Chapter 60

Chrysanthemum Garden.

　　”Ah!” I yelled out with a startle when the scene in front of me became suddenly distorted, turning into a whirlpool and disappearing entirely into the burning entrance. My body was being sucked in as well, while my surroundings morphed into darkness. 

　　My body was floating in mid-air, becoming particularly light, like a swaying feather. Gradually, my vision in front of me brightened up, and I thought that I was going to return to reality. However, when my eyes became shrouded by the brightening scene before me, I couldn’t help but be surprised. zMeAUR

　　Like a ghost, I was floating on the ceiling of a nursery room. I caught sight of a little black-haired baby that was lying quietly in the cradle beneath me. He looked unhealthy, pale and weak as his body was connected to an IV stand. He looked like he was on the verge of death, but his pair of silver-gray eyes were wide open, looking upwards curiously. At first, I thought that he was looking at me, so I stupidly waved to him in a greeting. Instead, he just ignored me and turned his little head to one side. It was then that I realized that he was looking towards a man who had just entered through the side door. 

　　It was an old man with greying hair. As I looked down at him, a very strange, nostalgic feeling rose within my heart. Only, when he approached the baby and stretched out his hand to gently caress its forehead, did I instantly recognize him—this person was my grandfather!

　　Additionally, the merman who took Agares’s spore in front of the “gate” and who had just left momentarily before, didn’t his side profile resemble my grandfather’s when he was younger? Back then, the scene that I saw was when he promised that leader, who was Agares, that, in order to return to Earth, he had to pay a certain price. As proof of this “contract,” Agares had let him take his genes with him.

　　Even so, just what was going on? And how could my grandfather be a merman? Could it be that the merfolk’s spore he took was absorbed into him, and when he had successfully returned to the real world, for some reason, his genes were recombined again in some way, turning him human again? JmG XB

　　While I was incredulously thinking about all the logistics and connections behind everything, I saw my grandfather take out a small test tube from his pocket containing a liquid that emitted a slight glowing blue color. The moment when that plug was unscrewed, the liquid immediately reversely flowed out from the glass opening, like a small floating puff of smoke, before finally condensing together and forming a small jellyfish-like cluster of light—Agares’s “spore.”

　　My grandfather looked down at the baby and gently unwrapped the soft bedding that was bundled around it. At that moment, my entire body entered a state of shock, because I suddenly realized that the baby was actually “me”.　

　　The reason why I hadn’t immediately realized that it was myself at first, was because I knew I didn’t have silver-gray eyes. However, when I looked at the change in the irises of my eyes when the spore attached to my chest, I immediately reacted. The invasive genes, carried by Agares’s spore, had pervaded into my body and changed certain parts of my DNA chain, just like some kind of cell virus. Ever since then, I was imprinted with his mark.

　　So when Agares said that, “I belonged to him,” it was because my grandfather, through this method, had bestowed me onto him just like in a children’s fairytale. One where an unlucky, little princess was offered up to a witch by the king and his wife. Although this description was a bit ridiculous, I didn’t find it funny at all. twFmyR

　　I only felt shock and anger, because Agares and my grandfather had no right to decide my fate. Regardless of what kind of deal or contract they have reached between them, they couldn’t just make my life a stake or a bargaining chip! All of a sudden, I thought of something that was even more incredulous—how were these scenes recorded down by Agares anyway? Was Agares spying on me through some sort of secretive way ever since the moment I was born? Or did my grandfather record all of this and gave it to him? No matter what method, I still found it hard to accept. 

　　“Lfs… ilaaif ues…” Ca atlr alwf, P ecfzqfmafvis tfjgv ws ugjcvojatfg ktlrqfglcu. Lf ibkfgfv tlr tfjv jcv ibbxfv ja “wf” xlcvis. Llr ufcfgber qjiw olvvifv klat ws ilaaif olcufgr, jiibklcu “wf” ab ufcais, yea olgwis, ugjrq bcab tlr lcvfz olcufg. “P’w rbggs, ws meaf ilaaif Gfrtjgbk, yea atf wfgobix’r ufcf mjc rjnf sbeg ilof.” P tfjgv ws ugjcvojatfg’r nblmf rjs, ktlmt kjr tbjgrf jcv oliifv klat tfiqifrrcfrr. “P tbqf sbe vbc’a mbwf ab tjaf wf ktfc sbe xcbk jybea atlr rfmgfa lc atf oeaegf…” 

　　Save my life?

