Eldritch Horror Theatre

”I am very satisfied with how the two of you have performed.”

Amid Delanlai’s futile cries, the little mermaid’s dripping neck was already locked in Fu Qian’s grip.

Though it was both tough and slippery, Fu Qian controlled his strength perfectly, rendering her struggles completely useless without risking the slightest damage to her vocal cords.

”Honestly, I’m getting a bit of aesthetic fatigue.”

Following the praise, Fu Qian studied the little mermaid’s hideous face.

”It’s actually much more pleasing to the eye now.”

”Of course, as the party in question, you don’t seem to share the sentiment.”

Though it was theoretically a compliment, the little mermaid was clearly frightened out of her wits. Far from thanking him, she had even stopped screaming.

”Excellency, I know you aren’t like Lane and his crew. Such a small mermaid shouldn’t hold any value for an existence like you.”

Delanlai had finally caught his breath enough to speak again.”If you need someone to do something, please just tell me. Although my Rank isn’t high, the nature of my abilities means I can do far more in the sea than she can...”

”I can see that. Those fishmen didn’t seem very aggressive toward you, did they?”

Looking at the volunteering Delanlai, Fu Qian gave a slight nod.

”Yes... I can alter my body somewhat. It isn’t a simple transformation, but rather turning myself into a half-marine creature. Those fishmen are bloodthirsty, but they only target specific things.”

”Not bad. If not for that, I imagine I would have been waiting out here for you two a good while longer.”

Fu Qian praised him, though the words made Delanlai shiver.

Sure enough, he had been waiting right here for them!

It was precisely his own abilities that had delivered them straight into the man’s hands all the faster.

”Speaking of which, you followed the singing all the way here. What were you trying to do?”

Gesturing with a glance toward where Vivian was singing at the top of her lungs, Fu Qian continued his questioning.

”...After we came down from the tree, I had to find a way to bind her to keep her from running off.”

Though the man’s attitude was impossible to gauge, the fact that he was willing to communicate was enough. Regardless of whether Fu Qian already knew the answer, Delanlai quickly cooperated.

”I originally intended to soothe her a bit before taking her out of the Ash Sea. I never expected that in the blink of an eye, everything around us would change.”

”Just as I was trying to figure out what was going on, those fishmen started singing, and she began to struggle violently.”

”Considering I had completely lost my bearings, I brought her along to follow the sound and see what was happening. Later, I spotted the conflict out on the sea...”

”Quite the shock, wasn’t it?”

Fu Qian asked without a shred of modesty.

”It was...”

Delanlai had already realized that the massive commotion had been caused by the very man standing in front of him.

”In short, I didn’t dare get any closer. She was also a bit frightened by the sounds of the dying fishmen, so she settled down significantly.”

”Just as I was at a loss for where to go next, I heard the singing coming from this island.”

”She had quieted down, but suddenly reacted intensely to the voice. It made me suspect that the singer was a true High Tier being of her own kind, so I brought her over... I figured that even if I couldn’t find a way out, I might at least be able to find her some asylum.”

Not bad. That journey aligned fairly closely with what he had imagined.

And in a certain sense, his assumption about a higher Rank mermaid wasn’t exactly wrong.

Moreover, judging by their current posture, the man and the fish had subtly formed a bond of friendship. This druid really lived up to his class.

”Very well. Unfortunately, she won’t be receiving any asylum now.”

Fu Qian offered his satisfied critique a moment later.

”Can you truly not just let her go?”

Even knowing how mercurial the man could be, Delanlai still felt the sting of a shattered dao heart for a moment.

”She might possess some sentience, but she can’t even speak. I am confident that no matter the task, I can do it far better than she can.”

It was obvious to Delanlai that this man wasn’t after the mermaid for her materials, or he would have butchered her long ago.

”What about singing?”

Fu Qian asked, his face blank.

That, of course, was impossible...

The bold claim Delanlai had just made was crushed in the blink of an eye.

Seeing that the man wasn’t joking in the slightest, Delanlai was entirely at a loss for words.

”I’m fairly certain you can understand this conversation.”

Fu Qian ignored Delanlai. He looked down at the mermaid in his grip, a gentle expression on his face.

”Now then, allow me to teach you a bit of civilized wisdom.”

”What you need to do is very simple. Leave this place, and get as far away as possible.”

”Then, swim through this shattered sea, section by section, all while singing at the top of your lungs.”

”If the singing stops, or if the sound stays stagnant in one place, I will kill this guy.”

...

The first half of Fu Qian’s instructions had actually given Delanlai a rush of pleasant surprise.

He never imagined the man would actually let the mermaid go.

Yet a second later, he felt as if he was staring at a demon.

This was going to exhaust the little mermaid to death—and that was assuming she was lucky enough not to attract any predators.

The question was, what was the point of doing this?

Was it out of pure, sick amusement?

Still, despite his utter shock, Delanlai wasn’t in a rush to voice his objections.

”I know what you’re thinking. Once she returns to the sea, if she disobeys my instructions, it’s not like I’d be bored enough to hunt her back down.”

Fu Qian read his mind perfectly.

”That is exactly why I said I was so satisfied with your performance earlier.”

Fu Qian smiled.

”Although she isn’t human, I still believe this bond you two share will keep her going for a long, long time.”

”Won’t it?”

He directed that last question to the little mermaid as he aimed a mock execution gesture at Delanlai.

”What exactly are you trying to do...?”

Ignoring Delanlai’s desperate question, Fu Qian simply tossed the mermaid back into the water.

”You don’t need to swim too fast, but sing loudly.”

Tapping his own throat, he gave the staring mermaid one final reminder before gesturing for her to set off.

As it turned out, the mermaid let Delanlai down yet again. After only a second of hesitation, she plunged deep into the water.

Moments later, a moving melody truly began to drift across the sea.

”What am I trying to do...?”

Staring at the Thread of Attachment in his vision as it slowly shifted angles, Fu Qian finally answered Delanlai’s question.

”Naturally, I’m helping her find her way back to the right path and leading her toward the true opportunity of the mermaid clan.”

...

No matter how he looked at it, there was no logical reason for Vivian to let so many fishmen slip away.

So, for all those fishmen who had inexplicably escaped her territory, could it be that it wasn’t a pure accident, but rather the work of some special guiding force?

If that were true, then nothing would draw a reaction from that low-profile, benevolent entity quite like a little mermaid on the verge of going astray.

He himself might be able to leave at any time, but for the other characters trapped here—the little mermaid included—this was actually a viable path to survival.

”Of course, as a man of my word, you won’t die before then.”

Fu Qian glanced down at Delanlai’s mangled wounds.

”Let’s go. I know a place that might have something to bandage those wounds.”