They once naturally relied on God, but when God's protection showed a slight flaw... their first blame also fell on God.
For them, the truth of the matter was not important.
What mattered was whether the mora in the hands of the merchants would be affected by the Momang Hall's work efficiency, and whether those anxious people could sleep well tonight.
They never thought... that the one who once bore these burdens for them...
Never had a good night's sleep.
...
Furina stared blankly at the Fontaine citizens who were gradually starting to criticize her, feeling somewhat at a loss for a moment.
—This level of unexpectedness was beyond her control.
In other words... any explanation she offered now would be useless.
Unless she revealed everything Mirror Self had told her and all the responsibilities she bore, there was no way to quiet these people.
But that was impossible.
Thinking of this, Furina slowly closed her eyes, then let out a soft sigh, and said:
"How disappointing..."
After dropping that remark, Furina quickly left the Opera House, as for the rest... she would leave it to the Fontaine security forces.
Since the situation was already out of control, she might as well not control it; simply leave, and prevent her five-hundred-year game from being ruined, that was the best outcome.
...
The moment Furina walked out of the Opera House, she looked at the rain, which was noticeably heavier than yesterday, and sighed softly.
Usually at this time... Yuto would be by her side, holding an umbrella for her, then carefully escorting her back to Palais Mermonia, and finally serving her a cup of fine black tea.
But today... he wasn't here.
Furina glanced at her somewhat empty left side, gave a bitter smile, then opened her own umbrella and quickly headed towards Beryl Region.
The collection of building materials there had been completed a few days ago, and with today's heavy rain, there certainly wouldn't be anyone there.
So...
"It should be fine if I go there and quietly stay for a while, right?"
Over the past five hundred years, Furina had learned many things, including the ability to regulate her own emotions.
Without this... she would probably have collapsed long ago.
After realizing this, she quickened her pace towards Beryl Region.
She just wanted to be alone for a while, wanting to see if a miracle would happen there.
Just like those Fontaine Operas symbolizing "love," where the prince who had died was awakened by the Princess's tears, and then they continued to live happily ever after.
Although she knew her thoughts were nothing but a fantasy, but... at least thinking this way made her feel a little better.
...
Furina soon arrived at the pond at the very bottom of Beryl Region.
She looked at the surrounding broken walls and ruins, a hint of loss flashing in her eyes.
Regardless of why Yuto chose to rescue Beryl Region, just considering his actions alone—
—Without him, she could hardly imagine how many people would have died there.
She quietly looked at the water in front of her, as if seeing that "herself" in a sacred white dress.
A slight sheen of water appeared in her heterochromatic eyes, and she softly spoke with a voice that was already somewhat hoarse:
"It's... almost impossible to hold on..."
"This time he blocked that monstrous malice for me, but what about next time? Just a premonition of disaster can take the lives of an entire town's people..."
"Is everything I've done truly meaningful?"
"Where are you? Why... haven't you appeared to resolve all of this yet?"
Furina looked at her reflection in the water, her eyes brimming with tears, as if asking herself, and as if questioning the "herself" who had given her this inhuman responsibility.
"Give up... it's meaningless..."
"If disaster strikes again... everything I've done will completely turn into nothing..."
"It's my fault... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"But besides that, what else can I do?"
Furina's vision became increasingly blurry; she wanted to squat down and have a good cry, but she knew very well that this was not an enclosed space.
—She had no right to do so.
"Furina..."
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from behind her, causing her to instantly stop the tears that were about to spill, and she asked with a slight tremor in her voice:
"Ah...! Who, who is it?"
At this moment, she was like a startled fawn, ready to flee at the slightest sign of trouble.
Although she had indeed just had the thought of giving up, but... she still couldn't give up.
Because this was the only thing she could do.
"Don't be nervous, Furina, it's us..."
Paimon gently waved her hand, looking at Furina, who seemed to have just cried, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.
Furina, seeing this, first froze, then quickly composed herself, and then spoke:
"Hmm... Hehehe, so it's the golden-haired traveler from another land. I thought it was those unruly commoners coming to confess their sins to me."
Furina said with a strained smile.
Seeing the tear stains at the corner of the young girl's eyes, Paimon said with some reluctance:
"Furina... you seemed to have cried just now, didn't you? The marks on your face are very obvious..."
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