"...Your kindness and enthusiasm have moved me."
Lucian finally spoke after a brief moment of contemplation, a solemn expression gradually settling over his face as his voice carried a measured weight.
"I'll be honest—sheltering your fishlings for a lifetime without worry is effortless for me."
"As you wish, from this day forward, I'll be the king and protector of your fishlings."
Upon hearing Lucian's answer, Phagousa quickly raised their head, and immense, unmistakable delight filled their eyes as they realized that their plea had truly worked.
Phagousa immediately turned around to face all the sea sirens gathered behind them, then announced loudly, their voice carrying across the water.
"My little fishlings! As you have all heard, from today onward, Lucian is your king!"
"He will shelter the ocean and prevent it from being eroded by the black tide any longer."
"You must respect him and cherish him, just as you do me."
All the sea sirens froze for a brief second, their expressions flickering with surprise, before they quickly imitated their mother, bending their bodies deeply toward Lucian in unison before shouting aloud:
""Ocean King!""
Unlike the humans on land, all these sea sirens did not understand schemes or power struggles—they only knew one thing: this powerful human who had saved them was willing to protect them without hesitation.
If even their mother and queen had personally invited him to become their king, then it was more than enough proof of his capabilities and worth.
Lucian stood at the center of the rising cheers, surrounded on all sides by sea sirens who were bowing respectfully toward him, their gazes filled with admiration, while he wore a slightly helpless expression.
Realizing that he was now the leader of the sea sirens, he couldn't help but wonder which race he would end up leading next in the future.
"Alright, straighten up. I will protect you, but I won't manage daily affairs. Whether it's big matters or small ones, go to Phagousa. I will only act when you face danger, and your mother will remain the queen."
Lucian did not beat around the bush and made everything clear from the start, openly declaring that he would be a hands-off ruler who would not interfere unnecessarily.
Having the Ocean Titan as his worker was simply perfect—there was no need for him to involve himself in trivial matters.
"Whoa, the king is willing to let the queen remain queen? Amazing! He's the best!"
Such a small matter made all the sea sirens cheer once again, their voices echoing through the surroundings, while Helektra silently stared at Lucian with unconcealed joy.
Even though he had only just arrived, he had already given her one surprise after another, helping her mother and sisters resolve the disaster that had threatened them.
"You're different from other humans."
Phagousa smiled slightly as they spoke, their tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration, not expecting this human to let them continue being ruled by their queen. If it were other land-dwelling humans, they probably would have already begun seizing absolute authority by now, their eyes filled with unchecked greed.
"I don't handle all the national affairs, but rules still have to be set," Lucian said seriously, his tone firm and leaving little room for argument. "From now on, if you're in shallow water, you must wear proper clothes as humans do on land, and you can't let them see you half-exposed like that. But if you're in deep water, do whatever you want."
After all, no humans could reach deep water, let alone observe these sea sirens.
"Huh? Wear clothes?"
"Like humans?"
"But we have seafoam—we don't need clothes, right?"
Clearly, all these sea sirens did not understand the reasoning behind Lucian's instruction—their expressions filled with confusion and faint resistance.
Ever since they were born, they had always used seafoam to cover the private parts of their bodies, the soft, ever-shifting bubbles clinging naturally to their skin, so human clothes were nothing more than restrictive fabric in their eyes—unnecessary and uncomfortable.
With that mindset, why would they wear them at all?
Lucian, seeing their clueless reactions and hearing their puzzled murmurs, sighed and slapped his own forehead, feeling a slight headache coming on.
It seemed he would have to carry out a round of ideological and cultural education for the innocent sea sirens first, patiently guiding them so they could understand basic common sense.
And with that, he immediately started explaining in detail, using simple and direct examples to help them understand human clothing etiquette and the reasons behind such customs.
Fortunately, all these sea sirens were naive and obedient.
Even though they did not like the feeling of being constrained by clothes, the unfamiliar tightness making them slightly uncomfortable, they ultimately all expressed acceptance of his teachings without any complaint, because he was now their king, and his words carried unquestionable authority.
After teaching the sea sirens for a while, Lucian created many beautiful clothes on the spot, the fabrics shimmering faintly as if imbued with magic, and handed them out for all the sea sirens to try on.
However, when all of them put on their new clothes one after another and admired each other—turning, smiling, and comparing their appearances—Lucian soon noticed a problem.
