At the same time that Shia was boiling seawater to obtain salt for the grand feast for the mermaids, Cheon Danaa had awakened the body lying dormant on the Korean Peninsula and entered the Industry-Academia Cooperation Group, where the main members of the Fishing Club gathered.
Her stride was so unrestrained that it was as if she owned the place.
Of course, if Yeonseo found out that Cheon Danaa’s body was in Korea, it would likely cause quite a stir, but if she could obtain the mermaid’s pearl, losing this body to Yeonseo wouldn’t be a particularly painful loss.
To be fair, Cheon Danaa had invested a significant cost into this body, so she had no intention of just letting it go.
“Stop! Who…?”
“Hold on! Are you by any chance the master?”
The guard responsible for the secret facility had quite a loose tongue.
They should know that not just anyone gets called ‘the master’—if they’re saying stuff like that, everyone would know Cheon Danaa was coming.
Well, it didn’t matter.
If it had been one of Cheon Danaa’s own subordinates, she wouldn’t have let such a title slip. However, this person was merely a guard hunter belonging to the Fishing Club’s Industry-Academia Cooperation Group.
Cheon Danaa shrugged without a word, and that alone made the guard hunter’s chief bow his head at a 90-degree angle.
“Welcome! I apologize. You’ve changed your appearance, so I didn’t recognize you…!”
Though Cheon Danaa had no escort, among the average A-rank and above guard hunters, there was no one who could treat her carelessly.
In Yeonseo’s case, she held the title of the strongest in humanity, but when it came to world hunter rankings, Cheon Danaa was ranked second, a force to be reckoned with.
Among S-grade hunters, she was regarded as having power far superior to other hunters, and most importantly, as the owner of San Guild, whispers claimed that Cheon Danaa’s strength was even greater than that of most national powers.
“I will guide you right away. Please follow me this way.”
Glancing at the guards, who were bowing at 90 degrees, Cheon Danaa headed deep into the most secluded area of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Group.
As she passed by offices used for various departments and the administration, a large, lavish space appeared, adorned with ornate pomegranate-colored lighting and elegant wallpaper with sophisticated folds, all floored with reinforced glass.
This place was a luxurious penthouse, where the Fishing Club always hosted distinguished guests wishing to purchase San Guild’s lions or the flowers of the deep sea.
This was because it was a place where the Seongun Guild, having rented the [Dimension Shock Anchor] from San Guild, could operate the machine dock toward the Deep Sea Palace.
Right in front of them, they could witness the real-time harvesting of the flowers of the deep sea, and if lucky, the machine anchor ripping apart dimensional rifts would also snag useful mermaids as a bonus.
Some hunters in Brazil would buy nominal amounts of flowers of the deep sea just to haul up all the mermaids along with them.
And to the Fishing Club, Cheon Danaa was the guest of the utmost importance, deserving the highest treatment.
Originally, the core of the Fishing Club, including the Industry-Academia Cooperation Group, the Korea Resource Management Corporation, and the Hunter Resource Coordination Committee, was just a simple government department with no power externally. However, the support of San Guild allowed the Fishing Club to monopolize all rights and information regarding the flowers of the deep sea in the southern sea area, thereby growing considerably within the politics and economy of Korea.
Cheon Danaa sat in the most prestigious seat of the penthouse as if it were her personal room in Shanxi Province. No sooner had she seated herself than suited members of the Fishing Club began to pour in.
“Greetings, Master!”
“Oh, Cheon the Master! What brings you here during such a busy time…?”
However, from Cheon Danaa’s perspective, she didn’t care about the Fishing Club or the gazes of other human beings intoxicated by the flowers of the deep sea and the mermaids.
From the start, she had little interest in the rare resource that was the flowers of the deep sea, nor did she care what happened to the foolish and weak mermaids.
Thus, Cheon Danaa ignored the flattery and nonsensical praises in her ears.
As they exclaimed things like, “Thanks to Master Cheon, we have become this prosperous,” or “I will do anything if that’s what the Master desires!”—such heartfelt loyalty rang hollow and meaningless to her.
In the first place, Cheon Danaa, being a Korean politician, had no obligation to bow low to the guild master of another country. She had no expectation whatsoever of those who revered her as ‘Master Cheon,’ despite not even being part of her guild.
