Chapter 307 - The Merfolk
I managed to catch a few fish to grill for the night in the game when I heard a ruckus inside the hut. I hear the voice of Lucia and Atlas talking. I was about to enter the hut when Lina went out of the doorway, maybe she was about to look for me.
"Oh, Master! I was just about to look for you. The two merfolk already regained their consciousness!"
"They already did? How are they?"
"It's better if you check them out personally, Master."
Entering the hut with Lina, I can hear the splashing of water in the room where Atlas and Lina placed the bathtub. I saw Tina in the doorway currently watching what was happening inside.
"Looks like you are just in time. The two merfolk has already awakened from their slumber. Though I think they are currently unstable," Tina shrugged and make way from the doorway.
Though I don't understand what she meant, I decided to look and see what she meant.
Inside the room, I saw Lucia and Atlas looking a bit helpless.
"Ah, Master. Thank goodness you are back," Atlas said wiping his nonexistent sweat.
"What is going on? Why are you guys looking so worn out?"
"Looks like we needed your conversation skills to get through these guys. They are pretty stubborn."
Although I don't understand what they are trying to say, I noticed that the merfolk inside the bathtub is just submerged underwater, looking at us. The moment I peered in, the two were too shocked they were forced to head up to the water.
"AAAAAHHHHH!" the two screamed.
"Bruh..." I didn't expect them to react like that. Maybe due to my Wolf Mask? Yeah, perhaps it is the reason since Merfolks do not see creatures like the wolves in the sea. Unless one drifts in the sea or they go to the land, that's pretty impossible for them to meet one.
"What is happening?! Did we die? How come we are seeing different creatures here and there? Oh no, I know I am prepared to die but not this way!" the merman is getting hysterical.
"I know you are scared but please calm down, I know they are scary but perhaps they aren't that bad? They don't seem to be attacking us."
Ah, no wonder they are conscious. Atlas is not a human and based on his armor, he looks like walking armor filled with dark energy. Lucia looks like a human so she would be supposedly lumped together with Lina's while Tina is an insect person. As for me, it seems they have mistaken me as a beast since I wear a Wolf Mask. That may be one of the main reasons.
"Uh... don't worry about anything. We won't hurt you and we just saved you from being frozen. You guys are safe now."
"Huh? You saved us from being frozen?! Did you know what you just did?!" the mermaid who was trying to calm down the merman lean on the bathtub with an angry face.
"Uh...No?"
"You guys don't know what you just unleashed! Why have you broken the seal! The monster of the ice hell would escape from its chamber now that we are gone from the seal now! It will destroy the kingdom!"
"Monster of Ice Hell?" Lucia frowned.
"Ah, you mean that huge octopus?" Tina quickly points out before I can say anything.
"Yeah! Yeah, that thing! If the seal is gone, that means we are all doomed now! The seas will now be in danger without the seal!" the mermaid exclaimed.
"Uh...sis. How did they know it was an octopus? I am pretty sure no one survives to tell the tale of what the Monster From Ice Hell looks like. They are immediately eaten if they see it. Unless they are the same as us who is the seal of the monster!"
"If you guys are talking about the octopus, it's already dead. We retrieved you two after the ice melts after the death of the Ice Devilfish. There is no need for you two to panic over a dead monster. Unless they rise back up from the dead, they won't be coming back to haunt you guys."
"Huh? Isn't it immortal? Don't you guys dare to lie to us! We know more about the monster from Ice hell compared to guys like you who just show up! That thing is immortal!"
I shook my head and decided to show them proof. I have the drop from the Ice Devilfish that is also a quest item. Perhaps it has something to do with the treasure of the sea god.
"Here, see if you can say that thing is immortal. It's a poor excuse to call that thing immortal when it was already dead."
Tossing the item to them, the mermaid catches it before inspecting the item. She was furrowing her brows at first but it soon turns to surprise after inspecting the thing for a while.
"Where did you get this thing?!" the mermaid asked.
"I told you right? That thing came as proof that the monster of Ice hell is already dead. The Ice Devilfish fragment won't be extracted the main source for this thing is still alive. And if you guys are sealing this thing, that means this monster is the only one existing in this world. I doubt you will see any replicas on this thing since it still didn't exist in the world as a material."
"Sis, I think the beast guy is saying the truth. He doesn't give out the vibe of lying."
"Does that mean...the kingdom will no longer be threatened by the monster of Ice hell? They will no longer feel the danger of the monster anymore?!" the mermaid is excited.
"Yeah! That means we no longer needed to be sealed anymore!"
"Alright, we will leave you guys here for now. Although you two have already been out from the ice, you guys needed to recuperate. You guys can just shout to us if you needed some sort of help."
"Are you guys leaving?" The merman asked.
"No, we will be camping here for a night since we have been exhausted after slaying the monster. You guys can also eat dinner with us."
"Ah, now that you mention it, I am kinda hungry..." the merman rubbed his belly.
"It's been a while since we last eat, it's understandable," the mermaid smiled awkwardly.
"Are you guys fine eating fish? I can prepare other things if fishes are not part of your diet."
"Ah, you don't need to worry about us about fishes. We eat fish too and we don't have the capacity to talk to fishes so we only saw some fishes as food," the mermaid explained.
"That's good to know then. Well, just say something if you need anything done. Just go and rest for now and recover your lost energy from being frozen for too long."
"We appreciate that. Also, I am sorry for shouting earlier and for being spooked by all of you. We didn't know where we are and our minds are confused about what is happening since we are inside the seal the whole time so being outside for a change seems suspicious and a bit confusing for us," the mermaid apologized.
"No worries. Alright, we won't be disturbing you guys. Come on, let's let them rest for now."
Everyone nodded and we left the room, leaving the two alone to recuperate. As much as I want to ask them questions, we can't force them to tell us what happened. Perhaps later once they have already managed to rest up.
...
...
"I can't believe it. The monster that almost destroyed our kingdom has been defeated. Anyone who knows about the wrath and danger the monster of ice hell possesses won't believe the monster has been killed already. No one has been able to kill it and many adventurers and explorers have gone missing after trying to kill it," the mermaid stares at her reflection on the water.
"Perhaps they are legendary adventurers looking around the world and defeating monsters on their way? I heard a legend of traveling mercenaries looking for challenges like unkillable monsters to find something that will fill their thirst for a fight since normal monsters no longer satisfy their needs for combat skills," the young merman is imagining the legendary adventurers he keeps on hearing in the legends.
"Although that is a possibility, we still don't know their main motive for saving us. I mean we are merfolk. Since we are rare, perhaps they are planning to sell us somewhere once our guard is down?"
"Trust me on this one Sis. These guys are trustworthy. I already used my ability on them and they aren't troublesome people and they don't mean any harm at all."
"Then, do you know how long have we been frozen?"
"..." the young merman sighed and looked down as he think for a bit.
"I am prepared if things have already progressed too much past our real timeline. We have been frozen for too long.. We need to adapt to our surroundings soon."