Chapter 64 The truth cannot be hidden, Vilette is stabbed...
Is it right.
"......"
I really hope it's true.
Navigette wanted to accept this conclusion as fact.
But all the clues left no room for Shuilong to have even the slightest thought of escaping.
Putting aside the question of why the cat hair would only be distributed on the inner lower back, let's talk about this robe that looks like a curtain.
"Mr. Navelette, where did you find it!?"
The opera house staff responsible for cleaning saw this and hurriedly and happily went forward:
"I'll go hang it back on the window!"
It doesn't look like it.
Navelette stood there dumbfounded, feeling the fabric slip through her hands.
...It's a curtain.
O water, source of all things, grant me wisdom and understanding, that I may be able to analyze:
Leosley's younger brother, the boy who dressed himself up tightly and looked gloomy and tense the last time we met.
After arriving at the opera house, how likely is it that he will fall madly in love with the embroidery on the curtains, forcibly steal it, modify it, and then wear it in place of his old robe?
"......"
Cleverness and wisdom bypassed the question, instead reminding the dragon of something he didn't want to think about.
Some Liyue lore mentions that inexperienced Celestials will cover their bodies with leaves, which often frightens woodcutters coming up the mountain to chop wood. The two will then develop a beautiful romance. Cat God is sometimes not very bright, and without a teacher's guidance, he definitely can't create clothes. Could it be... Don't overthink it!
Villette's hair stood on end.
What if Mainkuhn really is an artist with a unique sense of style? At least, at least he looks—at least—like what Furina described as gothic?
"Ugh! Damn it! Who the hell scratched it like this! It's completely unusable. How am I supposed to block the light with such a big hole? I specifically took it apart to replace it because the weather was bad today..."
The cleaner was wailing loudly at the curtains, and Violet immediately noticed the messy claw marks on them. She simply tore the opening of the probe and the collar covering her face roughly.
"......"
Dude, is this what gothic style is like?
In short! Cat God could never be—
"Reporting damaged property and getting it reordered requires so many stamps; I really hope it can be finished within a month..."
"--How much."
Long's eyes were fixed, but his hand quickly reached for his wallet:
"I should bear all the economic losses he caused..."
"What? No, no, no, please don't give me any money! They'll reimburse me!"
The man panicked even more after hearing this:
"If you make up for this expense yourself and don't get reimbursed, our poor accountant will be completely ruined at the end of the year! Thinking about it this way, it's much more convenient and kind of you to run around to twenty departments and get fifty-seven stamps!"
"......"
Perhaps Fontaine's system needs improvement.
*
Navigette left the opera house in a daze. He forgot whether he had let the two playwrights leave, and he also forgot how he had convinced the cleaner to let him handle the curtains covered in evidence.
[...the cat god was found near the curtains.]
Today's case is horrific; the court should arrange for the mother to see a psychologist.
[...The cat god is no ordinary wild animal; how could it be so easily frightened that it loses its mind?]
We should try to strengthen children's awareness of prevention, but how can we prevent it when the murderer is the father?
[...Cat God...If Mainkun had actually stayed where he was and hadn't run away, that would explain why I didn't catch him.]
I also broke two rows of chairs in the opera house; I'll have to allocate more budget for that place when I get back.
[...Cat God—If you want something else, stop thinking about him!]
Her mind was a jumbled mess; Violet didn't know what was wrong with her, but as soon as she connected the big cat that kept jumping onto her lap, rolling around and whining for affection with her brother Leosley's tragic past and his silent, aloof demeanor—
Impossible, absolutely impossible! It feels so uncomfortable, like coconut charcoal cakes are crawling all over my body!
"Funingna".
Why am I feeling so upset?
With extremely complicated and helpless feelings, Navelette picked up her curtain robe and pushed open the door to the Mo Mang Palace office.
"Is Cat God feeling better...?"
When the door opened, there was no white-haired deity to be seen. Only a duke with spiky hair was sitting on the sofa making tea.
[How could it be you—cold, composed Villette, the entrance to Mélo Petersburg is right behind the opera house, it's perfectly normal for Frynn to run into Leosley...]
"Furina went to chat with the Fontaine citizen she had an appointment with."
In his haste, Navelette noticed that he had pulled out the sugar jar from his drawer, and two sugar cubes had fallen into the clear tea.
"As for the cat god, the vet gave him some relaxation spray, and I comforted him a lot."
He revealed the cat lying on his lap, a hint of smugness appearing on his handsome face:
"Look, it's much better."
The cat swished its short tail and lazily patted the Duke's belly with its paw:
"Meow".
Indeed, although still somewhat listless, he already showed signs of satisfaction.
Uh... Mr. Mainkuhn, you... no, no, no, you can't look at it that way! What if it's not like that!
Maine Coon may just happen to have a silver-grey Maine Coon, and he's just a performance artist who likes to carry his cat around with him by strapping it to his waist!
Navelette tried to maintain a calm expression, but her legs seemed rooted to the doorway, unable to move an inch.
"Um?"
Seeing that he hadn't moved forward for a while, Leosley looked back at him with a slightly confused expression and a hint of caution in his eyes.
"I thought you wouldn't mind if I used your tea set?"
"Of course, of course."
The Water Dragon King nearly stammered as he spoke, "I... I'm so glad to see you relaxing in my room."
"?"
