Chapter 119

Chapter 119

"...Do we really have to stay like this?"

Suhyeok was standing there while holding Seryl in his arms like a baby.

Apparently comfortable, Seryl let out a yawn.

"Yaaawn...."

Then she actually started dozing off, even drooling a little.

Suhyeok grabbed her cheeks and stretched them.

Only then did she answer with sleepy eyes.

"Uuuh... mm."

"Yes. It cannot be helped."

"This King has not been alive for long. To replenish my Mana, I have to remain like this."

"Normally, I would've asked Trukal, but he isn't here right now, so there is no other choice."

• She's so damn cute lol

• This is the King of the Sea? I'm joining the Merfolk starting today.

• Her cheeks stretch like rice cakes lmao

• Who said Merfolk were ugly? Between Pippi and her, they're all just cute.

• Did the broadcast cut out in the middle or something? The ones outside earlier were ugly though.

• BLASPHEMYYYY...!!!!!

According to what Suhyeok had heard, the Merfolk King was born with an enormous amount of Mana.

More than even Lee Yumi.

More than Suhyeok himself.

There was a simple reason most Merfolk possessed so much Mana.

Unlike humans or Elves, the Mana they used did not naturally return.

In other words...

Once they exhausted their predetermined Mana supply, they could no longer use it.

"...Why have you been looking at this King with such curiosity?"

Suhyeok looked her up and down.

"You should normally be an adult by now."

"So why do you look like a child?"

Something was strange.

As far as Suhyeok knew, Merfolk matured sufficiently inside their eggs before hatching.

Once they emerged, they usually reached adulthood in less than a month.

Yet despite the immense Mana she had been born with...

Seryl's body was still underdeveloped.

"This King does not know either."

"Normally, I should've grown a little more before emerging."

"But whether I was drawn by instinct or something else..."

"I broke out early."

She rested her chin on one hand and thought for a moment.

Then nodded twice.

"Yes."

"I heard someone's voice."

"It told me to come outside and prepare to welcome someone."

"I believe that someone may have been you."

Suhyeok didn't know who the voice belonged to.

Two possibilities came to mind.

But he couldn't be sure.

There was no way to confirm it right now.

"Hmm."

"More importantly, this King is hungry."

Seryl pointed toward the back of her throne.

"Bring me some fried smelt from behind that chair."

The moment she woke up, she started ordering him around.

She reminded Suhyeok of Leon demanding Churu while lying down.

"You've been avoiding the subject for a while now."

"Can't you just tell me where the key is?"

"Hmph."

"One must eat well in order to replenish Mana properly."

"Bring this King the fried smelt at once."

Even the stubborn insistence reminded him of Leon.

Suhyeok had no choice.

He walked over to the container and picked up two pieces of fried smelt.

"Ah."

"I'm not feeding you too-"

"Ah."

"Aaaah."

"..."

Crunch. Crunch.

Suhyeok held the fried smelt to her mouth.

She chewed happily and finished them in an instant.

[The Constellations of Paradise gaze lovingly at her.]

[230,000 Coins sponsored.]

[Constellations who adore cute things clutch their hearts.]

[250,000 Coins sponsored.]

Whether he should call it a blessing or not...

Every time Seryl appeared on screen, sponsorships poured in.

"Cough."

"My throat is dry."

Suhyeok hoped she wasn't expecting water too.

Naturally...

She was.

[A certain Constellation who loves family harmony and childcare provides ‘Melk's Milk (Unique)’.]

It was milk capable of cleansing all kinds of abnormal statuses simply by drinking it.

The Hidden Shop sold it for a rather expensive 800,000 Coins.

Everyone must be earning more Coins now.

The sponsorship amounts are much higher than before.

By the time Seryl finished the entire bottle...

"...So when exactly are you going to tell me about the final key?"

"Tsk, tsk."

"What an impatient child."

"You could enjoy the glorious privilege of supporting this King's royal body a little longer."

"Well."

"It can't be helped."

"Put me down."

Finally.

Suhyeok lowered her in front of the throne.

Seryl tried to climb back onto it.

Once.

Twice.

After failing repeatedly, she walked back toward him and spread both arms.

"Ahem."

"Lift me up."

"This body makes climbing difficult."

"I'd imagine the King of the Sea could at least use Mana to float herself up."

"It is possible."

"But until this King reaches adulthood, conserving Mana is preferable."

"That is why I avoid such unnecessary expenditures."

"So if you understand, hurry."

Only after Suhyeok lifted her back onto the throne did she finally begin.

"Do you know the true identity of the sea monsters?"

The true identity of the sea monsters?

Suhyeok had never heard anything like that.

Before the regression, he hadn't particularly wondered either.

"I thought they were creatures that had always lived in these seas."

"Everyone believes that."

"Even our ancestors believed they were merely monsters inhabiting this ocean."

"The Merfolk of this generation believe the same."

Her expression turned more serious.

"But this King can feel it."

"Fragments of souls like ours dwell within them."

Suhyeok narrowed his eyes.

"You're saying they're Merfolk too?"

"Yes."

"They are ancient Merfolk from a very distant age."

"For reasons unknown, they became sea monsters."

Suhyeok was about to ask what that had to do with the final key when Seryl continued.

"The last key is possessed by the King of the Sea Monsters."

"No."

"More precisely..."

"It lies within the heart of that creature, the Giant Whale."

A being Suhyeok had never heard of.

Those creatures devoured prey blindly and lived entirely by instinct.

Did they actually have a king?

[The target's statement is ‘True’.]

Lie Detection confirmed she wasn't lying.

