CHAPTER 249: THE SEA PATH

“You must be Ethan… Whiskers.”

Although Hydroscale usually had strong hostility towards humans, after witnessing that scene, he couldn’t treat Ethan carelessly.

Moreover, Ethan’s reputation, which had spread to this area, couldn’t be ignored.

“Actually, we’ve come from Watopia.”

Hydroscale lowered his guard and began to explain the situation from the beginning.

“Right now, Watopia is in chaos. Originally, Watopia had artifacts and magic to repel monsters, but they’ve all been destroyed. On top of that, strange cracks appeared in Watopia, and monsters began pouring out in large numbers…”

Hydroscale’s expression hardened.

“Because of that incident, our guardian deity of Watopia… was severely injured. That’s why the king dispatched us to the land to request support.”

Hydroscale explained in detail about the incident that occurred in Watopia.

‘So that’s why the Pope went there personally. But is it really serious enough for the Pope to go in person?’

Just from hearing the story, it didn’t seem that serious.

‘There must be something more to it.’

If the Pope had personally intervened, there must be a good reason for it.

It couldn’t just be about cracks appearing and monsters coming out.

‘The reason the guardian deity was injured, and the reason for the cracks appearing.’

There must be a reason why the king of Watopia, who so disliked the land-dwelling humans, sent merfolk to the land.

‘There are always those who get involved in dirty business.’

When problems arise, nine times out of ten, the followers of the Moon are involved.

“We saw you dealing with those monsters earlier. But the ones that come up here are just small fry. Deep inside, it’s really…”

The merfolk’s eyes shook greatly as he conveyed the horrors beneath the surface. If they hadn’t desperately moved their fins, they wouldn’t have made it safely to land.

“It’s alright. You just need to show me the way. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Ethan spoke with confidence.

“I’ll handle everything.”

***

Gurgle-.

Ethan and the merfolk crossed the lake.

Wearing artifacts for underwater breathing and enhanced underwater movement, Ethan cut through the water currents at a speed no less than the merfolk.

‘The price was vicious, but money left over is money earned.’

Such high-grade artifacts were worth their asking price, but it wasn’t much of a burden for Ethan.

After confirming that all the artifacts were functioning normally, Ethan looked at the merfolk swimming ahead.

The sight of the merfolk swimming beautifully was like a painting.

But the merfolk themselves were extremely tense.

One merfolk looked at Hydroscale with an anxious expression, as if to ask if this was right.

Returning to Watopia like this was suicidal. It might be different if they were bringing sufficient reinforcements. But right now, they were only accompanied by a single human. 𝑅ΑŊő𝖇ÊŠ

No matter how extraordinary this man was, he wouldn’t be able to fight properly underwater.

Fighting on land and fighting underwater were completely different domains.

-Lord Hydroscale, no matter how I think about it, this is too dangerous.

-That’s right. I understand that Sir Ethan Whiskers is strong, but isn’t that strength on land? The ones in Watopia are creatures we can’t even think of fighting. I’ve never seen anything like them…

One merfolk shuddered, seemingly recalling the terror of that time.

-We should go back to land now. And come back with more support. It would be good to have mages or priests too.

At the repeated pleas, Hydroscale frowned. Honestly, Hydroscale somewhat sympathized with the merfolk’s words.

No matter how strong a land-dwelling human is, their power becomes useless underwater.

At least among the humans he had seen so far, not a single one could exert 100% of their skills underwater.

Moving underwater is like moving with heavy shackles on your hands and feet.

Hydroscale, having made up his mind, approached Ethan.

He had been pressured by Ethan’s aura to enter the water, but they hadn’t come too far, so he planned to persuade Ethan that it would be better to return to land and come back with proper reinforcements.

Bubble bubble.

However, as he approached Ethan, something began rushing at an incredible speed from the depths.

The merfolk recognized the identity of the monster charging at tremendous speed from below through the water spray and its unique aura.

A monster with a nose as sharp as a spear tip, spewing arrow-like jets of water from its mouth.

-Giant Blue Marine…!

A sudden ambush by Giant Blue Marines.

Moreover, Giant Blue Marines don’t travel alone.

-There seem to be about 50 of them!

-Their eyes are all crazed! These aren’t ordinary Giant Blue Marines!

All their eyes were bright red.

-Why on earth have they become like this…!

-They’re infused with dark energy!

It wasn’t just monsters coming out of the cracks.

Black, poisonous energy spread from the cracks, not only weakening the merfolk but also making all the monsters in the nearby waters violent.

Shaaaa-!

The Giant Blue Marines finally revealed themselves.

They were charging at such a tremendous speed that it seemed they would pierce right through Ethan and the merfolk group.

-Mr. Ethan Whiskers!

As Hydroscale called out to Ethan, he signaled to the merfolk. If they spread out as much as possible, they might be able to avoid that charging attack.

