The party walked down the palace corridor, surrounded by mermaid warriors.
[The exterior was one thing, but the interior is even more fascinating.]
[Does it feel different from the city of the mermaids living in the Southern Sea?]
[Yeah. Honestly, the interior there isn't much different from ours, but... here it feels a bit more antique?]
Tesila, mindful of their surroundings, chose her words carefully.
Because in reality, the inside of the palace felt more dilapidated than antique.
But above all, the pitch-black corridor amplified that feeling even further.
'Can they not even afford to light a fire?'
It felt like walking down a school hallway at dawn before anyone had arrived.
Upon arriving at the audience chamber, the mermaid warrior knocked lightly on the door.
[Please enter.]
As the party entered one by one, the monarch sitting in a massive clam looked down at them.
Just because she was the king didn't mean she was any larger than the other mermaids.
Rather, she had a much more petite physique than the mermaid warriors who were still keeping a wary eye on them.
'Is that person the king of the mermaids?'
Draped in an antique jade robe, most of her lower half was also covered.
Staring at the party with yellow eyes shining like amber, she opened her small lips.
[Strangers from the land. I am Sano Seria, the King of Atlanta.]
[We greet the ruler of Atlanta.]
As Tesila gave a slight nod of greeting, the rest of the party followed suit and bowed their heads.
Observing their reaction, King Sano spoke.
[Could you first reveal your identities?]
At the unexpectedly polite request, Tesila answered as their representative.
[I am Tesila Windroar, a Special-grade adventurer of the Empire, and these are my companions.]
[Adventurers... Why have such people come here?]
[We came at the request of the Imperial Family to investigate the mermaids attacking ships from Pillap, a nearby coastal city. From what I've heard, it seems the Kingdom calls them specters.]
At the word "specters," King Sano's expression darkened slightly.
She then nodded slowly.
[I see, it seems they have now begun to inflict harm upon humans as well.]
[That's right. So regarding that, could we perhaps ask what exactly they are?]
To the naked eye, it was obvious they were mermaids.
However, it was palpable that even their fellow mermaids disapproved of them.
King Sano did not answer immediately.
Looking outside the audience chamber with bitter eyes, she only opened her mouth after a long time.
[About 870 years ago from today, the Demon King Belpher appeared in the Blue Sea. The aura he exuded quickly encroached upon the ocean. The blue waters turned black, and changes also began to occur in the marine life.]
Even mermaids were no exception.
Of course, at first, it was only to the extent of black spots appearing on their skin and scales.
But as the corruption progressed, they lost their reason, and eventually became monsters that moved even if their heads were cut off and their hearts burst.
[The one ruling the kingdom at the time was my father. To prevent the corrupted creatures and seawater from entering the kingdom, he decided to personally go out into the sea, purge them, and 'seal' the entire kingdom.]
[By seal, you mean...?]
[It will be easier to understand as a magical measure that isolates the entire kingdom from the outside.]
For instance, an operation to blockade all entrances and exits connected to the kingdom.
It was a task that someone absolutely had to go outside the kingdom to do.
[Before departing for battle, my father promised a young me. That he would definitely return.]
A faint smile played on King Sano's lips.
[The army my father led successfully annihilated the corrupted creatures and succeeded in perfectly sealing the kingdom. The waterways leading to the kingdom were severed, all entrances were barricaded, and thanks to that, the kingdom was able to be liberated from Demon King Belpher's corruption.]
However, those who had actually gone outside never returned.
According to the original plan, they should have returned after the sealing, right before the spell formula was completed.
[......We believed they died in battle after completing their mission on the outside, and we have lived that way for over 800 years.]
Tesila spoke cautiously.
[But they returned.]
[Yes. Not long ago, the aura of Demon King Belpher that had blanketed the sea completely vanished.]
Oscar closed his eyes.
That point in time must have been the moment he completely obliterated Belpher and reclaimed the blackened Blue Sea.
[And not long after, my father appeared in front of the kingdom's main gate. Leading the soldiers and generals who had gone to battle with him back then.]
[......Don't tell me.]
[My father does not say a word. He merely gazes at the kingdom from in front of the main gate. The soldiers try to open the doors, ramming their bodies against them when they won't open, and roam around the entire kingdom looking for a gap, wondering if there are any other entrances.]
The party fell silent.
Because it was hard to fathom the feeling of a father, who she thought had died an honorable death, returning as a specter.
[Still, I suppose he kept his promise to definitely return.]
Priest Eddy murmured in a sorrowful voice.
[A promise, you say.]
King Sano let out a weak chuckle.
Because that promise had been kept in the worst possible form.
[You're right. But right now, I cannot help but resent that promise endlessly.]
A heavy silence descended upon the audience chamber.
After a moment, Tristan asked.
[By any chance, do they antagonize you all too... I mean, their fellow mermaids?]
[The reason my father decided on the sealing in the first place was because the corrupted mermaids attacked their own kin. He isolated us from the outside because he knew the kingdom would fall if everyone went mad.]
[Hmm. You probably never expected that period to last for over 800 years.]
[That is correct. As more time passed than anticipated, the kingdom's defensive magic has already reached its limit. As mana and oxygen grew scarce, the farms stopped running as well, and thanks to that, our food supply is also hitting rock bottom.]
King Sano looked at Tesila.
[I heard that you all destroyed the emergency exit, is that true?]
[T-That's...]
