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

Luris pursed his lips and gave a small nod. "That's true… Either way, about your reward—you should meet with the person I'm taking you to first."

I lazily drifted to the side, letting the two brothers swim ahead of me. "Oh~ is that so? Are they someone really influential?" My voice carried a trace of amusement, though I was genuinely curious.

Muirs was the one who answered, "Yes, they are very influential. Far more than any noble lineage."

That piqued my interest immediately. A slow, intrigued smile tugged at my lips. "Oh, is that so? Now you're making me really interested in them. Care to share a few details?"

Luris's head shook firmly. "No, we can't. We aren't allowed to speak of them directly. But—" His eyes flicked toward me with a seriousness that cut through the water like a blade. "Just remember one thing, and think of it as a precaution: don't look them in the eye."

Muirs, perhaps not noticing the sudden tension, added, "Something really bad will happen if you do—"

"Arghhhhhh!"

The rest of his sentence turned into a choked scream. Blood burst from his nose, ears, and even the corners of his eyes in a sudden, horrifying rush.

"Muirs!! You stupid mutt, why did you speak?!" Luris's face twisted with panic as he surged forward, wrapping his arms around his younger brother.

In the next instant, a shimmering bluish bubble enveloped Muirs, pulsating faintly as Luris poured his blessings into him. The water around us seemed to ripple unnaturally as the healing began.

I stayed still, watching carefully. The whole scenario lit up every danger bell in my mind. This wasn't some random injury… this was a punishment, immediate and inescapable.

Whoever they were taking me to see… this had their fingerprints all over it. And if they could reach someone instantly, from who knows how far away, then they were terrifying.

My eyes narrowed slightly. 'If they're really that powerful… then they might be useful to me. The warning about not looking them in the eye. Shouldn't be too hard not to look. Right?'

Eventually, Muirs's breathing steadied. His body still trembled, but the blood flow had stopped. "Thank you, brother…" he whispered hoarsely. "I'm sorry. I didn't think… I didn't think this counted as breaking the rules. I'm sorry…"

Luris shook his head, still holding him close. "It's okay. You're fine now… that's all that matters. Don't blame yourself."

Only after making sure Muirs could stay upright on his own did Luris turn to me. "This," he said with a faint, bitter edge, "is why I warned you." He didn't elaborate, perhaps unwilling or unable to risk saying more.

I exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle for a moment. "Alright. I'll keep your warning in mind. Now, let's go meet this 'scary' individual of yours."

After that, no one spoke. The only company we had was the stillness of the ocean around us, broken occasionally by the distant groan of shifting currents.

At last, Luris stopped. Before us rose a massive castle, its spires spiraling like coral formations yet perfectly symmetrical, painted in deep blue and crimson patterns.

"This," Luris said quietly, almost reverently, "is where you are called."

I tore my eyes from the mesmerizing architecture and turned to him. I gave a small, wordless gesture for him to lead the way. Without another word, he began swimming toward the grand entrance, the gates carved from some deep-sea material that gleamed like polished obsidian.

It was only then that I noticed Muirs wasn't following us. My brow furrowed. "Why is Muirs staying behind? Is he not allowed inside for some reason?"

Luris's shoulders seemed to stiffen. His hands trembled slightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low… almost meek. "No… he's just too young. He's more likely to make a mistake. That's why I never let him enter this castle."

The mystery surrounding this castle and more importantly, the individual within seemed to swell all at once. Every time I had seen Luris before, he carried himself with unshakable confidence, a calm assurance that came naturally to one destined to inherit the rule of all Aquis Vanlur.

Yet here he was, trembling.

The sight alone made the air around us feel heavier, and in that moment, I accepted without question that the person we were about to meet was dangerous.

I decided against pressing him further. If even Luris wouldn't speak of them, then forcing the matter would be nothing but a waste of breath. Instead, I simply followed him, watching the way his movements changed.

Now, he moved with mechanical precision, swimming along a certain route as though the path itself had been etched into his memory. He never glanced back. Even his head was slightly lowered, as though an invisible hand was pressing it down.

The silence weighed on me, broken only by the faint sound of our movement through the water. Eventually, we stopped before an imposing door.

Luris swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. He took a breath that sounded almost, shaky and then positioned himself in front of the door.

He hesitated for the briefest moment, as though steeling himself, and then—

Knock. Knock.

A moment later, a voice drifted out from within. Smooth and silken. Beautiful in the way venomous flowers are beautiful.

"Come in…"

Before moving, Luris turned slightly toward me and gestured subtly to his eyes—a silent reminder of the earlier warning. Do not meet their gaze.

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. I had no intention of testing whether their warning was an exaggeration.

Following Luris, I crossed the threshold into the chamber. The first thing that struck me was the sheer wealth piled haphazardly throughout the space as they were nothing more than garbage.

Portraits with strange, haunting eyes seemed to follow one's movements, and elaborate statues each carved from a different kind of stone stood in silent reverence. It was less a room and more of a hoard.

At the heart of it all sat an enormous bed, draped with something akin to silks.

Then, the water stirred. A faint, deliberate movement. In less than the space of a heartbeat, a figure appeared before me.

The first thing I noticed was the tail—immensely thick, its scales a deep, glowing shade of blood red. The presence emanating from it pressed down on me like an invisible weight, urging my gaze upward… but I kept my eyes fixed ahead, careful not to cross that invisible line.

A soft voice reached my ears, flowing into them like silk, warm and enticing. Yet there was something in its tone that hinted at a predator's patience, the kind that enjoys toying with its prey.

"So," they purred, "you are the human I have heard so much about. You certainly are an eye candy~" The faintest chuckle followed, low and almost intimate. "Makes me want to eat you~"