Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED: 

“Kkagak- Kkakak-!”

The shield lobsters and fishmen were gradually closing in.

While there was a considerable distance from the Kraken, no matter how fast Sea Bream swam, he couldn’t avoid the tentacles of the waiting Kraken. In a virtually complete encirclement situation, Sea Bream was prepared for death.

“Hakikit! The last mermaid! With the death of the last mermaid, we’ll make all the fishmen submit to the death of the last mermaid!”

Hakiiiiit——– Hakyuuuu

“Come on, impurities! You bastards— hmmm?”

As the fishmen roared in unison, preparing to charge, Sea Bream was about to rush straight at them when a strange wave was detected in his senses.

Kkak, Kkagak-!

Along with the sound of the Shield Lobsters’ pincers, the fishmen began to charge. Witnessing the onslaught of a large army, Sea Bream couldn’t gather his thoughts.

“No way…?!”

Fishmen have a longer detection range than lobsters. The ‘wave’ that surprised Sea Bream was about to reach the fishmen at that moment.

“Hakikit, Hak-hat?”

“Kyuu, kyuu?”

“ This, this is-“

Considering that they had different detection ranges, the fact that they detected it almost simultaneously despite the significant time difference meant?

“Hakikit, it’s a fast Hakkit- Quickly, fast Hakkyuut!”

The wave was incredibly fast! Sea Bream couldn’t believe it while looking at the approaching wave. The fact that they detected it at almost the same time despite having different detection ranges?

“Hakkit, control – control mages, hakkit! Quickly! Control mages, Hakkyuut!”

The fishmen were confused as Sea Bream expected. Seeing that, the Captain of the Sea God’s Guards wanted to shed tears. The black and white dots approaching were getting larger and larger.

“Everyone prepare!”

“Shvalt, Hrubit.”

As Sea Bream discovered the two sea serpents, the Black Serpent and the White Serpent, gracefully swaying their tails, swimming towards him, Sea Bream’s eyes sparkled.

“Clean them all up.”

Ssssh- Shaaaaaa——-!

Upon seeing the sea serpents, the Kraken immediately ran away. The serpents, not caring about large prey like a giant squid, swallowed the fishmen one by one, tore them apart and thrashed them around.

“Prince!!”

“I came back, but don’t get too excited, Sea Bream. Let’s clean up first.”

“Understood, understood. Understood, my lord!”

He returned, but not really. Sea Bream might have understood Drake’s words, but at least now, it wasn’t important to the Sea God’s Guard Captain. Ignoring Sea Bream’s ecstatic response, Drake used his fingertips to shoot water streams and began to hunt down the fishmen. Even though the fishmen, Shield Lobsters, and even the controlling fishmen sorcerers that had tamed and guided creatures like the Kraken came, there was no way to stop Drake, Shvalt, and Hrubit’s onslaught.

“Hak, Hakkit- The serpents aren’t listening, Hakmot-“

“It’s not even funny. How dare you aim for the serpents like that!”

“That’s right, my lord!”

Unless they showed the authority of the Sea God, who was stronger than  Drake, they couldn’t control the serpents. Of course, the only one with that authority was the Sea God!

The excited Sea Bream also dismantled and dismembered the fleeing fishmen without hesitation. In no time, a school of fish gathered around Drake and Sea Bream. The marine ecosystem was nourished by these excellent prey, and the bodies of the fishmen spread throughout the underwater world.

Sea Bream casually defeated one fleeing fishman after another and smiled. If they didn’t intentionally charge, Sea Bream could handle hundreds of them like this.

“Phew, my lord! The cleanup is done for now- Uh, where are you going, my lord?” Sea Bream, who was reporting to Drake with a satisfied expression, was puzzled when Drake showed no interest.

He was moving with the Black Serpent and the White Serpent.

“Where are you going?”

“The reason the fishmen were born is because of the purification pool.”

“Yes, yes, oh! Lord Ha Leeha is there now.”

“Oh -“

When Drake showed interest and nodded, Sea Bream’s expression brightened. Although he had said he wouldn’t come back when they were on the ship, now that he had returned, there must be a reason.

“Now… Are you coming back to the Dragon Palace? A-a-are you intending to fulfill the duty as the son of the Sea God this time?”

Sea Bream asked cautiously, but Drake didn’t answer. He only increased the speed slightly as he, along with the serpents, guarded the surroundings and headed for the entrance of the purification pool. The cautious inquiry yielded no response from Drake. The serpents and Drake maintained their vigilance, heading towards the entrance of the purification chamber. Sea Bream tried again, “My lord…?”

However, he always adhered to one principle: no matter how difficult and challenging the situation, he would provide hints for escape. NPCs engage in daily conversations and interactions even when there are no players, but they don’t engage in conversations about ‘hints’ unless player presence is confirmed, observing players thoroughly and causing them distress in a way.

“I believe you will surely do so. I trust that you have come to the Dragon Palace to save it and to correct the order of the sea as the successor of the Sea God.”

Therefore, even if Sea Bream tried to touch on Drake’s emotions by telling such stories, Drake remained unresponsive. Tormented Sea God’s Guards Captain and the silent Sea God’s son created a peculiar and uneasy atmosphere as they reached the entrance of the purification pool.

“How long had it been since Leeha went in?”

“It’s been about one hour since he went in.”

“If he had gone with Anderson, he would have almost arrived at the purification pool.” Drake’s expression stiffened slightly, and Sea Bream also became serious.

“Is that so? I haven’t actually been to the purification pool, so I don’t know how deep it is.”

“Where is Father? Do you know?”

“I’m sorry, my lord. I couldn’t figure out where the Sea God is. I tried to extract information from a few fishmen, but even they…”

Sea Bream, larger than Drake, looked serious. Once dignified when with Anderson, he couldn’t even move a muscle in front of Drake.

