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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 138
The cries of seagulls echoed along the shoreline, blending with the strong scent of seawater.
The harbor was bustling with countless ships coming and going, yet the atmosphere between Melissa and me was heavy.
Melissa’s eyes were red, as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.
“Hey, three-legged octopus. Pull yourself together and let’s go.”
I lightly tapped her shoulder and started walking ahead, and Melissa quietly nodded.
Originally, I hadn’t planned on bringing Melissa.
Setting aside the dangers, there was still too much to do at the Cascadia estate for both of us to leave.
But this time, Melissa had been unusually stubborn, and I could no longer stop her.
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
Melissa let out a breath of admiration as she watched the massive griffon soaring through the sky.
A Hyper Griffon.
Griffons were generally large, four-legged avian beasts, but Hyper Griffons were more than five times the size of a regular griffon and nearly three times as fast—a superior species.
Creatures of this size were often used as airborne transport units, with massive structures attached to their bodies, functioning like hot air balloons.
Of course, they were extremely rare and expensive to use, but we had someone accompanying us who could easily resolve such logistical problems.
Saint Nadia Ten Lilibel.
Or rather, under her alias, High Priest Nabel.
She wasn’t going to join the search itself, but she would use her sacred relic to bless us before we set out.
“There’s a mermaid guild I used to trade with here. They specialize in finding castaways, conducting searches, and handling various maritime and ship-related tasks—for a price.”
“You’ve got some interesting connections.”
“This city has a strong relationship with mermaids.”
Melissa, familiar with the place, led us toward a street by the shore.
Currently, a thin, protective veil infused with a special power surrounded all of us.
“You really don’t have to come along.”
“I’ll wait on the ship. No need to worry about me.”
A saint like her should be incredibly busy, yet she seemed oddly relieved.
‘She probably never gets a break in her position. Even a short moment like this must feel like a welcome respite. Just look at her expression—it’s obvious.’
Melissa silently speculated about the reason behind the saint’s demeanor.
The mermaid guild buildings resembled floating houses on the water.
“Oh my, customers? What brings you—oh, well, if it isn’t our patron.”
As soon as Melissa opened the door, a mermaid at the counter, half-submerged in seawater, greeted her with a bright smile.
She was a stunning woman who appeared to be in her twenties, her long blue hair cascading down.
Most people assumed that while a mermaid’s upper body resembled a human’s, there would be notable differences.
However, their appearance was surprisingly close to that of humans.
The only distinguishing features were small scar-like markings near their ears and the back of their necks.
Looking at them, it wasn’t hard to see why mermaids had suffered because of myths about sirens luring people to their doom.
The building’s interior was directly connected to the sea, allowing mermaids to sit on the edges or submerge themselves freely.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing well, thanks. Have there been any updates since then?”
“I’m sorry. We’ve searched extensively, but while we found other bodies, we still haven’t located the one you mentioned.”
“……”
“I hate to say this… but honestly, we feel guilty about it too. If a body hasn’t surfaced after this long, the chances of finding it are close to zero.”
“At the very least, is there any sign of their belongings…?”
“If a large sea creature swallowed them, there’s nothing we can do.”
The mermaid guild leader looked remorseful.
“I hate to bring bad news.”
The mermaids had spent considerable time searching.
“A human body can’t last long in the ocean.”
“I know. That’s why we’re making one final attempt.”
“Hmm… I see. I’ll gather our best people…”
“No, this time, it’s a different request.”
As Melissa explained the details, the mermaid’s expression shifted.
When she mentioned the Forbidden Zone, the guild leader’s face turned to one of shock.
Although she later calmed down as the explanation continued, her expression remained uneasy.
“Haa… The Forbidden Zone is off-limits even for us… I don’t know if this is possible…”
Melissa pulled a pouch from her coat and handed it over.
“This is the advance payment. This will be the last request.”
“…Understood. Technically, we’re not allowed to take this job, but since we have a high-ranking priest from the Holy Nation with us, I’ll make an exception. We’ll prepare a ship and the crew—just give us thirty minutes.”
With a weary look, the guild leader quickly disappeared beneath the counter, vanishing into the sea.
Melissa spoke with the ease of someone who had negotiated many times before, but she was clearly tense.
The mermaid guild leader returned about ten minutes earlier than expected.
