What he was witnessing was unbelievable. He was informed by the pop-up message that the woman on the throne was a Himedere.
He was unsure of what the phrase 'Himedere' meant, despite having heard it before. In contrast to Neriah's cool and collected manner, Selkie seemed to possess a certain amount of seduction and arrogance as he observed her.
He silently wondered, hoping that another notification would appear, 'what's a Himedere?' while trying to maintain an air of professionalism.
Ding!
[A Himedere is a type of character, usually female, who has royal status or has a high position, is immensely proud of herself, and demands attention. It might be very difficult to satisfy such people because they typically have a cutting tongue and a brief moment of rage. However, they have a sensitive side, and it has been seen that they relax more when someone they deem worthy gives them love and care. As the Siren Empress, Neriah's natural charisma and charm contribute to this.]
Tristan grimaced. "That sounds very unsettling but also exciting." he muttered under his breath.
Tristan looked back at Neriah, who was now watching him with interest. He could feel the weight of her gaze on him as if she was trying to discern something from him.
"My love, are you unhappy to be here?" Selkie enquired with worry.
Tristan once more shook his head. "No, no, it isn't like that. The thing is… I didn't anticipate being in the presence of a monarch, especially not in the presence of stunning woman like the Empress."
In a low voice, Selkie chuckled. "You'll get used to it, I suppose. Mother is not only our grand ruler; she is also very compassionate and giving. She genuinely cares about her people and will go to any lengths to keep them safe."
Hearing this made Tristan take a second thought at the word 'mother.'
'I was dragged into the ocean by a grand ruler?'
Still a little dazed by the incident, Tristan nodded. He couldn't help but ponder the distinction between Neriah and Selkie as the Himedere. Selkie, after all, was also a princess, and from what he had observed up to that point, it appeared like she was just as loving and caring as Neriah.
Neriah moved toward them at that precise moment after emerging from behind the throne. "Selkie, my dear, who is this captivating young man you brought here?"
Neriah caught Selkie's smile. "This is Tristan, mother. He mysteriously showed up at my chambers, so I brought him here to compete in the tournament."
'I did not miraculously arrive in your chambers; rather, your mother dearest, who is acting as though she is unaware of what she has done, dragged and dropped me there. Tournament? You, seductive temptress, literally dragged me here!' Tristan stated in his thoughts, but instead, he pretends to be amused while doing so, understanding that everything he did had to fit into the eroge he was supposed to play.
Neriah's curious eyes twinkled, and a sly grin crossed her face. "Is that so? Well, Tristan, welcome to my kingdom. Your stay with us should be pleasant, I hope."
Tristan nodded, not sure how to interpret Neriah's desire to snare him from the shore a few hours ago. He kept having the impression that she was hiding details concerning him.
"Thank you, Your Imperial Highness," he responded, attempting to maintain his composure while he thought of the many techniques to escape this predicament without being violent if threatened more than he could bear.
His eyes caught Neriah's attention for a little longer than was necessary as she grinned at him. "Call me Neriah, please. Everyone in this room is on an equal footing."
Tristan nodded, slightly happy that he no longer had to address her as 'Your Imperial Highness'. "I appreciate it, Neriah."
Tristan quickly looked around to discover that there were others in the clearing with him. He was surrounded by other males who were standing in the clearing and gazing in awe at the throne in front of them. They were all wearing clothing that was very much like his.
Six individuals, all equally perplexed and disoriented as he was, were noted by Tristan. They ranged in age from their mid 20s to their early 30s, so they were all about his age. The males ranged in size from lanky and slender to muscular and sturdy, but unlike him, the majority of them all possessed a look of dread and anxiety.
Tristan's eyes swept over them, observing the variations in their physical characteristics. A tall, strong man with jet-black hair and mesmerizing blue eyes was the first person he spotted. He had an aura of self-assurance and arrogance, and it was clear that he was accustomed to getting his way.
Despite being much shorter than the first male, the second individual made up for it with broadness. He had a tank-like build, protruding muscles, and a menacing expression. He had light brown hair that was styled in a spiky, untidy manner.
The third person was lanky and slender, with brown eyes and unkempt brown hair. He appeared anxious and restless as if he didn't know what was happening. Tristan was able to see the fear in the young man's eyes, and he was overcome by the urge to quickly put an end to the discomfort permanently.
As he looked around for something that could help him when he needed to act on his urges, he mused to himself, 'coral wouldn't work, too fragile even for that wimp. Something pointed or sharp,' he hummed in his head.
