"What a shame... I really thought I was finally catching up to you, haha."
"As I thought, the gods do not watch over me..."
[Ningguang: Teppei... simply accepted it so quietly.]
[Keqing: Every time he used that power, he must have felt the cost.]
[Furina: Perhaps... I think this is the best possible ending. His dream was to earn merits. The Delusion gave him the power to achieve that, and he earned his comrades' admiration. To leave without experiencing those things would have been an even greater regret. But still... I don't know why, but I feel so sad.]
[Paimon: He only wanted to help the resistance win. What did he do wrong? Why did it have to end like this...]
[Lumine: No, even for a dream, it should be achieved through one's own efforts, not through something so evil! The Delusion factory must be destroyed!]
Teppei strained to look at Lumine. "When our unit uniforms are ready, help me pick up mine too. We'll put them on together."
Lumine turned away in grief.
Teppei said, "What's with that expression, partner? Don't worry. Let me rest a while. Maybe after I rest, I'll be fine..."
As he spoke, Teppei's voice grew softer and softer, until it faded away entirely.
[Zhongli: Farewell, Teppei.]
[Furina: Farewell, Teppei.]
[Lumine: Farewell, Teppei...]
...
Lumine turned and left impulsively.
On the way, she encountered Kokomi.
Kokomi asked, "Lumine, how is Teppei doing?"
Lumine replied, "None of us noticed earlier. His condition worsened so suddenly."
Kokomi said, "I've already ordered the collection of all Delusions in the army."
"Although most of those affected have experienced some life force depletion, their conditions aren't severe yet. But there are also a few..."
[Paimon: The Fatui are utterly despicable! They've caused so many deaths!]
[Lumine: A group that stops at nothing to achieve their goals.]
[Lyney: Please don't say that. Although many in the Fatui are consumed by obsession and madness, Father is definitely not one of them. She has always held to her principles.]
[Neuvillette: Lady Arlecchino has consistently worked to save Fontaine. The magic pockets, the pre-positioned supplies—all of it proves her dedication.]
[Paimon: Is there a second Fatui Harbinger as good as Arlecchino?]
[Paimon: I don't know.]
[Arlecchino: In Fontaine, we are allies, not enemies. But the future may not remain so. There's no need to praise me.]
Gorou suggested, "Lady Kokomi, I plan to establish a separate camp for the wounded to monitor their condition. The soldiers are agitated—even knowing these are Delusions, they still want to keep using them."
Kokomi instructed Gorou, "Handle this matter personally. I must go to the front lines now. If the Shogunate forces attack while we're in chaos, all our efforts will be wasted."
She turned to Lumine. "What do you plan to do?"
Lumine answered firmly, "I'm going to stop the Fatui's plan."
Kokomi shook her head. "No, it's too dangerous. The Sakoku Decree is still in effect. Their Delusions must be produced here in Inazuma. To mobilize such vast resources and manpower, they must have local support."
[Kamisato Ayaka: Local support? The Tenryou Commission or the Kanjou Commission?]
[Kujou Sara: The Tenryou Commission unwaveringly supports the Shogun's decrees.]
[Paimon: Are there any other powerful official organizations in Inazuma?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: No.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: We'll have to keep watching.]
Kokomi continued, "To stop them, we'd need to destroy the factory where they produce Delusions. It will be heavily guarded. I can't let you take such a risk alone—at the very least, you should bring an army."
Lumine said, "There's no time."
Gorou added, "Lady Kokomi, our Delusion collection was rushed. The Fatui's informants will surely notice. If we take time to reorganize the troops, they'll catch wind of it and escape."
Kokomi fell into deep thought.
"When we collected the Delusions, I considered that the factory must be large, yet concealed, near transportation routes, and with access to raw material supplies. There aren't many places meeting all these conditions. Combined with where soldiers received their Delusions, I deduce the factory is likely on the seaside cliffs in southwestern Yashiori Island."
[Yae Miko: Impressive, Lady Kokomi of Watatsumi. To pinpoint the factory's location through deduction alone.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: Lady Yae is equally impressive. The novels you write are truly wonderful.]
[Paimon: Wait, aren't you two supposed to be on opposing sides?]
[Yae Miko: I'd say we're friends. I quite like this friend of mine.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: Likewise, Yae.]
Kokomi said to Lumine, "I won't stop you from going, but please be careful. We've already lost too many who fought beside us. We don't want to lose you too."
Lumine nodded and turned toward the Delusion factory.
Paimon tried to protest. "You're going to the Delusion factory now? Won't you reconsider?"
Lumine didn't look back. Paimon sighed and hurried after her.
[Ningguang: Paimon and Lumine truly are the best partners.]
[Thoma: From the video, I noticed that when the Shogun brought down her blade, Paimon stood in front of Lumine.]
[Arataki Itto: Well done, Paimon! That's the true meaning of partnership! When danger comes, I, Arataki Itto, will absolutely be the last to leave!]
