Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1949: Ancestral tomb (4)

The Merman King entered the chamber in silence.

A sudden glow erupted the moment he stepped inside.

Previously, the area had been bathed in a dim, unnatural radiance. It had been difficult to pinpoint the source of that light, yet it was bright enough to illuminate the surroundings. However, the illumination currently filling the room was of an entirely different nature.

This was clearly a form of magical light, brilliantly lighting the space so that every detail became visible to us.

Numerous objects scattered throughout the room emitted mana fluctuations, marking them as magical artifacts. Yet, the Merman King showed no interest in any of these treasures.

He bypassed everything in the room, walking with purpose toward a specific spot.

It appeared as though his focus was narrowed down to a single objective.

Tracing his line of sight, I spotted a chest tucked away in a corner. Its appearance was remarkably plain, looking so ordinary that it seemed as if it had been discarded or forgotten. It lacked any special qualities at first glance.

Nevertheless, this was exactly what the Merman King was approaching.

Curiosity gripped me, and I began to scrutinize the chest, wondering what it could possibly contain.

Regardless of how closely I inspected it, the object appeared to be nothing more than a standard container. There wasn't a hint of mana surrounding it, suggesting it lacked even the most basic protective enchantments. It seemed illogical for something so mundane to be this vital to the Merman King.

When I glanced at Ariel, she merely shook her head, indicating her own lack of knowledge. Her expression made it obvious that she had never set foot in this chamber before.

Left with no other choice, I waited to see what the Merman King's next move would be.

Upon reaching the chest, the Merman King came to a halt. Instead of opening it immediately, he stared down at it with a pained, complex expression. He looked almost as if he were terrified to see what lay inside.

I had already surmised that the chest held something of great significance given his behavior, but it was becoming clear that its importance exceeded my initial estimates.

After a heavy silence, the Merman King let out a sigh and spoke, "When I ascended to the throne, my father led me to this chamber and revealed everything to me. This is the birthright granted to one who becomes the ruler of the Merman Empire."

His expression grew even more troubled as he continued, "However, regarding this... he cautioned me never to unlock it unless our empire faced an existential threat. He insisted that the contents of this chest must remain sealed forever, unless something threatened to tear our civilization apart."

With another weary sigh, the Merman King whispered, "He admitted that even he was unaware of what was truly inside, saying only that it held a secret dating back to the very Foundation of our empire."

Listening to his words, it seemed certain that this was the hidden history Aestum had alluded to earlier. A far more intricate narrative was clearly hidden behind these events...

"We’ll step out then while you look over this," I suggested suddenly, but I didn't get the chance to retreat.

"No, stay here," the Merman King commanded firmly.

An awkward look crossed my face, but I ultimately chose to obey his request.

It was obvious the Merman King was struggling with a profound moral conflict, which was why I wanted to give him some privacy to process it. However, his demand for me to stay made it feel as though he required a witness.

It felt as if he wanted me present so an objective party could help make a final judgment. Being placed in such a position was uncomfortable, but he was my father-in-law after all...

"Hmph, making a big deal over all of this. This is your hidden history, it’s your past crimes. There’s no running from it."

The Kraken did not hold back with its blunt remark, but we all chose to ignore it, waiting for the Merman King to finally open the lid.

Following a prolonged silence, the Merman King’s face hardened as if he had finally reached a decision. Taking a deep breath, he announced, "I’m opening it now."

He didn't reach for the chest immediately; instead, he reached into his inner pocket to retrieve a key. He had kept it tucked right against his heart, proving he had guarded it carefully for a very long time. I realized it must have been on his person throughout our journey, as we hadn't been separated since returning.

This key was likely the heirloom his father, the previous king, had bestowed upon him during his coronation. The Merman King probably never anticipated having to use it, but circumstances had left him with no alternative.

Once the key was produced, he moved without further hesitation to unlock the chest.

When the lid finally swung open, no grand spectacle emerged. The chest contained nothing but a collection of carved stone tablets submerged in water. Despite the moisture, the stones showed no signs of erosion or damage.

They were clearly crafted from a material resistant to decay, designed to endure through the ages.

"It’s all here..." the Merman King whispered as he picked up the first stone tablet.