Trash Prince and Ice Queen 10th Re - Life-Chapter 172: The Merman Kingdom, Lenoria

Meanwhile, Ard stood on the docks with Varvir and Durgat, watching a line of massive galleons being loaded with troops and supplies for the crossing to the northern continent. Claudia, Ainsley, Irwin, and Irina were busy observing the harbor merchants selling goods they had never seen before, eventually taking a break at a nearby tavern. Ard could see many mermen walking along the docks; they moved on finned legs that would merge into fish tails once they entered the sea, and they wore transparent helmets filled with seawater. They appeared to be trading, bringing in seafood to exchange for food supplies from the land.

"Hmm... so there are quite a few mermen wandering around here, huh? Since when? I thought mermen were only legends," Ard said to Varvir and Durgat.

"They began appearing about 500 years ago, Your Highness. Initially, we were also shocked to see them wandering through our villages," Varvir replied.

"Yep, that’s right. It turns out their kingdom is right beneath us. At first, we thought they were attacking, and we almost came to blows with them. Fortunately, the goddess Lucathan was there," Durgat added.

"Oh, so Luca was the one who introduced the demons and mermen. It’s a good thing we didn’t lock her up 3,000 years ago," Ard remarked in his head.

Then Ard turned to look at the demon army—consisting of vampires, arachne, succubus, red demons, orcs, and beastmen—as they marched in formation onto the prepared galleons. There were about ten ships in total, each with a capacity of 300 men. Suddenly, he was startled by the sound of sobbing and turned toward Varvir.

To his surprise, Varvir was shedding tears, deeply moved by the sight of his soldiers boarding the vessels. Meanwhile, Durgat, standing right beside him, looked embarrassed and covered her face, turning away to look in the other direction.

"Hey... what’s with you?" Ard asked, shocked to see a massive Red Demon with giant horns with his face completely drenched in tears.

"Finally... we’re going to attack the Orthus Empire and face Goddess Ophelia once again, just like in the old days. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a thousand years, and it’s finally happening. I’m just so moved," Varvir said, his voice trembling as he sobbed.

"Good grief, get a hold of yourself. You’re a mighty demon general who can wipe out an entire army on your own, and yet here you are crying like a little kid. Please just ignore him, Your Highness," Durgat said, clearly annoyed as she punched Varvir’s massive arm.

"Oh, so that’s how it is," Ard muttered.

"I’ve been waiting for you to return for a thousand years... thank you for coming back, Your Highness... waaaaah!" Varvir cried out, sobbing.

"Aaargh... shut up, you crybaby demon!" Durgat snapped, finally losing her patience as she jumped up and whacked the back of Varvir’s head.

"Why’d you hit me, Durgat? That hurts," Varvir said, clutching his head with both hands.

"Shut it! Stop crying, you’re embarrassing us... you big baby," Durgat retorted, looking utterly exasperated.

"Hahahaha!"

The two of them turned to see Ard laughing in front of them. Ard then patted Varvir’s massive arm and rested his hand on Durgat’s shoulder.

"You two really haven’t changed at all. I’m so happy to be back with you guys again," Ard said, wiping away a stray tear from laughing so hard.

"Your Highness," Varvir and Durgat said, both wearing wide smiles, their faces clearly reflecting how deeply moved they were.

Suddenly, "splash," something burst out of the sea behind Ard. He spun around immediately, and as a shadow loomed over him, he looked up to see Luca performing a mid-air somersault, silhouetted against the sun. Luca landed gracefully in front of Ard, Varvir, and Durgat, striking a proud pose like a gymnast finishing a routine, her arms stretched wide.

"Luca?" Ard asked.

Varvir and Durgat instantly dropped to one knee before Luca as she stood before Ard.

"Hello, Ard. Um... where are the others?" Luca asked.

"Resting at the tavern. Why?" Ard asked, confused.

"The Merman King wants to meet you all. Can you come with me to the merman kingdom, Lenoria?" Luca invited.

"Huh... by diving? How are we supposed to get there? Besides, why not just me?" Ard retorted.

"Don’t worry, I’ll shield you all with my magic. Let’s go to the tavern and pick up the others because the Merman King wants to meet humans. Oh, except for Irina—she doesn’t need to come," Luca said. Luca then looked at the kneeling Varvir and Durgat. "Hey, you two get up and wait here, okay? I’m borrowing your king," Luca said casually.

