I couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the luminous orb, but damp webbed fingers soon grasped my wrist.Mary was staring at it as well, but spoke quietly, “Don’t touch it—you’ll die. Those things are a protective layer that prevents nuclear radiation from destroying the passage.”“Nuclear radiation?” I exclaimed in surprise as I came to immediate realization. “Would you mind elaborating, Mary? I once dreamed about arriving at the merfolk’s planet, and that place… became a mass grave under the sea. Forgive me for asking, but does that have something to do with nuclear radiation as well?”“Yes, it does.” Mary sobbed as she lowered her head miserably. “You’re not from that era, but you would probably be aware of the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. I tried to take my mother back to the home of the merfolk at the time, but it had fallen as well. Everything you saw was real, and what was once home is now a huge graveyard—just like the citizens of Hiroshima, the merfolk there were instant
Even as the world around us changed in an instant, I tried my best to open my eyes to witness it—and somehow found several helicopters, marked with Japan’s flag, flying towards our direction! I suddenly realized that they might be the reinforcements whom Jack had called upon, and became as emotional as if I was reunited with family. I tried to yell in their direction, but I had been pulled up in the air, spinning and unable to make a sound even as I was thrown further away from Mary.Meanwhile, the entire island was sliced apart by the cyclone that was flashing in blue, and as the buffeting winds slowly stretched across the entire island from the cavern, I was sent flying into the sky.When I looked down, I saw the rift under the lake enlarging, and it now resembled a giant maw consuming the entire island as Lemenland began to crumble. To be precise, that was a black hole that opened underneath the sea, and the entrance to the merfolk’s home.Through it all, my mind and sight were
“13th of January, 2013“It has been probably fifteen days since the helicopter crashed in the ocean… probably.“I can’t tell how long I have been unconscious, and I could only make a guess from what David told me—the man who fished me out of the water.“According to David, everyone else onboard the chopper was killed, and only I survived miraculously.“However, with the concussions and my broken legs, the doctors said that I might need half a year to stand again, and that there was no certainty if I would regain my memories.“Yes. I have completely forgotten everything: my identity, my experiences, and where I should be.“My mind is an utter mess.“I just hope that I can regain my memories soon.”“21st of June, 2013“I’m not sure if I’m happy or miserable after remembering everything.“Captain David commands a rescue and salvage ship called the Seeker, crewed by vagabonds without nationality. I’m proud to be a part of them.“After I recovered, I joined the Seeker and return
As I leaned on the scaffolding and looked out across the boundless ocean, I took a deep breath. Then, I lifted my diary into the air and threw it firmly into the ocean, and it soon disappeared beneath the waves.Doing that seemed to stir ripples upon my heart, and the agony extended from my chest throughout my body. Even so, I held back my tears and forced a smile.Days later, the Seeker made port at the famous Floating City of Venice. David had come to attend an auction held at an underground casino. We would be selling the treasures we had salvaged out of shipwrecks and converting them to dollars, but it was very dangerous even if the trade earned us maximum profit. The Italian mafia was divided into a large number of clans. Therefore, even if David had been a longtime partner of the Mora family, other families would have their eyes on our goodies, and they would also come up with any reason to try to snatch territories belonging to the Mora family. That would always plague us
Soon, our contact led us to a stop in the middle of a winding canal, where a chained steel gate appeared before us. Elegant tunes could vaguely be heard from within, building lingering echoes within our ears. Glimpses of people could also be seen from the ever-changing lights shining out from within, and I couldn’t help recalling various scenes of medieval nobles indulging themselves.However, I know very well what sort of place this was—drugs were ever present, and there were also filthy human traffickers. Though I was now reduced to a wanted criminal, I still refused to mingle with them, and the reason I did not hesitate to refuse David when he asked me to get further involved in his illicit businesses.Meanwhile, the contact had flashed some sort of identification, and the gates slowly started to open. Another gondola rowed out just then, with David and several other crew members leaving on it.As for Mike and I, we would be staying outside to keep watch for any rival of the Mo
“Linda, you’re not saving yourself for the merman you dreamed about, are you? You should know that there’s a few in the crew who are interested in you,” Mike joked, the scent of alcohol strong in his mouth as he chugged his beer. After the doctor who cared for me insisted that I was delusional and had been constantly daydreaming, the crew believed the doctor’s diagnosis wholeheartedly. “Yes, he’s the only one for me and I can’t live without him. Even now, I don’t think about anything else—all I want is enough money to buy myself a boat, and travel across the world to find him,” I replied, playing along while mixing fact and fiction.I was not bothered to explain everything to the crew anyway, though they would all be wetting their pants if said merman appeared before them.Still, thinking about Dicken left me miserably having a few sips of beer, before picking up the pebble beside me and throwing it into the water.It skipped over the surface, kicking up multiple splashes even a
