Chapter 92

"The possibility is very high!"

"The Masked Fools will even abandon all sense of propriety just for amusement."

"If she really is a Masked Fool, then she is extremely dangerous!"

"Therefore, we absolutely cannot let Stelle come into contact with her!"

Himeko nodded, her expression somewhat solemn.

Welt: "Miss Sparkle, you disguised yourself as Sampo to approach Stelle — what exactly is your purpose?"

Sparkle: "I say, stop making baseless accusations, will you?"

Sparkle: "The one who disguised herself as Sampo is the me in the video — what does that have to do with the real me?"

Sparkle: "Little gray-hair, tell me — have I tricked you yet?"

Stelle: "Not yet."

Sparkle: "Well, there you have it. I clearly haven't done a single thing, yet... you've already painted me as the bad guy... boohoo~ (pitiful. jpg)"

Himeko: "Since Miss Sparkle hasn't done anything yet, I hope that from now on, you never will!"

Sparkle: "Alright, alright, honestly, I just wanted to have a little fun, that's all~"

Sparkle: "Now there's something far more interesting to play with, so naturally I won't go looking for that boring little gray-hair anymore."

Brother Dan Heng: "I hope you keep your word, Fool!"

Sparkle: "Oh my, my identity's been seen through — how scary~

Furina: "Um... everyone, maybe stop arguing for now? How about we keep watching the video?"

Sampo: "Exactly, exactly — harmony is what matters, folks."

Boothill: "Hey, the gunpowder smell here is really thick."

Stelle: "Fine, a temporary ceasefire — let's rest a bit, watch some video, then resume the roasting."

In the video.

【Sampo... what does he actually mean? Is Firefly hiding something?】

【I need to get an explanation out of her — let's find her first. She shouldn't have gone too far......】

After Stelle stood there thinking to herself for a while,

she felt she ought to go look for Firefly,

and ask her about the truth of the matter.

So she began searching the nearby area.

A few minutes later, by a flower bed, she found Firefly standing there, lost in thought.

And Firefly, at that moment,

also noticed Stelle's arrival,

but she didn't know how to speak up,

so she merely turned her body aside, pretending she hadn't seen Stelle.

Seeing this, Stelle said nothing,

simply waiting quietly like that.

Finally, after a good while.

Firefly couldn't hold out any longer,

turned her head back, and began speaking with Stelle.

【I'm sorry....】 Firefly's voice was somewhat low, and somewhat guilty.

【I need the truth. Tell me, alright?】

Stelle said in a gentle tone.

【Mm...】 Firefly's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

【I am... am hiding some things from you.....】

【For instance, I really am not a local — the Hound family chasing me isn't without reason... and traveling with you also has some other reasons.....】

【.... But... I'm truly grateful you stepped in to help!】

【Longing to be a Nameless is also true — you've been to so many worlds, seen all kinds of people and things, every day is a brand-new start......】

Firefly looked at Stelle, her gaze gentle, her tone sincere.

【If you're willing, you can board the train too.】 Stelle explained.

【....】

【I want to take you somewhere else — is that alright? This time it's not some tourist spot, quite the opposite.... I suppose you could call it my secret hideout.】

【There, I'll tell you everything I know... as much as I possibly can.】

Firefly skipped over the topic of boarding the train,

and instead said in a hopeful tone.

【Alright, I trust you.】

Although Firefly seemed riddled with suspicious points.

Stelle didn't know why, but she simply felt the other girl wouldn't harm her.

This feeling had no source — even she didn't know why.

It was as if the other person had long been a friend she'd known for ages, someone worth trusting — nothing more than that.

【Thank you....】

Stelle's unreserved trust

moved Firefly somewhat.

"I never expected that Young Lady Liuying's identity was truly just a disguise."

Inside the carriage, March 7th watched a scene from the video,

her expression somewhat disappointed.

"I saw through that long ago."

"She approached me with some kind of purpose."

Stelle was not surprised by this.

"Then why did you get so close to her?"

March 7th couldn't understand what Stelle was thinking.

"You might not believe me, but—"

"Liuying... she always gives me a sense of familiarity."

"That feeling makes me deeply trust her."

"In short, I don't believe she truly means me harm."

"Like I said before, perhaps she has some hardship behind her actions."

Stelle became unusually serious,

and explained a few words to March 7th.

"Though it's only based on your intuition—"

"I believe you."

"Because I, too, have a feeling... Young Lady Liuying... is not a truly evil person."

"On the contrary, she may be an extraordinary girl."

Furina: "Even Young Lady Liuying's identity was fabricated."

Furina: "Good heavens, does this Pinoconny have any truth left at all?"

Paimon: "Where has trust between people gone?"

Ying: "Uh... although Young Lady Liuying concealed some truths, I can tell her feelings toward Stelle are genuine."

Ying: "She truly cares for Stelle, like a long-time close friend."

Liuying: "Perhaps you won't believe me... but I truly mean no harm..."

Scattering Soldier: "Heh, you say no harm, so it's no harm? Who knows what schemes you're hatching?"

Scattering Soldier: "Deliberately putting on a frail facade to win the sympathy of fools—isn't that the best strategy?"

Stelle: "Who are you calling a fool? Try saying that one more time, you idiot!"

Scattering Soldier: "Whoever picks up my words is the fool."

Stelle: "Botio, go control your dog—it's started biting people randomly!"