Hello I'm back, thy leg is healed but I don't have molars anymore.
===BREAK===
"Sigh… the long-unseen Fountain of Lucine~" Furina sighed with emotion.
"Sigh… the long-unseen Opera Epiclese~" Furina sighed again.
"Eh? If I can't sit in my usual seat to watch the performance, does that mean we actually have to buy tickets and sit properly in the audience?" Furina suddenly asked.
"You guess?"
"I… I suppose we do. Entering without a ticket would definitely get us escorted out by the Gardes…"
"Congratulations. You guessed right."
"Actually, I've occasionally wanted to sit in the audience and watch a performance at the Opera Epiclese, but I've rarely had the chance. Buying a ticket like this is a first for me… After all, the entire opera house was nominally founded by me."
Looking at the crowd that once felt merely lively, Furina let out a troubled sigh. "So, we have to line up for tickets too. Just look at how many people are waiting to get in."
"If you didn't make a reservation in advance, lining up to buy tickets is the only option. Even with a reservation, you might still have to queue to collect them. Already tired of this?"
"No. It actually feels quite real… This is the kind of life I should have after setting aside the identity of the Hydro Archon. But disliking queues definitely isn't just me."
"That's true. Which is why we'd better hurry and line up, or there'll be two more people ahead of us."
"Ah, quick, quick!"
They hurriedly joined the ticket queue. Around them, newspaper vendors enthusiastically wove through the crowd, each headline more sensational than the last.
"Shocking! Prophecy and Turning Point—Lady Furina unveils measures to turn the tide!"
"In-depth Analysis of the Hydro Archon Lady Furina, Issue 161: In the Face of Prophecy, No More Words Needed—Our Archon Has Stepped Forward! All in 'New Fontaine'!"
"Shocking! As the prophecy approaches, what can ordinary people like us do? Master this knowledge to keep your whole family safe!"
"Shocking! When will the prophecy arrive? Steamdog Newspaper's renowned astrologer, Astrologist Mona Megistus, gives a detailed reading!"
"Extra! Extra! The 'Genius Invokation TCG' and the Adventurers' Guild jointly present the 'Summoners' King Grand Tournament'—registration closing soon! Play cards, win big prizes! Have you signed up?"
"As the prophecy draws near, an auspicious sign appears?! The long-silent Harvisptokhm in the desert has suddenly flourished overnight! What does its existence have to do with us? A special historical investigation into the former Hydro Archon Egeria, brought to you by The Steambird!"
Although newspaper vendors and reporters were different professions, Furina still raised her collar high to conceal herself, just in case.
After they moved away, she muttered softly, Even I don't know when the prophecy will occur. How could they possibly know… "But the impact really is significant. It's been so many days, and nearly every newspaper is still reporting on it."
Victor Wang rubbed his temple slightly. "I wonder how long this wave of frenzy will last."
"Even you don't know?"
"…I'm not omnipotent."
"I see…"
After a moment, Victor Wang offered a guess. "If I had to say, once the novelty wears off, fewer people will care. For most, what they can see and touch in daily life matters more. Besides, the Hydro Archon has already addressed the prophecy. As long as you don't give them reason to doubt, it'll be fine."
"Then should I make more public appearances to explain things?"
"No. The likelihood of the Hydro Archon enacting a law that says 'Anyone who chases after the Hydro Archon to question her about the prophecy will be sent directly to the Fortress of Meropide' is far higher than patiently explaining things to reporters over and over. Just act as you usually do. If you change too much, your persona will collapse—and you'll lose authenticity."
Am I really that kind of person?
Furina wanted to refute him, but upon reflection… that did sound like something the Hydro Archon might do. She nodded blankly. "Oh…"
Glancing at the performance board drawing closer beside the queue, Victor Wang said, "There are two performances this afternoon. The first is a concert by the Melusine Philharmonic Orchestra—'Night of Merusea Village.' The second is the stage play 'Romeo and Juliet.' One ticket per performance. If we're staying the entire afternoon, it's better to buy tickets for both."
"Then let's buy both. We're not going anywhere else this afternoon."
…
"'Romeo and Juliet.' That was the first play you ever wrote, wasn't it? The second was 'The Merchant of Fontaine.' A drama decided in the courtroom—truly one of a kind, perfectly suited for the Opera Epiclese. That was the year I wrote to you requesting the adaptation and performance rights."
"That was quite a long time ago."
"Indeed. Three years ago. The following year you wrote 'Hamlet,''A Midsummer Night's Dream,' and 'Sherlock Holmes.' In the third year, 'The Miser' and 'King Lear.' I realized that as long as I wrote to you, you would produce a new work. At the time, I thought it was because of the Hydro Archon's title… or perhaps you sought fame and fortune. But now it seems that wasn't the case at all…"
"Why bring this up all of a sudden? What are you trying to say?"
Furina stammered slightly. "It's just… I don't quite understand. Why did you write those books?"
Victor Wang carefully retraced his memories.
He wrote 'Romeo and Juliet' at first for Lisa. Later, he wrote 'Butterfly Lovers' for Hu Tao. Then, because of some infuriating rumors, he wrote 'The Merchant of Fontaine' as an apology to Lisa…
At the time, he had also considered how well 'The Merchant of Fontaine' would fit the Opera Epiclese. Since it was a comedy, perhaps it could even make Furina smile…
Can I say any of that?
Absolutely not!
As for the later books—he had simply written them because Furina kept urging him to continue…
So, he stammered in return, "I… I just wrote them for fun?"
"Hm?" Furina shot him a skeptical look.
Victor Wang quickly adjusted his wording to something more general. "Books are written to be read. If someone wants to read them, then I write."
Furina's expression grew even stranger.
The books had nothing to do with the prophecy… or rather, nothing at all. He wrote simply because she wanted to read them?
And he grasped the personality of the Hydro Archon she portrayed so precisely. Even earlier in the queue, his reply had come instantly, as if he had been observing her for a long time…
Not for fame. Not for profit. Not because of the prophecy. Then why?
If someone wants to read, then I write?
There was no way not to overthink that…
"H-Hey…?"
"Ah! What is it?"
"You zoned out. I was asking—where to next? Back to the Palais Mermonia?"
"L-Let's return to the Court of Fontaine first. I want to try something many ordinary people love—'shopping'… I should bring back a gift for Clorinde. And I want to see whether the sequel to 'The Queen's Crown' is out yet. And if there's new 'Sherlock Holmes' merchandise. And you've worked hard too—d-do you want a gift? I'll get you one as well! Not just for today. Thank you for the books you wrote before, too!"
"Me?" Victor Wang thought for two seconds, then pointed at the headband that had replaced his mask. "How about you give me this?"
…
That night, when another batch of reporters quietly snuck up to the rooftop of the Palais Mermonia, they found a new lounge chair placed there. Reclining upon it was a stranger, eyes closed in rest.
Sensing their presence, a soft bonk sounded from behind the chair.
The person on the lounge chair let out a helpless sigh.
"Visitors, halt. No further passage beyond this point."
===BREAK===
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