CHAPTER 507: LEVIATHAN

"Can you tell me more about this Leviathan?" Elaina asked Fohl for more info.

Now that the God of Taming had decided to intervene and give Elaina rewards for helping out in slaying the beast, she decided to use this chance to gather information. It might be like she is just doing this for the rewards, but she is INDEED doing this for the rewards. Hard work with good pay is good work after all.

"We don’t have much information to rely on, as the only information we have is just the same information we already knew based on how the monster looked during the sacrificial rites. But according to the reports and observational status that some of the adventurers who are helping me right now, the Leviathan is a gigantic snake that lives underwater. Although one can call it a snake, it has various physical parts that make it look like it is some kind of Eel Variant," Fohl scratches his head.

"Not sea snake variant?" Elaina frowned. If one thinks about serpents in the sea, the first thing one can think of is the Sea Snakes. Eels are similar to snakes, sure, but they aren’t related to snakes; they are related to fish. So if Leviathan is ultimately a giant eel, then instead of a serpent, it should be a fish instead.

"No. Leviathan has fins and various appendages that sea snakes lack. It is more like a very long dragon, except it lives in the water. Although they said it does look like a snake, we can’t even properly say it was one to begin with due to its features that I just mentioned that snakes in the sea never had."

Then, the Goddess of Taming chimed in to Elaina’s head. "[Leviathan is neither a fish nor a snake, Elaina, my dear. It is a primordial being that originated from the beginning of time. You can say it is indeed the closest thing to a god due to how massive it is. But this thing is not one. It is just old enough that one can say it is an ancient beast without even qualifying with the other categories one should be lumping it with.]"

Despite the trivia from the Goddess of Taming, Elaina decided to keep the info for herself. It would be a bit weird to talk with confidence over something when she was asking for information in the first place. Still, she now has an idea of what Leviathan more or less.

"Alright, I think I get the gist of it, but what about dealing with this monster? If you said that this monster is really big, is there anything we can even use to fight it on equal terms? Can we lure it on land and fight it there? Or are we stuck in the water?"

"That is the problem, Miss Elaina. Not too long ago, a few adventurers arrived in the Merfolk Kingdom. They use a magic spell that allows them to travel into the water while encased in a bubble where they can speak. Since I am the representative for the humans and merfolks, I was the one who accepted and talked to them, and their main reason for visiting the place is to investigate the recent movements of some kind of monster in the sea, which was detected by one of the adventurers who acts as their "eyes" and scout. And soon, they mentioned the recent movements of the Leviathan and their inevitable awakening, which would cause big trouble in the future, not just in the sea, but also on the surface."

"Wait, I think I now have an idea of what you want my help with. Are you perhaps asking me to make something that would allow people to breathe underwater or something similar?!"

"I guess you are not just sharp for nothing. Yes. That is the main reason we are asking you for help. One of the adventurers said that they trust you to make the necessary potion along with the others here on the farm to help out the battle as they can’t use their bubble abilities to fight, as that would just cause the bubble to pop and they would lose the chance to breathe underwater."

Elaina was surprised. "What? Someone recommended me?"

"Yes. Someone called Rakkan said it. He was a mature man that is still quite strong despite his age. He even said that if I mention his name, you will understand."

Elaina almost choked hearing this, and now she understands the last time when she was looking for her grandparents and how they had just departed on some sort of expedition during the time they had to deal with the Calamity Summoner. It seems that the expedition was actually their travel to the Merfolk kingdom and their investigation with the Leviathan.

"Is...Mr. Rakkan, someone you know, Miss Elaina?" Fohl asked, seeing Elaina slap her forehead.

"Yes. My Grandpa. Now I see why he and Grandma are gone for a while. They are currently staying in the merfolk kingdom."

"Ah, no wonder they speak with you in confidence. You are their granddaughter! I was not expecting that!"

"Well, it turned out that way, but alright. But I think my grandparents are a bit too overestimating me and everyone about this matter. I know I have a lot of ways to make various stuff and potions that would work... but I never made any potion that allows a person to breathe underwater without items or equipment taken with them."

That’s when Julia chimed in on the conversation. "I got you covered Sis, Master knows a few ingredients that we can probably use to make the underwater breathing potion, considering that my Master did manage to make it. Asking him would be a good start to that."

"I see. Good to know that is the main case. I should ask the Grand Sage about this matter and hope that this recipe is not a pain to make. But how long before I have to deliver this potion, though?" Elaina asked.

"As soon as possible. Preferably, three months from now. Passing to four, and there is a big risk that the Leviathan would awaken and obliterate the Merfolk kingdom in a flash."

"Wow, that’s a tight deadline now that they have given me one. But okay, I think I get the gist of it. I shall try to find and create that potion needed. Is that what they only needed?" Elaina asked in case there is more.

"Yeah. Of course, if you have additional stuff that can help out, that would also be a great boon of help. Every piece of help is necessary," Fohl smiled.

And so, the conversation ended, and the three decided they had to do a family talk. Elaina didn’t want to be a nuisance nor wanted to eavesdrop and left them to settle their family matters. It isn’t part of her business in any way. All she needed to have a problem with was getting the recipe for that underwater breathing potion, get its ingredients, and brewing it.

With the meeting done, Elaina decided to talk with the Goddess of Taming regarding this matter. "So, does my participation count if I only make the potion and make the operation succeed due to it?"

"[Pretty much, though of course, you are welcome to fully join the hunt and kill it while also making the potion. It counts as mission complete if the Leviathan is vanquished thanks to your efforts or thanks to your contribution]."

" So as long as the leviathan is defeated, it doesn’t matter if I just contributed some stuff and didn’t participate in battle; the mission will complete upon the leviathan’s death. Good to know. However, I am wondering why you decided to become the one who decided to hunt this monster? Aren’t you the Goddess of Taming?"

"[Correct, but perhaps you should remember that a few Gods has ascended into High Gods and that includes the God of Farming. Considering you are his blessed one, you should know by now, right? Well, he isn’t the one who ascended. I also ascended and became a High God. But compared to the God of Farming who only receives a bit more benefits and a bit more powers, yet still limited to the farming stuff, I receive something from my Father that allows me to transition from regular taming monsters to also hunting monsters and animals alike. You can say that I am one of the few gods who have two roles.]"

"Does that mean you are now both the Goddess of Taming and the Goddess of Hunting?"

"[Yes and no. I am indeed a new Goddess of Hunting, but the real title still goes to my father, who is the original god of hunting. However, thanks to my ascension to a high god now, I can use both the abilities to hunt and my regular blessings for taming. So there is no need to change what I specialize in. I am still the Goddess of Taming, but just with the powers of a different god.]"