Chapter 272: Plan for the Future!
The words lingered in the room long after Jax finished speaking.
"Her bloodline... Blessed by the Goddess of the Sea. They’re trying to harvest her divinity."
Silence followed as the older Merfolk’s expression darkened, "...Divinity..."
His voice carried both understanding and quiet horror now. While he didn’t have a full understanding of Divinity, not being powerful enough, he could infer the meaning from what Jax had said.
Jax, seeing the man contemplating, didn’t elaborate further, as he knew he didn’t need to. Everyone in that room understood what it meant to extract something like that from a living being.
Especially... a child.
The small Princess shifted slightly in his arms, as if reacting instinctively to the conversation, her fingers tightening faintly against his coat.
Jax’s hand moved again, resting gently against her head.
"...It’s over now," he said quietly.
Whether he was speaking to her, or to the room as a whole, wasn’t entirely clear. The older man exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"...We owe you more than we can express," he said.
Jax shook his head slightly, "Don’t."
The man blinked.
"...What?"
"I didn’t do it for that," Jax replied simply.
His golden eyes flicked toward the resting Merfolk in the surrounding chambers, "I just decided I wouldn’t let you all stay there while saving my own people,"
There was no arrogance in his tone, just the sound of a man with a quiet, immovable principle.
The older man looked at him for a moment and then slowly bowed his head.
"...Even so."
Jax didn’t respond.
Instead, he shifted slightly on the bed, adjusting the small girl in his arms so she was more comfortable.
"...Once everyone’s stable," he said after a moment, "I’ll take you back."
The man looked up.
"...Back?"
"To your Kingdom," Jax clarified.
A faint pause.
"...The Mermaid Kingdom."
The words seemed to catch the man off guard.
"...You would... escort us?"
Jax nodded once.
"Yeah."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You were attacked outside your territory. That means your borders were tested."
The man’s expression grew more serious.
"...Yes."
Jax leaned back slightly.
"Then I want to see it for myself."
The man hesitated.
"...Our Kingdom... does not open itself easily."
Jax smirked faintly.
"I’m not asking for permission."
That earned a small, tired chuckle from the older Merfolk.
"...I suppose you wouldn’t."
Then, after a brief pause, "...You would be welcomed. You saved us all after all,"
Jax didn’t react much to that.
"Good."
The conversation settled after that as all of the urgency had passed. The survivors were being treated and they had alot of space to breathe and think about their future.
Jax’s attention shifted downward again as the little Princess was still awake, barely. Her eyes were half-lidded now, exhaustion finally catching up to her as the tension slowly drained from her body.
"...You’re still holding on," he muttered quietly.
She didn’t respond. Her head rested against him, her breathing slow but uneven.
Jax exhaled softly.
"...Alright."
His hand moved slightly, hovering just above her. Then, he gathered mana in his hand. Warmth spread from his palm, soft golden energy flowing outward and wrapping around her small form like a quiet embrace.
The effect was immediate. The Princess’ body tensed for half a second and then relaxed once she realized what was happening.
All the residual damage within her began to fade. Not just the physical strain, but the deeper exhaustion.
The lingering pain and the subtle corruption left behind by prolonged exposure to those divine suppressions.
Jax’s expression didn’t change as he worked. Every thread of mana placed exactly where it needed to be as he healed her.
"...You don’t have to carry that anymore," he said quietly.
The girl’s breathing steadied. Her grip loosened, just slightly. Not enough to let go, but enough to show she no longer felt like she had to hold on for dear life.
The older Merfolk watched in silence, his eyes widening faintly.
"...That level of control..."
He didn’t finish the sentence, understanding just how powerful this Demon King was. An immense amount of skill was shown in that healing magic.
Minutes passed and Jax didn’t move, not rushing as he simply sat there, continuing the process until the girl finally went still.
Her breathing even, her body relaxed and she fell sleep.
Jax glanced down at her.
"...Yeah. That’s better."
He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her. Then slowly Jax stood up, still holding the Princess in his arms, and she didn’t even stir at all.
The older Merfolk stepped aside instinctively.
"...She trusts you," he said quietly.
Jax didn’t look at him.
"...Guess so."
He turned toward the door.
"Stay here. Get treated."
The man nodded immediately.
"...We will."
"...You’re safe here," Jax said again.
And this time, there was no doubt left in the man’s eyes.
"...I believe you."
Jax didn’t respond. He simply walked out. The halls of the medical wing were quieter now.
Word had already spread.
Servants and attendants stepped aside the moment they saw him, bowing respectfully, but their eyes lingered briefly on the small figure in his arms.
Jax ignored it, his destination had already shifted. He walked all the way to the Demon King Palace, and headed to one of the guest room.
The doors opened without a sound as he approached. A warm room welcomed him and Jax moved to the bed, gently placing the Princess on the bed.
Then, he pulled a cover over her body, and handed her a pillow, using magic to create a perfect temperate as he allowed her to sleep.
Once he did all that, Jax left the room, deciding to head and meet Nulissa and hear updates on all of the Demons they had saved.
Returning to the Medical Facility, Jax used his magic to pinpoint Nulissa’s location, and quickly arrived where she was.
"You’re back," Nulissa said as she saw him and Jax just nodded.
"How are they? Is there anything I should know about them?" Jax asked, pointing at all of the Demons they saved who were receiving medical treatment.
