Chapter 59

"Baby!"

The water woman changed direction and ran to Noem.

I was a bit worried, but it turned out to be unfounded. The Demigod Oceaneus stopped politely in front of Noem, took the bottle containing her child, and embraced it.

"Oh, baby! My baby...!"

...

Huh?

The ominous atmosphere that had been lingering around dissipated like the tide receding. It must have covered the entire town. The oppressive heaviness created by Oceaneus's anger and sorrow had completely vanished.

"Are you hurt anywhere? You must have been scared and lonely. I'm sorry for being late...!"

The water goddess, who had been terrifying like a demon just moments ago, was now brimming with maternal love.

"Thank you for saving this child."

Moreover, she was very understanding.

She expressed her utmost gratitude to Noem.

"I can tell from the child's mental wavelength. It's overflowing with gratitude and affection for you. You saved it when its life was in danger. Thank you so much, really, really thank you."

"You always lose your composure when it comes to your children, don't you?"

"Oh, are you Abinion?"

The water goddess reacted to the ghostly woman who had appeared with a thud.

"What brings you here after so long? It's been centuries, hasn't it? I don't often come to land, so we inevitably drift apart."

"You only come to land when a significant portion of it is flooded. It's best for the living beings if it doesn't happen."

Is she saying something scary?

But Noem did a great job. He managed to recreate water conditions extremely close to the natural habitat of the jellyfish... Nereis's larva, ensuring it could survive.

I did a good job holding Oceaneus off for that short time! ...But how long was it really?

...Huh?

The eastern sky is bright?

"Thanks to Ryuya, I had enough time to complete the alchemical synthesis! Thank you!"

Noem runs over, but... huh?

How long have I been fighting?

All night!?

"Not just Ryuya, but the Craft Guild of this town and the adventurers also helped! The adventurers quickly guided the evacuation, so it's a victory for everyone!"

"I see."

I pat Noem's head, who is excited.

The fact that we managed to protect the town is not the achievement of any one person, but the result of everyone in the town doing their best to do something. That's what makes me proud.

"Truly, I am grateful. This time, due to my own fault, one of my 6,327 beloved children was taken away while I was looking away for a moment. I was so worried, I couldn't even feel alive."

"In this case, the ones who can't feel alive are the people around you. They would be in trouble if they were targeted out of frustration."

Oceaneus's tone is so inconsistent, it's confusing. Where did the terrifying demon-like presence go?

"You made a mistake, Oceaneus. To have one of your precious children taken away, who could have done it?"

"That's what I was troubled about. If I knew, I would have immediately gone to them, sunk them, mixed them up, and made them confess everything..."

Ah, still scary.

"Still, I'm glad my child is safe. But I want to make sure this never happens again. Do you know who the culprit is?"

The chilling coldness of her question is terrifying.

Noem and I straighten our backs and tense up.

"No, I don't know! I'm sorry I couldn't be of help!"

"Even the smallest detail is fine. Are you perhaps covering for someone?"

"Absolutely not! The A-rank adventurer who brought the Nereis was the one, but I don't know anything else!"

"Hmm, an adventurer..."

Oh.

I shouldn't have said that. Did I let my fear get the better of me?

"Hey, Oceaneus. Jumping to conclusions is one of your bad habits."

Abinion intervenes. Thank goodness.

"If you hear that an adventurer took your child, you might kill all the adventurers on land. But the two benefactors in front of you are also adventurers. If you act rashly, you'll repay their kindness with ingratitude."

"That would be a problem."

Was she really going to do that!?

"Just be more tactful. As the investigation progresses, it will become clearer who in the adventurer's organization committed the act. Then, give the guilty party a punishment fitting their crime. Of course, the punishment for challenging a demigod is nothing less than the death penalty."

"That's right."

Do they really get along that well?

I'm reminded again that they are transcendent beings beyond human comprehension.

"But don't misunderstand. I am truly grateful to you. This child seems to have taken a liking to you. Yes... I should give you a gift as a token of my gratitude."

Saying this, Oceaneus's water body ripples, and something is spat out from within. It's a slender vase with a delicate, ivory-like white color.

"What is this...?"

"A divine artifact created by my power. It will produce an infinite supply of water."

When Noem takes it, water indeed gushes out of the mouth of the vase. It keeps overflowing, even when you think it should have run out.

"Whoa! How do I stop it? It would be a disaster if this happened inside a house!"

"It will stop if you will it to. Similarly, you can make it produce water when you want it to."

"Wow, ...really, it works!"

"The water from this vase is completely pure. As an alchemist, you need a lot of clean water, right?"

"That's right! It will be a great help!"

Noem has received a great gift.

Is it too good that it might attract the wrong kind of attention?

"I've memorized your soul wavelengths, so if it leaves your hands, it will just be a regular vase. I don't want to help someone with a tainted heart."

"You're thorough..."

"Since I've properly expressed my gratitude, I'll be on my way. I need to take this child home..."

Finally, she's leaving. Every time this transcendent being visits, it's an emergency, so it's a relief to see her go.

"Ryuya, Noem, I, the demigod Oceaneus, will never forget your deeds. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to call on me."

She remembers our names already.

Scary!

"And I owe Abinion a favor..."

"It's fine, fine. I just enjoy following interesting humans. I had a lot of fun this time too."

"Is that so? I thought you, being one of the most hedonistic and carefree demigods, were up to something else... but you're just prioritizing the moment's enjoyment."

So that's why Abinion was sticking around with us.

I had a vague idea, but...

"Ryuya, we demigods are embodiments of natural cycles. The cycles of water, wind, earth, and the sun and moon, personified as god-like beings. We are beings with omnipotence comparable to the great transcendent beings outside this world... the Eight Dragons, the Four Elements, and the Two Poles."

Y-Yes...!?

"One of them, Abinion, has taken a liking to you. You must be a special human."

"Not just 'special,' but you are a human chosen by a dragon. Your combat power far surpasses ours."

"Well, that's impressive."

It sounds so casual...?

"Then, I'll take my leave. I hope to see you two good humans again. I will never forget the kindness or the grudges I've received..."

And with that, the demigod Oceaneus returned to the sea.

What was thought to be a scheme by the A-rank adventurer Soeides that could have destroyed the entire country was miraculously resolved without any casualties.

...Huh.

Come to think of it, what happened to Soeides?