Chapter 193

We landed in a cove.

No matter how many times I observed my surroundings, it was still a strange sight.

This was deep underwater and even though it was supposed to be located deep beneath the continent of the sphere continent, it was brilliantly illuminated by sunlight, just like a beachside in midsummer.

White sandy beaches and tropical palm trees.

The sound of the waves gently lapping against the shore was soothing to the ears, and the occasional splash of water against my feet felt cool and comfortable.

“What the hell is going on here?”

As I checked my surroundings, I couldn’t help but think to myself.

My head was already filled with a lot of question marks.

If you don’t explain to me soon, I’m going to collapse with a fever.

“The sphere continent is, as the name suggests, a sphere.”

It was Gasha, wife of Prince Gatol, who answered me.

She got off the back of Teseara-san, who was in her dragon form, and spoke to us with a gentle smile as we looked around the sky and our surroundings.

If it weren’t for the black string bikini that made it difficult to look at her, there would be no problem at all, but the way she was so bold that even Shouhei, who was not so concerned about the appearance of the opposite sex, couldn’t help but look away.

“The original shape of the sphere continent is a huge circular mass of earth floating in the sea. So if you dig straight down toward the ground, you will surely end up in the ocean. However, it takes a lot of equipment, money, and time to dig out that hard outer shell from the surface, but we, Dailan, have a path made by the sea dragons, so as long as we are guided in this way, we can reach this island.”

“The power of the Sea Dragon King pushes away the surrounding seawater, and the magic tool we have offered, the Sunlight Pillar, is supplying sunlight and oxygen. This is a deep-sea area that has now turned into a dungeon. Without the Dragon King’s guidance, other races would not be able to enter so easily, so it is the perfect place to hide and dwell.”

“I see. If they’re this thorough, they’ll never be found.”

Prince Gatol added a breathtaking supplementary explanation that only a married couple could provide, and I was somewhat convinced.

As the rat sage had told me before, the original dragon species was a race that lived in hiding.

Take Tusk Crag, for example.

Aoi and her mother used to live on that huge inverted triangular monolith, which was at least 100 meters above the ground.

It contained a dungeon inside, and although it was difficult to get to the top, there were several ways to enter.

If you simply trudged through the dungeon and looked for all the entrances, or made full use of helicopters and airplanes, you could easily reach their nest at the top.

It is a practical means, although it requires money and the ability to traverse the dungeon.

But here, in this deep sea, it is not so.

It took more than 10 minutes to descend to this depth on the Teseara-san’s back.

And it was so fast that I felt like I was in free fall.

I am not certain because of my lack of knowledge, but I am sure that we are at least 2,000 meters below the surface.

There is no way that ordinary equipment and personnel could reach such a place.

Not only is there water pressure and depth, but there are also many marine creatures and aquatic monsters around.

No matter how many lives we have, they will not be enough to get us here.

“Kunpei-kun, look at that.”

Mikuma pointed to a dome of seawater that was being pushed apart by a mysterious force.

“What’s wrong?”

The light from the sun pillar was so bright that I tried to block the light with my hand while staring at where she was pointing to.

“A-a big whale-like monster, it was shredded in an instant.”

“Huh?”

At her words, I looked carefully again.

But all that was there were some fine, trash-like particles of something and a stream of red mist-like water that quickly dissipated.

“There’s nothing there?”

“Um, yeah. It disappeared right away…”

Mikuma, with her mouth gaping open in dismay, was frozen in place as she looks up at the domed ceiling.

“The currents around this island can chop even the largest monsters to pieces. No one but us will be able to get in. This is the safest hiding place for dragon species in the world.”

Teseara-san, who had returned to her original form was behind us before we knew it and explained the situation to us.

“We have our residence in a cave in the center of the island, and Carolia-sama is waiting for your arrival there. Would you like me to show you around?”

“Y-yes.”

I responded to Teseara-san, who smiled and pointed to the place with her palm, with a stupid smile on my face.

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“Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you! I’ve been waiting forever!”

The woman who greeted us was the woman who had been projected from that crystal.

She wore a revealing light peach dress and had long, soft, green hair.

She wore a tiara shaped like coral on her forehead and looked happy to see us with a carefree smile like a child.

“Hello to you little ones there, and to the human children, right? Oh, maybe the new servant and his servants, too. I haven’t had this many guests on this island in hundreds of years! I’m so excited!”

The woman was breathing roughly and jumping up and down.

We were led to the innermost part of a large cave that had opened up in the center of the island.

It was a shimmering place with rocks resembling transparent crystals and corals, faintly illuminated by gentle light.

The interior of the cave was made to look like a palace, even though it was inside a cave, creating a majestic atmosphere.

The floor was covered with pure white marble-like tiles, and several gorgeous chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

It was truly a room that was suitable to be called the king’s room.

We were overwhelmed by its out-of-place atmosphere, and from the moment we entered the room, we were in a state of shock.

Prince Atol and Prince Gatol were indeed royalty.

Even though they look like they’re wearing crazy swimsuits, they matched the place perfectly.

“Carolina Liselle! You’re acting improperly, please stop! Your dignity of a king is nonexistent!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Although I’m the Dragon King, it’s not a big deal.”

Is that a throne, or what?

Teseara-san rushed toward the Sea Dragon King, Carolia Liselle, who was sitting on a large shell-like chair in the center of the spacious room with her legs together.

“If you, the head of the sea dragons, behave in such a manner, the entire sea dragon tribe will be disrespected! The Dailan royal family is here, too, and they’re watching us!”

“Yaan, Teseara-san is noisy as soon as she comes back. Look, look, you are all surprised, aren’t you?　Come here, come here.”

