"…Are you the god who descended to impose trials?"
A chill ran through him.
Aerin glanced at him and smiled faintly.
"Fontaine's Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
I thought you'd call me an usurper."
Neuvillette nearly collapsed internally.
"So he's toying with me now…?"
Yes, Celestia had stolen Teyvat from the dragons—
they were usurpers.
But before someone who could rewrite concepts, clinging to justice wasn't courage—
It was stupidity.
"If my future self ever dares put on airs before him…"
"That would be catastrophic."
Silence filled the office.
Aerin spun a pen lazily between his fingers.
The pressure radiating from him was suffocating.
Those seemingly ordinary eyes—
being stared at felt like being hunted by something ancient and monstrous.
Finally, Neuvillette forced himself to speak.
"Did you alter Oratrice's judgment through Lady Furina?"
Aerin shook his head.
"Furina has no authority over the Oratrice."
"She is merely Focalors' public proxy."
"She possesses neither divine authority nor divine power."
"What?!"
Neuvillette turned sharply toward Furina.
Clorinde's eyes shook violently.
She felt she had heard something forbidden.
Furina clenched her brows, wanting to speak—
But ultimately lowered her head.
She feared that if the truth came out, it would disrupt the salvation planned by the other her.
But before a god from above, resistance was meaningless.
"…Please don't tell the people," she whispered shakily to Aerin.
Neuvillette was completely stunned.
"At a time like this… our Water Archon is… false?"
Aerin sighed.
"You are the human half Focalors split off."
"Eat, drink, live your life. Your role is finished."
He then turned to Neuvillette.
"For five hundred years, Focalors has hidden within Fontaine, gathering faith."
"She converts it into Indemnitium to power the nation—
and simultaneously amasses strength."
"Her goal is to shatter the Hydro Archon's throne…"
"…and return the Ancient Dragon Authority to you."
"So that you may reshape the Fontainians—
pure-water mimics—into true humans,
and save them from the prophecy of dissolution."
It was enough.
Everyone understood.
The woman who appeared in the light screen—the one identical to Furina—
was the true Hydro Archon.
Everything she had done… was for Fontaine.
[Venti]: "Destroying the Archon's throne and returning the authority to the Dragon Sovereign… she's going all in."
[Jean]: "What would that mean, Lord Barbatos?"
[Zhongli]: "The destruction of a divine throne marks the end of an Archon's era. No successor will arise."
[Navia]: "Then… the Water Archon dies?"
[Wriothesley]: "So she intends to sacrifice herself for Fontaine…"
"Focalors…"
Neuvillette gazed at the darkening sky.
Now he understood everything.
She had guided him to Fontaine long ago.
Let him live among humans.
Let him love them.
"So that when you fall…
I would save them of my own will."
"…You were always this cunning, Focalors."
Inside Palais Mermonia.
Furina covered her mouth.
So they were truly one and the same.
"So… you plan to die…"
The sorrow surged uncontrollably.
Five hundred years of loneliness.
Five hundred years of acting.
And in the end—she had protected nothing.
The other her had already chosen sacrifice.
Tears slid down her face.
Clorinde and Sigewinne quietly withdrew, closing the door gently.
"…Both versions of our Water Archon suffered greatly," Clorinde murmured.
Suddenly, Sigewinne trembled.
"Lord Aerin despises anyone who uses the will and consciousness of Teyvat's people…"
Clorinde stiffened.
"…Surely this is different. Focalors gathered faith to save Fontaine—"
Both began shaking.
They feared Aerin's judgment.
Inside the office.
Furina listened numbly.
She didn't understand Dragon Authority.
She didn't understand the cost of shattering a divine throne.
But Neuvillette's expression told her everything.
"So Fontainians are all—"
Aerin nodded.
"They are pure-water mimics."
"That's enough," he interrupted calmly.
"I will deal with Focalors personally."
"A nation of law that merely relocates criminals instead of punishing them…
that needs to change."
He tapped the desk lightly.
The palace shook violently.
Then—silence.
Furina trembled.
"…What just happened?"
Aerin smiled faintly.
"I flooded the Fortress of Meropide with Primordial Seawater."
"All those who deserved death… dissolved."
A list appeared on the table.
"These names belong to murderers who escaped justice—
many from noble families."
"I want them judged before I'm finished."
"Otherwise—"
"Fontaine will be swallowed by the Primordial Sea."
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