Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1961: Is something wrong?

"Those individuals haven't done anything wrong."

Following my warnings, the Merman King had dispatched his subordinates to monitor the representatives of the other races.

Throughout this period, not a single report indicated any suspicious behavior from them. On the contrary, they spent the bulk of their time wandering through the Merman Empire, acting exactly as visitors typically would.

The sheer excitement they displayed made them appear like children visiting a festival for the very first time.

I responded with a calm tone, "I've already mentioned that it's not about them taking action. It's simply that the situation feels unsettling to me."

"Are you feeling well? Is there something the matter with you?" the Merman King questioned, his voice tinged with a strange note.

A sense of bitterness washed over me at his words, as I understood exactly what he was implying.

I realized, however, that convincing him was likely impossible given the preconceived notions he seemed to have about my state of mind.

Ariel was the one who stepped in to defend me, stating, "You are well aware that he doesn't act this way without reason. If he is making this request, there must be a significant cause behind it."

While the Merman King’s expression remained stoic, he at least refrained from further comments on the subject. Out of respect for Ariel, he chose to accept her perspective as valid.

Part of this concession was also due to the foundation of trust I had previously established with him.

"Please, just continue to keep an eye on them for my sake," I requested as we concluded the discussion.

The Merman King regarded me with that same peculiar gaze as before, but eventually, he gave a nod of acknowledgement. Though he clearly harbored doubts, he was willing to follow my lead on this particular matter.

"Exactly what is it that has you so concerned?" the Merman King finally couldn't resist asking.

The problem was that I truly lacked a concrete answer to give him.

"Reporting in, an incident has occurred."

The moment the guard entered the room, I blurted out, "What is it? What's happened?"

Startled by my sudden interjection, the guard hesitated, glancing toward the Merman King as if seeking permission to speak. After all, this was the Merman Empire, and the Merman King held ultimate authority here.

My outburst had been somewhat inappropriate for the setting.

Ultimately, the Merman King gave a brief nod, signaling that it was acceptable to proceed.

Only then did the guard explain, "It is just that one of our guests became overly excited and felt faint, so we have moved them to a resting area."

The guard delivered the news as if it were a triviality, something hardly worth a formal report. Had the Merman King not issued a strict order to report every detail regarding these guests, this event would have likely gone unmentioned.

When the report concluded, the Merman King turned his gaze toward me, waiting for my reaction.

Feeling a bit awkward, I managed to say, "Just ensure they receive whatever help they need to be comfortable."

The guard lingered for a second, checking with the Merman King once more.

Once the Merman King nodded in confirmation, the guard offered a salute and departed. As he left, however, he shot a bewildered look in my direction.

With the guard gone, the Merman King asked, "Well? What do you make of that? Do you expect something more dire to occur?"

He spoke with a slightly teasing edge, though I knew he wasn't being malicious. It was his attempt to lighten the heavy atmosphere I had created with my tension.

Letting out a sigh, I admitted, "Perhaps I have been being overly sensitive..."

Despite saying the words, I didn't truly believe them.

Deep down, a nagging sensation persisted that something was fundamentally wrong... it was simply difficult to articulate given the current circumstances. The lack of any tangible evidence only made it harder to justify my anxiety.

The Merman King offered a reassuring pat on my shoulder, saying, "I realize this entire situation has been taxing for everyone, and you've carried your own burden of stress. I don't hold it against you. It might be for the best if you took a few days to unwind."

I shook my head in refusal and replied, "I still have a destination to reach during this window of time."

This was a plan I had shared with them previously.

The sole reason for my extended stay was the lingering unease I felt regarding the behavior of the two gods.

Nevertheless, there were still two messengers of the gods that I needed to locate.

Consequently, I couldn't afford to remain here any longer; my departure was set for tomorrow.

But before I left...

"Please, just keep a close watch on them and ensure everything remains stable."

That was my final plea to the Merman King.

He looked at me skeptically, as everything had appeared perfectly normal over the last few days. However, seeing the unwavering intensity in my eyes, he eventually nodded in agreement.

That was the only assurance I required.

"Then I will leave the matter in your hands."

An awkward, heavy mood lingered in the air once the matter was settled, but there was nothing I could do to change it.

I could only hope that I was merely overthinking things...