CH 79

Garsh returned to his seat after leaving the negotiations to his aides.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. That’s a very interesting souvenir.”

“No, that’s alright, I didn’t mean for it to be a souvenir however.”

I was rather remorseful, but Garsh is staring at me as impressed.

“You immediately realised that it might match the dish, even though you have never had it before.”

“Because it fits anything, that is”

“Hmm”

Garsh growled with his arms folded.

“It looks like the demons aren’t as barbaric as I thought. I think they are a little misunderstood. I apologize.”

There is no doubt that the demons are barbaric, but if you can say that, let’s just agree.

“It’s true that I lived in undeveloped land, so don’t worry. But if possible, I’d like to live while sharing prosperity with humans.”

When I answered that, Garsh nodded a little.

“Then there’s no reason to ally with the Demon King’s army. It just seems more interesting than teaming up with the fucking bastards in the north, but only if you meaning us no harm is true.”

The last part of his statement carried a lot of weight.

Garsh still seems to doubt that we’re doing something at sea.

No wonder, because we are demons.

This is more and more likely to require consultation with the mermaids.

Then, in a tone that Parker ponders, he says:

“I had been negotiating with the mermaids for a long time at the order of the Demon King, but during that time they had no suspicious movements. Is there a map?”

“Oh, wait a minute”

Just as there was a map of Beruza on the wall, Parker borrowed it and pointed it with his finger. It’s off the southwest coast of Beruza.

“Isn’t this strange? This is a place where the tide is gentle. There are some reefs and islets, and there are a lot of mermaids.”

“Hmm?” Garsh made a strange face.

“It’s off the route because there’s a reef. The ship heading to Lotso in the east is missing.”

“Then mermaids have nothing to do with it, do they? They’re wary of human ships, so I don’t think they’ll get close to the route.” Parker shrugged.

Garsh was thinking, “Hmm … Hey, Vaito, How credible is this guy?”

I don’t trust him at all.

I’d like to say that, but it doesn’t look like Parker is purposefully bringing out vague information.

So I can’t help but follow Parker’s words.

“Parker is one of the most trusted generals of I and the Demon King. He only reports what he can look up and confirm.”

I glanced to see Parker grinning, but it’s a shame I have to admit it.

“Anyway, I’ll meet the mermaids once. If they have any disturbing movements, I’ll convince them, and if that doesn’t work, the Demon King’s army will cooperate with Beruza.”

I still think it was a misunderstanding.

Garsh nodded to my words and brought a large bottle of mead from the counter.

“Drink”

“Why?”

Then Garsh smiled.

“Today’s negotiations are over. We’ll have a welcome party, so even if you’re not good at drinking, you’ll have to drink.”

“Hahaha”

I smiled back as I received the bottle.

“Is there any side dish?”

“Oh, I’ll feed you a lot”

Apparently, it seems that today is an eat-all-you-can-eat for free.

Let’s say that we are well welcomed.

The next day, I came with Parker to a sandy beach on the outskirts of Beruza. It’s the beach outside the cove.

“Then let’s go see the mermaids.”

Parker looked back on a small rowing boat, about the size of a fishing boat.

“Did you go in that?” I asked.

“The sea here is calm, and I don’t have to drink or eat. It’s just a matter of riding the tide and drifting for about three days.” Replied Parker, who was laughing crazily,

I sighed and asked, “In the meantime, what should I do?”

“Oops, I forgot that! Let’s do this.”

Parker marked the void, as if he was waiting for me to say it.

“Come from the Dark Gate of Gevena, my friend.”

The voice was horrifyingly cold.

I feel that the magical power of the surroundings is distorted in each space and sinks darkly.

A number of spatial distortions occurred, from which skeletons slowly emerged. They looked worn out, but were dressed as sailors.

There were four skeletons that appeared.

Parker said in a low, dark voice, as if his usual tone was a lie.

“Brave sailors, there is no time to rest. Now, row the boat.”

The skeletons silently board the ship and pick up the oars with familiar movements.

And started rowing slowly.

I jumped onto the ship and stared at this gruesome departure.

The greatest feature of Parker’s necromancy is that you can open the gates of the Netherworld and summon the dead directly. It’s quick because you don’t have to make your own. It’s an undead rental.

However, the shape and abilities of the undead differ depending on the summoned place. Since this is the beach, the skeletons of fishermen and sailors come out. Those who died around here long ago.

Seeing the skeletons rowing the boat silently, I suddenly ask Parker, “Do they have no emotions or intellect?”

“I don’t know because communication is a one-way street, but perhaps all they have left is longing for the past.” Parker replied, and continued, “I’m not that different from them either, so I can call them.”

After all, we shut up and headed offshore on a boat rowed by skeletons.

After a while, I felt a strange sense of unease.

Ripples were spreading containing the magical power that floats around. It’s a wave of magical power.

Mermaids use magic. That is also the magic of spiritual control.

Somehow, it makes me feel like going home. I miss Rune Height, Grunstadt Castle, and the hidden village of werewolves.

“Near”

“You can tell?”

“Oh, I can’t hear the sound, but I feel the vibration of magical power. This is mental control magic.”

“Yeah. This is the song of the mermaids, ‘Konaide’.”

The mermaids attract and alienate others by singing, Parker informs me, “Well, it doesn’t make sense to me, and it won’t work much for you. I think it’s just enough for humans.”

Of course, the rowers of this ship are skeletons, so it won’t work on them either.

“If you row toward the center of the song, you will reach it without trouble.”

“Got it”

I decided to keep an eye on the destination of the ship, suppressing my feelings of nostalgia for my hometown.

Sometime later, when the land was completely invisible, the boat approached a reef-filled sea area.

Eventually, a number of ripples spread around the ship. Beautiful half-naked women came out of the sea.

They are probably mermaids. This was the first time I’ve seen them. Surprisingly, everyone had a positive smile.

Parker took off his hat and approached them.

“Is everyone fine after a long time?”

Then the mermaids replied with a clear, cool voice.

“Yes, thank you”

“Mr. Parker, what about your lord?”

“Oh, he’s fearless and wonderful.”

All the other crew members are skeletons, so I’m monopolizing the eyes of the beautiful women.

It’s a little embarrassing.

I greet them.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Vaito, the adjutant of the Demon King, Gomoviroa.”

“Well, you were the one Parker was talking about!?”

What is this surprise?

The mermaids gathered around me all at once and stared at me seriously.

When I grabbed Parker’s skull, I quickly questioned him for a moment.

“How did you talk about me?”

“No, nothing, you’re my younger brother …”

“A disciple. What else did you say?”

Parker then collapsed to the bottom of the ship and pretended to be just a skeleton.

“Hey, say something.”

Then the mermaids giggled and told me:

“Mr. Parker was just proud of Mr. Vaito. He said, ‘There are a lot of talented people in the Demon King’s army, but the best one is my younger brother’.”

“Mr. Vaito, it seems you understand the hearts of people. That’s why even though they are demons, they are loved by humans.”

From their facial expressions, it doesn’t seem like they’re lying or flattering.

When I stared at Parker’s face, he shyly looked down.

“No, I didn’t think my younger brother would be proud of me talking like this …”

“Maybe you’re talking about me everywhere you go?” Then Parker spoke quickly.

“Well, I’m not just talking about you. My friends under Gomoviroa are irreplaceable treasures for me. I don’t have a family anymore, so it’s definitely a story of friends. Just like this one ”

Because of this one, I’m suddenly shy now.