Seeing Seele's emotions swing like a roller coaster, Bronya couldn't help but laugh. At the same time, she couldn't help feeling a little worried.
If Seele was already reacting like this…
What about everyone else?
If more and more people showed up in the future…
Wouldn't Belobog end up turning into the Jade Chamber of Romantic Entanglements?
Inside the game space…
After answering Seele's question, Valerius flipped over the next card.
[Question 4: Is Fontaine's prophecy real? If so, how can it be resolved?]
"…This…"
"Was this asked by someone from Fontaine?"
Valerius smiled.
There were some clever people among the players after all.
Someone had actually thought to ask this.
[Charlotte: This concerns Fontaine… I'd better write this down.]
[Chevreuse: The prophecy… is it really true?]
[Wriothesley: Now that's a worthwhile question.]
[Furina: A prophecy? Is there really any need to ask? Leave everything to me…]
The moment she saw the question, Furina's composure nearly crumbled.
Although she was already working to avert the prophecy…
She had absolutely no idea what the actual solution was.
She was terrified Valerius might reveal something disastrous.
[Dr. Ratio: Hopefully the next question will be this meaningful as well.]
[Herta: Hmph… It still didn't draw my question.]
[Ningguang: A prophecy…? Is Fontaine facing some sort of catastrophe?]
[Clorinde: There is a prophecy that claims… the people of Fontaine bear Original Sin. One day, the sea level will rise and swallow Fontaine, leaving only the Hydro Archon weeping upon her throne.]
[Keqing: That's… incredibly serious.]
[Jean: Original Sin…? Why?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: We're all humans living in Teyvat. Why are only the people of Fontaine burdened with Original Sin? We've never heard of anything like that in Inazuma.]
Many people couldn't understand.
They were all humans.
Why was Fontaine the only nation carrying this mysterious "Original Sin"?
After a brief silence, Valerius finally answered.
"The prophecy…"
"is real."
Those four words instantly sent all of Fontaine into panic.
The prophecy was actually true!
Fontaine really was destined to be submerged beneath the sea!
[Chevreuse: …I can practically see Fontaine sinking already.]
[Chiori: There has to be a solution, right? My boutique is still in Fontaine.]
[Navia: Don't panic. There must be a way through this.]
[Furina: Hmph! What's there to panic about? As long as I, the Hydro Archon, am here… no prophecy can stand against me!]
Her legs were already trembling beneath her.
But she could only continue acting.
She absolutely couldn't allow panic to spread throughout Fontaine.
[Neuvillette: Who submitted this question?]
Neuvillette wanted to know.
Wasn't this simply spreading unnecessary panic?
Though even he had no idea what Furina's plan was…
He believed she must have one.
[Arlecchino: I asked it. Is there a problem?]
[Lyney: Father?]
[Furina: So it was the Fatui… Why are you so concerned about Fontaine? What are you plotting?]
[Arlecchino: My children are all citizens of Fontaine. As their parent, naturally I wish to help them survive this disaster.]
[Lynette: Father…]
[Guinaifen: Wow… What an incredible parent… Wait… Isn't Arlecchino a woman? Why does everyone call her Father?]
[Lyney: Ah… There are special circumstances.]
[Ruan Mei: A hermaphrodite???]
[Arlecchino: It's nothing that complicated. I simply dislike being called "Mother."]
[Herta: You nearly gave me a heart attack.]
[Bronya: Since Valerius knows the prophecy is real… then he must also know how to solve it.]
Seeing Fontaine beginning to panic, Bronya quickly tried to reassure them.
In her eyes…
Valerius knew countless secrets.
If he knew the truth…
Then surely he also knew the solution.
[Wriothesley: That actually makes sense…]
The reminder immediately calmed everyone in Fontaine.
If Valerius knew…
Then there had to be hope.
And even if there wasn't…
They could always win some miraculous reward from the games.
After recalling Fontaine's storyline, Valerius answered calmly.
"The solution is actually quite simple."
"Wait."
"And don't lose hope."
[Navia: So… you're telling us to simply wait?]
[Wriothesley: In other words… as long as we wait, everything will be alright?]
[Furina: See? I told you! As long as I'm here, everything will work out!]
Furina quietly let out a sigh of relief.
If Valerius said so…
Then Focalors must have already prepared everything.
All she needed to do…
Was continue playing the role of the Hydro Archon.
"If you really can't wait…"
"You could always ask Shenhe."
"Maybe she'll simply think of a solution."
[Furina: …That's certainly an unexpected approach.]
[Arlecchino: There is some logic to that.]
Shenhe possessed the infamous "If I think it'll work, it'll work" ability.
If she simply believed the prophecy wouldn't come true…
Then perhaps it really wouldn't.
For a brief moment…
Even Arlecchino considered asking Shenhe for help.
[Shenhe: The prophecy… let me think about it.]
[Ningguang: Shenhe, don't rush… People of Fontaine, how about we make a business deal?]
[Wriothesley: Nice try. We'd rather just wait.]
[Emilie: If waiting alone can resolve it, then we're perfectly capable of waiting.]
[Chevreuse: Exactly. Since Shenhe could obtain a Rule Skill… we can do the same.]
[Chiori: So… my boutique is safe?]
[Lynette: That's the only thing you're worried about?]
[Chiori: Not exactly… it's just a pleasant bonus.]
"If you want to overcome the prophecy…"
"Then do your best in the upcoming games."
After finishing the fourth question, Valerius picked up the final card.
[Question 5: Mr. Valerius, what do you think of my little sister?
By the way… this is Raiden Makoto.]
[Yae Miko: Oh? So it's Makoto's question. She didn't even bother hiding it?]
[Kujou Sara: What is there to think? She's unreliable. Hmph.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: General Kujou… could you please say a little less?]
[Kujou Sara: What? If she can do it, why can't I say it?]
[Kuki Shinobu: Sigh… this punishment…]
Nowadays, if Kujou Sara didn't argue with Raiden Ei at least once a day…
She physically felt uncomfortable.
Shinobu could already imagine what would happen once the punishment finally wore off.
She isn't actually going to commit seppuku afterward… is she?
"Big Sister…"
"Why would you ask something like that?"
Makoto smiled softly.
Ever since she'd returned…
She had noticed Ei mentioning Valerius almost every single day.
Most of the time…
It was things like how Valerius had given her sweets…
Or helped bring Makoto back.
But Makoto could tell.
Ei clearly cared about Valerius more than she realized.
That had never happened before.
So she simply wanted to know…
What kind of person Ei was in Valerius's eyes.
Inside the game space…
After reading the question, Valerius answered with a single word.
"Simple."
[Yae Miko: Pfft—! Perfectly said.]
[Raiden Ei: Hmph… Hmph… He's talking nonsense.]
[Kamisato Ayato: Well… that's…]
[Arataki Itto: Hahahahaha!]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, stop laughing…]
Were you trying to become the Shogun's next punching bag?
"She's a little simple-minded…"
"But she's genuinely kind to people."
[Raiden Ei: Hmph… As if I needed your evaluation.]
Even so…
She felt just a little happier.
As for the earlier comment…
She decided to pretend she hadn't heard it at all.