Chapter 117
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Poseidon's City
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Poseidon's city.
The origin of all ocean currents, the convergence of all waters, the deepest depths of the sea.
Yet a place no one dared to behold with their eyes or touch with their hands.
These evocative titles all referred to the palace of the lord of the seas, Poseidon.
Zeus's Olympus, where everyone wished at least once for the goddesses of fate to guide their destinies.
Hades's kingdom, which all feared but inevitably drew their footsteps.
And Poseidon's domain, a realm no god or hero could enter without his personal invitation.
A place not even mentioned in the myths I'd heard, with scarcely any tales revealed in reality.
I was graciously led by Poseidon's hand and granted the honor of gazing down from the highest(?) vantage point.
How far had I plummeted through the ocean currents in Poseidon's grasp?
As the surroundings grew dimmer, sunlight fading away, I tensed inwardly.
Then, from the profound depths, a massive light shimmered into view.
The current carrying me seemed headed straight for it. Focusing my gaze, I saw a colossal city emerging from the dark ocean abyss, drawing ever closer.
"...Atlantis?"
You know, that one.
The ancient underwater city hyped up every Sunday morning on mystery shows, with claims of discoveries popping up everywhere.
Nothing else could describe it.
Have you ever visited an amusement park or water park?
Escaping the hectic commute, lukewarm bus exhaust, and looming skyscrapers, those places felt like another world—a dreamy escape recreating human fantasies and imagination.
And myths, the very origin of such dreams and fantasies.
Poseidon's kingdom, as a pillar of those myths and sea god, made comparing it to human playgrounds almost an insult.
"Whoa...!"
In the vast abyssal plain, a gleaming outer wall of pure white marble and unnamable gems encircled the city in a perfect circle.
Above and below, massive seahorses and fish soared like flying steeds, pulling chariots—no, sea carriages—hurrying through the waters.
On the broad streets, merchants hawked unknown street foods, fruits, seaweeds, and trinkets from the backs of enormous sea turtles swimming in lines. Others haggled busily or leisurely walked their pet sharks and crocodiles.
These were merfolk with gills instead of ears and webbed hands, or the mermaids I knew well.
Compared to the humans I'd seen, they were profoundly alien, yet they laughed, chatted, and bustled through their city just like anyone else.
But the most mystical element was the city itself.
Twenty-story insulae carved from massive rocks, domus rivaling the Nangong family's estates built from giant corals or sea anemones, mysterious stone temples covered in barnacles and glowing moss.
Above all, the grand palace overlooking the kingdom from on high.
And even from this dizzying height, the enormous statue of Poseidon looked immense.
The gem in the trident he held aloft emitted a soft glow infused with intense energy, illuminating the entire area.
"Impressive...?"
It was a majestic sight that naturally evoked the phrases "city of the sea" and "kingdom of the sea."
"Ah! You have a good eye indeed. That jewel is none other than the Heart of the Deep Sea, a treasure among treasures gifted to Lord Poseidon by Lady Gaia herself. It displays his majesty across the entire ocean while serving as the city's protective barrier, temperature regulator, light adjuster, and more—a fusion of immense divine power, authority, and technology. It's also called Poseidon's Lighthouse because all ocean dwellers follow its light when coming to pay homage to the Lord of the Seas."
"...?"
As we neared our destination, our descent—nay, dive—began to slow.
A chatty voice unleashed a torrent of trivia right in my ear.
Turning toward the intruder amid my pure awe, I saw a dolphin flapping its fins while staring at me.
"Ah! I knew I caught a whiff of land-dweller scent. Goodness! These days, land humans only buzz around Olympus or the palaces of the wealthy. Coming to the beautiful, refined palace of Lord Poseidon—what an utterly splendid choice. And that noble soul's fragrance... You must hail from an extraordinary bloodline. I, Delpheusias, am honored—utterly honored—to meet such a great hero!"
"No, wait a second. Hold on. Is this...?"
I'd seen all sorts of knights since arriving in this mythic world, but a dolphin talking to me?
A ridiculously talkative dolphin, no less?
"Uh...?"
At least Chiron and the centaurs were half-human.
"Ah-ha, surprised, are you? Well, on the mundane surface world, you've probably never seen a dolphin as erudite, knowledgeable, and elegantly finned as I.
Thanks to Hermes's guidance bringing us together!
I, Delphini Delpheusias, Foreign Minister and Master of Hospitality at Poseidon's court, greet you.
Poseidon's court welcomes you, brave warrior from the land."
"Uh... Nice to meet you. I'm Dianes."
We were still far from landing, with the kingdom's full panorama just coming into view, and this guide—straight out of a fable—piqued my curiosity.
I decided to listen to the dolphin's chatter.
Maybe I'd hear about Nerii.
The dolphin, introducing himself as Delpheusias—or rather, a Delphini—greeted me with remarkable cheer.
Though his endless, endless talking was a bit overwhelming.
According to him, their noble dolphin race, the Delphini, had earned their place long ago by aiding Poseidon in his courtship of Amphitrite. The dolphins involved became constellations, while their brave descendants served importantly in Poseidon's palace.
"Whoa~ Lord Poseidon and Lady Amphitrite bicker every other day, stirring up massive storms at sea. Even their simple quarrels pack that punch—what must their old courtship battles have been like? We Delphini descendants always admire our ancestors' courage, thrown into that epic war, saving Amphitrite and covering for Poseidon's mistakes. And a warrior guided here by the great Poseidon himself must be extraordinary too, right?"
"Haha, I've got a long way to go."
