Chapter 145

“Here, drink this first and calm yourself down.”

In the office of the lord of Ophen City, Turan seated Armania across from him and placed several cups of flower petal tea in front.

Perhaps because it was a port city, it wasn’t the usual tasteless stone herb tea typical of the Gray Zone, but something else entirely.

"This is from our region. Judging by the sour taste, it must be steeped silk lotus."

Solif made that comment as he savored the tea.

As was natural, the lord of Ophen, who had served the tea, had been sent far away.

Whatever Armania might say, it couldn't be spread without censorship.

There was a small incident in which Armania, unfamiliar with tea etiquette, drank the whole cup in one gulp, but regardless, the moment allowed them a bit of calm.

During this time, Turan, prompted by a sudden thought, opened his spiritual sight to look at Armania.

‘Oh.......’

When they last met, Turan had not yet mastered Soul Magic and hadn’t noticed, but Armania’s spiritual body was not ordinary.

Just like humans, his soul was located deep between the brows, and a small Great Sea Serpent was coiled around it.

And the moment that creature made eye contact with Turan, Armania suddenly flinched and turned his gaze toward him.

“What?”

“Uh, something... felt weird. Like something strange was staring at me.”

“And now?”

“It’s gone!”

Only after Turan closed his spiritual vision did Armania nod, saying the discomfort had disappeared.

‘Can he instinctively sense when his soul is being observed? That’s quite a interesting skill.’

Anyway, not just Turan, but most who trained in Soul Magic did not usually awaken their Spiritual Perception.

Seeing wandering souls or hearing their fleeting whispers would seem like a kind of mental illness to ordinary people.

“Well then, shall we continue what we were talking about earlier? Can you explain it in more detail? A war with humans?”

“Father said that the devils to the west possess a treasure that can control us. For many years, we suffered humiliation under its power, and now it’s time for revenge, he said. I think the name was…”

As Armania spoke, something immediately came to Turan’s mind.

The Blue Coral Crown.

Back when Turan had infiltrated the Carmine House in disguise, he had heard that such an item existed which could control mermaids.

"Could it be the Blue Coral Crown?"

“Yes, that was the name!”

While Armania shouted with joy, Turan spun his teacup with his finger, falling into deep thought.

If what he said was true, the mermaids’ target was clearly Carmine, the Great Noble House of the Sea located to their north.

‘From the sound of it, this doesn’t seem like such a bad situation.’

Truth be told, Turan held no personal grudge against the Carmine House.

Of course, they were also a clan in which fallen gods reigned from above, taking over the bodies of their descendants to prolong their existence… though it was a rather cruel thing to say, they had never harmed anyone connected to Turan.

But considering they had formed some kind of communication network with Zahar to prepare for an attack from Aravion, and also considering that Zahar could potentially become hostile to the House Parsha that Turan led, they had to be seen as a potential enemy as well.

In that sense, the Great Sea Serpents’ declaration of attack was actually favorable.

“So, you opposed it?”

“That’s right! They weren’t just going to steal the treasure, they said they would crush the devil’ palace and kill all their slaves too!”

"My, that would be unacceptable."

Waging war against the wizards of Carmine could be considered justified retribution for years of oppression, but...

What fault did the ordinary people living in that land have?

Slaughtering sheep because one was beaten by the shepherd was nothing more than petty revenge.

“And then, when I asked what would happen later to the kind devils, like you and your friends, he said we wouldn’t be able to get along with them either. He said we would end up fighting someday anyway.”

“Why?”

"The sea beasts that were sent before, it was actually Father who did it. He said he had given the order before losing consciousness. He said that if you found out, you’d never forgive us...”

“So it was him after all.”

The moment Turan heard that, the scales within his heart tilted clearly to one side.

Among the Great Sea Serpent clan, those who sided with the chief, Armania’s relative, would eventually meet their end at Turan’s hand.

“So, you opposed it?”

