Chapter 80: Chapter 82

Arriving at the Silicans estate, Adelia personally experienced the hole in the sky.

I can’t see well.

This unforeseen downpour might lead to a flood. Flooding isn’t the only problem. The mermaids would be livelier.

Adelia learned the habits of the mermaid through Benko. When they come ashore, their tails turn into legs and become a human body. That’s not always a good thing for a mermaid. As a species that originally lives in water, their movement on the ground becomes remarkably dull.

“But when it rains, that’s a different story.”

As the environment becomes more similar to the sea, the agility of the mermaids jumps squarely.

Adelia rolled her fist hard.

At that time, Ivan, who had been away for a while to command the soldiers, appeared in front of Adelia. Ivan put a long robe around Adelia’s shoulder.

“Body temperature drops quickly in this weather.”

“…. but the Grand Duke is drenched in the rain.”

As Adelia said, Ivan was not wearing a robe. All he wore was a thin, tight tee and armor.

“Robes slow down movements. And this much rain is nothing.”

Ivan shrugged and spoke.

Adelia was amazed by Ivan, who always looked calm. People who have experienced war sure are different.

“Mermaids are not very strong in terms of individual strength, but they get annoying when they get together.”

“…I have to do well.”

Ivan smiled softly at Adelia’s words.

“You’ll do well this time, too.”

It was an unwavering voice. He has always been like that. He believed in her no matter what happened or under any circumstances.

She didn’t hate that blind faith. Adelia asked jokingly, with a little laugh.

“Aren’t you trusting me too much?”

Ivan answered, looking at Adelia with a serious face.

“There’s no reason not to trust you.”

Adelia laughed quietly at Ivan’s unhesitating answer. She didn’t know she would be so proud to be trusted by someone.

“I believe in you, too.”

“It’s an honor.”

Adelia’s reply brought a nice smile to Ivan’s lips.

“Your Highness and Viscount Yurpheon. You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting.”

Baron Silicans confirmed Adelia and Ivan’s arrival and hurried toward the two.

“What happened to the evacuation?”

“As you said, they were all evacuated.”

“What about the rest of the soldiers?”

“The deployment on the shoreline has been completed.”

All preparations are complete. All that’s left is to wait for the mermaid to show up.

“Let’s go to the square.”

Adelia and Ivan split up. Adelia headed to the square, the final destination to attract the mermaids, and Ivan headed to the sea to find the pearl.

Adelia, who entered the spire built in the center of the square, looked up at the sky with a stiff face.

“The rain is getting stronger.”

At Demalo’s words Adelia nodded. Their vision was blurred due to the falling rain.

“It looks like this is going to last for a while.”

“I will protect you.”

A determined voice. As if to resonate with him, Adelia slowly opened her mouth, feeling sympathetic.

“I’ll protect you, too.”

She will protect not only the Silicans estate but also all those who believed and followed her. At Adelia’s words, the spirits of the guards, including Demalo, lifted.

Amid the rising rain, Adelia kept a heavy silence and waited for a telegram to arrive. After waiting for so long, a black shadow rushing to the spire through the heavy rain came into view.

Adelia, as well as her escorts, stared at the shadow with increased vigilance.

“The pattern of the Grand Duke!”

The Knight of the Grand Duke was riding a huge war horse to the spire. He hurriedly climbed the spire and arrived in front of Adelia.

“Report! We’re luring the mermaids ashore to the square as planned.”

Hearing the report, Adelia asked calmly.

“How long do you think it will take to get to the square?”

“It’s faster than I thought, so I think they’ll be there in 10 minutes. Hurry up and get ready!”

Ten minutes. That was ridiculously short. Adelia’s gaze turned over the rain.

The heavy rain also accelerated the mermaids’ movement.

“Are there any casualties?”

“Three soldiers were seriously injured when they fell from a mermaid attack.”

“…I see. Thank you for your hard work. Leave the rest to me.”

Adelia took a small deep breath. Then, tightening the robe, she went out to the balcony. The bitter rain grazed her cheeks.

“…that’s a great number.”

One of Adelia’s escorts murmured quietly. The voice is full of anxiety.

Despite the distance, the mermaids looked enormous.

“Maybe the square is too small to trap them.”

“…We have to do our best.”

Adelia placed her hand on her clavicle bone bearing the pattern of Vishna.

Her pounding heart transmitted over her thin gloves.

“I think they’re going to reach the square soon!”

