His thoughts receded like the tide.
Klein was indeed quite weary.
He relit the soothing incense and lay back on the bed.
The faint herbal scent filled the room, dispelling the lingering unease.
His eyelids grew heavier, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
This time, he slept peacefully.
No dreams, no deep sea, none of those messy things.
When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already peeking through the gaps in the curtains, spreading a golden band of light across the floor.
Klein stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, confirming that he was still alive and in his own room before letting out a sigh of relief.
...When the sun rises, forget about yesterday...
He rolled out of bed and walked to the window to pull back the curtains.
It was a beautiful day outside.
The sky was azure, the clouds were thin, and the trees in the manor swayed gently in the morning breeze.
The servants had already begun their day's work, and the distant neighing of horses came from the stables.
Everything was normal.
So normal it made one wonder if the experiences of last night were just hallucinations.
Klein looked back at the papers on his desk.
The scribbled handwriting was still there, proving that the events of last night had indeed happened.
The edges of the paper still bore the dried marks of sweat, reminding him of the suffocating feeling of nearly drowning in the deep sea.
At the moment he saw that handwriting, Klein’s throat tightened instinctively, as if cold seawater were rushing in again.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to look away.
The plan to directly contact the evil god had essentially come to naught.
Klein’s level of existence was not yet high enough to speak directly with such a creature.
At least, not for now.
Perhaps when he grew stronger and learned more about the secrets of this world, he would be qualified to touch those things.
But now?
It was better to start with reality.
However, there was another path in reality.
The merchant from the west coast's Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce, Eric.
Klein walked to the wardrobe and began to change his clothes.
Right, that fellow had made an appointment yesterday; he would come today to continue discussing cooperation.
Eric was from the west coast, from that sea area polluted by the evil god.
His chamber of commerce operated there year-round; he surely knew more about the ocean than Klein did.
Furthermore, the name Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce itself was quite interesting.
Silver scales?
As Klein buttoned his shirt, images from last night’s dream flashed through his mind. Merfolk, sea goats, dragons... which one had silver scales?
Or did "Silver Scale" refer to something else?
An existence he didn't know about yet?
Or did Eric know of their existence?
Klein straightened his collar and checked himself in the mirror.
His reflection looked normal enough—no dark circles, no haggard expression.
Good, at least it wouldn't be obvious at a glance that he had nearly been driven mad by an evil god last night.
He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
The hallway was quiet, sunlight streaming through the windows and casting bright squares of light on the floor.
The sounds of servants talking softly and the crisp clinking of tableware came from downstairs.
Everything was so peaceful.
But Klein knew in his heart that this peace might not last long.
When Klein went downstairs, Raymond was already waiting.
The steward stood straight as always, but Klein noticed his gaze lingered on his face longer than usual. There was a faint trace of worry in that scrutinizing look.
"Young Master, breakfast is ready." Raymond’s voice was as steady as ever.
"Also, Mr. Eric from the Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce sent word that he will arrive around ten o'clock this morning."
Klein glanced at the wall clock.
It was eight-thirty.
Still an hour and a half.
"I understand." Klein nodded.
"Is the guest hall ready?"
"Everything has been prepared." Raymond paused. "Young Master, did you... sleep well last night?"
Klein’s steps faltered slightly.
Raymond’s observation skills were always sharp; hiding things from him wasn't easy.
"Not bad," Klein said nonchalantly. "I just had a rather strange dream."
"A dream?" Raymond’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.
"Yes, I dreamed of the ocean." Klein smiled, trying to keep his tone light. "Probably because I’m meeting a merchant from the west coast today."
Raymond did not respond immediately.
His gaze lingered on Klein’s face for a few seconds, that scrutinizing look making Klein feel as if he were being seen through.
Ultimately, Raymond simply gave a slight nod.
"I understand."
Klein could feel the steward’s gaze still hovering over him, as if confirming something.
This feeling of being cared for was a bit subtle.
"By the way, Raymond," Klein suddenly spoke. "When we meet later, help me keep an eye on Eric."
"Keep an eye on what?" Raymond’s expression turned serious.
"Any unusal detail." Klein’s tone also became solemn. "His expressions, his movements, the tone of his voice... do not miss any detail. Especially when the topic involves the ocean or those rumors from the west coast."
Raymond nodded.
"I understand." His voice lowered slightly. "If he really is a problem..."
"Just observe," Klein interrupted him.
Raymond glanced at Klein and eventually nodded.
Klein walked into the dining room and sat at the table.
Today's breakfast was hearty: bread, fried eggs, bacon, cheese, and a pot of steaming black tea.
He picked up his cutlery and ate slowly.
His mind was busy calculating how to talk to Eric.
He couldn't be too direct, or it would arouse suspicion.
But he couldn't be too roundabout either, or he wouldn't learn anything.
He needed to find a suitable entry point.
Perhaps he could start with business cooperation and then naturally lead the conversation toward the situation on the west coast?
Klein took a bite of bread, his gaze falling out the window.
The morning light filtered through the glass, casting mottled shadows on the table.
He suddenly remembered the deep sea from his dream last night—the dark waters that sunlight could not penetrate.
If Eric really knew something...
If the Silver Scale Chamber of Commerce was truly related to those things...
Then today's meeting might be more interesting than he had imagined.
And more dangerous.
The corners of Klein’s mouth curled up slightly.
The sunlight was lovely.
Hopefully, today would be productive.
While Klein was lost in thought, Ophelia walked in.
She arrived a bit later than usual today.
Klein looked up, and his gaze paused for a moment when it landed on her.
Unlike her usual style of letting it hang loosely, today's hairstyle... was a bit special.