Leosley didn't feel at ease. Instead, he straightened his back and, like a startled dog, scanned the dragon's thin figure from head to toe.
"You look a little different than usual."
He pondered.
"It's probably not just because I didn't get my coat."
"What? I'm perfectly normal today, I didn't discover any secrets."
Navelette tried hard to keep her eyes from looking away first, but the hand that wasn't carrying anything swayed left and right, eventually resting uneasily on her chest.
Is this... a feeling of guilt?
The dragon pressed down on the wildly beating heart through the bones and the snow-white inner garment.
I'm so panicked, so upset. How do humans manage to resist these emotions and commit crimes...? No, I haven't done anything wrong, so why do I feel guilty?
"...Furina did say that after I took off my coat, I had almost no intimidating presence as a judge."
He continued, following the Duke's lead.
"Unfortunately, she wasn't lying."
Leosley glanced at his shoulders, which had shrunk considerably, and seemed to have been diverted from the conversation.
"You need to get up from your desk, walk around, run around, and exercise your arm and leg muscles. This can also help you live longer."
"...Um."
The dragon, who was hiding his identity in the human world, remained noncommittal, simply responding obediently without stepping forward.
"...However, you don't need to take Ms. Furina's opinion too seriously, after all—"
Suddenly, the human sprang to his feet, his long legs leaping high, and charged towards Vilette in a few strides—
Navelette: "!!!?"
In the emergency, Navelette, who was still not calm, only had time to put the bag containing the curtains on her back!
"--after all."
A soft and warm creature was gently placed on the Water Dragon King's shoulder.
"Being able to carry a cat weighing nearly 20 pounds for a long time without any problems, you can hardly be considered a weak office worker."
"!?"
Navelette caught it with one hand, a testament to her skill.
"Don't worry, Mr. Judge of Fontainebleau is the best."
Leosley stood steadily in front of him, holding the cat god in his hands and pressing it into his arms.
"Although I am not very clear about the cause and process of this case, nor do I know why he was so frightened by you."
The life in my arms was startled for a moment, but quickly found a comfortable position.
"But it is obvious that we are a special victim who cannot speak."
Leosley tilted his head, revealing a mocking smile:
"It seems like they don't blame you at all... That's good, you don't have to sit in the defendant's seat."
Of course he won't sue me, I know that perfectly well—no, Fontaine's cat doesn't have the right to sue; it has to be represented by its owner... No! Mainkuen!
Navelette's breath hitched, and her grip on the cat loosened—
"Smack."
Leosley rushed forward and caught the sliding cat.
"Everyone says no one will blame you."
He gave the Water Dragon King a helpless look:
"You're so guilty your hands are shaking? That won't do; making parts is a delicate job."
No, no.
Navelette looked at the human face and instantly understood everything.
"I'm glad you're trying to comfort me, but..."
But I wasn't standing at the door afraid to go in because I felt guilty for scaring the cat god! I was afraid to go in because he was Mainkun! I couldn't hug and kiss a strange boy—
"Meow?"
The cat, in a strange posture, half-carried and half-embraced the two, looked at this one and then at that one, looking confused.
He's not fully awake yet, neither his mind nor his body.
"." It seems like it won't fall.
The cat lay down and fearlessly continued to rest with its eyes closed.
...A strange young man?
wrong.
Cat God is a clumsy student who, when terrified, loses all reason but will instinctively seek my protection...
"But what?"
The ignorant humans stood very close to him, repeating with some concern.
"nothing."
Leosley had never seen such a weak and listless expression on the Water Dragon King's face.
"Naviette!?"
Today I experienced so many complex, intense, and difficult-to-analyze emotions.
"Excuse me, please let me... I need to catch my breath."
Shuilong held onto the Duke's arm, relying on him as if he were relying on a sturdy cane.
[In the past, all of this was created by humans; I accept that.]
[But today it's the opposite.]
Leosley, I think I finally understand why I can't accept that the Cat God and Mainkun are the same person. It's not unusual for immortals and demons to take human form.
"Is everything alright? Would you like some hot tea?"
"Please give me some purified water."
Long Yang lay on the sofa, with the cat lying opposite him, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
"Leosley".
He swallowed a mouthful of the clean water that had been offered to him, and felt much better.
"Is your brother even human?"
"Huh? Haven't you met him before?... This doesn't mean anything by it, right?"
"Was he granted human dignity and raised in human form?"
"certainly?"
That makes it even stranger, Leosley.
...I have traveled through Fontainebleau for four hundred years and have seen most of the sentient beings that are connected to humankind.
Those who are close to humans, those who envy humans, those who want to be human, and even those who have already become human all have their reasons, some good, some bad, some sad, some happy. I can respect and understand all of them.
However, I simply cannot imagine it, I simply cannot understand it.
What kind of pain and punishment could make a 'person' completely abandon their innate pride and degenerate into the form of a beast just to survive?
He lay on his hands on the ground, bent over and knees, completely satisfied and content.
Navelette, expressionless, reached out and pinched between her eyebrows.
What should I do?
How am I supposed to explain all this to his brother?
-----------------------
Author's note: I've finished writing! I didn't abandon the project!
I usually add milk to my coffee, but for tea, two sugar cubes are enough.
This is from Leosley's voice. That old guy is kind of cute. I thought he was a black coffee enthusiast before.
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