Secrets Beneath the Coral Light

“I’ve never seen such a clean-cut Lycanthrope before.”

“I was shocked too. Polite, but not submissive. Looks like even the Lycanthropes are evolving. Anyway, what a disaster…”

Nepher gulped down water from a portable flask and turned his head.

The sirens were sniffling as they cleared away the shattered debris.

Nepher approached them.

“Can you decipher it?”

“No. It’s completely damaged, impossible to interpret. They probably sprayed dissolving agent before setting off the bomb.”

“Damn… that’s unfortunate. Let’s search the other areas. We might still find something.”

The sirens immediately resumed their search.

But even after thoroughly examining the walls and the area around the statue, they found not a single letter.

The hopeless result sent them back into wails.

Nepher, though silent, was visibly troubled.

Seeing him like that made Vanessa recall the sentence she had glimpsed earlier when the floor sank.

He said to report anything unusual I find.

Vanessa started to call out to Nepher—but froze.

Beyond his shoulder, she could see the wall Hakan had destroyed.

Hakan must have broken it because it contained something unfavorable about the Lycanthropes.

If he even used dissolving agent, then the record must have been extremely damning.

Vanessa repeated the sentence inwardly.

“In commemoration of harmony with the Siren Tribe.”

It was a sentence with multiple possible meanings.

First: The Sirens and another race created this place together to celebrate harmony.

Second: A race that had achieved harmony with the Sirens independently created this place.

Third: A race left this inscription in a Siren-made ruin to commemorate their harmony with the Sirens.

If it was the first or third possibility, not much changed.

But if it was the second, everything changed.

Nepher had said earlier that this ruin was built roughly a thousand years ago, a period eerie for its lack of historical records.

Which race would build a ruin so purposeless? Even now, with all our technology, pouring money into the sea would be cheaper.

If funding was the key, elves were the most likely.

But with their pride, they would have made an elf statue, not a siren statue.

Then was it the Lycanthropes? But they hate even bathing… unless, maybe a thousand years ago, both races were very different.

A thousand years was long enough for a race’s core traits to change completely.

If humans can change so much in ten years, why not other races in a thousand?

It was a wild theory—but nothing else made sense.

If not elves or lycanthropes, then who?

Only humans remained.

Vanessa’s eyes widened at the thought.

Humans made this?

It was even more absurd than her earlier idea.

Humans, who knew nothing but slavery, couldn’t possibly afford or craft something like this.

But…

Slowly, Vanessa lifted her head.

The massive air-coral siren held its elegant tail aloft.

It was unbelievably intricate and beautiful.

Even Fren, the greatest artist alive, had been amazed.

Vanessa shook her head.

No. Humans couldn’t have made something like this. Humans own nothing.

But once her heart began to race, it refused to calm down.

Drawn by an unexplainable force, Vanessa walked toward the statue.

If humans really made this…

Everything would change.

The moment she thought that, Fren leaned against her shoulder and whispered:

“Beautiful, isn’t it, Vanessa?”

“Huh? Yes… it’s truly beautiful.”

Vanessa snapped back to herself and agreed.

Fren smiled and tugged gently on her arm.

“Come here. You have to see it up close.”

Vanessa, who had secretly wanted to, allowed herself to be led forward.

She leaned close to the statue as Fren instructed.

Inside the statue, tiny bubbles rose constantly.

Fren peered inside with an excited expression.

“This statue is literally breathing.”

“Wow…”

“It’s been a while since I found something I want. How about you, Vanessa?”

Vanessa blushed and nodded honestly.

Seeing no reason to delay further, Fren turned to Nepher.

“I’d like to buy this ruin once the excavation is done.”

“Thank you, dear customer!”

Nepher rubbed his hands together and grinned—then froze.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I want to buy the ruin once you’re done excavating.”

“Buy the entire ruin?!”

Nepher’s eyes nearly popped out.

Fren nodded firmly.

“Yes. Of course, I’ll have to buy the Lycanthrope section separately… but I really want this place.”

“Then I’m grateful! Let’s draw up the contract as soon as we return. Oh, and just so you know—”

Nepher narrowed his brows and shouted:

“There are absolutely no refunds!”

“You think I don’t know that after all our years of business?”

“But why buy this place? Honestly, aside from the statue, there’s nothing of value. And you saw how Hakan smashed the wall. The price dropped enormously.”

Fren remained stubborn.

“It doesn’t matter. I still want it.”

“Is it because you’re worried about how to transport the statue?”

“That too. Air coral is extremely soft. And the land route is narrow, so we’d have to move it through water. If someone made a mistake and it got wet…”

Just imagining it made Fren shudder.

“I’d rather kill someone than let that living statue become ordinary. And more importantly…”

Fren turned.

Naturally, Nepher also looked.

At the end of their gaze—like always—was Vanessa, still absorbed in examining the statue.

A smile spread across Fren’s lips.

“That statue is most beautiful right where it is.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Just like Vanessa is most beautiful when she’s beside me.”

“……”

Nepher could not smile at all.

“I’m going to paint a siren.”

As Vanessa expected, it was the first thing Fren said after returning from the ruins.

Well, what we saw today was incredible. Even I felt inspired, and I’m not an artist.

A siren painted by Fren would undoubtedly be magnificent.

Vanessa asked in an excited voice before she realized:

“Shall I find a siren model for you?”

“No… I don’t think that’s necessary. I already have two.”

Fren muttered as he took out a blank canvas.

“Never thought I’d be using them this way.”

“I didn’t expect you already had two models.”

“Yeah. But I think I need to change the theme.”

Fren set up the blank canvas and said:

“I wanted to paint the most beautiful siren in the world, but drawing an existing one feels dull.”

“What kind of siren will you create?”

Vanessa still sounded thrilled.

Fren sketched in the air and chuckled.

“You really like sirens, huh?”

“N-no! I don’t mean I like sirens, I just—”

“I know. You like the artwork.”

Vanessa flushed bright red and said nothing.

“I’ll have to work hard to create a siren worthy of that statue.”

Fren put down his pencil and gently held Vanessa’s cheeks.

“So you’ll think about me all day long.”

He pecked her cheek like a bird.

Vanessa couldn’t help but smile, and Fren, encouraged, showered her with more kisses.

A moment later, still hugging her, he murmured:

“It’s a shame it leaves no mark. Should I wear lipstick next time? Hm?”

Vanessa didn’t answer.

Fren looked down—she was dazed and melting in his arms from his affection.

He shook her lightly.

“What color lipstick would look good?”

Barely regaining sense, Vanessa whispered:

“…Wh-whatever you want, Master Fren—”

“I want one that suits you. Bright red, maybe? It leaves pretty marks.”

“If that’s what you want—”

“Of course. If I like it, you like it too.”

Fren pulled Vanessa onto his lap and leaned in to resume his kisses—

But a voice came from behind the door.

“Fren, I’m here.”

“……”

As if someone had snatched away his joy, Fren’s expression turned blank in an instant.

Vanessa snapped back to her senses and quickly stood to open the door.

The moment it opened, Sylvia stormed in with a furious expression.

“You’re the only one who orders me around like this.”

“I had to. I need to talk to you. Please, sit.”

Sylvia sat where Fren pointed—then glared at Vanessa.

“Are you planning to keep that s*ave in here?”

“Yes. I am.”

Fren stirred his tea with a teaspoon and said:

“I need at least this much if I’m going to deal with someone as extraordinary as you, Mother.”

At that exact moment—

Vanessa pressed a dagger shaped like a needle against Sylvia’s throat.