Paying no attention to Teseara-san’s sermon, Carolina Liselle beckoned us toward her.

Prince Gatol and his wife, Gasha, were the first to step forward from us, who froze, looking at each other’s faces, unsure of how to move.

“It’s been a long time. Carolia-sama. The eldest son of King Guadal, Gatol Ketsa Agul Dailan here.”

“And his wife, Gasha Dailan. I am very pleased to see you in such good health and beauty.”

At the sight of the two kneeling on one knee a short distance away from the shell throne and hanging their heads, Atol, who had been in a daze, came to himself and knelt down in the same manner on the spot.

Kayone and Utai followed suit, kneeling down on the ground.

“It’s an honor to meet you! I am Guadal’s twelfth child! Atol Ketsa Koato Dailan, the newly appointed Sea Dragon’s servant!”

“And his servant and first consort candidate, Kayone Inteira!”

“And the second consort candidate for His Highness Atol! Utai Inteira!”

Well, there’s some kind of a heavy introduction going on… maybe we should kneel down as well.

I didn’t greet Yule with such an awe-inspiring greeting. In fact, I was even blown away and knocked over by her even though it was our first meeting.

“Oh, well, well, well, you are all so polite. I’m glad to hear that Guadal’s children are doing well. ────── Eh? Twelfth? Did that kid have that many kids?”

The edges of her mouth twitched.

“Why are you surprised now, Carolia-sama…”

Teseara-san, who was watching the situation, put her hand on her forehead and let out a deep sigh.

“King Dailan has eleven princes and two princesses among his four queens, as this Teseara reported to you every time they were born?”

“T-thirteen children!? Oh, I don’t know if that’s true! I have a strong impression of Guadal-chan as a cute little kid, so I’m surprised that I can’t picture it at all! No, you know what? I know Gatol-chan, Tetol-chan, and Mianate, the eldest daughter, because they come to greet me at New Year’s!”

“Hahaha, if it were up to Carolia-sama, even His Majesty would still be treated like a child.”

Prince Gatol, dressed in speedos, laughed cheerfully at the flustered Carolia Liselle-san.

Atol, on the other hand, was frozen in place with an indescribably awkward smile plastered on his face.

‘Well, well, well! Welcome, Atol! And Kayone and Utai! You all don’t have to be so respectful. Come on, come on, stand up, stand up! Carolia-chan will be very troubled if you act so standoffish!”

“U-umm…”

Atol, bewildered at being urged to stand, glanced at Prince Gatol with an unusual expression on his face.

“Then we’ll take your word for it. Come on, Atol, you stand up too.”

Prince Gatol stood up first and offered his hand to Atol.

“Okay, brother.”

“Ah, since she’s saying that. It would be impolite to refuse to accept her words.”

“I see.”

At that being said, Atol stood up timidly.

“Well! Now, those cuties in the back who are looking at me so reservedly! You’ve come a long way!”

Carolina Liselle-san pointed her finger at us, who had been keeping quiet.

“Well, well, well! You’ve really grown up, Aoinoun-chan! Rougerichte-chan! You’re so, so, so beautiful!”

“I’m sorry Carolia-sama. I don’t remember anything at all.”

Aoi responds with a wry smile to Carolia-san as she slowly makes her way through the large hall.

Jaja, in her arms, was sucking her thumb and staring with interest at someone she was meeting for the first time.

“It’s no wonder you don’t remember me! Because the last time I saw Aoinoun-chan was when she was just a little hatchling. I remember how surprised I was when Yuriel-chan, that tomboy that no one could do anything about, came to this island with a baby in her arms!”

“I’ve heard that my mother took me to visit the sea dragons when I was little.”

“It was so cute, you know? Like this. You squeezed my fingers with your little hands, didn’t you? I tickled you and you laughed happily. But that little girl has already become a mother, hasn’t she? Dragon species don’t care much about the passage of time, but they are different when it comes to watching their young ones grow up, aren’t they?”

She sounds like an old lady in the neighborhood.

“You remember Rougerichte-chan, don’t you?”

“No, sorry. I remember meeting the second-generation head, but I don’t remember meeting the eighth-generation head. Did I meet you here as well?”

Rouge, holding Nana, tilted her head curiously.

“Oh my, is Grandma Ersch still alive?”

“She came to the Earth Dragon Forest about 200 years ago. My mother was surprised. I believe Aoi was there with her. Do you remember?”

“Oh, was I?”

When asked by Rouge, Aoi replied with a wry smile.

“The second-generation head, huh? She was a special person even among the Sea Dragon Tribe. I wonder what she is doing now… Oh, no, no, no. Now it’s about the kids in front, right? Rouge could stand up and talk already, so I thought you would remember, but you were still very small. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t remember. Oh, yes, we met during our last audience at the Sanctuary, remember?”

“Sanctuary? I’m sorry, Carolia-san. I don’t seem to remember anything.”

“Yeah? Well, since the world clash happened, we, the dragon species, have been in a lot of turmoil. Your mother──Rubynein-chan was also very busy, so it’s not surprising that you don’t know about the sanctuary that we can no longer reach now.”

Carolia Liselle pondered something while crossing her arms and looking down

I, Shouhei, and Mikuma could not follow the conversation and still could not utter a single word.

Hmmm. I wonder.

I feel like I’ve heard that word sanctuary recently.

I can’t remember it well, because it’s like a hazy blur in the corner of my head.

I think it was something very important, but I can’t remember what it was.

“I’ll leave it at that for now! Can you introduce the new sky dragon twins and Aoinoun’s husband to Carolia?”

Carolia Liselle’s sparkling eyes locked on me sharply.

Hey, why does she look so happy?