Chapter 39

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 39: The Celestial Voice (2)

The characteristics of mermaids often found in old stories or fairy tales are simple.

They’re known for having a stunning voice, are incredibly beautiful, but have the lower body of a fish.

‘But unlike the stories, mermaids can change their lower half at will.’

This means they could walk on land just like a human if they wanted to.

Of course, there were limitations to how long they could keep this form; eventually, they would need to recharge by returning to their fish-like state.

Marin spoke with a disgusted expression.

“Yeah, I’m a mermaid. So what? Is this the first time you’ve seen one?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Even in his past life, he had seen mermaids several times.

In fact, exchanges between humans and mermaids were more active than one might think.

However, you mostly only saw them near the coast.

It was rare to see one in a region this far inland.

Evelyn noticed his thoughts and added an explanation.

“Marin is a half-blood. So she can maintain her human form longer and doesn’t suffer from homesickness for the sea.”

“Half-blood, as in between a human and a mermaid?”

“Yes.”

“Ah…”

Mermaids were known to be exceptionally beautiful, so arranged marriages with other races were common from long ago.

Some mermaids lived happily ever after in these marriages, but most succumbed to homesickness for the sea.

‘Once they fall ill from it and eventually die, their mixed-blood children are often abandoned.’

They were beings that were neither welcomed on land nor in the sea.

Perhaps it was because of this that Marin Maria had taken up singing from a young age…

Marin noticed Oscar’s sympathetic expression and burst out angrily.

“Damn it! My parents married for love, and they’re both still alive!”

“…”

Well, that was fortunate.

Oscar, feeling awkward, cleared his throat and spoke firmly.

“Regardless, this isn’t possible. If you go through with this concert, there’s a high chance you’ll die. Not to mention, the audience could be put in danger.”

“…I know it’s selfish. But I’ve placed protective artifacts around the audience seats, so they’ll be safe.”

Clenching her fists tightly, Marin met his gaze directly.

“Even if it means I die, I can’t give up on this concert. I’m fully prepared.”

“Marin!”

Evelyn rebuked her with a stern look, but it didn’t faze her at all.

“You know too, right? If we back down out of fear here, there won’t be another chance.”

Grinding her teeth, fire sparked in her eyes.

“…For the past three years, I’ve been working toward this one performance. I endured daily discrimination and contempt, smiling as if I didn’t care. I sang until I was out of breath every day, and every night, I stayed up writing songs and lyrics. Now, after all those hellish days, the reward is right in front of me. And you think I should give it up because of some petty jealousy…? No way. I can’t.”

Each word she spat out was laden with pent-up anger and sorrow.

Confronted with this raw emotion, Oscar asked.

“Why are you so desperate to perform this time? Even if you don’t take the stage, everyone with ears knows you’re the best.”

“…As you know, I’m a half-blood, and my mother is human. Naturally, that means my father is a mermaid.”

He nodded once.

“They live in a fishing village by the sea. It was a place where they thought sea homesickness wouldn’t affect them… and even I thought that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, my father was diagnosed with sea homesickness four years ago.”

Four years…

Usually, when one contracts sea homesickness, they don’t live beyond five years, so he doesn’t have much time left.

“Do you know why I’m risking my life for this concert? By performing in Baran Dome, I could earn the privilege to perform in front of His Majesty the Emperor as part of the New Year’s festivities.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Now he understood.

He realized what she was aiming for.

“You figured it out by the look on your face. Yes, if I deliver the best performance before His Majesty, I might receive a few drops of elixir as a reward. And I need that.”

The legendary elixir was rumored to cure any illness, including sea homesickness, without a trace.

Having realized this, Oscar couldn’t help but be impressed.

“So, you’ve been planning this since four years ago?”

“…I searched everywhere to save my father, but the only thing I’m truly good at is singing. So, I had no choice but to go this route.”

“…”

Driven by her desire to save her father, the girl from the fishing village held on to her microphone.

With a dream to stand on the stage every singer aspired to before he left for heaven, to obtain the medicine he needed.

‘…And in just three years, she turned that dream into reality.

There’s no need for her to explain; I know how difficult that journey must have been.

She must have pushed through her childlike urges to rest, sleep, and play.

…Honestly, I feel quite proud of her.

I almost want to pat her on the head and tell her she did well.’

“Hmph.”

Oscar inhaled sharply.

Coming from the backstreets, he never knew who his parents were and, of course, never had a father.

‘But if having a father feels anything like having my master…

I understand all too well that overwhelming urge to save him.’

With a deep sigh from the depths of his lungs, Oscar spoke.

“First, I’ll check to make sure the audience’s safety measures are up to my standards. If they are… don’t regret wanting to die on stage.”

“T-That means?”

“Let’s do it. But first, we’ll need to go over one thing.”

“One thing? What’s that?”

“It’s called…”

Oscar recalled the word and smirked.

“A kind of rehearsal.”

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

* * *

Baran’s most luxurious district, with a grand mansion at its highest point.

This was the ancestral home of the Sweet family.

Without needing to visit a luxury hotel, one could take in a sweeping view of Baran from here.

