Chapter 412: New Companion

Chapter 412: New Companion

Although irritated by the mermaid’s threat, Sein did not outright reject her request.

Instead, he probed, “As a member of the imperial family in the Magus World’s ocean, surely your kind possess secret techniques to undo soul control. Why seek help from a mage like me instead of returning to your family?”

This question showed Sein’s wariness toward the mermaid.

He had numerous secrets, especially now, as his journey to the Blackhaven was far from a mere vacation.

Having a mermaid as a companion proved to be more of a burden than a benefit.

The mermaid did not directly answer Sein’s question.

The reason behind her decision was tied to specific customs and detrimental practices within aquatic races.

Mermaids placed a high value on chastity, encompassing more than just physical purity—it included various aspects of their social conduct.

Underaged mermaids were rarely allowed outside their homes.

Even adult mermaids only had the opportunity to meet potential partners once every fifty years during an ocean festival, under the strict supervision of their elders.

Although the pink-tailed mermaid was of age, she had missed the last festival due to the timing of her birth. She had to wait another fifty years for the next one.

For ordinary mermaids, who could live nearly two hundred years, fifty years was excessively long, particularly for those of a more adventurous disposition.

The young pink-tailed mermaid had secretly escaped from Crystal City to explore the broader Magus World.

However, before she could fully experience its wonders, she was captured by Van Basten and endured two years of imprisonment.

Returning to her clan would consign her to a sheltered, freedomless life—a fate that not even her parents could save her from.

She could hope to reintegrate into Mermaid City without undue difficulty by attaining a life level of at least Rank One or ideally Rank Two.

There was a good reason why mermaids always fetched higher prices than even the beautiful elves in the Magus Civilization’s black market.

One might wonder whether it was their beauty or the mystical “Blessing of the Sea” that inflated their value. However, the true reason was their rarity.

***

With an extra companion by his side, Sein’s elation from looting the Rank Two black mage was somewhat diminished.

Although he verbally promised to assist her with the lingering soul magic bond left by the Rank Two black mage, Sein was secretly contemplating the possibility of using the soul magic from “Mirage’s Almanac of Souls” on her.

This method had proven effective with Yuri, and Sein was quite pleased with its outcomes.

Besides, it was not like Sein was breaking a promise. He had not signed a contract with her anyway.

Such was the naivete of a young mermaid.

The mermaid could never have guessed that Sein was not as benevolent as she perceived.

Tourmaline’s favor toward him was not due to Sein’s noble character, but rather because of the Planar Light bestowed upon him by the Summer Guardian after he clinched first place in the Regional Inter-Divine Academy War.

Beyond the complexities of soul magic, Sein found himself intrigued by mermaids as they were a unique race within the Magus World.

Sein was intrigued by the mermaid’s unique abilities, which sparked his curiosity for further research in the laboratory.

Meanwhile, the mermaid was in a good mood. She swam close to Tourmaline in the sea, basking in her newfound freedom.

Sein learned her name was Elisa—a common name among mermaids.

***

Tourmaline’s massive form, akin to an island, glided through the ocean.

Both the giant turtle and Sein were ultimately bound for the Western Archipelago but Tourmaline agreed to first make a detour to the Marmett Union Alliance and Steel City after discussing with Sein.

However, Tourmaline had a different purpose for visiting that region.

Although it had few only acquaintances within the Marmett Union Alliance, Tourmaline sought to reconnect with old friends it had known during its time in the Western Archipelago within the largest magic beast forest in that region.

1. Author’s Note: The Grand Elven World embraces theism, where low-level creatures often honor individuals of Rank Four or above as “gods”. ☜