Lumine quickly took up a fighting stance as well, preparing for battle.
Furina cleared her throat and declared, "Ahem... I won't be holding back, Traveler! But before you can challenge me, you'll first have to defeat my loyal guardian, Lora."
"Hm?" Lora looked a little surprised after hearing Furina's words. She hadn't expected her to smooth things over like this.
"Huh? Isn't Lady Clorinde supposed to be Lady Furina's Champion Duelist? Why did it suddenly become Miss Lora instead?" The crowd below immediately started whispering among themselves.
"Hm?" Noticing the questioning voices from below, Furina quickly explained, "As a Champion Duelist, Clorinde naturally only appears during trials at the Opera Epiclese. Ordinary situations can't possibly be compared to formal court proceedings."
"As expected of Lady Furina! You really thought of everything!"
The crowd burst into applause after hearing her explanation.
Truthfully, if Fontaine weren't constantly under the threat of being swallowed by the sea, the people of Fontaine adored Furina, their Hydro Archon. It wasn't reverence or fear toward a god. They simply genuinely liked Furina herself.
Even Lora, standing nearby, couldn't help giving the girl a thumbs-up for her quick thinking.
She reached out and gently rubbed Furina's hair.
Furina immediately dodged away and complained, "We're in public! At least let me keep some of my image..."
Lora laughed softly, then lowered her gaze toward Lumine and Paimon.
"From a rational standpoint, she's right. As Lady Furina's bodyguard, it's my responsibility to protect her. Come then. Let me see just how capable the Traveler who has journeyed across nations and stirred up countless storms truly is."
Standing off to the side, Chaya shot Lora a look that clearly said, Those were supposed to be my lines.
Lora glanced back at Chaya with a smile, her eyes practically saying, Whoever says them first gets them.
Furina quietly whispered to Lora, "Hey... stop calling me Lady Furina. It feels weird..."
Lora kept smiling.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances below.
Paimon whispered nervously, "No way... Are we really going to fight Lora? But... she's an adeptus who can even suppress gods. Can we even beat her?"
Lumine frowned thoughtfully, but she quickly figured things out.
"Relax. Lora won't hurt us."
With Lora's personality, teasing them was definitely possible, but jokes were jokes. She genuinely wouldn't let anything happen to them.
Lumine leaned closer to Paimon and continued, "Later, we just have to do this... then that..."
"Uh..." Paimon scratched her head. "Will that really work?"
"Trust me. It will." Lumine nodded firmly before raising her sword toward Lora. "Then let's do this!"
The moment her words fell, Lora vanished from Furina's side.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared directly in front of them.
One hand grabbed Lumine's sword arm, while the other caught Paimon, who had been trying to fly away.
"All right, you two lose," Lora announced calmly.
Lumine immediately nodded.
"Yep, we lost."
Seeing Lumine's reaction, Lora let out a helpless sigh.
Come on, at least put a little effort into the acting.
Lora turned back toward Furina.
"It's done."
"Eh...? That fast? Ah... um..." Furina stared over in shock. She hadn't expected Lora to subdue Lumine and Paimon in less than a blink.
Still, she quickly suppressed her surprise and put on an expression as though everything had gone exactly according to plan.
"Mm! Excellent! As expected of the personal bodyguard I chose. Lora, your strength has earned my recognition once again!"
Furina nodded proudly, smiling brightly at her.
Lora smiled faintly after hearing that.
"Then I'm honored."
The moment she said that, a sudden chill ran down Furina's spine.
She looked around before asking Chaya, "Do you feel cold?"
Chaya shook her head.
"Not at all."
"Was it just my imagination?" Furina frowned slightly.
Still, with Lumine and Paimon already restrained, there was no reason to remain here any longer.
Furina cleared her throat again.
"Ahem... Very well, we're returning now! Traveler from another land, I shall have the Palais Mermonia temporarily detain you until tomorrow, when you will formally stand trial for the 'sin' of drawing your blade against a god!"
The attendants who had accompanied Furina immediately stepped forward and took Lumine and Paimon from Lora's hands.
Lora quietly reassured the two of them before returning to Furina's side.
Furina hopped down from the crate atop the platform, instantly ending up a full head shorter than both Lora and Chaya beside her.
"Let's head back! I'm sure Neuvillette will be happy to see you too. Aren't you old friends?" Furina said to Lora before walking ahead.
The group boarded the aquabus.
Furina looked at Lora and Chaya sitting across from her, then turned toward Clorinde seated nearby.
"Clorinde, go wait at the back. I have something to discuss with them."
Clorinde glanced at Lora and Chaya without showing any suspicion, then stood up and left her seat.
Once Clorinde was gone, Furina finally spoke.
"Lora... who exactly are you? And why do you know gods?"
Lora couldn't help laughing softly.
She really went straight for the heavy question.
"What are you laughing at?" Furina frowned slightly after seeing her smile.
Truthfully, she had gathered quite a bit of courage just to ask this. If she hadn't already spent time with Chaya and known how easygoing she was, Furina wouldn't even have dared to bring it up.
"I just didn't expect you to ask so directly." Lora smiled at Furina as she spoke slowly. "Looks like after all this time, you've become much braver... and much smarter too."
"Of course!" Furina immediately lifted her chin proudly. "I am Focalors, the Hydro Archon and one of The Seven who rules Fontaine. My wisdom is the wisdom of a god!"
Lora lightly nodded without exposing her.
Looking at the curiosity in Furina's eyes, she slowly said, "Actually... I've lived for several thousand years. Do you believe me?"
"An old monster?" Furina blurted out instinctively.
Lora: "..."
Seeing Lora suddenly fall silent, Furina shivered and hurriedly waved her hands.
"I was talking nonsense! Don't get angry! Don't hit me..."
Lora sighed helplessly, then shook her head with an indulgent smile.
"I could never bring myself to hit you..."