To her, the Fishing Club was worth no more than using them when useful and tossing them in the trash when no longer needed.
“Yeonseo must be having a tough time too, trying to embrace such hopeless fools.”
“It’s a fortunate day that Master Cheon has arrived; our side has managed to host a new magnate.”
“Though compared to the Master, one could hardly call them a magnate.”
“Now that you’ve come, the Miss Yeonhwa will surely be quite impressed by our gathering!”
Ha, now that I think about it, they were utterly unaware of how deeply intertwined their fates with San Guild were.
Though it wasn’t exactly a story for the public, as a politician, shouldn’t they at least know the tale of the hero who saved this country?
Cheon Danaa grimaced at the sycophants.
In truth, the Fishing Club’s politicians were behaving so subserviently today because of Shia’s broadcast streaming live on Switch.
As she filmed the Deep Sea Palace in real time, seemingly having struck a friendship with the mermaids, the Fishing Club had attempted to cut her stream multiple times, but Shia had proven to be a more formidable figure than they anticipated, standing her ground.
‘If Cheon Danaa suddenly calls for a collaboration without warning due to that wretched broadcast or some trivial matter, we won’t be able to handle it…’
‘Better watch our backs just in case…’
That left the Fishing Club scrambling to placate Cheon Danaa, as she had appeared unannounced, and since Yeonhwa had expressed interest in joining, they were striving to smooth the situation over.
Their goal was to smoothly allow Cheon Danaa’s visit and somehow take Yeonhwa into the Fishing Club’s ranks.
“Ah, those Seongun Guild fellows. They’re already preparing to activate the dimensional shock anchor.”
At this, Cheon Danaa’s lips curled upward, and her eyes narrowed mischievously.
“I heard that Miss Yeonhwa is on her way here as we speak. Hehe, I didn’t expect a meeting between the leader of the world’s largest guild and the heir of Korea’s foremost family to come about in such a way.”
“Shall I pour you something to drink before the operation commences? I managed to bring some good liquor before coming…”
“That sounds delightful.”
“Would you like a drink too, Master…? Master?”
“What? Where did the Master go?”
However, the moment the Fishing Club members gazed at the seat where Cheon Danaa had been, she was nowhere to be found.
○○○○
“Cheon Danaa?”
Shia found herself momentarily lost in thought at that name.
It sounded familiar…
Ah.
Right.
San Guild.
It was indeed the owner of San Guild who had tried to abduct her mother, Yoonjeong.
What on earth was the owner of the world’s largest guild doing here at the Deep Sea Palace…?
‘Oh, this is the woman responsible for turning my sister and our fellow mermaids into such a pitiful state…’
Yet, unbothered by the resentful glares directed at her, Cheon Danaa took a step forward, and a strange wind began to flow through the abyssal cave.
Normally, there would be no wind here, let alone the lack of oxygen due to Shia starting a fire, making it a place where even high-ranked hunters would struggle to stand; yet Cheon Danaa moved and spoke unbothered.
‘Did she take the space… or rather, the air itself with her? What is going on?’
Shia narrowed her eyes, observing the oddly distorted space around Cheon Danaa.
It was similar to Yeonseo’s technique.
When Yeonseo moved to extreme altitudes or places devoid of air, she brought the habitable atmosphere and air along with her.
Cheon Danaa seemed to operate in a similar manner.
She was continuously replicating the surrounding environment in layers to create optimum conditions for activity around herself.
“Why are you here, Cheon Danaa?!”
The holler from the Eyeless Mermaid Princess echoed through the depths.
“Be quiet.”
Cheon Danaa glanced at Shia and the Mermaid Princess with a face devoid of the reaction one would expect, deeper and darker than the abyss of the sea.
“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much.”
Her voice was soft and calm, yet the Eyeless Mermaid Princess glared at her as though she would devour her whole.
“I thought it was just a usual occurrence. I didn’t think something I could look forward to would appear in this deep sea, filled only with foolish mortals and naive children. Ever since the serpent that crawled the sea swallowed it, nothing has come back.”
And from her back sprouted numerous hands, cracking wildly and unfurling like shards, inducing uneven transformations.
“But today, something whispers to me from within. It beckoned me to come here. The moment I entered this vast expanse of the deep sea…”
Cheon Danaa smiled with one eye visible beneath the blindfold.
