Chapter 93 The Cat's Death is Mourning, Funina Strikes with Her Staff...
Arecino's encounter with Furness was purely coincidental.
Although Mainkuhn warned of the doomsday prophecy through the seawater, Arecino believed that although the water level in Fontaine had been rising year after year, the rise was slow, the sea was calm, and there were no signs of the water deteriorating. Therefore, it was impossible to prove that the prophecy was true, and the situation was not so critical that it was necessary to take action against the god of justice.
'God of Justice, I wonder how your strength compares to the Queen's?'
Arecino recalled the Ice God's cold aura and oppressive power.
High above, invincible, the supreme ruler of the nation, the god and sovereign of the people.
'They are all gods; even if there are differences, they probably aren't too great.'
'If I rashly question the prophecy and anger the water god, I fear I will die here instantly and never see Clementine and the children's smiling faces again.'
That's what Arecino thought.
So, although she felt that the opportunity to encounter Funina on her night stroll was rare, and it was even more unusual that she was not guarded by anyone, and the fact that there were few people around was a godsend, Arecino hesitated again and again, and decided to go home to rest first and discuss with Clementine how to better send the spy into the Moman Palace.
He looks like an ordinary celebrity.
Arecino hid in a corner, watching Funina warily.
'To be able to completely conceal her divine power shows that she has mastered it to its fullest extent.'
'Truly unfathomable, Furina…'
With a sigh, Arecino prepared to retreat, but just as she was about to turn her head—
"Cat God!"
The white-haired girl cheered and ran towards the bench:
What a coincidence!
'Maine? He seems to know the water god?'
Arecino was startled, but then immediately understood the key to it:
'That makes sense, after all, he's acting as Vilette's cat, and Vilette is suspected of being a divine being... tsk.'
The thought of her brother going to work as a cat makes Alecino feel uneasy.
She tried to ignore her discomfort and focus on the present, letting her career drive over everything else.
'Since Maine is here, even if we join forces with him, we might not be able to defeat Frynn, but we'll definitely be able to escape unscathed from her.'
Having analyzed the situation to this point, Aregino immediately abandoned her thoughts of returning to the fireplace house. She cast a sharp gaze at the cat, attempting to signal him to attack:
'Mainkuhn, assist me—?'
"Meow".
"Silly cat!"
In Peruvieri's sharp gaze, she saw the unfathomable deity quickly embrace the cat, a relaxed smile appearing on her face. The way she held the cat was like a child hugging her beloved animal friend, about to press her lips to their ear to confide secrets.
As for the cat, upon hearing this, its face revealed worry and distress in a remarkably human way. Finally, like a fairytale sprite, it stood up and offered the deity a fluffy comfort.
"Mimi".
Everything will be alright.
She seemed to hear Mainkuhn's voice.
...
? ? ? ?
Wait, Mainkuhn!
Arecino couldn't comprehend what was happening before her eyes.
What are you doing? What are you trying to comfort? The other person is a god!
With a surge of emotion, the cat perched on the god's shoulder looked up warily, meeting Arecino's peculiar pupils.
'I remember you hated the God of Justice the most, didn't you?'
Peruvée instinctively took a step forward:
'Did turning into a cat make your brain disappear too? And what's wrong with Frinina?'
'I saw it clearly, that supreme god—'
'You just wiped away your tears with your paws, your tears?'
Faced with the shocked gazes of its companions, the cat slowly arched its back.
"Meow!"
"W-What's going on? Cat God, where are you taking me?"
The cat screamed and grabbed the god's sleeve, while at the same time, the young servant pounced on them—
"stop!"
Something's strange!
*
"Aaaaaah!"
Funina was terrified.
She knew she should keep quiet, be composed, and show extraordinary composure at this moment... but that would be asking too much of her!
A black-clad assassin emerged from the night, carrying a sharp knife, exuding murderous intent, her voice deliberately hoarse and low.
"Furina, you—"
Almost instantly, Arecino realized that her attack was pointless.
The other party was not like a god at all; he was covered in an aura of curses.
"Who...who are you? What do you want?"
As Funina watched the knife in her hand recoil backward, her pupils filled with genuine fear.
"You, you stay away!"
In any case, we must first find a way to confirm that the prophecy is not true, otherwise Mainkun will make me go crazy with him again!
"I'm asking you..."
With a sliver of hope, Arecino spoke.
"Meow!"
But even this sliver of hope was left behind. The large, silver-gray cat let out a howl and leaped into the middle to protect the water god.
