That brief statement plunged the hall into chaos. It was like pouring water into boiling oil.

[This confirms he’s an envoy sent by humans.]

[Death to this insolent fool…!]

[You must exercise your authority in times like these!]

Oceanos’s followers, veins bulging, gnashed their teeth, looking ready to pounce. The demand to behead me and send me back to land gained numerous supporters. But they weren’t the reason for my tension.

[Your Majesty…!]

Amid the uproar, Oceanos maintained his composure quietly. His unwavering eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts. The fact that the one who should be angry merely rested his chin on his hand and looked down at me was more frightening.

Meanwhile, the anger spread endlessly like a wildfire. Neilos, the retainer guarding the throne, unable to bear it any longer, struck his staff down. Thud! The heavy sound absorbed all the noise.

[Who dares create a disturbance in His Majesty’s presence?]

The fierce flames were extinguished instantly, like cold water had been thrown on them. Soon, a heavy silence followed where not even breathing could be heard. One misstep here and I would become their prey. To hide my inner thoughts, I deliberately straightened my back and looked at Oceanos.

The pale face visible through the veil twisted subtly. Had I earned unnecessary resentment? As I worried, Oceanos unexpectedly shook his shoulders and chuckled.

[Either you’re fearless by nature, or you have something to rely on…. Your nerve is impressive.]

With a smile, Oceanos slightly raised his chin and asked.

[What did you say your name was?]

“…I’m Tae-oh.”

[Yes, Tae-oh. This war was started by your kind. Are you aware of that?]

“Of course I am. But it was a mistake born of ignorance. The one who ordered the temple built now… deeply regrets his error and seeks your forgiveness. He has promised never to commit any act against your domain again if Your Majesty would show great mercy.”

I relayed exactly what I’d heard from Bezef, the eldest son of House Pergamon. This was the first time humans had acknowledged their mistake first and bowed their heads to magical creatures. But the reaction was different from what I expected. It was like throwing a spark into a crowd that had just calmed down.

[Lies, Your Majesty.]

[Tear out that deceitful tongue immediately!]

The magical creatures, having lost all trust in humans, wouldn’t listen to anything. The uncontrollable flames threatened to consume me. Watching this scene filled with anger, Oceanos raised one hand. At that small gesture, the hall became silent as death.

[Regrets his error, you say…]

Unlike the smile lingering on his lips, Oceanos’s voice was utterly cold.

[How can I believe that? As they say, it sounds like a lie to me too.]

I hadn’t expected to be believed from the start. But whatever evidence I brought, their reaction would have been consistent. Even if I had brought a note with the Pergamon seal, to magical creatures it would be merely a scrap of paper. So I needed to offer something visible. Some collateral that would make Oceanos trust me, a human, and withdraw the storms…

“How can I earn your trust?”

When I asked boldly, Oceanos pointed at me with his index finger and said:

[If that promise is broken, I will take the tongue that lied to me.]

His bloodless lips stretched wide beneath the veil. Oceanos was testing my sincerity. Sharp hostility radiated from him, making my hands clammy with cold sweat. But I had no regrets. When making this life-risking proposal to him, I had anticipated this much.

“If any harm comes to the kingdom because of me, I will rightfully accept punishment.”

[Oh?]

His narrowed eyes carefully observed my reaction.

[Seeing your attitude now, I’m curious. Why go this far? Did your master order you to take responsibility? Or perhaps you lost your family to the storms?]

Oceanos seemed to mistake me for an envoy sent on orders from House Pergamon. But my reason for taking this risk was simple. It was for magical creatures, not humans. So I needed to inform Oceanos of the outside situation without omission.

“Are you aware that your innocent subjects are also suffering because the storms never cease?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the corner of his mouth twisted slightly. Simultaneously, Neilos’s hand holding the staff trembled. Unable to contain his anger, Neilos stepped forward and shouted:

[How dare you slander His Majesty!]

His boiling rage transmitted palpably to my skin. His quivering lips seemed to be barely restraining the order to strike me down. Then an unexpected figure cut the taut string of tension.

[It’s fine, Lord Neilos. Let’s hear him out.]

At Oceanos’s command, Neilos bowed his head and stepped back. I had little time left for Oceanos to listen to me. With a slightly trembling voice, weighing each word carefully, I said:

“I’m an ordinary human with no power or authority. So I can’t know what the higher-ups are thinking. But if these storms continue, they might resort to force. Surely Your Majesty doesn’t want such a tragedy.”

The reason negotiation was possible in the first place was because Count Pergamon had abandoned his plans early. Had the Count recklessly proceeded with temple construction, a meaningless mud fight with no winners or losers would have continued.

Indeed, Oceanos, knowing this fact, stroked his lips thoughtfully. Not missing the opening, I immediately played my trump card.

“Your Majesty Oceanos. This is a double-edged sword. While some magical creatures like Ophelia have been rescued, if the storms continue endlessly, surely some will not return to this sea and will breathe their last on land.”

Dozens of magical creatures have been rescued by the sanctuary this year alone. Even now, their numbers are growing, approaching an unmanageable limit. But there’s an even more serious problem than magical creatures dying on the shore before they can be rescued.