“I don’t want to fight the kind devils, meaning you, Turan! It feels wrong in my heart, and I’m scared too.”

Now that Armania could transform into a Great Sea Serpent, he was no longer the powerless mermaid boy he once was.

Compared to when Turan last saw him, a greater and stronger power swirled within that small body.

Presumably, if he fought intelligently while diving in the middle of the sea, even Turan would have a hard time hunting him down.

Of course, if he fled recklessly into the sea, catching him would be nearly impossible.

But despite having such power, the fact that Armania still harbored vague fear toward Turan was probably because of the lasting impression from their first meeting.

Back then, Armania had been a helpless mermaid boy who could be caught by passing pirates, while Turan had already possessed considerable strength as a mid-ranking noble.

“Don’t worry about what your father said. You’re not responsible for it.”

"You don't blame me?"

"Absolutely not."

At Turan’s words, Armania’s face brightened with joy.

Truly, his thoughts and emotions were so transparent on his face that there was no need to read them through scent.

Though that would have been impossible anyway, since he was a mermaid.

At that moment, Solif, who had been quietly listening from the side, spoke with a baffled expression.

“So, because you opposed fighting us or other humans, everyone tried to kill you?”

“That’s right. Father and Mother, my brothers and sisters, they were all sad... but a bad child who doesn’t listen to the king must die.”

Armania scratched his shoulder with a dejected expression.

It reminded Turan of the large fang wound that had pierced that spot before it was treated.

Considering the once-harmonious image of the mermaid royal family, it was almost impossible to imagine such a thing.

Back then, they had seemed closer and kinder to one another than most human siblings.

But Turan had not forgotten that they also had cruel customs.

When a new mermaid king ascended the throne, they would purge all the siblings of their generation.

In a sense, they felt like beings who completely separated logic from emotion.

One might say they lived by the principle of “what must be done, must be done.”

“Anyway, you made it out alive somehow. It couldn’t have been easy to shake off the pursuit.”

Back then, how many of Armania’s kin had survived? Maybe about ten?

All of them had turned into Great Sea Serpents and chased this boy, so the fact he survived was truly praiseworthy.

“You didn’t happen to lead a tail here, did you?”

“Absolutely not. I doubt they’ll be able to come to the North Sea anytime soon!”

They can’t come to the North Sea?

Just listening to the story, it sounded as if the Great Sea Serpent clan was staying in the South Sea.

Perhaps sensing Turan’s confused expression, Armania began explaining awkwardly.

“Well, the truth is, surviving this time was just good luck.”

A few days ago, Armania had been guarding the stronghold when he was notified by his fully recovered kin of the declaration of war against the humans.

He resisted, but with not only the king but also the main royal family members supporting the war, he quickly became cornered.

Naturally, during the clash between about ten Great Sea Serpents, the stronghold was practically reduced to ruins.

While desperately fleeing to avoid his family, Armania crossed the mirror.

“You mean the one that connects the North Sea and the South Sea?”

“We call that object the Jade Mirror.”

The treasure of the mermaids, the Jade Mirror, had a horizontal diameter of over twenty meters, making it almost comparable to a building in size.

Even the Great Sea Serpent, whose body was relatively slim, could pass through it.

This gave Armania an idea for a strategy.

First, he crossed from the South Sea to the North Sea via the Jade Mirror, then took time to recuperate as much as he could. When his family came through the mirror after him, he dismantled it and crossed back in the opposite direction.

Hearing this, Solif’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“No way, that’s actually possible!?”

“The ownership, dismantling, and installation of the Jade Mirror are powers permitted only to members of the Great Sea Serpent clan. That’s why the mirror was originally located near our stronghold.”

The Jade Mirror was typically installed in different locations to create a portal anyone could pass through, but when reduced in size and personally owned, it allowed the user to instantly teleport to the opposite mirror.

Of course, since nothing would remain at the original location, there would be no way to return.

Therefore, now that Armania had fled with the mirror, he said his relatives were probably still trying to find a way from the South Sea to the North Sea.

