Furina was still a kind-hearted person.
Even five hundred years hadn't changed that.
Knowing that someone was going to die would make her sad.
Knowing that someone would survive would make her happy.
Although she wasn't particularly close to Focalors, seeing a life that was on the verge of ending receive a chance at a second life naturally filled her with joy.
Focalors was happy too, but she also had her concerns.
If the Hydro Archon didn't die, how could the dragon's power be returned?
The Authority was bound to the divine throne.
It couldn't possibly remain with the Hydro Archon's throne forever while Neuvillette was denied the Authority of the Hydro Dragon.
That power had belonged to the Elemental Dragon Sovereign in the first place.
Su Ran reached his hand through the mirror and grabbed Focalors, pulling her straight out.
"Wait..."
"I don't have a body. You can't pull me out of the mirror—"
Focalors had originally intended to scold him for being so rough when she saw him reaching into the mirror.
But the moment she realized that she had actually been pulled into the real world...she was stunned.
"You can do this too?"
"You can make a consciousness exist independently of its body in the real world?"
She had heard of this kind of existence before.
She simply didn't know how to do it herself.
"This is the form of existence used by Memokeepers."
"Fortunately, I happen to possess the power of Remembrance."
If he used other methods, it would take considerably more effort.
But with the Remembrance Path at his disposal, things were much simpler.
All he had to do was let Focalors exist as a meme.
"That sounds amazing."
"Even the power I possess came out with me."
"It's not that amazing."
"Right now, you're at most a wandering ghost with divine power."
"You don't even have a physical body."
Even in meme form, Focalors still had no body.
She had given her body to Furina long ago.
"That's a rather cruel way of putting it."
"After all, I'm incredibly grateful to you."
Focalors put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
No matter what, she was still Fontaine's legitimate Hydro Archon.
How could he describe her as some wandering ghost?
He made her sound so cheap.
"If you don't want to be a wandering ghost, that's fine."
"Then you'll need somewhere to belong."
Only now did Su Ran reveal a somewhat mischievous smile.
"So you really are planning to make a move on me?"
Focalors seemed to have accepted her fate.
She immediately spread her arms, presenting herself like someone awaiting judgment.
"I'm a little short, and my figure isn't particularly impressive..."
"But at least I have some confidence in this face."
Furina felt that something was very wrong with that statement.
Focalors looked exactly like her.
Even their physical specifications were more or less the same.
So how did this self-deprecating remark somehow feel like an insult directed at her too?
"I always thought only that useless fox had a mind full of indecent thoughts."
"Turns out you're not much better, Focalors."
Su Ran grabbed Focalors by the arm and gave it a slight squeeze.
"Feels like skin and bones."
"The only part of your body with any real flesh on it is your face."
Compared to Guuji Yae, she was nowhere close.
Even compared to Tingyun, she fell short.
"So you're not actually interested in my body?"
"How disappointing..."
Focalors sighed.
"Hey!"
"Is that really something to be disappointed about?"
Furina couldn't understand Focalors at all.
Shouldn't she be relieved that Eighty-Five wasn't lusting after her?
After all, there were only two adorable faces like theirs in the entire world!
"Hm?"
"He's handsome, capable, and powerful."
"If someone like him were my future partner..."
"...wouldn't that mean I wouldn't have to do anything?"
"I could just stay home and look pretty."
Compared to Furina, Focalors was surprisingly open-minded about the matter.
Whether he was a Fatui Harbinger or not, this young man's abilities were simply extraordinary.
"You!"
For once, Furina couldn't find anything with which to argue.
She also took another look at Eighty-Five.
He really did seem to have no obvious flaws.
If her partner were someone that outstanding, wouldn't she be able to live like royalty?
She wouldn't have to do any work at all.
That did sound incredibly relaxing.
"Don't get so angry."
"Your expectations just weren't met."
"I thought even someone as handsome as me..."
"...could attract a young man like him."
Focalors really was disappointed.
From her perspective, this was obviously a good thing!
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
"No!"
"Eighty-Five is supposed to save Fontaine!"
"You can't ruin him!"
Furina spread her arms and shielded Su Ran behind her, glaring warily at Focalors.
She had thought Focalors was some great and noble god.
Who would've thought she would turn out to be this kind of person?
"Sigh."
"You're still too innocent, Furina."
"After all..."
"...isn't the person responsible for finding me a place to belong precisely this young man?"
Focalors covered her face and shook her head with a helpless smile.
Furina turned around and glared at Su Ran.
"You..."
"You aren't allowed to have ideas about her!"
She looked just like a mother hen protecting her chick.
The only problem was...
it was impossible to tell which one of them was supposed to be the chick.
"That won't work, Furina."
"Fontaine's laws only allow me to have ideas about Focalors."
"They don't allow me to have ideas about you."
"???"
Furina froze.
Which law says that?!
Surely there wasn't one?
Even as Fontaine's god, was she not allowed to be loved by her people?
Even if Eighty-Five wasn't actually one of her people...
"Fontaine's laws prohibit giving a pet the name 'Furina'."
"But they never said anything about naming a pet 'Focalors', did they?"
Furina: ???
Is there something wrong with me...
...or is there something wrong with you?
"Oh?"
"So I'm allowed to be a pet?"
Focalors pondered this for a moment.
She didn't seem offended at all.
"That actually doesn't sound too bad."
"???"
Furina's mind was now filled with nothing but questions.
What do you mean, 'doesn't sound too bad'?
Are you seriously going to let this man keep the legitimate Hydro Archon as a pet?
"I wouldn't have to worry about food every day."
"I wouldn't have to work."
"I'd only need to act cute."
"Eat until I'm full, play until I'm tired, sleep until I wake up..."
"...and then there'd be food waiting for me again."
"That sounds much better than staying inside the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
Furina had suffered outside.
Focalors had suffered inside the Oratrice.
She was tired too.
Not only did she have to work, she had to work whenever a trial took place.
Her workload was hardly light.
At least Furina had little cakes to enjoy.
Focalors had nothing.
"But..."
"He said you don't have a body."
"How are you supposed to eat?"
Furina was starting to panic.
This was the Hydro Archon!
If Focalors came back, wouldn't that mean Furina wouldn't have to work anymore?
No!
She couldn't let Focalors become a pet!
"Young man..."
"If a pet can't be fed, then what's the fun?"
"You'll help me with that, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Making bodies for people is something I'm very good at."
Furina: ???
What?!
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