Chapter 34

    Möbius, the Handsome Man… in the Eyes of Mermaids

    In the seafood restaurant located in the underwater city, deep beneath the ocean’s surface, Möbius and his three companions discovered an array of seafood they had never tried before. The restaurant offered every kind of sea creature imaginable—except fish.

    The food was also incredibly delicious, thanks to the expert chefs who specialized in preparing seafood (mermaids being classified as sea creatures). However, something dampened their enjoyment—the gossiping mermaids at the next table.

    “Look at that handsome guy. How can he be sitting with those women? They’re not even pretty.” 

    “N... Not pretty...” 

    Inari, who was born beautiful and used to being admired for her beauty, could easily handle the envious stares of other women. But this was the first time in her life she had encountered such a look that looked down on her. It made her deeply uncomfortable.

    “Yeah, and look at them. No matter how much they eat, they don’t gain weight. Unlike us, who eat just a little and get these lovely curves. No wonder they’re so scrawny.” 

    Another mermaid started gossiping. Normal people would not have heard their voices, but Gumiho and Inari had exceptionally sharp senses as foxes. Leia, as an assassin, naturally had keen awareness too.

    “... Scrawny...?” 

    Leia, who was petite and compact, muttered quietly. She took pride in her small size, as everyone who saw her loved her. Even though she was cold and acted aloof, people would always say it only made her look more adorable. Having someone call her small figure “skinny” like this was something she just couldn't accept. However, the two gossiping mermaids, unaware of their impending fate, continued badmouthing the table next to them.

    “Well, such a waste, that handsome guy should be sitting with us. We’d look much more fitting together—handsome guy, beautiful girls.” 

    “... More fitting...huh?” 

    Gumiho, who was often oblivious to certain social dynamics, was puzzled by the mermaids’ idea of fitting. In her eyes, Möbius was already perfect, and she couldn’t see how a guy like him would look good next to those two mermaids, who, to her, resembled walking dugongs.

    Actually, had these insults come from women who were genuinely beautiful by standards Inari and Leia understood, they would be no problem. But if they came from a mermaid who is attractive in a mermaid-like way, they couldn’t accept it at all.

    “Leia, dear... I think we need to take action.” 

    Inari whispered, casting a spell to boost the petite girl’s speed and attack power to the maximum. Of course, Inari intended to join in, as she was just as furious. Leia nodded in agreement and then glanced at Möbius, who remained blissfully unaware of the situation, happily enjoying his meal. With the plan set, it was time for a merciless takedown.

    "Oof...!!! Sorry about that, Möbius." 

    Inari subtly dropped a seaweed ball down Möbius’s shirt. Normally, the fox mother never let anything slip from her hands, no matter what she was holding, but the young man didn’t think twice about it. He smiled at her while opening his shirt to let the seaweed ball fall out. 

    "No worries, Inari, it'll come out in a moment." 

    "Oh my, that ribcage is so sexy. And look at that flat, toned stomach—absolutely delicious." 

    One of the mermaids ogled Möbius as he lifted his shirt, her eyes practically sparkling with admiration. She turned to ask her friend for her opinion, but there was no response. 

    "Wait... where’d she go?" 

    7500 (Critical hit from an attack by an unaware target)

    Before she could finish her sentence, a damage number appeared above her head, and she was quickly enveloped in light, sent to respawn alongside her friend who had already been reborn ahead of her. No one noticed what happened because everyone’s attention was focused on Möbius, meaning the system didn’t penalize the attacker. 

    "Finally, it’s out." 

     After a while of shaking his shirt, the small seaweed ball finally bounced out. Gumiho quickly caught it with her chopsticks. When Möbius sat back down, he noticed Leia and Inari smiling at him, but as usual, he was oblivious to what had just transpired. 

    "Eh? What are you two so happy about?"

    And then, Möbius faced the part of dining he dreaded most: paying the bill. The mermaid waitress who had shown them to their seats on the second floor approached with visible nervousness. 

    "Uh... Um, your total comes to 23,000 ryo." 

    "Hmm... keep the change."

    Möbius said, surprised by a few things. First, the meal was cheaper than he had expected. And second, the mermaids used the same currency, ryo, that he carried. So, he handed over 25,000 ryo without asking for any change and left the restaurant, fully intending to return someday.

    Upon exiting, Möbius noticed that unlike other cities, this one didn’t have a traditional market. It made sense—no merchant would be able to dive this deep to set up a stall. However, there was a system-run potion shop operated by mermaids. Inside, the potions were sold at market price, but what stood out were the unique shell-shaped containers they came in, giving the store a special charm.

    Möbius ended up buying a large quantity of potions, partly because he found the shell-shaped containers unique and partly to stock up on supplies for his pet, who had quite the appetite. After the girls finished shopping for seashell jewelry and souvenirs, they all headed toward the castle at the center of the city, which was their meeting point.