The South Sea and North Sea were blocked by land, and if they moved unguarded across the surface, they might face attacks from powerful wizard families like Zahar.

“Here, this is it.”

Saying so, Armania pulled an object out from inside his robe.

Two mirrors, which had been hidden beneath the energy radiating from his body just moments ago, sparkled as they emitted a vivid presence.

*

Armania’s request was simple.

He would help them use the mermaids’ treasure, the Jade Mirror, if Turan would protect him from both his Great Sea Serpent relatives and the threats on land.

For Turan, there was absolutely no reason to refuse the offer.

With just the existence of the Jade Mirror, his range of strategic choices would increase enormously, there was no need to even explain it.

Even though Meisa was the most powerful Enchanter to exist since the fall of the gods, even she had never managed to create a magical artifact that could cross space.

“No, seriously... this is unbelievable. What kind of god left behind this sacred relic?”

“Sacred relics are what you devils left behind, right? If so, then this Jade Mirror isn’t a sacred relic.”

Armania replied to the awestruck Solif while spinning the mirror in his palm with a flick.

Though one could understand intellectually that a treasure like that wouldn’t break just from being dropped, it was still hard not to feel a pang of nervousness.

“From what Father said, this mirror existed even before the devils came from beyond the world. Some say the Great Sea Serpents made it, others say it was formed by the laws of the world... either way, it’s older than your ancestors.”

Whether that was true or not, no one could say for sure, but the Jade Mirror did feel distinctly different even compared to ordinary sacred relics.

Whereas typical magical artifacts or sacred relics channeled magic power through intricate internal circuits, this one looked more like a blunt lump of magical energy.

-Turan, there’s a fishy smell coming from your back.

While they were conversing, Bije spoke in a curt tone from above his head.

The three of them were flying to Kalamaf on a now-enlarged Bije, and for some reason, Bije seemed to take issue with Armania.

That hadn’t been the case in the past.

‘Is she sensing the power of a fully-grown Great Sea Serpent?’

Even if Turan asked Bije, he probably wouldn’t get a clear answer.

Feelings like that were usually more instinctual, and even the person sensing them often couldn’t explain why they felt that way.

The only fortunate thing was that Armania didn’t hear Bije’s remark.

After flying southwest for a few more hours, they finally arrived back in Kalamaf.

As the barrier set in midair recognized its master and dispersed, they landed safely in the inner courtyard. Not long after, Ashiz, who had been informed in advance, came out to greet them.

“You’re back! So, how did things go in Ophen?”

“More or less okay. Let’s go inside and talk first.”

“By the way, who’s this? I thought it was just you and Solif.”

“He’s with us too.”

Just like in the past, Armania had wrapped a thick cloth around his face to conceal his identity.

Unless one possessed a special sacred relic like Turan did, this alone was sufficient to hide who he was, but if he were to continue living here, they would need to come up with a more convincing method.

Unless they wanted rumors spreading that they were colluding with a non-human race, his identity would have to be kept secret from the outside world.

A short while later, when Armania revealed himself inside the office, Ashiz gasped and dropped his jaw in surprise.

“Eek! A m-mermaid!?”

“Hello, kind devil.”

Was it because he was discouraged by the almost frightened expression looking back at him?

Armania greeted him with a slightly sullen expression.

In response to the calm demeanor, Ashiz looked around briefly at Turan and Solif, then extended his hand.

“Uh, hi... are you Armania, by any chance?”

“You know me?”

“Turan told me about you before.”

Hearing that Turan had talked about him to a friend, Armania’s previously wrinkled face quickly brightened.

Ignoring Bije’s disapproving gaze, Armania began chatting eagerly with Ashiz.

“So that’s how it was...”

“Yeah. Now I’m going to serve under Turan.”

Having quickly adapted to Armania's somewhat awkward speech, Ashiz didn't object and looked at Turan.

It wasn't difficult to guess what he wanted to say.

