I Became an Evolving Deep-Sea Creature-Chapter 33

Chapter 33. Trade
Yorum realized that he had been unconscious for a long time.
The scenery around him had changed. He was now inside a massive structure he’d never seen before, and a mermaid with her face hidden beneath a helmet was tending to him.
-Me… unconscious?
Instinctively, he checked himself. Everything was still in place.
It was disgraceful. He had fainted while holding the UV Thermal Gun, a special-grade arcane weapon capable of killing even myth-class creatures.
Seeing him awake, the Deep Sea mermaid who had been caring for him stepped away to call her master.
Not long after, a voice echoed—it was the Sea God Kydron.
-You’ve awakened?
-…Thank you.
Shame was shame, but the fact remained that he had been helped.
-That mermaid who just left knows a great deal about poisons. Your body is strong, and since you were resisting Abysarion’s venom, she said there was no need for further treatment.
Yorum turned his head toward the Deep Sea mermaid and gave a slight nod.
-You came from beyond, didn’t you? From a “very deep place,” is that right?"
-That’s what the beings here call it, yes. We, however, refer to it as the Second Universe. But before that, I should repay you for saving me.
-No need. Helping me slay Abysarion was already repayment enough. In fact, I owe you. And as repayment, I’ve decided to assist with your work. I’ve discovered something. Bring it in.
At his words, several Deep Sea mermaids appeared, dragging in a sand shark, bound tightly with chains.
-While you were unconscious for a month, I made inquiries about the jelly octopus.
In truth, Yul had once witnessed the Sea God, but to Kydron, Yul was merely an insignificant creature, someone whose existence he didn’t even recognize.
-This Elder sand shark claimed to have seen that octopus.
The summoned shark was bound in enchanted chains, still radiating defiance.
-Let me go, you filthy mermaids!
-Why do you resist my servants while staying within my domain?
-Sea God Kydron! I do not serve you! You’re not the rightful ruler appointed by the Turusains!
-The Turusains have long vanished with the flow of time. I am the master of this realm now.
At that, those holding the shark thrust their enchanted spike into its body.
-Gaaaargh!
-How dare you blaspheme before the Sea God!
-He could crush a wretch like you into a flat stingray in an instant, yet he speaks mercifully to you!
-My lord, this creature still won’t behave. Shall we make it more compliant?
Kydron nodded. After an appropriate amount of “persuasion,” Yorum finally obtained the information he wanted.
-Grrrk… I’ve seen that jelly octopus. Ugh, it was moving with its whole body turned bright red.
-Hm? Wait, that sounds right, Kydron.
-Stop now.
Unable to endure the pain any longer, the Elder sand shark spilled the rest.
-It attacked our young near a hydrothermal vent, so we fought back. Then it shot upward at tremendous speed, breaching the surface! The pressure difference must’ve torn it apart completely!
-No, probably not. Still, that’s good information. My thanks for your cooperation, Kydron.
-Hm. Seems you’ve got what you needed. Dispose of it, boys.
-Yes, my lord.
At Kydron’s gesture, the Elder sand shark was dragged away. Yorum watched expressionlessly, then asked:
-By the way, what is “Heaven and Earth Resonance”? I heard that phrase when we fought the Sea God.
-There are times when such a period arrives. I cannot say precisely when, but there are moments when the heavens draw close to one another.
-The heavens?
-Up above. When that happens, all kinds of creatures run wild. Especially those driven up from the Deep Sea after losing their battles below. Each time, I simply suppress their rampage.
Yorum didn’t quite grasp Kydron’s words, but since he had obtained the information he sought, he left soon after.
* * *
After leaving the village, Yul began scooping up Krelsite from the patrol area, piling it high while biting down on the rope tied to a giant clam to drag it along.
The clam trailed behind him like a string of dried fish. Thanks to its buoyancy, even that heavy thing could be carried with relative ease.
‘First, I’ll head to the Kingdom of Frangia.’
He could have gone straight to Skilg Brig Island, where Ian lived, but he decided that, by order of priority, he should show it to the king first.
There were several reasons for that.
Ian lives in seclusion, but if word gets out that there’s Krelsite on that island, who knows what’ll happen?
Krelsite was a gem used to adorn the Emperor’s crown. If the amount Yul carried were to spread around Skilg Brig Island, it could become dangerous.
So Yul decided to divert attention. He would sell it to the King of Frangia.
And he would keep aside a portion of the Krelsite for Ian.
That way, public attention would focus entirely on the Kingdom of Frangia, flooded with Krelsite, while the isolated Skilg Brig Island, where Ian lived, would remain safe.
It was unlikely anyone would find that remote island anyway—but while setting up a safety measure, Yul also made sure to profit, dispersing a fair amount of Krelsite onto the mainland.
That was the plan.
‘Since I’m the sole provider of this material to begin with, I can adjust the price however I like. But once I sell this much, it won’t stay a rare metal reserved only for the Emperor’s crown.’
* * *
Merchant Hugh Retel heard a faint echo inside his head and made his way to the familiar docks he frequented.
‘Me, an orca’s representative!?’
At first, he had been surprised when Yul appeared, bringing strange treasures from the sea. But as he managed Yul’s growing assets, a thought had crossed his mind.
‘Have I… become a subordinate of the orca? That makes no sense. I’m human, for crying out loud.’
He had even considered asking the Sun King to replace him with another representative.
But that idea vanished the instant he opened the giant clam Yul had brought.
-It’s Krelsite. I brought about sixty kilograms.
“J-Just… just a moment, please. I can’t handle something like this on my own.”
