After finishing her makeup, Kamisato Ayaka came over to study the musket. Chevreuse followed right behind her.
Mu Yang tactfully stepped aside, letting the two of them talk directly with the prop master.
He had to admit—this young prop master was already quite skilled. Without ever handling a real gun, she had studied proportions and shapes from books and newspaper illustrations and managed to build a model that looked convincingly real.
Her plan was simple: during filming, they would coat the muzzle with a special gunpowder mixture. That way, the flash and smoke of a gunshot could still be captured on camera.
Of course, such a basic prop had plenty of drawbacks. Mu Yang had already noticed several issues while chatting with her earlier.
First, the gun was far too light. That was understandable—most of the time in the film the guns stayed holstered anyway.
But the second flaw was almost fatal.
This was a completely non-functional model. It couldn't actually fire. Yet the scenes that required gunfire were some of the most important moments in the story. That meant everything would depend on the actress's performance—specifically, how well she could sell the recoil through body movement alone.
[Good grief, did she 3D-print this thing?]
[I'm calling it—I think I already know the next plot twist. Someone swaps the prop gun for a real one, Ayaka thinks it's fake, and then she ends up in a shootout with Yoimiya…]
[Nah, that direction is way too boring…]
[miHoYo's PV scams aren't new. How are people still falling for them?]
After listening to the prop master's report, Chevreuse picked up the model and gave it a few test swings. The weight was noticeably off—far too light. Still, it didn't bother her. As a seasoned musketeer, she already knew exactly how to guide Kamisato Ayaka.
"Here… the friction between the musket's gears and the firing pin…" Chevreuse flipped the prop around, spotting a few realistic details. "Did you really figure all this out just from books and pictures?"
Veronique nodded. "Those two parts were added after Mr. Mu Yang gave me some pointers just now. He said it would make the prop feel more authentic…"
"He also mentioned that warriors often maintain their own weapons, so it's best to wipe them down with maintenance oil before filming."
[We're done for. The police big sister is going to drag him away.]
[Mu Yang walks by the river so often—how could his shoes stay dry? His flexing finally got him caught.]
[To each their own expertise. I'm just a little bit good at everything.]
Kamisato Ayaka said she maintained her own sword every single day. She knew its shape and weight so well that it had become an extension of her body.
"Exactly. Only when you truly cherish your weapon will it never betray you when it matters most."
As a Fontaine law-enforcement officer, Chevreuse naturally turned her gaze toward Mu Yang, waiting for an explanation.
Mu Yang didn't answer directly. Instead, he casually dropped the name of one of the Court of Fontaine's most famous blacksmiths.
"You're his apprentice?"
"No."
Chevreuse was speechless. Then why bring him up at all?
"I gave him a few suggestions. The new guns should be arriving for you soon."
Paimon leaned in curiously. "Is it the one you used in the film? Pa-pa-pa—knocked down six people in one go…"
[Revolver, kid.]
[What kind of film did Mu Yang actually make? I really want to see it.]
"Six people?"
"Miss Chevreuse, if you'd like to study it, perhaps we can talk after work," Mu Yang reminded her gently. There were still plenty of people waiting for filming to begin—better not get sidetracked by his little revolver right now.
Chevreuse caught the hint and turned her attention back to guiding Ayaka.
"First and most important rule: never point the muzzle at anyone. Whether it's a real gun or a prop, whether it's in your hand or resting on a table. Of course, that rule changes when you're facing an enemy."
"Understood."
Chevreuse picked up the model on the table.
"When you raise the gun, keep your arm straight and level with your shoulder. Align your eye through the rear sight and front sight toward the target."
Ayaka picked up the second model and mirrored the stance. Like this?
"Almost… Now try delivering the line."
In an instant, Ayaka's gaze sharpened. She raised the musket and aimed at the empty air.
"…This is your end."
Chevreuse stepped forward to correct her posture.
"Turn your body a little more to the side. That way you present a smaller target to the enemy. And relax your shoulders."
Finally, she demonstrated the stance herself.
Her presence and posture were far sharper and more professional than Ayaka's usual sword-fighting form.
This was exactly why Mu Yang had politely turned down the role.
Working closely with Ayaka would have meant frequent physical contact. They weren't that familiar with each other, and certain boundaries between men and women still applied.
Besides, Mu Yang fought with a revolver. He preferred to win however looked coolest.
A gunfight with no cover? Please.
With something like [Untraceable Sword Intent] active, the outcome was already decided the moment the fight began.
Whether the opponent fired first or second—there was only one possible result.
They would die.
Either from Mu Yang's bullet… or from their own. Nothing more to it.
From a distance, Kamisato Ayato watched the demonstration.
"Excuse me for a moment, Miss Chiori."
He found Furina. After seeing Chevreuse's performance, he made his decision—he would step down from the role.
Of course, Chiori's earlier blunt remark had also played a small part.
This character still had an "innocent" phase in the story.
But Ayato had already shouldered the full weight of the Yashiro Commission when he was still young.
Innocent?
If he hadn't seized power early, both his sister and the entire Kamisato family would have been in danger…
After confirming everything with Furina, she gathered everyone around.
"I'll get straight to the point. Miss Chevreuse, would you be willing to take on the role of the musketeer?"
Chevreuse blinked, not quite understanding yet.
Ayato explained, "To be precise, I'd like to give my role to Miss Chevreuse."
"But Brother…"
"Don't worry, Ayaka. This is actually better for me."
Ayato wasn't lying. He had already been looking for ways to carve out time during filming to contact people at Palais Mermonia and move forward with cultural cooperation efforts. After witnessing Ganyu's work attitude yesterday, he felt even more unprepared on that front—especially when dealing with Fontaine's notoriously complicated civil-servant system…
["A Small Matter"]
[Hahaha, my advice is: anyone with high blood pressure should probably skip this.]
[Ayato definitely got called out by big sister Chiori. He can't play "innocent."]
[Why do I feel like he has some other motive?]
Director Furina also felt that casting two sisters of similar age would better capture the mutual-support theme at the heart of The Two Musketeers. In the original novel, the brother dominated the story with an overbearing presence, pushing the sister's role into the background. The two of them never really felt like equals supporting each other.
Chevreuse was a devoted fan of the novel. She immediately understood the point Furina was making—and she agreed completely.
And so, before a single frame had even been shot, The Two Musketeers underwent a last-minute script revision and cast change…
But our great director Furina didn't seem the least bit concerned.
She announced boldly, "I have a feeling this will be a story that surpasses the original!"
"Photographer, stand by! Set, stand by! Actors, stand by! First scene—action!"
— — — — — —