When these sea sirens had previously used seafoam to cover their bodies, the size of their breasts could not be seen clearly, the shifting bubbles obscuring every contour.
But now that they had clothes on and all the bubbles had completely disappeared, the shape of each sea siren's breasts, big or small, was fully revealed before his eyes, leaving little to the imagination.
For example, Helektra.
As she put on the new clothes that Lucian had personally selected for her—clothes that closely resembled the short white and blue dress she would wear as Hysilens in the future—the fabric settled snugly against her form, gently tracing every curve. Her soft figure and her rounded breasts, tightly wrapped and clearly outlined by the dress itself, appeared extremely alluring, the faint stretch of the cloth accentuating her natural proportions with quiet elegance.
"Am I… looking good?"
Noticing Lucian's gaze lingering on her a moment longer than usual, Helektra shyly asked for his opinion, her voice soft and slightly hesitant.
"Yeah, good... You're gorgeous..." Lucian whispered in a low voice as he leaned closer to her ear, his breath brushing lightly against her skin. "You're the most beautiful sea siren in the whole ocean, no one's even close. Even Phagousa isn't as beautiful as you."
*Whoosh!*
In an instant, Helektra's face turned bright red, the flush spreading rapidly from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
Pure as she was, how could she possibly resist such a deadly tease delivered so intimately?
The most beautiful sea siren in the whole ocean?
Unmatched by anyone?
Even more beautiful than the queen?
Each phrase echoed in her mind, one after another, stirring waves in Helektra's heart.
Needless to say, it was as if Lucian had lifted her straight up into the sky.
Helektra suddenly felt as if there were lightness beneath her feet, as if the ground itself had quietly dissolved, as if she were rising from the surface of the sea into the vast open sky, her thoughts drifting along with her, buoyed and carried by his words.
"Don't say nonsense… how could I be more beautiful than the queen..."
"If I say you are, then you are," Lucian said lightly, chuckling openly without restraint. "You gotta trust the Ocean King's eye, y'know."
Thankfully, the other sea sirens did not hear this exchange, or they would have crowded eagerly around him, chattering all at once and asking him to praise them as well.
"Even though wearing clothes isn't very comfortable, they're really pretty."
"It's decided. I don't want to take them off—I'm going to wear clothes every day!"
"If I get the chance, I'll definitely wear these clothes and go to the surface to let humans see the clothes the king gave me."
Just like that, the sea sirens quickly accepted Lucian's rule of wearing proper clothes, though it was mainly because the clothes were so beautiful, their fine fabrics and shimmering colors catching the light of the sea, and females, no matter which race, could hardly resist beautiful things.
"All right, my little fishlings, now that the Ocean King has saved the ocean and bestowed new clothes upon us, let's hold a feast! Let's celebrate his ascension!"
Phagousa announced with an elegant and composed smile on their face, their gaze sweeping gently across the sea sirens gathered before them, as if embracing each and every one of them.
Feasting was their long-held tradition—no matter what happened, as long as they were happy, they would always hold a feast to celebrate, letting songs, laughter, and the rhythm of the tides fill their world.
"Yay!"
"A feast! A feast!"
In an instant, the sea sirens cheered one after another and spun around in every direction, their voices overlapping as their excitement spread through the waters.
Helektra was among them, giggling happily, her movements light and carefree as she joined the celebration.
What she loved most was the lively and joyful atmosphere of feasts, especially when it was filled with her family, their presence making everything feel warmer and brighter.
Seeing their cheerful reactions, Lucian also felt a growing sense of anticipation.
He couldn't help it.
In all his long life in this world, he had never attended a feast filled with beautiful sea sirens, nor experienced such a vibrant and harmonious scene.
===
Several hours later, when the sunlight had completely faded and the seabed turned pitch-dark, only the Sea Siren Kingdom remained illuminated, its outlines and structures bathed in the soft, shifting glow of bioluminescent creatures and radiant plants.
In the square, many sea sirens gathered together in lively clusters, their laughter echoing faintly through the water as they held wine cups and drank through special methods unique to their kind.
Lucian had once been curious about how one could drink wine while being fully surrounded by water, but now he understood the principle behind it.
Apparently, the sea sirens sealed the wine inside bubbles they formed with their masterful control, shaping them with precision, and when they wished to drink, they simply brought the bubble close to their mouths and drank directly from it, completely isolating the contents from the surrounding seawater without letting a single drop mix.
