Chapter 273: 41-year-old Ake

"Absolutely stunning!"

Faced with the true form of the sea nymph Ake, Liszt couldn't help but exclaim.

He had seen extraordinary creatures, and the ones that left a deep impression on his soul were the invisible dragon made of magic and the Tulip Fairy Xiangxiang from Tulip Castle.

Speaking of beauty, the formless dragon probably couldn't be counted. It possessed a terrifying beauty.

Only the great fairy Xiangxiang could rival the sea nymph in terms of beauty. But the great fairy didn't have a human figure, only an approximate humanoid form, and her beauty was purely aesthetic. The sea nymph, in contrast, looked almost indistinguishable from a human, and Ake's beauty was therefore more stirring.

This beauty was a feeling that arose from the heart, without any lascivious undertones. Liszt could guarantee that, at this moment, he truly had no impure thoughts.

He felt no reverence, not even a hint of it.

He even sensed that the beauty of the sea nymph was unreal, or perhaps a beauty that shouldn't be tainted by the mundane world. Any disrespectful thoughts would be an unforgivable sin.

While admiring her, Ake looked at Liszt again, and this time, Liszt understood her meaning.

He slowly calmed his agitated emotions and, smiling gently, pushed the fruit plate on the table towards the corner closest to the shell. "Help yourself to any fruit you like. They've all been washed and are very clean." Saying so, he picked up an apple and took a bite himself.

Eating alone isn't as enjoyable as eating with company, and Liszt's gesture was considerate.

Seeing Liszt eat the apple, Ake summoned the courage and, with her slender arm and long fingers, picked up a raspberry. After glancing at Liszt again, she placed the raspberry into her petite mouth and began to eat.

"How does it taste?"

"Mmm... delicious."

"If it tastes good, eat more. I have plenty of fruits in my territory, Flower Town. There are many fruit trees, so you can eat fruits every day, though you might get tired of them."

"No way... I like fruits... my most favorite."

Eating fruits and chatting, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

The sea nymph didn't seem very old and still had an innocent naivety. After just a short conversation with Liszt, she opened up and forgot her previous nervousness and fear, laughing happily.

However, as they chatted, Liszt noticed an awkward issue.

Ake's vital areas were covered by water bands, but she still appeared quite exposed, not much different from being naked. He had thought he wouldn't have any impure thoughts, but when he looked down, he realized he had unconsciously pitched a tent in his pants, meaning he did feel some reverence after all.

"Ake, do you need clothes?"

"Humans wear clothes. Ake doesn't wear clothes. I am a child protected by the spirit of the sea." Ake replied seriously.

Perhaps for sea nymphs, clothes were only human things, and they didn't need them.

They were spirits of the sea, similar to many other spirits like lesser and greater fairies. Spirits don't wear clothes since they lack physical attributes, so it doesn't matter whether they wear clothes or not.

Liszt was taken aback.

He didn't say anything more. If she didn't want to wear clothes, then so be it. After all, he was planning to keep Ake hidden from others, so her beauty didn't need to be concealed by clothes—not because he liked seeing her without clothes, but because he didn't want to restrain Ake's nature.

After Ake finished eating a raspberry, he asked again, "How old are you, Ake?"

Ake tilted her head, as if pondering. "I was born not long ago... I've seen forty-one winters... I must be forty-one years old, yes, Ake is forty-one years old."

Forty-one years old?

Is this what she considers "just born"?

"How long do you guys usually live?" Li Stir asked, feeling uneasy without this knowledge. "We humans only have a lifespan of less than a hundred years. I'm only seventeen."

"Seventeen, that's so young, haha," Acheronides teased. She pondered seriously, "I don't know... I'm not an adult yet... Mermaids grow legs when they become adults."

"So, you really don't have legs at the moment?"

"No."

"It’s amazing; I can’t even imagine how beautiful you'll be once you grow legs." Compliments never tire women, even if they are sea demons.

Acheronides was very pleased.

She had a small appetite and seemed to like eating raspberries, but she stopped after just a few. "I’m full, Li Stir," she said, then yawned comfortably.

"Are you getting sleepy?"

"A little."

"Then you should get some rest. This ship will dock at Black Horse Port to replenish some supplies, and then we'll head straight back to Flower Town. You can stay in Flower Town for a long time. The town boasts a stunning beach and a calm bay." Li Stir had many questions he wanted to ask.

But he didn't feel that asking too many questions all at once was a good way to communicate.

Now that the sea demon Acheronides had been found, there was no need to rush. Building a relationship requires time—unlike the intense passion he shared with Duniko, this was about building a bond of trust—Li Stir hoped to keep the sea demon Acheronides by his side forever.

"Okay, I'll sleep for a while," said Acheronides, sitting down, her body submerged in the seawater inside the shell.

This seawater was definitely not ordinary. In Li Stir's magical sight, it emitted a faint magical glow. All the seawater and the shell were essentially part of Acheronides.

Similar to how cordyceps are part of a spirit.

The shell and seawater were likely similar to the cordyceps of the mermaid, akin to a lifeblood treasure.

"Sleep well. In my territory, the sea monster Dulumichita won’t harm you," Li Stir said with a smile, watching the shell slowly close, completely enveloping Acheronides inside.

...

The Flowers docked at Black Horse Port in the dawn light.

Li Stir disembarked to briefly instruct Hiddleston on some matters, then the ship set sail for Flower Town. He had no desire to linger and just wanted to return to the castle to settle Acheronides.

The ship sailed across the vast sea.

Hiddleston guarded the outside of the cabin, while Li Stir stayed in the room.

Looking at the white shell, he silently pondered, "Where should I place Acheronides? Judging by her condition, she seems able to stay on land for extended periods, though she might need to return to the sea regularly to refill the seawater in her shell."

Leaving the sea demon in the sea was something Li Stir definitely didn't want. Not knowing where the sea monster Dulumichita was, and the possibility of someone scaring her away, would make him extremely frustrated.

But keeping the sea demon in the castle felt like a form of confinement, plus he couldn't stay there all the time to keep her company.

"It's a pity I can't bring Acheronides with me..."

Shaking his head, he simply took off his shoes, lay on the bed, and started resting. Even though staying up all night wasn’t particularly tiring for an elite Earth Knight, he had nothing better to do. "Once we arrive in Flower Town, I’ll ask Acheronides what she prefers and make the necessary arrangements."