“This island had been mine since the beginning of time.”

Triton suddenly pulled Livia close, wrapping an arm around her waist. She felt his cool hand through the thin, damp fabric of her clothes. His fingers, which had been tracing the clinging fabric, slipped inside through the gap in her clothing.

“One day, humans settled here without permission, but their demeanor was respectful, so I let them be. Realizing it was my island, they built altars and temples to seek my consent. Seeing them go to such lengths, I decided there was no need to drive them away.”

As his fingertip glided over her bare waist, a shiver ran down her spine. Her breath threatened to escape through her clenched teeth.

Startled, she tried to pull back, but Triton held her tightly and whispered.

“I know that not all humans are rude and greedy.”

The moon, hidden behind thick clouds, slowly peeked out. A few strands of moonlight slipped through the clouds and glimmered on her hair.

Was the goddess watching them? Did he not care if the goddess saw them like this? A fog of confusion clouded Livia’s mind. She felt strange.

Weren’t they in a special relationship?

The memory of that day when he seemed to be arguing with the goddess flashed by. Though she couldn’t hear their voices, the goddess was clearly angry. Yet Triton showed no signs of agitation.

In fact, after the goddess left, hadn’t he calmly pleasured himself, even knowing Livia was watching?

Recalling that shocking scene, she couldn’t bear to meet Triton’s eyes. When Livia quickly turned her head, his hand followed, gently grasping her chin to make her face him.

“Some humans are wise, some are innocent, and some love their families so much that they willingly walk into hell.”

The moonlight illuminated his face, as if to announce its presence.

“This island is mine, and everything born and raised here belongs to me. Those children were also born on this island. I was merely protecting what is mine…”

Yet Triton seemed utterly unconcerned as he pulled Livia even closer and whispered.

Could a voice have shadows? Somehow, his deep, low voice seemed to cast a shadow, leaving Livia feeling dizzy.

By now, what she had only vaguely suspected became entirely clear.

Ah, this sea god wasn’t just toying with her; he was trying to seduce her. He seemed determined to play with her thoroughly.

If that was the case, she needed to stay alert.

Someone once said that a mermaid’s song has the power to drive humans mad.

Livia recalled his true form. So immense and majestic that it was impossible to take in at a glance, his scales glittering as if adorned with countless treasures.

“Livia.”

That leisurely, flowing voice, like a song, definitely held the power of a mermaid. She had to struggle not to be swayed by that deceitfully gentle voice.

“…What kind of trial is this?”

She bit her lower lip and glared sharply at Triton.

“This isn’t a trial. I’d rather… I’d rather be torn apart by disgusting insects all over my body than endure this strange trial.”

“What’s so strange about it?”

“I wasn’t hurt at all. It didn’t even hurt! This was too easy to be called a trial…!”

“But it’s confusing, isn’t it?”

His words silenced her.

“It must be quite uncomfortable, irritating, and distressing.”

Her breath caught in her throat. His relaxed smile was annoying, but she couldn’t think of anything to counter it.

“Isn’t that what a true trial is?”

His soft voice whispered in her ear, leaving her no choice but to listen. Even with laughter mixed in, his voice sounded charming. Her pounding heart felt uncomfortable. Livia glared at him with reddened eyes.

“…Give me another trial. Like the first one you gave, just something dreadful and disgusting.”

“To think you’re in a position to receive trials and yet you’re making demands. How audacious.”

Despite his words, he continued to smile. Suddenly, he reached out and brushed her lips. Red juice stained his pale fingertips.

Watching his fingers, he licked them with his tongue, savoring the tart juice, completely ignoring her embarrassed expression. He whispered cheerfully.

“Fine. I’ll choose the next trial to suit your taste.”

***

Triton kept his promise.

Without giving Livia a moment to recover, he thrust her into a new ordeal. Surprisingly, Livia felt somewhat relieved. The more she encountered Triton, the more something within her subtly trembled.

It was a barely perceptible vibration, but she sensed that if left unchecked, something significant might occur. His mischievous smile and unnecessarily kind tone were too dangerous to keep close….

“Livia, Livia….”

Every time Triton called her name like that, a chill ran down Livia’s spine. It felt as if his enchanting voice was consuming her. So, this was preferable.

Being cast into a bone-chilling cold and a darkness so profound that calling it black wasn’t sufficient.

“…Someone, come out. Come out!”

Livia shouted into the darkness. It seemed better to close her eyes and see nothing than to stare into a void where nothing was visible.

No matter how much she yelled, no response came. It was so cold that her teeth chattered painfully. With nothing to cover herself or hide behind, she endured the cold with her bare body, holding out against time.

She felt the sensation in her hands and feet fading. Even though there was no wind, why was it so piercingly cold?

It was cold. So cold. And worse than that was the darkness that seemed to devour all light.

Livia slowly opened her eyes. She opened them to escape the darkness, but what lay ahead was still darkness. No, it was an even more dreadful darkness than when her eyes were closed. The mind she thought was okay became less okay as time went on.

…Why is no one here? Why can’t I see anything? How long, just how long do I have to stay here…?

She tried running to find an invisible wall and scratched the floor with her nails. She screamed until her voice was hoarse, but nothing came back.

Could it be that she had already arrived in hell? Was this the very hell within hell?

Livia shivered, crouched down. All her senses faded into a distant blur. More terrible than breaking bones, bleeding, or feeling like dying of hunger was this moment, right now.

With her eyes tightly shut, she thought of those she missed.

Dad, Iason, Lete.

Dad, Iason, Lete.

Dad, Iason, Lete.

Dad, Iason, Lete.

Ah, Mumu.

Yes, our Mumu.

Mumu….

Dad, Iason, Lete, Mumu….

Dad, Iason, Lete, Mumu….

…Would she never see them again like this? No, the truth was they were already dead, so it was only natural not to meet them again. Meeting Mumu had been a stroke of luck, but she shouldn’t expect such fortune with the rest of her family.

Dad, who had met Mother again, Iason, who would be a ferryman in the underworld, and Lete. Lete, who was captured by the witch.

Lete….

“Sniff.”

Livia rubbed her tears away with the back of her hand, then crawled on the floor with her barely moving hands and feet. She crawled and crawled, fumbling to find anything, pleading to be let out of there.

To end this ordeal, she begged to be told what to do.

Please tell me what exactly I need to do, please.

Please!!!

“Triton!”

At that moment.

With a pop, the darkness shattered.