Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Sea Princess (3)
The room was filled with silence. I was sorry, but I felt nothing but disgust, and I clenched my teeth to hold back the nausea.
He was handsome, sure—but a man even more muscular than I was had just shyly confessed he was a fan while showing off his muscles.
It was a critical hit straight to my psyche. I barely avoided an instant death.
"Ah. A fan. Fan. Why... why though?"
It didn’t take long to regain my composure. Preferences deserved respect, after all. As I forced the words out, the merman gave a shy smile.
"Our race has a legend that has been passed down through generations. It’s the tale of a human warrior who fought alongside our ancestor to defeat the [Liywayadan]. That heroic deed is deeply etched in the history of our people."
"No way."
"Yes. That human warrior’s name was Duhein. He is the ancestor of your noble self. I can’t tell you how many times I heard the story as a child. I’m truly honored to meet you like this."
Honestly, I had no idea what that had to do with me. So Duhein’s ancestor had teamed up with the merfolk to defeat some monster. What did that have to do with me?
That alone couldn’t explain the kindness he was showing me.
"You may not understand, but the name Duhein carries more weight than you think. Duhein is a friend of the sea—meaning he is our friend as well. Though it was the deeds of an ancestor in the distant past, the story carried by that bloodline does not disappear. Even now, you emanate the scent of the sea. That must be why our princess feels at ease with you."
"I see."
There was no need to rack my brain over something I didn’t understand. I simply nodded. If that’s how it was, then so be it.
As the princess reached out with both arms, my hand moved without thinking but paused midair. Still, it felt a bit improper to touch a princess in front of her attendant.
"It’s all right. The princess seems to have taken quite a liking to you. You must have been troubled, and yet you cared for her. We’re truly grateful."
The merman readily handed the princess over. Feeling her substantial weight, I lifted her and adjusted my hold.
Despite his rugged features, he wore a gentle expression. I couldn’t quite hide how awkward I felt.
"This must be fate. Please visit us sometime. We would love to show you the abundance and beauty of the sea."
"I’ll definitely visit if I get the chance."
That was a bit much. If where they lived was deep underwater, I had serious doubts about whether I’d even be able to eat anything down there.
The princess scratched at my chest with her nails. The merman repeatedly pulled her hand away.
It was a mermaid who interrupted the pink-tinted atmosphere between the two men.
"Forgive the intrusion."
"It’s all right."
She approached me with the utmost politeness. So much so that even the merman beside her looked a bit awkward in comparison.
Maintaining her languid eyes, she offered her apology. I waved it off.
"I heard you’re a student. We couldn’t thank you enough for taking care of the princess. Still, we understand that too much gratitude could also be disrespectful. So, with that in mind, may I ask your name as a token of our appreciation?"
"...Davide Duhein."
A formal request for my name, dramatic as it sounded. It was so excessively polite that it made me suspicious instead. I barely stopped myself from narrowing my eyes.
"I will make sure you are properly rewarded in the future."
"Well... if the chance arises."
I doubted we’d meet again. The merfolk didn’t appear in the main story until much later on.
Even then, they didn’t appear as allies—they showed up as the ones being pursued. Sadly, the merfolk in front of me now were doomed to lose in the race war.
Their downfall was summed up in a single line—a tragic race with no detailed story. There would be no meaningful reward to expect from them.
More importantly, they owed their gratitude not to me, but to the Imperial Knight Order. I had merely carried the princess along since I happened to be around.
"Is there anything you need at the moment? We’ll do our best to accommodate you."
"Let’s see... I think the Imperial Knight Order should come first. I just tagged along."
"Arrangements have already been made with them. Please, don’t hesitate."
I scratched my nose. They probably didn’t have any money, and it wasn’t like they could grant me a skill. My connection with the princess was also uncertain, considering how uncertain the future of their race was.
It was hard to refuse when she looked so earnest. Were merfolk always like this? Just then, a decent idea came to mind.
"Do merfolk have a god they believe in?"
"Pardon? Hmm. Well, most marine life lives under the blessing of [Kuman, God of the Deep Sea], but at least in our race, active worship isn’t part of our culture."
"Would you be interested in trying out faith?"
"Excuse me?"
Her languid eyes widened slightly. She needed a few seconds to process whether she’d heard me correctly.
Recruiting believers within the Academy was virtually impossible. Davide's reputation was absolute trash—close to hell itself.
Most people probably assumed that a goddess who gave her scripture to a guy like me had to be insane.
But the muscular merfolk before me knew nothing about my reputation. More importantly, the Goddess was so picky that she even hesitated over recruiting Winter.
Discrimination against merfolk was widespread, but there wasn’t a hint of that here. Their physical capabilities were excellent, and they were born warriors.
"This is a holy scripture, isn’t it?"
"You recognize it, I see."
I summoned the holy scripture. It was a luxurious book emitting a soft glow. The merfolk, one and all, showed clear surprise in their eyes.
The most intense reaction came from the princess I was holding in my right arm. She squirmed, almost thrashing, in a way that bordered on a tantrum.
Normally, I would’ve let her play with it, but I was in the middle of an important conversation. When I brought my face closer, she poked my cheek with her smooth forehead.
"I may not look it, but I’m an Apostle of a certain Order. The Order itself isn’t that large, though."