    "Where's Miss Aime?" 

    Möbius stood at the entrance of the massive seashell gate, looking around for the blue-skinned dugong-like mermaid who had arranged to meet them there. With her unique appearance, it was impossible for him to miss her if she were nearby.

    It then fell to Gumiho, the fox spirit with an excellent sense of smell, to track her down. After sniffing the air a few times, Gumiho walked over to a drainage grate in front of the castle gates. As Inari approached, she could hear a strange sound coming from the grate. 

    "Snore...!!! Snore...!!!" 

    The mermaid's loud snoring echoed throughout the drain. No matter how much Möbius and the girls called out, their voices were drowned out by the mermaid’s snores. Finally, Inari stomped her shoe on the metal grate, producing a piercing, metallic noise that cut through Aime's snoring. The fox mother slammed it wildly, causing the sleeping person to jolt awake in shock.

    "I…I'm awake, I’m awake. Stop that. Why did you take so long? Do you know how uncomfortable it is down here?" 

    Aime shouted from the drainage pipe, complaining about how late Möbius and the group were. She then attempted to climb out, but only managed to stick her head and one arm out of the opening. Möbius was left speechless as she had chosen this route herself, only to get stuck in such a comical way.

    "How about we cut her into pieces and reassemble her once we get her out?" 

    Leia said in a flat tone, pulling out a black blade. Though it sounded like a joke, the cold glint in her eyes made everyone, including Aime, believe she was dead serious. Beads of sweat appeared on Aime’s forehead as she nervously changed her plan. 

    "Umm... let's just meet at the cave where we started, okay?"

    "Whoa!!! Look, it's Princess Aime. Oh my!!! And she’s back with such a handsome guy." 

    The local mermaids pointed and gossiped as Princess Aime, supposedly the most beautiful of all mermaids, walked alongside Möbius, who, in their eyes, was the perfect example of "mermaid handsomeness." Behind them, the three women radiated silent murderous intent. Their original plan to sneak into the castle had failed due to Aime getting stuck in the drain.

    Aime had explained that the drain was the largest secret exit from the castle. However, Prince Shark had discovered the route she took when she escaped, forcing them to abandon the stealth approach and enter through the front gate instead. Möbius hadn’t expected such fanfare. It seemed Aime was quite the celebrity among her people.

    "Those two make such a great pair. Even though Prince Shark is handsome, this new guy with the princess is way more attractive." 

    Another mermaid from the crowd added. By now, a large number of locals had gathered along the main road to watch their princess return to the castle. Word had spread quickly about the handsome man accompanying Aime, and many came to see him. However, the handsome man in question felt anxious, knowing all too well what it meant to be considered attractive in a mermaid's eyes. Meanwhile, the three women trailing behind him were in much better spirits, laughing to themselves as Möbius was continuously praised as handsome by the mermaids all along the way.

    Before long, they arrived at the castle gates for the second time. The townspeople stayed outside as Aime opened the massive doors. Inside, the castle's grand hall had a conical ceiling that spiraled upward, with a large spiral staircase winding around the structure of a giant seashell.

    “You’re finally here, Princess Aime. All you have to do is marry me, and this will all end peacefully.”

    A merman stood waiting inside. He wore red pants and a vest, leaving his muscular torso exposed, with a jeweled turban on his head. His face, while somewhat attractive by merman standards, helped the three girls instantly understand why Möbius was considered more handsome by the mermaids. He stood about 100 meters away from Möbius and his group, in front of a large, sealed door behind him.

    “There’s no way I’d ever marry a vile man like you! Get out of this city and return my father and mother.”

    Princess Aime declared loudly and resolutely. Prince Shark shot a glance at Möbius, standing by her side, and had to shield his eyes from the mermaid-style handsomeness that seemed to shine so brightly it hurt. From that moment, he took an instant dislike to Möbius, pointing a finger at him as he yelled.

    "Hmph. It’s because of that man with you that you refuse to marry me?"

    “No!!! He’s a human who came to help me deal with a shameless person like you, you unfaithful scoundrel.”

    Aime shot back, pointing at the young merman. For some reason, Möbius couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being insulted as well.

    “Hey… Hey… Hey!!! Don’t think that being beautiful means you can point your finger at me and insult me, Prince Shark.”

    He stomped his foot loudly in frustration because, in his entire life, no one had ever insulted him. Being born handsome in mermaid style, he thought it was acceptable to have one or two beautiful mermaid companions. The stomp was also a signal for his soldiers, hidden nearby, to emerge.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

    Around 500 soldiers in red pants came marching out from the back gate of Prince Shark, quickly assembling into well-organized groups of spearmen, swordsmen, and archers. Their discipline was evident, but what truly unsettled Möbius wasn’t their numbers—it was their faces.