A little older than everyone, the fourth individual was most likely in his early 30s. He had short, blond hair, a medium build, and blue eyes. He possessed a cool, collected demeanor that suggested he had dealt with similar circumstances before.
The fifth had short, curling black hair, brown eyes, and was tall and muscular. Though it appeared that he was making an effort to blend in, his anxiety could be seen in the way that he kept looking about the clearing.
The last person was quite mysterious. His eyes were a striking shade of green, and his dark hair flowed in unkempt waves around his face. Although he was younger than the majority of the others, he stood out because of his air of strength and assurance.
Tristan was left wondering why these guys had come to this location. Were they all like him, snatched from their locations in the level and brought to this magical kingdom? Or did they arrive voluntarily and for an unknown reason?
Neriah beckoned to the seven as Tristan was deep in thought, "Gentlemen, please come forward. To take part in 'The Depth of Desire', you were brought here."
Tristan frowned, unsure of what she meant by 'The Depth of Desire.' He glanced at the other guys, who looked just as confused as he was.
When she noticed their confusion, Neriah grinned at them. "You will need to use strength, endurance, and skill to complete 'The Depth of Desire'. You'll have to overcome several obstacles that will demand you to navigate our kingdom's hazardous terrain."
"My goal is to find a way to fix the bug and move on to the next level, not this again," Tristan exhaled quietly as he observed Selkie approach the throne.
"The victor of the competition will receive whatever sensuous wish they desire, along with a cherished and potent treasure of our tribe," Neriah remarked to the audience, including Tristan. "However, individuals who complete each task successfully will be given prizes appropriate to their capabilities. But heed the warning—the obstacles won't be simple, and failing will have repercussions. Although we cannot ensure safety outside of our boundaries, I would strongly advise against doing so."
'There must be a mistake because mermaids are supposed to be docile creatures. Why are they depicted as our enemies and why do they want us dead?' Tristan pondered, a puzzled expression on his plain face.
Tristan glanced at the other guys, noting the look of determination in their eyes. They all seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and were prepared to do whatever it took to win.
It wasn't until the lanky fellow lifted his hand that he realized everything wouldn't go smoothly.
[Name: Milo]
Tristan was pleasantly surprised to learn that if he has a strong, focused curiosity about a certain male, he can also see their character names.
"E... excuse me, Your Imperial Highness?" Milo kindly enquired.
Slowly, Neriah nodded her head. To re-address him, she made a left turn. "Is there something you would like to say?"
Her voice had a calming, almost hypnotizing, sweetness to it. Milo experienced a shudder down his spine, losing all awareness of his surroundings save for his breathing. The moment Neriah spoke, the tension began to loosen a little.
He started by saying, "m... my name is Milo," while nervously fumbling with his fingers. Neriah's attention caused his cheeks to flush red.
Without responding, Neriah continued to look into his eyes for several seconds. She maintained an indifferent expression, which made him feel progressively worse. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Neriah was the first to break eye contact.
She began by gently clearing her throat. "Charming Milo, it is a pleasure to speak with you. Can I inquire what questions you have right now?"
Hearing the word 'Charming,' Milo's lips curled into a slight smile. He valued this in his heart because it wasn't something he often experienced.
Tristan's mouth dropped open in distaste before he gradually regained his composure and shook his head, thinking, 'he even stammers like a fool and showed the first stage of being easy to influence." His comments on honorifics were also not ignored by Neriah.' A grin appeared on his face at the idea that this would be simple.
Before asking the question that had been gnawing at him ever since he arrived in this foreign region, Milo mentally readied himself by clearing his throat. "Your imperial Highness, is there a way out for those who wish not to participate in the tournament or perhaps just make up for the events they know they won't do well in?"
His statements had a tinge of doubt behind them despite his respectful and kind tone. No one dared to comment or take action if they had noticed. Most, though, simply stood and silently waited for Neriah to speak.
Neriah responded coolly and smiled after taking a deep breath. "Are you interested in learning how to make up for your shortcomings, charming Milo?" She responded in a way that made it obvious that she was aware of his preferences. Milo couldn't help but wonder if Neriah had known about his plans from the start.
'Don't say anything foolish, please. While we are in this tournament, dammit! I still need you for my amusement.' With his hands clasped behind him, Tristan begged in his thoughts.
With enough self-assurance now to express his genuine intentions, Milo grinned cockily at Neriah. "Ye–"
*****
A/N
Thank you for the GT [Allen_Hostetter] & [David_Harvey_0583]
¶ What did you think is going to happen after the last paragraph?
I would really appreciate your comments and support of this novel with your power stones. Your active comments would motivate me to write more chapters.