“I had no idea I would find what I had been searching for all along.”
The hands unfurled, and her awakening eyes lit up.
“Yes, it’s you.”
[Replication – Grand Altar]
“You possess the pearl!”
Then, mouths opened wide.
The eyes engraved on her hands zeroed in on the Eyeless Mermaid Princess like an eager target.
[In your hands are my hopes, so pour your hatred upon the rock I have made.]
[I will offer the skull of a lamb for all that I do not desire.]
[P-RL-Reiam!]
[duafovnbhoasdq!]
[As-a-s-a-a-a-a-a-sn-a-]
[M-p-QI-aq-!]
[0100110100101100100110]
“….!”
‘Theresa’s multi-spell chant?’
A tempest of distant starlight-like lightning and molten flames began to erupt from around Cheon Danaa’s hands.
Mouths spouted separate incantations, and the results of those incantations misted like dew on different hands and fingers.
The speed was incredibly fast, and the Eyeless Mermaid Princess hurried to move her hands, attempting to control the corpses, which was the necromancer’s primary ability, but…
‘There’s no corpses to control…!’
“Well, this is a rare opportunity indeed.”
She typically relied on a legion of countless corpses to deter outside invaders.
If the Eyeless Princess had been in her prime, even Cheon Danaa might have had difficulty achieving her objectives while fighting on the home turf of the Eyeless Mermaid Princess.
However, due to the battle arising from the misunderstanding with the Fallen Saint Shia, there were no healthy corpses left to command.
‘Oh, what the hell…!?’
Yet the Eyeless Mermaid Princess didn’t have time to think.
The incantations finished, and an immense power was unleashed from her hand, set to obliterate its target.
And the instant numerous bizarre attacks surged forth from Cheon Danaa’s hands, Shia snapped her fingers without hesitation.
[Miracle – Orphan’s Sanctuary]
Kwaaaaang!!!!
Fire, ice, unseen psychokinesis, lightning, and electricity intertwined and clashed against Shia’s holy barrier.
The shockwaves temporarily short-circuited Shia’s drones, halting their function.
As a result, viewers engrossed in Shia’s broadcast were ejected into the dark, shadowy void of space.
In case of an emergency, her drones had been enveloped with her divine power; yet Cheon Danaa’s vast powers managed to overwhelm even that barrier.
After a few seconds, Cheon Danaa tilted her head, realizing her attack had failed.
‘Huh. A-rank flames, psychokinesis, and water manipulation awakened—seven of each—led by an S-rank psychokinesis awakener. I used one A-rank heart as fuel, and yet… they blocked it?’
Cheon Danaa wore a serene smile and finally got a good look at who had withstood her attack.
At first glance, she resembled a mermaid wearing a jellyfish hat, but Cheon Danaa instinctively felt this was not the mermaid she recognized.
Amidst this realization, her mind was racing.
Who is she?
I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere…
Tentacles sprouted from the jellyfish hat, and eerie eyes stared back at her.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Thud!
‘What is happening…?’
All of a sudden, Cheon Danaa’s heart began to pound uncontrollably.
It was not her feelings, but rather the emotions of something implanted within Cheon Danaa’s very being.
‘I haven’t completely broken her yet…’
Cheon Danaa gently rubbed her lower abdomen while trying to suppress the rising hatred and anger, feeling utterly perplexed.
Nevertheless, unable to fully extinguish her rage, it persistently inundated her with thoughts.
Kill. Kill.
Kill. Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill!
Yet, at the whispering whining of a child, Cheon Danaa merely smiled.
So, you’re rising up now that I’ve let you off easy.
“Be quiet.”
Putting strength into suppressing it, the thoughts that had sought to tear her mind apart vanished in an instant.
Yes, now this is fun.
Since implanting it, this was one of the most intense emotions it had ever exhibited.
Soon the atmosphere shattered with an exhilarating sound, and Shia smiled back at Cheon Danaa, who sought to sabotage her feast preparation.
The moment Shia wore that smile, Cheon Danaa realized the identity of the one who had blocked her attack.
‘Ah, now I see… I know who you are.’
Fallen Saint Isia.
Korea’s Returnee.
Cheon Danaa recalled the recent failure in bringing back a candidate named Yoonjeong located in Korea.
