Wizard of the Deep Sea

TL/ED – Miso

Number 1 guided me to the underground of the castle, and within that, to the prison.

Though called a prison, most of the bars were rusted and broken, making it so old and worn that anyone could escape with a bit of resolve to endure tetanus.

But the prisoners were quiet. All were locked in solitary cells, and each one was sitting on their knees in the center of the room, mouths agape, staring blankly outside.

It seemed their minds had been extracted through some method. He stopped in front of a cell with a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, glanced at me, and ordered.

“Try pulling out a Thread.”

“If you show me how, I’ll give it a try.”

“It’s not difficult. Now, even you should be able to see my hideous form.”

“…”

So he’s telling me to stop pretending I can’t see it. When I slowly nodded, one of the Threads attached to his eye snapped.

Then, a new Thread descended from the sky.

“Though not to the extent of that person, those of us who are blessed can accomplish similar feats. We wield power without any Burden.”

“It is quite literally a blessing, then.”

“Don’t be mistaken. Do you think you can use the grace you’ve received for your own selfish desires?”

The Thread that had been pulled wrapped around the prisoner’s neck.

“Uh, ugh…!”

It was just a single, extremely thin Thread, but the prisoner writhed in pain as if a massive rope was strangling his neck.

After rolling on the floor for a few minutes, the prisoner suddenly stopped convulsing, stood up calmly, dusted off the dirt, and opened his mouth.

“For each Thread you receive, you can place one person under Servitude.”

The voice was different, but the speaker was the same. It was a picture-perfect Servitude.

“Just be cautious. To put someone with a firm will and a strong body into Servitude, you either have to render them completely unable to resist like this, or send down multiple Threads.”

“I see. But I’m not bound by any Threads, am I?”

“I’ll give them to you now.”

–Tududuk! Hundreds of Threads snapped from Number 1’s body all at once.

Then, Threads descending from the sky wrapped around my body. I didn’t particularly feel like I was being controlled, but even considering that, it wasn’t a pleasant sensation.

As I looked at the weightless Threads wrapped around my arms, Number 1 turned his back as if his part was done.

“Then, by tomorrow morning, put one of the prisoners here into Servitude.”

“I haven’t been told the method yet.”

“You just saw everything. You’re not going to say you can’t handle your World in a world without Burdens, are you?”

It was obviously hazing.

“Yes, understood.”

When I nodded, he gave a sly smile as if he’d expected that response.

“If you can’t even put one into Servitude, then consider what you’ve received far beyond your capabilities, and I’ll take back half of the Threads. You should live according to your station.”

“What happens if all these Threads disappear?”

“Don’t worry. You won’t die. You’ll simply end up living with the ‘outside’ Family members who couldn’t receive their chance.”

So they’ll turn me into Livestock.

No matter how many times I think about it, Dark Night’s concept of Family, where mutual and endless sacrifice defines the bond, is deeply twisted.

“I’ll come when the sun rises.”

I knew it already. When I nodded, the door closed.

Left alone in the prison, I touched the Threads wrapped around my arm.

It was clearly an incomplete ability. For Servitude, only the Threads received could be consumed. If they ran out, there would be no difference from an ordinary person.

Number 1 must have received all those Threads from Dark Night as well. Instead of having no Burden, his power is heavily restricted.

“Let’s see…”

I’m different.

Puppet only took a very small portion of the Deep Sea’s Burden, and of course, I could still use the power of Puppet while my World remained intact.

Honestly, I’m not even sure whether those who were given Puppet by Dark Night should be considered true Fallen with their own Worlds.

If they are, then that would mean I currently possess two Worlds.

It’s an overwhelming advantage. I need to use this to earn Dark Night’s trust.

‘If my memories had been sealed from the beginning, things would have taken a longer route.’

Pushing aside idle thoughts, I stared at the Threads wrapped around my arms to tackle the task Number 1 had given me.

Not a single thing was explained, so I had to figure everything out on my own.

As I stared at the prisoner and focused on the Thread, a faint tingling sensation began to rise.

–Tuk.

“Oh.”

A few strands of Thread snapped.

But the problem began from there.

“…”

I now understood why he’d acted so territorial.

Controlling this Thread was truly, genuinely, absurdly difficult.

