Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1946: Ancestral tomb (1)

A deathly silence hung over the group during the return journey.

The kraken trailed behind us, yet it remained utterly mute toward the Merman King and his companions. It appeared as though the creature was completely unwilling to even acknowledge their presence, treating them with total indifference.

On the other hand, the Merman King’s party was in no state to be bothered by the creature's attitude after the shocking truth they had just uncovered.

The revelation had caught them entirely off guard, dealing a devastating blow to their core beliefs.

Despite their desperate desire to doubt it, denying the evidence that had been laid bare before them was becoming an impossible task.

This internal turmoil was exactly why they were racing back to the capital much faster than they had departed.

It was obvious that the Merman King’s group was desperate to uncover any piece of information that might invalidate what they had witnessed.

"Gather your men and begin a thorough investigation of the ministerial archives. Do not overlook a single detail," the Merman King commanded with a grave tone the moment we reached the capital.

"A foolish attempt," the kraken snorted disdainfully. However, the Merman King’s group simply ignored the remark entirely.

Had the kraken not reduced its physical size, its arrival would have surely incited a massive panic. In its original form, the beast was colossal—a terrifying spectacle for anyone unfortunate enough to glimpse it.

But now, it had shrunk to the size of my palm, hovering near me as if acting as a tiny guardian.

Reaching out, I grabbed the kraken and whispered, "Just stay quiet for a moment and let them search. There is nothing to lose by letting them try, right?"

The kraken didn't look particularly convinced, but it eventually yielded, offering a simple nod in agreement.

I was the only person it held in high regard, which was the only reason it followed my instructions.

Although the Merman King’s group didn’t verbally respond to the kraken’s mockery, I noticed the subtle shifts in their expressions. It was clear they heard every word and were affected by the taunt.

I decided to remain silent beyond that, respecting the course of action the Merman King’s group had chosen for themselves.

Once the royal guards were dismissed, the Merman King's demeanor shifted visibly.

He seemed to fall into a deep trance of thought, looking like a man agonizing over a monumental choice.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "Should we head back too?"

I felt a flicker of surprise; I had expected him to excuse himself immediately to chase down some lead. It seemed his concern for Ariel was deeper than I had anticipated.

At least, that was what I assumed was his motivation for returning.

In truth, the reality was quite different.

"There is something I need to discuss with all of you."

The Merman King brought this up abruptly upon our return.

Both the Merman Queen and Ariel were startled by his words, turning their eyes toward me as if searching for an explanation. Unfortunately, I couldn't convey the complexity of the situation through mere facial expressions.

Even using spoken words, explaining everything that had transpired would have been a difficult feat.

Because of that, I kept my mouth shut and waited for the Merman King to provide the explanation himself.

The Merman King proved to be quite thorough, recounting every detail of what we had discovered within the forbidden taboo zone.

To conclude the explanation, I even presented the kraken so it could introduce itself as living proof.

When the creature met the Merman Queen and Ariel, it initially maintained its sour attitude.

That changed the moment its gaze landed on Ariel’s stomach, and its expression turned peculiar.

Observing Ariel’s protruding belly, it was evident the kraken had detected something significant.

As a messenger of the gods, the kraken obviously sensed the divine presence within her. However, judging by the way its attitude shifted exclusively toward her, it seemed the creature could see far more than just that.

It appeared the kraken could identify the exact origin of the life growing inside Ariel.

I wondered if this was due to the divine Qi it likely possessed, or perhaps something else entirely.

When the Merman Queen finished listening to her husband’s report, she didn't speak immediately, instead falling into a state of deep contemplation.

Ariel remained silent as well, her eyes fixed on the Merman Queen. She looked at her mother as if waiting for a final verdict to be handed down.

I was somewhat surprised that the Merman Queen was the true decision-maker of the family, until I recalled my previous observations.

The Merman King’s behavior around his wife made the power dynamic of their relationship very obvious. As their daughter, Ariel had clearly grown up watching this and knew exactly who held the real authority.

That was the reason she, too, was waiting for the Merman Queen to break the silence.

After a protracted silence, the Merman Queen finally spoke, "So, your intention is to enter the ancestral tombs to search for clues?"

The Merman King offered a solemn, firm nod in response.

The Merman Queen seemed to waver for a moment, but eventually, she sighed, "I am uncertain of what we will find in those depths, but I doubt it will be the answers you are hoping for."

The Merman King didn't argue; he simply nodded again to show he understood the risks.

"Very well, let us proceed." The Merman Queen wasted no time, moving to Ariel’s side to help her stand.

It was clear she intended for everyone to accompany them to the tombs.