"You’ve been waiting for a while, haven’t you, dear customer? Our original task got canceled, so we managed to secure personnel a bit earlier than expected. The boat you’ll be taking is already prepared, so you can board right away."
Without a word, we followed the guild leader inside the building, where a small boat came into view.
It wasn’t an extravagant vessel made of extraordinary materials.
After all, this boat was only meant to sail near the forbidden zone, not actually enter it.
Still, it was designed well enough to accept the blessings and magic of the mermaids, ensuring its stability despite its small size.
"We’ll be handling the boat’s operation, so you don’t need to touch anything,"
Said a young mermaid girl with green light shimmering around her.
She beamed as she explained the finer details.
As we finished preparing to board, I quietly looked around, taking in my surroundings.
I had heard about the Mermaid Guild before, but this was actually my first time visiting.
I had fought mermaids before, but that was a different matter.
It was then that I felt someone lightly tug at my sleeve.
When I turned my head, I saw a young green-haired mermaid peeking out from a waterway leading to the sea.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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She smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling.
"Wow, you’re really handsome! After work, how about going on a date with me? Maybe a little deep-sea exploration—"
Smack!
Luna moved like a flash, reaching out and grabbing the mermaid by the ear as she tried to climb onto the wooden platform.
"Kyahhh?!"
"And what exactly do you think you’re doing? Do you have a death wish? Get that sugary tone out of your voice right now!"
"Kyaaa! Let… let go of me!"
Even as the mermaid screamed, the others preparing for departure didn’t pay them any attention.
Luna had been wandering around looking at everything, but when had she arrived here?
The guild leader glanced at the scuffle between the mermaid and Luna before shaking their head as if they understood the situation.
"Apologies, dear customer. She’s still young and at that energetic age where she tries to flirt with any handsome man she sees."
"Is this really okay?"
"Haha, don’t worry. We keep them under control."
Just as there are all kinds of people, there are all kinds of mermaids.
Mermaid-operated vessels are fundamentally different from those run by ordinary humans.
They don’t need sails or rudders—just floating structures designed either for comfort or practicality.
Furthermore, the materials used to construct these boats are much heavier than typical ships, but mermaid magic makes them far more comfortable and durable.
"Never thought I’d actually ride on a mermaid’s ship in my lifetime."
Melissa gazed silently at the vast ocean, her thoughts complicated.
This wasn’t just any sea—it was the same place where her mother, father, and eleven-year-old sister, Arsha, had met with disaster.
She had no reason to feel good about this journey.
Around the ship, a group of mermaids swam as if escorting us, and perhaps due to their presence, a pod of dolphins swam alongside them.
"Young master? It’ll take about six hours to reach the forbidden zone’s boundary. Until then, please feel free to rest."
"Ah, alright."
"Hehe, you’re so cute."
As I stood on the deck, gazing silently out at the sea, the mermaid who had flirted with me earlier gave me a playful wink and a smile.
She was undeniably beautiful, but a cold sweat ran down my back when I noticed Luna perched atop the mast, staring at me with lifeless, colorless eyes.
Her jealousy was becoming increasingly obvious.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
The next thing I saw was the mermaid being dragged away by her seniors.
When I stepped into the cabin, I found the Saint—or rather, the High Priestess—Nabel, leisurely munching on a cookie in the lobby.
"Are you experiencing any seasickness?"
"Oh, no. I heard that mermaid ships provide an incredibly comfortable ride, and it turns out to be true."
As I slowly sat down across from her, the Holy Knight standing by her side shot me a displeased look.
However, he didn’t openly express it.
Perhaps it was because there weren’t many people who would so casually sit in front of the Saint.
In the Holy Kingdom, the Saint was considered an untouchable, divine figure.
Unless the kingdom had lost its mind, she would always be treated with the utmost respect.
"Sir Knight, you may rest for now."
"No, my duty is to protect—no, to ensure Lady Nabel’s safety at all times."
"It’s alright. Young Master Leon will be watching over me now."
Judging by his expression, he wasn’t just wary of the sea—he was wary of me.
He wasn’t foolish enough to openly defy his role, but his eyes still held a cautious glare toward me.
The fact that I was a man probably played a role in his wariness.
"Sir Knight."
"…Understood. If anything happens, please call for me immediately."
Though he was clearly reluctant, he couldn’t disobey the Saint’s orders.
With a complicated expression, he turned and left the cabin.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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