Chapter 92
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92
One week remained until the arrival of the Great Sea Serpent.
Turan and his companions spent their days honing their magic and coordinating their efforts to take down the colossal beast. Rowina, Armani, and the other merfolk royals joined them, debating the roles each would play in the coming hunt.
“If you have to stay above water because you can’t breathe, I could support you,” one of the royals suggested. “That wooden tub you sailed in on will be reduced to splinters the moment the real fight starts.”
The speaker was a member of the merfolk royalty who could transform into a giant sea turtle. His shell alone measured a staggering seven meters in length. Turan marveled at the creature's massive build—even larger than Rowina, who possessed greater raw strength—but his admiration was short-lived.
“Can’t you go any faster?” Turan asked.
“This is my top speed! If I want to go faster, I have to shrink!”
Turan let out a small sigh as he watched the sea turtle lumber along, looking as if he were being crushed by his own immense weight. Fortunately, the prince was somewhat faster when swimming, and even when reduced in size, he was large enough for three people to ride on his back. He would be useful for resting, even if high-speed travel was out of the question.
The other merfolk royals showcased a variety of transformations as well. They turned into everything from elongated ribbonfish and squids to marlins, orcas, and even jellyfish. Naturally, they didn't just become large animals; like Rowina, each possessed specialized abilities. Some could pierce through anything with a razor-sharp snout, others emitted electricity from their tentacles, and some released devastating sonic waves with a roar.
As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. Since the merfolk were being so proactive, Turan’s group revealed a few of their own techniques. They demonstrated Turan’s specialty with the sling, Meisa’s lightning spells, and the Judgment Light used by Solif.
The merfolk gasped in awe as a golden whip lashed the waves, vaporizing the water into clouds of steam.
“Ooh...!”
“I thought the power of humans was limited to manipulating water and ice, but it’s more diverse than I expected.”
Perhaps because they had rarely encountered human mages other than those from the Carmine family, the merfolk royals found the skills Turan’s group displayed fascinating. Finally, after witnessing an explosion spell fueled by the Soul of Fire, one of the royals remarked, “That technique is similar to Mother’s. It’s a shame she couldn’t be here.”
“Your mother?” Turan asked.
“Yeah. She stayed behind at the palace to protect those too young and weak to be of any help. This little guy only stayed because we didn't have time to drop him off.”
A young princess spoke while grabbing the cheek of Armani—who had been swimming nearby and pestering his older siblings—and giving it a long, playful tug.
It would have been a great help if the Merfolk Queen was a powerhouse, even if not quite on her husband's level. It seemed they had taken out an insurance policy to prevent the total ruin of their kingdom should the hunt go south. For Turan’s group, this was both a disappointment and a relief. While the hunt would be easier if the merfolk were stronger, it would also increase the likelihood of the merfolk seizing total control of the situation afterward.
“You said the Merfolk King is a whale, right?”
“That’s right. He is truly magnificent. He’ll be at the very front of the battle.”
The Merfolk King was currently away from the island because he had personally taken on the task of luring the Great Sea Serpent here. He was reportedly provoking it from a distance, gradually steering its path toward their trap. Though they hadn't given Turan’s group the specifics, it was clear that as a people who had served the Great Sea Serpent since ancient times, they possessed deep knowledge regarding the beast. It might even be an ability tied to the King's trident.
After gauging each other’s abilities and researching ways to fight in tandem, they separated to begin individual training for combat at sea.
During this time, Turan developed several new spells. He created a technique to form a tube connecting to the surface for emergency breathing underwater, and another to move his body by manipulating the surrounding water, much like how he propelled a boat.
“Ugh...”
“Try harder. This is the most important skill for you,” Turan urged.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds! Do you think everyone is a damn genius like you two?”
Though Turan had created the spell, the one practicing it most intensely was Solif, who couldn't fly because he lacked talent in wind magic. Turan watched him flailing about, trying to move his body using the water, and spoke in a low voice.
“Bije will be paired with you for now, but she might get seriously injured and become unable to fight. You have to be prepared to fight underwater on your own.”
Turan didn't say the word 'die' for fear of inviting bad luck, but they all knew the possibility of casualties was not zero. That was the very essence of combat. The probability varied depending on one's strength, but fundamentally, it was an act of staking one's life against another's—especially when the opponent was an entity whose power they couldn't fully grasp until they faced it head-on.
Bije, perched atop Turan’s head, tilted her head curiously before stretching out a foot to write in the water.
[Can we die?]
“It’s okay. You just need to fly with Solif and provide support. I won’t let things get dangerous for you.”