[I am not saying this to reprimand you. However, if you are beings with that level of power, I only hope you would please lend us some strength.]
[By lending strength, do you mean...?]
[We do not have much time left now. It has already been 400 years since we prohibited spawning, and if time simply passes like this, the only thing waiting for us is natural extinction.]
They had already waited hundreds of years, but only one thing had become certain.
[No matter how much time passes, they do not die or disappear.]
Dying and disappearing is merely a right reserved only for the living.
Therefore, a decision had to be made now.
King Sano said, clenching her two fists tightly.
[Please, subjugate the specters together with us.]
[What does everyone think?]
After the conversation with King Sano ended.
The party discussed it after being guided to the accommodations prepared for them to give them time to think.
[For now, even if we return like this, I don't think there will be an issue in reporting the details of what happened, but...]
[You seem to find it a bit regrettable.]
[Yeah, to be honest, a little? If we join forces with them, it will be easier than doing it by ourselves. Plus, they said they'd give us a reward, right? They'll probably give us a hefty one.]
[Hmm. Would a kingdom on the verge of ruin be able to provide such a reward?]
[Idiot, it's just that there's no oxygen, mana, and food here. There must be plenty of things like jewels.]
At those words, everyone nodded in agreement.
Since deep-sea jewels were luxury goods that traded at high prices even in the Empire.
[Above all...]
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Tesila muttered, smacking her lips.
[If we say we can't do it and leave, and later find out that all the mermaids here died, I feel like it'd leave a rather bitter taste in our mouths. We might even see them wandering around as specters.]
[That... would definitely be an unpleasant feeling. But it's too dangerous.]
Tristan said, looking around.
[Let's go by majority vote as usual. For starters, I'm against it.]
[Me too. Sis, this task is too dangerous. Since we've already accomplished our goal in the first place.]
Tristan and Maureen raised their hands for the opposing vote.
On the other hand, Tesila and Eddy actively supported this request.
[But they're pitiful. Besides, did you see the level of those corrupted mermaids earlier? I think it'd be over in no time if I just go bang bang and shoot a few times. It's not even a difficult job.]
[God said we must not hesitate to extend a helping hand to those in need.]
Oscar looked at Mary Jane.
[What are your thoughts, Miss Mary?]
Having a face that made it entirely impossible to know what she was thinking, she instead looked right back at him.
[You decide.]
[......Me? I'm an outside mercenary.]
Was she worrying that he would get swept along if the decision was made solely on the adventure party members' opinions?
[If you're out anyway, the loss to the party's combat power is huge. If you say you're out, I'm opposed too.]
Ah, so it was that.
Surprisingly realistic.
Oscar pondered for a moment, absorbing the gazes focused on him.
'Both sides definitely have a point.'
It was true that it was dangerous, and it was also true that it was a shame to end it like this.
However, if he had to choose the side he was drawn to among their respective opinions...
Oscar looked at Tesila.
[I feel like it would put me in a really foul mood if things like that even appeared in my dreams.]
[Which means?]
[I'm in favor. It's not like we lack firepower in the first place, and we wouldn't be fighting all by ourselves either, so our odds of winning seem sufficient.]
Just like Tesila said, even that guy called the former king would fall if they fired a few shots of that Mana Penetration Cannon or whatever it was.
The party sought out King Sano the next day to convey their intent.
[A-Are you serious?]
[Yes. We're sorry about breaking the emergency exit too... and I'm not just a regular adventurer, I'm a Special-grade adventurer. Plus, I have a few mermaid friends in the Southern Sea, and thinking of those guys makes it a bit hard to just look away...]
The moment her complexion brightened at Tesila's answer.
Vwooom—! Vwooom—!
A low and long alarm sounded throughout the entire Kingdom of Atlanta.
Outside the window, mermaids hurriedly rushed out from all the buildings, regardless of floors, walls, and ceilings.
At the same time, warriors burst into the audience chamber.
[Your Majesty!]
[What on earth is going on?]
[T-The main gate's... the defensive magic circle of the main gate has been destroyed! The specters are swarming in!]
At the news that was like a bolt from the blue, King Sano's face turned completely pale.
[What does that... Why would the main gate, which had held up fine until now, suddenly...?]
[It seems that as the defensive magic protecting the emergency exit was destroyed, a crack formed in the sealing spell itself that was enveloping the entire kingdom.]
The party, listening to the conversation, audibly gulped.
Because if they had refused the request, this place would have felt like sitting on a bed of thorns.
[......Phew.]
King Sano tightly shut her eyes.
What was meant to come had arrived.
Even if the strangers hadn't destroyed the emergency exit, it was something that would have happened eventually anyway.
Slowly opening her eyes, King Sano rose from her seat.
[Relay this to the citizens right now. All those capable of bearing arms are to hold the main gate.]
[We receive your command!]
As the warriors swiftly exited the audience chamber, King Sano looked at Tesila with a grim face.
[Strangers. I will ask you one last time. Will you truly lend us your strength?]
It was a wise question.
Because if they were to run away after the battle had begun, the mermaids' morale would plummet to rock bottom.
Catching onto her underlying intent, Tesila grinned.
[Did you know? Being a Special-grade adventurer means you're basically a walking block of trust. It's a title you can never receive if you betray a client or abandon a comrade even once.]
[......You are an incredible person.]
[Heheh.]
Looking at Tesila, who appeared as bright as could be, King Sano regained a faint smile and spoke.
[Let us go as well.]
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]

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