Ch. 209

"Not bad."

I glanced over the feast laid out before us while listening to Terdius's review.

Immediately after the Black Arc attached to Merfolk Queen Selvias's forehead was destroyed, Selvias lost consciousness from the shock.

'Fortunately, since it was a real Black Arc and not a fake, there was no harm to her life.'

As the Black Arc was destroyed, the brainwashing on Selvias and the merfolk was lifted, and all of Diego's power that had eroded the Merfolk Kingdom disappeared.

After that, the merfolk showed quite surprised expressions at first. Because of me and Terdius.

'Still, it was fortunate that Selvias, who had the Black Arc embedded, had at least some reason remaining.'

Due to Selvias's influence, the merfolk who had been brainwashed by Diego's energy also had some reason remaining.

Therefore, they knew well that Terdius and I had come to help them. Because of that, we received generous treatment from the merfolk in the palace.

Including this considerable feast laid out before Terdius and me now.

'Especially the merfolk princes were very grateful to us.'

Examining the palace while Selvias still hadn't regained consciousness from the shock experienced in the process of destroying the Black Arc were her sons. They showed signs of not being able to pull themselves together, perhaps confused themselves.

Yet they didn't forget to guide Terdius and me to a considerably splendid reception room.

"Leviathan, do you not have an appetite?"

Meanwhile, when I wasn't eating properly despite the feast before my eyes, Terdius asked me. I shook my head and answered.

"No. That's not it. However..."

"However?"

"I want to return to the temple."

Of course, the fresh seafood I was eating for the first time in a while tasted excellent, and was good melting smoothly in my mouth, perhaps due to the Merfolk Kingdom's special recipe.

"Why is that?"

I slowly spoke toward Terdius who asked again.

"...The place we're in now is none other than the deep sea."

That's right. I found the potions needed to maintain Terdius's and my condition like normal like this quite wasteful now.

"Ah. So that's why."

Terdius, who belatedly caught my meaning, smiled faintly. Seeing that made my mood worse.

'That bastard, he probably doesn't know how much the ingredients in the potions we consumed cost.'

Waterproof potion, breathing potion, communication potion, etc. The ingredients in all the potions we continued consuming every few hours would definitely be about half a year's living expenses for commoners in the empire if calculated. It wasn't like I'd die from lacking that money, but... wasn't it wasteful money to spend just to receive meals and treatment?

'So I hope the Merfolk Queen wakes up soon...'

While hoping that and continuing the meal.

Knock knock.

Along with a knock, the reception room door opened. And the one who came to find us was a prince, one of the Merfolk Queen's sons.

"Have you finished your meal?"

"Ah, yes. We ate very deliciously."

I quickly drew a business smile and gave thanks to the prince.

"Then let's go see Mother now."

"It seems the Queen has regained consciousness."

"Yes. Mother asked for you two as soon as she regained consciousness."

At the prince's words, I couldn't help but smile. Because I quite liked the flow proceeding like the original development.

"Yes. We'll go right away."

Having received his words, I immediately stood up with Terdius. Then I followed the prince into the corridor.

The Merfolk Queen's palace was underwater as I had seen in fairy tales and novels, so naturally this place too had water filling the entire building.

Still, there seemed to be no major inconvenience in living since merfolk magic was cast everywhere.

'Well, that's limited to merfolk only though.'

Thinking that while walking, before long I reached the 'Queen's Hall' where the Merfolk Queen was.

"Please enter."

Receiving the merfolk prince's guidance, we entered inside the Queen's Hall. Then unlike when we first visited for Black Arc removal, a neatly organized space was visible.

The space broken in the combat situation was almost restored, and some merfolk who had completely broken free of brainwashing and started proper activity were also seen here and there.

And in the center, the Merfolk Queen boasting outstanding appearance smiled toward us. Though still in a haggard state, she was in much better condition than before.

Her eyes had also returned to normal, and she was no longer showing any intention to attack us.

"Welcome."

The Merfolk Queen, Selvias, spoke toward us.

"I am Selvias who rules the merfolk. And you are?"

I bowed my waist slightly to Selvias in greeting.

"Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Leviathan, Church Leader of Kyros Church."

"I am Terdius, Holy Knight of Kyros Church."

When even Terdius finished greeting, Selvias was seen with a satisfied smile.

"I see. Kyros Church, a name I have heard of."

Selvias extended her hand toward us.

"You are heroes who saved our merfolk from Evil energy. Church Leader Leviathan of Kyros Church, and Holy Knight Terdius. I will regard you as eternal friends of our merfolk."