[Turan mustn't die either. Not my mate, not the servant.]
“Who are you calling a servant?” Solif snapped, looking offended. Bije responded by flapping her wings lightly, sending a spray of water into his face.
Solif spat out the seawater and turned to Turan. “So, are you two going to be flying around while you fight?”
“Yeah. It’s too much of a burden for Bije to carry all three of us through a storm,” Meisa answered for him, smoothly manipulating the water to move her body. Her learning speed was slightly slower than Turan’s, but she still showed a genius-level aptitude for such magical sensations.
Solif stroked his chin, where a silver beard was beginning to sprout, and spoke in a worried tone. “But is it really okay to show them everything? I’m worried word might spread.”
“Well, these merfolk don't seem to have much interaction with the surface world... and this is just a guess, but I suspect this kingdom will soon sever ties with the Carmine family. After that, they won't have any reason to interact with the other Great Families.”
Between the Merfolk King’s clear distaste for the Carmine’s god—the Lawyer—and his ambition to restore the ancient royal powers using the Great Sea Serpent’s corpse, it was a natural conclusion. It wasn't surprising that those who gained the strength to be independent would no longer wish to be subordinates.
Hearing this, Solif slapped the water with his palm. “Oh, right! What are you going to do about that?”
“About what?”
“The Great Sea Serpent’s corpse. You’re not really going to hand the whole thing over, are you?”
“And if I don't?”
“Those royals are playing nice because they have self-control, but even now, there are probably merfolk somewhere along the coast eating humans. I honestly don't know if it's a good idea to hand such immense power over to them.”
“As long as they don't break their promise, I have no intention of breaking mine. That is the agreement.”
While a few merfolk of the noble class still looked at Turan’s group with hunger in their eyes, the royals, at least, showed no such signs. In that case, Turan would treat them as intelligent beings capable of communication—as people—and act accordingly. The Golden Rule dictated that if one wanted others to keep their promises, one must keep their own.
Meisa, who had been listening, gave a small cough and added, “I agree. Besides, based on what Turan said, the merfolk getting stronger creates a hole in the gods' control, right? I think that’s actually a benefit for us.”
Finding himself outvoted two to one, Solif gave up and flopped back onto the water. His technique for hardening the water into a bed-like surface was quite impressive, showing how much he had practiced.
“Fine, whatever. I’m sure you’ll handle it.”
“Don't worry too much. Once we’ve hunted the Great Sea Serpent, we’ll be strong enough to stop them if they try to use their new power to oppress humans.”
According to the Merfolk King, they would be nowhere near their prime, but if they could take down a creature capable of causing such natural phenomena, they would undoubtedly gain massive power. Perhaps they would all move beyond the realm of high-ranking nobles and reach the level of the heads of the Great Families.
“Besides, even if they gain the power to transform into the Great Sea Serpent, it won't be an overwhelming threat. Only one of them will survive to become the King, anyway.”
When Turan mentioned the merfolk custom he had heard about recently, Solif and Meisa immediately turned their gaze toward the merfolk royals playing in the distance. There, a young royal was currently getting smacked after dumping sand on Rowina’s head.
“That’s right... honestly, every time I look at them, I find it bizarre.”
“What is?”
“The fact that they’ll eventually have to kill each other to inherit the throne. How can they be so friendly with each other?”
“If it were me, I wouldn't even dare stand next to them,” Meisa added, lying limp on the water.
Turan watched the merfolk for a moment before offering an explanation. “Well, that’s... I suppose their concept of morality is just different from humans.”
In truth, Turan didn't fully understand it either. How could siblings destined to kill each other be so harmonious? If he were one of those merfolk royals, he would have tried to eliminate his siblings by any means necessary. Conversely, if he judged that he could never be the final victor, he would have fled the kingdom entirely. Yet there they were, clearly aware of the hierarchy of power and talent, yet treating each other as beloved brothers and sisters.
As Turan spoke his thoughts, the other two stared at him blankly.
“What?”
“No, it’s just... I never even considered the idea of killing everyone else first.”
“I feel this sometimes, but your sensibilities are a bit strange, Turan.”
“Are they?”
“Yes, really.”
Meisa and Solif nodded in unison.
*
After training, the group—tired of eating fish—caught a land beast and prepared a meal using spices and grain flour they had brought from Miguel Island. Once he had eaten his fill, Turan turned to Meisa, who had only taken a single bite and was licking her lips.
“Let’s go for your replenishment.”
“Okay.”