Be that as it may, the dark silhouette was already gone when I swiftly hurried past several bars and finally arrived at the edge of the bridge. It was no different from when I had looked at the edge of the canal while I was onboard the gondola not too long ago—there was no one there.Was that you, Dicken? Where are you? Just now, was that really you?I stood on one end of the bridge, my soul seemingly disembodied even as I stretched my eyes wide, searching. I did not care as the downpour pelted me, soaking through my clothes.Even so, I could no longer see that dark silhouette, and I had to lean on the scaffolding as I gasped for breath. Looking upon the surface of the river, I found my reflection robbing and left in pieces from the pouring rain.The alcohol that I had just drunk was burning my nerves, and my mind was an utter mess. I had to wonder if I was drunk right then, and was actually seeing things. To tell the truth, I wanted to cry—but I laughed instead, because I found
An iron gate blocked by steel bars was in my way. Though I could see through the gaps into the darkness inside, I saw several turns heading towards the left side, but there was no way of telling where it connected to. I also saw wall sculptings over the walls on both sides—the aqueduct may have been a tourist spot before, though it was now closed down for some reason.I saw the gap between the iron gates then and tried to push myself inside, standing on my sides so that I could squeeze my way in. Despite being skinny, however, I realized that I just wouldn’t make it through.If I couldn’t make it through when I was this slim, then someone as burly as Dicken would certainly not get through, not to mention that there was a long, thick tail hidden beneath his wide trench coat. Even if he had some method to turn himself human, he would never get through that narrow entrance.But how did he disappear from here? Could he be underwater like I was?I promptly jumped back into the nearby
Before I realized what Dicken was going to do, he breathed an exceedingly high-pitched cry as sonorous as thunder. The entire cave shook in its wake as he grasped my hips with both his webbed paws, lifting me high into the air. A school of sea fishes suddenly swam out of nowhere in an instant, their bodies shining as they encircled us like birds. At the same time, the merfolk started dancing in excitement, kicking up splashes as they pivoted gracefully, the scales of their tails reflecting radiance amid the darkness just like stars in the night sky, the robust, burly mermen and the beautiful, devilish mermaids interweaving to form a bright river of stars.I stared at the stunned sight, mesmerized, spreading my arms by reflex as if infected. I wanted to embrace my dear leader who had surprised me endlessly, expectant of the new world he would take me to.That was when I heard a quiet voice beneath me. “Linda…”I looked down into his wide, narrow gaze that seemed to embody that rive
In the previous dimension where I lived, I had already been prepared to live away from the humans with Dicken. I had nothing aside from him, who was always by my side—our connection seemed so unbreakable just then that I believed that to be my fate.However, I still wouldn’t hope that he would keep killing because of me. Looking into his eyes, I pleaded once again, “Could you promise me to spare Baron? Right now, he’s of no threat to you or merfolk. As long as we return to the domain of your race, humans would have nothing to covet—can’t we stay away from those conspiracies? I’ll always be yours, dear leader.”Dicken looked deeply into my eyes as if he was considering my proposal, and remained quiet for a long time before he eventually gathered me in his arms. “I promise, Linda.”“Hey, shouldn’t we be going out now, and don’t you have an announcement to make? Your people are waiting for you.” I exhaled lengthily and patted his back just then.At those words, I suddenly realized t
That being said, it was no different from me letting myself be taken, because my stubbornness and determination only ever made Dicken want to conquer me even more. We had never been equals, be it fifty years ago or now.One might even say that he wanted me more after losing me once. His desire for me was so strong that he would kill Baron, even though he had granted me rebirth as agreed. After all, he wanted to be my one and only, and no merfolk were allowed to share a single iota of my sentiment. Fuck!I bit my lip, tearing it and tasting blood in my mouth just then, but I couldn’t feel the pain at all.He had suddenly let go of my ankles and gathered in his arms once more, and did so gently. His broad webbed paws caressed my back as if to reassure me, and he did not try to take me anymore.That surprised me, and I opened my eyes and saw that he was staring into my eyes. Then, his eyebrows lowered, he licked the blood on my lips lovingly, seemingly not as furious or agitated as
