Transmigrated as the Cuck.... WTF!!!

Knock. Knock.

A sudden knock at the door drew both of our attention. The sound was crisp and deliberate.

I glanced at the door, then at Denus, giving him a subtle gesture that I'd handle it.

He gave a small nod and sank back into the couch.

I pushed myself forward, swimming toward the entrance. When I slid the latch and pulled the door open, I was met with the sight of two merfolk who were impossible to mistake.

The first had sleek, deep blue scales running down his tail, shimmering faintly in the dim light—Luris Glanis, someone I had encountered before.

Beside him was another, taller and broader-shouldered, with a striking red tail that seemed to radiate quiet strength. That one could only be Muirs, his younger brother.

"Who is it, Arawn?" Denus called from behind me, his tone casual.

Before I could answer, Luris spoke for himself, his voice smooth and unhurried. "I'm Luris Glanis, the next heir to the throne of Aquis Vanlur. May I enter your humble home, Sir Denus?"

Swish. Swish.

Denus rose from his seat with surprising speed, swimming forward with a fluid grace that belied his earlier laziness. He bowed slightly formal enough to acknowledge rank, but lacking any trace of genuine deference. "Such great figures visiting this humble man… Tell me, is there a problem of some kind?"

Luris shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "No, there isn't. I'm here not for you, but for Arawn. And—" his gaze sharpened with a faint glint of humor, "—calling yourself a humble man while being the leader of a revolutionary group… isn't that a bit ironic?"

The tone was polite, but the sarcasm dripped beneath it like a hidden current. Denus caught it immediately and let out a cheeky smile.

"Well said," he replied, his voice light. Then he made a vague sweeping gesture. "You shouldn't be standing out here. Please, come inside. My hospitality may not live up to the royal court, but I will at least try to make the effort."

Luris raised a hand in polite refusal. "There's no need. We're only here to collect this man," he nodded toward me "and nothing more. There's no need for the charade of formality, Denus. You and I both know how much you detest us. So why pretend?"

Denus straightened, his smirk widening into something sharper. "Ah, it feels good to be understood. Yes, I do detest you. And frankly, I'd be happier if I never saw your face in my home again."

Luris's lips curved into a smirk that mirrored Denus's own. "Then your wish will be granted. Arawn, let's go. Someone wishes to meet you. I can promise you this: you'll enjoy the meeting."

His confidence was strange… suspicious, even but I had no real choice in the matter. My schedule was empty, and resistance would only make things more complicated. So I shrugged lightly.

"Alright. Lead the way. It's not like I had much planned anyway."

As I began to follow, Denus's voice came from behind, laced with genuine concern despite his earlier sharpness. "Stay safe, Arawn… I expect to see you again."

Without looking back, I lifted a hand in a brief wave and continued swimming after the brothers.

We left Denus's home and drifted into the open expanse of the coral-lined streets. The water around us was calmer here, and the distance between us and Denus's place quickly grew. When we were far enough away for privacy, Luris turned to me, his tone carrying a trace of amusement.

"So," he began, "what have you learned this week? More specifically… what's your opinion on yellow-tailed merfolk?"

A short laugh escaped me. "I'm ashamed to admit it… but I doubted you at first. Of course the next heir to the throne would know his own people better than some outsider like me."

Luris's laughter rang out, unrestrained. "AHAHAHA! That's the kind of answer I like. Direct and honest. So, you've come to understand their… shortcomings, I take it? Are you ready to help me now?"

I gave him a firm nod. "Yes. They're utterly incompetent. They lack skill, their blessing strength is the weakest among all merfolk, and they're painfully short on intelligence. On top of that, they're clumsy—absurdly so. And worst of all…"

I let my voice drop slightly, "…they've been conditioned to think that's simply the way they are. As if someone hammered it into their heads from birth. They can't improve because they've already been convinced it's impossible."

I took a brief pause, letting the words hang in the water between us before I finally spoke, "About helping you… I literally did exactly that."

Luris blinked, his brows furrowing in genuine confusion. "How? When?"

A low chuckle slipped out of me, carrying more amusement than warmth. "Think about it. How many merfolk saw you two approach me? And not just approach but come here specifically for me. Me, who just so happens to be living with Denus, the so-called revolutionary leader."

I tilted my head slightly, studying his expression as I spoke. "So picture these self-proclaimed warriors, these 'inspired' fools, when they see me change sides… what do you think will happen? They'll suspect Denus. They'll have to. He's practically the backbone of this entire revolution."

For a moment, silence… then Luris threw his head back and let out a booming, almost manic laugh. "Ahahhahahahahahaha… Great work! That's a brilliant way of putting it! I'll make sure those seeds of doubt get planted deep in their minds."

I gave a slow nod. "And once those seeds take root, they'll turn on Denus. They'll fracture their own unity without you even lifting a finger. Oh, they might still try to revolt on their own, sure but after a few failures, a few bruised egos and empty bellies?

They'll fall back in line, whether they realize it or not. Living under your shadow again. Their ambition, their so-called 'drive for freedom,' their taste for rebellion all of it is funneled through their leaders. And Denus… Denus is one of the pillars holding them up."

Luris stroked his chin thoughtfully, his gaze distant even as he kept swimming forward. "Hmm… true. But don't forget he's got a lot of people under him. And if doubt poisons him, it'll spread. It won't just be him; the other leaders will also feel it too. The rot will reach everyone close to him."

I swam ahead of the pair, cutting across their path so they had to look at me. "So… with that in mind, will you give me my reward now? For helping you? Because I am very eager to learn about the history and culture of Aquis Vanlur… and of the merfolk in general."

That seemed to catch him off guard. Luris's brows lifted, his expression momentarily startled almost as if he didn't know whether to laugh or frown. "Wow… I didn't expect you to have such… normal thoughts."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes slightly. "And what exactly were you expecting?"

He gave a lazy shrug, his tail flicking idly. "Oh, I don't know… maybe that you were a spy for the land dwellers. Humans, specifically. And that you'd been sent here with some grand scheme: an impending invasion, assassinations, sabotage… something suitably dramatic."

I let out a faint snort. "If I were a spy, I'd be doing a better job at hiding it."