Crossover: Monthly Character Templates in the Multiverse Chat Group — Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Kiana: My Popularity Will Definitely Not Lose to Furina!

There were quite a few Oceanids residing within Fontaine’s borders. Aside from the scattered few lingering around the Lucine Fountain, the vast majority were distributed throughout the nation’s expansive inland waters.

However, their numbers had dwindled over the centuries. Some had fled to foreign nations, driven away when Fontaine’s waters grew polluted and unsuitable for their survival. Others had simply defected, abandoning their homeland out of a deep, lingering grief for the previous Hydro Archon.

“Fontaine really does need some of its Oceanids to come back and manage things,” Furina mused, resting her chin in her hand.

Oceanids were widely rumored to be the Hydro Archon’s elite spies, scattered across the continent to watch over the nations. But according to a little Oceanid named Endora, the late Egeria had never actually plotted anything so grand or sinister. She had merely wanted to connect everyone in the world, linking them together much like the interwoven water systems that spanned the continent.

Yet, with Egeria’s passing, that dream had fractured. Countless Oceanids had severed their hydro-connections with Fontaine entirely, choosing isolation over serving a new god.

Furina suddenly slammed her hands on the table and stood up, her eyes sparkling with renewed determination. “I’ve decided! I’m going out on a journey right now!”

After reviewing the current situation, she knew Fontaine was temporarily out of danger. Even if some unforeseen crisis did arise, Neuvillette was more than capable of handling it. She would seize this rare window of peace to travel the world and bring her scattered subjects home.

But traveling alone sounded dreadfully boring. At the very least, she needed to drag someone along as an escort.

Her gaze drifted across the room, landing on Master Yixuan and Frez. Out of everyone in the multiversal chat group, these two were undoubtedly the most reliable.

“Do any of you want to come with me?” she asked, tilting her head expectantly.

Seele was the first to shoot the idea down. “No can do. There are still a bunch of things I need to wrap up over in Belobog.”

Wiš’adel leaned back in her chair and spread her hands lazily. “I am the Demon King, after all. I have my own domain to worry about.” She glanced sideways at the young man beside her. “Frez, are you heading back?”

“Not for now,” Frez replied, his tone calm and understated. He poured himself a glass of water, the ice clinking softly against the rim. “I plan to rest for a few days. I’ve been running myself ragged lately; it is better to combine work with proper rest. When you head back, just follow Void Archives’ arrangements.”

He genuinely needed a break. The political quagmire in Kazdel wasn’t something that could be untangled in a few short days, and the brewing storm in Victoria would have to wait a little longer before he made his entrance. With no immediate fires to put out, he might as well kick back and relax.

Besides, with Void Archives holding the fort, no major catastrophes would occur. As long as Wiš’adel didn’t overthink things and accidentally blow up a city block, everything would be perfectly fine.

Frez took a slow sip of his water and shifted his attention. “Kiana, what about you? Is your filming finished?”

At the mention of her acting career, Kiana’s expression instantly darkened. She slammed her fist against her thigh. “That damn Otto actually cut my screen time! Doesn’t that blonde idiot know it was me who made the movie a hit in the first place? He had the nerve to tell me my screen time is ‘about done’ for now!”

In all fairness, Kiana’s actual screen time had been laughably brief to begin with.

She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, turning her head away haughtily. “I-It’s not like I want to go back anyway! I won’t be returning for a while. I’ll let them see for themselves that without me, the Herrscher of the Void, their stupid movie will definitely end up as a massive flop!”

Frez raised an eyebrow. It felt like Kiana’s slowly recovering popularity was about to be completely torpedoed by her own stubborn actions.

Yixuan smiled gently and reached over, affectionately stroking Kiana’s white hair. “Alright, alright. Don’t be so angry. Kiana is the biggest star in our hearts.”

Kiana’s harsh deflection cracked instantly. She blinked, her blue eyes widening. “Really?”

“Of course.”

“Then… how about I go develop my career at your place?” Kiana suggested, her energy skyrocketing back to maximum. “I heard there’s some big star named Yao Jiayin over in your world, right? When I show up, she’ll have to obediently step down and yield her top spot to me!”

That was a terrible idea.

Yixuan’s smile strained slightly. She seriously doubted Kiana could fit into the gritty, hollow-infested urban culture of New Eridu. also, Yao Jiayin’s vocal talent was genuinely top-tier, and her discography was flawless. As for Kiana… she would probably make a fantastic, chaotic variety streamer, but a professional idol? Forget about it.

“It would be a total waste for you to come to my place,” Yixuan said smoothly, expertly shifting the focus. “With your talents, you’re much better off developing your career right here in Fontaine.”

“Forget it,” Frez interjected, dryly undercutting the entire fantasy. “Kiana can’t beat Furina in Fontaine.”

Kiana bristled, glaring at him defiantly. “Hah! How could I possibly lose to her in popularity?”

