Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2022: Emergency in the Merman Empire

"Your Majesty, there's an emergency on our hands."

A messenger burst into the arena right as we were examining Dorothy's fresh abilities.

I shot him a puzzled glance, eyebrow arched, figuring nothing could be that critical, yet his expression screamed otherwise—this was no trivial issue.

"What's going on?" I demanded, my tone sharp and commanding.

"We've received a pressing dispatch from the Merman Empire. It looks like some sort of plague has broken out there."

"Plague?" I echoed, sounding baffled, then added, "If a plague's hit, what exactly can I do to help them?"

The messenger's face twisted in discomfort at my words, yet he pressed on with the report he'd been tasked to deliver.

"This isn't a plague striking the mermaids themselves, but the visitors from that realm." As he uttered 'that realm,' a flicker of bewilderment crossed his features.

The instant he brought up 'that realm,' realization dawned on me about the crisis unfolding.

Truth be told, just one location fit that description perfectly.

Still, what sparked this outbreak out of nowhere?

It struck me as illogical for this to abruptly afflict folks hailing from that realm.

Might it stem from tension, their struggle to adjust to unfamiliar surroundings, or perhaps an entirely different cause?

Or could this be a manufactured crisis?

A handful of ministers had shown reluctance to welcome those foreign races into the Merman Empire, even for a short-term exchange like this.

After all, such an arrangement challenged the Merman Empire's esteemed status.

For these devoted ministers, safeguarding their empire's honor was paramount, so it stood to reason they'd seek ways to address it. Yet they couldn't touch these guests from other races, who arrived under official protection.

Any direct action would escalate into a far graver scandal.

But if the visitors perished from a supposed 'sickness' on their own, things would simplify dramatically for them.

Thus, it wouldn't surprise me if they resorted to poisoning to mimic a natural ailment.

Ultimately, I shoved these speculations aside, knowing they yielded no real benefit.

With countless scenarios swirling, dwelling on them aided no one. My best move now was to rush to the Merman Empire without delay and assess the situation firsthand.

Only by witnessing it personally could I narrow it down to the truth.

I realized their summons likely tied to my link with the kraken, the divine envoy. Moreover, this plague probably connected to Aestum, who had shielded those individuals.

During my previous encounter with Aestum, something felt amiss in how both they and Aquaron behaved—like they were concealing a vital secret from me.

It wouldn't shock me if this 'plague' linked back to that mystery too.

"Have they sent a group to escort me to the Merman Empire?" I inquired of the messenger, who nodded vigorously in affirmation.

The Merman Empire dispatching an escort was only logical, as no route outpaced traveling beneath the waves to their domain.

As a mere human, I lacked the means to pull that off alone.

To arrive swiftly, I required the mermaids' guidance.

Yet I held back from trailing the messenger immediately, instead pivoting toward Rose.

She'd remained silent throughout, but the intensity in her gaze betrayed her inner turmoil plainly.

Nevertheless, she urged, "Go handle it. Ensure Ariel stays out of harm's way."

Upon departing the Merman Empire earlier, I'd left Ariel behind to reunite with her family, since I'd exited ahead of schedule. She lingered there still, and I'd intended to retrieve her soon, allowing more family bonding time.

Given this turn of events, though, my pickup needed to happen right away.

Beyond that, I had to shield her by any means necessary.

I responded with a quick, resolute nod, but Rose wasn't the sole one requiring my attention.

Next, I faced Dorothy and the qilin, both watching me intently.

As my eyes met theirs, determination flashed across their faces, and they chorused, "We'll manage just fine."

This synchronized response highlighted how their bond had deepened lately.

Observing them together stirred thoughts of the pacts I'd forged with the divine envoys.

To be precise, the qilin served as my envoy, despite my lack of divinity... so our tie differed from the norm. Ours mirrored the sacred links between gods and their messengers.

That implied the qilin could still bind with another he found deserving.

Here, Dorothy qualified as that potential partner...

But such reflections had to wait—urgent matters demanded my focus.

With a casual wave to the group, I followed the messenger out, who guided me to the cluster of mermaids ready to depart.