The moment Trofin Snezhevich's words faded, Lumine could no longer hold herself together—her composure shattered completely.
A furious curse burst from her lips.
"I don't give a damn if I understand you! I don't even want to try to understand a deranged bastard like you! You're nothing but a heartless monster—a kidnapper who hurts children!"
"Don't you dare throw your past at me—I don't give a damn about earning your pity!"
Her eyes flared wide as she glared straight into Trofin Snezhevich's. He wouldn't live through this.
Trofin, unfazed by her outburst, replied expressionlessly, "In that case, our conversation ends here. What do you plan to do with me?"
"I once made a promise to Rana…"
As Lumine spoke, her right foot slid half a step back, her weight shifting low—the stance of a western gunslinger about to duel.
Her hand drifted toward the revolver at her hip as she bit out each word, cold and sharp: "Evil must be punished."
Despite her resolve, Trofin's tone remained calm.
"For the wicked, I already know how this ends… but I will not surrender quietly. Even without a chance to win, I'll fight with everything I have. Because…"
Before his sentence ended, Trofin Snezhevich's form changed—now clad like a debt collector, ready for retribution. He began to play his own requiem, preparing for the battle that would end his life.
"I am the good within evil, the poison within medicine, the wolf among lambs, the mercury within a golden chalice… My name is Snezhevich. Come!"
In an instant, he lunged—drawing two gleaming, razor-sharp circular blades, his body blurring as he charged toward Lumine like the wind itself.
But Lumine, ready and steady, stood her ground.
She unleashed the quick-draw technique Shao Yun had taught her—hand flashing to her holster, fingers curling around the trigger.
Then—bang!
A single, thunderous gunshot cracked through the air.
A burst of fire flared from the muzzle, streaking straight toward Trofin Snezhevich.
His body jerked violently. His eyes widened in shock as he looked down to see blood spilling from the gunshot wound in his abdomen.
The crimson bloom spread rapidly, soaking through his once-white coat in moments.
He groaned in agony, pressing both hands to the wound—but the blood would not stop.
At last, his legs gave out, and he collapsed, first to his knees, then onto the cold, unyielding ground.
Lying there, he gasped for air, each breath rasping and shallow. His gaze, dimming fast, drifted up to the darkening sky as coughs racked his chest. "Cough… ah… khh, cough!"
But Lumine did not stop.
She stepped forward, raising her revolver—the barrel's black void now aimed squarely at his head.
"Die…" she said coldly.
In those final seconds of life, Trofin Snezhevich's memories flickered before him—laughter, tears, triumph, and loss flashing like fragments of a dream.
Then a strange light appeared before his eyes—a soft, warm radiance, like a calling from another world.
His expression softened. The pain and turmoil faded away, replaced by peace—and the faintest smile.
With the last of his strength, he whispered his dying words:
"Forgive me, Iotham… You must grow up strong. Don't be beaten by the wind, or the rain… not by the snow of winter, nor the heat of summer…"
Before he could finish, Lumine's fury exploded.
"Shut up! You've no right to speak Iotham's name! Go to hell!"
She pulled the trigger—again and again.
The remaining five bullets roared out in a blinding storm of fire and thunder, tearing through Trofin's body.
Each shot struck with brutal force—blood spraying, his body trembling violently until the last bullet left the chamber.
Then, at last, he went still. His eyes, dull and fading, still gazed skyward.
It should have ended there. But Lumine drew her sword—the Dull Blade—and fell to her knees beside the corpse.
She lifted it high and brought it crashing down upon his lifeless face, over and over, each blow punctuated by a scream.
"Die! Die!"
The dull, wet sounds of blade meeting flesh filled the air, mingled with her furious cries.
When it seemed she might lose herself completely, Shao Yun rushed forward without hesitation.
He wrapped his arms around her trembling frame from behind, holding her tight. "Wait! Calm down, please!"
In his grasp, Lumine shook like a frightened deer, letting out a raw, piercing scream—"Ahhh!!!"
The sound was so sharp it nearly burst Shao Yun's eardrums.
Then, just as suddenly, the color drained from her face—pale as paper. Her breathing grew ragged, each inhale a struggle.
She tried to steady herself, but her chest rose and fell violently, her fingers clutching at her collar until her knuckles turned white. Sweat beaded across her forehead.
Shao Yun recognized the signs—an acute stress reaction.
