The Returnee Wants Peace

This might sound strange, but these people weren’t supposed to be fine.

‘As far as I know, all merpeople except Friel should have turned into demonic beasts.’

Is it different because of Hard Mode?

It was an unexpected situation, but it wasn’t so bad that there were survivors.

However, since the demonic beasts they were facing seemed quite numerous, she decided to help them a bit with magic.

‘First, let’s cast a darkness curtain.’

To use fire, her main attribute, she first had to cast a darkness curtain to prevent light from leaking and drawing attention.

After confirming that a dark blue veil covered the surroundings, Rosha quickly drew up magical power.

Grand Magic – ‘Sea of Not-Hot Fire’.

A white sphere that rose in her palm like a small sun slowly moved towards the battlefield.

The demonic beasts that noticed the sphere’s existence extended their long nails to block it.

But that would only hasten the moment the grand magic unfolded.

Swish-

The shell of the sphere peeled off cleanly.

And from inside, flames containing red and blue light began to spread widely in the water.

A wave of fire that gently rippled and selectively devoured only the demonic beasts.

The veil of flames, unbound by attributes, turned the enemies into white ash and soon subsided.

—This is…

Friel, who witnessed the elegant form of the grand magic, let out a soft exclamation as if something came to mind.

But that was only for a moment.

—Is everyone alright? You’re okay, right?

She rushed like an arrow to the three merpeople sprawled out after the battle ended. Even in this situation, she didn’t forget to drag Rosha along.

—We’re fine. Just scratched in a few places, nothing seriously injured.

—By the way, where did you go, Friel? It’s fortunate you came back in time.

—Was it the human you brought who just used magic? Though I’ve definitely never seen her before… she feels strangely familiar.

They expressed gratitude but tilted their heads as if feeling some sense of déjà vu.

But that was all, they soon asked where Cassis and his group were.

—I didn’t meet him. Instead, I met another human who came down from land, who seems to be of Cassis’s bloodline.

—Hmm… if you say so, it must be true. We haven’t been out of the palace for long.

They soon lost interest in Rosha.

Seeing that they didn’t recognize her, it seemed only Friel remembered the events from Normal Mode.

‘Is that why she stuck seaweed in her hair as a so-called disguise?’

Suddenly, she recalled a big battle they had fought when discovered by demonic beasts while moving in Normal Mode.

Rosha quietly watched Friel having an emotional reunion with her siblings.

Watching the seaweed-like things fluttering mixed with the merpeople’s hair, she started to get confused about whether that was really effective.

It was then.

—Ah, that’s right!

As if something came to mind, Friel suddenly grabbed Rosha’s hand and headed somewhere.

The place she headed was a black rock right next to the palace.

Seeing small air bubbles constantly rising, it was easy to tell what it was.

‘A breath bubble rock.’

A breath bubble rock referred to a flat black stone that generates air bubbles, usually found in deep waters.

If you stand on that stone, air bubbles attach to your whole body, creating a breath bubble that allows you to breathe for a certain time.

The feeling is similar to being outside water, and if you’re in physical contact with someone who has a breath bubble, you can even talk to each other.

At first, it was so surprising that she was curious about the principle, but now, after time had passed, she didn’t feel much excitement.

—Humans using a breath bubble rock for the first time are usually very amazed, but you don’t seem surprised?

Friel sent a dubious look.

Regardless, Rosha cleared her throat a few times and asked what she had been curious about.

“They seem to be your siblings, but how did they survive in this situation?”

—Ah…

Friel, who slowly looked towards where her kin were, had a face that was proud but also suddenly filled with guilt.

Glimpsing that momentary expression, an inexplicable uneasiness crept up Rosha’s entire body.

—I told you I saw this situation in advance in my dream, right? The city crumbling, consumed by magical power, and the transformed merpeople… and the black orb.

“…Did you touch the orb?”

—Yes, when I touched it, the transformation of the merpeople stopped. But instead…

The story was that the water dragon woke up.

‘So that’s why the water dragon started rampaging.’

