Furina does not like killing.
This is something Liu Yuan knows, so, in most cases, she wouldn't do anything Furina disliked. Therefore, she never considered directly eradicating this local legend.
In fact, the only time she had taken action so far was against the observer who harbored ill will towards Furina. Even then, Liu Yuan gave him a chance, but unfortunately, he didn't cherish it.
So, Liu Yuan gave him a 'small' punishment. If his physique was strong enough to withstand the pressure of the water element, which Liu Yuan didn't use much power for, he might, with good luck, end up paralyzed, but at least he'd be alive, right?
It can be said that as the first person Liu Yuan saw upon opening her eyes in this world, Furina's influence on Liu Yuan was terrifyingly immense.
In fact, Furina directly influenced the establishment of Liu Yuan's logical thinking and the formation of her values.
Therefore, this world should be grateful that the first being Liu Yuan encountered was Furina, and grateful that Furina is a pure, kind, and not very cunning being.
Otherwise...
Suppose Liu Yuan descended into this world, and no one could see her or guide her. And she began to learn naturally, with rationality always dominating her thoughts. This would lead Liu Yuan to learn and understand everything.
And when Liu Yuan becomes interested in the composition of life one day, will she not conceive the idea of decomposing life to understand it? Even more so, if one day she becomes interested in the composition of the world, will she not conceive the idea of... dissecting the world?
An absolutely rational being, always maintaining a state of reason, possessing absolute power, without any human weaknesses, and unconstrained by human moral concepts...
Hmm... she would simply be an existence that would drive the protagonist group to despair.
However, as the saying goes, be grateful. Be grateful that Liu Yuan met the pure, kind, and not a cunning Furina...
After all, even now, the worst thought Furina ever had towards Liu Yuan was when she first appeared, and she thought she was a hallucination, hoping this hallucination would disappear soon.
And now, Furina is overthinking with the little cunning she has left.
'Ahh!!! How could I misunderstand Liu Yuan again! Why have I been getting angry with Liu Yuan so easily lately?! What is going on!!!'
Furina kept asking herself in her heart, holding the grilled fish, seemingly eating in small bites, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.
When did it... start?
The first question arose.
Furina is actually very good at managing her emotions. Five hundred years have taught her too much. Although as a 'mascot' she couldn't experience many things, through immersion, she also knew how she should be.
Furina is skilled at acting and knows how to control her emotions, but... just a few months ago, she discovered that in front of Liu Yuan, she had lost the ability to 'act'.
She would throw tantrums without disguise, occasionally get angry, and pester Liu Yuan to play with her.
In short, in front of Liu Yuan, she was herself, she was Furina. This feeling made Furina increasingly dependent on Liu Yuan.
Later, this dependence gradually changed because Liu Yuan's concern for Furina was increasing little by little, and she became more attentive. Coupled with the existing dependence, the two combined, gradually changing, and finally... turning into love.
And a month ago, after she and Liu Yuan "slept in the same bed", she became more and more prone to overthinking.
She even... started to be afraid.
Afraid that Liu Yuan would suddenly disappear, afraid that Liu Yuan would suddenly stop liking her or even leave her, afraid that Liu Yuan would suddenly fall in love with someone else... these were all her wild thoughts.
She knew that her personality was actually a bit willful, but Liu Yuan always tolerated everything about her. No matter what request or idea she made, Liu Yuan would help her achieve it.
However, this made Furina even more afraid.
Because of Liu Yuan's boundless tolerance for her, Furina was afraid that one day she would suddenly do something wrong, break Liu Yuan's bottom line, and that Liu Yuan would abandon her because of it.
Girls are always prone to overthinking, and they think a lot, so every time Furina gets angry, she regrets it, regretting whether this would make Liu Yuan unhappy.
However, Liu Yuan always tolerated her, which made Furina feel even more guilty.
Liu Yuan is so good to me, yet I still get angry with her. It's just a small matter, but I always can't control it...
Every time Liu Yuan comforted her, she would be very happy, because it proved that Liu Yuan still cared about her, and that Liu Yuan still had her in her heart.
