Chapter 70: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (1)

Chapter 70: The Underwater Kingdom, Aquavera (1)

Kai waited patiently without interrupting the reunion between the two people.

After spending an hour exchanging stories they hadn’t been able to share over the past twenty years, they finally approached Kai. “Thank you for waiting.”

“No problem. It’s been twenty years since you two last met. I’m happy to wait,” Kai replied.

“Thank you so much." Crawford then turn toward Helene. "Helene, this is Kai, the adventurer who helped us meet.”

“Oh my, then you’re our savior!”

“Yes, we owe him a debt we could never repay.”

Helene and Crawford looked at Kai with eyes full of gratitude.

In an instant, Kai smiled kindly and responded with the most exemplary response. “I was just doing what anyone should do.”

“Oh my, you’re so humble!”

“You really are...!”

[Helene’s affinity increased.]

[Crawford Wonderfield’s affinity has increased.]

Their affinity levels were rising rapidly!

Kai, looking at the message window with a look of satisfaction at having guessed correctly, asked, “So, what will you two do now?”

Bariton would be furious once he found out the knights he assigned to Crawford had gone missing. And naturally, Crawford wouldn’t be able to safely roam around Aquaria or the nearby territories.

“Oh, about that...” Helene raised her hand shyly and looked at Crawford. “Crawford, do you remember the suggestion I made to you before? You said you'd think about it.”

“Of course. I haven't forgotten a single word you said.”

“Oh, Crawford...”

Kai cut off their tender moment before it went too far. “So, what was that suggestion about?”

“Oh, I once suggested to Crawford that we live underwater together.”

“Underwater, as in...?”

“The home of us merfolk and the only kingdom located underwater, Aquavera.”

“But humans can't breathe underwater, right?”

Kai's question made Helene chuckle. “You don’t think I would suggest something harmful to Crawford, do you? There’s a spell that allows him to breathe underwater.”

“For a lifetime?”

“Well, I’d have to cast the spell for him as long as we live.”

Kai gave Crawford a sympathetic look. “...You should stay on Helene’s good side, Crawford.”

“Ahem, yes, I’ll make sure to treat her well for the rest of our lives.”

It was a harsh married life where Crawford could drown if they were on bad terms!

Understanding this, Kai shivered and replied, “So when do you two plan to leave?”

“I’m ready to leave right now if that’s okay... Crawford, do you need more time?”

“No, I don't really have much to take with me.”

“Then let’s leave immediately before the humans arrive.”

As Helene prepared to leave, Kai carefully asked, “Excuse me, Helene. Is there any special requirement for visiting Aquavera?”

“Anyone who’s a friend of the merfolk is welcome.”

“Th-then, could I go with you too?”

“Pardon? Weren’t you planning to come along? You should at least give us a chance to repay our savior.”

“Taking me to Aquavera is more than enough! Visiting that place has been one of my dreams for a long time,” Kai, whose dream had started just two weeks ago, bowed his head.

“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for us, Kai. Now, wait just a moment, both of you.”

“Woow.”

Only after achieving the accomplishment of being the first to discover Aquavera did it sink in that he was in an underwater city.

When Kai noticed that his body felt lighter and that he could move more fluidly, he began walking slowly, admiring the surrounding architecture.

Sure is different from human buildings.

Most of the merfolk buildings were made from modified giant clam shells or conches. Fish and dolphins swam freely between buildings as if they were at home, while young merfolk played with them. It was a truly beautiful scene, one that seemed to cleanse a soul tainted by the mundane world.

And merfolk aren't just one type, huh.

Kai had thought all merfolk would look the same, but that was a huge misconception. While they all shared the common trait of having human upper bodies and finned lower bodies, they seemed to come from different species.

Are they orca-type merfolk? Their fins are black and white. And is that person a largehead hairtail?

Each merfolk's fins had unique colors and characteristics!

As Kai watched and observed them, the merfolk began to show interest in him.

“Humans came to Aquavera!”

“Weren’t humans only from books?”

“Mom! Those people don’t have fins!”

“Strange! Scary! But intriguing!”

Curious merfolk quickly gathered around.

As Kai watched them darken the waters with their approach, he let out a deep sigh.

So, this is what it’s like to be famous, huh?

It was like the struggles top stars faced at airports, but even worse in some aspects. While they only had to watch their front, back, left, and right, Kai had merfolk swimming over his head.

“Human visitors have come to the city?”

A clear, energetic voice reached Kai’s ear. At the same time, the crowd of merfolk parted as if Moses himself had appeared. Swimming through them was a male merfolk with bright blue fins.

A shark...?

His fin had the iconic shape of a shark's dorsal fin, and his upper body, larger than other merfolk, showed impressive muscles.

Swimming powerfully, he suddenly grabbed Kai's hand. “Welcome to our merfolk city, stranger. I'm Cyrus, son of Karius, the benevolent king who watches over his people.”

“My name is Kai. I’m an adventurer.”

After greeting Kai, Cyrus also greeted Crawford, then looked at Helene. “By the way, Helene, I thought you were a regular spinster, but now you're bringing home two husbands? You’re more capable than I thought.”

“P-pardon!? It’s not what it seems like!” Helene shouted, hugging Crawford tightly to defend her point. “This is my fiancé, Crawford. He's the only one. That other man is the adventurer who helped us meet!”

“Oh, you only said you were bringing back your husband when you left, so... My bad, I misunderstood.”

Scratching his head, Cyrus apologized and invited Kai's group to his home. Cyrus' home, with its exterior made from a massive coral reef, was impressive enough to befit a crown prince.

As he served cold drinks, Cyrus slowly began to say, “This is the first time in hundreds of years that humans have come to our city, so it’s natural for the merfolk to be this excited. Please forgive them if they were rude.”

“No, it was actually nice to get attention from the beautiful merfolk... ahem. I wasn't bothered at all.”

As Kai quickly waved his hands to dismiss any concern, Cyrus laughed heartily and continued saying, “In fact, I'm a merfolk who is also personally interested in...”

Bzzz, bzzz.

“...Humans, so the moment I heard humans were in the city, I...”

Bzzz, bzzz.

“Rushed to find you two...”

Cyrus' words were repeatedly cut off, then continued.

It wasn't just Kai who noticed, and all four of them turned their gaze to the same spot.

“What’s with that all of a sudden?” Cyrus tilted his head with a confused look.

But Kai, who had spotted the bright golden light emitting from an object, smiled and murmured, “...Found it.”