[Furina: This is the first time Itto hasn't been annoying.]
[Kuki Shinobu: Actually, the boss is a really, really good person.]
[Yae Miko: Kuki Shinobu was the most outstanding among my shrine maidens. Such a shame she left the Grand Narukami Shrine to join the Arataki Gang.]
[Paimon: Kuki Shinobu was once a shrine maiden?]
[Yae Miko: Yes. The treatment of shrine maidens is excellent, and I was quite fond of her. But I wonder what magic Arataki Itto possesses—I simply couldn't keep her.]
[Kuki Shinobu: It was a feeling of peace. Besides, I didn't enjoy the work of a shrine maiden.]
[Yae Miko: When I learned she obtained her Vision on the way down the mountain after resigning, I understood.]
[Paimon: Obtaining a Vision just from quitting a job? Kuki Shinobu must be heaven's chosen too.]
[Lumine: It shows she really, really hated that job.]
The two entered the Delusion factory, discovering numerous Fatui operatives inside.
On the second level, they found large quantities of Crystal Marrow.
[Kamisato Ayaka: According to Thoma's intelligence, the Kanjou Commission required merchants to pay taxes with Crystal Marrow instead of Mora. So they were collecting materials for Delusion production?]
[Paimon: Without local support, they couldn't have built this factory. Could that supporter be... the Kanjou Commission?]
[Lumine: Very likely.]
[Ei: Yae, investigate this for me. I need to know the answer as soon as possible.]
[Yae Miko: Mm. Perhaps continuing to watch the video will reveal it sooner.]
[Lumine: What does the Shogun intend to do?]
[Ei: With my blade, I will eliminate all obstacles to eternity.]
[Yae Miko: Are you planning to leave the Plane of Euthymia now?]
[Ei: Someone is running amok in Inazuma. I will not allow this.]
[Paimon: But that would change the future!]
[Ningguang: Perhaps the video merely shows a predetermined future. Our future need not follow the same path.]
[Nahida: It's remarkable. Everyone remembers everything from the stream, yet there are no records of it on Irminsul.]
[Furina: That means we can change the future. The people of Poisson don't have to lose their lives. Fontaine's prophecy can be fulfilled as long as the final moment remains identical, right?]
[Lyney: If all of us who gained future memories from the stream collaborated to write an opera that deceives the Heavenly Principles... what a magnificent, grand performance that would be.]
[Navia: Yes. Lady Furina performed for five hundred years. We can perform too. I believe I can do it well. Fontaine will have its perfect ending. No one will die.]
[Lumine: But... we still can't save her.]
[Paimon: Who is 'her'?]
[Focalors: That 'her' would be me. To absolve Fontaine's original sin, my death is necessary. Only through my death can Neuvillette reclaim all authority and save everyone in Fontaine.]
[The Tsaritsa: Not necessary.]
[Focalors: What do you mean?]
[The Tsaritsa: This concerns my contract with Morax. However, since nothing from the stream is recorded on Irminsul, I can speak of it. With my assistance, Morax separated himself from the Geo Archon's throne.]
[Paimon: Zhongli truly divested himself of the throne?]
[The Tsaritsa: Yes. The power of the throne remained within the Exuvia, while Zhongli freed himself from the Geo Archon's throne—and part of the authority belonging to the Ancient Geo Dragon.]
[Lumine: In other words, you can remove Focalors' throne without killing her?]
[The Tsaritsa: Correct. Afterwards, you need only use the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale to execute Focalors' Exuvia. As compensation, I require your Gnosis.]
[Focalors: Ah... I had long prepared myself for death. But if I can live, that would be wonderful indeed. I willingly give you my Gnosis.]
[Paimon: Fontaine's crisis is perfectly resolved!]
[Lyney: Not yet. We still need to write a reasonable script—one that allows the prophecy to unfold as foretold.]
[Navia: Changing so many key points... this won't be easy.]
[Yae Miko: Perhaps I can help. I have considerable experience in creative writing.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: I'd like to help as well.]
[Lumine: You will surely succeed.]
[Navia: Of course! I am the president of the Spina di Rosula! Nothing can stop me, right, Melles? Silver? Ah... I forgot they don't have Visions, so they're not in the stream.]
Inside the Delusion factory, Lumine also found a letter from a palace steward: "The situation of Inazuma's civil war remains unclear at present. The longer the conflict drags on, the more advantageous it becomes for us..."
"To expand the demand for Delusions among the resistance forces, to escalate the intensity of the war, and to strengthen the determination of both commanders for protracted warfare, we hereby request all colleagues to assist Second-Class Naval Affairs Officer Nathan in his work, thereby crushing the Sangonomiya army's hopes for a swift resolution."
"This is of utmost importance for ensuring an uninterrupted supply of Delusions. Remember this well."