However, every time it ended, Furina always felt guilty, and now, the guilt in Furina's heart had accumulated to a certain extent, and because of the confusion of thoughts after seeing the newspaper during the day, everything erupted at this moment.
Lately... I really seem to often lose my temper with Liu Yuan...
Always suddenly getting angry... always suddenly unhappy...
Furina was somewhat silent, eating the grilled fish in small bites.
Indeed, as Liu Yuan said, there wasn't a single bone in the fish, but she was inexplicably out of sorts right now.
"What's wrong?"
Liu Yuan, who had been paying attention to Furina, noticed that she was not herself.
"Liu Yuan... is my personality really bad...?"
Furina said softly, with undisguised despondency in her tone.
She didn't even dare to let others know about her relationship with Liu Yuan right now, and could only tell others that Liu Yuan was her familiar...
This feeling of being secretive was really... unpleasant.
"Why do you say that?"
Liu Yuan said softly, putting the grilled fish aside, and then holding Furina's hand in her palm.
Feeling Liu Yuan hold her hand, Furina's somewhat chaotic thoughts inexplicably calmed down. She organized her thoughts, and then said softly:
"You see, lately I've been losing my temper with you almost every day, and it's always for no reason. Am I... am I really annoying...?"
"Losing your temper?"
Liu Yuan blinked. Honestly, she never really thought Furina was losing her temper; it just seemed that Furina had been unhappy a bit too often lately.
But each time, it didn't last long before she returned to normal, and coupled with how perhaps cute Furina was then, Liu Yuan hadn't paid too much attention. But now...
Liu Yuan realized that there seemed to be a problem.
Liu Yuan extended her hand towards Furina, and then, under Furina's puzzled gaze... a flick to the forehead!
"Ugh!"
The sudden flick to the forehead gave Furina no chance to react, and she took the "attack" squarely.
Furina blinked once, then twice, the mild sting on her forehead quickly replaced by a bewildered expression.
"Why did you—?"
"You worry too much and blame yourself for small things," Liu Yuan said, her tone gentle but firm. "You assume the worst and punish yourself before I ever could. It's not good for you."
Furina's lips trembled. She wanted to retort, to claim she was perfectly reasonable, but the sincerity in Liu Yuan's eyes made words stumble in her throat.
"Even if you get angry, even if you fuss, I'm not leaving," Liu Yuan continued, tightening her hold on Furina's hand as if to anchor the words. "I'll always be with you."
The straightforward declaration, without grand gestures or theatrical flourishes, landed softly and unshakably.
Furina swallowed hard. The little volcano of emotion inside her softened into something warmer, less sharp.
"Don't... accuse yourself for nothing," Liu Yuan added, a faint smile tugging at her mouth. "If you're troubled, tell me. Don't let it pile up until you explode."
Furina's eyes glistened. She felt ridiculous and relieved all at once.
"Sorry," she muttered, then, louder, "I was being unreasonable."
"Mm."
Liu Yuan's nod was small but all-encompassing.
They sat together in the quiet for a while, the sea murmuring nearby and the grilled fish cooling on the plate. The atmosphere had shifted from anxious to gentle; the earlier worry loosened its grip.
Furina eventually smiled, sheepish and full of affection. "I... I guess I just need more courage."
"You already have a lot of courage," Liu Yuan said softly. "But you don't have to be brave alone."
Furina leaned into Liu Yuan, tucking a stray wet strand of hair behind her ear. "Promise me you won't mind my being silly sometimes."
"I won't," Liu Yuan answered, and the certainty in her voice banished the last of Furina's unease.
Outside, the local legend snorted and thumped the water idly, as if satisfied the matter had been settled. Furina, for her part, began to eat the rest of the grilled fish with much more enjoyment; with Liu Yuan by her side, even small things tasted better.
And somewhere in Furina's mind, the spiraling worries about names in newspapers and public gossip began to quiet, replaced by a steadier, softer thought — that whatever the world said, there was one thing she could hold on to.
Fortunately.
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