Chapter 74: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (2)
“…A human?”
“So that’s a human. It’s my first time seeing one.”
“Mine too.”
“How did a human get all the way down here?”
The merfolk murmured amongst themselves as they stared at Kang Jun-hyeok, their faces a mask of confusion and bewilderment.
“Ahem.”
Amidst the chatter, a merman stepped forward with a dry cough. The others hurriedly cleared a path for him.
“I am the Chief of this village. I shall ask on behalf of my people: Are you truly a human?”
“I am.”
“How did you come to be here? Did you use the Downfall?”
The Downfall.
That was likely the conventional method for reaching the merfolk village. Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. The Chief let out a low groan.
“…How strange. How did you reach these ocean depths, then?”
“I have a penchant for travel. I happened upon this place while exploring the deep sea.”
Kang Jun-hyeok pressed his legs together and folded his hands over his chest. Maintaining that posture, he politely bowed his upper body.
“If it is not an imposition, might I be treated as a guest visiting your village?”
It was the proper etiquette for a human to show a merperson. The Master of All Weapons let out a short, mocking laugh.
[And where on earth did you learn merfolk etiquette?]
The Chief’s expression softened slightly at the sight of such perfect manners.
“Hmm…”
The Chief looked thoughtful for a moment before slowly speaking.
“Very well. Since you are a guest, I will not turn you away… but if you move about recklessly or cause trouble, I will expel you immediately. Be warned.”
“Thank you.”
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled broadly. Hearing the Chief’s words, the merfolk slowly lowered their weapons.
Under a shroud of vigilance, Kang Jun-hyeok entered the merfolk village.
The village was composed of massive coral reefs and numerous caves. From within those caves, young merfolk peeked out at him with wide eyes.
Kang Jun-hyeok greeted them politely.
“Hello there.”
“O-oh, hello…”
The merfolk replied with a start and scrambled back into hiding. Although the Chief had accepted him as a guest, the atmosphere was far from welcoming.
Kang Jun-hyeok immediately realized something was wrong from their behavior. He had encountered many merfolk in his past life and was well-acquainted with their way of life.
First of all, merfolk should never have to go hungry.
Fundamentally, the sea was a treasure trove of life, teeming with fish and shellfish. Merfolk could move faster than any fish, and even a child of only a few years could easily secure their own meals.
But this place was different.
The merfolk were noticeably thin. No matter how he looked at it, they didn't seem to be eating properly. Not only that, but the houses and caves were poorly maintained, stained with thick layers of sea-scum.
And one more thing.
They were excessively wary.
Since merfolk lived in secluded spaces beneath the sea, they usually welcomed outside guests. In his past life, he had received hospitality that bordered on excessive every time he visited a merfolk village.
But these people weren't happy to see him at all. They were only refraining from kicking him out because he followed proper etiquette; they were clearly rejecting his presence.
‘This is going to be difficult.’
To gather information, he needed to build trust. But right now, even basic conversation wasn't happening.
Still, it didn't matter. If there were a hundred people, there were a hundred ways of thinking.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved his feet.
* * *
He headed toward the outskirts of the village, an area where the merfolk didn't linger. He sat there and waited quietly.
After a considerable amount of time had passed, he sensed a presence. A merchild was peeking at him from behind a coral reef.
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke in a low voice, looking toward the child.
“Hello.”
Startled by the greeting, the child hid. However, after a moment of hesitation, the child peeked out again. There was wariness in those eyes, but also an irrepressible curiosity.
Children were, after all, curious creatures.
Kang Jun-hyeok opened his Inventory with a gentle smile.
“Are you hungry? Would you like to eat this?”
He pulled a piece of dried squid from his Inventory. He had stocked up on all sorts of food just in case. The child’s eyes widened at the sight of the squid, and they began to creep closer.
“Uh… can I really eat it?”
“Of course.”
Once permission was given, the child began to devour the squid ravenously, as if they were starving. After chewing every last bit of the legs, the child let out an exclamation of wonder.
“It’s a strange taste! Is this really squid?”
“It’s dried squid.”
“D-dried?”
“It means all the moisture has been removed. It’s impossible here because we’re in the ocean, but it can be done on the surface.”
“Whoa… Um, I have something I’m curious about. Can I ask you?”
“Of course. Ask me anything.”
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke warmly, like a good-natured traveler or a wandering bard visiting a rural village.
The child excitedly peppered him with questions, and Kang Jun-hyeok answered them one by one. The child’s eyes sparkled as they listened to the stories.
“So that’s what the surface is like… It’s so amazing.”
“Many concepts are different from those under the sea.”
“I want to go up to the surface once I become an adult. I’ve been waiting for that day… but then this happened.”
The child’s expression suddenly darkened. Kang Jun-hyeok asked subtly.
“Did something happen?”
“…Uh.”
The child hesitated, faltering as if they had accidentally let slip a secret they weren't supposed to tell. Instead of pressing, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke gently.
