A week later.
Luna received two pieces of good news:
1. The renovations for their Blubberbeast Troupe were finally complete. The quality was excellent, much to Furina's delight. 2. And...
"The Malo couple are dead," Chevreuse said.
"How did they die?"
"One was crushed by machinery due to improper operation. Massive internal bleeding, couldn't be saved. You can imagine the gruesome scene. The other chose the same method, but it was self-inflicted."
Luna smiled. "I see. I'm actually quite disappointed. I was hoping they'd live longer in the Fortress of Meropide, suffering much more."
"Haunted by me day and night, reliving the moment I shot them. Their fingers completely shattered, unable to feel anything anymore. Wanting to escape but unable to, because the stage doesn't permit their escape."
"Villains should exit the stage after being defeated by the protagonist... What a pity."
Chevreuse crossed her arms. "You wanted them to suffer a fate worse than death, but they couldn't even endure a little torment. They saw themselves as the ones who inflict suffering, not receive it."
Luna laughed. "Well, this works too. The world has two fewer villains. What's not to like?"
Chevreuse agreed with Luna wholeheartedly.
But as the Captain of the Special Task Force, she couldn't speak so freely in public. Such matters were best discussed privately with Luna.
Returning to the Blubberbeast Troupe.
With the renovations complete and their business license approved, the troupe was officially ready to launch once they displayed the necessary certificates.
All that remained was to recruit members.
Not only actors, but also prop makers, makeup artists, and more... This would be a considerable expense, but for Luna, it was no problem at all.
Furina insisted that she and Luna personally interview every single member.
"If we want to become the best troupe in Fontaine, we must give our absolute all at every stage!" Furina declared.
And so, the interview process began.
Thanks to Charlotte's recent exclusive interview—A Stage for Two Stars: Furina and Luna's Theater Officially Established—they were flooded with letters even before the interviews started.
Most were from aspiring actors eager to shine in their troupe. Some were already famous, while others were unknowns just wanting to try their luck.
There were also investment offers, but Luna rejected them outright.
If the Blubberbeast Troupe wasn't entirely under their control, there was no point in it existing.
Furina immediately raised the bar for the interviews.
"It might sound harsh, but we're not running a charity! Many people just want to join a famous troupe to skyrocket to fame, without any real talent to back it up."
"Some are just propped up by their agencies—no skill, just a pretty face. A pretty face? We have plenty of those here. What we need is talent!"
Of course, no matter how strong the applicants were, they couldn't possibly be stronger than Furina and Luna themselves.
A five-hundred-year-old veteran actor and a new star of the same caliber—you think that's just for show?
Still, they didn't need to hire only famous actors. Those arrogant, prideful types might not listen to them.
The best candidates would be those with potential but still room to grow. Cultivating and training them to build their own loyal team was what truly mattered!
However, the first person to arrive for an interview was...
"Hello there."
It was Focalors.
A question mark popped up above Furina's head. She rubbed her eyes.
"Focalors?" she muttered, then nudged Luna with her elbow. "What's she doing here?"
Luna replied with amusement, "Isn't it obvious? This is the interview room, and Focalors walked right in through the door. Which means—"
Focalors placed her hands on her hips, beaming. "That's right! I'm here to audition!"
"Huh!?"
Not only was Furina stunned, but Navia, who was also in the room, was so shocked her sunglasses fell off her face.
Did I hear that right? Focalors is here to audition?
"Lulu, pinch my cheek. See if I'm dreaming."
Luna reached out and pinched.
It hurt. Navia rubbed her cheek in disbelief. "Whoa, it's not a dream!"
Chiori, who was also in the interview room, twirled her pen. "Why would the renowned Lady Focalors come here to audition?"
"Because I want to try performing on stage," Focalors replied.
Regardless, Furina invited Focalors to take a seat. She never imagined her first interviewee would be Focalors herself.
Ugh, it's so weird watching someone who looks exactly like me sit there while I interview them, Furina muttered under her breath.