At the same time, Hydroscale tried to grab Ethan. He thought Ethan wouldn’t be able to avoid that attack with his movements, so he intended to help.

-Uh, uhhh…!

But Ethan jumped forward faster than that.

It looked like he was trying to draw his sword as he would on land.

-He’s not taking out his sword!

But what Ethan actually took out wasn’t a sword.

-…A whip?

What Ethan had taken out was a whip.

Ethan, holding the demon whip, collided with the group of Giant Blue Marines.

Whip-! Whip-!

Ethan swung the whip quickly. It was difficult to move with the subtlety of Ethan Swordsmanship underwater. The power of the whip was also reduced, but it didn’t matter.

The Giant Blue Marines, excited by the whiplash, tried to charge at Ethan again.

But Ethan first extended his hand towards the Giant Blue Marines.

“Wait.”

At that, the Giant Blue Marines who were about to charge again stopped in their tracks.

Dozens of Giant Blue Marines began to form ranks in unison, following Ethan’s hand gestures and whip movements.

“That’s right.”

-W-What is this?

-The Giant Blue Marines…

Surprised by the sudden situation, the merfolk froze in place. Even Hydroscale, who had been about to jump in to save Ethan, was standing still.

-W-What’s going on?

When Hydroscale cautiously asked, Ethan showed him by swinging the whip once.

“I tamed them.”

-…Pardon? You tamed the monsters?

Instead of answering, Ethan climbed onto the back of a Giant Blue Marine.

“I have a bit of a knack for this.”

-…

Taming a group of Giant Blue Marines infused with dark energy with just whip movements.

-This is impossible…

Suddenly, a book Hydroscale had read long ago came to mind.

The hero of the sea had all underwater beings at his feet, and all the sea monsters followed that hero.

For some reason, that hero from the book overlapped with Ethan in his mind.

***

After seeing Ethan tame the monsters, the merfolk no longer dared to suggest turning back.

Ethan kept taming all the monsters that appeared, and in the end, he even created a monster army.

“Kyarrrrrrrrrk!”

Of course, Ethan couldn’t tame all the beasts.

He couldn’t tame huge and stupid ones like the Giant Ogre from before.

“Here, special food. Go and tear it apart!”

After the monster army was completed, everything went smoothly.

The monster army dealt with everything blocking the way without the merfolk or Ethan having to step in.

The merfolk truly only served as guides.

Watching this, Hydroscale suddenly became curious about Ethan’s purpose for going to Watopia.

-Mr. Ethan Whiskers, may I ask what your purpose is for seeking our Watopia?

The fact that an incident had occurred in Watopia had already spread through various routes.

But it didn’t seem like Ethan was simply going to resolve Watopia’s incident.

“There’s someone I’m looking for in Watopia.”

-Who might that be?

“The Pope of the Holylight Order.”

-The… Pope?

“You don’t seem to know yet, but His Holiness the Pope has already headed to Watopia. Watopia’s problem will be handled well.”

Hydroscale also knew well how great a person the Pope of the Holylight Order was.

Among humans, an infinitely high person, as noble as the Emperor, was the Pope. To think such a Pope had come to Watopia.

At this good news, the merfolk’s expressions brightened considerably.

If Ethan’s words were true, Watopia’s problem was as good as solved.

Ethan followed behind the merfolk guides, who had become even faster with excitement.

‘Hmm.’

As he traveled along the sea path connected to the ocean, old memories began to resurface.

‘It feels like the senses are coming back little by little.’

The flow of water.

And the sea path that follows that flow.

Following this sea path, Watopia lies at the end.

Ethan waved his hands around, trying to feel that flow even more closely.

Hydroscale was watching Ethan’s actions with surprised eyes.

For a human to feel the flow of water, it surely couldn’t be possible.

Humans generally can’t feel the flow of water. That’s why they always needed merfolk guides to find the sea paths.

The sea paths change moment by moment according to the flow of water.

Water flows continuously. Therefore, the flow is never fixed for even a moment.

Because of this, if you can’t read the constantly changing paths, you’ll instantly lose your way due to various underwater phenomena.

Ethan’s actions clearly looked like he was feeling the flow of water.

“I’d like to take the lead for a bit.”

-Pardon? But to find the way…

“I’ve got a bit of a feel for it.”

Hydroscale was very flustered. But just as when they entered the water, he naturally let Ethan take the lead.

Seeing this, the merfolk looked at Hydroscale’s expression. But they didn’t feel much anxiety.

They had let him take the lead, but they thought it would be difficult for a human to find the sea path.

Ethan had boldly said he’d take the lead, so if he couldn’t find the way, they could naturally take the lead again.

However.

-…

-…

The merfolk’s eyes widened.

And Hydroscale, at the forefront of the merfolk, was also surprised.

-H-How.

Ethan was perfectly reading the flow of water and advancing along the sea path.

“It’s quite fun moving while finding the sea path after so long.”

As if it wasn’t such a surprising thing, he spoke as if it was no big deal.

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