Merlot-Petersburg Underwater Exit
Carrying a large bag of luggage, Leo felt unwell.
Gazing at the seemingly endless depths of the sea, he grew restless all over.
"Lady Furina, do we really have to swim all the way up from the deep sea?" His tone was still full of hesitation.
He couldn't understand it—he really couldn't.
There were elevators and boats available, so why not take them? Why insist on swimming up from the ocean floor?
With her hands on her hips, Furina looked out at the shimmering deep sea and declared with a mischievous smile,
"Of course we must swim up from here!
Look how beautiful the waters are!
To swim beneath the sea alongside the God of Justice—what could be more marvelous? Don't you agree, little guard?"
Lyney, standing behind them and preparing to open the valve, struggled to hold back his laughter. The exchange between the two was simply too entertaining.
No matter how skilled Leo might be, he was still completely at Lady Furina's mercy. Whenever she put on a stern face and refused to speak, Leo panicked, desperately coaxing her with kind words. After the trial of a convict earlier that day, when Furina had worn that same stern expression, Leo had hurried forward to comfort her. And now, somehow, every last one of Furina's packages had ended up strapped onto his back.
"Lady Furina, get ready! The valve is about to open!"
Furina waved her hand, stepped toward the valve, and seized hold of the wandering Leo.
"Hahaha! O sea, your god has arrived!"
Blinking, Leo forced out a dry laugh as he stood beside her. But inside, his worry was mounting—what if he drowned?
Patting Leo's cheek, Furina whispered,
"What are you afraid of? With the God of Justice at your side, there's nothing to fear. Now—let's go!"
At her command, the valve opened wide. The sea surged in at once, sweeping Furina and Leo out into the ocean's embrace. Her joyous laughter mingled with Leo's panicked screams as the current carried them away.
After a while, Lyney shut the valve, drained the water, and clapped his hands.
"You truly are my good friend—only you could manage to escort the Lord God herself."
Out in the sea, Leo was tossed helplessly by the ocean currents, utterly disoriented. Yet even in his confusion, he could see with his own eyes how Furina glided effortlessly through the water, unbothered by the current. She swam as freely and gracefully as the waterborne fae of legend.
"Come on, Leo, what's with you? Move!"
Her gurgling voice somehow reached his ears, though he couldn't fathom how she was speaking underwater. Was this another of the Hydro Archon's powers?
Still, watching Furina dance through the sea filled him with a strange peace.
Peace? No, not at all.
From time to time, Furina would dart toward him, pat his cheek, then swim away again—her long, elegant legs flashing past his eyes, leaving him dizzy.
Suddenly, she grabbed his hand, her gaze steady as they floated together.
"Oh, you look so pitiful~ Hold on tight to me, or the current will carry you off."
With that, Furina nimbly pulled him along, guiding him through the sea.
Above, the moonlight pierced the water's surface, scattering a soft blue glow across the shallows.
Leo's heart stirred uneasily as he stared at his right wrist—Furina's delicate fingers were interlaced with his own, the blue-and-gold bracelet glinting faintly in the water as their wrists brushed with each movement.
Lady Furina… if this continues, my heart will truly be stolen by you.
Lately, every moment spent at her side weighed on his thoughts, knocking insistently at the door of his maturing heart. These feelings should never have appeared—but no matter how he tried to suppress them, his body instinctively clung tighter to her hand as the sea spun them round and round.
Sensing his grip tighten, Furina smiled and turned her head toward him. Their eyes met—and Leo's heart grew more confused, tangled into knots he could no longer unravel.
After what felt like an eternity, perhaps growing weary herself, Furina surged upward from the depths, pulling Leo with her until they landed on solid ground once more.
The firm sensation beneath his feet brought Leo an immense relief. He exhaled deeply.
Then, in the quiet of their surroundings, Furina tilted her head at him and asked with a playful smirk,
"Well? Are we planning to hold hands forever, hmm?"
Flustered, Leo instantly let go, bowing quickly.
"I-I apologize, Lady Furina."
She laughed lightly, stretching her arms.
"It's fine—I was the one who pulled you."
Then she turned and seated herself on a seaside rock, gazing out over the ocean as she hummed a clear, lilting tune.
"Hmm~~ hmm, hmm… ah~ ah~ ah~ ah~…"
Listening to the divine song, Leo sat nearby at the base of the rock, simply listening in silence.
"Nanf—no, Leo, are you hungry?"
"Eh?" He blinked.
"A little. Is Lady Furina hungry?"
"I am."
Without hesitation, Leo sprang to his feet, dove back into the sea, and within seconds returned with several fish, tossing them onto the shore.
Watching his practiced movements, Furina crossed her legs and smiled warmly.
Gathering driftwood, kindling a fire, grilling the fish, seasoning with spices—Leo moved deftly through the process, and soon the rich aroma filled the night air.
Furina, soothed by his careful attention, continued to hum while the flames crackled.
The sea breeze, the moonlight, the starry sky—together they created a peaceful tableau. Furina's eyes reflected the moon as she opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again with a sigh.
Sensing the heaviness in her mood, Leo quickly spoke up.
"Lady Furina, the grilled fish will be ready soon."
"It's alright, don't rush."
The sudden tenderness in her tone left Leo puzzled. This was not the usual Furina, brimming with pride and theatrics. Instead, her eyes—clear, not clouded—shimmered with unshed tears.
Do gods… cry?
Turning toward him with a chuckle, Furina asked,
"Well? Does it look good? If you keep grilling like that, the fish will burn."
"Ah? O-oh!"
Flustered, Leo quickly removed the fish from the fire, sprinkled on spices, and handed it to her.
Taking it with a smile, Furina blew gently and began to eat.
Sitting beside the fire, Leo did the same, stealing glances at her all the while. He was curious—what burdens did a god carry within?
"Lady Furina… why are you crying?"
At his words, tears brimmed in her eyes once more, falling silently onto the grilled fish she continued to eat.
"Eh? No, no, why would I cry? You must be mistaken!" she said with a laugh, wiping her eyes as though nothing had happened.
After a pause, Leo set his own fish aside, walked over, and crouched before her.
"Lady Furina… is something weighing on your heart?"
"What a joke! How could a god harbor such troubles?"
"Please, don't be unhappy," Leo urged softly. "If you wish, I can tell you the stories my master once told me."
Her expression softened.
"Very well, then. Tell me one."