Meisa nodded, stealing a glance at Solif. Though they had done this many times during their journey, she still felt uncomfortable revealing the mana injection process to Solif. It was as if she were trying to hide a private necessity.
“Bring some water back with you,” Solif said. Sensing her discomfort, he acted as if it were no big deal, though his nonchalance sometimes made the atmosphere even more awkward.
Once the injection was finished in a secluded part of the forest, Turan watched Meisa put her magic tools back on and voiced a thought that had been on his mind.
“After this hunt is over, I might need Solif’s help.”
“With what?”
“With this. If you get any stronger, I might not be able to knock you out by myself.”
It hadn't mattered when she was thin and frail, but as Meisa grew healthier, Turan was finding it increasingly difficult to subdue her during her mana-induced episodes. If their mana levels were equal, Turan would be stronger due to his superior physical build. The problem was that Meisa possessed the highest level of mana even among high-ranking nobles, while Turan’s mana was on the lower end of that same tier. Furthermore, if they absorbed the Great Sea Serpent’s mana, Meisa was the one more likely to grow even stronger. When absorbing the mana of a much more powerful being, the one who already possesses greater power is more efficient.
“It’s already like this now. By then, we might need one person to hold your legs while the other knocks you out.”
The ground where Meisa had instinctively struggled just moments ago was literally torn up.
Meisa let out a small groan. “That’s a bit much...”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. Definitely. If it comes to that, I’d rather just go hungry. Or we can find another way.”
The 'other way' referred to the method they had surmised recently: stabilizing her mana by raising her self-esteem through helping people. If it weren't for the urgent need to hunt the Great Sea Serpent, they had planned to wander the North Sea, rescuing merchant ships in distress to test this theory. Now, however, the storm made it difficult for any ships to be out at sea.
“Then we’ll look into that method first after the hunt.”
“Okay.”
And so, the two of them made plans for the future. In a way, it was a vow to ensure that neither of them would die during the battle.
*
As the days passed, the island’s weather grew increasingly menacing. The winds intensified, rain lashed down, and thunderstorms rolled in. The island’s animals, sensing the unnatural climate, began moving in frantic herds, and even the fish in the sea started leaping out of the water in droves.
The previously amicable atmosphere grew tense. Everyone realized that the great battle was imminent, and the reality that some of them might actually die began to sink in. Finally, when the day of destiny arrived, a terrifyingly intense storm blanketed the island.
“I can barely hear anything over this!”
“Unless it’s an emergency, communicate with hand signals from now on!”
Turan and Meisa could use wind magic to carry their voices, and Solif could create letters with illusion magic. However, since every drop of mana was precious for the upcoming fight, they couldn't afford to waste it. They had already prepared and memorized several simple hand signals.
[Can you see me?]
[I see you.]
[How about now?]
[I can’t see well from here. Did you signal ‘up’?]
Just as they were confirming the distance at which their signals could be recognized, they saw Rowina approaching, trudging through the muddy ground with an irritated expression. As she drew near, she shouted, “My father is coming soon! The location is the eastern coast, as planned!”
“Understood!”
After relaying this to the other two, Turan stroked Bije, who was perched on his shoulder, to reassure her before setting off. When they arrived, the merfolk royals had already assembled.
“Final... ly... come...”
“One... minute...”
The storm was so fierce that not a single one of their voices carried properly. Makun, the King’s eldest son, who could transform into an octopus, approached and spoke in a low, resonant voice.
“About five minutes left.”
“Got it.”
“The plan remains the same?”
“I have to make one adjustment,” Turan said.
“What?”
“The barriers are likely useless.”
The previous day, Turan had poured most of his Barrier Master mana into setting up defenses along the eastern coast. It was a measure he hoped would provide even a small advantage, but looking at it now, they had all been scattered by the storm. A normal storm wouldn't have stood a chance, but this was the result of the Great Sea Serpent merging with a storm spirit, infusing the gale with magical power.
The eldest prince clicked his tongue. “Then it can’t be helped. I didn't intend to rely on them anyway. Anything else?”
“No. And I think it’s faster than five minutes. It’s coming right now.”
“What? I see... Everyone, prepare for battle!”
At Makun’s shout, the forms of the merfolk royals began to shift one by one. Except for a few like Rowina who could operate on land, they all dove into the sea. The sea turtle offered his back to Turan’s group.
Turan took a deep, steadying breath as he watched the torrent of power approaching from the distance.
“It’s here...”
He felt a presence—likely the Merfolk King—stronger than before, and behind it followed a colossal entity. It was a massive serpent, its interior swirling incessantly as if sculpted from the wind itself.
The Great Sea Serpent had arrived.