Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: The Beach Butcher
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"Ahhh, that was fun. The food here's so damn good."
The moment we got back to the inn, Claudia flung herself onto the bed. She hugged a pillow tight, sprawled out facedown. We'd wandered around town stuffing our faces everywhere we went.
"My stomach's gonna burst, seriously."
Winia yanked off her shirt like it was suffocating her and flopped down next to Claudia. She let out a slow breath, grumbling about how her boobs might actually get even bigger at this rate.
What?
"What? Your boobs are gonna get bigger?"
"Whenever I gain weight, it all goes straight to my chest."
It hit me like a bolt from the blue.
I sensed infinite possibilities in those words.
"Let's eat more, then."
"You crazy, darkie? If they get any bigger here, I won't even be able to walk."
She's exaggerating big time.
Winia's chest is big, sure, but not that big.
"I'll carry you everywhere."
"You idiot. Ngh...!"
As I tidied up our scattered clothes, Claudia—who seemed in a much better mood now—wrapped her legs around Winia and started groping her all over. Her hands expertly fondled those breasts, and by now, Winia wasn't even putting up a fight.
"Ah, sis. Don't touch my boobs. It'll be a problem if they get bigger."
"Hehe. So soft. If boobs are off-limits, how about down here?"
"I'm tired... If you're gonna grope, at least do my stomach."
"Okay. Good girl."
"It's not 'good girl'—I've just given up. No matter how much I bitch and tell you to stop, you always knead them anyway."
"That's what makes you cute, Winia. Want a kiss?"
"No. Don't do embarrassing stuff."
...What a sight.
I was beat too, so I just slipped in between them and lay down. They pressed right up against me from both sides, so I gave them arm pillows and stroked their ears. They let out pleased little sounds and soon drifted off.
I closed my eyes too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As expected from a port city, there was plenty more to see beyond the night market. The tourist traps were thriving, so any lingering gloom from that blood-soaked beach—where those damn merfolk bastards had wrecked everything—had long faded away.
We'd bought some new clothes to really soak in the vibe, and I'd loaded up on those weird fish statues Claudia took a shine to, wearing them like lucky charms.
Trips are all about blowing cash.
Still, seeing them happy made it worth it.
"Darkie! Let's hit that today—over there!"
"Oh? Marine Monster Grand Melee?"
Winia grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
There was this aquarium-looking building.
"...An aquarium?"
Claudia seemed curious too, so in we went. A fantasy world aquarium? Kinda intriguing. We paid 8 coppers per person and headed inside.
Those greedy fucks.
ㅡCrowded.
A decent crowd, but not too bad. I was checking out how legit it was when... no way.
"Holy shit... Katt?"
"It looks exactly like a darkie dick, doesn't it?"
"What the hell are you talking about."
We hit a roadblock right away.
I had to wonder if this thing was even real. It was a bucket-sized, apricot-colored cephalopod monster with dozens of twisted sea cucumber-like tentacles.
Claudia stared at it dead serious, while Winia hit me with some sex joke. Bullshit. My dick sure as hell doesn't look that grotesque.
"It really looks like a dick and balls. Let's check out something else before it makes me puke."
"Yeah... Sea monsters must come in all kinds of weird shapes."
"Nah, sis—this one's just extra dickish."
The aquarium was better than expected.
Compared to modern Earth's, it was primitive as hell, sure. But the bizarre, eerie, freakish fantasy fish crammed into those tanks still delivered a fresh shock.
Monsters gonna monster.
Earth's deep-sea fish looked like cute puppies next to these abyssal killers, their bulging eyes glaring out at the gawkers.
Those murky stares pulsed with nothing but infinite hatred and murderous intent toward the humans who'd locked them up. I could guess that much.
"Whoa, check this out."
"This one's straight-up nasty."
Claudia and Winia either freaked or marveled at the tank horrors. Me? I was more caught up in how much fun they were having.
Wish I had a camera.
We took our time wandering, exploring.
While they were distracted by some rare cute critter, I slipped over to the crowded spot.
"Whoa."
My jaw dropped.
Like any kid, I'd been obsessed with deep-sea stuff back in the day—a total science nerd.
Deep-sea fish.
Grotesque yet holding primal beauty, they were like the most ancient form of Venus.
Their extreme adaptations to the abyss gave them perfect hunting tools. Deep-sea fish were Venus and Diana. Their nightmarish looks and weird habits were enough to ignite any boy's imagination.
"...What the hell is this thing?"
Before me was a massive beast blending the best of crustaceans, cephalopods, fish, and mammals—perfectly adapted to the seafloor. Human-sized, in a slightly oversized tank.
Actually, not that big a tank.
It was crammed in a cylindrical glass tube just big enough for a person, like a mutant specimen floating in formalin.
