Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Sincerity
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Allow me to offer my observations, in place of Juho, who is desperately trying to defend himself between the two women.
Females, it seems, possess a peculiar trait called [possessiveness].
While males also exhibit this natural instinct, a female’s possessiveness can sometimes defy logic.
Princess Arachne’s sharp gaze was filled with a burning possessiveness and a sense of betrayal.
Juho instinctively sensed the danger, but despite his frantic explanations, he couldn't dispel her suspicions.
“We’re not involved! She… she tried to eat me! I escaped! We’ve never… been intimate, I swear!”
Arachne’s red eyes darted between them, her keen senses detecting the underlying tension, the complex interplay of conflict and affection between Juho and Aria.
“…Is that so?”
It was a nonsensical excuse.
On this planet, a male’s sperm was a precious, rare resource. Survival depended on capturing males and obtaining their seed.
And yet, the mermaids had simply tried to consume Juho? Arachne couldn't comprehend this.
Her eyes narrowed, her anger simmering.
Even if,
Juho had been intimate with another female, it wasn't entirely unreasonable. Such a beautiful and desirable male wouldn't have remained a virgin.
And Arachne had witnessed her own sisters forcing themselves on Juho, so she had no right to be angry about that.
But emotions weren’t always logical. The thought that the mermaid she had captured might have carried Juho’s seed enraged her.
It was an instinctive reaction, a desire to eliminate potential rivals,
And a selfish desire to monopolize the valuable seed of a superior male.
“I’ll ask you one last time. Are you sure there’s nothing between you? You’ve never mated?”
And,
Juho was lying to her.
A female’s intuition was sharp, especially when it came to detecting a male’s lies. Maintaining his deception would be difficult.
“…N-no.”
Juho’s expression faltered. He knew he was in a dangerous situation.
It wasn't his fault.
But he couldn't bear the thought of Aria dying, slowly drying out like a forgotten fish, so he had to find a way out of this predicament.
“So, there’s nothing between you two?”
Arachne was trying to control the narrative.
“…Why are you lying? I’ve forgiven everything else. But you’re lying to me, for that mermaid? Do you really expect me to believe this?”
Logically, Arachne had the upper hand.
Her anger, cold and calculated, now replaced her earlier passion, and she considered the most effective way to deal with the captive mermaid.
“Do you really expect me to forgive and forget everything? After everything you’ve done, you’re breaking your promise, prioritizing another female over me? Haha…”
A queen had to know how to wield her anger. Arachne, remembering this, emphasized her own suffering, hoping to guilt-trip Juho.
“What am I to you, then? Some pathetic creature you mated with out of pity? And that mermaid… she’s the one you truly love? Is that it?”
I watched, curious to see what Juho would do.
This child always made unusual choices.
“Say something!”
Perhaps abandoning Aria would be the wisest course of action.
While his relationship with Arachne was beneficial,
Severing ties with the mermaids offered numerous advantages.
Aria had repeatedly threatened Juho.
Even if it stemmed from love, her presence was a liability.
“…Yes, you’re right. I lied. I’m sorry.”
But Juho’s words were unexpected.
“I met the mermaids before I met you. That mermaid’s name is Aria, and we… we mated. Several times.”
Aria, Arachne,
And even I, observing this scene, were stunned.
Juho, for reasons I couldn't comprehend, had revealed his secret, his gaze fixed on Arachne, his expression pleading.
He was so genuine, his actions and emotions unburdened by calculation.
Arachne had feigned tears, hoping to use his relationship with the mermaid to further bind him to her,
But Juho, mistaking her tears for genuine sorrow, offered her kindness and understanding.
“Let’s forget about it and move on. We’ve lost too much already. Let’s… start over.”
***
Arachne’s expression was a mixture of confusion and disbelief. One raised eyebrow betrayed her annoyance.
“…W-why should I let her go? What difference does it make?”
But I wasn't going to stop. Having confessed the truth, I had to convince Arachne, to save Aria.
“It will make a difference. Trust me. I have a plan. I won’t disappoint you.”
“I-I don’t know…! Do you… do you prefer that mermaid? Then just kill me!”
Arachne stammered, her words a desperate plea for attention. But her grief and confusion paralyzed her.
“That’s not true. I’m doing this… because I care about you.”
I held Arachne close, trying to comfort her. But my touch seemed to make her even more anxious.
It was a strange reaction.
As if, she felt like she was losing something, that my actions were somehow… disadvantageous to her…
It was probably just my imagination.
Arachne was suffering.
So, I spoke gently, trying to explain, to teach her about human behavior.
“Whether you like it or not, that mermaid… she’s someone I care about. If we sacrifice her, we’ll both regret it, won’t we?”
“N-no… it’s not like that…”
I had seen Arachne’s tears. She doubted my love, my loyalty.
Because of our complicated history. I had to reassure her, to show her that I cared.
“No, it’s fine! Don’t lie. I’ve already hurt you enough. Honestly, just a moment ago, I was planning to use you, to manipulate you to save Aria.”
She was no longer just a target, someone to escape from, but a partner, someone to share my burdens with.
“I even suspected you were manipulating me, trying to bind me to you by making me feel guilty. But I was wrong. I misjudged you. I’m sorry.”
So, I had to be honest with her. And I had to use my intelligence to support her, to help her.
“I’ll help you, I promise. But first, we have to release Aria. Listen to me.”
“B-but… why…?”
Arachne’s face was pale, and she was sweating, but that was probably just a reaction to the trauma she had experienced.
But it was fine. I had a plan.
A plan that would benefit both Arachne and Aria.
“Aria is the leader of the mermaids. Let’s release her and form an alliance with them. I’ll handle the negotiations.”
“What…?”
It was a perfect plan.
I no longer saw Aria or Arachne as alien creatures. They were both women who had become a part of my life.
So, I would do my best to save them both.
“That way, you can rebuild your forces. And it will expand your territory.”
Arachne swallowed hard, her voice trembling.
“Th-that’s… impossible. We’re different species! And why would the mermaids ever agree to an alliance with us? And even if they did, how could we trust them?!”
Her concerns were valid.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.”
But Aria couldn't afford to abandon us. The mermaids were also weakened.
“Aria won’t betray us. She can’t. The mermaids are just as vulnerable as you are now.”
And,
Aria wouldn’t leave me.
“Right?”
Aria, hanging upside down,
Looked down at us.
But she didn’t answer.
She simply stared at me, her gaze unreadable.
It reminded me of the first time we met.
Aria,
After what seemed like an eternity,
Her beautiful eyes filled with a spark of life, a flicker of something,
Stared at me.