The moment of wonder that he could breathe underwater was brief, as his feet, which had been floating aimlessly in the cool sea currents, finally settled and touched the soft, sandy ground beneath.
The strange sensation of standing steadily in an alien world jolted Hakyung out of his reverie.
The sand felt fine and cool between his toes, unlike any he had ever experienced on land.
He looked down at his feet, half-expecting to see them sink, but they held firm, supporting his weight.
“We’ve arrived. Hakyung, young man, come this way.”
Gisang-o’s voice was steady but carried a hint of pride, a subtle note of triumph in its resonance.
He stretched out his hand once more in the direction he wanted them to go, a guiding gesture.
There, standing proudly in the middle of an immense clearing, was a massive gate towering far above them, easily fifty feet high, it’s dark silhouette against the watery light.
It loomed like a monument, framed by walls that stretched endlessly on either side, their surfaces etched with mysterious Chinese characters and elegantly written four-character idioms pasted here and there, lending an air of ancient grandeur and solemn authority.
The light filtering through the water played across the intricate carvings, making them seem almost alive, shimmering with unseen energy.
“This is Muheon’s family estate.”
Gisang-o’s words rang out like a declaration, a statement of immense significance that resonated in the watery expanse.
“W-wow, it’s impressive.”
Hakyung’s complement was short, only four words, but loaded with awe.
He found himself utterly speechless, his mind struggling to comprehend the vastness before him.
There were no words grand enough to describe what he was seeing.
Calling it a ‘house’ seemed almost inappropriate.
This wasn’t just a residence—it was more like a sprawling fortress or a miniature city.
The sheer scale was staggering, easily encompassing several square miles.
It wouldn’t surprise him if entire villages were nestled within its walls, thriving in this underwater domain.
In fact, it might even rival the palaces that kings once lived in during ancient times, the kind of magnificent places he had only ever glimpsed during school field trips and history documentaries.
Instead of the usual garden trees, the walls were lined with dazzlingly colorful coral reefs. Hakyung blinked in disbelief.
This was Korea’s sea, yet tropical corals bloomed here like exotic jewels, glowing with impossible hues of neon pink, electric blue, and fiery orange.
How was that possible?
He didn’t know the answer, but the sheer variety and vibrancy of the corals stretched endlessly in every direction, creating a surreal underwater panorama that made his heart race.
The coral rose higher than his own height, some towering like natural skyscrapers fashioned by the sea itself, reaching towards the unseen surface far above.
He had heard that the boss owned several multi-story buildings right in the heart of Seoul, and expected him to be wealthy, but this?
This was beyond anything he had imagined.
Maybe Muheon was even richer than that powerful friend of the boss in China, whose influence spanned continents and industries.
Yet, despite all the signs of affluence, Hakyung had no concept of how much land price underwater might be worth, or if such a concept even existed here, in this fantastical realm.
“I’m drooling.”
Hakyung muttered under his breath, unable to hold back his amazement, his mouth slightly agape as he took it all in.
“Uh, ah, yes!”
Muheon quickly and kindly closed Hakyung’s open mouth with a gentle hand, preventing him from further embarrassing himself, a small, tender gesture.
Feeling a little ashamed for showing such shock so openly, Hakyung forced a faint smile — though it was hardly a genuine one.
His scalp throbbed lightly, the tension in his head pulsing as if reacting to the overwhelming newness of the place, the sensory overload.
Maybe, just maybe, this was all a dream.
After all, he had passed out after falling into the sea.
Could this be his mind’s elaborate fantasy, a coping mechanism for his trauma?
Just as his thoughts began to slip away from reality into the safety of imagination, Muheon’s voice snapped him back sharply. “Let’s go in. Come here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why are you feeling unwell or something?”
Muheon’s puzzled gaze settled on Hakyung’s dazed expression, reading his lingering disbelief and potential discomfort.
Without waiting for an answer, he grasped Hakyung’s hand firmly and pulled him forward, a gentle but insistent tug, urging him onward.
The touch of Muheon’s cool hand grounded Hakyung in reality, its familiar sensation a lifeline.
He grasped Muheon’s hand tightly, determined not to lose his way in this vast, unfamiliar world, relying on his partner’s steady presence.
The feeling of warmth and security it gave him was strangely comforting, an anchor in the fantastical surroundings.
As the trio—Muheon, Hakyung, and Gisang-o—stepped forward, the largest of the three giant gates before them began to move. There was no visible sensor or switch, no obvious mechanism, yet the gate slid open smoothly like a grand automatic door, the mechanical precision almost magical in its quietness, revealing a grand interior.
