Chapter 482 – Encounter with the Inhabitants of the Sea

Blue particles of light emanated from Marl’s fingertips, dancing around my body.

…The Blessing of the Spirit King of Water.

“You’ll be able to move underwater for extended periods just like on land, and even in the depths, your body won’t be crushed. What you should be cautious of is that while we can mitigate things that deviate from our spiritual principles, like water magic, we cannot completely ignore them.”

The effects were underwater breathing and water pressure resistance. It seemed I could ignore temperature drops from water temperature as well. Unlike spells like water breathing, there was no magical power consumption, and not having to worry about duration was a blessing.

However, it didn’t go as far as nullifying great water magic. That aspect was similar to Tephra’s Blessing.

“Thank you very much. With this, I should be able to fight to my heart’s content.”

When I thanked her, Marl smiled and nodded.

Now then… I had been expanding my detection range while sightseeing, hoping to find mermaids or fishfolk and talk with them… But now that I’ve actually found them in this situation, things have changed somewhat.

How the mermaids perceive us is also an issue, so I’ll need to be considerate to ensure they’ll listen to us first.

“Could I ask one more favor? When we make contact with the two fleeing individuals, I’d like you to be present. If it comes to combat, I’ll handle it.”

“Understood.”

So the plan is set. First, ascend the Sirius, disappear using light magic field, and rush to the scene. Leave the ship handling to Alpha, have it continue flying alongside the scene above the water, then head to the deck.

Below, the glow of life reactions. The two fleeing individuals and their pursuer. There’s still distance… but it seems to be gradually closing. It’s probably only a matter of time before they’re caught.

…Or rather, it seems like the two fleeing individuals are slowing down. One of them must be reaching their vitality limit.

“Well then, I’m off.”

“Understood. If anything unexpected occurs, I’ll provide support.”

When I turned and spoke, Grace responded, and everyone else nodded while looking at me.

Since we were heading to the western sea, I had prepared equipment for underwater combat as well. Even if new enemies appear, I should be able to handle them. Now then—

Taking Marl with me, I leaped from the deck and plunged headfirst toward the sea surface. As I dove into the seawater, I noticed something. The water resistance felt very weak.

I see… With this, I’m definitely not at a disadvantage underwater. Using water magic to manipulate the currents, Marl and I rushed to the target depth.

Almost perfect. I descended to slip in behind the mermaids and came to an abrupt stop.

“Wha—!? …H-humans!? And a water spirit?”

The two couldn’t react to my unexpected high-speed dive. The fishfolk turned around, stepping forward to shield the mermaid while taking a stance with his trident.

To show I meant no harm, I first closed my eyes and bowed.

“My apologies for startling you so suddenly. Since you appear to be pursued, I’ve taken the liberty of coming to your aid.”

“A land-dweller… helping us?”

The fishfolk seemed somewhat bewildered. His black, pearl-like eyes widened.

The mermaid looked exactly as commonly imagined. Her golden hair swayed in the water. She wore clothing made from water spider silk. She appeared to be injured… I could see treated wounds on her shoulder. They seemed to be coated with some jelly-like medicine to stop the bleeding. Hiding behind the fishfolk, she watched us and our surroundings with a frightened expression.

As for the fishfolk… he had skin with a texture similar to dolphins or orcas.

He had fins on the sides of his face, with an overall streamlined shape that resisted water resistance. His legs weren’t fish-like but had two feet with webbing. His facial structure resembled humans, and his expressions were readable.

He wore armor-like equipment on his chest and waist… Rather than the commonly imagined scaly fish-face image, his appearance was more fitting to be called an aquatic human.

“Verdgar has a policy of welcoming friendly non-human races. All the more so for races that have maintained trade with Duke Driscoll.”

“That is… n-no, but still…”

“It’s true. I’m not lying.”

Marl spoke to the still bewildered fishfolk.

“Weltes… These people… perhaps we can trust them?”

The mermaid spoke, but Weltes shook his head.

“Haven’t we been told by the Queen to avoid excessive contact with land-dwellers? That it’s for our mutual benefit…”

But the conversation ended there.

Because the other pursuer from behind had entered Balor’s field of vision as he was watching our rear. Almost simultaneously, the fishfolk called Weltes noticed it too.

“Run, land-dweller. In the water… you stand no chance against these opponents.”

Saying this, Weltes tried to step in front of me—but I stopped his movement with my hand. When I showed the glow of magical power, Weltes stared intently at me.

If Weltes could fight while protecting the mermaid, he wouldn’t have been running in the first place.

I turned to face the creature. If it were a type of rampaged monster, I thought it would charge in regardless, but it too stopped moving.

“…Human and water spirit.”

So it can use words too.

