novelraw Chapter 214: Anya
Chapter 214: Anya
The salty seawater mixed with blood rushed into Leon’s nostrils, making him feel sick. The heavy, metallic scent churned his stomach.
Fortunately, he was a tough man with strong adaptability, so he didn’t end up vomiting into the sea.
Still, passively enduring that stench wasn’t pleasant. Leon simply held his breath, gripped the Galaxy Watermelon Knife, and charged into the bloody mist, slashing wildly in all directions.
Most of his strikes hit nothing but water, but every so often he felt the distinct resistance of blade against flesh. At least he knew he was hitting something.
“Stop attacking, Chosen. It’s already dead.”
Just as Leon was recalling the general spot where his last strikes had landed—planning to follow up with a few more—he noticed the blood-stained water around him suddenly clear. At the same time, the voice of the mermaid lady reached his ears.
He looked toward the sound and saw four mermaids gathered beside him. Using their water-controlling abilities, they condensed all the blood into a single sphere suspended in the water.
Leon turned to the massive python. It was utterly still now, its body starting to float toward the surface.
The terrible wounds along its length had stopped bleeding entirely—it was well and truly dead.
But that wasn’t what caught Leon’s attention. What puzzled him was that the python’s corpse remained in the physical world instead of vanishing like a monster’s would upon death.“Why hasn’t its body disappeared?”
“It’s not a monster, so it won’t dissolve into energy and be reclaimed by the world,” the mermaid explained.
“So… it really was a Child of the Wilds?”
Leon felt awkward. If it wasn’t a monster, then going at it so ruthlessly might have been a bit excessive.
In truth, aside from its danger, the python was quite a beautiful creature—its scales and head shimmered like pale blue gemstones.
If he’d managed to keep the body intact, it could’ve been a fine specimen for display or worth a fortune.
Now, thanks to his blade work, only part of the upper body and the tail remained intact. The rest was… well, shredded.
“Not sure. We plan to bring the body back for study. If it proves valuable, we’ll compensate you with an equal amount in universal currency,” she said.
“Take it if you want. No need for compensation—consider it payment for your help.” Leon waved a hand dismissively. He had no interest in a mutilated carcass.
If they were interested, he might as well earn some goodwill. Maybe next time he blew the Mermaid Horn, they’d come to help again.
“That will depend on the elders. We’re just ordinary guardians,” she replied.
“Doesn’t matter to me. I can’t exactly lug something that big around,” Leon said wryly.
“Mm.” She nodded.
“By the way, none of you are hurt, right?”
Leon shifted his attention to the mermaids. With all the blood in the water earlier, he hadn’t been able to see clearly whether they’d been injured while distracting the python.
The mermaid smiled. “Thanks for asking, Chosen. Thanks to you, none of us were harmed, and we barely used any stamina. In the end, we ended up as spectators.”
“Don’t say that. You held it in place and gave me the merman algae—without that, I couldn’t have fought underwater,” Leon said.
“That’s exactly why I’m reminding you—Chosen, you should head up now. The merman algae’s effect is about to end.”
“Huh?”
Leon quickly swam toward the surface. He had no desire to suddenly inhale seawater.
He surfaced just as the algae’s effect faded, and the familiar feeling of breathing through his nose returned. While under its effect, he was pretty sure he’d grown gills, because the oxygen had flowed in from his cheeks before reaching his lungs.
“You’re okay—that’s good. It sounded like a giant whirlpool down there.”
Before Leon could check whether the fins on his elbows and ankles had vanished, Willy’s voice called from a nearby fishing boat.
Leon looked over to see Willy and Gus leaning over the railing, waving.
He swam to the boat, grabbed Willy’s arm, and climbed aboard—only to be met with their curious stares.
“Relax, I’m fine. Didn’t take any losses,” Leon reassured them. The fight had been surprisingly easy, a one-sided crush.
“That’s good to hear,” Willy and Gus said in unison, both sighing in relief before crowding in on either side of him, peppering him with questions about what had happened below.
Leon gave them a quick summary—how he’d cut down a giant python—adding a little flourish for dramatic effect.
“Chosen, the whale needs to help transport the giant sea serpent’s corpse, so it can’t tow your boat back.”
While Leon was in the middle of describing his “glorious deed,” the mermaid appeared at the side of the boat, speaking to him.
“And?” Leon doubted they’d just leave him adrift. If the whale couldn’t tow them, there had to be another way home.
“Apart from the whale, a few merfolk who know ship technology have come over. They’re already fixing your damaged propeller,” she added, looking a little disappointed.
Clearly, she’d hoped to tease him, but Leon hadn’t panicked at the first bit of news—instead, he’d calmly prompted her for the rest.
“Thanks. Oh, and you don’t have to call me Chosen—just call me Leon.” This was the same mermaid who’d been talking to him the whole time. After all they’d been through, Leon felt she’d been quite responsible, so he wanted to be on friendlier terms.
That way, if the Mermaid Horn summoned her again, things would be easier.
“Leon, I’ll remember that. My name is Anya,” she said with a nod.
“Anya, got it. Once the fishing boat is fixed, you can head back. The threat’s over,” Leon told her.
“Better to escort you to the waters near Stardew Valley. You never know what else might happen,” Anya replied.
“If it doesn’t trouble you, I don’t mind. Actually… could I ask you for a favor?” Leon said.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.” Anya perked up.
“Near that island from before, there’s a sunken ship. Could you check it and bring back anything useful?” Leon asked, rubbing his hands together. With the danger gone, he didn’t want to waste the trip.
“That’s it?” Anya’s expression froze.
“What else would it be?”
Leon looked at her, genuinely puzzled about what other help she thought he might ask for.