“Obviously, this stays a secret from the public.”

“Looks like I’ll have to make something in the form of a helmet.”

“Think you can do it? Meisa’s really busy right now.”

“I’m almost done with what I’m working on, so it should be possible.”

At Turan’s request to make a helmet-style magical artifact that Armania could wear comfortably most of the time, Ashiz nodded.

After chatting for a bit more, the topic of conversation shifted to the new strategic treasure they had acquired.

“So, we need to think carefully about how to use this Jade Mirror.”

“Well, we definitely have to use it for the war.”

“If we had more of them, we could have placed one in every city in Kalamaf.”

If that had been the case, they could have responded more proactively to the chaos in Ophen.

No, at that point, the current beacon system being set up would be practically useless.

“Should I ask Meisa if it’s possible to replicate it?”

“Please do.”

Even if they could make a slightly degraded version, its strategic value would be tremendous.

Of course, the mirror itself already held considerable value.

After that, they spent a few hours lounging in the break room, talking about recent events.

Then Meisa, worn out from making magical artifacts, came out of the workshop with a tired face and cried out in shock.

“What- why are you here!?”

A natural reaction from someone suddenly seeing a mermaid boy who was supposed to be somewhere in the North Sea.

But only for a moment, once she had heard the whole story, she let out a quiet groan and hugged Armania tightly.

Unaccustomed to such contact, the mermaid boy stammered in surprise.

"Uh, wait......"

“You’ve had a really rough time, haven’t you?”

Turan could tell that Meisa was seeing herself in Armania, someone rejected by their own kin.

After all, she had also been cast out by her bloodline, House Aravion.

Though startled by the sudden hug at first, Armania soon buried his face in Meisa’s arms and began sobbing with hiccups.

It became clear that even mermaid, who at times seemed as emotionless as insects, had tears.

The psyche of another race was hard to grasp, sometimes too alien, and at other times, strangely too human.

A few minutes later, Armania, whose eyes had turned violet from crying, pulled away from Meisa with an embarrassed expression.

“You can cry more if you want.”

"I wasn't crying!"

The mermaid boy snapped in anger at Turan’s teasing remark, then quickly curled up in a corner of the break room.

Everyone laughed and patted him on the shoulder in comfort, then settled into comfortable positions and began their discussion.

“First of all, as you all know, we’ve gained another enemy. Fortunately, their top priority isn’t us.”

“You mean the Great Sea Serpent clan.”

Fortunately, according to Armania, their primary target was none other than House Carmine.

As long as they concealed the fact that Armania had taken refuge here, a direct clash with House Parsha would be relatively later.

There was even a chance that they could be suppressed by House Carmine alone.

Their power to freely manipulate water and ice would be useful against the Great Sea Serpents, and they too had fallen gods among them.

“Ashiz is going to make the item for Armania’s disguise... and Meisa, what about the thing you were working on?”

“About three weeks left. And once I finish it, I probably won’t be able to use much strength for about a month.”

“Right on schedule. Let’s see... Lavitas’ army should’ve started moving by now...”

Even aboard the magical artifact battleships said to have been made long ago by Enchanters under their command, traveling through the South Sea to reach the territory of Varaha would take at least a month or two.

So by the time Lavitas properly arrived at Varaha, Meisa would likely be ready to fight again.

“The original plan was to send Solif alone right before they arrived. Sending an army would reduce mobility, and if Meisa or I moved, it could expose vulnerabilities in Aravion.”

“That’s right.”

As Turan brought up the topic, everyone stared at the two green mirrors placed in the center of the lounge.

Everyone already knew how remarkable these treasures were, having heard about them just moments ago.

“But if we have that, the story changes.”

If they gave one mirror to Armania and sent him east just as Lavitas’ forces launched an invasion of Varaha?

Then House Parsha could project its full power to that distant eastern land without losing any time at all.

It would be an unprecedented invasion strategy so bold that no great noble house in the world would dare to attempt it.

*****