"To make up for the regrets left behind…"
Furina lowered her head slightly, a peculiar glint flashing in her beautiful heterochromatic eyes, as if touched by what Yuto had just said.
She could understand Yuto's feelings, and she could also comprehend what the "regrets" he spoke of truly were.
Those who had died because of the primordial sea water… remained a persistent hurdle in Yuto's heart.
On the day The Prophecy ended, she saw Yuto's memories within that light.
Even though he knew what would happen in the future, he remained silent, accompanying her every moment as they completed one desperate act after another.
He, like her, had faced the most difficult moral dilemmas.
The problem Furina faced was a scale, with her "freedom" on one side and the lives of the people of Fontaine on the other.
She could have easily abandoned her responsibility, exchanging the lives of all Fontainians for her own freedom, but she did not.
Furina continued to bear that inhuman responsibility day after day, still viewing it all as a trial, a trial leading to "freedom."
And Yuto was the same; he, too, faced a scale.
He knew everything that would happen in the future, but he could not change things however he wished.
Because he had no idea if his actions would affect Focalors's plan;
Because he had no idea if changing the fates of those people would lead to even more Fontainians dying.
Precisely because he knew what would happen in the future, the scale before him held countless living lives.
On one side was the "solution with the fewest deaths," and on the other was the "unknown solution with an unknown number of deaths."
From a results perspective, if he wanted to take a gamble, his choice would naturally be the latter; if he wanted to resolve the matter safely, it would naturally be the former.
But the problem was that Yuto had no right to adjust the weights on that scale!
Just like the phrase he often said, "No one can forgive an abuser on behalf of the victim," and he was no different.
He was merely an Assistant Administrator; he had no right to decide the fates of others on their behalf.
So… he and Furina made the same decision: to not touch that scale, to become an actor on the stage, performing until the final curtain fell.
And now, Yuto possessed the power to make up for those deficiencies, so why shouldn't he try?
Thinking of this, Furina exhaled a long breath, then softly said:
"Since you want to try… then go ahead and do it."
"I know you'll be careful, but I still have to say this."
As Furina spoke, she lifted her head, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes looking directly into Yuto's slightly surprised sea-blue eyes, and she said with rare seriousness:
"Yuto, you absolutely must pay attention to safety. Stop immediately if you sense anything is wrong."
"Those things weren't your fault. You don't need to take their deaths… all upon yourself."
Hearing this, Yuto slowly closed his eyes, then gently patted Furina's small hand.
"Okay, I'll be careful. At least let me try."
"If it succeeds, then that hurdle in my heart will have been overcome;
If it doesn't… then I've at least tried my best. If I can find a better way to achieve all this in the future, I'll still keep trying."
Yuto's words made Furina sigh in slight relief. She then lowered her head again, resting her small head back on Yuto's body, and whispered:
"I know you feel very guilty, but… Fontaine still has more people who need you."
"Jingshui Court still needs your leadership, Neuvillette still needs your help with diplomacy, Spina di Rosula, Beryl Region, and Meropide also need your assistance."
"And…"
"I also need you by my side."
Hearing this, Yuto gently poked Furina's fair cheek, then chuckled softly and said:
"I understand, so… I won't act recklessly."
"Just like what we said when we made our pinky promise, I'll always be by your side, and I'll try my best not to do anything too dangerous."
"So… my lovely Fufu, you really don't need to worry so much."
Furina said nothing, simply holding Yuto's arm quietly, enjoying the rare moment of tenderness.
Yuto, feeling the gradually strengthening grip, silently sighed.
He knew… that until the matter was completely resolved, until the result of that attempt was fully known, Furina would remain in this state.
"You've really… suffered."
Yuto gently shook his head, then carefully picked up Furina, who was leaning against him, and walked towards the bedroom.
Regardless of his plan or the final outcome, they both needed to rest today.
…
Just as Yuto and Furina were preparing to wash up and go to sleep… the Northland Bank was far from as peaceful as they were.
At this very moment, the debt collectors who had recently arrived in Fontaine were undergoing inspection by their superior, The Knave.
Looking at the ten neatly dressed debt collectors before her, Arlecchino nodded with satisfaction, then spoke:
"I trust that before leaving Snezhnaya… The Damsel made your mission clear to all of you."
"But to prevent some from acting impulsively… I believe I need to reiterate."
"When you are in Fontaine, no matter what, you will lie low! Do not investigate matters concerning Palais Mermonia. You are debt collectors under the Northland Bank, not debt collectors under the Fatui!"
The aura of authority unique to Arlecchino instantly erupted once more, causing those debt collectors who had originally intended to secretly investigate information to immediately rein in their thoughts.
They had initially thought this was just a pretense, and that once in Fontaine, they would continue their work as usual, but now it seemed…
The Fourth Seat and the Third Seat seemed to be serious.
Although they couldn't fathom what kind of power could prevent the Fatui from further infiltration, they also knew they couldn't defy orders from above, so they gave up thinking.
Watching the silent debt collectors before her, Arlecchino nodded once more, then softly said:
"Your next task is singular: swiftly take over all debts within Fontaine, and complete basic statistical and intelligence preparatory work, especially regarding the debts of Fontainian nobles."
"This is a joint investigation between Palais Mermonia and the Northland Bank. I ask for your utmost effort."
"Should anything go wrong… I wouldn't mind throwing you out of this team as an internal spy disrupting relations between Fontaine and Snezhnaya."
A chilling red light flashed in Arlecchino's eyes, and then she turned and left the Northland Bank.
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