"I think so too," Focalors said with a smile.
Luna flipped through the documents. "You didn't submit the required application materials?"
"I don't think I need those, do I? You and Furina know me better than anyone."
"If you didn't submit any documents, how did you get to be first in line?" Navia asked, confused.
"Oh, when I arrived, all the other young applicants automatically parted ways for me, saying, 'After you, my lady, after you.' Such polite children."
Furina: "..."
Chiori shook her head. "Ah, gods."
"Oh, come on, I'm just an ordinary person with a god's title. Just follow your usual interview process and test me like anyone else."
Furina was momentarily at a loss for where to even begin her complaints.
Ordinary person? Usual process? You haven't followed the process from the very beginning!
"Uh, well—"
Furina looked at Luna.
What now? I didn't see this coming at all!
Luna shrugged, giving her a look that said, Just ask a few random questions. Focalors's acting surely won't be any worse than ours.
A few random questions, huh?
Curious, Furina asked, "Why do you want to perform on stage? I always thought you preferred watching from the audience."
"I was deeply moved when I saw your performance of the Little Oceanid," Focalors explained. "Even before that, when my consciousness was still within the Oratrice, I watched you all perform together."
Focalors's voice grew nostalgic. "Beautiful, dazzling, heart-stirring—the stage always felt alive with your presence, making it impossible to contain my emotions. Perhaps that's why I started longing to perform alongside you. The moment I heard you'd formed this new troupe, I couldn't help but rush over to audition."
So that's why.
Luna smiled. "You're a fan."
"Yes, I'm a big fan of yours," Focalors replied with a gentle smile.
Furina's face lit up with a grin. "I see! But will your work be okay?"
"It's fine. I'm mostly idle anyway, so I might as well take up acting as a part-time job."
Isn't that just like my old self? Furina thought.
This led her to a more pressing question.
"Um, Focalors, why did you take over my duties? Neither of us are gods anymore, and you've already sacrificed so much..."
Focalors fell silent for a moment.
It was because of guilt.
The Plan had to be executed to save Fontaine; that much was true. But this heavy burden had also weighed on Furina for five hundred years, nearly driving her to a complete breakdown.
If Luna hadn't stood by Furina's side and fabricated a "truth," Furina's situation would have been far more dire—her wounds would have been torn wide open, exposed for all of Fontaine to see.
Furina was a strong person, but that didn't mean she couldn't be hurt.
Of course, now that everything was resolved and Furina had come to terms with her past, there was no need to dredge up old matters.
Furina was happy now, and that was enough.
Besides... Focalors glanced at Luna.
She had also let her accomplice die once, endure endless scorn, and become the most infamous Phantom Thief in history, her name reviled for millennia. Every new textbook would record her "sins," branding her a complete villain and criminal in the eyes of future generations—a woman who deserved to die.
Admittedly, it had been Luna's decision, but Focalors still felt guilty.
"It was nothing, really. I was just bored out of my mind and needed something to do."
Focalors smiled nonchalantly.
Furina and Luna exchanged a glance, both sensing something was off.
After all, Focalors desperately wanted to become human.
Yet she was confining herself to Furina's former role?
"I see..." Furina murmured.
Luna, however, had an idea. "Focalors, our troupe doesn't accept short-term part-timers, you know."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So if you want to join, you'll have to commit to a long-term role and make this your priority. In other words, you'll be staying with us for a very long time. Is that a problem?"
Focalors smiled. "...Of course not, if you don't mind."
"Then welcome to the Blubberbeast Troupe!" Furina clapped her hands.
Chiori applauded while pondering, "Can I just use Furina's measurements for her clothes?" They look identical.
Navia clapped enthusiastically. "I think we absolutely must throw a banquet tonight!"
Focalors stood up and gave a slight bow.
"I look forward to working with you, Furina, Miss Chiori, Miss Navia—"
Then she winked playfully. "—and Miss Kitty."