The problem was...

Even the regressed Suhyeok had never once encountered such a creature.

"Well."

"I called it the King of the Sea Monsters, but it isn't actually a sea monster or a king."

"It is closer to a guardian protecting Atlantis."

"...Fine."

"I believe it exists."

"Then you know where it is, right?"

"I don't."

"...What?"

"This King does not know."

"I can only sense its existence through its aura."

"I have never seen it even once since I was born."

"But there is a way."

A way?

"That arrogant whale dares to call itself a king."

"It will try to stop us."

"By now, just as I sensed it, it should have noticed the aura of these two keys."

"You mean you'll make it come to us."

Seryl grinned and snapped her fingers.

"Correct."

"Two keys have already gathered."

"The location of Atlantis is where the three seas meet."

"If we go there..."

"It will likely appear as well."

With that, their preparations for reaching Atlantis were basically complete.

All that remained was obtaining the key from the Giant Whale.

"You said the final key is inside its heart."

"When it appears, do we kill it?"

"No."

"If you kill it, the key will shatter along with its heart, and you won't be able to retrieve it."

"Don't worry."

"This King will teach you how to remove the key from its heart."

"Before that...."

She spread both arms again.

"Walking is troublesome."

"Carry this King to the bedroom."

"It would be problematic if I failed to sleep at the proper time."

"I'll explain the method on the way."

"..."

Meanwhile, the training grounds were filled with heat and excitement.

"Hoo."

"That was a good match."

"It's been a long time since I worked up a sweat like that."

"Hahaha!"

"I never dreamed there was a human stronger than me in raw strength."

"Impressive!"

Bong Taesu had spent a long time sparring with the Merfolk warriors.

At first, they had been reluctant simply because he was human.

But the more they sparred, the more that reluctance disappeared.

Before long, they were even discussing how each side trained and what they should've done differently during the previous bouts.

Step. Step.

Then footsteps entered the training ground.

"Oh."

"He's finally here."

"Hyungnim!"

"You're back?"

Suhyeok entered.

Kim Hyuna, who had been sitting in the waiting area, hurried toward him.

"Mister, did the conversation go well?"

"Yes."

"I learned about the final key."

"So you could say we accomplished everything we came here for."

Lee Yumi arrived a little later and nodded.

"That's good."

"The faster, the better."

"There's no point staying here longer than necessary."

Whoosh.

Tap.

A small stone suddenly flew toward Suhyeok.

He caught it in one hand.

Looking toward where it came from...

Drukal stood there.

"Since you've come all this way..."

"I'd like you to teach me a thing or two."

The Merfolk warriors in the training hall had apparently already heard.

All of them looked expectant.

Guess I don't have much choice.

The two stepped onto the training ground.

Drukal lowered his stance and pointed his trident toward Suhyeok.

"Treat it like a real battle."

[Seong-a uses ‘Form Transformation (S)’.]

[Transformed into ‘Spear’.]

[Temporarily obtained ‘Thrust (A)’ and ‘Rapid Thrust (A)’.]

Drukal's eyes widened when the sword transformed into a spear.

And of all weapons...

A spear.

To Merfolk who spent their entire lives training with spears, it could've looked like Suhyeok was mocking them.

But Drukal understood.

It was consideration.

"A spear against a spear."

"I look forward to a good match."

"May I attack first?"

"Do whatever you want."

Suhyeok lowered his own stance.

He pulled the spear behind his body.

Not a defensive posture.

He intended to meet Drukal's strike with one of his own.

Drukal grinned.

A contest to see whose single strike is stronger.

Then I'll find out.

The true distance between him and me.

Bluish energy twisted around the tip of his trident like a vortex.

In contrast...

Suhyeok's spear remained perfectly calm.

Then the air screamed.

Drukal unleashed the same thrust he'd used during their race.

CRAAAAASH!!

Spear met spear.

A crescent-shaped shockwave exploded outward.

A violent gale struck everyone waiting nearby.

Crack.

For one brief instant...

Silence.

Then something shattered.

A piece fell to the ground.

It was the tip of Drukal's trident.

"...Hah."

"I lost."

The hand gripping his weapon trembled.

One exchange.

That was all it had taken.

An overwhelming defeat.

"That final strike."

Suhyeok looked at him.

"You rotated your arm at the last instant to maximize the force."

"I learned something."

This time, Drukal extended his hand first.

Suhyeok smiled faintly and accepted the handshake.

"By the way..."

"Your conversation seems to have ended successfully."

"What are you planning to do now?"

"Will you stay until the negotiations and depart together with us?"

"No."

Suhyeok shook his head.

"There's something I need to do first."

"Something you need to do?"

Drukal tilted his head.

"Is there still something left here?"

"If it's something we can help with, say the word."

"Not here."

To ensure the negotiations succeeded...

They first needed to deal with Gahen, who should've reached the Sea Dragon Stronghold by now.

They would need the cooperation of not only the Merfolk and Dark Elves but also the Sea Dragon Stronghold if they wanted to hold the Giant Whale in place.

By now, all the eastern factions were probably gathering for the old Chief's funeral.

From Gahen's perspective, he would want to finish everything quickly before anyone discovered the truth.

If we want to arrive the day before, time's going to be tight....

Then Suhyeok paused.

Right.

There was that.

A means of transportation capable of getting him to the Sea Dragon Stronghold as quickly as possible.

Something granted only to Merfolk warriors.

A meaningful smile spread across Suhyeok's face.

For some reason, Drukal's shoulders twitched.

"Drukal."

"There is something you can help me with after all."