"As you wish, Goddess," Varvir and Durgat replied, standing up at once.

Ard then led Luca to the tavern, followed by Varvir and Durgat, to meet Claudia, Ainsley, Irwin, and Irina while they were resting. Once inside and informed of the plan, Claudia, Ainsley, and Irwin looked shocked.

"Alright, in that case, I’ll wait here," Irina said.

"Irina, I am appointing you as my general, following in your mother’s footsteps," Ard declared.

"Huh... what do you mean by that, Ard? You actually knew our mom?" Irwin asked, confused.

"Hmm... after hearing your mother’s name from the Dragon God and having my memories from when I was Azroth fully return to me, it is clear that your mother was one of the demon generals who served Azroth back then. I am sorry for only telling you now; I was just waiting for the right moment," Ard answered.

"Your Highness... are they Liloria’s children?" Durgat asked, studying the faces of Irina and Irwin.

"Hmm, no wonder I wasn’t surprised when Irina first arrived here, since you look just like Liloria, even if you are half-human... I never asked all this time, but it turns out you really are Liloria’s child," Varvir said, appearing to finally connect the dots.

"That’s right... the name of my mother and my little brother was Liloria... unfortunately, she was killed when my brother and I were still small, which is how we were separated, as I was raised by the Dragon God," Irina said, looking down while Irwin stood by her side, his hand resting on her shoulder.

"Yeah... I know what happened to Liloria. I just never expected that she had two children," Durgat said.

"What’s wrong with you? I told you a long time ago that Irina—who loves visiting our village—had to be connected to Liloria, even if she is half-human. Though, I only just confirmed she was actually Liloria’s daughter now that His Highness has said it," Varvir scolded.

"Oh, that’s right. You did mention that. Well then, welcome to the fold, Irina," Durgat said, reaching out his hand.

"Thank you, Durgat," Irina replied, shaking Durgat’s hand. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The room fell silent for a moment until an impatient Luca slammed her hand on the table, making everyone jump.

"Hey... don’t take forever! Come on, we have to go," Luca said, sounding annoyed.

"Alright, take it easy," Ard replied. Then he turned to look at Claudia, Irwin, and Ainsley. "You three are coming with me," Ard said.

"Understood," Ainsley and Irwin replied.

"Of course I’m coming," Claudia added.

"Irina, please help Varvir and Durgat out, okay?" Ard said to Irina.

"Leave it to me, Ard. And thank you for clearing everything up," Irina said with a smile, taking Ard’s hand.

"You’re welcome. Alright, I’m leaving everything in the three of your hands for now," Ard said to Varvir, Durgat, and Irina.

"Understood, Your Highness," the three of them replied.

Then Ard headed out with Luca, Claudia, Ainsley, and Irwin, making their way back to the docks. Once they reached the edge of the pier, Luca raised her hand. Ard, who had his arms around Claudia, Ainsley, and Irwin, was immediately enveloped in a transparent bubble that looked like a giant soap bubble. They entered the sea as Luca’s legs merged into a fish tail, and she began swimming, pulling them deeper into the ocean.

Ard, Claudia, Ainsley, and Irwin could see a vast variety of fish swimming all around them as they continued their descent. After a while, as they entered the deep, dark reaches of the ocean, Ard and the others spotted numerous lights below. As they looked closer, their eyes widened; beneath them was a city built from coral, forming massive, towering structures like a metropolitan city. It was illuminated by countless lights that appeared to be glowing algae from the ocean floor.

"Wow," Ard, Claudia, Ainsley, and Irwin muttered simultaneously in awe.

As they began to enter the city, they saw the daily life of the mermen, which seemed much like life on the surface. Some used vehicles made of giant shells pulled by seahorses, and there were many vendors along the streets selling various goods and foods.

The merman citizens, most of whom had pale skin, fish-like lower bodies, and fins on their ears, stopped what they were doing and stared in amazement as the bubble containing humans passed them by. Luca, who was pulling them along, turned to see Ard and the others still starstruck, unable to believe that something from legend was actually real.

"Welcome to the capital of the Lenoria Kingdom... the kingdom of the mermen," she mouthed silently.