My gaze shifted, slowly toward her. To who I called Aunt Karen which I probably shouldn't have. If the twins have something like this… Then what about her? My eyes narrowed slightly as I focused again.
[ Status ]
[ Name: Nysera ]
[ Species: Abyssal Genesis Clam ( Mature ) ]
[ Classification: Tier 3 Aberrant Class ]
[ Status: Unique Mutation ]
[ Evaluation: A+ Rank ]
[ Nature: Divergent Evolution ]
[ Skill: Genesis Absolute Rejection ]
Damn. She's strong. My gaze lingered on her for a moment, our eyes met then she blushed and turned her head sideways. I chuckled before I slowly looked away.
Then I focused inward and the window appeared again, this time my status window showed up.
[ Status ]
[ Name: Nyxen Neo ]
[ Species: Abyssal Genesis Snail (Primordial Vessel) Mature ]
[ Classification: Tier 0 - Unclassified ]
[ Status: Stabilizing ]
[ Evaluation: Incomplete ]
[ Nature: Undefined Potential ]
[ Skill: Forbidden - Origin Rewriter ]
I stared at it in silence. "...Still Tier 0, huh." It has a lot more information in the window now. That's an upgrade, I guess. I let out a quiet breath, then lifted my gaze. If I could see the twin's status and Nysera then the queen…
I focused, straight into her eyes and for a split second, nothing happened. Then an excruciating pain hit instantly. A crushing pressure slammed into me and not something I could endure. My vision blurred, my thoughts scattered, and for a terrifying moment, it felt like I would be torn apart without even moving an inch.
My breath ragged and my heart beat wildly and I staggered. I was losing consciousness and before my eyes could totally close, When I looked up again, I saw the queen was smiling…amused.
" You're biting more than you can chew, boy. "
Then I blacked out.
My consciousness slowly returned, pulled back by the sound of cute giggles. Something brushed lightly across my chest, small hands, soft, ticklish.
It must be the little ones. A faint smile almost formed on my face.Then I felt another sensation. Fingers, running gently through my hair, tenderly… almost soothing.
"…Now, children," a voice said softly, "let him rest. Don't bother him too much."
Nysera.
Her touch was gentle…so gentle, and the pillow is so soft. It even smelled faintly of lavender.
[ Pervert ]
I am not. It's not crime to want comfort once in a while. Half-awake, I moved slightly, my hand instinctively reaching out, trying to adjust the pillow.
[ If you say so. ]
Why is this system so irritating…Before I could argue, I jolted awake because of pain.
" Ouch! "
And there she was. Nysera
Her face flushed, her expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and anger. I couldn't tell which was worse. Behind her, the twins were giggling mischievously.
I found myself on the ground...again. For a moment, I just stared up at the ceiling, feeling confused. Then realization dawned on me when I looked towards Nysera who was covering her thighs and was glaring at me.
"…Oh."
[ Told you. Pervert. ]
I shot Vex a glare. Why didn't you warn me?
[ I did. ]
You could've been more specific!
[ I fail to comprehend how this has become my fault. If you had simply behaved— ]
I glared harder. "…Don't finish that sentence."
" Huh! You have the audacity to glare. "
I turned to Nysera, about to explain, but stopped.
Right. How was I supposed to explain Vex? I opened my mouth. Closed it.Opened it again…then gave up.
"…I'm sorry."
In the end, I just knelt in front of her and stayed there for a long time. Long enough for the twins to lose interest, then come back again, then lose interest again.
Nysera didn't say anything. She just looked at me, arms crossed, expression unreadable but definitely angry.
"…I really didn't mean it," I added quietly.
Another long pause. Then I heard a soft hum. I looked up and she finally gave a small nod. It means permission to stand, granted. I let out a breath and stood up immediately, only to be grabbed in both arms.
"Huh—?"
The twins again. Before I could react, they dragged me away without hesitation, pulling me back toward the queen like I had no say in the matter.
"…You two—wait—!"
They only stopped once we were right in front of her.
Her voice was calm, almost amused. She was nestled comfortably against her husband, completely at ease. I looked at them for a moment.
Then a thought slipped in. I want that too. A quiet, simple thought for a quiet simple man. I glanced towards Nysera. But she immediately looked away.
" Cold." I muttered.
I turned back to the queen with a depressed expression.