"Cat God!"
Funina, her eyes brimming with tears, was so frightened she forgot the other person could grow bigger. (Extraordinary Cat)
"You can't beat her, get behind me!"
'Maine! Kuhn! You dare stop me?'
Arecino's eyes flashed with murderous intent:
'Whose crazy ramblings do you think I'm going to all this trouble for! Get out of my way! I just have one question.'
"Meow!"
[Please stop fighting!]
The cat stood nervously between the two, wagging its short tail wildly. It had no idea how things had turned out this way.
"Awoo~"
The cat blocked Arecino's high heels, blinking frantically at her, trying to explain.
[Ask Fulina anything; it's pointless, because she doesn't know anything, and even if she did, she couldn't say. It's a waste of your energy. You should go home and rest!]
"Gods."
Arecino stepped over him, not understanding anything.
This is not her fault, because Peruvieri only has a tacit understanding with Maine's human form, and is not familiar with the cat form at all!
"Waaah, don't come any closer! I'm going to call for help! I really will!"
Blustering, Arecino reached out to pry Furina's face off:
"Tell me... Waaah!"
A sharp pain shot through her calf. Looking down, she saw a large mass of cats clinging to her ankle, their teeth piercing through her trousers.
"Meow!"
Seeing the servant bow his head, the cat immediately rolled nimbly to the ground, clasped its paws together, and stood up, frantically bowing and apologizing.
[I'm sorry for biting you—but Fryna is terrified—]
"Cat God, run!"
Funina cried, her legs shaking, her ahoge (cowlick) twitching wildly.
"Don't worry about me, sob sob..."
What is this all about?!
Arecino wasn't angry that Maine bit him; they used to beat each other so badly they were often unable to get down, so a light bite that didn't even draw blood was nothing. What really angered Arecino was...
Why are you protecting her like this? Who exactly is your family, the one who has faced life and death with you?
Whether in a new or old fireplace-filled home, the concept of family is paramount and comes first. Aregino is bewildered and angry at Maine's choice, but...
"Meow, meow!"
A cat bowing with a guilty look on its face.
"Cat God!"
Funina burst into tears.
"..."
A black-clad assassin with a cold, indifferent expression.
The small are small, the weak are weak, and the cats are cats. Arecino had no interest in bullying the weak. Seeing that Mainkuen insisted on protecting the god, she respected her brother's choice and left in a huff.
And then they left.
go.
[Finally, I'm done. I'm so tired, I need to rest for a while...]
"How could the assassin... just leave like that? Waaaaah! You're back again!"
[!]
Arecino grew increasingly annoyed at not being able to go. She turned back after only a few steps, slapped the large cat that instinctively bowed to her on the head, and muttered a curse under her breath:
"Does he really see himself as a loyal pet?"
It was just a regular slap, not very forceful, so it shouldn't have caused any serious injury, since Mainkuhn is usually quite resilient to blows.
But the problem is that Mainkun is not in a normal situation right now.
After meeting Leosley in human form, Mainkun spent several days collecting emotions without taking a break.
Arecino's slap was the final straw that broke the camel's back. The big cat, who had been suddenly relaxed and then tense again, was slapped into a deep sleep.
"Smack."
The cat collapsed softly to the ground, its pink tongue lolling out, its four paws splayed out, unconscious.
'！！！'
Arecino was shocked and knelt down to check the cat's pulse on its neck.
'Oh, he's just asleep. I thought he'd suddenly gotten what he wanted. How long has it been since he last slept...'
She looked up helplessly, only to see Funina staring blankly at her with her heterochromatic eyes, which were glistening with tears.
"What are you looking at?"
Arecino asked in a friendly manner.
"You killed him..."
"?"
"You killed him, you killed him... It wasn't enough that you slapped Cat God to death! You even choked him to finish him off!"
After muttering a few words, Funina was enraged! Her fury soared to the heavens, pierced the night, and powerlessness and regret overcame fear and cowardice. The goddess angrily grabbed her cane, which had fallen into the grass:
"I'll fight you to the death!"
'？？？'
Arecino didn't move, but deliberately took two blows to her shoulder to confirm that the other person's strength was as weak and powerless as her tears; even the youngest child in the Hearth House could easily knock her down.
"You ruthless assassin! How could you lay a hand on such an adorable cat goddess! You demon! Murderer! Cat abuser!"
“.