It was a hazy, dream-like sensation that was hard to explain properly, but it felt like there was a hand at the end of the sky, no, at the edge of the universe, and that hand was tied to the Thread.

Moving that hand to move the Threads. Naturally, the response was delayed and the speed was sluggish. This kind of nonsense wasn’t something one could master overnight.

Fortunately, I was inside the Deep Sea.

“If I push it just right…”

Very slightly, but the Thread responded to the influence of the Current.

The efficiency was absurdly low to the point that I had to even use Water Barrier just to move the Current, but still, the important thing was that it worked… somehow.

Thanks to that, after about an hour, I managed to wrap the Thread around the prisoner’s neck.

“Ku.”

And then, the Servitude began.

If I were a true Puppet, I probably would’ve gained a Burden by now.

But since I was completely offloading the Burden, I felt absolutely nothing. The only one suffering was the prisoner.

Once the Servitude was completed, a remote control appeared in my mind.

“?”

That was truly the only way to describe it.

A tool to control the prisoner had formed in my mind, and I was certain I could make him move just by thinking it.

So I tried it out once.

“Hel, lo, there.”

Unlike Number 1, it came out clumsy, but definitely. He said exactly what I’d thought.

If I told him to raise his arm, he raised it; if I told him to sit, he sat. The sight was so unsettling that I felt like I might have a gestalt collapse just from watching it, so I sat him down for a while and tested the most important thing.

Tell me about your past.

I issued that command through the remote.

“…”

But there was no response. He just stared blankly at me.

From the position of the master who had invoked Servitude, I understood. This command didn’t work.

Through many other experiments until dawn, I learned that anything related to memories was entirely inaccessible, as if sealed away.

This was probably something Dark Night had blocked. Suppressing my disappointment, I was listening to the chirping of birds outside the window when the door opened again.

“Time’s up. If you still haven’t done it…”

Number 1 entered saying that, but flinched when he saw the prisoner doing a handstand.

It seemed he hadn’t imagined I’d succeed. I answered calmly, thinking he looked a bit flustered.

“I’ve done what I could for now. Does this count as a success?”

“…Tch.”

Number 1 clicked his tongue once and walked off.

It felt like he was telling me to follow, so I did without a word, and he continued speaking with an uncomfortable expression.

“This evening, that person will return and hold a banquet to celebrate the new addition to the Family, and you’ll be granted a Title Number. Likely Number 33.”

“Number 33? That’s a lot fewer than I expected.”

“A Title Number is a ve~ry honorable position given only to those who’ve entered the bounds of the Family.”

The way he called it honorable was clearly sarcastic.

“In the meantime, I’ll explain a few things you must observe in front of that person and among us. If you don’t follow them, not only you, but we could suffer, so clean your ears and listen carefully.”

“Please go ahead.”

“First. No matter what you’re called, it doesn’t really matter. If you want to play hierarchy games, use your Threads. If you can, that is.”

“You mean being called oppa?”

“Yeah. Second, only do exactly what that person instructs you to do. No less, no more.”

“Yes.”

Nothing too problematic so far.

Though the last part was a bit strange.

“And when introducing yourself to others, you must always use the Family title you’ve been given.”

As he said that, Number 1 clenched his teeth slightly.

When I used Current Sense, I could feel fear in his heartbeat.

“…If that person thinks you’re taking the Family lightly. Tch, dying might actually be better in comparison.”

To summarize: understand that this is a grand Family roleplay.

But engage in that play with sincerity. That was the message.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Answering as such, I was guided around the castle until evening.

Along the way, I met a few others who were likely within the bounds of the Family. All of them were completely covered in Threads, clearly showing they were favored individuals.

With only 499 Threads myself, I felt rather insignificant in comparison.

However, they did not flaunt that fact. They didn’t boast.

On the contrary, they moved cautiously, as if even avoiding falling leaves.

“I heard you completed several missions in Crimson Circle?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Don’t assume this place will be any different. That person will give you your first mission, whatever you do, do not refuse it. Absolutely not.”

Servants carried food, and dazzling fireworks burst.

But the banquet was so quiet that even breathing sounded loud. Excluding the servants, there were over thirty Family members including Number 1 and myself, but all stood still like statues, emotionless, with glasses in hand.

Only the quiet background music played by the musicians flowed eerily through the air.

That silence was broken when the door clattered open.

“Was everyone having fun?”

