Skewered Kraken and Leviathan's Shadow
Even with its entire body skewered on the spits, the thing was still twitching. I climbed on top and walked over to the Kraken's eye.
"Should've just stayed in the deep sea. Why go eating mermaids?"
Its pupil contracted as it stared at me. It must be scared too. Death is the same concept for any living creature.
That said... I couldn't exactly let it go.
Crunch—
I gathered all my strength into my hand.
And then...
"…."
I felt an odd sense of dissonance.
The Kraken is... the king of the deep sea. It shouldn't be a monster that ends this easily.
Splat!—
————!!
I plunged my hand into its body. The creature lost its color in an instant.
At least it didn't suffer at the end. I sent it off in one go.
Crunch!—
I pulled out its mana stone. They say the gem that grows inside a Kraken's body has purifying properties. That's probably why Thalassa wanted it.
Creak—Rumble—
With that, I manipulated the spits to slowly sink back into the sea.
"Haaah…!"
"Shouldn't you be used to this by now?"
"N-no, not at all…."
As we descended slowly, I could see the mermaids still fleeing in panic.
...If you're gonna run, at least hide in your houses or something.
"Hey! It's the hero!"
A mermaid in a T-shirt spotted me and shouted. The others noticed too and started cheering.
"Wooow!"
"The hero!"
Thud—
I dropped the carcass next to the village—nearly as big as the village itself.
"We can have a festival today!"
After setting down the Kraken's body, I headed straight for Thalassa's house. Time to grab the compass—and we had stuff to talk about.
Thud—
"So, you've come, child of the land."
"The thing you wanted."
I handed over the mana stone and stood before her again.
"You look puzzled."
"You knew, didn't you? That Kraken…."
"I knew. It was weakened."
"Why didn't you say so from the start?"
Thalassa inspected the mana stone with her feathered arms, then slowly spoke.
"Was there any reason I had to tell you?"
"What…?"
She nodded in satisfaction and used magic to fetch a bunch of mermaid tears from a corner.
"Our goal was to eliminate that Kraken. Whether it was at full strength or not, it wouldn't have mattered with your power."
"Is that something you say to a client…."
"I already knew your power was off the charts."
I almost snapped that that wasn't the point, but just sighed deeply instead.
How am I supposed to understand fish logic? Better to just roll with it.
"But I can answer your curiosity."
"...What is it?"
"You know the Kraken lives in the deep sea, right?"
"Yeah?"
"It came here out of fear."
...Out of fear? That Kraken?
"You look confused."
"Then explain properly. Fear? You mean something even bigger showed up?"
"Sharp intuition. Have you dealt with something like this before?"
Thalassa placed the mana stone and mermaid tears on her ritual stand and lifted the golden compass, closing her eyes tight. Silver light leaked from the mana stone, projecting beautiful wave patterns on the wall like gentle ripples.
"■■■■~"
And then came the siren's song.
"…."
Normal sirens use that song to enchant people. Fine, I'll admit it—it's definitely beautiful.
Unless I kill a siren and steal her treasure's power, I couldn't hit those notes either. Dragon words carry mana, just like siren songs hold special power.
The power to grant wishes and desires. That's why they sometimes sing to fulfill small human wishes when they're in a good mood.
...Most of the time, they just toy with people, though.
Not jealous, though. I'm happy with my voice.
...Wait, actually, if I debuted as a singer with this voice….
I glanced at the chat and smirked. Then I put my index finger to my lips in a shush gesture.
Even just reading it was noisy.
As the song wound down, the silver waves on the wall faded, converging into a single point. The light gathered into the mana stone and dripped down—
Drip—
—straight into the golden compass.
"Child of the land."
"...What."
"I feel I should comfort the mermaids. So, take this too."
She packages it nicely, huh.
"Why? Like I keep saying, I need to hear it first before I decide."
"This is my last direct request. The rest, this device will tell you."
The compass left Thalassa's hand, riding a wave toward me. I picked it up carefully.
◈ Acquired Treasure
Treasure collection ticked up again.
"The mermaid children must be busy with their festival. They've completely forgotten about me."
Thalassa glanced at me and Terra as she said it offhand. Her eyes looked somehow empty.
...I don't like sirens much, but.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
"You won't attack humans, right?"
"Just surviving here is tough enough. Do I look like I have time for such frivolities?"
She seemed kinda pathetic. Almost like she had real emotions.
...If she's from another world like Earth's elves, maybe this siren species is different.
Click—
"Here, for you."
"What's that?"
"Hunter Watch. I carry spares in case one breaks in a fight. Watch my stream with it."
If she's not hurting people, maybe a little outreach wouldn't hurt.
"Quite amusing. You look at me like I'm pathetic the moment the curse lifts."
"I'm a bit arrogant. Yeah, you looked pathetic."
"I see. ...How does this work?"
I showed her how to use the watch and tune into my stream.
Grandma vibes… Surprisingly quick to adapt, she started chatting with viewers.
"...You should drop by with the mermaids sometime."
After some chit-chat, she suddenly looked at me and spoke.
"You've given me entertainment, so I should share good info in return."
"What is it?"
"The being in the deep sea that terrified the Kraken."
Oh. Spilling it this easily?
"Even deeper than here, in a place without a speck of light—a gate collapsed there once. Something massive burst out and shattered it."
"Gate got shattered…?"
"Yeah. Seemed it couldn't handle the size."
"What came out?"
Thalassa paused dramatically, then let out a dry chuckle.
"Seems a Leviathan has taken up residence."
Terra, Thalassa, and I headed to the bustling plaza.
Didn't expect Thalassa to come along.
"Ah! Hero! Chieftain!"
"Having fun?"
"Yes! Want some?!"
"I'm fine, child. Eat plenty."
The mermaids had somehow butchered my hunted Kraken and were cooking it—basically just boiling it in magically superheated water.
But... I was kinda curious.
"Mind if I try a bite…?"
"Pardon? Goldie-unnie, you can't mean—"
"Curiosity, y'know? What if it gives me some gem-like power?"
"I seriously doubt that…."
"Wooow! The hero's eating our food!"
The mermaids gathered around. I picked up a small piece and popped it in my mouth.
"Hmm... not bad?"
"Huh? This?"
"Yeah. Try some. Better than it looks."
I nodded while chewing. Terra looked curious, so I offered her a piece.
"Alright then…."
Nom.
"…! E-ewk!"
Pfft—
Terra spat it out immediately, and I couldn't hold back my laughter, turning away and cackling.
"S-so salty... and like rubber… ugh…."
She glared at me with teary eyes as I desperately held in my laughs.
"Goldie-unnie…."
"Ahem. Can't let me suffer alone!"
"…."
"Haha… whew… Alright! Time to head back. Ha-eun's waiting."
"Leaving?"
"Yeah. Got a fun idea too."
"Fun idea?"
I nodded.
"Gotta hunt that Leviathan."
It's gotta be packing something huge. And if it's huge, it should be mine, right?