Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Storm Island
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Storm Island.
Even though it was near the whirlpool zone, fierce storms always raged around the island, with rain pouring down like arrows and winds blowing so hard that no one could approach.
Even the merfolk, who made the ocean their home and swam freely anywhere, couldn't reach the seas beneath the island due to the typhoon's mana swirling around it.
On the clearest days, when visibility stretched far, that place was still shrouded in black clouds, accompanied by the occasional crack of thunder. Sailors passing through nearby waters called it that.
They said it was a hellish island where once you entered, you could never leave.
Even if you broke through the fierce storms and lightning, a whirlpool lay ahead. If you were lucky enough to drift in alive, you'd be unlucky enough to die and never escape that hellish island.
But in truth, if you thought about it the other way, it was paradise for someone.
A paradise where no one could enter, all to myself.
A sanctuary where no one could force or compel me, where I wouldn't be disturbed by anyone.
For that, the merfolk princess Lavinia had stolen one of the royal treasures, the Storm Orb, and holed up on this small island, falling into a deep sleep.
Especially since no merfolk could pierce the barrier created by the Storm Orb, which was infused with powerful mana for their kind.
So she had been waiting on this island until her father, the merfolk king, would awaken.
‘But… I never imagined a human would come in and steal it…….’
It wasn't just ordinary storms and gales. Since it held such potent mana, no being powerful enough to break through would have any reason to target this island.
But that was a miscalculation. Originally, as Lavinia thought, the island held no value, but she never dreamed the Storm Orb she brought would create new worth.
“Sister. Isn’t it about time you called it quits and came back?”
“No…….”
From the center of the island, beneath a small rising mountain, a huddled voice echoed from deep inside a narrow, damp cave.
“You know stealing a royal treasure is a grave crime, right?”
“It belongs to Father……. Even if it’s theft, he’s the one who should bear the sin.”
“Father’s in hibernation. You know that. He exhausted too much power, so he won’t wake for decades more.”
At those words laced with laughter, Lavinia, floating in the darkness on the shallow waters deeper in the cave, growled.
“So you’re trying to sell me off while he’s asleep? Father won’t let you live if he finds out!”
“Sell you off? You’re putting it in such an ugly way, Sister.”
The man standing at the cave entrance, his back to the light, chuckled and spoke again.
“You’ve lost the Storm Orb, yet you’ve got so much to say.”
At his words, Lavinia’s body floating on the water twitched.
“The losses aren’t minor. You know that. But luckily, you still haven’t changed your mind about the marriage alliance.”
“No. Father will know, Father will…….”
“By the time Father wakes, you’ll be living happily somewhere. What’s there to worry about?”
If it comes from Sister’s own mouth that it’s fine, what could he possibly say?
A sinister laugh echoed through the damp cave.
“This is the last time I’ll try persuading you with words. Their ship will arrive next month, so we need to prepare you before then. I don’t want to get rough either.”
The sole remaining pure royal blood aside from the sleeping merfolk king. That power was utterly useless to the current merfolk anyway.
“Next time, you’ll have to walk out of this cave on your own two feet.”
Or else we’ll drag you out by force.
Lavinia writhed in despair as she watched the man slowly turn and exit the cave.
Because her father, who could release the powerful seal inherited through her bloodline, was asleep, only her ability to heal others was free to use from that immense power.
Thanks to that, she couldn’t properly respond to the collateral branches running rampant.
Why had it come to this? If only she had protected herself with an unbreakable barrier and let time pass, everything would have resolved itself.
Why had everything fallen apart like this?
‘This… it’s all… because of humans.’
The one who shattered the island’s barrier and stole the Storm Orb was a human.
The ones coveting her for decades over the legend that mating with pure-blooded merfolk grants immortality were humans.
Even teaming up with collateral merfolk to tarnish the pride and honor of the merfolk through piracy—humans.
Humans, humans, humans!
“I hate them…….”
Lavinia’s voice trembled faintly, soaked with moisture.
* * *
The sea’s weather is always fickle—one moment sunny, the next darkened with torrential rain.
Winds might howl as if ready to flip ships and churn the depths, only to suddenly form a dead calm zone where all is still.
Few can navigate such seas freely, but the merfolk were born different.
A race that instinctively grasps the whims of the ocean’s turbulent mana flows and swims through the gaps.
Storms like these were no different from a tranquil night sea to them, and over short distances, they could swim faster than any creature.
