Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2209: Successor (3)

Upon my return, my gaze fell upon a scene of anticipation; everyone had been waiting for me. The Merman King was present outside the temple, not alone, but accompanied by Ariel, who should have been resting, and even our newborn child had been brought along.

"What are all of you doing here?" I inquired.

Before they could offer a response, a new, unpredicted phenomenon manifested.

"This is what occurred when the child was born," the Merman King murmured, his voice barely audible.

This time, however, the event appeared to possess a distinct origin. The swirling currents of water seemed to deliberately guide the attention of any onlookers toward a specific location.

That location was precisely where we were standing.

The sudden emergence of this phenomenon quickly attracted the attention of numerous mermaids. They converged to witness the spectacle, though their numbers were somewhat restrained by a prevailing sense of caution.

It was evident that the very young and the elderly were being kept at a distance.

As I struggled to comprehend the unfolding events, a sudden occurrence altered the expression on my face.

A disembodied voice resonated through the air, a sound that not only I but everyone present perceived.

A wave of astonishment swept across the faces of the assembled mermaids. Many were utterly dumbfounded, unable to believe they were hearing a voice they never imagined they would have the chance to experience.

This was, after all, the voice of a deity.

More than just a divine utterance, it was the voice of the very god revered within the Merman Kingdom, making the event of monumental significance to the gathered mermaids.

To the side, I observed the temple priests, their demeanor shifting to one of profound reverence as they immediately prostrated themselves, as if in prayer to the speaker.

Yet, I found myself unable to dedicate any attention to this display.

My sole focus was on the message conveyed by the celestial voice.

"This child is my successor."

With such an unambiguous declaration from Aquaron, concealing this revelation became an insurmountable task.

My intention had been to keep this matter private, shared only with a select circle of trusted individuals. However, with Aquaron himself intervening through such a miraculous manifestation, maintaining secrecy was no longer feasible.

The pattern of the water's movement clearly indicated it was centered upon our child.

Consequently, any attempt at a rational explanation was rendered futile.

As the divine phenomenon ceased and the unusual water movements subsided, an profound silence descended. Not a single sound disturbed the stillness as every eye slowly turned towards the infant.

Then, as if a dam had broken, the atmosphere erupted.

"All hail the holy son!"

This proclamation by the priests acted as a catalyst, igniting a fervent response from the crowd.

They began to prostrate themselves before our child, an act seemingly intended to solicit a divine blessing.

The scene snapped me back to reality. I swiftly raised my hand, channeling my divine energy. I invoked my creation divine energy, weaving a protective veil to shield us from their prying eyes.

Unfortunately, this act of concealment was not confined to immediate proximity, drawing the temple priests, who had been accompanying us, within its confines.

Their gazes upon our child were intensely possessive, mirroring a desire to adorn and parade the infant.

However, before I could intervene further, the Merman King swiftly intervened, seizing the priests and unceremoniously casting them aside.

The Merman King's sudden action took me by surprise, yet the priests seemed unfazed by their rough treatment. Their singular focus remained fixed on the individual they now hailed as the 'holy son'.

With the path cleared, we wasted no time in proceeding towards the palace.

Despite our haste, this action proved to be of little practical help.

The denizens of the kingdom were well-acquainted with the Merman King's visage, as well as those of Ariel and myself.

Given that we were conspicuously with the child, it presented no challenge for them to deduce that this infant was the newly proclaimed prince.

This realization led to the palace quickly becoming the focal point for a large, surrounding populace.

Entry into the palace was prevented by the Merman King's deployment of the royal guards, who established a formidable cordon around the royal residence.

This formation was characterized more as a blockade than a true defensive measure, as the Merman King was disinclined to harm his own citizens. Therefore, the guards' primary function was to create a significant impediment for ordinary citizens seeking entry.

Nevertheless, certain influential nobles, having already been apprised of the recent events, made their way to the palace, eager to behold the prince.

For the moment, we successfully maintained a barrier between the populace and the location of the child.

Once this protective measure was secured, the Merman King turned his attention to me, his expression grave, and posed the question, "What happened?"

It was not solely the Merman King who regarded me with such a serious mien.

All those present shared the same intense scrutiny, awaiting my explanation of the preceding events.

Each of them harbored a burning desire to comprehend the sequence of occurrences that had culminated in this extraordinary situation.

A wry smile crept onto my face as they all stared at me.

What had transpired was difficult to articulate, to say the least.

Parts of it remained a mystery even to me, making it impossible to put into coherent words.

Breaking the extended silence, I drew a deep breath and stated, "It's quite a lengthy and intricate tale."