Not long ago...
"We've finally reached Fontaine! I'm exhausted from walking," Paimon stretched lazily.
"Weren't you flying?"
"Even flying gets tiring! It's not like being off the ground means you can't get tired." Paimon grinned mischievously, waving her finger.
She looked around, taking in the bustling scene - people everywhere, neatly arranged stalls, and the laughter of children.
This lively atmosphere piqued Paimon's curiosity.
"Did we happen to arrive during some special festival in Fontaine?"
"We can ask," Lumine suggested.
The pair stopped a passerby to inquire.
"What festival is today?"
The man looked at them, then suddenly understood.
"Oh, I can tell you're from out of town. It's understandable if you didn't know. Today is the joint performance day of Lady Furina and Miss Luna."
"Whenever a god performs alongside humans, the day becomes a festival. Unfortunately, the Opera House tickets sold out completely. We won't be able to see their performance."
So Furina is the god of this country?
Lumine recalled Nahida mentioning that she was quite a unique individual. The fact that she would perform with humans might mean she's even closer to ordinary people than she'd imagined...
Paimon's eyes sparkled. "A festival! I knew it! That means there'll be delicious food everywhere, right?"
"...Paimon."
"Heh heh, the Hydro Archon is performing, but we don't have tickets and can't see her anyway. Might as well get familiar with Fontaine first. Who knows what we'll get dragged into next?"
It's always like this. Every place we go, something happens.
Paimon put on her glasses. "Sometimes I feel like we're that detective who never grows up!"
Lumine smiled. "The one where there's a murder case wherever he goes?"
"That too."
In any case, the two decided to wander around Fontaine for a while, enjoying the festival while gathering information about the goddess Furina.
"I'm interested in this Luna person too," Paimon said. "She's so pretty!"
"Miss Luna is a rising star, her talent truly remarkable. Even Lady Furina herself favors her," the vendor said, handing Paimon a fried fish fillet.
Paimon munched as she asked, "So both Furina and Luna are big stars now?"
"Miss Luna's fame can't compare to Lady Furina's yet. She's still new to the scene, but this incident might make her a household name."
"But if you ask about Fontaine's most talked-about figure right now, it's undoubtedly the Phantom Thief."
Paimon looked surprised. "The Phantom Thief? Isn't that a character from a novel?"
"The Phantom Thief exists in Fontaine too. And the most active one right now is a self-proclaimed White Cat... You don't want her to set her sights on you!"
Any treasure marked by the Phantom Thief White Cat never escapes unscathed.
Yet she never hides in shadows or lurks in darkness. Instead, she flaunts her presence and power at every opportunity.
She's like a character straight out of a drama.
That's why some see her as a villain, while others revere her as an idol.
"Though the Phantom Thief seems to care little for these so-called 'fans'."
Paimon found this intriguing. "Sounds like quite the peculiar person."
"...And there's more."
"Hm?"
"The Phantom Thief particularly enjoys teasing beautiful girls."
"Ah?"
"You should be careful too."
Lumine asked, puzzled, "Male or female?"
"Female. And she seems quite beautiful."
Paimon and Lumine exchanged glances. A female Phantom Thief who enjoyed teasing girls?
"Does she have any strange hobbies or interests?" Paimon inquired.
Lumine shook her head. She had no idea, and could only hope they wouldn't need to meet the Phantom Thief White Cat.
Their purpose wasn't to attract trouble—unless absolutely necessary.
The festival proved even grander than they'd imagined, with stalls stretching beyond the city walls.
"Burp. My stomach's bloated..." Paimon patted her belly.
Overeating proved its own kind of torment.
Lumine poked her distended belly, about to say something, when a sudden scream pierced the air.
"Monsters!"
They looked up to see a horde of creatures rapidly approaching. Perhaps drawn by the festival's commotion, the Maison Gardiennage rushed forward to intercept.
"Over here too... Don't come this way!"
But another wave of monsters materialized on the opposite side.
"Paimon!" Lumine shouted.
No words were needed. As adventurers, they couldn't possibly ignore such a situation.
Lumine nodded, summoning her longsword. She leaped and delivered a powerful kick.
Anemo elements erupted! The sudden whirlwind sent the monsters soaring skyward.
Now was the perfect time to test Hydro elements.
Lumine focused her will. Her blade shimmered with liquid light, unleashing two slashing waves that materialized as watery strikes.
Finally, the Electro element! With a charged slash, dancing purple light instantly reduced the demonic creature to nothingness. Having demonstrated the power of three elements in succession, Lumine sheathed her sword and turned.
"Everything's safe now," she said with a smile to the others.
"Thank you so much!"
"What a cool big sister!"
Paimon floated over. "Are you hurt?"
"No big deal, I'm fine... Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
Lumine frowned slightly. While the crowd's gaze held only gratitude and curiosity, the Maison Gardiennage's eyes carried... suspicion and wariness?
She had a bad feeling.
"...Let's go, Paimon."
"Huh?"
Lumine sheathed her sword and hurried away.
Paimon blinked in surprise, then rushed after her. "What's wrong? You look tense."
"It seems we've caught the attention of the security forces."
"Ah?! W-why?"
Just as she spoke, the sound of approaching footsteps swelled from all directions.