When it came to stage dominance, Furina possessed an absolute, unshakable confidence. She stood up straight, dramatically flipping her silver-blue hair over her shoulder. “I am the Queen of All Waters, All Kindreds, and All Laws in Fontaine! I am a premier superstar, unmatched in the past and the future! In this nation, no one’s fame could ever eclipse mine!”

“How is that even possible?” Kiana refused to accept it, pointing an accusatory finger at Frez. “Human! Is what she says actually true?”

“It is true,” Frez nodded. “In terms of sheer popularity, absolutely no one in Fontaine can compare to Furina. Did you forget? She is the Hydro Archon.”

Furina’s divine position wasn’t just an empty title for show; she had spent centuries performing highly practical, monumental deeds for her nation.

The Oratrice Mécanique d’Analyse Cardinale was her crowning public achievement. Regardless of the fact that Focalors resided inside it, the massive machine provided Fontaine with a staggering amount of Indemnitium energy. It generated so much power that, if left to accumulate, it wouldn’t run out for hundreds of years—enough sheer force to theoretically shatter a divine throne.

, she had personally presided over the construction of the Opéra Épiclèse. The massive architectural project had employed nearly half the working-class citizens of the Court of Fontaine. The wages had been incredibly generous, and the economic ripple effect from the construction orders ensured that countless workshop owners never had to worry about food or clothing, permanently elevating the nation’s economy.

Granted, the director of the Institute of Natural Philosophy had been absolutely furious at the time, seeing as the opera house was built directly on top of the land intended for their new research site.

During her five-hundred-year reign, Fontaine had suffered no major societal upheavals. The nation remained stable, the economy flourished, and she even took to the stage to perform in various operas herself, single-handedly driving the evolution of Fontaine’s arts. Though she often acted theatrical and unreliable, Furina was, in reality, an incredibly capable leader.

After hearing Frez calmly list out Furina’s centuries of achievements, Yixuan couldn’t help but look at the Hydro Archon in a completely new light. Her initial impression of Furina had been that of an exaggerated, dramatic girl who was generous but slightly airheaded. Today, that opinion had shattered.

“If only the mayor of New Eridu were half as reliable as you,” Yixuan sighed softly. The mayor of her city was a cunning old fox; one had to stay highly vigilant just to survive a basic conversation with him. Furina, by comparison, was a saint.

Hearing Frez’s blunt praise, a faint blush crept across Furina’s cheeks. She cleared her throat, suddenly looking a bit embarrassed. “I-I’m not that amazing. But… my performances at the Opéra Épiclèse are always in incredibly high demand! Very few people even manage to scalp the tickets because they sell out so fast!”

“See, Kiana?” Frez said. “Furina has been in power for five hundred years. She has watched countless generations of Fontaine’s people grow up, live, and die. You didn’t really think she was just some free-loading mascot, did you?”

Kiana stood completely dumbfounded. Her jaw went slack.

She had originally assumed Furina was just a local celebrity with a big ego. But now, it was glaringly obvious that her own fame couldn’t even hold a candle to a literal god who had ruled for half a millennium.

“I-I-I…” Kiana stammered, her face flushing red. “I definitely have more fans than her!”

“But her fans are of much higher quality,” Frez countered effortlessly.

Right on cue, a muffled, frantic shout echoed up from the street below the window. “Lord Furina! Lord Furina! Please, I beg you, give me your autograph!”

Furina sighed dramatically, placing a hand against her forehead. “Alas, being too popular is simply another kind of tragedy.”

Kiana’s body trembled. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, kicking her legs like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. “Waaaaah! I don’t care, I don’t care! How can there be someone more popular than me in another world?!”

Suddenly, she stopped kicking. A bright idea flashed in her eyes, and she scrambled to her knees. “Wait! What about the other countries?!”

“It is exactly the same,” Frez said, crushing her hopes without missing a beat. “Gods are the ultimate idols in Teyvat. If a stray dog in Mondstadt could talk, its first words would be ‘May the Anemo Archon protect you.’ The absolute best-selling items in Liyue’s markets are the Geo Archon’s official merchandise.”

He ticked them off on his fingers. “Inazuma’s top virtual idol is a brand operated by a very wicked fox woman; you can’t outplay her in the media. In Sumeru, the Akademiya has spent centuries strictly promoting faith in Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Over in Natlan, nobody has the free time to chase idols—being able to survive a fight is the only metric of worth. Nordkalai doesn’t have any idols, but that place isn’t very big anyway. As for Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa’s absolute strength commands total devotion.”

Kiana gritted her teeth. “I don’t believe it! I’m going to go out there and try for myself!”

“Alright, let’s all go together then,” Frez said, standing up and stretching his shoulders. He glanced over. “Master Yixuan, what about you?”

“I have to head back to New Eridu tonight,” Yixuan replied, checking the time.

Frez thought for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as a cold, pragmatic light entered his gaze. “Well, since we’re already here in Fontaine, let’s catch a certain damnable fellow before we leave. Fufu, I know exactly who the true culprit behind the Serial Disappearances of Young Women case is.”

Furina’s theatrical demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by sharp shock. “Really?!”