Clyde's POV
I watched the endless sea stretch before me. I sighed. I'm supposed to be looking for a mermaid, but I haven't even seen fish so far. I want to jump in and start searching, but I can't leave the girls alone.
"Ugh, what's taking so long," Moon grumbled, sprawled on the floor.
I felt my blood pressure rising. This brat is pissing me off. If only she wasn't stronger than me.
I calmed myself and watched Melody walk around the ship, giving the summons water.
What is this girl doing? I've already told her they don't need water or food. She's wasting supplies. But—I can't lie—it's affecting the summons in a different way.
The summons seem more emotional toward her. They even laugh and help her with small tasks.
Damn, why can't mine do that? Whatever. Right now I have more important things to worry about. Just as I planned to go back into the cabin to check on Crystal, I paused when I noticed a silhouette.
An island? No, it seems bigger than that. Probably a continent. I didn't think I would find it so soon.
I just left the archipelago and already found land.
"Move toward land," I commanded.
The summons did as told and adjusted the ship's direction, heading toward the land.
I entered the cabin and knocked on one of the doors.
"Knock knock."
"Ugh, yes~" Crystal said weakly from the other side.
"There's land," I said.
After a moment, the door slowly opened and Crystal came out. Looking at her, I couldn't help but sigh.
Barely a few hours into the journey, she'd started getting seasick. I told her to return home, but she refused and wanted to continue.
I picked her up in a princess carry and walked onto the deck. Seeing that we'd arrived, I walked to the edge of the ship and jumped off before putting her down.
Finally on land, her expression improved. Looking around, I could see Melody surrounded by her summons and Moon running around the beach.
This beach doesn't look bad. I don't sense anything dangerous either.
"Okay guys, I'll leave you here and start searching for the mermaids. Make sure you three stay on the beach," I said.
They all nodded.
I jumped back on the ship and sailed away. I'll probably be gone for just a few days, so it's fine.
A few days later
As I sailed the still blue sea, I was getting irritated. Still no sign of the mermaids. What is this bullshit?
Maybe I should go back to get the girls— I paused when, from the corner of my eye, I saw a red-haired girl.
When I turned to her, she noticed and hid behind a rock. I ran across the deck and jumped toward the rock dozens of meters ahead.
I landed right on the rock and looked down at her. Her eyes widened as she tried to escape. I grabbed her before she could, and using my powers, made the water send me back to the ship.
Back on the ship, I gently put her down. She looked scared and glanced around.
"W-what are you planning to do with me?" she stuttered.
"Nothing. I just have some questions," I said reassuringly.
She gulped.
"What are they?"
I nodded at her quick understanding.
"Okay, don't lie—I'll know," I smiled.
She nodded.
"Are there more mermaids?" I asked.
She nodded.
"How many?"
"I don't know, but around a few dozen," she said.
Only a few dozen. You'd think with the amount of eggs they lay, there would be more.
"Can you bring me there?"
She shook her head.
"No. Humans are forbidden there."
Well, that complicates things—but not for me.
"All of you, head back to the land from before," I ordered.
I then turned back to the red-haired girl and lifted her into a princess carry, jumping into the sea with her.
In the water, she escaped my grasp and tried to flee. But then she stopped, her eyes widening. She pointed at my lower body.
"Your legs are gone," she said, stunned.
"Well, since humans aren't allowed, how about me?"
She stayed stunned before coming back to her senses. She shook her head.
"I can't," she said.
I sighed. She's making this harder than it has to be. She turned her back on me and fled. I sighed and followed after her.
"You should stop. You can't escape," I said.
She turned and saw me beside her.
"How are you able to catch up to me? You aren't even a merman," she said.
That was because I was using water to accelerate myself.
"It doesn't matter. Just take me to where the mermaids are," I said.
She didn't say anything and fled faster.
"Huh, she's pretty fast," I muttered.
Matching her extremely fast movement, I smiled. I had left a remnant of my mana on her. I just need her to think she lost me.
A few hours later, I followed behind her and reached a huge underground kingdom. I stopped a bit back when I sensed a powerful entity inside.
I gulped. The energy was extremely strong. Though not as powerful as my father, it's still powerful.
I guess it's time to be diplomatic. I walked to the kingdom's gates and stopped in front of the two guards.
"Stop. Who are you?" they shouted.
I calmly took out a scroll and gave it to one of the guards.
"I am Prince of the Novus Empire. I wish to speak with the king," I said.
They looked at each other and nodded. The crab-like creature sent out a strange signal, and the door behind him opened. He handed the scroll to the seahorse that came, and the doors closed.
"Please wait a moment."
Ten minutes later, the doors opened again and a row of guards led me toward the castle.
Hopefully this king isn't like the others, or Father will probably take it over by force. Looking around, I saw many fish—some I'd never seen before.
Soon I reached the castle and was brought to the throne room. There I saw a huge man sitting on the throne.
I moved forward and bowed.
