With Neuvillette’s declaration, the atmosphere in the Opera Epiclese ignited in an instant.
The audience erupted in excitement, eager to witness the unprecedented trial.
Following standard courtroom procedures, Furina and Lumine took their respective places at opposing benches.
“Well then…”
Once both sides were ready, Neuvillette spoke in his calm, authoritative voice.
“Lady Furina, do you contest these charges?”
“Hah, of course I do!”
Furina crossed her arms and raised her chin, exuding pride and defiance.
“Without a doubt, I—Furina de Fontaine, also known by my godly name Focalors, one of the Seven Archons, Queen of the Waters, Lands, People, and Laws—am a bona fide deity!”
Her confident declaration resonated with the crowd. Whispers rippled through the audience as many expressed agreement.
Despite Furina’s eccentric tendencies, the idea that she wasn’t a god seemed outrageous.
“And besides,” she continued smugly, “if I weren’t a god, how is it that, after 500 years, I’m still as youthful and radiant as ever? Clearly, you’re mistaken.”
“Now, if you withdraw these ridiculous charges immediately, I, in my infinite justice and mercy, may choose to overlook your slander. We can all laugh this off as a delightful bit of theater. What do you say?”
“…”
Furina’s self-assured presence swayed many in the audience, who were nodding along to her words.
However, Lumine remained silent, waiting for the right moment before countering.
“Longevity isn’t unique to gods,” Lumine said evenly.
“Curses can grant long life as well. Even your fellow Harbinger, Arlecchino, once hinted that you were afflicted by some sort of curse that prolonged your existence.”
“Oh?”
Furina sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“So now you’re relying on the words of a Fatui Harbinger to discredit me?”
“Surely you’re aware that Harbingers are known for their deceitful and erratic behavior. How can you be certain anything she said was true?”
“…”
Lumine’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. She pressed on.
“What about the Oratrice Mecanique d’Analyse Cardinale?” Lumine asked.
“You claim to have created it, yet during Childe’s trial, you couldn’t provide an explanation for its verdicts.”
“Th-that’s because…”
Furina faltered briefly, her confidence taking a hit. After a moment’s hesitation, she muttered, “I’ve already told you—the judgments of gods are beyond mortal comprehension. I’m not obligated to explain them to you.”
Her deflection only invited more scrutiny. Neuvillette’s voice broke through, as calm and firm as ever.
“This is a trial, Lady Furina.
“If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, it will be deemed that you are unable to substantiate your identity. This will severely undermine your case.”
“You dare…”
Furina’s voice wavered, her bravado diminishing as a trace of panic crept into her expression.
She hadn’t expected them to come so well-prepared, with arguments meticulously designed to strip away her credibility.
Sensing her hesitation, Lumine and Paimon seized the opportunity.
“If you can’t explain the Oratrice, it proves you didn’t create it,” Paimon said, her tone sharper than usual.
“That’s because it was created by the real Hydro Archon, and you have no idea how it works!”
“I…”
Furina’s confidence crumbled further. She glanced nervously at the audience, noting their growing skepticism. Even the Oratrice itself had tilted its scales toward Lumine’s side.
She struggled to maintain her composure as the tide turned against her.
“Enough!”
Summoning what remained of her pride, Furina shouted, her voice echoing across the theater.
“If you claim I’m an imposter, then tell me—where is the real Hydro Archon?!
“Are you suggesting that a mere human like me managed to hide her away somewhere?”
Her words carried a desperate defiance, a final attempt to regain control.
And, for a moment, it worked. The audience hesitated, caught between their longstanding trust in Furina and the compelling arguments presented by Lumine.
Amid the uncertainty, another figure rose from the crowd.
“Lady Furina,” Navia called out, her voice calm but firm.
The leader of the Spina di Rosula stepped forward, accompanied by her subordinates carrying a large basin filled with seawater.
“I believe there is a way to settle this.”
She gestured toward the basin.
“All Fontainians are dissolved by primordial seawater—even those closest to me were not spared. However, gods are unaffected.”
“If you truly are a god, you should have no trouble proving it. Simply place your hands into this water.”
Navia smiled faintly.
“Surely, for a god, this is an easy request.”
“But if you’re afraid to do so…” Navia’s tone sharpened. “Then I think it will be clear who the liar is.”
She paused before adding one final warning.
“By the way, this seawater was taken from Whitespruce Town, and its concentration is high. Even the slightest touch could cause severe dissolution. So please, Lady Furina, don’t act rashly.”
“Y-you…”
Furina paled, her composure crumbling as panic set in. She hadn’t anticipated the trial escalating to such extremes.
She glanced desperately toward Neuvillette, silently pleading for intervention.
But he remained impassive, watching from his seat with no intention of stepping in.
“I…”
Furina stared at the shimmering water in terror, her breaths quick and shallow.
“Well, Lady Furina?” Navia pressed, her tone unyielding.
The crowd, growing impatient, began shouting for her to make a decision.
“Fine!”
Summoning every ounce of courage, Furina took a deep breath and closed her eyes tightly. Gritting her teeth, she plunged her hands into the seawater.
The audience gasped in collective shock.
None of them had expected Furina—who usually fled at the first sign of trouble—to take such a drastic risk.
“I… I’m fine…”
Furina’s voice wavered, but her relief was palpable as she lifted her hands, unharmed, from the basin.
Her face lit up with a triumphant smile as she waved to the audience, her confidence returning.
But before she could celebrate further, a chilling voice interrupted from behind.
“Let me confirm that for you, Lady Furina.”
“What…”
Furina turned sharply, only to see Sigewinne, the chief nurse of the Melusine clinic, stepping forward.
Sigewinne grasped Furina’s hands, inspecting them closely. After a moment, she nodded and spoke in her usual calm tone.
“After examination, the reaction on Lady Furina’s hands is identical to that of an ordinary human exposed to low-concentration primordial seawater.”
“What?!”
Furina froze, her mind reeling.
“B-but I wasn’t… I wasn’t harmed…”
She looked toward the crowd in desperation, but their expressions had grown cold. The doubt in their eyes was replaced by disdain, as if they were staring at a fraud unmasked.
“D-don’t look at me like that…” Furina’s voice trembled as she stumbled back.
“I’m really the Hydro Archon! I am! I…”
Her words faltered, and tears welled in her eyes as the truth she feared most began to close in on her.
“I really am…”
“Ah…”
—
T/N: BURN FONTAINE WHERS LUO QING????
This is a fan translation of 原神：这个见习执行官太屑了 by 何一乐. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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