“Yes! This is truly an enjoyable banquet!”

“Ha ha, it’s wonderful!”

It was a sight worth marveling at.

Even those who had cold, icy expressions, or those who hadn’t moved a muscle with their eyes closed.

All of them smiled broadly, blooming with laughter as if they’d been enjoying the banquet all along.

“That’s a relief. I wondered what this was about when I was suddenly called, haah…”

Dark Night naturally took the seat of honor, raised her glass, and began to complain.

“They told me to let a few of you go again, saying something ridiculous about wanting to find the sea.”

“Hah, you should’ve let us go. We would gladly give our lives for you, Dark Night nim!”

“Oh no, I could never sell off my Family. How could I do such a thing?”

“We too would do anything for the Family!”

“Mm, thank you. That’s really reassuring.”

Dark Night gave a soft smile and swirled her glass awkwardly.

How should I put it, it was a scene that truly drew out a scoff.

There was something surreal about a maniac who held the lifelines of everyone in the hall, and the desperate yes-men doing all they could to stay in her good graces.

Of course, I wasn’t exactly in a position to speak like some detached third party either.

“Ah, Mother. Come to think of it, how was Undercurrent?”

“He still has some areas where he’s lacking.”

“No one gets full on the first bite. Undercurrent, come here.”

Dark Night tilted her glass toward me, who was standing the farthest away.

I approached and bowed my head deeply. Dark Night stroked the back of my head affectionately and murmured in a sticky voice.

“From today, you’re no longer Undercurrent. You’re my oppa, and the thirty-third Family member. I will fulfill my duties to you as your Family. You must do the same.”

“I will, without fail.”

“Mmm, good. Then let me make my first request to oppa as Family.”

Before Dark Night could say anything further, Number 1 quickly cut in.

“Dark Night nim. As I mentioned earlier, he still has many lacking parts. It may be better to consider that before making your request.”

This guy. He probably wasn’t doing it for my sake, but because he didn’t want to deal with the fallout if I failed.

Though Dark Night nodded her head,

“Mmm, but we still have to do what must be done. The Family is suffering trying to deal with oppa’s Burden. I could even see the children in pain from whatever World it was. And although it’s not exactly oppa’s fault, I used up far too many Threads in the process of accepting oppa, so I won’t be able to increase the Family for quite some time.”

“I’m sorry. My former World was…”

I had a few explanations prepared, but Dark Night shook her head before I could speak.

“I’m not interested in oppa’s past. Now we share my World, don’t we? What matters is that our Family made great sacrifices to resolve your Burden.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Oppa must repay the Family’s sacrifices as well. But mmm, oppa also brought us ten Family members. It wasn’t a huge help, but I should acknowledge it at least…”

This seemed to be about Piercing Blood.

Dark Night nodded to herself, seemingly satisfied, and then gave a light order.

“Could you bring about three Fallen with Worlds? Friends are fine, blood relatives are fine too.”

The content wasn’t light.

But of course, without a moment’s hesitation, I nodded.

“Understood. By when should I complete it?”

“Let’s see… you should do it within a month. You can, right?”

“Yes.”

“Mmm, good. Love for the Family must be repaid.”

Dark Night smiled gently and waved me off with a hand gesture.

After that, the banquet continued as a painful play: with Dark Night surrounded by her Family, genuinely happy, and the so-called Family members putting on an act of happiness for her sake.

After it ended, Number 1, who guided me to the room where I’d be staying, responded in a slightly softened tone.

“If a month passes and you haven’t gathered all the Fallen for Servitude, come ask me.”

“You’ll gather them for me?”

“Yes. But you’ll have to offer sincerity in return.”

He glanced at my Threads. So that was his goal.

“I’ll do that.”

“You must speak up no matter what. If you fail, the responsibility will fall on us too.”

After brushing off Number 1’s reminder, I sent him away and left the room.

From now on, there was no time to rest.

One month later.

When the appointed deadline arrived.

“I’ve brought them.”

“…H-huh?”

It was a rare sight: Dark Night tilting her head in confusion, and Number 1 gritting his teeth.

It was understandable.

Because I had brought not just a few, but many Family members.

Smiling gently, I lifted the leashes.

“I have placed fifty Fallen under Servitude.”

Do you know what it’s called when you use trash to hunt trash?

We call that recycling.