[Are you sure you want to help me, human? You have yet to hear what I need your help for.]
‘Obviously, if it’s something ridiculous, I will refuse. It all depends on what sort of situation you’re trying to pull me in.’
[Then…?]
‘Then what?’
[What will you do after you reject me?]
‘That will depend on what your actions are going to be.’
The world turned silent a moment after. All I could do was stand still while waiting for the monster to answer. I didn’t exactly mince my words.
I couldn’t trust the monster.
I understood that the only reason it had even thought about talking to me was because of Pebble’s sudden appearance. I was confident it wouldn’t have spoken a single word to me had it not been for Pebble.
For a dragon of all things to be following a human and willingly become a spirit…
It certainly aroused its interest.
In some way, Pebble was the reason that this was possible.
But even so…
I wasn’t just going to mindlessly accept the terms of a monster. I needed to benefit from this exchange.
If I were simply going to be exploited and potentially backstabbed later, then I’d have no choice but to fight the monster. Had it been any other type of monster, I would’ve been worried. But this was a [Mind] type monster, and my specialty was the [Mind].
I wasn’t scared of fighting it.
My only issue was my breath. I only had about ten minutes left.
[…Alright.]
Eventually, the monster spoke.
[I’ll make sure to compensate you accordingly. The task should also be within your abilities.]
I smiled upon hearing the monster’s words.
‘I like the sound of that.’
This was all that I needed to hear. So long as the task was manageable and I received appropriate compensation as a result, I was completely fine with helping the monster.
‘So…? What can I do to help you? Let me hear you out first before deciding.’
[Yes.]
The monster paused for a brief moment, supposedly summarizing the situation in its mind before speaking, its quiet, whisper-like voice somber.
[….The great primordial one is being stirred.]
‘Oh…’
Didn’t that sound familiar?
[Stirring such a creature will only lead to the utter devastation of the ecosystem. Not only the surface one, but the deep one too. I… alone am not capable of resisting the great one’s wrath.]
‘So you need my help preventing the great one from being stirred?’
[That is correct.]
‘…So that means you’re aware of what is going on? And who is the one responsible for all of this?’
[That is correct.]
‘And you’ve done nothing about it?’
[I’ve tried, but I was incapable of defeating them. They are numerous and very strong.]
I frowned at this part. If it really tried and failed, what made it think that I could help it? This situation felt a lot more complicated than originally anticipated.
But it wasn’t like I could reject helping it.
This situation… it directly lined up with my own interest. I, too, wanted to stop whatever was causing the red tide and stirring the great one.
It was in my best interest to do so.
[I understand your concerns, human. But you mustn’t worry. The only reason why I am incapable of defeating the humans is that I lack a good host. One that perfectly suits my needs.]
‘Eh…?’
I suddenly started to have an extremely bad feeling about the situation. It couldn’t be that it wanted to use me as a host?
[….That’s when you showed up, and I was able to see just how powerful your mind was. If you were to become my host, then I would have less trouble defeating the ones responsible for all of this.]
‘That’s…’
[Do not worry, human. You will have full autonomy over your body if you become my host. In fact, it should be ‘I’ that should be worried.]
‘Why exactly?’
[…Because in order for you to become my host, I must reveal my true body.]
‘Ah.’
I suddenly started to understand. If it was really as I thought, then the one in the advantageous position was me.
If the ‘mind’ had to expose its real body in order to use me as a host, if it tried something, I could always have either Pebble or An’as do something to it and kill it on the spot.
There was, of course, a lot of danger involved in this situation since the ‘mind’ could very well foresee everything in advance and somehow stop Pebble and An’as from attacking its main body.
The risks were all too clear.
As if capable of reading my mind, the mind asked,
[Are you worried that I might try to take over your body without your consent?]
‘In truth, yes.’
I didn’t bother hiding my thoughts and just nodded my head in agreement. I was indeed worried about it potentially taking over my body.
How could I not be worried?
This monster had been trying to kill me just moments prior.