Her long golden hair was pulled back high into a clean, sharp ponytail.
A few stray strands fell naturally by her ears, making the lines of her profile appear even more distinct.
Under the accent of this hairstyle, her knightly valor actually took on a different sort of charm.
Sunlight shone in from the window, casting a soft glow over her golden hair.
Klein stared for quite a while.
Ophelia sat down across from him, seemingly noticing his gaze.
Her fingers unconsciously brushed the end of her ponytail, her voice carrying a slightly unnatural explanatory tone:
"Martha helped me style it. She said this... suited me better."
After saying this, her gaze shifted elsewhere, falling on the teacup on the table.
The tips of her ears were a bit red.
Klein withdrew his gaze and took a sip of tea.
"It does suit you quite well," he said naturally, but in his heart, he truly felt this hairstyle looked better than usual.
That sense of softness within her valor was unexpectedly... hard to look away from.
Ophelia’s fingers tapped the table twice.
She didn't respond.
But Klein noticed the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
The atmosphere was quiet for a few seconds.
Klein cleared his throat, deciding to bring the conversation back to business.
"By the way... that evil god you saw back then, what did it actually look like?"
Ophelia put down her cutlery.
She was silent for a few seconds, her gaze falling on the table knife in her hand. The blade reflected her slightly furrowed brow.
Klein could see that her body grew tense as she recalled those images.
"On the surface of the sea..." she began, her voice lower than usual. "First, there was fog. A thick fog with a fishy stench. That smell... it was like something had been rotting in the seawater for a very long time."
She paused.
"Then the color of the water changed, turning into a... very wrong green. It wasn't an ordinary seaweed green, but a... glowing, viscous green. It was like..."
She frowned, seemingly searching for a proper description.
"It was like the color of a festering wound."
Klein did not interrupt her.
"I saw things swimming in the water. They were massive and numerous." Ophelia’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the knife, her knuckles turning white. "Those things... they had scales, tentacles, and wings. But they weren't separate; they were all joined together."
"Joined together?"
"Yes." Ophelia nodded. "It was as if... many creatures had been forcibly stitched into a single whole. The body of a sea serpent, the tentacles of an octopus, and wings like a bat’s. The joints between those parts were constantly bleeding. Or rather... oozing some kind of black liquid."
Her voice dropped even lower.
"But the most terrifying part was its head."
Klein could see Ophelia’s hand trembling slightly.
This reaction was rare.
After all, she was a Knightess who had slain countless enemies on the battlefield.
"That head... it had no eyes and no mouth. There were only dense, packed holes, and black liquid was flowing out of every single one. When that liquid dripped into the sea, the water began to boil."
Ophelia looked up at Klein.
"Those holes... they could speak."
Klein’s fingers paused on the table.
"Speak?"
"Yes." Ophelia’s voice was strained. "It wasn't a human language, but I could... feel what it was saying. It was calling out to something, summoning something."
She took a deep breath.
Klein’s fingers remained still on the table.
This was completely different from what he had seen in his dream last night.
He had seen merfolk, a sea goat, and that massive dragon.
But the thing Ophelia described sounded more like a twisted, stitched-together monster.
The fourth face of the evil god?
Or did everyone see the evil god differently?
"Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Ophelia’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
She looked up, her golden eyes staring at Klein.
That look was very sharp, carrying a sense of scrutiny.
"Have you been secretly investigating the evil god?"
Klein did not answer immediately.
Ophelia put down her knife and leaned forward slightly.
"Klein." Her voice held a rare gravity, even a hint of suppressed worry. "That thing is dangerous."
"I know."
"You don't know." Ophelia interrupted him, her voice rising. "You haven't seen it. You don't know how terrifying its pollution is."
She raised her left hand, the gauntlet glinting coldly in the morning light.
"I was only grazed by a tiny bit of its power, and I became like this." Her voice was calm, but Klein could hear the suppressed emotion within. "If you were to make direct contact with it... the consequences would be far worse than mine."
She paused, her voice dropping lower.
"You will die, Klein. Or worse than death."
Klein looked at her.
Ophelia’s expression was very serious.
Within that seriousness was something Klein didn't see often.
Concern.
Perhaps even... fear?
Not fear of the evil god, but fear of losing something.
A subtle emotion suddenly welled up in Klein’s heart.
"I didn't make direct contact," his voice softened slightly. "I just had a dream."
"A dream?" Ophelia’s brow furrowed even deeper.
"Yes, I dreamed of the ocean," Klein said nonchalantly. "So I was a bit curious."
Ophelia stared at him for a good while.
A flash of suspicion crossed her eyes, but in the end, she didn't press further.
Perhaps she knew that Klein wouldn't tell her everything.
Perhaps she knew that even if she asked, she wouldn't get an answer.
"Do not touch those things lightly," she said, her voice carrying a rare tone of entreaty. "Even in a dream... keep it that way."
She paused for a moment.
"If you really want to learn about those things... at least, at least take me with you."
Klein was taken aback for a moment.
Ophelia’s expression was very earnest.
"Don't go on an adventure alone," she said. "I..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Klein understood her meaning.
The sound of a carriage entering the manor came from outside.
The sound of wheels crunching over the gravel road was exceptionally clear in the morning light.
Raymond’s footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a knock.
"Young Master, Mr. Eric has arrived."
Klein stood up.
He glanced at Ophelia.
"Let's go to the guest hall together," he said. "Perhaps you’ll be able to see something I cannot."
Ophelia nodded.
She also stood up and straightened her collar.
Then the two of them walked toward the guest hall together.
Morning light remained bright.
But Klein suddenly felt an indescribable heaviness in the air.
As if something were quietly approaching.
Rate on N.U.
