Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1953: A cultural difference

The journey with the initial group heading toward the Merman Empire’s capital was anything but easy.

To put it simply, volunteers were scarce, and the ones who did step forward were mostly just children.

Because they were minors, we couldn't simply whisk them away without parental consent, and naturally, the parents refused to permit such a perilous undertaking.

Set in their traditional ways and obsessed with personal safety, those parents were unwilling to risk abandoning the only home they had ever known.

Their reluctance was amplified by the fact that they were going to a place populated by people they viewed as villains.

Consequently, gaining anyone's trust in the Merman Empire or convincing them to travel to the capital was an uphill battle.

Ultimately, the only individuals we successfully recruited were the young adults.

As they had reached adulthood, parental permission wasn't a legal requirement, and they were free to make their own choices. Nevertheless, their parents almost never supported the decision.

In most instances, parents desperately tried to talk them out of going before the departure became final.

While some were swayed and backed out at the last moment, a few remained steadfast.

These were the ones possessed by a burning desire to witness the world beyond their borders.

It was only natural for young adults to be consumed by curiosity regarding the world outside the tiny enclosure where they had spent their entire lives. This was a drive that no one could easily suppress.

Had it not been for this innate curiosity, we likely wouldn't have convinced a single person to join us.

However, upon reaching the Merman Empire, the vast cultural divide between the races became immediately apparent.

Given their status as honored guests, the Merman King had naturally commanded that special accommodations be readied. To atone for the Merman Empire's historical treatment of their ancestors, he had even insisted they be given the finest suites available.

The issue arose the moment the guests stepped inside those rooms...

"Are these really our rooms?"

The Merman King had accompanied them personally to ensure everything was perfect. Feeling a sense of pride in the preparations, he replied, "That’s right, we’ve spared no expense in preparing the best rooms possible."

"Really?"

That skeptical word was the only response the guests offered.

A flicker of confusion crossed the Merman King’s face, followed by a look of total bewilderment.

Meanwhile, the other mermen in the entourage couldn't hide their growing irritation. They interpreted the guests' reaction as a blatant insult to the Merman King.

"Is something the matter?" I asked, stepping forward to intervene.

Turning to me with much more respectful expressions, the guests explained, "It certainly is a big room, but there aren’t any daily necessities at all. It’s that it seems a bit lacking when it comes to hospitality."

"What are the things you need?" I inquired.

As they began to list their requirements, the root of the problem became glaringly obvious.

It was a pure cultural misunderstanding.

Although the various races from Aestum’s special zone appeared humanoid, their biological needs differed significantly from standard humans.

They required specific items that other races simply had no use for.

While these needs were common knowledge to them, they were virtually unknown to outsiders.

This was especially true for the mermaids, who had never interacted with them before.

Even though the Merman King had glimpsed their homes previously, he hadn't paid attention to such details. He had never imagined that these specific items were things he would need to provide.

After all, these objects held no significance to the merman race.

Realizing the error, the Merman King instructed the servants to gather everything the guests required. He then said, "I apologize for this. It seems that because of our cultural differences, these were things that we never thought of. We’ll have these prepared by the end of the day for when you return to your rooms."

The guests nodded, signaling their understanding.

They were trying their best to avoid causing friction with their hosts, but the cultural gap was simply too wide to ignore.

Finally, I suggested, "Is there anything else that we should be aware of? Instead of leaving things as they are and making more mistakes, I think that it would be better for both sides to be direct with each other so there aren’t any misunderstandings like this."

Both parties looked visibly relieved at my suggestion.

The Merman Empire wasn't the only side anxious about failing this diplomatic mission.

For these other races, this felt like their one and only shot at exploring the world.

Because they intended to make the most of this opportunity, sabotaging their relationship with the Merman Empire was the last thing they wanted.

It was obvious both sides wanted things to go well, but the excessive effort was creating a tense atmosphere.

They needed a chance to relax and speak honestly with one another.

This was why my presence was so vital; I acted as the bridge between them.

Since I held the trust of both sides, I used that influence to smooth over the tensions.

It was time for me to prove my worth.