Lucian also tasted the bubble wine himself and discovered that it possessed quite a unique and pleasant flavor—sweet upon entry, smooth and mellow afterward, somewhat reminiscent of the fruity beer from his hometown, yet carrying a faint, refreshing aftertaste unique to the sea.
"Aaaa~"
Letting out a soft exhale, Lucian had just taken his second glass of wine when several sea sirens nearby began to sing together, their voices clear and resonant even beneath the water.
Drinking, singing, and dancing were, after all, the three essential parts of any feast, no matter the race or realm.
Soon enough, as the singing gradually merged into a harmonious unity, the melody weaving together seamlessly, many sea sirens swayed their fish tails with graceful rhythm and began to dance, their movements fluid and captivating like the currents themselves.
Amid the increasingly festive and lively atmosphere, Helektra approached Lucian from the side, drifting lightly through the water before stopping in front of him, then looked at him with a pair of bright, watery eyes that shimmered with expectation.
"Do you want to dance? With me..."
Hearing Helektra's expectant question, Lucian paused mid-drink, the bubble of wine hovering near his lips as the motion stilled, then glanced at her with slightly raised brows.
Honestly, when a beauty invited him to dance so directly and without hesitation, how could he possibly refuse?
"Of course."
Lucian agreed readily, his answer coming without the slightest delay, which made Helektra's smile bloom with undisguised happiness.
In the next moment, after getting Lucian's consent, she immediately reached out, her fingers closing around his hand, and pulled him into the sea of dancing sirens, before slowly beginning to dance with him amid the soft, lilting singing that filled the surroundings.
Lucian, who had never danced before, did not know how to dance properly, so he could only let Helektra guide his steps, following her lead as their bodies swayed together in a gentle, unhurried rhythm.
Nevertheless, he had to admit that tonight was truly one of the most relaxed and comfortable nights he had experienced in this world, one that allowed even his usually guarded mind to loosen up.
Just like that, today quietly marked his very first day living in the deep sea.
===
Days passed one by one in quiet peace, and without realizing it, Lucian had already lived in the Sea Siren Kingdom for a full three years.
He spent most of his time within the deep-sea palace, crafting for himself a comfortable giant shell bed laid upon thick, soft seaweed mats, where he would lie for long stretches watching glowing jellyfish drift slowly past almost every day, their faint light swaying gently with the currents.
Albeit a little boring, it was still a very pleasant and easygoing life, one that required little effort and offered even fewer disturbances.
Thankfully, his boredom was steadily remedied by Helektra, who came to see him almost every day due to her role as his 'exclusive helper,' responsible for guiding him through the ocean and introducing him to the surrounding environment and its many creatures.
Maybe because she had gradually grown fond of him, the role was something she had personally asked for, and Phagousa was naturally happy to see it happen without objection.
During these past three years, Lucian had also patiently taught Helektra how to speak the language of humans, and because her name, 'Helektra,' was somewhat difficult to pronounce in the human language, he also gave her the name 'Hysilens,' her later name in the original story, as her human name.
From then on, he began calling her Hysilens more frequently, so she would gradually grow accustomed to the name, in case the time ever came to bring her to land.
===
One morning, Lucian, who had been soundly sleeping, suddenly woke up, his eyelids parting just slightly as a faint glint surfaced in his gaze.
In fact, he had not truly been asleep and had simply been resting with his eyes closed, his mind steadily turning over what to do next in order to complete the current script.
An Emanator like him didn't really need sleep, after all.
As for why he was waking up now, it was simply because he had sensed that someone was watching him so intently that it made his heart tingle faintly, as though brushed by an unseen gaze.
And indeed, someone was watching him.
At the edge of the shell bed, a head with long, black hair slowly rose into view, careful and deliberate.
It was none other than Helektra, now called Hysilens.
Like a cat eyeing its prey, she clung to the shell's edge, revealing only her pair of sparkling indigo eyes, her gaze cautious yet filled with curiosity as she quietly peeked inside.
"Up this early today, Hysilens?"
Lucian ultimately closed his eyes again before asking lazily, his tone unhurried, as if he had expected her presence all along.
"Kya!"
Hysilens exclaimed in surprise, her body jolting as she jumped back in fright, then she let out a small, helpless sigh while patting her chest as if to steady her racing heartbeat.
"How did you know it was me?"
Hearing her question, Lucian opened his eyes again and slightly turned his head to look at her, his expression calm and faintly amused.
"I mean, other than you, who would come grab the edge of my bed every day?"
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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