In fact, I was more willing to believe that Dicken was exaggerating, since my grandfather had never been out of line as far as I could recall. However, even as I assured myself, I was searching my memory in fear that my grandfather meant me harm—fortunately, I came up with nothing, since all I remembered about him was of him being a kind elder who had taught me to read and played with my younger self. There was no question that he had acted like an elder, and even if Dicken wants to take his place in my heart, it would be in a completely different role, since there would always be a part that he couldn’t replace.“Stop thinking about him now, Linda. He’s merely carrying out a mission I had assigned him, and the reason he didn’t lay a finger on you was because I had restrained him.”Dicken appeared to become angrier as he observed my expression, and his was unusually deep as if he would get furious soon. It left me uncomfortable—Dicken appeared reluctant for another merfolk to stay in
I suddenly felt a slippery sensation from my waist, and found the mischievous stingray curling into a ball as it hid behind me, seemingly startled by Dicken’s lecherous tongue.“See? You scared it, pervert.” I leaned in, resting the bridge of my nose against his head as I chuckled softly. On the other hand, Dicken pinched the tender flesh on my hip and stroked my back a few times as he watched me lovingly. “I really want to hide you away, Linda…”“Where would you hide me?” I buried my head in his head and sniffed—it was hard to restrain myself with that intoxicating champagne-like scent of his, but I promptly came to my senses as I remembered that fugitive. “Hold on, don’t seduce me or try to divert my attention with sweet words. What’s with that merman who’s saying that he’s going to look for your Yiki?”Dicken patted my head feebly and stayed silent for a while, but eventually admitted, “It’s Baron.”I froze, immediately remembering the furious glare of that merman who had hidd
“Why would you clothe me out of the blue…” I inhaled deeply, and as I pulled away from his kiss after much difficulty, I asked in confusion, “Are you taking me somewhere?”Dicken looked deeply into my eyes as if something astonishing would soon occur. “Yes… I’m going to announce to my subjects that you’re my mate…”With those words, he threw me over his back and swam out of the cavern filled with stone pillars.Gosh, I was flabbergasted. Still, I soon realized that this was pretty much how it should go, since Dicken had yet to announce about us to his subjects in this dimension. However, I felt a little headache when I remembered how the announcement in the last dimension had gone… He was not going to mate with me in front of everyone again, was he?“Your Majesty…”A high-pitched call suddenly rang from ahead, followed by splashes as a purple figure swam towards us. I was stunned when a face floated out of the water—that purple hair, along with those facial features that were sh
My eyes welled with tears and my mind went dizzy, while a scorching jet of water shot into my body. That was when I saw a blue light moving downwards from Dicken’s chest to where we were connected, and as innumerable jolts struck all over my body, my heart clenched in the intensive stimulation.For a few seconds, I was unable to breathe as all consciousness and emotions seemed to fuse together, rushing towards the wall that was blocking my memories…Then, the wall shattered. “Linda… Linda…”The familiar voice could be heard as if from the distant horizon, though it soon became clear and ultimately echoed beside my ears, and there was no doubt that he was beside me.“Dicken?” I opened my eyes and found my dear leader. It was as if I had met him once more after a slumber that lasted centuries, and yet I felt him beside me all along, and the memory of him taking this body was extremely distinct.I was at once confused and mystified as the memories from two different dimensions slow
“Damn it, you crazy animal…” I cried and moaned, my legs that were kicking Dicken’s shoulder caught by him with ease. At the same time, his body continued to press down on me from above like a hill, holding my body firmly down.Dicken’s hoarse voice spoke beside me then. “Don’t move, Linda, or I won’t be able to resist violating you even more violently—you have no idea how delicious you are…”I froze, my breath cut off at his words even as his tongue slithered into my ear and kicked it as if teasing, while his webbed paw groped my breast. A paralyzing sensation that felt electric spread all over my body, slowly easing the bursting pain of being entered. Soon, a familiar yet irresistible exhilaration occupied my senses, and even as I kept gulping, my own spit was welling out the corner of my mouth.Curious, Dicken stared at the edge of my lips and extended his tongue to lick it, as if it were the tastiest raindrops in existence. At the same time, I could feel him entering several inc
“Don’t be scared…”As Dicken inhaled deeply over my nape, his breathing became heavy and choppy. He twitched as he snuggled up against my back, and I could feel his humongous member flapping against my buttocks, along with its scorching heat. How could I not be scared by the prospect of that thing penetrating me?!I clenched my fist and punched at his tail which was darting between my legs, but he easily grabbed my wrist and suddenly turned around, pinning me beneath himself while his tail slithered between my legs and lifted my buttocks. Losing my balance, I fell sprawled over the reef, and as he gripped my hands to keep them behind myself, tears rolled out of the corner of my eye by instinct as lust and fear suddenly erupted. “No, I’m scared, Dicken… No, you’ll hurt me…”Dicken ignored my plea for mercy, however, and kept leaning on me as he gnawed my shoulder, as if to devour me by one tiny bite after another. The tenderness and adoration he’d shown towards me just now was gone,