    These 500 soldiers, standing in perfect formation, were all exceptionally handsome by human standards. Muscular, chiseled, and good-looking, they looked like a 500-member boy band standing together.

    “Wow, these are the bad soldiers? They’re really handsome.”

    Inari observed the soldiers critically. If they were sold, she thought they’d fetch enough to buy sweets for a long time. Some people are willing to spend a lot just to have handsome men at their disposal. Then, noticing Möbius looking at her with a sad, "puppy dog" expression, as she ogled the soldiers' six-packs—which he didn’t have—she couldn’t help but pull him into a hug. After all the time she had spent with Möbius, it was the first time she had ever seen him make such a face.

    “There, there, Möbius. No matter how handsome they are, they’re nowhere near as cute or fun to tease as you.”

    “Don’t worry, Möbius. If we’re just talking about handsomeness, we can find lots of guys like them. But someone who kills (?) like you, I’ve only ever met one.”

    Leia tried to comfort Möbius as well. In real life, as she was a young miss, she'd encountered countless rich kids and celebrities, but none were as appealing to her as Möbius.

    "Handsome but inedible, I wouldn't want that."

    Gumiho smiled brightly at Möbius. For her, he was the only man she had any interest in. Not only did he seem deliciously tempting, but she also enjoyed spending every day with him, and she appreciated how he always catered to her whims.

    “Hahaha. You call me unfaithful and a scoundrel, but the guy you’re with has multiple women too, and he doesn’t seem picky. As long as they’re women, he’s happy. That’s worse than me—I at least choose only the beautiful ones. So, Aime, why not be with me instead? I promise, it’ll just be you and Sweetpea, unless, of course, I meet someone more beautiful than the two of you.”

    Prince Shark laughed loudly, noticing how Inari, Gumiho, and Leia all doted on Möbius. The three of them were utterly hideous in a mermaid's eyes, and he couldn't understand how this human managed to have them as companions.

    "How dare you compare Möbius to a lowlife like you? Möbius may be clueless, but he’d never cheat."

    Inari snapped angrily, outraged that the other party would insult her man. Leia, already prepared for battle with her weapons drawn, also stepped in to defend Möbius.

    "A guy who faints just from seeing cleavage? He’s not capable of having random women. Don’t be ridiculous."

    "Exactly. Since I’ve been with Möbius, no one but mermaids has even shown interest in him. There’s no way he’s a womanizer like you."

    Gumiho added, clearly irritated as well. Meanwhile, Aime pulled out her magical staff, ready to fight, hurling insults at the person before her.

    “Stop talking already, you filthy scumbag! You worthless, insatiable, two-timing man.”

    “…”

    Möbius was left speechless, unsure whether he was being complimented or insulted. Since he stood just in front of Aime, it felt like all those insults were being directed at him. On the other hand, Prince Shark, unable to endure the barrage of insults, commanded his army to charge.

    “Tch, S.M. City Army (special mermaid force of ruby city), attack.”

    Boom... Boom... Boom... !!!

    Inari and Gumiho started the attack by launching fireballs at the merman soldiers, resulting in a series of explosions that sent many flying in different directions. However, the soldiers seemed to be around levels 43-45, making them resilient enough to withstand the attacks of the two fox girls. In addition to his looks, Prince Shark had an aura-type ability to bolster his troops.

    “Alright, it’s time… transformation.”

     Aime spun around, chanting a spell while rainbow lights swirled beautifully around her—a sharp contrast to her mermaid-like beauty. As she finished the spell, she tossed her staff into the air.

    Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Flash…!!!

    A bright blue light enveloped Aime, the manatee princess, and her appearance transformed. Her glowing one-piece swimsuit vanished, replaced by a scantily clad, heavy blue metal armor that barely covered her figure. Her unhealthy blue hair flowed as if it had a life of its own, but given its poor condition, it resembled a broom's frayed bristles. A large pearl floated above her head, while a small tiara that looked like a tiny crown sat on her large, round head.

    "Heh heh heh, Princess Aime is ready for battle."

    Aime, now looking like a burly iron-clad warrior—so much so that one wouldn’t believe she was a woman if not told otherwise—struck a cute pose and raised her hand towards the sky.

    "I'm here to protect the ocean."

    Her staff transformed into a massive metal sword that fell from above into her hands. The blade, a glowing blue, was about 60 centimeters wide at the base and 3 meters long, with intricate engravings running along its surface.

    "Oh, Princess Aime in battle form. Absolutely breathtaking."

    Prince Shark exclaimed loudly upon seeing Princess Aime in her transformed state. Only high-ranking merfolk warriors could transform into battle form, each with their own unique form and method of transformation. His mermaid soldiers, being mid-tier, couldn’t perform such transformations.

