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Chapter 81: Friend of the Merfolk

Thud!

"Argh...!"

He bumped his head on the capsule, but that wasn’t what was important at the moment!

Clutching his head, Han Jung-Woo rushed to the bathroom and started by taking a shower, which he hadn’t taken for the past two days.

And now I eat!

He quickly toasted a piece of bread, spread savory cream cheese on it, and shoved it into his mouth.

There was only one thought that filled his mind as he busily carried out a series of actions.

How long did I sleep?!

The deadline for Tardal\'s quest was this very afternoon. And not setting an alarm, thinking he wouldn’t sleep for two days, was a mistake.

Alright. Let\'s not panic. There’s still some time left.

Being anxious wouldn’t help matters!

Realizing he still had a few hours left, Han Jung-Woo regained his composure and first logged into the game.

First, I need to go straight to Aquavera.

His first objective was to go there to inform the merfolk that the nest of the nagas had been cleared.

And while I\'m at it...

Kai glanced at the Magic Conch sleeping in his inventory. If he could permanently own this item, he could become a supreme being once a month.

"Return."

Using the return orb Cyrus had given him, Kai was instantly transported to Aquavera. Then he took out Hakhas’ scales from his inventory, hung it on his bag like an accessory, and swam through the streets with pride as if he was a triumphant general.

The merfolk who saw Kai began to whisper among themselves.

"Why does that human suddenly have so much confidence?"

"I’m not sure... Wait, could those scales on his bag be...?"

"Gasp! I’m sure I... I’ve definitely seen those on the battlefield before! Those big, hard green scales are Hakhas\'!"

"What? Hakhas?!"

The eyes of the merfolk on the street changed dramatically. They showed a mix of admiration and respect! But the greatest emotion they showed was gratitude.

Hehe, as expected, the promotional effect is certain.

Kai, surveying his surroundings, showed off a big smile.

There was a reason he had deliberately hung a few of Hakhas\' scales on his bag.

Obviously, it\'s to make them recognize it!

And indeed, he was receiving tremendous attention.

Then, suddenly, a merman swam hurriedly toward Kai.

Kai rapidly moved his body and tried to say something to them.

"Hm? What\'s that... Is it like a human-style expression of greeting?"

Glug, glug...

Kai was unable to breathe underwater!

As bubbles continuously escaped from his mouth and nose, the merman hurriedly cast a spell.

"Hey! If you can’t breathe, you should have asked for a spell!"

"Huff, huff. I couldn’t because we’re underwater... Thank you for the spell." Having released his pent-up breath, Kai looked at the mermanwho had approached him and made an awkward expression. "But... why are you in the street at this time instead of at the weapon shop?"

It was Kaul, the owner of the weapon shop, and the one who had sold bluesteel armor to Kai for 30 gold.

"Ahem. I hurried here after hearing the news. Did you... really defeat Hakhas?"

Kaul\'s expression and eyes were serious, a look he had never shown even when bargaining.

Pressed by this, Kai responded without realizing, "Yes, as you can see."

Kai shrugged his shoulders to make the scale on his bag more visible.

After checking the scales, Kaul slowly said, "...It really is true."

"This is all thanks to the excellent weapons you sold me... huh?"

Kai, who was about to continue to speak, was suddenly taken aback. It was then he first realized that merfolks’ eyes also turned red when they cry.

For some reason, Kaul began to sob uncontrollably without care of his age! It took about ten minutes for his crying to stop.

"Phew..."

As if he had released all the burdens in his heart, Kaul, now looking refreshed, showed a smile he had never displayed even during their dealings.

"Boy, do you know why I run a weapon shop?"

"...I don\'t know."

"I lost my son. It was the day we clashed with the army led by that Hakhas bastard..." He pulled out the handle of the bluesteel sword hanging on Kai\'s shoulder and stroked the blade. "During the battle, his weapon broke, and a trident from a naga pierced his heart."

"Th-that’s..."

"Of course, I know. Even if my son had been wielding an extraordinary sword... the chances of surviving on the battlefield would have been slim. But still, if only... if only my son had had a better weapon, a more durable sword, or armor... perhaps he might have survived. And I couldn’t help but be haunted by these thoughts."

"Then the reason why you run a weapon shop is..."

"To prevent another from ending up like my son." Kaul handed the sword back to Kai. "And to ensure that the weapons of our people never break against the nagas again through quality inspection."

The surrounding merfolk gathered and patted Kaul on the shoulder, offering comfort.

"It\'s not just me. All these people here are the same. Families, lovers, friends lost to the nagas. We all share the same kind of pain."

Kai looked around without even realizing it. Hundreds of merfolk had gathered. Their moist eyes, as if contagious, continued to spread around.

With a deep bow, Kaul said in a ringing voice, "Thank you... truly, thank you for avenging my son!"