"So, you are Prince of an Empire called Novus," he said with a powerful voice.
I nodded in confirmation.
"Yes."
"What are you here for today, then, Prince—"
"I am Clyde," I said.
"Well then, Prince Clyde—what is your reason for coming here?" he said.
"I wish to create an alliance with you, sir," I said with a smile.
"An alliance?"
I nodded.
"My father has tasked me with this," I explained.
"And what does he want out of this?" he asked.
"It might be embarrassing to say, but he wants many descendants, and he found out a while back that mermaids can lay multiple eggs in one pregnancy," I explained.
"Are you not a merman, why would he need—"
"I am human," I said.
The room fell into silence.
"A human," he said with a grave tone.
"Well, half-man, half-god," I added.
"So your father is a god?"
I nodded. He stayed quiet for a while before speaking.
"What will we gain from this?" he asked.
"Since it is me who wanted this alliance and you don't need it—we can give anything within our capabilities." I smiled.
I'm going for a big move here. Hopefully whatever he asks for isn't too much.
He rubbed his beard and stared at me for a while.
"Well then. I want a few things," he said.
A few days later
Erik's POV
I sat across from King Triton.
"You want me to relocate your people to a more spacious area. You also want me to spread my troops to survey for pirates. And you want me to make an oath to the river of sticks to never betray you," I said.
He nodded.
"Is that it?" I asked.
He nodded again. I smiled at him.
"What you're asking for isn't much. I'll agree to all your requests. And for the pirates, you don't have to worry—I already have constant surveillance on the seas for them. But I want you to wait for a while. I have a matter I need to complete before you can relocate." I paused. "As for the river of sticks, I do not know what that is."
"What you need to do is just say whatever, and then say you swear on the river of sticks." He smiled.
Seems pretty simple.
"I, Erik Horendous Haddock, will never betray King Triton unless he has betrayed me first. I swear upon the river of sticks."
He nodded, and we wrote our names on the paper in finalization.
"Before you leave, I must tell you something," I said.
He turned to me.
"What is it?" he asked.
"In a while, my son will become emperor and I will step down. Though you don't have to worry—he will make the same oath because of the alliance. I hope you'll be there." I smiled.
He smiled in return.
"It will be my honor," he said.
A few days later
I stood in front of Seadragonus. My eyes widened at the sheer size of the dragon. It was as big as my island.
The only scary thing about this creature is its size, but other than that, it shouldn't be a problem. I jumped up and transformed into my dragon form.
I had previously used my alpha skill on it, but it ignored me. Maybe because it was also an alpha. There was only one way to find out.
After transforming, I flew toward Seadragonus and stopped right in front of it.
"Seadragonus, tell me—what is your reason for terrorizing my dragons?" My voice echoed.
The dragon's eyes turned toward me. I released all of my pressure, and the air around me for miles seemed to distort.
Her eyes shook from the pressure, and she backed down.
"I am sorry if I offended you. I am merely looking for any of my remaining species." Her voice echoed into my head.
Looking for her remaining species? It seems she's aware that there aren't many of her kind left.
"Two of them are in my territory. As for others, I do not know."
My words made her eyes shine brightly.
"Please take me to them," she begged.
Hearing the sadness and hope in her voice, I nodded.
Rune's POV
I stood in front of the throne room of Veridia. There are a lot of books in this place, but I don't have time to search them for now. I turned to the king and queen of this kingdom.
Their names are too long and unimportant to remember.
"This kingdom now belongs to Novus. In a few days, men will arrive and take things over," I said.
They nodded and shook in fear. Of course they would be. I was rushing and summoned over a dozen giant monsters to quickly take over this castle.
Now that I'm done, I'll return to Bell.
"Great sir," the man called.
I turned back to him.
"What is it?"
"Do you perhaps know magic?" he asked.
My brows furrowed at this question.
"Are you an idiot? How do you think I summoned those beasts?"
He shook.
"M-my apologies," he stuttered. "It's just that my son is cursed."
Hearing the words, I paused. A curse. Tch. Knowing my father and brother, I will have to be the one to fix it later. I might as well fix this now.
"Where is he?" I asked.
His eyes brightened.
"He is in a castle near the town of Chalon."
Chalon? That's where Bell is.
"I will get it done," I said and teleported away.
Arriving back to Chalon, I paused when I saw a man uncomfortably close to Bell.
"Personal space, Gaston," Bell said and swatted his hand away, trying to walk away with her book.
She suddenly noticed me and ran toward me with a smile.
"Rune, you've returned." She smiled. But my eyes never left Gaston. He was muscular, but that was it. He was taller than me—probably around six feet.
And he looked like an idiot too. I turned to Bell.
"Yes, I've just finished my work. Though another task has popped up, I'll finish it in a while." I smiled.
"Another already—"
"Who are you, shrimp?" Gaston said.
I ignored him.
"What book are you reading? I haven't seen it before," I asked.