"I see. I thought I smelled not just the scent of the sea, but something else as well."
I glanced briefly at the merman. His grin stretched from ear to ear. I sighed inwardly and continued.
"Would you consider joining our Order? Lady Anaye favors strong warriors."
"An Order, you say?"
"Yes. There’s no downside. The Order won’t demand anything from you, nor is there any cost like a tax. You won’t be asked to lend your strength, either."
"Would it just be in name only?"
"To be precise, just up to the baptism."
She seemed to fall into serious thought for a moment. It appeared she was having trouble figuring out the reason behind such a proposal.
"May I ask how the baptism is conducted?"
"It’s simple. As the Apostle, I engrave Lady Anaye’s mark upon you."
I asked for her permission and undid the front of my garment. A tattoo stretched from just below my neck down across my torso.
Faint scratches made by the princess were also visible.
"This mark serves as a kind of blessing. It requires Lady Anaye’s approval, but simply receiving it grants resistance to both water and lightning."
"Lightning… so that’s the scent I was picking up."
"And, I can also imbue it with a sigil that lets you trigger a lightning explosion at the cost of some stamina."
I picked up a random piece of debris lying around. After engraving it with the Thunder Horn Mark, I threw it far away.
—Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
A piercing sound tore through the air, followed by a fierce explosion.
"A fair offer for both sides, wouldn’t you say? You repay the debt you feel toward me and gain a useful ability in return. Meanwhile, I fulfill a small part of my goddess’s wish and carry out a holy deed."
Only then did she smile kindly. The merman had already been wearing such a smile for some time.
"Duhein is a friend of the sea, and therefore our friend. How could we refuse a request from Duhein—especially one made for such a noble purpose?"
Nice. That last line dealt about 4 points of damage to my conscience. I barely managed to keep a neutral expression.
"You said her name is Anaye. A god and their Apostle are like a parent and child. If the child’s condition is any indication, then surely the goddess you serve must be both compassionate and brave."
The Vice-Commander and the Aide, who had been silently listening, now wore ambiguous expressions. A judgment completely opposite to what the world thought of me. My mouth itched to say something, but I didn’t make the foolish mistake of ruining it by stepping forward.
"I don’t actually know you very well."
"Indeed. We only just met."
"But the princess does not feel the same."
"Sorry?"
"You must have wondered—why are these people being so kind? The answer lies in what the princess told us."
Only then did I understand their overly favorable attitude. Of course, the merman probably had a different reason.
"The princess praised your bravery. The scent of the deep sea from your chest, the subtle warmth she felt… even the tyrannical energy buried beneath your calm and composure. She only had praise."
"…Forgive me, but I hardly did anything."
"It’s not about experience or action—something instinctive. The princess has a talent for sensing such things."
So that’s what it was. I nodded.
"Then, what would you have us do?"
"Just give me your hands."
I engraved the sigils onto the backs of their hands. Thankfully, Anaye seemed more than willing to accept them as believers.
Anyone would lose faith watching the holy scripture bounce around like that in excitement.
What surprised me a little was the princess begging to receive the mark as well—and that the other merfolk didn’t stop her.
"Are you sure about this?"
"It is the princess’s will, after all."
"It’s a somewhat dangerous power. Please be especially cautious."
Lightning, used in the sea. Just how vicious a combination was that? A mermaid nearby answered with a warm smile.
"Huh?"
I had just finished engraving the Trace of Anaye onto the princess’s small hand. Then, a radiant light I had never seen before burst out—from me.
▶ You have fulfilled the condition and [Faith Status] → [Faith Communion].
"Has something unusual occurred?"
The merman was the first to speak. He looked worried as he saw me radiating even more light during the princess’s turn.
That worry extended not only to the princess he served, but oddly, also to me.
I shook my head. I brushed it off with a comment about Lady Anaye taking a particular liking to them.
I stood dumbfounded as a new system window appeared. I excused myself briefly and checked the newly changed Faith Communion.
[Faith Communion]
Faith used only by the Apostle of a religion. A person closest to their god doesn’t just possess belief but exercises power through communion with the divine.
Unlock Condition: Personally appoint 5 or more believers.
Value: 855
Abilities
– Faith skill damage +8.55%
– Faith skill cost -8.55%
I shivered. A response born of sheer exhilaration. The Faith Status stat simply boosted the base value of faith-based skills.
If I had a Faith Status of 200, basic divine magic would receive a +200 modifier. But this Faith Communion was on an entirely different level.
It boosted everything by percentage. Fitting, since it was a power exclusive to Apostles. No wonder I hadn’t known about it.
You couldn’t play as an Apostle in the game, so it made sense I didn’t know this. Given how easy the unlock condition was, the high value also made sense.
It must’ve come from offerings. The luxury goods and the fruit of the Great Ash Tree I poured in on day one.
"Um… are you all right?"
The Vice-Commander asked worriedly as I knelt with my forehead to the ground, trembling. I calmed my shaking heart.
I envisioned a rosy future. A future where I reached 100% and could throw Thunder Horn Marks with zero stamina cost—an artful scene filled with beauty.
It was pure bliss. I smiled with childlike joy.
"I’m all right. I never knew evangelism could be this joyful."
Behind me, the Aide who had been watching with concern now wore a moved expression.