Amelia looked at Clara with a dark expression.
'It looks like an intruder. Get ready to fight.'
Clara mouthed to her.
They readied their weapons and approached Neo without making any noise.
Clara took the lead.
As Amelia's bodyguard, she was one of the strongest demigods in the Mermaid Country.
Just as they were about to reach Neo, he groaned.
He shifted his head and looked up.
His eyes slowly opened.
Reacting swiftly, Clara dashed forward and attempted to apprehend Neo.
She was about to strike him when he laid his eyes on her.
Suddenly, a terrifying presence descended in the water cave.
Clara and Amelia were frozen stiff from fear.
The hair on their nape stood and they found themselves lowering their heads, unable to meet Neo's eyes.
"Who are you two?"
Neo asked as he groggily stood up.
He woke up because he smelled the scent of approaching Death and found two women in the cave.
Both of them were far more beautiful than anyone he had seen in his previous world.
The one near him had sea blue hair and held a spear.
She wore black tights and yellow shirt that accented her curves.
The woman at the back had silver hair and red eyes. She seemed closer to Neo in age.
Her blue shorts and grey tank top highlighted her jade white skin.
She held a bow and had an arrow, made of water, knocked at the bowstring.
Neo noticed her gaze directed at his lower half.
His brows furrowed.
"Stop staring at it."
Despite being disoriented and flustered, a calm and impassive voice left his mouth.
Although his life was in danger and he had just exposed himself to them, compared to the pressure in the Underworld, where even breathing was painful, the current situation was lukewarm for him.
"S-sorry…"
Amelia's face flushed and she lowered her gaze.
After wearing his clothes, Neo's vigilance dropped.
At the same moment, the terrifying presence disappeared.
Clara exhaled in relief.
She almost fell to her knees.
Unlike Amelia, she was close to Neo, and was affected by his presence severely.
"W-who are you?"
Clara put strength in her legs and glared at Neo.
She was ready to fight him to the bitter end.
The presence Neo radiated was of Death.
It was so thick that Clara and Amelia, who did not have Death affinity, could sense it.
Even a Lich or a Necromancer would not have such a thick presence of Death.
Clara gulped heavily.
Her body shivered when she recalled the person who had a similar presence of Death.
"Y-you… have you gone to the Underworld?"
Amelia's eyes widened with horror when she heard Clara.
No one could return from the Underworld.
No one.
It was a universally accepted fact.
Only the strongest demigods, who were comparable to natural disasters, might be able to achieve it.
This meant…
The boy in front of her was a demigod who had reached the apex.
His young appearance was a lie and he was an old monster who had lived for centuries.
When Neo did not respond, Clara's suspicion only increased.
She was sure Neo was a powerful demigod.
'Dammit, why is he here? Does the Divine Water here belong to him?'
Her thoughts grew chaotic.
'We tried to attack him, he will definitely kill us. I need to send the princess back at least.'
Clara shifted her weight and she got into the stance.
Just as she was about to attack, Neo spoke,
"Amelia de Beaufort and Clara Winterfeld. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting two high-ranking members of the Mermaid Country?"
While he sounded calm, his thoughts were the exact opposite.
'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'
'Why did they have to come today!?'
Neo knew about Amelia and Clara. They were pivotal characters in the novel.
He could predict what was going through their heads.
'I'm safe because they think I'm strong.'
'But if they find out the truth, they will kill me to keep the location of the Divine Water pond a secret.'
Neo was just an Awakened.
He would be defeated, even if Amelia fought him blindfolded, let alone Clara who was a powerhouse in the Mermaid Kingdom.
He was in deep waters right now.
"Why are you not answering?"
Despite his inner turmoil, Neo maintained a calm façade.
"Oh, are you surprised by what I did after waking up? I apologize for it. I was battling a foe until yesterday and mistook you two for him for a moment."
Clara and Amelia felt their throats go dry.
If they were surprised when Neo recognized them, they were downright terrified at the moment.
They could see the dry blood stuck on Neo's skin and the floor of the water cave.
Who could be strong enough to hurt him, a powerful demigod, to this extent?
However, they realized another thing.
Neo was friendly.
It did not seem he had intentions to hurt them.
As proof, he could've killed them if he wanted, but they were still alive.
This was a chance.
"I greet the Exalted One." Amelia curtsied. "We did not know the Divine Water pond belonged to you. We shall leave as soon as possible."
Clara understood the signal.
She bowed and followed Amelia to leave the water cave.
They walked with subdued but hurried steps.
"Wait." Neo suddenly spoke up. "Why were you two here?"
Amelia and Clara felt their hearts stop when Neo called them just as they were about to leave.
However, Neo did not have any other choice.
They were stronger than him and could kill him.
But meeting them here was a chance.
For them and for him.
Before they could give an excuse, Neo asked,
"You wanted the Divine Water Pond?"
They tried to hide their thoughts from showing on their faces, but Neo could see it fairly easily.
The corner of his lips rose.
"I can give it to you, but…."