Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Mermaid Thieves
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[Title: But it was there]
(An image of the empty giant squid heart)
It was gone.
[Likes 1213] [Dislikes 1592]
- ?
- Does that even make sense?
- Didn't you pocket it yourself?
ㄴ OP: Fuck no, it's fucking real
ㄴ OP: The mermaid ate it and bolted, for real;;
They caught the giant squid monster called the Kraken.
But there was no heart.
They say a mermaid took off with it.
- Mermaid ate it and bolted lololol
ㄴ For real lol
ㄴ Post the pic. If not, what is it?
Naturally, the gallery's reaction wasn't good.
They have this cheatproof verification method called pics, but they're just saying it's gone with words?
More than enough reason to suspect.
"But it makes sense?"
But at least I believed it.
A whale with legs dozens of meters long strolling through the elves' forest.
A street girl introducing herself as Lust who was actually one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
This was a world where that happened.
"Why a mermaid now?"
Mermaid? Too ordinary.
My Kellarton citizen ID name was even Malphite.
- Judak*): I believe you ㅇㅇ
ㄴ OP: Oh, Lord Judak...
ㄴ Huh
ㄴ Then I'll believe it too lol
ㄴ Judak*): In exchange, do it one more time my way.
The mermaid ripped out the heart and ran.
No, not just the heart—she snuck off with the organs too.
No telling when that giant squid monster would respawn, but I couldn't let it get stolen again.
"Like a golden goblin or something."
Like a goblin eyeing spoils, maybe a similar monster? No idea.
The gallers seemed clueless about mermaids too.
But one thing was certain.
"Thieves return to the scene..."
[Miniature GPS Tracker] - 60p
[Fish Guts Collection 1kg] - 15p
Time to bait and catch a mermaid.
*
[7.64% until next level...]
"Already this close?"
I was just munching rice cakes absentmindedly while browsing the gallery, and now I'm almost leveled up.
Wonder what unlocks next level.
[Title: Mermaids exist, confirmed lol]
(A dazed elf meme)
You guys aren't even elves, and you believe that crap?
Why not say the world is flat too lol
[Likes 895] [Dislikes 994]
- For real, so many naive kids
- You guys say fish with legs come from other dimensions lol
ㄴ OP: That one's real, fuck
- I'm a fisherman and I see them sometimes
ㄴ Even old-timers have limits lol
ㄴ Rice cake former prime minister bread?
ㄴ Yeah do it lol
Meanwhile, the gallery was still fiercely debating mermaid existence.
Browsing made me wonder.
"But why the heart specifically?"
The mermaid took the heart and guts.
Tasteless, fishy, undesirable parts.
Weird that she left the good meat and took only that.
I posted my question in the gallery.
[Title: But something's off]
(A shrugging frog meme)
But why take only the organs?
No idea
[Comments 5]
- Just a minnow faction type?
ㄴ Oh lol, instant get lolol
ㄴ ...What?
ㄴ You bastard... take that back...!
ㄴ Take it back!
Some shady purpose for sure.
Monster messing with Judak.
Nah, just minnow lovers or whatever.
"Minnows are tasty, why hate?"
Couldn't understand from my perspective.
When toothpaste is too bitter, spreading it on your toothbrush instead is great.
All sorts of nonsense and speculation posts flying around.
[Quality Post: Lord Judak, found their habitat]
(A pic of a coastal cave from afar)
Mermaids seem gathered there, what do?
"Oho?"
Finally found the mermaid habitat.
Method was simple.
Tossed fish guts with GPS trackers into the sea at the same spot.
Thief mermaid showed up as expected, grabbed the heart and guts, bolted.
I just waited and tracked the location.
"Closer than I thought."
Mermaid haunt: Kellarton coast.
Considering no one knew about mermaids, way too close.
One mage, three knights, dozen soldiers.
Didn't seem like it'd be tough.
Worst case lose, then supply guns—not too late.
- Judak*): Post situation updates by the minute
- Judak*): Say if you need anything
Got a soldier to post real-time updates.
"Better safe than sorry."
Especially since mermaids lure people into the water with song, right?
[Noise-Canceling Earplugs x10] - 2p
Stocked up on shop-bought earplugs too.
Prep perfect.
- Judak*): Go go
Posted in chat, and soon...
The mermaid-human battle began...!
ㄴ OP: Uh, Lord Judak
ㄴ Judak*): Need something?
ㄴ OP: That is... it's over ㅇㅇ;
ㄴ Judak*): ?
