The merfolk were utterly exhausted.
They had collapsed directly onto the scorching ground.
What… What’s going on… Shekina rolled her eyes in confusion, clearly baffled by the unexpected situation.
“Are you all right?!”
Yuriel, who was usually not very talkative, rushed toward them in concern. Dehan followed closely behind, helping Yuriel lift the merfolk. Only Shekina and Lucart stood there, frozen in place.
“Boss.”
Before approaching the merfolk, Shekina had something to confirm with Lucart.
“Boss, do you know why they’re like this?”
“I know.”
Lucart responded calmly.
“They’re showing symptoms of dehydration.”
“Dehydration?!”
Merfolk getting dehydrated…? Is that even possible…?
Shekina was visibly flustered.
After all, merfolk are a species that spend more than half their lives in the sea. It could be said that swimming in the ocean daily is their greatest joy.
How could they suffer from dehydration when just entering the sea should provide ample hydration? Shekina found it hard to comprehend.
“Shouldn’t going into the ocean solve this? Why are they dehydrated?”
At that question, Lucart looked down at Shekina intently.
“Did you not notice?”
“Notice what?”
“The barrier surrounding this island.”
“Oh… Is there something like that?”
Shekina’s genuinely clueless expression made Lucart let out a faint chuckle. Sometimes, Shekina behaved like an omnipotent deity, and at other times, like a naive child. Lucart chuckled softly.
“Why are you looking at me like that? If I could sense such things, I’d be a magician. In case you forgot, let me remind you—I’m a summoner.”
“That’s right. Excuses noted.”
“It’s not an excuse!”
Shekina, fuming, placed her hands on her hips and pouted. Lucart chuckled again and gestured behind him with his thumb.
“There’s a thick barrier encircling this island. No one can enter, and no one can leave.”
“No one can leave?”
Shekina’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why? Merfolk are supposed to be in the sea. Doesn’t having a barrier like this harm them instead?”
“Who knows…”
Lucart rubbed his chin, squinting his eyes.
He glanced at the gasping merfolk, then at Yuriel, who was on the verge of tears as he poured water from a bottle onto a merfolk’s face. Finally, he observed Dehan scanning the surroundings for anything unusual.
Although Yuriel and Dehan, as humans, were doing a decent job assessing the situation, it wasn’t enough to save the merfolk in their current state.
“Whatever the case, it seems things are going better than expected.”
Someone else’s crisis often becomes an opportunity.
Thinking this, Lucart smirked and said,
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
What a fitting response for someone often called an evil overlord—always thinking about how to exploit a situation.
Absolutely marvelous.
Shekina mentally applauded and approached the merfolk.
“Priest Yuriel, are you all right? Are they doing okay?”
“Y-Yes. Thankfully…”
Yuriel stammered, continuing to give water to the merfolk.
Thanks to his efforts, one of the merfolk soon regained consciousness. As soon as the merfolk opened his eyes, he stared at the group in shock.
“W-Who are you?”
The merfolk then shoved Yuriel, who was supporting him, and stumbled backward, kicking up sand with each step.
“How did you get in here? No one should be able to enter!”
Despite having just been unconscious, he seemed remarkably energetic.
The merfolk’s voice rose sharply, and his eyes gleamed with suspicion.
“Invaders…!”
“No, we’re not!”
Shekina quickly interrupted.
“We’re not like that. Just look at us—can’t you tell?”
At Shekina’s words, the merfolk alternated between looking at the group members, his expression growing even more confused.
“…I don’t get it.”
“Ah, I see how that could happen.”
Maybe this merfolk isn’t very bright. Typically, merfolk have an exceptional ability to sense divine power.
Well, if that’s the case, there’s no other choice.
I’ll just have to let them know who they’re worshipping.
“This person here is a priest. Someone with incredible, incredible divine power!”
“A p-priest…”
“Yep! A priest!”
Do you understand now, you fools?
Hurry up and revere us!
Shekina raised her chin proudly, a smug look on her face.
But her expectations were quickly and spectacularly shattered.
“A-a p-priest…!”
The merfolk, who had been stammering in shock, suddenly raised his voice with all his might.
“Intruders! Everyone, stop them!”
…Wait.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
“Was this your so-called plan?”
Before Lucart could even finish his sarcastic remark, dozens of merfolk surrounded the group.
***
Drip, drop.
Water droplets fell rhythmically down the damp walls.
With every breath, a mixture of fishy water and the stench of mold filled their lungs.
The sound of insects scurrying across the floor grew louder and louder.
Yes.
This was a prison.
“This is my first time being locked up in a prison.”
Lucart tapped the iron bars lightly with his fist and remarked,
“Fascinating.”
It was truly impressive how calm he remained in this situation.
Shekina let out a helpless sigh as she looked at the handcuffs tightly secured around her wrists.
“This is so strange… Normally, merfolk adore priests…”
Shekina began nibbling on her nails.
“Why? What’s the problem?”
Her muttering caught the attention of Yuriel, who was sitting curled up in a corner. He suddenly lifted his head.
“C-Could it be… Am I the problem?”
His eyes trembled as he spoke.
“Did I do something wrong…?”
“No, no. That’s not it. You didn’t do anything wrong, so stop feeling guilty.”
“P-Please stop…”
After comforting the overly fragile Yuriel, Shekina approached Lercaites.
“Boss, do you know anything about this?”
“I don’t.”
“Oh, come on, don’t answer so quickly! You must know something!”
“I don’t.”
“Liar.”
“…Liar?”
Shekina ignored Lucart’ incredulous reaction and turned to Dehan.
“The barrier was strange, and it’s even weirder that they arrested us the moment they heard we’re with a priest. Don’t you think so, Dehan?”
“Uh… Ah, yes?”
Dehan, who had been fidgeting with his hands, looked up in surprise. Shekina’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh…”
Dehan scratched the back of his head awkwardly with one hand. One hand… with one hand?!
“Trying to escape.”
“Oh, I see… Wait, what?!”
Shekina quickly stepped in front of Dehan, who had somehow managed to remove his handcuffs.
“Just stay put! Once someone in charge comes, we’ll clear up the misunderstanding. We just need to talk this out!”
“Do you really think talking will work with merfolk?”
Lucart interrupted.
“Those creatures have the intelligence of fish. Talking won’t get through to them.”
“Even fish can learn to understand commands if trained.”
“We don’t have time to explain until they understand.”
As expected, Lucart had already freed himself from the handcuffs. He spread his palm wide open.
A familiar energy gathered in the center of his hand.
Shekina, alarmed, rushed toward Lucart.
“I think it’d be better if you stopped for now!”
“No.”
“Ah, boss!”
BOOM!
The bars of the prison cell they were confined in shattered into pieces. Or rather, shattered might not be the right word—it was more like they were obliterated…
“Hah…”
Shekina pressed her palm against her forehead, lowering her head in exasperation.
“When I’m with you, any kind of plan just completely vanishes.”
“Plans are merely the schemes of the weak.”
Lucart spoke with a strangely proud expression.
“In the face of true strength, nothing matters.”
Yes.
You’re so impressive…
So impressive that I’m at a loss for words…
Shekina felt like crying.
