Midnight.
"Hey, little guy, come here, hmm~ so cute."
Furina was squatting on the ground, gently stroking the head of a small kitten.
The kitten nestled in her hands, seemingly enjoying the attention as it closed its eyes and purred contentedly.
"Fu Ning, Fu Ning! Give it something to eat!" Furina turned her head, looking at Fu Ning eagerly.
"Understood, Lady Furina." Fu Ning nodded slightly and pulled some food from the bag in his left hand, offering it to the kitten.
"And—oh, there are pigeons!" Furina suddenly noticed a pigeon perched on the other side of the steps. Her eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she left the kitten behind and ran toward the bird.
Although normally skittish creatures, the animals around Furina behaved unusually calm in her presence.
Moonlight poured over Furina's figure, casting her in a serene glow. Fu Ning watched her, momentarily dazed.
Though he had once been one of the most powerful ninth-rank Transcendents—a savior in the eyes of the people of Blue Star, worshiped by billions—and though his lifespan was unbounded, in truth, he had only lived for nearly forty years. His mind was no different from an ordinary person's.
And in those nearly forty years… life had felt deeply meaningless.
The first eighteen years had been devoted to preparing for college entrance exams. The following twenty were spent hunting monsters.
When it came to emotions, he was still a novice.
Watching the peaceful moonlight wash over Furina's back, Fu Ning could feel his heart quicken.
"…This is nice," he murmured.
Compared to his previous life, this simple existence—living alongside Furina—was infinitely more fulfilling.
He smiled softly as he looked at her.
That shift in emotion triggered a physical response.
Energy surged through his body, expanding exponentially in the blink of an eye.
Recovery: Fifth-Rank Transcendent.
He had already reached this level in the past—this was merely a restoration. His injuries had once sealed his strength, and now, that seal began to lift.
As his power resurfaced, a faint aura radiated outward, though Fu Ning instinctively suppressed most of it.
Furina's physical constitution was still that of an ordinary human. If she had taken the full force of his returning power, she could have been injured or thrown back by the sheer pressure.
He would never allow that to happen.
"I'll need to be more careful next time and suppress the noise more deliberately."
Even though the commotion had been dampened, it could not go completely unnoticed.
At that very moment, Neuvillette—still working late in his office—suddenly paused. His head lifted as he sensed the resurgence of a powerful aura.
That familiar energy surprised him.
It had been just over a year since Furina had brought Fu Ning back to Fontaine, yet the man had already recovered enough to rival even him.
According to Fu Ning, this was merely a return to his original state—he was not gaining new power, but regaining what had been lost.
Still, the seemingly limitless depth of his potential was astounding.
Neuvillette mentally calculated the pace of Fu Ning's recovery. If his ceiling was truly that high, then in as little as three years, Fu Ning might surpass even him.
"I misjudged him," Neuvillette thought, though he didn't see that as a bad thing. "But the stronger Mr. Fu Ning is, the more secure Fontaine will be."
Initially, when Furina brought Fu Ning to the Court of Fontaine, Neuvillette had not held particularly high expectations. If Fu Ning had reached a strength similar to his own, that would have been sufficient.
Yet now, Fu Ning seemed to have no limits.
"Dark Demon… Fu Ning… what is your limit?" Neuvillette wondered quietly.
After over a year of observation, he had come to fully trust Fu Ning. The man posed no threat to Fontaine or Furina.
Fu Ning had a calm temperament, took his responsibilities seriously, and was more than capable in all that he did. Though Neuvillette rarely showed emotion outwardly, inwardly, he was grateful.
After all, who wouldn't appreciate a trustworthy ally?
Meanwhile, out on the steps, Furina seemed to sense something. A chill ran down her spine. She paused, turned, and looked back at Fu Ning with a puzzled expression.
"Fu Ning… did you feel that? It was like… a sudden cold wind."
Fu Ning smiled faintly. Apparently, the subtle disturbance caused by his breakthrough had startled her.
"Ah, Lady Furina, don't be afraid. It's just that I've gotten a bit stronger. That's all. But it's still nothing—nothing compared to you."
"Hmph, of course!" Furina said, pleased. She placed her hands proudly on her waist. "Let me tell you, the only reason I'm not using any power now is because I converted all my divine authority into a composite energy mix for legal compensation purposes! If I were in my prime, I'd be incredibly strong!"
Fu Ning chuckled. "Yes, Lady Furina. I believe you."
With an air of confidence, Furina turned back toward the pigeons and began feeding them with a proud expression.
Fu Ning watched her, once again becoming slightly distracted.
Before he realized it, Furina had walked back to him and poked his cheek.
"Hey! Fu Ning! What are you daydreaming about?"
Fu Ning snapped back to reality and shook his head.
"Ah, it's nothing, Lady Furina. When I got stronger just now, it stirred some memories. I was just sorting through them in my head." He fabricated the explanation smoothly.
Of course, he hadn't remembered anything. He had simply been lost, staring at her.
Furina eyed him suspiciously and narrowed her eyes. "Hmm… I feel like I just saw a follower staring at his Archon~"
Fu Ning tilted his head toward the sky. "Ah, really? Then I'd love to meet this follower. Also, Lady Furina, the stars are really beautiful tonight."
"Hey! Fu Ning! Don't try to change the subject!" she huffed. "Explain yourself clearly or I'll charge you with blasphemy! You'll spend the rest of your life exiled to Meropide Fortress!"
Fu Ning's mouth twitched. In the next moment, he vanished.
Furina stood there, stomping her foot in frustration.
"Ugh! Fu Ning! Don't run away—get back here!"
Fu Ning reappeared atop a nearby rooftop, looking down at her with a soft smile.
She really was adorable.
As he looked at her, Fu Ning silently vowed:
I am your follower. Your protector.
When I was gravely injured, you brought me to Fontaine and cared for me.
I will never forget that kindness.
No matter what happens, I will protect you.
No matter what comes—
Always.
***
Why is bro raising red flags 💀