“We’ll wait until all of them are lured. I don’t mind if they reach the spire.”

There was a deep tension on the guard’s face. Their long wait continued.

Kyaak!

Kya!

“Run! Don’t stop! Don’t stop and run to the target.”

The voice of the desperate knight penetrated the sound of the heavy rain and stuck in Adelia’s ear.

“A little more.”

Adelia rolled up her fist, pulling up her patience. After waiting, the mermaids began to be seen closely. The knights kept close distance from the mermaids and forced them to the square.

At last, the mermaids filled the square.

Adelia prayed. She hoped her earnest prayer reached God.

May the mermaids’ time stop again.

– Whatever my child wants.

At the moment when a soft voice was heard, the mermaids’ movements, which had been chasing the soldiers, stopped like a lie.

“Oh, my! The mermaids suddenly stopped moving!”

“No, it’s not that it doesn’t move. This is…”

Doesn’t it look like a statue?

Melinda, one of Adelia’s escorts, murmured quietly. Others agreed with her, nodding their heads. Their eyes turned to Adelia’s back, standing on the balcony. They had a natural intuition. It’s Adelia Yurpheon who stopped the mermaids.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s very strange.”

“Anyway, it’s okay because we’re alive.”

A smile of relief hung around the lips of the soldiers who completed their duties.

Adelia took a deep breath at the sight.

I can’t be relieved yet. Ivan needs to find the pearl.

Mermaids don’t disappear until the pearl is destroyed. Therefore, they must find and eliminate pearls. However, there was one element outside her calculation.

It is this heavy rain that shows no sign of abating.

“Sir Lensley.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Can you get in touch with your highness?”

“We’re still trying to reach him, but we can’t.”

“That means they can’t use the communication equipment on their side.”

Lensley nodded silently. Adelia pondered for a moment.

Maybe I should go out to the sea and help Ivan.

But Adelia quickly gave up. Now is the time to trust him and wait.

Please come back quickly.

Adelia turned her body around, making a request that will not reach Ivan.

***

The sea, which had a clear dew, encountered a storm and trembled violently with a ferocious momentum. The water that used to shine transparently has long been cloudy.

“Is it still far away?”

Ivan’s subdued voice rushed Benko.

Benko replied in a trembling voice as if his completely cured gastritis came back.

“P, please wait a moment. I’m looking hard for it. A, and if you rush me like this, there’s nothing that can be done.”

“Be quiet and keep looking.”

“…Yes.”

Benko pouted and focused again. Normally, he would have searched the sea easily, but it was not easy due to the rough waves. Nevertheless, it had to be done. Otherwise, he is doomed.

Ivan looked at the surface of the water swaying in the rough wind. There was no fear in his eyes. It just sinks in silence and waits for the right time.

“I, I found it!”

Then, Benko delivered the good news.

“Three places in total! One about 40 meters east of here, one about 10 meters north, and finally 20 meters south!”

After hearing Benko’s words, the Grand Duke instructed the captain.

“We’ll deal with the nearest place.”

“Yes!”

The ship broke through the rough waves and moved toward the pearl. The waves shook the bodies of the people on the ship.

“Is it here?”

“Yes! It’s right down here!”

Ivan gave a signal looking at the elite members of the Hamilton family. The elite who received the signal immediately jumped into the sea.

“Oh!”

Benko was stunned, breathing in vain. He can’t believe they threw themselves in that wild wave! It’s like a suicide!

“Y, Your Grace! Is it okay to dive into the sea like this?”

“Don’t worry. My knights are very competent.”

No, I’m not worried about that right now!

He wanted to shout. However, due to Ivan’s sharp atmosphere, Benko had no choice but to keep his mouth shut up.

What if we all die?

Benko bit his nails and stared nervously at the sea where the knights jumped. But overshadowing his worries, the knights who jumped in soon came to the surface. They had beautiful pearls in their hands, which had five colors.

“We succeeded in destroying the pearl!”

Benko was once again appalled. He didn’t know what the hell was going on with these people.

“Good job. Let’s hurry to the next point.”

The second point was also quickly finished. The knights of the Grand Duke destroyed the mermaids’ core without hesitation and brought broken pearls as if they were taking trophies.

When they finally reached the third point, Benko just looked dejected and waited for everything to end.

“It’s the last. Don’t let go of your tension until the end.”

“Yes!”

Splash~

One more. The end is not far away.

…disaster, it’s not as big as I think…?