Simultaneously with Selvias's declaration, a quest completion window appeared. The reward was indeed the merfolk's eternal trust.

"If you need our merfolk's help, please call us anytime."

Selvias spoke and gestured to one of the merfolk princes beside her. Then the merfolk prince approached us holding something.

What the merfolk prince handed us was a conch shell the size of an adult male's forearm.

"This is..."

"My magic is contained inside. You can contact us anytime by blowing that conch."

I finally obtained what I wanted. I held the conch shell and sincerely thanked Selvias.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

***

"Heooo, gasp."

I gasped for breath as clean air filled my lungs.

Thud—

At that moment, my body was lowered as if thrown onto the sandy beach.

"Whoa, thank you, Brother."

I expressed thanks to Terdius who sat down with a thud beside me.

After receiving the conch shell from the Merfolk Queen, we immediately left the Merfolk Kingdom. The merfolk expressed regret at us leaving right away, but it couldn't be helped.

Because I didn't want to expend more items.

Anyway, so we quickly left the kingdom, but the items' time limit was almost up midway. However, I didn't use them because I didn't want to consume more items.

Since Terdius also accepted my proposal, we swam the sea without additional potion consumption.

But 10 minutes before reaching land, the items' duration ended. What ended first was the potion that made swimming faster.

What ended next was the underwater breathing potion, and what followed next was the communication potion. As the items' duration ended in order like that, we came to swim the sea with our bare bodies.

'I should have at least taken more waterproof potion.'

I tried to raise my heavy body with difficulty, then gave up and just lay sprawled on the sandy beach.

Still, it was very fortunate that Terdius came along. He noticed my swimming speed had slowed and led me while swimming.

Even though I hadn't particularly asked. Thanks to that, I could safely escape the sea.

'I need to practice swimming.'

Thinking that, I raised my body with difficulty. And I expressed thanks to Terdius while wringing out my wet clothes.

"Thank you, Brother."

"...It would be better to build more stamina."

He's right. After wringing my clothes as much as possible, I opened my inventory. The conch shell the Merfolk Queen gave was properly entered in inventory. Ah, this isn't what's important now.

I took out an intact robe from inventory and only put the outer clothes among wet clothes into inventory. And after putting on the robe, I also handed spare robes to Terdius.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

I smiled and slowly moved my steps. And looking at my inventory again, my mood wasn't very good.

'I used more potions than expected.'

Well, there was the fact that Terdius suddenly accompanied me, but even including that part, the consumption was large.

'It must be because of hidden route variables.'

The worst situation I thought of at the Merfolk Kingdom of clashing with Diego Church's apostle didn't occur, but each individual merfolk's skill was quite excellent.

Thanks to that, it took longer than expected and item consumption also increased.

'Still, I obtained what I needed...'

While slowly moving steps, Terdius's voice was heard.

"Leviathan. Is there anywhere else to go?"

"Mmm, no. For now, I'll return to the temple. Because there's work to do at the temple."

"After that?"

"After that, I'll need to go somewhere a bit far."

"If far, how long would that be?"

"Well... a month if long?"

"Right. It would be good if you tell me in advance like this from now on too."

That meant Terdius would accompany me from now on too, so I was to share the schedule in advance.

'Well, since something like today could happen...'

If Terdius continued traveling with me, it would be comfortable and good.

"Yes. Understood."

***

Terdius and Revelof ran quickly from the coast and returned to the temple after a few days. Terdius headed for his lodging to rest, and Revelof sat at his work desk before taking a rest.

'Though time still remains when thinking about the period roughly...'

He couldn't be complacent. Therefore, Revelof began writing letters.

The content he wrote in the letters was simple.

The God Kyros said a great war might occur in the continent soon, so please help.

Along with the fact that the exact schedule was still unknown, so please prepare accordingly.

"...This much should be enough."

After carefully examining the letter content, Revelof soon began sending them to various places.

Revelof's letters soon began spreading to various places where he had given help, including Bahano Kingdom and Merilseus Kingdom.

Not only places where Kyros Church temples were built, but also to Phinis and the Centaurs, and the forest where the gnomes lived, and to Earth Spirit Felcia.

Then to the Elves and dwarves, and even to the merfolk met recently.

The letters were soon delivered to many who had received help from Kyros and Revelof, and they all began preparations.

"If it's for Lord Kyros."

"The time to repay the debt has finally come."

"All this is for Lord Kyros."

Like that, many began preparations.

Around that time, Revelof started another preparation for the upcoming matters.

"It's time... to move again."

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