The mermaid legend, a tale of tears both heard and told. This is a song of love. I will brandish my blade for the sake of love.
The mermaid’s name was Sonia. She was pregnant with the child of the man she loved, this happened last year. She had planned to give birth in the mermaid territory along this coast.
She must have been nervous about her first childbirth. That’s when she was attacked by a Kraken. Many mermaids were killed, and Sonia, who barely survived, had a miscarriage.
This year again, mermaids will gather on this coast for childbirth. The Kraken attacks them, targeting this very event.
“So, with that said, while the Kraken might have its own considerations, I’m going to kill it without any questions asked.”
“No objections.”
The White Lily Corps is unusually fired up. Perhaps it’s a sense of empathy between women, wanting to sing anime songs that truly ignite their passion. Let’s form band with the White Lily Corps someday.
“I have no objections, but there are two things I’d like to ask.”
I also have two things I want to ask. Your measurements and if you’re single? Especially the latter is important. I have no intention of getting involved with a married woman, and as for the measurements, a visual estimation… Ah, it’s a gentle curve, indeed, to minimize resistance when swimming.
“The appearance you caught yesterday isn’t the same as it is now, is it? What’s going on?”
Exactly! I was wondering about that too. What you caught yesterday was a fish-person, and you’re in human form. I refuse to acknowledge that a mermaid is simply that fish with limbs.
“That form is how we swim in the sea. Would you understand if I said we shapeshift? Since the seaweed and magic stones we eat are found in the deep sea…”
“Same as me, huh…”
Is it a sense of kinship? At least, I’m not as ferocious as you are. There’s a huge difference between Lycanthropes who shapeshift to fight and mermaids who shapeshift to eat!
“Um, are there magic stones called Black Dragon Rocks in the sea~?”
“You mean those black magic stones? Yes, we have plenty of those. We don’t eat them, though…”
What’s gotten into you, Orietta? You’re so forward today! I guess the sea really does liberate people’s hearts. Let’s shed our clothes and be liberated too.
“I want those magic stones~”
“You have plenty of magic stones, don’t you?”
“I want to use them as chemical weapons! I want lots of black magic stones~”
I see. When referring to magic stones, they use colors. Red would be fire-element, and blue would be water-element. If it’s called Black Dragon Rock, it’s probably a black magic stone, and if it has a name, it must be a precious magic stone.
“Then, when we defeat the Kraken, can we have Black Dragon Rocks as a reward?”
“That’s fine, but… You want the reward as the Hero…?”
Hero and mercenary. Count of the Asht Empire and future King of Harm, that’s me. You should be sucking up to me while you still can.
“How do you know I’m the Hero! I haven’t told you that!”
…R-right. I found it strange too. I haven’t even introduced myself, and this is a secret military operation, I haven’t told the captain where we’re going, and only a few people know.
“Everyone knows the Hero has come to the sea. That’s why they came to see me last night.”
Everyone? No way! Impossible!? Does that mean there’s a traitor… Thinking for two seconds… Hmm, that’s unlikely.
The White Lily Corps, who live to fight, would not put themselves in a situation where they cannot fight. I only told Lady Meredith of Keibeck to lend us her ship, and the only one who knows we’re going to Nordland is Queen Annelyse, but the information is getting transmitted too quickly. Moreover, they say “everyone” knows…
“This is the second thing. You knew the White Lily Corps were coming, didn’t you? And you used that to ask for our help with the Kraken. Who told you!”
As expected of the White Lily Corps’ vice-captain. When the time comes, her ability to sense danger is high. How many times have I been killed… saved by this very skill.
“Ent… An Ent told me. They said the White Lily Corps were heading to the sea, so I could ask for help…”
Ent… Hearing that reminds me. It was the tree monster, known as the wise one of the forest, that I saved from a Black Flame Dragon attack. That was in Shidenzach, in the distant eastern mountains, quite a distance from here. Moreover, the talk about heading to the sea happened in the Royal Capital, Klinshberbach.
“I see…”
Huh? I understand now. Is it okay to understand? Did that slow Ent run a marathon all the way here? …It’s fine. Alana doesn’t look convinced either. Are we the only ones who don’t understand, me and Alana?
“Priscilla. Could you explain it to Alana too?”
For some reason, I received a glare for a moment. Did she figure it out? Alana, I’m sorry. I don’t want to harm the captain’s dignity. At least, not in front of this mermaid.
“Ent can communicate even from far away. You can’t even tell where an Ent is unless it moves. It’s probably spread among the Ents then.”