[In that case, you don’t have to worry too much. Your mind is simply too powerful for me to completely take over. Even if I wanted to, I’m afraid it is impossible for me to do so. The only one that truly bears a risk in this operation is me.]
‘And you’d expect me to believe your words like that?’
[…It’s not about believing or not. I know that you yourself are already aware of just how powerful your mind is.]
The monster was sharper than expected.
Indeed, I was already aware of the fact that my mind was stronger. This was also the reason why I was confident in battling it through the mind space.
But just because my mind was stronger, it didn’t mean that I could trust it.
What if it had some sort of trump card?
[We do not have much time, human. What will your decision be?]
I paused, thinking about all the pros and cons of the situation.
In the end, there was only one answer.
The obvious one.’
I saw no reason to reject the offer.
At the end of the day, not only would I gain an appropriate reward, but the monster’s interests were aligned with mine. Using its powers to help me defeat opponents that were beyond what I was currently capable of handling, I was also making my life a lot easier.
The only downside was the potential risk involving the situation, but there was a greater risk in operating without the monster’s aid.
As such, I didn’t hesitate any longer.
‘I’ll agree to help you.’
[You’ve made the right decision, human.]
The distant orb fluctuated wildly, the red dots around it similarly pulsing as the world started to pulse in a powerful red hue.
I looked around me before eventually closing my eyes and feeling something latch onto the back of my head.
***
‘What’s going on? What happened? Why is he like that?’
An’as looked at the merchant with a worried expression. Ever since he had put on the coral, he had suddenly stopped moving and closed his eyes.
It was as if he had suddenly become a statue.
If not for the fact that he could still sense a heartbeat, An’as would’ve thought he had died.
But why was he like this?
An’as looked around him, his gaze falling on the statues that eyed the two of them. His chest tightened as he felt the statues’ gazes.
He knew that they were being watched.
‘What should I do…? At this rate, things will get bad for both of us.’
Despite his panic, An’as was able to remain outwardly calm as he tried to figure out the situation. He first looked at the merchant’s body to see if there were any abnormalities. However, looking at him, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.
Then…?
Why was he suddenly frozen like that?
‘Could he be allergic to the corals, or could it be…’
A thought struck An’as’s mind as his eyes started to widen. Could it be that the monster was trying to take control of the merchant’s body?!
‘If it’s true, then things might be even worse than I originally expected.’
An’as started to chew on his lips, keeping his breath in check. He could last for about an hour with his breath held. This came as a result of his specialization in the [Body] path.
His training granted him an exceptionally strong body and lungs.
But that was besides the point.
His body grew alert as his eyes sharpened. Looking around, he moved nearer to Lazarus while his body tensed.
So far, he could still feel Lazarus’s weird gravity skill pulling him down.
He had yet to lose the battle.
‘I’ll protect him in the meantime.’
This was so that he could ensure he wouldn’t be interrupted by some random monster. If he was interrupted, then who knew what was going to happen?
But then again, if that was what the monster wanted, it’d have used the statues already.
‘Could it be that it wants to retain the body in perfect shape or—!?’
Feeling something stir, An’as’s head flicked directly towards Lazarus as something sprouted from beneath the seabed, stabbing right at the back of his neck.
‘Shit!’
An’as grew alarmed, but he wasn’t able to react in time as whatever it was that shot towards him latched onto his neck.
An’as felt his entire body tense.
And then—
Lazarus slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and expression colder than usual.
For a moment, he felt completely different from the merchant he had grown familiar with. But that wasn’t for long as the all too familiar smile marred his features and he slid his finger across the water.
The next scene left An’as completely shaken as he watched the statues around them stir, all moving at the same time and walking towards them.
‘Oh, shit…!’
The muscles on An’as’s body squeezed and tensed as he clenched his fists tightly, reading to fight.
However, just before he could even get started, the merchant raised his hand.
…and statues stopped.
‘Eh?’
An’as blinked slowly, trying his best to process the situation.
Then…
Slowly turning his head towards the merchant, he saw him smiling directly at him.
That was when he saw his mouth move,
‘Pretty cool, right?’