Chapter 274
[16th Round] "Ulluuu?"
"Hmm... It looks like my orders have remained in effect for the past 2,000 years."
Due to my commands, the mermaids hunted men more actively.
The result was as displayed by the scene before me.
The Holy Kingdom had erected tall watchtowers on the way from the lake to the kingdom.
Stone walls were also built on the plains to prevent mermaids from entering the city.
But that didn't mean the Holy Kingdom dominated over the mermaids.
On the contrary, the mermaids had destroyed multiple fortresses and walls already, killing the female soldiers indiscriminately and taking no prisoners in the process.
At the same time, they recruited people to smuggle bachelors who dreamed of marrying a beautiful mermaid to the lake.
"This is a bigger problem than I thought, my psychopathic hubby."
"Why?"
I thought this was just the law of nature in action.
To not lose their boyfriend or husband to a mermaid, women needed to take extra care of both their external and internal beauty.
This was a race to survive.
I wouldn't call this a serious problem.
"The mermaids probably already occupy all the port cities."
The number of sea mermaids was incomparable with the number of freshwater mermaids. In addition, sea mermaids had a much higher average level.
And yet the freshwater mermaids, lagging behind in both quantity and quality, still managed to successfully fight back against the Holy Kingdom, the second-largest nation on the Central Continent, for 2,000 years.
I could now understand the situation.
"My territory is huge!"
My pride was initially hurt, as I thought there was only one castle left under my jurisdiction, but now, I realized all the seas and lakes of Fantasy were mine!
And all the mermaids who lived there were part of my army!
Their numbers were higher than the entire human population of this world.
I pondered deeply about it.
Just because I was the Demon Lord didn't mean I could only control demons and demon followers. That was made evident when Alex, a married man, became my henchman.
I had overlooked such an important fact.
"You're focusing on the wrong matter! Your territory's size isn't important right now. Humanity's facing an unprecedented crisis. There are too many mermaids, and they're too aggressive."
"So what?"
They wouldn't have to worry about running out of sashimi and salted fish with so many mermaids.
"I can't believe you managed to come up with the idea of using mermaids for food in this situation. This isn't the time for jokes, cowardly husband. Most of the Fantasy goods are delivered by ship, which sails on the seas and rivers. What do you think would happen to them with so many aggressive mermaids abound?"
"There will be more jobs available for women."
"Right. The supply of goods will be blocked—Huh?"
Ssosia blinked, looking dumbfounded and puzzled at the same time.
"What? Am I wrong? Mermaids only attack women when there are men around them since they perceive them as competitors. As with the troops of the Holy Kingdom, the merchants' guild is probably composed of nothing but women by now. Even the mercenaries guarding the ships are probably female."
"Oh..."
"The situation will turn out like him, otherwise."
I pointed my finger towards the lake, where a naked, muscular warrior could be seen. Green algae covered only the most important part of his body.
Ssosia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Thomas, commander of the Holy Knights and considered the strongest combatant of the Holy Kingdom, sided with the mermaids?"
"Quite naturally so."
Several mermaids wriggled like mistresses around Tomato, who had betrayed Saintess A and humanity itself. The sight reminded me of the seafood market!
The stats of Tomato, who had collected himself a harem, was very impressive.
▷ Race: Water Man
▷ Level: 794
▷ Job: Paladin (Divinity = Blessing ↑)
▷ Skills: Male Energy MAX, Endurance Z, Divinity A, Swimming A, Underwater Breathing B...
▷ Status: Empowerment, Blessing, Enlightenment
Tomato was nothing against Alex, who lived as a married man for more than 2,000 years, but he wasn't weak either.
What education course were we in?
The strength of the companions was much higher than in the 4th curriculum that I remembered.
"I wonder how Sieg would handle himself here."
Sieg, who had Z-rank Male Strength, would have a slight advantage, but his skill would be useless if there were no women nearby to support him.
It wasn't just Tomato, either.
"Return immediately to whence you came, female humans!"
"I love mermaids!"
"Do not deprive me of eternal happiness!"
"Leave us alone!"
A multitude of men, fancying the half-fish women, took up arms and confronted the women to protect the mermaids and the lake.
The environment was tense.
However, it didn't develop into a bloody war.
"Come back!"
"I'll be better for you! I promise!"
"Darling! Do not be like that!"
"Think about us!"
The women couldn't attack their boyfriends, who were taken away by their opponents. Hence, they tried to persuade them instead.
I didn't see any point in that.
"Why are they wasting their time screaming? They just need to grab their necks between the 6th and 7th vertebrae and drag them home."
It looked absurd.
"Cowardly husband, you're the only one being absurd here..."
"Shut up and find Aqua. I can't see her anywhere."
There was no need to look for Saintess A.
She was at the forefront of the Holy Kingdom's army, criticizing Tomato's morals.
It was hard to listen to.
Was she trying to impose love and friendship?
"Aqua isn't here. It looks like she's gone inland to hunt males instead of waiting for them to come to the lake. She's a mermaid, but she can actively roam overland for a long time on rare occasions."
"Hmm... I need to adjust my plans."
I wanted to stop Hero E from recruiting Aqua, but that was no longer necessary.
Even if he accepted Aqua, a rapist running rampant somewhere in the Holy Kingdom, Saintess A and Tomato would no longer follow her into his party.
So why were the heroes still heading to the Holy Kingdom?
I would understand if they didn't know, but even one visit to the 5th curriculum's Holy Kingdom was enough to understand its situation.
Yet the heroes still decided to head here.
I waited for Hero E to arrive in the Holy Kingdom to get answers.
***
"The Hero has arrived! You no longer need to worry!"
"Lanuvel is also here!"
Hero E and Lanuvel made it to the lake.