[ Based on current assessment… you do not possess the qualifications to have a wife. ]
I froze.
"…Excuse me?"
I snapped slightly.
"Based on what qualifications, Vex?"
[ Based on the fact that if you leave this place, you will be killed easily. ]
A pause.
[ And yet you desire a wife? Your priorities are… questionable. ]
I stared into empty space, completely dumbfounded.
"…You could've just said no."
[ Conclusion: continue dreaming. ]
I exhaled slowly. He's not wrong. Right now, I have no time for that. I need to get stronger. Only then—
[ Correction: No time. And no right. ]
"…Yes. I have no time."
[ -_- ]
"Don't give me that face."
A soft chuckle pulled my attention back.
"You're amusing, boy," the queen said. "You wear your thoughts far too clearly."
I rubbed the back of my head, still a little embarrassed. Then I looked at her again, more serious this time.
"Queen—"
I paused and looked at her nervously.
"Why did I faint earlier? And… what was that pressure?"
The queen looked at me calmly.
"Although I granted you that ability, it does not mean you can use it on anyone, boy."
A brief pause.
"And don't call me 'Your Majesty.'"
Her tone softened slightly.
"You are… practically family now."
I blinked as if sinking in what she said and slowly a small warmth spread through my chest.
"You may call me…Queen Mother."
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Someone like her, someone that powerful…calling me family in this unknown place. It just makes me emotional.
"…Queen Mother," I said quietly, the words feeling unfamiliar yet strangely right. "What do you mean by that?"
She looked at me and smiled.
"It simply means… you cannot look at someone far more powerful than you like me or others powerful than me."
I frowned slightly.
"…So I just blacked out because of that?"
"Partly," she replied. "You lack the qualification to perceive me fully."
Her gaze deepened, though her tone remained calm.
"And yet… you were not crushed by my presence."
I blinked.
"…What does that mean?"
"A Tier 5 existence doesn't need to act to exert pressure," she continued. "Just by simply being near us, it's already enough to overwhelm lesser beings."
A brief pause.
"The reason you are still standing…"
Her eyes met mine.
"…is because I allow it."
I inhaled sharply. So that pressure earlier…wasn't even real. It was just me trying to pry into something I shouldn't have. I swallowed.
" Are you saying I could've died if it were other guardians? "
The queen mother looked at me gravely and said.
" Yes, definitely. "
I was stunned and I felt cold sweat trickled on my back. Only now did I know the gravity of my foolishness.
"…Then can I at least see your status?"
[ You really have a talent for courting death. ]
A faint smile touched her lips.
"You may try."
I focused again. Carefully this time. The ripple returned, but it was unstable. Fragments of water flickered across my vision, trying to form into a window… but failing to hold together as if it lacked solidness to form.
The more I forced it, the painful it feels. Like something was prying my vision open, forcing it beyond its limits.
"…gh—"
Pain throbbed behind my eyes, sharp, relentless. Then a window tried to form but it still wouldn't stabilize. Then finally after a few more tries, words flickered, everything was blurred and unreadable except for two line.
[ Status: ??? ]
[ Evaluation: X Rank ]
My eyes widened. That was all I could see, all the other stats are blurred like a broken screen. I looked towards the queen mother's husband.
[ Status: ??? ]
[ Evaluation: X Rank ]
The moment I tried to push further, pain exploded in my head.
"Enough."
The vision shattered instantly. I staggered back, breathing uneven.
"…So that's all I can get."
A quiet chuckle followed. "For now," the queen said. Then her expression shifted, subtle, but firm.
"Now you must prepare for your journey outside. You have stayed here for far too long."
Then, without a word, she reached for the twins, lifting them both gently into her arms. The king moved beside her, wrapping his arms around them, enclosing them in a quiet, protective embrace.
For a moment, they stayed like that. As if engraving this moment forever in their heart. Then they turned to look at me and their expressions were no longer soft. No longer gentle, only firm and resolute.
"It's time."
I looked at them with steady, determined eyes but deep inside, fear lingered. The thought of going back out there… to that place that traumatized me. I won't ever forget it…and honestly I'm still terrified.
But at the same time, something inside me is boiling. Excitement, a quiet, burning anticipation to grow stronger, to become something more—to become one of the behemoths of the sea.
My gaze hardened slightly. Fear is still there, but it's overtaken by something else... a desire to see this world. All of it.