-Ah, I suppose I should show it to the Sun King first?
That was the custom: priceless goods like these had to be presented to the king before being sold.
Yul didn’t object to that. He had quite a few dealings with the Sun King himself, after all.
Even Hugh Retel, though he managed Yul’s finances, was ultimately a servant of the Sun King.
After sending a messenger to the palace, Hugh couldn’t hide the tremor in his voice.
“H-How in the world did you even acquire this?”
-It was deep under the sea. You people treat this Krelsite like a treasure, so I came to sell it.
Yul spoke the prepared line smoothly. Afterward, he spent some time chatting idly with Hugh.
-How do I open an account at the Royal Bank?
“It involves signing a contract written on pimlin paper, a paper imbued with magic. That’s how the account’s authenticity and stability are secured…”
A kind of magical contract, then.
-I’ll do it.
“But, uh, the authentication device for that process is in Iorisel, near the capital of the Kingdom of Frangia. That’s the only place where new accounts can be created.”
-What? Then I have to go into the kingdom myself?
“Umm… the authentication device isn’t allowed to be taken out of the country.”
-That’s discrimination against sea creatures!
“P-Please calm down, sir! There must be a workaround, perhaps by hiring a proxy mage! Nobles without magical power usually do that…”
-How am I supposed to open an account through an agent? Do you know what could go wrong!?
While they were bickering, an unexpected commotion arose—the Sun King himself appeared, flanked by his entourage, to see Yul.
“Oh! My friend Yul!”
The Sun King claimed he had rushed over the moment he heard that Yul had come for a treasure trade.
Yul wanted to ask if the man had nothing better to do, but in truth, the Sun King had ignored all his official appointments just to come here.
-Ah, Sun King. You’re here?
“You may call me Jang, hahaha! I often think of you, my friend, but I didn’t expect you to show up just like this!”
The Sun King approached with a broad grin. Behind him, a hooded man with cold, shadowed eyes followed silently.
‘That one’s a mage.’
He stood in an ideal position for guarding the king, most likely a royal bodyguard mage.
“Ah, this man is from the Flanders Assassin Guild. Tried to kill me once—failed, of course. So, I hired him instead.”
-You hired an assassin?
“A king has many enemies. And, as it happens, this one was looking for someone worthy to serve.”
Unbelievable. No wonder he was called the Sun King—his generosity and boldness matched the name.
“So you’ve brought treasure!?”
-That’s right, Jang. Take a look.
At Yul’s gesture, the Sun King leaned in to examine the metal. Then he turned to the assassin mage.
“This is Krelsite, yes?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Since it has the property of blocking magic, there’s no doubt about it.”
The mage, who seemed quite taciturn, answered only the question asked.
“How much would this be worth, then?”
“Approximately… ten thousand ducats.”
“Hm? How much did you say?"
“Uh… ten thousand.”
The Sun King’s eyes quivered at that.
“W–Well, I could afford it with my personal funds, of course.”
-I’m not planning to sell it for that much.
Yul hadn’t brought the Krelsite to fetch a high price in the first place.
He intended to sell it for a high price at first, then gradually lower it over time.
-It’s a monopoly product that only I can sell, but it’s actually a common metal under the sea.
That was true. There were plenty of deposits scattered across the ocean floor.
“Common… under the sea?”
-Go down roughly a hundred meters, and you’ll find some. Go deeper, and there’s plenty more…
“Haha! Then it is a precious material, at least to us.”
Indeed, with human technology, there was no way to mine it, so Yul planned to charge humans a fair but profitable rate.
-I’d like to trade it at a reasonable price for magic stones. How about it?
“Splendid! Excellent, my friend!”
-There’s just one problem, though. I tried to open a bank account, but Hugh said I couldn’t because I’m a sea creature.
“What nonsense is this!?”
The Sun King shot a sharp glare at Hugh Retel.
“N–No, Your Majesty! I merely said that the authentication device can’t be taken out of the bank…”
-I don’t feel like going onto land right now.
“I command it! Bring the Royal Bank’s authentication device here at once! It is a disgrace that my friend cannot open an account in our nation’s bank!”
‘Ahh, so this is what power feels like.’
When an absolute monarch calls you his friend, everything moves effortlessly, huh.
Surrounded by soldiers equivalent to an elite guard unit and a company of gnome mages, Yul completed the magic contract using the transported magical verifier.
A new notification appeared in his status window:
【Contract】
3. Royal Bank of Frangia Account Ownership Contract
[Mutual agreement contract. The account is authenticated through a magical device that identifies the soul. It allows you to open an account at a bank in the specified nation, with full ability to deposit and withdraw funds.]
-There are gnomes in the kingdom?
“For strict financial management, none are more suitable than gnomes. Ah, time’s up, I’ve canceled all other appointments, but there’s still one important affair I must attend.”
-Take care, Jang.
“Stay well, my friend. Next time, I’ll invite you to my palace! Hahaha!”
After parting ways with the Sun King, Yul began his transaction.
And who did he sell to? None other than the Sun King himself.
The monarch was already planning to use a good portion of the metal to forge an entire crown made of solid Krelsite.
‘Remarkable.’
Even though the buyer was his superior, Hugh Retel handled the trade with impressive enthusiasm, ing every detail of the negotiation with the royal representative.
The Sun King knows how to choose his subordinates well.
In the end, Yul sold the Krelsite at a reasonable price.
The payment was deposited directly into his new account, and he planned to invest it later when the time came.
With that done, Yul set out toward Ian’s island, just as he had originally intended.
But he remained unaware that behind him, a faintly shimmering distortion in space was quietly following his trail.