That’s not good. If there are any chatty Ents, our actions will be an open secret to the Demon Lord. We might have to go to Nordland sooner. Should I give up on the Demon Lord’s head…?
“Please tell the Ents to keep quiet. Keep my presence here a secret. And since our objective is decided, we can’t proceed if we don’t eliminate them. In accordance with our rules, all who obstruct us will be annihilated.”
The stage is set. The audience this time is the sorrowful yet beautiful mermaids. It’s a shame I’m not the main character, but supporting actors make the main character shine. I’ll win the Best Supporting Actor award this time. The after-party will be where I get the main role. Should I think of a special act for it!?
The ship stopped, and Sonia returned to the mermaid territory to inform them of our arrival. She dove into the sea with a beautiful form, without even a splash, and when she resurfaced, she had transformed into a fish-person.
“Set sail!”
Even the hesitant captain seemed a little more motivated upon hearing about securing a safe fishing ground. We headed towards the mermaid territory on the star-strewn night when the Kraken would be active.
“Hero-sama, it’ll only take thirty minutes to reach the mermaid territory. Are we really not going to fight?”
“Of course. I’m grateful just for you letting us use your ship. Please leave the fighting to the White Lily Corps. It will be over much sooner than you think.”
Kraken. A monster that claims the sea as its territory. According to the captain, it’s a monster that can sink ships, but this ship was originally a large noble’s vessel. It’s not so small that it can be easily sunk.
And when I heard more about it, I realized the Kraken is like a Giant Squid. Certainly, a Giant Squid could sink a small ship, and its ferocious predatory nature makes sense.
Ideally, I’d like to record its ecology and sell it to broadcasters or researchers, but the Black Dragon Rocks I’m promised by the mermaids are also treasured as jewels, so they might not only cover expenses but also help pay off the White Lily Corps’ debts.
That’s when I actually get motivated. The money spent on this battle will easily exceed our annual income, and we’re heading straight for bankruptcy without any detours.
Such an unexpected income is welcome. As a Hero, I’m supposed to receive a count’s salary from various countries, but once the war is over, the Hero status will also end, and the title of Count in Asht is also questionable.
If I can build a connection with the mermaids, I will resolutely annihilate one or two Krakens, making their extinction inevitable. I’ll have them listed in the Red Data Book.
I parted ways with the captain and gazed at the stars from the ship’s edge. It’s beautiful again tonight. To be committing slaughter under such a beautiful starry sky, heaven seems far away.
“Who’s more beautiful, me or you?”
Hmm. About the same, I guess?
“Of course, Priscilla is more beautiful.”
She says something unusual. Comparing beauty. I’m glad it’s not Christine. I don’t have the words for it.
Priscilla leaned her hands on the ship’s railing, standing beside me, and we looked together at the starry sky above and the stars shining on the sea.
“Leave the Kraken to me. I’ll kill it…”
What’s wrong? What’s wrong? You don’t have your usual vigor. Even a melancholic Priscilla is nice, unlike her usual self. Can I put my arm around her shoulder without her dislocating it? I gently… nervously put my arm around Priscilla’s shoulder.
“The mermaids have it tough too, don’t they…”
No… I think the word is wrong. If she had told me beforehand, I would have rummaged through my vocabulary. But this atmosphere just suddenly… someone, give me a “Dictionary of Famous Quotes”!
“That’s right…”
It was wrong after all. My poverty of vocabulary is heartbreaking. Should I be playing a song of love here? Or should I talk about the battle that’s about to happen? Under this starry sky…
I can feel the hand on my shoulder growing clammy with sweat. For ten seconds, or one minute, or perhaps two and a half hours, my thoughts spun at high speed, but my body remained still.
“…I was thinking about the mermaids. It’s helped me feel a bit better.”
Words weren’t needed, were they? I was right about the mermaids, but words weren’t necessary. The shared transformation, the kinship with beings different from humans, touched Priscilla’s heart…
“Priscilla…”
If words aren’t needed, then action is all that’s left. I pulled Priscilla closer by the arm and kissed her. The romantic starry sky seemed to permit it, and I entered her mouth and caressed her breasts.
For a while… after enjoying it for ten seconds, a minute, or two and a half hours, Priscilla placed her hand over mine and said, “See you later…” without me being kicked away or my tongue being bitten off, we parted.
Did Priscilla need action more than words? Priscilla said, “See you later…” So, it’s okay later then! I’ll make you cry later!
I started thinking about how to put a guillotine collar on Priscilla, more than about the Kraken.