As expected, an unfamiliar race. Its overall appearance gave the impression of a demi-human that was a cross between a shark and a crocodile. While it had a streamlined shape suitable for swimming, it was covered in rough, thick scales and had sharp claws on its fingers and toes.

In the dark sea where sunlight faded, its eyes glowed with a brilliant red. A torn mouth with rows of sharp fangs. It too wore something like armor. Furthermore, it held a strange blunt weapon that looked like it was made from a giant fish’s backbone, fashioned into a mace.

“Step aside… I… will capture them and return to my master.”

“…The mermaids are trading partners for us. First, I’d like to hear the details.”

“…G, gugu. Land… monkeys want to talk? Don’t make me laugh.”

The creature shook its shoulders with a muffled voice.

“You land monkeys are getting cocky because you have a water spirit backing you… But I know. High-ranking spirits cannot interfere in such conflicts because they possess great power.”

…Hmm. Well… regarding Marl, that’s true.

“And what of it?”

When I said this, the creature bared its fangs irritably.

“Even if I slice you up, scatter your remains and eat you across this sea, no one will help you. I’ll let you go for now.”

…I see. It can exchange words, but it’s unsuitable as a negotiation partner.

Although it seems to draw a line while still respecting us as land-dwellers.

“—Let me ask you directly.”

“What?”

I looked back over my shoulder and asked Weltes. In the corner of my vision, I noticed the shark-man sneering and baring its fangs.

“His master isn’t your master for you two, is he?”

“Yes. Our only master is the Mermaid Queen.”

Weltes looked at me and nodded clearly. Well… that’s enough. Information about the Mermaid Queen was also hinted at in the BFO.

Before I could turn around, the shark-man moved.

It twisted its body, accelerating and charging at torpedo-like speed. Aiming for my flank. Moving at a speed I shouldn’t be able to react to, positioning to tear out flesh with its massive jaws. The fangs approached with ferocious momentum—but.

I deflected it with my Shield. It clicked its tongue as its first strike missed, passing by before turning and accelerating to charge again. From a position that would be my blind spot, aiming for the medulla oblongata—narrowing its eyes with delight.

“Well, I’ve mostly figured it out.”

“What!?”

I deployed my Shield to match the charging angle and block it, then slammed a magical shockwave into it. The shark-man grabbed its face and arched backward.

As the shark-man tried to retreat to reset after the unexpected counterattack, I kicked my Shield and used water flow manipulation to stick close. Seeing this, its eyes widened. It probably never expected a land-dweller to pursue it at underwater movement speeds.

“You monkey!”

It unleashed a sweeping strike with its bone mace. The mace itself seemed to be wrapped in a water vortex. I blocked it with Ouroboros wrapped in a reverse-rotating magical vortex, and using the difference in impact force, I shattered the bone mace while bouncing the opposite end upward—then magical spark light exploded at the creature’s chin.

Even while arching back, it swung its claws. I avoided it with a cartwheel-like motion, completing a full rotation before catching up to the retreating creature, initiating close combat while moving alongside it.

This time, instead of a vortex, it aimed for my neck and heart with claws imbued with fighting spirit. Going for a one hit kill was correct, but its movements were closer to those of a wild animal. Fast and sharp, but with no wasted aim, precise enough that I could read its targeting and trajectory from its gaze and reactions. That’s why I could easily land counters.

Elbow, flank, solar plexus, instep—matching each attack with a strike from Ouroboros. Outer skin, strength, bone structure. All were sturdy, but it focused too much on offense, with poor concentration of fighting spirit and weak defense. I simultaneously slammed magical shockwaves, smashing each means of attack one by one.

But… its movements are light. Hard to believe we’re fighting underwater. So this is what Marl meant by no advantage or disadvantage.

“Can’t believe you’re a land monkey! You monster!”

Its tail fin, sharp as a blade, swung upward. I avoided it with a form shift while releasing the magical power concentrated in Ouroboros. I slammed the expanding condensed magical club toward its dorsal fin, causing the creature to arch its body and let out a groan of agony.

Water—water. Wrapping the deployed condensed magical power around my body, planting my footing with the Shield—in coordination with all my body’s joints, I unleashed a magical palm strike.

“Fly away.”

Spiral shockwave. The concentrated magical power transmitted through the water—piercing the solar plexus of the distant shark-man before the shock exploded. For a moment, the impact bent its body into a V-shape before it lost to the sideways rotation momentum and threw out its limbs limply.

It seemed to have lost consciousness from the single blow, with white eyes showing and tongue hanging out. Life reaction present. Well… I estimated its general durability during our exchange, and this seems about right.

I immediately unleashed a sealing technique. Pillars of light pierced the shark-man’s body—and chains of magical power gushing from within bound its body in multiple layers.

Since it tried to push through with the logic of force, it can’t complain. After sealing its strength and packaging it up, it might be more willing to talk.