Now that she thought about it, the ‘Incineration Proposal’ quest seemed to have appeared urgently to prevent Friel from touching the orb.

Recalling its content made her blood run cold.

The purpose of the ‘Incineration Proposal’ quest was ultimately to incinerate Friel.

“…In this situation, we need to enter the palace.”

—What? But the palace is dangerous.

“Still, we can’t leave the water dragon like that. My precious people are outside the lake.”

Friel said she had only touched the orb, not broken it. When the water dragon woke up, she was too busy fleeing in surprise.

Unfortunately, the orb was something like the water dragon’s Yeouiju*, possessing a ‘power of protection’. (tl/n: a wish-fulfilling jewel resembling a pearl)

As long as the orb was intact, not even the slightest damage could be inflicted on the water dragon.

‘There’s also the operation with Hajin, and I don’t know the situation above, so I need to hurry.’

The faces of people she knew flashed quickly through her mind.

Friel and the merpeople who were trying to dissuade Rosha ultimately failed to stop her.

Grabbing Rosha who had come right up to the palace, Friel sighed softly and then said:

—Then I’ll go with you. The palace is very complicated, and it’s easy to get lost if it’s your first time. And… it’s much faster to enter that way.

Friel guided her to a side door that went around the palace.

It was a route they could enter because they knew the location of the orb.

Incorrect approach. Please enter through the proper entrance!

Rosha lightly ignored the blue window’s warning and stepped inside.

Being already in Hard Mode with Despair difficulty, they had to use all methods available on their side.

As they entered the palace corridor, another blue window appeared as if it had been waiting.

You are approaching the water dragon’s hideout. The water dragon has noticed your presence and is pursuing you!

…Right, I thought things were going a bit too smoothly!

* * *

Meanwhile, in the air outside the lake.

Crack- Crackle-!

The space crumpled with an ominous sound.

Even the water dragon couldn’t easily withstand such powerful force that could instantly scatter even clouds, and moved away.

The space where the water dragon had been soon crumpled miserably.

“You dodge well.”

Froy muttered softly as he opened his clenched fist.

His purple eyes glowed blue with an inner light.

In fact, he had been half out of his mind since Rosha disappeared below the surface.

‘The location of the ring…’

He could feel the platinum ring on Rosha’s finger going lower and farther away.

He couldn’t dare guess what this meant.

What state was she in now?

Was she swimming through the underwater city of her own will? Or was she drifting with the currents, unconscious?

It could also be that the ring had simply fallen off from the impact and was sinking deep into the lake.

Or… maybe…

“…”

Even just to confirm the truth, he had to quickly defeat the water dragon and go down below the lake.

However, strangely, attacks didn’t work on the water dragon.

This was why Froy was now crumpling the surrounding space instead of directly attacking it.

“Aaargh!”

People were swept away by a single blind swipe of the water dragon’s tail.

He had ordered a retreat for those who couldn’t take care of themselves, but there was too little time.

At that moment, Koko, who had fluttered onto his shoulder, softly began:

“Attacks don’t work on that water snake because its orb hasn’t been broken.”

“Orb?”

“That’s right. It’s like a source of power, but it probably has the power of protection imbued in it. Geez, I don’t know why dragons like orbs so much.”

“Where is this orb?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. It’s probably hidden somewhere near its home.”

This meant they had to enter the lake after all.

But how could they dive with the water dragon that moved freely underwater and was immune to attacks?

It was nearly impossible.

“If the Duke can hold it here, I’ll go in and check.”

Even though it was nearly impossible, Cassis suggested this while attaching several oxygen tanks to his waist.

His expression was as hard as rock, unable to know his sister’s life or death.

This was the best role division possible, so just as he was about to nod slightly, at that moment.

—Eek, who on earth!

The water dragon, which had been staring at the lake and shaking its body, suddenly plunged below the surface.

Though the water was very clear, its form quickly blurred, suggesting it had gone deep quickly.

“…I don’t know what it is, but let’s follow.”

That was the plan anyway.

Confirming Cassis and some infiltration team members diving in right away, Froy took a deep breath and stepped forward.