Despite the force of the cane, which felt like a bird pecking at it, Arecino silently bent down and, as if lifting a sack of flour, picked up the limp silver-grey cat with one hand.
The cat's head and limbs hung limply.
They were sleeping very soundly.
With a slight sway, the cat started shedding fur. "Shouldn't winter be a time for increased fur growth?" Alejandro was a little worried, so she simply tucked the cat under her arm and prepared to take it away.
"You! Ugh! Put him down!"
Upon seeing this, Funina was overcome with grief, struck him on the head with her staff, and cried out as she tried to snatch the cat:
"That cat-abusing bastard! Don't take him away!"
"...That's enough."
Arecino didn't intend to retaliate, because if she did, Frynn would die; but she wasn't one to take a beating either, so she grabbed the cane with one hand.
"Furina de Fontaine".
Click.
The metal and wood cane was snapped in two with just two fingers, as fragile as a freshly fried French fry.
"!"
Funina's face turned pale instantly, and a chill ran down her spine as she looked at the clean cut of the cane.
"So strong..." It could probably break my bones in one go...
"Furina de Fontaine".
She was still stunned when she heard the black-clad assassin call her name coldly again, and at the same time, a cold sensation landed on her neck.
It was a knife; Arecino pressed the back of the blade against Funina's artery.
"If you still want to be your god and maintain your glamorous life."
"Then step down, along with your incompetence."
"..."
Funina belatedly began to tremble.
What am I doing?!
She's an assassin, and I dared to swing my staff at her? Am I asking for trouble?
I may die, but what about my Fontaine, my people, and my plan to save the world?
She's right. I should go. I should run quickly and get back to the safety of Mo Mang Palace...
"Let go, don't you understand what I'm saying?"
But why did my hand, out of control, firmly grasp the cat god's hind paw?
"What are you doing? Let go."
Arecino couldn't understand where this trembling 'god' got the courage, and could only angrily and bewilderedly pry her hands off:
"I think you really don't want to live anymore."
"I am doing... what the gods should do!"
Almost screaming these words, Funina gripped Mainkun's limp hind paws tightly, desperately dragging him back.
"Protect the creatures of Fontainebleau..."
"They must not die in this senseless calamity..."
"..."
Arecino, fearing Mainkuhn might get hurt in his sleep, could only slowly, following the force, but she refused to let go, pressing the back of the knife directly against Funina's throat, taunting her:
"It seems you'll die before him."
"Then make your move, assassin!"
Funina lifted her tear-streaked face, her heterochromatic eyes having lost their fear, leaving only a resolute expression:
"Why haven't you killed me yet! Are you too scared?"
"you--"
Arecino realized that she had finally been discovered to have no intention of killing.
"That damned Maine..."
"Ha, I knew it."
Furina laughed, her sorrowful pride etched on her face. She lunged forward, the back of her blade slicing across an artery, her heterochromatic eyes gleaming with moonlight as she met Arecino's gaze.
"I tell you, I am a god, a god of justice, a god of law, a god of destruction and rebellion against all injustice, grievances, and suffering!"
"Don't even think about taking any of my people away from me!"
*
"..."
Arecino let go.
She watched as the white-haired girl wiped away her tears, then let them flow again, running towards the god's palace amidst the winter night's chill and the sleeping cat.
She knew that she let go not because she was afraid that bastard Mainkuen would get hurt.
Rather, it's because...
"That's strange, she can't possibly be a god."
"But why can't I detect even a trace of falsehood in her blustering declaration?"
Arecino pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure it out.
"Perhaps she even fooled herself."
But in any case, recalling Funina's terrified face and her unwilling hands, Arecino finally understood something.
'Mainkuhn, it's worth it for you to protect this human. I won't hold it against you.'
'Though weak and prone to tears, powerless and reckless, if she truly sits on the throne of justice.'
'The children of that fireplace house will all become devout lovers.'
*
Fu Ningna wiped away her tears, hugged the cat, and quietly walked into the Mo Mang Palace.
Although it was already dark, Villette had just finished working overtime. He had been incredibly busy lately, but he still noticed something was wrong with the girl at a glance:
"Furina, what's wrong? You don't look well."
"I, I—"
He shouldn't have asked; once he did, Funina almost cried again. She sobbed as she showed the dragon the limp cat:
"The Cat God is dead, waaaaah—!"
-----------------------
Author's note: I want to cry too. I'm so sad and in so much pain. Is this what the world of anime is like? It seems like I've been tricked into a huge pit by Old Mi.
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