Chapter 304
Chapter 304
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Herculean Deity 304? Herculean Deity #4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hippolyte didn't return to the inn until late evening.
"I'm starving. Let's have dinner. Any crabs caught today?"
From the way she was poking around, it seemed she had really taken a liking to the king crabs Paranoya had caught yesterday.
But Paranoya had spent the whole day tormenting Elfriede and lounging at the inn, so there were no crabs to be had.
Thus, we ended up eating a luxurious mulligan stew—or was it soup?—from the Delphi tavern, priced at about ten coppers per bowl.
It was pretty decent, thanks to the shellfish and shrimp boiled into the broth. As we were finishing up our meal, I casually asked Hippolyte,
"You came back late. Did you meet the Great Oracle on the way? Because of that warrior's karma or whatever?"
At that, Hippolyte dropped the shrimp she was holding, looking utterly shocked.
"H-How did you know that?"
Seeing her flustered, Luna, who had been diligently deboning fish and placing it on Paranoya's plate, chimed in.
"We heard everything! You can go straight into the Chamber of Awakening through a special passage, skipping the line, right?"
"Ah, so you overheard. Yeah, that's right. It was supposed to be a secret, but it doesn't really matter if it gets out."
I'd thought it was some huge secret, but from Hippolyte's reaction, it seemed like no big deal if it leaked.
So I asked offhandedly,
"If it's no issue, could you tell us what that karma is about?"
"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you all about. The karma I got from the Great Oracle this year is a bit concerning."
Hippolyte added a brief explanation.
As we'd guessed, she'd just come from meeting this Great Oracle, and the prophecy was: "Opportunity lies with the one who turns the blackening sea waters blue—"
Elfriede, having snatched a shrimp meant for Paranoya, furrowed her brow and asked,
"Turning blackening sea waters blue? That's a weird prophecy."
"Oracle prophecies are usually like that. Full of metaphors and allusions, so interpreting them isn't easy. Anyway, making the sea waters blue again is this year's karma."
Luna then asked,
"So, if we help solve that karma, can we get a shot at becoming gods too?"
But Hippolyte just crossed her arms and slowly shook her head.
"No idea. I don't know where you heard it, but completing the karma doesn't make you a god right away. You have to ask the oracles if there's a seat for a god that suits you."
"What does that mean?"
"The oracles give champions who complete their karma one chance to ask a question. They answer anything. Through those dialogues, you learn all sorts of things, but it's hard to explain."
Hippolyte trailed off with a troubled expression.
Maybe she thought it wasn't good to discuss in a crowded place? Sure enough, people nearby were eavesdropping on our table.
Turn the black sea blue, huh.
Time to head to the sea.
Indeed, a few even slammed their tables and stood up as soon as we finished talking. Luna flailed in panic at the sight.
"We're gonna lose our chance at this rate!"
"Calm down, Noxdoty. Rushing body and soul won't help. It's not that simple. You'll see when you try it. So, how about helping me out this time?"
Tap tap.
Hippolyte drummed her fingers on the table as she asked.
"Sure, I'm in. I've got business with those oracle folks anyway. That's why I came all the way to Delphi."
Elfriede answered first. Come to think of it, she had her own reasons for joining this Delphi trip.
"A mage is always useful. Good, that's one secured."
Hippolyte's eyes then turned to me, Luna, and Paranoya.
I averted my gaze from her sharp, piercing stare and looked at Luna.
I had many reasons for coming to Delphi, but the biggest was Luna.
Luna was a pure goddess, not some half-baked demigod.
She didn't seem aware of it, but maybe this would help her realize her true nature, even a little.
With those gigas from the underworld likely targeting her, if she awakened to her divinity, she could at least protect herself.
But there was cause for worry.
Luna's mother, Lady Nox, didn't seem to want her realizing her identity.
We hadn't talked much, but from what I vaguely recalled, Nox just wanted her daughter to live like a normal human.
But as things stood, Luna would inevitably become some goddess or other. It was just a matter of time—obvious and unavoidable.
An eagle raised among chickens is fated to soar the skies someday.
It felt strange.
I'd heard that becoming a god often changes one's personality and values.
Luna changing?
Hard to imagine.
On the other hand, the thought that the current Luna might vanish, replaced by an immortal goddess who could leave me behind, filled me with anxiety.
So I thought,
What if I made Luna a goddess of a small, cozy domain?
Like a goddess of a little stream or a tiny hill, so she could keep living an ordinary life.
Like Sijo's parents, living humbly but happily on a small mountain. What if we built our own shrine in a modest yard and lived quietly?
Of course, just my fantasy.
What should I do?
As I pondered, Luna shot her hand up.
"Me too! Looks fun! I've got tons of questions for the oracle! Wonder if it'll tell me how to lift the curse on Ideope Island?"
No matter how I worried, Luna's life was her own. Without me fretting, she'd decided her path.