The sudden movement made Hakyung flinch, shrinking his shoulders instinctively, while the others moved through the opening with practiced ease, as if it were an everyday occurrence for them.
“Welcome!”
The moment they crossed the threshold into the family estate, a loud, hearty shout of greeting echoed through the vast halls and corridors beyond, reverberating through the water.
The number of household workers was enormous—far exceeding the workforce at any company Hakyung had ever known, easily numbering in the hundreds, perhaps even a thousand individuals.
This was truly the domain of a big player in the sea, a powerful and well-staffed empire.
Hundreds of sea humanoids, each radiating a powerful and dignified presence, gathered around them.
Their sheer numbers and the aura of respect they commanded made Hakyung instinctively take a small step back, though he stopped himself just in time, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.
He stood on tiptoe, lowering his voice to a whisper as he leaned toward Muheon.
“Boss, are you actually the Dragon King…?”
His voice trembled slightly with a mixture of awe and disbelief, the question a genuine one from his overwhelmed mind, seeking to categorize this fantastical reality.
Muheon paused, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face before he leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, his lips almost brushing Hakyung’s ear.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because this isn’t a house — it’s like the Dragon King’s palace. Or do all sea humanoids have houses this big?”
“Well… I don’t really know about others.”
Muheon’s reply was casual, almost dismissive, as if the concept were alien to him.
The entire West Sea was Muheon’s home and his ruled territory.
He hadn’t bothered venturing into other seas much, so he didn’t have much basis for comparison, his world largely self-contained.
Hakyung, who had been silently pouting at Muheon’s nonchalant answer, suddenly became aware of the intense, quiet attention being focused on him.
He snapped his mouth shut immediately and nervously rolled his large eyes, feeling utterly exposed under their collective gaze.
All the sea humanoids’ strange, unblinking eyes were locked on him, their gazes unwavering.
No matter how many times he experienced this feeling of being the center of attention in an alien environment, it always gave him goosebumps, a prickling sensation of unease.
Feeling overwhelmed and frightened by their overwhelming gaze, Hakyung tried to step back again.
But Muheon’s low voice stopped him instantly, “Bow your head.”
Without hesitation, the household members bowed quickly and respectfully, their movements synchronized and precise, a testament to their discipline and Muheon’s authority.
Feeling a little burdened by this show of deference, Hakyung tapped Muheon lightly on the arm.
“Why, why do you do this? Everyone would just say it’s workplace bullying…”
“That won’t happen.”
Muheon’s tone was calm and confident, utterly certain of his authority and their loyalty.
“That’s something we don’t know! Ah, really! I-I’m sorry. You can just relax here.”
Hakyung stammered nervously, hoping to lighten the mood, to ease the palpable tension he felt emanating from the attentive crowd.
Seeing Hakyung’s discomfort, the workers slowly raised their heads again, their expressions softening, a wave of empathy passing through them.
Thankfully, Muheon did not repeat his command, so it seemed there would be no scolding for disobedience, a small mercy that relieved Hakyung.
***
Through stories from family back on land, Hakyung had heard that Muheon had a lover and that they might soon be married.
He also knew that Gisang-o and Park Geowung, who came down from the sea, were messing around like newlyweds in the guesthouse, their playful affection a familiar sight.
But hearing about it and witnessing it with his own eyes were two very different things, the reality far more impactful than the rumor could convey.
Muheon personally bowed to whisper in his ear!
Muheon getting lightly hit on the hand by someone and simply smiling!
Muheon laughing despite breaking his own rules!
Wow, maybe the sun would actually rise from the sea tomorrow!
Hakyung’s mind raced with these observations, a testament to Muheon’s changed demeanor around him.
Though inwardly he fussed and gawked in all sorts of ways, his mind racing with a mix of astonishment and amusement, the outward appearance of the servants remained endlessly calm and composed, their faces impassive and respectful.
Wanting to see even more of Muheon-nim’s new, relaxed side, the one only Hakyung seemed to elicit, Hakyung desperately tried not to stand out or do anything strange, aiming to blend in and observe.
At first, the excessive attention and unblinking gazes from the sea people had made Hakyung uncomfortable and even scared, a persistent feeling of being under scrutiny.
But as time passed, he began to adapt.
He started thinking of them as acquaintances or family members of the company’s older brothers, familiar faces from the office, and his startled heart slowly settled, the initial fear replaced by a burgeoning sense of acceptance.
“Hello, my name is Kang Hakyung. I’m a bottlenose dolphin merman.”
Holding his hat firmly so it wouldn’t slip off, Hakyung bowed his upper body respectfully, a polite, almost formal gesture.