“Every magical creature I’ve met at the sanctuary has said they don’t mind sacrificing themselves if it means protecting the kingdom. But if the storms raised to protect your subjects end up entangling those very subjects, what is this sacrifice for?”

Poachers. We must absolutely prevent storm-stranded magical creatures from falling into poachers’ hands. Placing my hand on my chest and leaning forward, I said:

“Your Majesty. I’m not asking you to trust me. Just know that there’s still a better alternative.”

By now, all traces of amusement had vanished from Oceanos’s face.

“With your care for your subjects and your foresight… I earnestly ask that you make a wise choice.”

I’ve now done all I can. From here on, everything depends solely on Oceanos’s decision. No one knew whether he would behead me and start a war, or believe the promise and withdraw his anger. I respectfully bowed my head and waited for his answer.

After a long silence, a subdued voice was heard.

[Arguing for magical creatures while wearing human skin… how interesting.]

His brief sigh contained various emotions. As everyone held their breath, Oceanos murmured quietly:

[Come closer.]

Everyone stirred at this sudden invitation. Looking up doubtfully, I saw Oceanos gesture elegantly. Rising from the floor, I approached carefully, one step at a time. When I stopped in front of the stairs, Oceanos spoke again:

[Come up here.]

Get even closer? Though puzzled, I climbed the stairs without protest. One step, two steps… Throughout my approach, I watched Oceanos carefully. But he showed no intention of stopping me. Thus I reached the platform where the throne sat. Kneeling at a distance where I could touch his robes if I stretched out my hand.

Slowly lowering my head, I saw his feet, white as jade. Judging by the complete absence of vitality in his skin, this form wasn’t his true body. Soon, an overt gaze swept over my entire body. As I respectfully clasped my hands together, Oceanos let out an “Ah” of exclamation.

[I wondered why you didn’t displease me, but there’s no part of you untouched by magical creatures. Especially that bracelet—it carries a rather nostalgic scent.]

“…Do you know Hyperion?”

[How could I not know that boring old man? In the distant past… we once met face to face and conversed.]

I never dreamed that Hyperion, who rules the forest, and Oceanos, who commands the sea, knew each other. Pleased, I cautiously raised my eyes to look at him. When our eyes met, Oceanos murmured with a faint smile:

[But he got too close to humans. Because of his indecisive nature, he received deep wounds, they say.]

Oceanos tilted his head slightly and asked with his lips: ‘Isn’t that so?’ With no words to defend, I averted my gaze and stared at my wrist. The Phyllis stem, withered due to Oceanos’s magic, looked particularly pitiful.

“Hyperion said he doesn’t regret it. Rather, he accepted those wounds as proof that he’s alive.”

[Even so, can you say those wounds weren’t received because he trusted humans too much?]

“That’s…”

My words caught in my throat. Having asked Hyperion why he didn’t hate humans after seeing his wounds, I had nothing to say. When I should be earning Oceanos’s trust, I’d found a contradiction in my own logic. As I bit my lip hard, a light laugh was heard.

[I heard you were stubborn, but it seems you can’t lie either.]

Oceanos examined my distorted face with a caress-like gaze and leisurely rested his chin on his hand.

[Very well. I commend your courage and candid words.]

[Your Majesty…!!]

Neilos, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed in alarm. But Oceanos, disregarding him, shared his concerns:

[Innocent subjects getting caught in the storms has been a troubling worry for me too. But I couldn’t stop. War, by nature, involves losses as well as gains, doesn’t it?]

Oceanos rose slowly from his throne and stopped in front of me. Then he knelt on one knee to match my eye level. At this unexpected action, after a moment of murmuring, Neilos and the other retainers followed their lord and knelt in place.

[If, as you say, there’s a way to reduce the damage, I have no reason not to follow it.]

Oceanos reached toward the Hyperion bracelet. At his touch, the withered Phyllis stem gradually regained vitality. To me, stunned by witnessing this miracle, Oceanos whispered:

[However, I want to hear the apology and promise directly from him.]

It was so quiet that even Neilos, just below, couldn’t hear. When I frowned slightly, his smile deepened further.

[But since it’s dangerous for me to leave this place… I’ll go to land through you.]

“…Pardon?”

Oceanos took out a pearl-like bead from his long sleeve.

[If you eat this, your body will temporarily become mine. Your consciousness will sink deep into the sea, and I will freely take your empty body.]

Oceanos wanting to borrow my body to speak directly with Count Pergamon—this completely unexpected condition worried me. Suddenly, I recalled when I was enchanted by Ophelia. I know well how dangerous it is to lose control.

[Can you really surrender your body to me?]

But if this could change Oceanos’s mind…

“I will gladly do so.”

I readily accepted the bead and nodded. Soon, his snow-white lips drew a long arc.

[Attend me.]

[Yes, Your Majesty.]

[Prepare a place for this reckless human at today’s banquet.]

As soon as the servant receiving the order left, Oceanos personally lifted his veil. His face had perfect proportions and was beautiful, but a crack running from his forehead across his nose, like dry plaster, was noticeable. Strangely, red algae was blooming through that gap. Like moss covering a dead tree.

[Foolish one standing between magical creatures and humans. I know the outcome of this war, but for now, I’ll play along with your reckless plan.]

Between his snake-like curved eyes, water-colored pupils were clearly visible.

[A brief entertainment should be fine.]