“I am a traveler. I’ve traveled to many places and seen various problems. Perhaps I can help with the problem here?”
“U-um…”
After agonizing over it for a long time, the child whispered cautiously, as if they had made a decision.
“The… the adults strictly warned us not to go outside the village. They said they couldn't guarantee our lives if we did. Even the adults only go out in large groups carrying weapons.”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes glinted. He asked, “Do you know the reason?”
“I don’t know the details. The adults won't tell me.”
“How long has it been like this?”
“About a month or two, I think. Since then, we haven't been able to get food properly, and it’s driving me crazy. I’m so hungry…”
The child whined. Kang Jun-hyeok thought quietly.
There was definitely a problem, and it seemed they were unable to secure food because of it.
In that case, the matter became simple. Kang Jun-hyeok looked at the child.
“Child. What is your name?”
“It’s Raman.”
“Right. Raman. Could you perhaps lend me your Merfolk's Orb for a moment?”
The water pressure of the deep sea was not easy for even merfolk to withstand. That was why they each carried a special orb made with merfolk sorcery. With it, they could move as freely as they did on land without consuming stamina.
Raman hesitated at Kang Jun-hyeok’s request.
“Uh. Uh… that’s…”
“I’m only borrowing it for a moment. Of course, it’s not for free. If you lend it to me, I’ll give you this.”
To the hesitating Raman, Kang Jun-hyeok pulled a small ruby from his Inventory and held it out. Raman’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Wa-wow! It’s pretty!”
The only gems one could find in the sea were pearls or similar stones. Since processing was difficult underwater, gems crafted with surface technology were of immense value to the merfolk.
As expected, Raman was completely dazzled.
“Can I… can I really have this?”
“Of course. You just have to lend me your Merfolk's Orb for a short while.”
“Of course! Here it is!”
Raman handed over a small orb with a beaming smile. Kang Jun-hyeok stood up with a grin.
“Thank you.”
“Uh. Are you leaving?”
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
Kang Jun-hyeok left the merfolk village. Thanks to the orb, he could now move around without any issues regarding water pressure or breathing.
The first objective of the Quest—arriving at the merfolk village—was accomplished.
The next thing to do was to build the village’s trust.
“This is my specialty.”
Muttering to himself, Kang Jun-hyeok pulled out his spear. He wound a thread tightly around the tip of the spear and took a stance.
[Spear Throw]
* * *
“Hmm…”
The Chief of the merfolk village was groaning, his face etched with worry.
As if their situation wasn't bad enough, a human of unknown origin had suddenly appeared.
‘…Is he a simple guest, or is this some trick of that thing?’
He couldn't easily judge, and his mind was a tangled mess. While he was stuck in his fruitless contemplation, a merman rushed to find him.
“Chief!”
“What is it?”
“This child approached the human and gave him his Merfolk's Orb!”
“What?”
The Chief’s eyes widened. Raman, held in the other merman’s hand, was sniffling and crying.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Raman! What have you done?!”
“I-it’s nothing much! I just talked to him and lent him the orb!”
“…You gave him the orb?”
The Chief grimaced as he heard the frantic explanation. The Merfolk's Orb was a special artifact passed down only among their kind. It was never to be handed over to other races.
“It seems you are still too young to know its value. You shall be severely punished later.”
“Hieee!”
“Where is that human now?”
“He has disappeared.”
“Was the Merfolk's Orb his goal after all?”
“That is likely the case… Shall we pursue?”
“…We should, but…”
Unfortunately, their situation was dire. They could barely even find food; sending soldiers to chase a human who could be anywhere was no easy task.
Just as the Chief fell into deep thought, a commotion erupted outside. The sound of something massive being dragged echoed through the water.
Rumble, rumble!
“What is that?!”
The Chief hurried outside, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“…Uh, what?”
“I am a traveler. But at the same time, I am a pilgrim. I could not simply leave those in distress alone.”
The returning Kang Jun-hyeok wore a smile so gentle it was almost saintly.
“After speaking with Raman, it seemed you were troubled by a lack of food. I don’t know exactly what the problem is, but I can at least solve the food issue for you.”
Thud!
The ocean floor shook.
Kang Jun-hyeok had not returned alone. He had dragged back a Giant Squid with his spear embedded deep in its flesh.
It was a Giant Squid so massive it could cover half the village. It was large enough for every merperson in the village to eat for days. The merfolk’s jaws dropped.
“He… he dragged that back alone?”
“It looks like even dozens of us couldn't move that…”
“I have traveled to many places and possess the strength to solve problems,” Kang Jun-hyeok said calmly. “If you have any worries or problems, please do not hesitate to tell me. I will resolve them for you.”
For the sake of the merfolk. And for the sake of his quest.
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled brightly. The Master of All Weapons let out a scoff.
[What a sly snake of a fellow.]
[The proficiency of the Acting skill has increased.]
[The proficiency of the Persuasion skill has increased.]