“I should recommend a replacement Sea God’s Guards Captain.”

Drake chuckled as he observed Sea Bream. Drake, who knew how much effort Sea Bream had put in, was not an ordinary NPC. Their memories were already detailed, so he could say such things.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Check it for yourself. My father is probably here—”

“Hmm?”

Shshaaaaah—!

The serpents wriggled and slightly retreated. They had noticed a red light flickering in the far darkness of the purification chamber.

“My lord, just now—”

“I saw it too. A red light. There shouldn’t be such a thing among the techniques my father uses— Wait!?”

This time, even Drake flinched. The explosively emitted white light, the enormous luminance, completely dispelled the deep darkness of the purification chamber, where fishmen would swim for over an hour to reach the surface.

“What… What kind of light is this?”

“Could it be… Has my father fought Ha Leeha? Or… did Leeha… to father?!”

For Drake, either situation was lamentable or inexplicable. Whichever it was, it wasn’t good.

“Let’s go, Sea Bream!”

“Understood, my lord!”

Drake and Sea Bream quickly began to descend from the entrance of the purification pool. The Black and White Serpent followed behind them.

“[Waterdrop Light].”

Hwaaaa—!

Even the deep darkness of the purification chamber could not hinder Drake’s creation. The large water droplet created by Drake emitted light like a magic lantern.

“I didn’t know it was this big and deep.”

“Of course. My father forbade access to this place.”

“That’s still the case now.”

“Is there any other information about purification chamber pollution?”

“There isn’t. Besides the sudden appearance of fishmen one day… Sea God-nim seemed to know something, but…”

Engaging in a brief conversation about previously revealed information, they continued to swim downward. There was light, and there were Sea God’s Guards. Above all, they were NPCs. This meant there was no need for much delay in descending the deep hole of the purification pool. However, the speed at which Anderson descended, holding Lee Haa, was similar to theirs.

As admired by Sea Bream, Anderson’s speed was at the level of the top mermaids. Therefore, despite the NPC status, there was no significant time difference in descending to discover the faint light beyond the darkness. It was undoubtedly the light emanating from the Sea God’s Crown.

“Father!”

“Sea God! Oh, great king!”

Floating in a weightless state, Drake and Sea Bream quickly approached the Sea God, who was lying submerged in the water.

“Tentacles… and with this physique.”

The transformed appearance of the Sea God left even his son, Drake, speechless. Sea Bream, too, trembled as he checked the condition of the Sea God. Accepting the Sea God’s death was something Sea Bream could not fathom, whether due to turning into a merman or any other reason.

“Great king, are you all right? Oh, oh, oh!”

“Don’t make a fuss, Sea Bream. My father’s life is fine.”

“How can you be so casual, my lord?”

“Woah!”

Paaah—!

Suddenly, light spewed from the Sea God’s body.

Sea Bream startled and retreated, while Drake, preparing for any potential situation, didn’t see the feared outcome.

Or rather, what happened was the unexpected situation they were secretly hoping for.

“…What is this?”

“The tentacles… have disappeared.”

All the tentacles that surrounded the Sea God’s waist like a skirt vanished. The overly massive physique had returned to its original state, although still larger than Sea Bream.

“Could it be Ha Leea… or…”

“Hahaha! As expected… I need to tidy up like this.”

Seeing the gradually brightening light of his crown, was enough to predict the outcome.

Drake chuckled while looking at the darkness below, not yet fully revealed.

‘Purification pool, what is this… It looks like a heart.’

This was Leeha’s first impression as they finally reached the ocean floor. It emitted a red light by itself, moving rhythmically.

Thump, thump!

It was quite a rapid heartbeat, like a human heart.

‘Texture is like that. I thought it felt like some hard gem, but it’s, ugh, disgusting.’

After placing Blaugrun and Anderson a bit away, Leeha began to circle around the purification pool. Although the size was close to a large rock, the red-glowing purification pool had a rather unsightly appearance, resembling the head of a mallet.

‘Ah, ah!? That thing-‘

Just as they were circling the squirming purification pool over a lap, something strange caught Lee Haa’s eyes. Something embedded in the smooth exterior of the purification pool!

It could be immediately recognized as the ‘pollutant,’ the removal objective of this quest.

‘-A hat… is that… a black tricorn hat?’

The form of the black tricorn hat was exactly as Lee Haa had thought. In the deepest part of the sea, in a purification chamber where even constructed fishmen couldn’t enter recklessly, there was an out-of-place black hat? Was it really possible to come all the way here?

Lee Haa could immediately recall the owner of the hat upon seeing it.

‘Bluebeard… Is it something like what Luger showed before?’

A symbol yet not entirely a symbol. Lee Haa knew that he could create and wear a hat anytime. Since the moment Luger showed the hat, he kept it back in Ezwen’s Papal Chamber, including other appearances where he always wore a hat.

‘Right. Something has been off since then. Bluebeard wouldn’t buy a hat from the costume room.’

So, was he shaping the hat with mana? Lee Haa briefly pondered before shaking his head.

Regardless, it wasn’t important at this point.

“Blugrok!”

Lee Haa adjusted their breathing and took out the electric shock device again. They didn’t want to touch it with their hands because they didn’t know what might happen.

‘Even the plumber guy didn’t grab a boss with his hands when he beat it with a tortoise shell, right? Phew, this time there’s no need for a defense buff. Just—’

Bubbling!

Lee Haa spewed bubbles. Though the sound couldn’t be heard, the action was distinct.

“Here we go! ON!”

Just before the switch touched the hat embedded in the purification chamber’s exterior, it clicked and went up.

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