Not once, but multiple failures—it had slipped from her mind, yet she recognized that face from the peripheral connections surrounding Yoonjeong.
Isia.
The Fallen Saint.
Thanks to her openly streaming broadcasts, gathering information on her was relatively easy, and she never viewed her as a threat due to the lack of direct contact.
However, Cheon Danaa and Shia had unknowingly been entangled together, spiraling closer and closer to meeting each other.
Through Yoonjeong, through guild members, through both direct and indirect major incidents, accidents.
Or through elves, through Yeonseo.
Thus, as they now faced one another for the first time, both Cheon Danaa and Shia felt a familiar sentiment creeping upon them.
Ah, I don’t like this person.
“Immediately throwing an attack? Perhaps as a thinker and civilized being, you ought to act a bit more appropriately?”
Shia spoke with a face intent on expunging prejudice, hatred, and all petty emotions—a calm façade.
However, the once smiling expression of Shia turned icy and solemn as she eyed Cheon Danaa.
Yes, she was bound to hold some prejudice.
No, it was inevitable that she would come to dislike her.
As Shia and Cheon Danaa glared at each other, the little atmosphere and puddles of seawater in the abyss swayed.
“In truth, though this is our first meeting, I already dislike you.”
“Is that so? How coincidental. I also don’t care for you much. I don’t know what kind of abilities you possess for playing mermaid in this sea, but…”
With those words, Cheon Danaa began to multiply her hands further.
Fingers blossomed from the hands, becoming arms to create even more hands, and the eyes sprouting from hands all glared at Shia while they continually spilled forth incantations.
These incantations were part of Cheon Danaa’s magic and superpower—a process of duplicating and multiplying the air and atmosphere to dominate this deep-sea dungeon.
Indeed, the air and wind were steadily flowing outward from Cheon Danaa, while the ocean water slowly crept toward Shia, not even brushing near Cheon Danaa’s feet.
“I did intend to engage in a conversation.”
In response, Shia, too, smiled.
“I see no need to stall. It would be favorable for all to fulfill our desires and end this without incident.”
“That’s true. Wouldn’t it be nice if everything could be resolved without conflict?”
Yet both were acutely aware.
Their smiles towards one another were devoid of regard for the other, and there was no merit in conferring even a shred of thought to the other’s desires.
Sensing it would not easily end, Shia moved forward, guarding the Eyeless Mermaid Princess behind her.
The Eyeless Mermaid Princess, realizing she could not aid as the enemy stood right before her—the one who had instigated the ruin of her kin—bit her lips hard enough to draw blood.
“Princess.”
“…I know. It feels inappropriate, but Fallen Saint, I leave it to you…”
“No, that’s not what this is.”
Shia gently grasped the Eyeless Mermaid Princess’s hand.
The touch erased any weakness, making her feel vibrantly alive.
“A rare opportunity?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I’m talking about the chance to repay your sister’s grudge.”
“……”
“However, truth be told, the way a saint dismisses those she dislikes and decides to kill them at will… doesn’t seem very saintly to me.”
“I… that’s true…”
“So I want you to take it upon yourself.”
Yet, this statement held no value to the Eyeless Mermaid Princess.
Having lost her sister and inherited her power and burden, the younger sibling wasn’t as competent or omnipotent as her sister.
All she could do was clutch her hatred and curse while controlling the bones and corpses left behind by her raged and dead, and without any corpses to command in their absence, the Eyeless Mermaid Princess had to bow her head in shame.
“But I can’t be of help now… There are no corpses left to control… Without corpses, I’m powerless.”
“Why not?”
“Why not, you ask…?”
“Because they’re right here.”
Shia took the Eyeless Mermaid Princess’s hand, bringing it to her own chest.
At that moment, the Eyeless Mermaid Princess realized what Shia was alluding to.
“Ah………..?”
“Here lies the fallen saint’s body, the very means by which the Necromancer Princess can exact retribution upon your sister’s enemies.”
A body slightly cold.
It moved like it was alive, yet its heart did not beat,
The body of the Fallen Saint.
No matter how much she might despise someone, a holy figure would never kill another.
But if you want to avenge your sister, make a choice.
“A rare opportunity?”
The chance to control the body of the Fallen Saint.