Clink, she swirled her whiskey glass and said,

“I knew she was stubborn, but I didn’t expect it to this degree.”

“Indeed, does she really not believe we’ll kill her?”

“No, it’s more like she’s willing to die on that stage if she has to. That kind of stubbornness.”

She thought about the woman who must be staying somewhere in the Grand Baran Hotel, visible in the distance.

‘…Marin Maria.’

When they first met, she was already well-known, while Maria was a fresh rookie.

She clearly remembered Maria’s eyes when she came to greet her in the waiting room.

‘I realized it the moment I first saw that rustic girl. Ah, those are eyes dreaming the same dream as me.’

Of course, back then, she didn’t pay much attention.

After all, anyone could dream, even if it was a foolish, unachievable one.

‘But that arrogant girl… slowly but persistently followed me.’

And when she came to her senses, that girl had overtaken her.

The place that had been expected for her, the next-generation diva and performer for Baran Dome, had begun to feel unstable.

From that moment on, she tried everything to bring Maria down.

She subtly spread articles about Maria’s humble, rustic background, which caused quite a stir.

‘Then suddenly, she was cast as a devoted sister figure, which raised her popularity greatly. When I tried ostracizing her with younger singers, her fans noticed something was off, and it was only the other singers who suffered.’

She had tried several times to bring Maria down, but each time, Maria managed to avoid it by sheer luck.

‘At this point, it’s clear it’s not just luck.’

Even if no one else noticed, Ara Sweet was sure.

That seemingly innocent, pure gaze was just a sickening mask.

Perhaps behind it, she was hiding a venomous personality.

‘…Baran Dome.’

She turned her gaze toward the grand dome in the distance.

To perform there was her dream, and the dream of every singer.

Frankly, she never doubted that Marin Maria would one day stand there, even if she found it annoying.

‘But it should be me first.’

She gripped her whiskey glass tightly.

If Maria had adhered to the unspoken rule of the industry and deferred the dome to her senior this year, and waited her turn next year, nothing would have happened.

Her dislike might have ended as mere personal disdain.

But that stubborn girl had fought tooth and nail to surpass her, and ultimately, she claimed the dome.

‘She wants to disgrace me to the end. So, I have no choice but to accept the challenge.’

A deep smile formed on Ara’s lips.

‘But soon, she’ll realize how foolish it is to antagonize me in this city, where it’s not principles or reason but money, power, and violence that run things. Baran, the free city, is a trap where those lured by dreams of freedom and status get caught in an endless pit.’

“Oh, by the way, I heard some interesting news.”

She turned to her manager, curious.

“Interesting news?”

“Yes, it seems like a man is accompanying Marin whenever she goes out.”

“A man…? A hidden lover?”

“No, it doesn’t seem like that kind of scandal. Probably a bodyguard.”

A bodyguard, huh.

A chuckle escaped her lips.

“That is interesting. Where did she even find someone like that?”

“Oh… probably a mercenary agency?”

She shook her head at her manager’s naive guess.

“All the mercenaries in Baran have already been contacted. I told them that no matter what she’s offering, I’ll pay three times more to make sure no one takes her offer.”

But even if that wasn’t enough, her father was a strong candidate for the next mayor.

Any mercenary who wanted to keep working in Baran wouldn’t want to cross him.

She looked back at her manager with a smirk.

“…Shall we test this so-called bodyguard’s skills?”

“You mean to kill him? Got it. I’ll send one or two appropriate guys.”

After her manager left, she sipped her whiskey, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

If that hard-won bodyguard dies right in front of her, what kind of expression will she make?

* * *

To sum it up, he had accepted the job.

After checking out the venue and the audience seats at the dome, it was clear that they had taken all the necessary safety precautions.

No matter how much they’d invested, the protective artifacts set up there were practically impenetrable.

“But was that really the last of our practice? Aren’t we doing anything else?”

Marin Maria asked as they walked along the frozen winter riverbank after rehearsal.

From her perspective, the “practice” he’d suggested had been so simple it was almost laughable.

“Yes, it will be of great help, for sure.”

“…Hmm. Alright.”

Nodding, she took a deep breath and smiled.

“Whew! Then I can finally enjoy my freedom for now. I was too scared to even step outside without Killian around. I’d been relying entirely on room service, so I really appreciate this.”

“…”

Don’t be fooled by that angelic smile.

Beyond it lies a demon spewing all kinds of foul words.

“I’m just doing what I’m paid to do.”

This was a million-bels contract.

Once this job was done, maybe he could use that money for some decent equipment.

Just as he was savoring these thoughts…

“…”

He sensed a deadly intent aimed in his direction.

The source was a jogger on the bridge ahead and a middle-aged man ice fishing on the other side of the river.

‘Only two?’

Oscar sighed as he looked at Marin and Evelyn, who were chatting peacefully.

No need to alarm them unnecessarily.

『Wind Bullet』

Thunk, thunk.

Two quiet gunshots sounded, and the two figures collapsed without a word.

“I did my job.”

“Right, I get it, but can you stop boasting now? I’d like to keep the cursing for indoors.”

“…”

But I really did earn my pay…

Oscar’s eyes drooped slightly, feeling disappointed.

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]