"Ooh~ So humble too! But I, Delpheusias, have served as hospitality host in Poseidon's palace for no small span of years. For Lord Poseidon to personally invite you and assign me as guide—you must be an immense hero. Could it be, Sir Dianes, that Poseidon has approved you as a suitor for the ocean treasure, Lady Nesneria of Okeanos? As expected—"
Amid Delpheusias's nonstop chatter, a line I couldn't ignore slipped out.
Suitor for Nesneria?
"What did you just say...?"
"Well, Poseidon offered Pegasus as a bride price, and Amphitrite, Tethys, and their sisters brought jewels, artifacts, elixirs galore. Anyone would want to try their luck."
"No, forget the extras—what did you just say? Nesneria's suitor?"
Suitor.
In other words, someone applying to marry her.
But Delpheusias spoke as if I weren't the only one?
"Uh... Why so scary all of a sudden? You came this deep by Poseidon's grace, so I assumed you were here for Nesneria's suitor contest...?"
"So. Nerii's accepting suitors?"
...Oh, Nerii.
What the hell have you been up to in just one day?
The queen of the seas, ruler of the abyss, mistress of tempests, tidal waves, fierce rage, and calamity—Amphitrite.
As her epithets suggested, she was a goddess both exceedingly beautiful and exceedingly dangerous.
Long navy hair cascading like a tsunami blotting the skies, a voluptuous brown body shimmering with blue undertones.
Her icy beauty betrayed her fiery temperament, exemplified by the long scar slashing across her right eye, which blazed with intensity.
In the past, during her final clash with Poseidon's courtship—a decade-long rivalry—she yielded one exhausted blow to him.
Poseidon, never intending such harm, panicked immediately after, but defeat was defeat.
She submitted gracefully, acknowledged him, married, and ruled the seas together thereafter.
The earthly jesters and Olympus's greenhorn sun god claimed she fled and was betrayed by dolphins into marriage, but who cared about a fledgling sun god's nonsense?
"Grrrrr..."
At any rate, Amphitrite had been in an utterly foul mood last night.
To the point where even Poseidon, lord of the palace and kingdom, bolted upon seeing her that morning.
Sure, his endless philandering kept her perpetually enraged like Hera.
But today's fury was on another level entirely.
"S-Sis... even so..."
"Neri, I told you. Males with junk dangling between their legs can't be reasoned with."
The reason stood before her: her lovely youngest sister, clad in a stunning Athena-made gown.
Not at mother Tethys's palace, but fleeing to her private quarters in tears—Nesneria.
'Waaah! Big sis...!'
'Neri?! What's wrong?!'
Her baby sister, sobbing hysterically into her office late at night amid paperwork.
From Galatea, she'd heard Nesneria—unlike her dim sisters pining for princes—had boldly claimed her man herself.
For such a girl to come crying? It shook the Storm Palace and the abyssal kingdom.
And the tale she spilled was even more outrageous.
That insolent hero, claiming her precious ocean treasure as lover, apparently embraced another woman.
Furious, Amphitrite prepared instant revenge: Nesneria's suitor contest.
"B-But I still have Dia..."
"Too soft, our little droplet. Way too soft."
If your lover makes you cry, the world's truth demands blood tears in those eyes.
Yet this sweet sister still hesitated over evidence of her mate's wandering eye.
"Sure, males instinctively spread their seed everywhere.
But there's a limit. Ditching a principal wife you'd serve lifelong for side glances already?"
"But for me..."
"Sigh..."
No good. She's totally smitten.
All night cradled in her arms, eyes swollen despite the tears, yet fixated on that bastard.
Amphitrite, knowing nymphs' love ran thick and tenacious, could only sigh...
"I can't take it, sis. Let me go see him—just talk..."
"Neri, no."
"Whyyyy! M-Maybe I misunderstood!"
Truthfully, Neri had a point.
She'd seen the bastard asleep in the bath after a late return.
But his body reeked of another woman's scent, shocking her tender heart into running to her big sis.
'Honestly, that bastard got lucky.'
If word reached father that not just any daughter, but Neri, cried over a man...
'...Yikes.'
A colossal wave would engulf the abyssal kingdom and Olympus, drowning Greece.
All to snag that one bastard.
'Neri probably knows that, coming to me...'
But the sea queen Amphitrite had to preempt any future where Neri cried over him and father heard.
And etch into that scoundrel's head who the principal wife was.
"Listen, Neri. What do you think deep love means?"
"Love?"
Neri's eyes widened instantly at the word.
Amphitrite's head throbbed, but she summoned all patience.
"Yes, the bond between you and that bas—that Dia-whatever has lasted a while.
But who knows if he loves you as deeply as you think."
"No. Dia loves me too..."
"Exactly. Test how much he cherishes you, what he'd do for you. Listen..."
As the sisters' debate heated up...
-BOOM!
"Eek?!"
"Neri!"
A violent shock rocked Poseidon's palace, followed by a massive aura.
In the abyssal kingdom, untouched by threats save Poseidon or Amphitrite's wrath, this unprecedented event silenced their argument.
"How dare... which god shows such rudeness in Poseidon's palace!"
"Th-This aura...?"
Clutching her nearly toppled sister, Amphitrite gnashed her teeth as her aide rushed in with the report.
"Your Majesty! An intruder!"
"Who dares invade Poseidon's palace?! Numbers and affiliation confirmed?!"
"Th-That's..."
The lifelong mermaid aide hesitated incredulously before forcing out the words.
"J-Just one! A-A land-dweller invited by Lord Poseidon!"
"What...?!"
With an outsider intruder, secure the most precious treasure first.
"Neri! Over here now... Neri?"
But the ocean's most precious—and dangerous—lovely droplet had already vanished.
"...By Pontos."
Ampzitrite's dizzy lament hung softly in the air.