    Boom…!!!

    Princess Aime charged toward Prince Shark’s soldiers like an enraged elephant, bulldozing anything in her path. Möbius couldn't help but wonder why she had asked him for help when she seemed so powerful on her own. However, soon enough, she was surrounded by soldiers, prompting Möbius to pull out his newly purchased twin Uzis. He glanced at Leia, who was waiting for his signal.

    "Let’s stretch a bit, shall we?"

    “Mm…”

    Leia gave a brief reply before sprinting into the fray to support Aime, who was spearheading the attack. Meanwhile, Möbius, positioned mid-field, unleashed a hail of bullets on the soldiers attempting to flank him and the two spellcasters in the rear. He waited until the soldiers closed in before tossing a golden card onto the ground, summoning a fierce ally.

    ‘Summon Fire Demon Efrik.’

    Boom…!!!

    A massive fire demon erupted from the ground in front of the advancing soldiers, sending the well-trained mermen scattering. The roar of Efrik caused the soldiers to tremble in fear, rendering them unable to move forward.

    "Hah!!! This many enemies is what makes it so satisfying. Any special plans for today?"

    "Have fun today, but don’t kill the guy with the headband in the back."

    Möbius replied to his fire demon before handing the enormous golden hammer to the other party, who immediately charged into the mass of handsome merman soldiers with enthusiasm.

    "Come on! Let’s paint the battlefield red."

    “Who are these people? Quick!!! Archers, fire at the backlines! Don’t be afraid of them.”

    Prince Shark, watching his soldiers fall like leaves, slammed his sword into the ground, activating a leadership ability to bolster his forces.

    Aura of the great leader

    It was the same type of ability that the Black Bear once used, but Prince Shark's level was much higher, which made his version far more advanced. This aura allowed the leader to better control their army, increasing both their defense and attack power.

    The archers in front and beside Prince Shark aimed their arrows skyward at his command, sending them flying over their frontline soldiers, arcing down toward Möbius, Inari, and Gumiho in the back. Since friendly fire didn't cause damage in this battle system, they didn't have to worry about hitting their own troops.

    Whizz, whizz.

    “Möbius, look out.”

    Gumiho shouted as the arrows rained down like a storm. Möbius, hearing her warning, quickly turned and sprinted back toward the two fox girls. Stopping just in front of them, he spun around and raised his Möbius Barrier, a metallic shield made of layered plates that emerged from his right hand. This time, the barrier took the shape of an arrowhead, with the pointed end aimed at Prince Shark’s army, deflecting the arrows away from them.

    "Thanks, Möbius."

    The fox mother smiled at the young man, who always concerned for them.

    "They just keep firing. I wonder how Leia is doing."

    Gumiho mused from behind the barrier as the relentless sound of arrows striking metal echoed around them. This was all part of Prince Shark’s strategy—to isolate the frontline by continuously attacking the rear with archers, leaving the vanguard surrounded and vulnerable. However, this tactic only worked if the vanguard was made up of ordinary soldiers.

    “Be amazed by my beauty.”

    Princess Aime shouted, swinging her sword—nearly two and a half times her size—with the grace of a feather. Surrounded by enemies, she unleashed her next attack. Her massive sword spun around her in a wide circle at high speed. The blade cut through the air vertically, creating wind resistance and giving the impression of a massive storm with Aime as its eye.

    The sword glowed a bright blue, and water began to pour from the intricate engravings along the blade, merging with the swirling wind. This water was contained within the storm, not spilling out a single drop. As the wind speed increased, so did the pressure of the water.

    'Frenzied Storm, Shattering Ice.'

    Aime suddenly plunged her massive sword into the ground, causing the storm swirling around her to disperse, along with the high-pressure water that had been contained. It transformed into a giant water whip that swung out in a wide arc, emitting a blinding white light and immense cold.

    When the water whip met the icy chill, it quickly formed ice blades that shot out from around the mermaid. The soldiers surrounding her were turned to light and vanished in a wide area. Although Aime bore several injuries, none of them hindered her ability to fight, as she was a knight-type warrior like Teppanyaki, but with a greater focus on attack power.

    Efrik was having the easiest time among Möbius's forces, as ordinary weapons barely scratched him. Simply swinging his golden hammer sent hordes of merfolk soldiers flying. Each time they got close, they took damage from the flames constantly engulfing his body, forcing the handsome soldiers to flee in panic.

    On the other hand, Leia had the hardest time fighting large numbers. As an assassin, she was more suited to one-on-one combat, but her strikes were deadly precise. Each strike she delivered resulted in a burst of light shooting into the sky. Due to her speed, the small girl left no trace of being hit, not even a scratch, despite being surrounded by sharp spears and swords.