"Thank you for avenging my father!"

"...For avenging my husband... sob... thank you."

Words of thanks burst out chaotically, loud enough to ring in the ears everywhere.

Normally, Kai would have furrowed his brows, but he listened intently, not wanting to miss even a whisper. The pain and wounds hidden beneath the merfolks’ bright smiles were conveyed to Kai through their words.

...They\'ve all been suffering so much.

And there was enough reason to be so. Their enemy, the nagas, had been constantly lurking around, posing a deadly threat to their tribe. The nagas had killed their people and the pain of losing a loved one was an immense sorrow, a sorrow that transcended species.

But I\'m not a hero like they say I am.

Initially, Kai had started helping others not because he wanted to be a hero, but to satisfy his own selfish desires. He didn\'t know how others saw him, but his only purpose was to fulfill his own desires.

However...

If his actions could heal someone\'s wounds, if he could clear the knots in someone\'s heart like he was now, he was glad.

It doesn\'t really matter what they call me.

The fact that he was helping someone remained unchanged.

"Hm..."

As a commanding voice was heard, the merfolk instantly bent their fins.

When Kai looked around in bewilderment, a familiar figure enter his line of sight.

Cyrus and the white bearded master. And...

There was another merman with the fin and stature of a giant shark. He wore a crown made of white crystals on his head and was dressed in luxurious clothes.

Kai had never seen him before, but he could immediately guess who he was.

It\'s the King of Aquavera, Karius.

Hovering high above, Karius slowly swam toward Kai. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Karius\'s descent caused the merfolk to move to the side, creating a path.

"I apologize for the late greeting. I\'ve been continuously casting magic to keep the city\'s location hidden, so I couldn\'t leave my post."

"Oh... yes, I understand."

Kai, understanding why he hadn\'t seen him before, faced Karius directly.

His face was the very definition of the word majesty. He exuded a heavy presence, as if he would never compromise.

"I am Karius, King of Aquavera. You are Kai, the adventurer and apostle of this era who has saved our tribe from danger, correct?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing Kai’s answer, Karius, like the other merfolk, bent his fin.

At the same time, his eyes, which Kai had to look up to due to his nearly three meter height, came down to meet Kai\'s level.

"Y-your Majesty!"

"Father!"

"Quiet." Raising his hand to silence the surrounding merfolk, Karius said in a calm voice, "He is the savior of our tribe and a hero who has fulfilled our long-cherished wish. Such a greeting is only natural. Do not make a fuss."

With a greeting that was almost too formal, Karius stood up and looked around at the merfolk. Simultaneously, a deep, resonant bass voice filled the sea as if summoning an opera singer.

"My people, from this moment, the adventurer Kai is declared a friend, a brother, and family to the merfolk. Though of a different species, he is a grateful hero who unhesitatingly helped us in our time of crisis. In turn, we merfolk will extend our hands when he is in danger, as declared here."

"Wh-what\'s all this...?"

It was a bolt from the blue! Kai\'s mouth dropped open in shock, he wasn\'t able to say anything.

But it was different for all the merfolk in attendance.

"We will follow His Majesty\'s command!"

"We will follow His Majesty\'s command!"

"It\'s not sudden." Karius looked at Kai and smiled. "You are an adventurer deserving of such treatment. Without you... none of us would have survived."

"That’s..."

Kai couldn’t deny his words. Had Kai not destroyed the nagas’ device, Aquavera\'s location would have eventually been exposed. And what would have followed was predictable.

A one-sided massacre would have happened.

Hakhas, the other princes, and the armies led by the king of the nagas would have invaded Aquavera, and a one-sided massacre would have followed.

That would have been the merfolk’s fate if Kai hadn’t intervened.

"On behalf of the merfolk, I extend our gratitude. Thanks to you, the nagas can no longer discern our location. Thanks to you, even if we move, they won\'t be able to follow us. Now... we are thinking about moving to a safe place."

"Why not move closer to the lands of humans? That way, if Kai is in danger, we can always help him,” suggested Cyrus.

"That\'s a good idea."

The moment identical smiles appeared on Karius and Cyrus’ faces, and a notification window popped up.

Ding!

[The main episode quest “Fallen Mermaid Kingdom” quest activation requirements have disappeared.]

[“Fallen Mermaid Kingdom” episode no longer exists.]

[1,524 related quests no longer exist.]

[Solarian God Helik heaps praise upon you.]

[+10 Benevolence.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[+10 Stat points.]

[Contribution to the Church of Solaris greatly increased.]

[You have become an enemy to the Church of Muldine.]

[The merfolk will begin interactions with humans.]

[Aquavera, the city of merfolks, has been revealed to humanity.]

"...Huh?"

Kai tilted his head at the sight of the messages he had never seen before.