Before Bell could answer, Gaston grabbed me by the shoulder.
"How dare you ignore me—"
I didn't let him finish his words and punched him right in the face, sending him flying.
He crashed against a house and broke through the wall. The surrounding people were surprised at my strength.
A few moments later, he came back out disoriented. He noticed me and roared in rage. He then rushed at me. I scowled and took off my coat.
Though I wasn't buff, my body was lean. I had created a magic ability that constantly destroyed my body, then healed and improved it.
Out of all my siblings, I am confident that none of them can match my strength and endurance. I handed my coat to Bell and got into a boxing stance.
This skill I had learned from watching Father occasionally train. Though I am not proficient, my strength will make up for it.
The moment he got into range, I threw a jab right at his chin. The attack landed, and his eyes went blank. His body slumped to the floor, unresponsive.
The crowd gasped, and a man rushed toward Gaston.
"G-Gaston, are you okay?" the man said as he checked for a heartbeat.
"Tch, he's not dead—just unconscious," I said.
I took my coat back from Bell and put it on. Just as I planned to leave with Bell, I froze when she moved past me and knelt beside Gaston.
She checked his pulse and sighed in relief. She then glared at me.
"How could you just do that?" she said.
"He started it," I said.
"Even so—"
"I ended it quickly and knocked him out instead of killing him. If he had attacked me in front of my guards, he would have been killed on the spot," I said coldly.
Her eyes shook at my words, and the villagers whispered.
"But—"
"He's only alive because I allow it. Don't mistake my kindness for the inability to kill, because I can," I said calmly.
This time the villagers stayed silent.
"Now—accompany me." I turned to the library and walked.
I soon stopped when I sensed that she wasn't following me. I turned back and stared at her. She had already stood and just stared at me. Her eyes conflicted.
"I-I have to go back home," she said.
"Tch, so be it." I said and headed back to the library.
After entering the library, I grabbed the book and started reading. But for some reason, I couldn't get myself to focus. I was angry—but how could I be angry over such an insignificant matter?
This is starting to piss me off. I closed the book and put it back in its place, then left the library. I summoned my giant griffon and jumped on it.
I sent the commands to its mind, and it flew toward the castle. I'll figure things out after I come back.
After a while, the castle came into view, though it seemed dark and dreary. I entered the castle and noticed that it was extremely quiet, but there were magic signatures in this place.
Using my senses, I found the one with the strongest magic signature. I walked toward the person and came face to face with a monster in a library.
"A monster reading books," I muttered.
He quickly turned to me, and his eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" he asked coldly.
I used my inspect and skipped everything until I stopped at the curse.
Curse of a Beast: The one with this curse shall be transformed into a beast. The only way to lift this curse is to fall in love and for the recipient to fall in love as well.
What kind of curse is that? Either he broke a witch's heart or it's someone with a weird obsession.
Though looking at its rank, it's just at 5. I'll finish this quick. I walked forward to the beast. He turned defensive and attempted to move, but I had already used my magic to bind him.
"W-what are you doing?" he said.
I stopped in front of him and used my mana to make a rune that would lift the curse. A few seconds later, I finished writing and infused the runes onto his body.
His body started to shine brightly and then transform into a human. In his new form, he looked at himself. Shock in his eyes, but also hope and happiness.
Tears fell down as he cried. I turned away from him. Why are these people always crying?
Bell's POV
Laying in my bed, I couldn't help but think about this past week. Meeting Rune was unexpected. We had the same love for books, but he seemed to take things to an extreme level.
Not only that, he doesn't seem to value life. Earlier when he talked about his guards—it must mean he's a noble.
I pursed my lips. Someone like that—
Knock knock
"Sigh, coming!"
I got up from my bed and headed downstairs. Reaching the door, I opened it. I froze when I saw Rune, roses in his hands.
I looked at him for an explanation. His face seemed to redden a little as he coughed into his hand.
"Cough, I-uhm. I want to apologize if I came off as rude before," he said with a forced smile.
I blinked a few times at this scene. In the week we've known each other, I've never seen this side of him.
"If you're apologizing, why did you bring roses and—" I pointed to his other hand.
He looked to where I pointed and smiled.
"This is chocolate."
I nodded. Chocolate?
"What is—chocolate?"
He scratched his head.
"Well, it's cocoa mixed with—"
I put up a hand and stopped him.
"That's not what I meant."
He scratched his head again and opened the box, revealing it to me.
"Try it and you'll see," he said.
I looked at his eyes for any deception, and seeing none, I took a piece and opened the wrapper.
It was a brown color. Really weird. I've never seen anything like it before.
I put it into my mouth, and my eyes widened at the flavor. It was sweet—really sweet.
"Wow."
Seeing my reaction, he smiled and gave me the roses and chocolate.
"I'll be back tomorrow to apologize," he said and just disappeared.
I blinked a few times at his sudden disappearance and last words.
Apologize again?