Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2208: Successor (2)

"To begin with, that child was never a simple mortal."

The way Aquaron spoke really irked me a little.

It was as if he was stating a self-evident fact that everyone should already know.

My eyes narrowed as I glared at him, but he simply continued at his own pace.

What caught me off guard was when he unexpectedly turned his gaze towards me.

Now that I could perceive his true form, I noticed a peculiar look in his eyes as he regarded me, a look entirely unlike any I had seen from him before.

It was a gaze that suggested interest, yet not in a conventional sense.

If I had to pinpoint it, it felt more akin to the fascination one might have for an experiment.

As he continued to stare, he remarked, "You can hardly be considered a mortal at this moment, and you are the father of this child. Given that, it's truly difficult to claim this child is a mere mortal."

A part of me bristled with anger once more, but I managed to restrain myself.

Instead, I calmly replied, "I am still a mortal."

Aquaron nodded as if in agreement before stating, "Currently, you are a mortal, but who knows what the future holds. With the mermaid bloodline, born from my own creation, mingled with your lineage, it will be hard to predict what this child will become."

Then, his tone grew more serious as he added, "It's impossible to gauge how dangerous he might grow, which is why it would be best for someone to watch over him."

"Are you serious about this?" A distinct chill permeated my voice upon hearing his words.

After all, he was essentially deeming my child as dangerous.

Such a pronouncement is difficult for any parent to hear... even if I acknowledged the truth within it.

It was similar to my other children; they all exhibited special abilities. However, if those powers were wielded differently, it was impossible to deny their potential for harm.

If they chose to use those powers to inflict suffering, the consequences were unpredictable.

So, it wasn't that I failed to grasp his perspective; it was simply an arduous sentiment to process as a parent.

Strangely, neither Aquaron nor the other gods seemed perturbed by my tone.

In fact, they appeared to completely disregard it, even though such an attitude should have been offensive. I was speaking to their leader in such a manner...

Nevertheless, Aquaron calmly continued, "As I've said, there truly is no one better suited to be my successor than this child. It is a title that will safeguard him should anything befall him, so it's not as if it's a negative outcome."

Aquaron's tone shifted as he spoke these words.

It felt as if he had taken a step back in response to my outburst, now attempting to persuade me that this was a beneficial arrangement.

Regardless of his reasoning, a part of me remained resistant.

Yet, it would be a lie to claim his words didn't resonate with me at all.

Considering what transpired with the two elven children...

If they had possessed such a safeguard, their path would undoubtedly have been smoother.

Though, in this child's case, there wasn't anyone who would likely voice objections.

Ariel was the sole daughter of the Merman King, and the child hadn't been born without a tail. Therefore, acceptance within the Merman Kingdom was virtually guaranteed.

As I passed through the city, I even witnessed the extensive preparations underway to commemorate the arrival of this new prince.

Ultimately, I knew I couldn't prevent Aquaron's decision.

With a sigh, I conceded, "Do it with moderation."

Aquaron offered a simple nod, seemingly unbothered that my words implied an equal standing, or perhaps even a superior position, given how I addressed him.

With that matter settled, the only remaining task was to return to the mortal plane.

Before departing, however, I made sure to fix the gods with a glare, as if issuing a silent warning against any further impropriety.

What I remained unaware of was that the gods engaged in a brief discussion after I had departed.

"Lord Aquaron, do you truly believe this is the correct course of action?"

Aestum was the one who posed the question.

Aestum had been keeping a low profile amongst the other deities during this time, still feeling the awkwardness from the previous encounter.

Aquaron's expression briefly turned serious upon hearing the question, but then it softened as he replied, "We all understand the necessity of this, and it's not an inherently bad decision. So, let events unfold as they are meant to."

Aestum appeared hesitant for a moment but ultimately nodded in agreement.

As the leader of these water gods, Aquaron's word was final.