However, the representatives of the Holy Kingdom's army didn't give them a warm welcome due to their broken hearts.
Saintess A, who was supposed to follow the Hero according to the prophecy, wasn't much different from them.
'What are you going to do now?'
I was really interested.
Hero E, seeing their behavior towards him, smiled bitterly.
"Karma again..."
But he pulled himself together, regaining his confidence.
"At the bottom of this lake is an ancient giant named Ullullu, but he's no enemy. He is the true ruler of the lake, opposing the Demon Lord. However, he now slumbers due to the mermaids' lullaby. If it's interrupted, he'll be able to swiftly bring this protracted confrontation to an end."
"How can you confirm this?" Asked Saintess A, the representative of the Holy Kingdom's army. After hearing his plan, her expression was no longer as gloomy as before.
It was now full of hopes and dreams.
"Aqua will serve as my proof."
"The brutal rapist who turned many of the Holy Kingdom's heroes into weak-willed slaves?"
"Spilling her blood into the lake will awaken Ullullah from his deep slumber."
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try."
So this was how they'd be led to Aqua?
Hero E and Saintess A roamed all over the Holy Kingdom, trying to trap Aqua as she hunted males.
The bait was Hero E himself.
Rumors spread in the towns and villages where Aqua might have been hiding.
"A remarkable hero has arrived in City A of the Holy Kingdom!"
But it was too obvious for a trap! Only an idiot would fall for it.
The problem was Aqua was an idiot. When it came to mating with a man, she was no smarter than a goldfish.
"Found it!"
Aqua jumped into the trap without hesitation.
As soon as she found the Hero sitting naked on one of the hotel beds, she jumped off the roof of a nearby building and entered his room through the window like a cat thief.
"Ah!"
"Heeheehee! Be quiet. I'll be gentle with you."
Aqua, dressed only in a blue dress without any underwear, immediately pounced on Hero E.
She dominated him in strength.
▷ Race: Mermaid
▷ Level: 847
▷ Job: Hero (Experience 200%)
▷ Skills: Spear Mastery ZZ, Lust Z, Stealth Z, Surprise Attack A, Versatility A...
▷ Status: Excitement, Lust, Frenzy
She had no transcendental skills, but her level was much higher than Hero E's.
In addition, her beautiful body and face, paired with her silky smooth skin, drove men crazy.
Hero E couldn't resist.
Aqua abused the defenseless man over and over again.
1, 2, 10, 20, 50 times ...
Their battle lasted for two days, with Hero E emerging as the winner.
"Great job, Hero!"
"You finally caught the rapist!"
"Thanks to you, there were no casualties."
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude, Hero."
"You have saved all the bachelors of the Holy Kingdom!"
The female soldiers who grabbed Aqua praised Hero E.
By the time she realized it was a trap, she was already so exhausted that she couldn't move a finger anymore, let alone resist or escape.
"Oh... I lost..." Bound, Aqua sounded remorseful.
But she wasn't discouraged, all thanks to Hero E's "Holy Sword," which didn't lose strength even after two consecutive days of combat.
"Aqua, I'll give you a chance. Be my companion. Then I will not ask you for the sins you have committed."
"With joy, Hero!"
She agreed as if there was nothing to think about in the first place.
However, Saintess A didn't agree with this decision.
"I cannot allow this, Hero. Do you know how many heroes we have lost because of this mermaid? How many tears were shed... How much alcohol was drunk..."
"I understand how you feel, Saintess, but I need her."
When Hero E got out of bed, the tip of his "Holy Sword" pointed right at Saintess A.
"Ahem... I am allowed to join the Hero in his journey out of principle. Hence, even though you haven't passed the Holy Sword test yet, I will accompany you anyway for the sole purpose of monitoring Aqua!"
"Welcome, Saintess."
Hero E successfully recruited Aqua and Saintess A.
Ssosia and I dumbfoundedly looked at each other.
"And all thanks to his useless skill?"
"Perhaps it's just that Sieg is a nerd who doesn't know how to properly use his Male Strength."
"Maybe."
Male Strength, as an auxiliary skill, led to excellent results when recruiting female companions.
Sieg simply couldn't use it properly because he only had Sylvia in his head.
Hero E's squad had already begun to smell like a harem.
Lanuvel, Saintess A, Aqua.
Their beauty, of course, pleased the eyes of men, but it was the same set of women who made my 1st round difficult. Hence, I didn't envy him at all.
A bleak future awaited him!
"Aqua, pour your blood into the lake."
"What? But then Ullullu—"
"I know, but Ullullu is my ally. The blood of the Hero's descendant will awaken this ancient creature."
"How do you know?"
"I received this knowledge after reaching the brink of death three times!"
That was a blatant lie. He didn't reach any threshold but simply died three times, trying to reveal the secret of this lake.
"If Ullullu wakes up, he will be furious."
"You said you would be my companion, right?"
"I just thought I should warn you. Heeheehee!"
She acted the same way around me. Aqua could easily betray her people to satiate her lust.
Making a small incision on her arm, she let her blood drip onto the surface of the lake. Not long after...
"Ulluuuuu!"
A catfish-headed giant appeared above the surface of the water.
The mermaids raised a cry and jumped out of the lake. However, the soldiers who were waiting outside the lake with spears barred their escape routes.
Their situation became desperate... but it didn't last.
The power of love was stronger.
"Ulluuuu?"
▷ Race: Titan of Chaos
▷ Level: 1
▷ Job: Water King (Lake → Blessing ↑)
▷ Skills: Destruction ZZZ, Blessing ZZ, Fortitude Z, Chaos Z, Charge A...
▷ Status: Irritation, Anger, Confusion
Ullullu's level, who finally got his freedom, immediately dropped from 999 to 1.