The Maison Gardiennage, accompanied by the Security Agency, surrounded the pair.
"Whoa!" Paimon cried out.
"Target confirmed!"
"The Phantom Thief can change her appearance, but someone capable of using multiple elemental powers..."
Lumine scanned her surroundings warily. The Maison Gardiennage had surrounded them, but showed no immediate intent to attack.
Yet their defensive posture made it clear they wouldn't let them leave easily.
"Could it be that legendary Traveler?"
"The Phantom Thief changes her appearance. We can't be sure they're not pretending... In any case, we'll know once we confirm their identities."
"Miss, would you please come with us..."
Suddenly, one of the guards lost her composure. "No! She's definitely the Phantom Thief! The vile thief must be punished!"
With that, she swung her sword at Lumine.
Why the sudden attack? Paimon's face paled.
Lumine blocked the strike with her sword, then pivoted and kicked the guard away.
"...Paimon, hold on tight."
"Huh?"
Something felt off. They couldn't let the guards capture them...
Lumine made up her mind. Grabbing Paimon, she summoned Geo power to propel herself upward, leaping over the guards' heads.
"She's escaping!"
"What do we do?"
"...We should chase after them. But before that..."
The captain of the Maison Gardiennage grabbed the member who had just attacked. "Who paid you off, you traitor?"
"I..."
The other members of the Maison Gardiennage exchanged glances.
Could there really be a bought spy among them?
Under the Maison Gardiennage's pursuit, Lumine and Paimon were forced to return to Fontaine. However, within the city, their pursuers were no longer limited to the Maison Gardiennage and the Special Task Force.
The moment the Maison Gardiennage shouted, "Phantom Thief White Cat, halt!", more and more people began to gather.
"Phantom Thief-sama~!"
Why are there still fans?!
"There are so many people! More are coming! What exactly did this Phantom Thief do? We're clearly not the real Phantom Thief. Lumine, do we really need to keep running? If we just explain properly..."
Lumine shook her head. "Something's not right here. Self-proving is too passive. Instead of getting caught, we should wait for the real Phantom Thief to appear and then show up together..."
"Right!"
That way they'd be completely innocent.
Even if questioned about why they were fleeing, they could simply say they were scared. The fault would be theirs.
But how could they escape safely with so many people chasing them?
"Stop!"
A beautiful figure suddenly descended from the sky, her axe striking the ground and forcing Lumine and Paimon to halt.
Navia lifted her face. "Phantom Thief White Cat, I have something I want to ask you..."
Her eyes reflected Lumine's wary expression.
"...Hm? You're?" Navia blinked, momentarily failing to recognize the girl.
This doesn't seem like the Phantom Thief.
More like the famous Traveler... What's going on?
Lumine offered no response, immediately turning into an alleyway.
"Over here!"
The Special Task Force suddenly emerged from the opposite direction, fully prepared.
Chevreuse raised her musket. "Stealing treasures at a time like this, you..."
She paused, squinting.
No sense of the White Cat.
"...You're not the White Cat." Chevreuse lowered her weapon in confusion.
Lumine hesitated, then hearing movement behind her, she darted into another corner, climbed onto the roof, and leaped down again.
"Over here!" someone suddenly called out to her.
She followed the sound and saw a youth wearing a bowler hat waving at her.
"Come over here! You'll get caught if you don't!"
Sensing movement behind her, Lumine hesitated for a moment before following the youth with Paimon to a hidden corner.
Another young girl seemed to have been waiting there for a long time.
"Alright, you're safe here now," Lyney sighed. "I can't believe you were so reckless, stealing treasures during a festival where all security forces are deployed—"
"Brother."
"What is it, Lynette?"
Lynette's face remained expressionless. "She's not her."
"Huh?"
Lyney turned around in shock, carefully examining Lumine.
He wasn't as familiar with Luna's every detail as Lynette, but he did feel something was off.
And since Lynette said she wasn't Luna, then she really wasn't.
They looked at each other... the four of them exchanged glances across their faces.
"Ah ha ha..." Lyney finally broke out into an awkward laugh.
He'd thought Luna's identity had been exposed and they'd come to rescue her, but it turned out not to be the case. He was still wondering—shouldn't Luna be in the dressing room right now?
Surely Furina couldn't have discovered our true identities, could she?
Then came the mix-up.
"...Stupid brother."
"...Don't say that."
The clamor of approaching voices grew faintly audible.
Lynette's cat ears perked up. "They're coming. Hide."
Lyney nodded, producing a large cloth from his hat. He draped it over the four of them before swiftly erecting a wooden frame.
To any observer, they now appeared as a single box.
"Stay silent and conceal your presence."
Paimon covered her mouth.
Lumine felt a pang of surprise. They're not pushing me out? Still, she nodded and suppressed her aura.
The roar of a passing commotion shook the air... or at least, that's what should have happened.
"Has it stopped?" Paimon whispered.
"...The real one must be here," Lynette murmured.
The real one?
Lyney focused his senses and nodded. He folded away the cloth and frame. "You may leave now. Rest assured—her presence confirms your innocence."
"Her? You mean—"
Lynette nodded vigorously, her tail swishing. "The true Phantom Thief White Cat."