Even in full human form, they could hold their breath for an hour underwater with a single inhale, and in mermaid form, they breathed freely beneath the waves. Unless facing another merfolk or sea monster, they had no rivals in the water.
So they were naturally adept at piracy.
If they just cast aside a bit of pride.
“Spare… please spare us…….”
“Laughable. You’d think we were real killers.”
One merfolk, who had unwound the cloth from his waist in human form and wrapped it around his arms underwater, chuckled.
It was always easy. Like swimming on your back.
By halting ships with strong water mana, any small vessel without a mana engine couldn’t escape.
Then, they’d politely request: Hand over the goods if you don’t want to be stranded in this vast ocean for days.
For mid-sized ships with strong fighters aboard, they’d sneak close and bore holes in the hulls.
In such cases, they’d lose salt, flour, sugar—things ruined by water—but it was the simplest way to kill.
To merfolk, the sea wasn’t just overflowing water mana; it was a weapon and power itself. Even those who prided themselves on strength saw half their power broken underwater.
Aura users needed to be aura masters to move freely on water; most users could barely stand, if at all.
Mages had to constantly maintain a levitation spell, draining mana and mental strength just for that.
Other classes faltered underwater for their own reasons, making fights against merfolk unwinnable.
So it was now.
“Introduce yourself.”
Untarnished, vibrant golden hair and blue eyes more brilliant than gems.
And that innate arrogance and haughtiness no one else could mimic.
Even seeing the man unflinching, as if he had solid backing, the merfolk man just laughed.
He hadn’t killed the human for his impudent words because anyone could see he wasn’t a fake with a slick tongue—he was the real deal.
‘Plenty of prey in the sea dressed up poisonously but tasting oh-so-sweet.’
But this one was genuine, thought Hargas, a collateral royal blood of the merfolk.
“You must have something to rely on, human. An introduction… sure. Why not.”
That supremely arrogant human was surely a true noble.
But that was luck for Hargas. True nobles meant more to take.
In the end, it just meant greater gains for them.
No one in the sea was stronger underwater than merfolk, so if needed, they could retreat to the depths, wreck the ship, and isolate this island— a fight they couldn’t lose.
Poor fools without much fought desperately over worthless junk.
But real ones like this valued their own hides most, so they’d hand over gold and artifacts first.
So it would be this time too. Arrogant human nobles might act stiff now, but they’d bow to survive.
Hargas ran a hand through his wavy pale green hair with fingers where the webbing hadn’t fully receded, then spoke.
“I’m Prince Hargas of the merfolk, ruler of all seas around here. Now, shall I hear yours?”
Revealing himself as rare merfolk royalty usually cowed them.
Few were stronger than merfolk at sea, especially royalty who commanded water itself.
‘So wipe that arrogant look and start watching me carefully.’
The moment Hargas imagined the man’s face twisting like a writhing tailfin and glanced at him.
The man smirked wickedly.
“Me, to you?”
As if hearing something amusing, the blond man curled his lip and spoke again.
“Fancy titles like merfolk prince? Laughable. That ‘king’s blood’? You’ve got hundreds, thousands like that. You lot.”
Unlike other humans silenced by rank and blood, this one spoke as if he knew everything, making Hargas’s brow twitch.
“What’s that supposed to mean, human? Do you treat a race’s royalty like this?”
Dragging in the whole race usually made the unqualified bow quickly.
How well could humans know merfolk traits? So insular, especially royal info—none leaked to the continent.
Thus, Hargas glared, subtly raising mana to pressure the human hiding behind the red- and pink-haired women, acting like he knew it all.
“You really think I don’t know? Trash like you spawns from eggs. ‘King’s blood,’ prince this—that’s just spawning in a royal puddle, right?”
Hargas’s relaxed face crumpled at the human’s words.
Sensing the stares from other merfolk converging on him, Hargas whipped his head around, locking eyes with each and blasting them with intense mana.
“Oh, was that a secret even among you? My bad.”
Hargas ground his teeth at the human’s cackling continuation.
“Dare spout nonsense? You’ll come to your senses when your only way off this island—the ship—sinks before your eyes.”
They always kept one merfolk on standby near the ship for attack.
They must have seen the foam and ripples circling it.
As Hargas raised a hand to signal, the blond human laughed with a look of utter contempt.
“Do it, if you can.”