　　“You are mine…” Agares lowered his head, his lips and teeth spitting out a low, non-human mutter.

　　I was shocked to learn that what he said was neither English nor Russian, but the special language of merfolk. Somehow, I miraculously understood it. It seemed that my nerves suddenly added some sort of special language feedback function which allowed Agares’s meaning to be translated in my brain.  

　　I thought it probably had to do with the special “connection” that Agares had just established with me, which couldn’t be explained by today’s existing science or biology. Maybe it was one of merfolks’ unique abilities.　 5cwCvz

　　In just a few mere minutes, I had accepted more information than I could digest. I shook my head and subconsciously stepped back from Agares. My brain was in a mess, but I couldn’t utter a single word. My waist was then suddenly tightened. The fishtail under me had curled around me, bringing me closer to Agares’s body. Water droplets covered Agares’s entire head and face, and they trickled down from above me.  

　　“Don’t uselessly try to avoid me……” 

　　Agares’s long and narrowed eyes reduced into slits, cutting my heart’s defense line like a blade.

　　My breath tightened. I could honestly say, the feeling of him being able to communicate freely with me suddenly was too strange and frightening, because his thoughts and ideas could be expressed without hindrance, striking right into my heart and leaving me with no way to cushion his attack and desire. idVRZI

　　Just when I was thinking this, my unguarded lips were instantly pressed and sucked on vigorously by Agares’s own. However, my wretched mind just kept filling up with those damned images of him holding me in his arms like a father figure and playing with me out at sea. I tried to avoid his attacking lips out of embarrassed panic with much difficulty, but his exerted strength was so strong. As soon as I broke free to get air, I saw that his wrists were, once again, trickling with blood. 

　　Out of breath, I leaned against the side of the artificial reservoir and looked at him. Finally, I bowed my head. I couldn’t help but both laugh and cry, gasping in a breathless low voice, “How should I face you, Agares? I don’t even know anymore. My relationship with you is just so strange, it’s even ridiculous! My brain is in a mess, I need some time…..”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

　“Raise your head and look at me, Desharow…”

　　Agares whispered; his voice sounded like a cello pouring into my eardrum, making me slowly raise my head. The mottled and swaying water-glow reflected Agares’s sharp and stern outline, showing off his fiendish, yet gentle, demeanor as well. His eyes were very deep, like they stored an endless amount of affection that could drown me breathless. cmnjdK

　　“You are destined to be mine.” 

　　He slightly opened his lips and said this with confidence in that husky voice of his. Then that long tail swept in front of me, and pieces of rough scales swept across my chest, like countless fingernails, instantly scratching open a few buttons of my clothing. Next, the tail slowly, inch by inch, rubbed against my naked chest. Or to be exact… the birthmark on my chest that symbolized his blood imprint. 

　　My heart beneath that specific area was beating so violently that it felt like it was going to break through the surface of my skin. This compelled me to brush over those tiny outlines of scales with my palm. Instantaneously, an electrical shiver flowed through my heart. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and enjoy the wonderful feeling of touching him.　

　　The thick, coarse fish tail, out of nowhere, used force to press me against the wall of the artificial reservoir. It cleanly spread open my legs in a punishing way. Then the fish tail pressed at my root, and began to rub harshly and vigorously repetitively. RBGEDS

　　“Damn it… ah… Agares… don’t…” My body moved up and down, and I was bearing against the stimulation that rose immediately from below. I panted heavily in trying to climb myself back up, but my legs became soft and trembled. 

　　 “But he won’t be any longer. “

　　The hatch door from behind burst forth, and Rhine’s shadow was heavily reflected on the water surface. Then I heard the click of a gun. The cold sound of pulling the safety bolt.

　　TBC 14uHRQ

 

 

—Cheonsa

P.S: I’m still gonna be around to help look over my co-translator’s work as proofreader and as well as answering any emails regarding questions or just commenting on readers comment. Fighting Everybody. Stay safe and Happy Reading!. cwEDhV\n