Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2030: A bit hard
Previously on Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure...
Upon my return to the temple, the very first thing that caught my eye was the object right next to me.
This artifact was impossible to overlook, radiating such intense divine power.
The sheer volume of divine energy emanating from it made it obvious that this was no ordinary relic—it was something extraordinarily potent.
Moreover, a recognizable vibe pulsed from the divine energy of this relic, one that matched the aura of the deity I'd just encountered in the divine realm.
Yet that wasn't all there was to it.
From its distinctive form, anyone could easily identify the type of relic it represented.
It took the shape of a trident, exactly like the weapon brandished by the Merman King.
Still, through my attunement to divine energy, I sensed that this trident surpassed in might the one held by the Merman King.
Was this Aquaron's attempt at an apology, or merely a ploy to buy my silence?
No matter the intent behind it, I had no plans to abandon my original intentions.
Rather, I intended to claim this relic and employ it precisely as I'd envisioned.
Once I'd lifted the relic and stored it safely, I stepped out to discover the group assembled, awaiting my arrival. The priests responsible for the temple appeared especially on edge.
Evidently, they'd been informed by some oracle prior to my coming, and now they eagerly anticipated hearing the details from me.
That said, they weren't the individuals I wished to confide in or share this tale with initially. Only one person deserved to hear it first, as they alone held the authority to determine the next steps.
That's why I declared, "I need to see the Merman King."
The royal guards showed surprise at my words, yet their swift reaction suggested they'd anticipated this very request. They'd assumed I'd want to relay my discoveries to the Merman King, so preparations were already in place.
Regarding the priests, I simply brushed them aside as I made my way toward the royal palace.
No matter how they gazed at me, I paid them no mind.
The Merman King didn't delay long in reaching the capital.
He'd stayed behind in that forbidden area with the sea witches to monitor the other races, but he recognized that this issue took priority.
However, in the seclusion of that private chamber, I held back from speaking immediately.
A wave of uncertainty washed over me, for the revelation I was about to share could upend the core beliefs of the Merman Empire. Uttering it now might utterly demolish the devotion the empire held for Aquaron.
Nevertheless, concealing this from the Merman King felt profoundly unjust.
This realm belonged to him, and its inhabitants were his subjects; it fell to him, not some foreigner like myself, to judge if they should learn the truth.
Drawing in a steadying breath, I began, "This is tough to bring up, but I believe you need to hear it."
The Merman King's brow furrowed right away upon hearing me, though he nodded to indicate his comprehension.
By the time I'd finished recounting everything, his facial expression revealed the full impact.
The grim look on his face and the pleading stare he directed at me—as if wishing I'd claim it was all a joke—demonstrated how difficult this was for him to swallow.
Yet I remained silent, gazing steadily at him while awaiting his reply.
Finally, the Merman King let out a heavy sigh before responding, "You're really dropping quite the bomb on me. What do you expect me to do with this?"
In response, I replied, "I don’t know what you want to do, but this is for you to decide. It’s not something that an outsider like me should decide."
Another sigh escaped the Merman King at my words, but the gratitude shining in his eyes showed he appreciated my stance.
We both stayed quiet as he sank into contemplation about handling this dilemma.
Suddenly, the Merman King stated, "This isn’t anyone’s fault."
His words left me utterly stunned.
Because, regardless of the angle, this catastrophe was unmistakably Aquaron's doing.
Still, for the Merman King to voice it that way...
He went on, "Even gods can make mistakes. They might be gods, but they aren’t perfect."
A peculiar emotion stirred within me at his statement, as I'd never considered gods in such a light before. To me, they always appeared all-powerful and infallible.
Yet, upon reflection, countless flaws plagued this world beyond the gods' control.
The most glaring issue was the encroaching forces of Destruction threatening to devour everything.
That represented a massive error by the gods, yet they persisted in their efforts to mend it.
All the same, it proved that even gods fell short of perfection...
"We’ll do our best to make up for the faults of our gods, that is the only thing that we can do as their followers." The Merman King declared with a resolute tone that caused my brows to furrow again.
His delivery carried the fervor of a devoted zealot under some spell.
Ultimately, though, I held my tongue, respecting that this was his choice to make.