Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1956: Origin of the sea witches (2)

Ultimately, the hidden history of the sea witches brought to light a reality deeply embedded in the very core of this world.

At the end of the day, a person is powerless unless they possess the necessary strength to act. In the case of the sea witches, they attained enough power to remain untouched by outside forces.

The progenitor of the sea witches was a unique individual gifted with extraordinary talents. In my previous life, such a condition would have been identified as Savant Syndrome.

While that first sea witch possessed an incredible knack for brewing potions, she wasn't the antisocial hermit one might imagine. Instead, she utilized her gifts to assist others, and a following of students eager to learn her secrets soon gathered around her.

However, for her to transmit this knowledge to others, it required the passing on of something far more significant.

"It's true that our potions still utilize that essence, though we've shifted away from it lately since discovering more potent ingredients..." Zyra whispered to herself after absorbing the kraken's explanation.

"Is that so? That specific practice was the primary reason the tyrant god harbored such hatred for the sea witches originally," the kraken remarked, sounding quite surprised.

"Well, it serves as the base for most of our concoctions, but it's not as if we're incapable of replacing it. There was a period when that essence was scarce, forcing us to adapt our methods."

"The mortal capacity for adaptation is truly remarkable," the kraken noted with an amazed tone.

The creature spoke as if it existed entirely outside the mortal realm. This made sense upon reflection, given that the kraken served as a divine messenger. Having been infused with the necessary divine energy for its role, it could practically be considered a demi-god already.

"Regardless, the tyrant god doesn't care whether you've moved on or not. That deity only dwells on the past. The mere fact that your kind once used it is plenty of reason for him to want you eradicated," the kraken stated, its voice dripping with contempt.

"If that's the case, why didn't he take action when we established the alliance between the sea witches and the Merman Empire?" I suddenly interjected.

Upon hearing my question, the kraken fell silent.

The expression on its face made it glaringly obvious that it lacked a definitive answer. Despite its previous aggression, the creature became mute when confronted with these specific inquiries.

It wasn't just the banished races that had been isolated; these beings had also cut themselves off from the rest of the world. It wasn't shocking that the kraken appeared uncertain now.

However, I shared those same concerns.

Now that I understood the history, it felt incredibly bizarre that Aquaron never intervened during my meetings with the sea witches. It wasn't as if the gods were unable to reach me. A god of Aquaron's stature could have easily summoned me or provided a sign to halt my progress.

So, why was there no interference?

Was it because I had been designated as the god's representative, or was there another factor at play?

My head began to throb; trying to decipher the motivations of a god while being a mere mortal was an exhausting task. This wasn't the sort of thing ordinary mortals ever had to worry about.

After a lengthy pause, Zyra spoke up. "It doesn't matter for the moment, as we all face a shared enemy."

The kraken looked doubtful, yet it eventually nodded its head in agreement.

Moving past the previous topic, the kraken asked, "What other knowledge has been inherited from your predecessors, Elder Sea Witch?"

"What are you implying?" Zyra asked, sounding puzzled.

The kraken replied with composure, "In the past, we engaged in trades with the sea witches, including information that you might find valuable. I am simply unsure of what knowledge has survived through your generations, so I don't know what I should provide you."

Zyra’s eyes sparkled with excitement the moment she heard this. "Come, follow me. Let me show you my life's work and research."

This wasn't an invitation she would extend to just anyone, but the kraken's high status made it a trustworthy enough entity to see her work. The kraken nodded its head, accepting the offer.

It appeared that the creature held the sea witches in much higher regard than the Merman Empire, despite both groups being merfolk. The historical bond between the kraken and the sea witches was clearly not something that could be easily erased.

Because Zyra intended to show the kraken her experiments, she needed to travel to her laboratory where her notes were kept. This required escorting the kraken away from the capital of the Merman Empire to the sea witches' territory.

The Merman King showed signs of hesitation, but he finally relented when I told him, "I will keep a close eye on them."

I was the only person the kraken actually listened to, after all. Even though the Merman King remained anxious that the kraken might stir up trouble, he allowed it to depart from the capital.

Our small party made its way to Zyra’s laboratory. While the two of them were preoccupied with their technical discussion, I turned to the former crown prince. "Are there any historical records kept around here? I'd like to examine them myself."

The former crown prince was caught off guard by the request, but he agreed to lead the way. As he did, however, I noticed him casting a very strange look in my direction.