And it ended.
"What."
Was supposed to get minute-by-minute reports.
Ended before even one came.
What the hell?
First report post clued me in late.
[Title: Traces of the fierce battle...jpg]
(A clip of mermaids going "Kkipat!" in surprise as a group)
(A pic of one mermaid bravely biting a knight's leg)
(A pic of a teary-eyed mermaid)
ㅇㅇ Exactly as pictured;
They surrendered and returned Lord Judak's monster heart?
[Likes 4821] [Dislikes 12]
- ???
- Is that her biting armor and crying cuz her teeth hurt?
ㄴ OP: ㅇㅇ Seems so;
ㄴ No counterattack or magic?
ㄴ OP: They gauged the mood and handed over the stolen heart ㅇㅇ
ㄴ ????
- Hmm... kinda...
ㄴ That's enough ㅇㅇ
ㄴ (Die trash. Elf meme)
Mermaids surrendered before fighting.
One apparent leader tried attacking a knight, but calling it an attack was a stretch.
No attack magic, no song hypnosis.
"Just people."
Ordinary folks with no stats.
But with fins.
Maybe weaker than goblins.
Ended with the sea-haired mermaid sheepishly returning the stolen monster heart.
Or so I thought.
[Hunger]
"Hm?"
[Fear]
[Worry, Anxiety]
Voices came from the video.
More precisely, emotions appeared as text over the mermaid's head.
Like game emotes.
"New gallery effect?"
Gallery said they only go "Kkipat!" though.
Messaged the knight heading back with the heart.
- Judak*): Hold up
ㄴ Yep?
ㄴ Judak*): You don't see that? Mermaid's calling you nonstop
Mermaids huddled trembling in the cave corner.
But the sea-haired one kept talking to the knights.
[Hunger]
[Help Request!]
Bravely approaching their feet, pleading.
Not hostile monster cry.
Clear plea for help.
But knights—no, everyone ignored the mermaids coldly.
"Wait, they can't hear?"
Looking closer, different.
Not ignoring—couldn't understand.
Knights wary of approaching mermaids, just furrowed brows, no reply.
- Mermaid... speech?
ㄴ Judak*): ㅇㅇ Asking for help
ㄴ ? What you on about Judak
ㄴ Only "Kkipat! Kkipatkki!" sounds to me lol
ㄴ Cute tho ㅇㅇ
"What, only I see it?"
OP and gallers clueless too.
Mermaids shriveled more.
Staring, a thought hit.
"Or maybe?"
Why take only guts.
Why beg humans despite fear.
[Grilled Fish 10 Packs] - 25p
Mackerel, mackerel, flounder included
- Whoosh
Tried sending food just in case.
Mermaids' eyes went wide.
Then covered mouths with hands.
"Kkipat!"
[Shock! Terror!]
[Surprise!]
*
Why mermaids took the guts?
Not cuz they prefer fish guts or hearts.
"Humans don't eat those parts."
Discarded, so they took them.
Didn't hate fish meat.
[Title: They're watching our reactions]
(A pic of mermaid holding fish meat, trembling)
(A pic of cat-eyed mermaid looking up at knight)
Waiting for Lord Judak, what do?
[Likes 4921] [Dislikes 5]
- Whoa so cute lol
ㄴ Take em home then
ㄴ I got no fish to eat, no thanks
ㄴ Fish meat sent by ancestors?
- Judak*): ㅇㅇ Tell em to eat
Once I gave permission, mermaids tore into packs, faces buried.
Humans right there? Ignored.
Watching felt oddly familiar.
Totally...
"Wyvern mk2."
How starved usually?
Licking the plastic too—pitiful.
Mermaids just took humans' discarded parts as usual.
Just took it first from hunger this time.
Problem: It was monster heart material.
"These rift victims too?"
Seemed few mermaids, like witches.
Especially post-Great War, sea polluted, food scarce.
"Kkipat!"
Then.
- Lord Judak, they're looking at the gallery?
Mermaid grinned mischievously, made her sound, stared at gallery.
Like staring at me through it.
"Hm, tricky."
But couldn't keep feeding mermaids.
Can't communicate with anyone but me, not gallery users.
Coldly, no gain.
Gallers starving too—no spare for non-monsters other races.
"Not hostile monsters, got it."
Got it, but what to do with mermaids?
[Mermaid enrollment requirements met.]
[Can include Mermaid race in Isekai Destruction Gallery.]
[Approve application?]
"Ooh?"
But.
If mermaids become gallers, that's different.