*
*
*
"Turn the black sea blue. We might find a clue wandering the coast near Delphi. Let's split up and search."
The next day.
We split up per Hippolyte's instructions to scour Delphi and the nearby shores.
Hippolyte had personal Gold Tier adventurer business, so she'd go solo. Elfriede wanted to team with Luna, leaving me and Paranoya as a pair.
"D-Don't blow on my belly, wind! I'll really get mad!"
Luna snapped at Elfriede like she was on edge. Elfriede shrugged lazily, "Fine, whatever," but Luna still growled suspiciously.
Would those two be okay together?
"Hassan-nim, off to the sea with me again...! Gotta catch tons of crabs...!"
My side had issues too. Stuck with Paranoya all day—my ears already ached thinking of the nonstop chatter.
So I stuffed my pouch with hardened honey candies and hit the streets. They were gone in less than half a day.
"Hassan-nim, the sea's always blue...! So blue and vast...! Thinking of Neptune the sea king and the nymph sisters of Oceanus beneath these depths makes my heart swell...!"
Paranoya chattered on, clearly loving the sea. Her bucket already clinked with small flower crabs bumping around.
"True."
As she said, the sea was always blue and vast. Turn a black sea blue? How do you make an already blue sea bluer?
At best, the night sea looked dark. Light it up to make it blue? Something like that?
Lost in thought, I heard Paranoya say,
"We've caught all there is here...! Over there, that beach called the sanctuary—it's empty and quiet, bound to have fish and crabs...! How about we head there...?"
"Isn't a sanctuary off-limits to just anyone?"
"We're not just anyone, right? It'll be fine...! Sanctuaries are forbidden zones that nobles and demigods use as playgrounds—they scare people off...!"
"I see."
Maybe that untouched beach held the key to the prophecy.
I followed Paranoya to the deserted sanctuary beach. People muttered as we passed.
"Look at that guy, heading to the forbidden waters."
"Gonna have to clean up another corpse."
"Hope the sea stays calm."
Seemed ominous, but before I could stop her, Paranoya splashed right in.
"Ah! Hassan-nim, look...! Paranoya caught a scallop...!"
"Good job."
I sat on the quiet shore, deep in thought.
Black sea, huh.
For the sea to turn black, maybe an oil spill? Turning an oil-slicked sea blue sounded heroic enough.
"Ah—! L-Look at this...! Lobster, a sea lobster...! Grilled, it'd be delicious...!"
"Good catch. Bucket it."
But in this world without tankers, what could cause a massive oil spill? Tricky.
"Hassan-nim! This time, really amazing...! Paranoya caught a mermaid...!"
"Good. Bucket it—"
"Too big for the bucket...! It's fighting hard...!"
"Wait, what did you catch?"
I jumped. Snapping to, I saw Paranoya wrestling something on the wave-crashing sand.
"L-Let go!"
True to her word, it was a mermaid—woman's upper body, fish tail below.
Paranoya yanked the tail fin, dragging her ashore bit by bit.
"H-How the hell did you catch that?"
"Not fully caught yet...! She's escaping...! Help, Hassan-nim...!"
"Right!"
I grabbed the slick tail and pulled hard. The thrashing mermaid left long finger marks in the sand as she was dragged fully onto land.
"Y-You savages! What are you doing? Send me back to the sea now!"
"Damn, a real mermaid! How'd you catch it? What'd you do?"
"Mermaids, sirens, are sea nymphs...! Land-dwelling Paranoya caught a sea nymph...! Paranoya's superior to sea nymphs...!"
"A nymph too, huh."
"Stick finger in water, fish mistake for grub and bite—grab then...! This one too...!"
Ah, that's how she got all those crabs and lobsters. Impressive trick, but one I could've lived without knowing.
Anyway, I scanned the sea-dragged mermaid from tail to head. Nymph-like, not too bright-looking.
Being caught by Paranoya and hauled ashore already docked her IQ by half a candy. Still, discovering mermaids existed was thrilling.
How does that body even work?
Curious, I reached for the sea nymph's tail.
So sleek and cool.
Wavy red hair like seaweed. Top made of woven kelp and shells—realistic.
Ears like tiny fins, unlike Paranoya's. As I reached to check if gills or ears, she screamed in terror.
"I-I'm Ariel! T-Touch me and you'll regret it! Hands off, land barbarians!"
"Who?"
"Ariel! H-How dare you! Trespassing the forbidden sanctuary wasn't enough—you grab and insult me, the one warning you? Lord Triton won't forgive you!"
Shrill and feisty voice. Thought mermaids sang beautifully—guess not.
Damn, even finned, nymphs are lively.
As I fiddled with her ear, Paranoya yelped in shock.
"Tr-Triton? That Herculean Deity Triton...?"
"Yes! Even lowly land nymphs know Lord Triton's fame! Better apologize to Ariel, his favorite concubine with the prettiest scales!"
Paranoya shivered.
"Hassan-nim, better toss her back quick...!"