Probably the main attraction.
Overhearing the crowd, it was a recent catch. New species? Sailors were geeking out over the first-time sight.
I was staring blankly when it reached out toward me.
ㅡGrab.
"Holy shit."
So zoned in, I thought it'd burst out.
"...You fucking thing. That's my balls you're eyeing, you perv."
Pissed off, I flipped it the bird against the tank and cursed it out. The lidless freak stared blankly at my finger and waved a tentacle.
Then Winia and Claudia called me over.
"Darkie, whatcha looking at?"
"Katt?"
They came up, saw it, and gasped in awe.
Full-on admiration mode.
"..."
I couldn't shake a sudden ominous hunch. It felt like the damn thing was trying to talk to me—a creepy delusion.
I bolted to another tank.
The crustaceans were mostly normal-ish, wriggling around. Some had tentacles instead of claws, like squid-crabs or flower crabs, but whatever.
Do all sea critters here come with tentacles standard?
"Wonder if it'd taste good."
"Looks tasty enough."
The cuter ones showed up, and Claudia brought up eating. Guess yesterday's seafood hit the spot.
"What? Already at the exit? No way... Oh, darkie—something at the gift shop."
Not a huge place, so we zipped through and hit the end. Even had souvenirs—like straight out of modern Earth.
Winia marched right in like it was obvious.
Seashell god amulets seemed to be the big sellers. We'd bought plenty already, so I skipped out.
"Darkie. Anywhere else worth going?"
"Yeah. Feels too soon to head back."
"We'll find something wandering around. Let's look."
The sun was blazing—prime beach time. But morning checks showed soldiers still camped out. No attacks since, but better safe.
We roamed around.
Just soaking in exotic views and sea breeze was vacation bliss enough—no big activities needed.
Though the killer food was the real MVP.
Blew through our saved-up cash on random buys, grabbed eats and booze, headed back to the inn. Drunken fashion shows turned into impulsive threesomes. Days like that.
Ravishing them in sexy swimsuits or local traditional wear? Pure, beautiful memories.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ah."
We'd been chilling hard, ready to head out, when it went down. Soldiers swarming, hustling around.
Light outfits in striking cyan tones, armored with crustacean carapace gear. Cutlasses at their hips.
Full battle rattle.
"Merfolk showing up again?"
Claudia peered out the window beside me. Figured as much. What else would get soldiers moving?
But trailing them were ragtag armed thugs too.
Adventurers. Mercs.
"...Smells like money."
Instinct screamed something big had popped off. Adventurers stirring for violence meant trouble. Tied to soldiers and those recent merfolk? Easy guess.
Chance to refill our blown travel funds.
I got dressed.
"Gonna check it out quick."
"Want company?"
"Nah. Rest up."
Geared up, I headed out. Bustling civilians everywhere. Grabbed a random guy: "What's the deal?"
"Merfolk invading! You an out-of-town adventurer? Guild's up that way—go!"
ㅡDash!
He bolted.
"Merfolk invasion? Fuck."
Followed his directions to the Adventurer's Guild. Any decent-sized town has one—jack-of-all-trades hub.
Spotted the building.
Tons of traffic.
Chaos confirmed trouble.
Dodged folks, went in. Sure enough—poster on the board. I scanned it while eavesdropping.
"Hurry! Merfolk can't use shit on land!"
"Sea god amulets blind 'em to us!"
"Need buddies for the sewers! They're breaking in there!"
Chirping like baby birds begging mom for food.
Filtered the info dump for gold.
Merfolk suddenly swarming the city from all sides. We'd been too relaxed to notice. Cyan-scaled bastards crawling from sea, sewers—terrorizing everywhere.
Soldiers couldn't handle it alone. Port lord slapped 30 coppers per head bounty, calling for fighters.
"30 coppers a skull?"
No wonder eyes were rolling.
Big bucks. From experience, not tough foes. Ten kills? Three silvers. Team up, maybe cover the whole trip.
Plus payback on those fucker merfolk. I honed my inner rage-blade, quietly stoking fury. They messed with my girls—death penalty.
Raced back, briefed them.
Claudia nodded at my rundown.
"Merfolk invading... Kill 'em all, and we can hit the beach again?"
"Dunno if the lockdown lifts right away. But wiping 'em might do it."
Bonus cash to extend stay? Beach round two for sure. Claudia gripped her curved sword, eyeing the gleaming edge with killer intent.
Serial killer picking prey. Winia burned with vengeance, snatching her staff.
"No forgiveness. Gonna roast every last one. Useless fish-headed shits. Darkie, go apeshit this time—no complaints. Slaughter 'em all."
She circulated mana, commanding me like a hound. I growled low: "Woof!"
"I won't forgive parasites that carve out my heart!"
And unleashed my merfolk fury.