He tightened his embrace and barked firmly, "Calm down! Listen to me—deep breath! In… and out… breathe, Lumine—in… out…"
Following his command, she began to breathe rhythmically.
At first, her breaths were uneven and shallow, but gradually, they slowed, soft sounds escaping with each exhale.
"Ah… hh… ah… hh…"
Finally, she stabilized.
Shao Yun helped the still-weak Lumine to her feet and guided her toward a nearby tree stump. "Sit here," he said gently. "It's alright. I'm not leaving you. You're safe."
Seated, Lumine stared down at her bloodstained hands, her eyes wide with horror and confusion.
Her lips trembled as she spoke, voice shaking. "Did I… lose control just now? I didn't just kill him—I smashed his face with my sword… I… I'm a monster, aren't I?"
Shao Yun rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Anyone would act like that under such rage. Don't torment yourself. Just breathe—slowly, evenly."
She did as told—deep breaths, then slow exhales—but tears soon streamed down her cheeks.
They fell silently, pattering onto the ground.
"I just… I thought of Collei," she whispered through sobs. "She suffered from those Fatui experiments… If not for the Aranara, those missing kids—they might've…"
Her crying grew harder, grief and fear spilling out all at once.
Shao Yun pressed his hand more firmly on her shoulder. "But they're safe—thanks to Rana, and to you. The children are unharmed. The ending is good."
After a minute or two, the sobs suddenly stopped.
Lumine lifted her head. Her swollen eyes met Shao Yun's as she asked hoarsely, "When… when you killed someone for the first time, what did it feel like?"
Her question caught him off guard.
He thought back, sifting through hazy memories, then replied quietly, "I remember feeling… confused. Panic, helplessness, fear. I just wanted to hide somewhere, away from everyone."
Before he finished, Lumine suddenly stood, stepping forward to throw her arms around him.
She didn't cry this time. She just held him tightly, silently.
After a pause, she murmured faintly, "So this… this is what killing feels like? It's… strange."
Before Shao Yun could answer, the system abruptly chimed.
[Lumine's Outfit Updated: Cowgirl Gunslinger Set]
[Equipped Effect: Gained Level 1 Core Deadeye Skill.]
Shao Yun glanced at the glowing message, then looked down at Lumine, who now rested quietly in his arms, eyes closed.
He brushed a hand through her golden hair. "Rana prepared a room for you and Paimon, right? Let's go rest in Vimara Village."
Lumine nuzzled lightly against his chest. "Mm… okay. I'll take you there…"
…
Supporting her weakened frame, Shao Yun led Lumine into the small room Rana had arranged for her and Paimon.
The space was simple—an old wooden wardrobe, a single bed with a plain sheet, a desk, and a lonely chair.
Shao Yun helped her to the bed. "Rest for a while," he whispered. "I'll go take care of the body."
She nodded faintly and lay down. Within ten seconds, sleep claimed her.
He turned toward the door—but the Man with a Top Hat was already there again, appearing out of nowhere.
Standing silently in the doorway, he spoke in his usual calm tone. "I thought you'd help that girl deal with the man who broke the Ninth Commandment."
Shao Yun didn't even look surprised. Still facing away, he replied coldly, "Lumine needs trials—ones she can overcome. Besides, if I'd stepped in too early, you would've profited."
The Man with a Top Hat tilted his head, unfazed. "And if she had spared him—would you have killed him yourself?"
Shao Yun turned slowly, voice cool and steady. "If she'd let him go… the wolves would've finished him."
The Man with a Top Hat nodded once. "Hmm. Your memory isn't failing you, then."
Shao Yun strode closer, his tone sharp. "Is there anything else? If not, disappear. I don't want to see your disgusting face again."
Unmoved, the Man with a Top Hat simply nodded. He reached into his coat and produced two exquisite Schofield revolvers, handing them to Shao Yun.
"Before I leave—these are the girl's rightful reward for punishing evil. Take them."
Shao Yun accepted the revolvers—one gold, one silver—both gleaming with a strange luster.
After a moment's inspection, he said, "Calloway's Revolver… and Otis Miller's Golden Revolver?"
The Man with a Top Hat gave a single nod. Then, turning away, he prepared to vanish—but paused, glancing back one last time.
With solemn clarity, he recited:
"Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires.
If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained."
And with that, the Man with a Top Hat disappeared—as if he had never been there at all.