Not knowing who to greet first, he simply looked toward the middle of the gathered crowd and bowed repeatedly, a gesture of universal respect.
The servants responded in kind, their collective warm acceptance melting Hakyung’s lingering nerves, a wave of benevolence washing over him.
At the cute greeting from the bottlenose dolphin merman, the faces of the workers softened into motherly smiles, some even chuckling softly.
The pale dolphin’s shy grin had clearly won their hearts, a charm he possessed without even trying.
“Oh dear, how cute!” whispered several voices, their tones filled with genuine affection.
“Everyone, get to your tasks.”
Muheon, who didn’t want to share Hakyung’s attention, waved his hand carelessly at the servants, a possessive gesture.
Despite the casual gesture, the sea humanoids moved quickly and orderly, their movements graceful and precise, a silent testament to their obedience.
Watching them was like watching fish swim swiftly and fluidly, fascinating in its synchronized beauty, a living, breathing ballet.
Then, a large palm suddenly filled Hakyung’s field of vision, appearing out of nowhere.
Startled by the sudden shadow, he blinked and looked up sharply, his heart skipping a beat.
“Stop staring.”
Muheon’s voice was blunt, edged with childish jealousy, a surprisingly human emotion from the powerful master of the sea.
“Huh? At what?”
“At anything but me.”
Muheon’s voice was low, possessive, a playful growl.
Every time he said that, it made Hakyung’s heart tingle with unexpected pleasure, a delightful warmth spreading through him at Muheon’s overt affection.
Quickly, he linked his arm through the boss’s thick arm and stomped his foot playfully, a gesture of mock defiance, delighted by Muheon’s words.
“Please show me around your main house, boss. But this place is huge, so I think I need to stick close to you!”
“Is it that big?”,Muheon asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice, as if he rarely considered its size from a human perspective.
“Yeah? Just looking around, it’s huge! I feel like I’d get lost right away…”
Hakyung frowned as if looking at a strange person.
If he had proper eyes, he’d realize just how vast this place truly was, how easy it would be to become disoriented.
Muheon only smiled, as if finding Hakyung’s insolent expression amusing and endearing, captivated by his charm.
He thought Hakyung seemed far more sensible than expected.
Not only did he breathe naturally underwater, but he also moved mischievously on land — it was unbearably cute, a delightful combination of resilience and playfulness.
Reaching out, Muheon softly touched Hakyung’s fluffy hat and lightly tapped his round butt, a tender, playful gesture that caused Hakyung to flush.
“Ah?!”
Receiving a man’s affectionate gesture so openly, especially one as powerful as Muheon, Hakyung’s face flushed a deep shade of crimson.
He quickly turned his head to look around, checking if anyone had seen, then impulsively reached out and tapped Muheon’s butt in return, a daring act of reciprocal affection, a tiny rebellion.
“Oh my.”
Muheon chuckled awkwardly and wrapped his arm around Hakyung’s waist, pulling him closer, securing him.
Hakyung twisted his body as if ticklish, trying to break free, but it was no use against Muheon’s strength.
Eventually, he gave up and playfully toyed with the hand around his waist for a while, content in the embrace.
Then something curious caught Muheon’s eye.
He looked upward and muttered thoughtfully, “Oh? Now that I think about it, you and I still haven’t gotten wet at all?”
“You just noticed that?”
Hakyung said, feigning surprise, a playful glint in his eye.
“No, did I even have time to notice? With so many overwhelming things crashing in…!”
Muheon laughed softly, a rare, open sound, then pointed upward with his finger.
Following his gaze, Hakyung gasped once again, his mouth falling open in renewed awe.
Like an underwater tunnel in an aquarium, a transparent dome arched high above the main house, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Inside the dome, all kinds of fish swam gracefully, their scales glittering like stars in the night sky, decorating the space above them with shimmering light and moving patterns.
The size and number of fish were overwhelming compared to the small ones seen in the river back home, a vibrant, constantly moving tapestry of aquatic life.
“Half of the sea people are human too, so they need to breathe. That’s why there’s a barrier.” Muheon explained a simple fact of their existence, a marvel of engineering and magic.
“I see…! That’s amazing! Boss’s house is totally awesome!”
Hakyung’s cheeks flushed pink as he looked up at Muheon, admiration shining in his eyes, his voice filled with childlike wonder.
Muheon stared at him for a moment longer, a fond smile playing on his lips before he opened his mouth, a new proposal forming.
“Kang Hakyung, the house tour is later. Come with me — let’s do something fun.”