Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

Funina snapped out of her daze. Admittedly, only a few people spoke up, but their voices were enough to draw the attention of everyone else to her.

The gods need to make a statement.

Gods need to put on a show.

Fucarus should not, and could not, remain silent or give in at this moment.

Therefore, Funina still puffed out her chest and laughed loudly: "Hahaha! My brilliance will be overshadowed by her? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous, this is utter nonsense!"

"But since my dear people so eagerly anticipate our duel—"

"I reject."

Funina's lips twitched, but she continued, "—Then I hereby formally challenge you to a duel, Luna. Let everyone witness the difference in our strength as we tear apart the mystery and seek the truth!"

"I reject."

Funina took a deep breath.

Accept it!

Claudia turned around. This guy was definitely laughing.

"Miss Luna, are you perhaps afraid?"

"What are you barking about, you bastard? Are you jealous of Miss Luna?!"

"Let's argue! Let's argue!"

Navilette, who had been at the scene for a long time, finally couldn't hold back and slammed her cane down hard.

"quiet!"

Everyone fell silent.

"It seems that you all still do not understand the seriousness of this matter, so I will repeat it again: this is a case involving the lives of others. The stage at this moment is no longer the opera stage that you all know."

"It is the crime scene, and everyone here is a suspect."

“As for Miss Luna, you don’t need to heed Ms. Frinna’s request. As the Supreme Judge, I grant you permission to conduct your investigation. Please come over.”

Luna nodded gently.

"Wait," Funina said.

This was not unexpected for Luna.

"Are you going to run away?" Funina whispered.

The god "Fukaros" could not possibly acquiesce to this at such a time, nor could he simply "swallow his anger".

"Oh, oh, oh, Lady Funina is indeed dissatisfied."

"This is the Lady Funina we know."

Luna stopped and looked at Funina.

"No one can escape my challenge to a duel, and you are no exception. You claim Linne and Lynette are innocent, is that it? Then—"

She pointed to Linnie and Lynette.

"—Then I assert that they are guilty!"

She can't express herself like Luna.

I can't be like Luna, who doesn't need to act and can freely show off her brilliance.

You must have found the key to the incident, right...? Funina stared directly into Luna's eyes, but she couldn't discern any emotion in those crimson irises.

Even if the accusation is false, she has to do it.

95

Wrongfully accused? That won't happen.

“…Then let me be their defense attorney.” Luna smiled in response.

Because she will uncover the truth and present it on this stage.

Upon hearing her answer, Funina breathed a sigh of relief; that was good...

"Do you understand now?"

Funina said softly, "Now you understand what the consequences would be if we became friends, right?"

There is only one answer—disappointment.

She, now the water goddess Fucarus, was forged by the will of the Fontaines. They wanted "drama," so she could only embody "drama."

If she were to weigh the will of the masses and the wishes of her friends on her scales, it would only tip to one side.

My role cannot be revealed.

Luna followed the fleeting look of confusion in Funina's eyes, but all she saw was a resolute will.

"I understand."

Luna chuckled lightly, "But any expectation anyone has of me will have only one outcome."

The outcome is destined to be only one thing—disappointment.

I will only follow my heart.

“So, what Lady Funina thinks is perhaps not important to me?” Luna said softly.

...What a strange person.

113: Reversal of Fortune (4K8)

Despite becoming Linnie and Lynette's defense attorney, Luna had no intention of challenging Frynn.

If her intuition was correct, this case was undoubtedly the last stand of the Less gang. Her adversary was never Furnessa.

They were actually criminals.

Let's start by investigating and collecting evidence at the scene.

Luna walked onto the stage and began to investigate carefully.

"I see, the rope for the water tank was made of flammable material and was burned through by the stage fireworks... Nana, make a note of this—"

Almost forgot, she was looking for evidence against the mastermind behind it all.

I don't know how it's going.

Luna thought to herself: I asked Chiori to help her, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Despite her gentle and delicate appearance, Chiori is actually incredibly precise and swift in action, wielding both swords with ease. Moreover, she is unaffected by the primordial waters of the womb.

"You were worried about me yesterday, and today you want me to help your partner? You've got guts."

Despite being lectured by her, Chiori eventually accepted it.

Of course, there is a price to pay.

"I can help you, but you have to do one thing I ask of you later."

"Sure, do whatever you want with me."

"...Don't regret it later."

Although it's unclear what Chiori's demands are, it's not an unacceptable price to pay.

Luna thought about it casually, making the clues in her mind.

"Are you distressed that your assistant is gone?" a voice suddenly rang out.

Luna glanced to her side: "Miss Clorinde? Aren't you supposed to stay by Lady Frinna's side?"

“Good question. She said she wanted me to help you gather clues, calling it ‘testing and probing.’ I’m her subordinate, so I couldn’t refuse this order and came over.”

Clarin crossed her arms, a hint of hesitation flashing in her cool eyes.

“If you don’t think it’s okay, then I’ll go back now,” she said softly.

It was rare to see such an expression on Clarinde's usually expressionless face.

Luna smiled and said, "Of course."

"Okay, then I'll be your temporary assistant from now on. Do whatever you want with me."

"Then tell me your true intentions?"

"...I knew I couldn't hide it. I just wanted to say thank you." Clarinde took a few steps closer to avoid being overheard by others.

As Luna inspected the water tank, she asked, "About Nana?"

"Correct."

Claryn pulled down her hat, and the dangling crystal earrings sparkled just like her eyes.

“I used to be friends with her, and we’ve known each other for several years. She’s a strong person, but her father’s death still had a significant impact on her, not to mention—he died by my sword.”

"At that time, Kares was only determined to die, while I chose to fulfill his wish. Before he died, he entrusted me with taking care of Navia, actually asking me, the man who killed her father, to take care of her..."

Luna stood up and clapped her hands: "It wasn't you who killed him, but an enemy lurking in the shadows. He knew that, and Navia knew it too. She doesn't resent you."

Claudia was puzzled. Didn't she harbor any resentment?

It's impossible not to hate her, right? From that day on, Navia never gave her a kind look again.

"Can't you understand?"

"That's it."

Luna bent her index finger and gently tapped Clorind's hat.

“You’ll understand later.” She then gently pinched a strand of Clorind’s hair and pulled it downwards, then lightly fiddled with the sparkling crystal earrings with her index finger.

True disgust is never about giving you a bad look.