Pearl, whose strength had been depleted, was revived and received a scale as proof.
“It looks like a cut from a sword. Did you catch it on a rock or something?”
“Uh, something like that.”
Pearl’s brother held his hand out, supporting his injured one. It was for healing, but it felt a bit awkward to have him bare his legs after loosening his trousers.
“Our race can increase our magic output to heal instantly, but if you did that, you’d get burned.”
Was what Pearl used also something similar? And these kinds of cuts don’t heal easily. It would be best to sew it up with thread, but there are no doctors or hospitals here now. Red blood dripped from the wound.
“Um, more importantly, is it okay to use your magic for my treatment? You were almost dead just a while ago.”
“This much is fine. Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a human up close. Your legs are so smooth and interesting.”
He stroked my legs while chuckling. But I don’t have smooth legs; I have leg hair. And the ogre glaring at me over his shoulder is terrifying.
“Ah, I’m sorry, we don’t have legs. They’re thin and feel nice to the touch.”
“…”
He’s entranced, isn’t he? Whoa, this is scary. Are they both weirdos, brother and sister?
“I want to cut them off and keep them as decorations.”
A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively pulled my legs back. Could this person also be trying to kill me?
“Sorry, it was a joke. You should wrap something around it. The wound is closed, but it’s not fully healed inside yet.”
Was it really a joke? I felt like I would be killed if I didn’t get out of here quickly.
After that, I clung to my brother’s back and escaped the cave.
“Where is your ship? Pearl, could you go find it?”
“Yeah, wait for me. Tsk.”
I thought I heard a click of the tongue just now. Pearl dove into the sea as if to disappear. Her brother, with me on his back, was also searching for the ship. I could see the beach where I had washed ashore in the distance. It turned out to be at the foot of a towering, sheer rock. Sand and debris had gathered there.
On the other side, I could see a rock pillar rising from the sea.
“Beyond there is the Siren’s territory.”
“So, the Blood Pond and the Forest of Suicides are beyond that?”
“That’s right. Those who commit suicide become trees in hell and have their leaves pecked by Harpies.”
So that’s why Harpies are targeting prey from above? They must be different from the Harpies I know. At least they’re not like Piyo’s race.
“What is the Blood Pond?”
“It’s exactly what it sounds like: water stained red. It’s the territory of terrifying man-eating mermaids. They lure sailors with their beautiful songs and drag them underwater.”
I’m being targeted from both the water and the sky. No wonder I couldn’t reach God’s Island. So, both Harpies and mermaids are called Sirens. Sirens are people who use magic and song to bewitch others, right?
Come to think of it, the vocalist of the band Dragon Triangle I met before was a Siren. One of his bandmates said he was a Wajinryo who was found by Sirens. Could this be his hometown?
To find a connection in such a distant place.
“Ah, Pearl’s back.”
Pearl’s head popped out of the water with a splash. Even the way she shook her hair to dry it was mesmerizing for a moment. She looked like a goddess, but her personality was too eccentric.
“I found it, over here.”
Pearl took her brother’s hand and led him away. When holding hands, she looked as happy as a couple in a new relationship.
“Hurry, hurry!”
“Hey, hey, you’ll make the human on your back fall off.”
After a little while, a familiar ghost ship appeared through the mist. I didn’t notice it until it was so close. The sea can suddenly have poor visibility or distort distances. It’s not easier to navigate than a forest just because the view is more open.
“Yes, this is the ship. Hello, everyone!”
As I called out, Piyo appeared from above.
“Ah, Hiro! Everyone, Hiro is alive!”
Then, I heard a commotion from behind. “Don’t be so clumsy and falling,” I thought, but my lips naturally turned up.
“Thank you for bringing me this far.”
“No, we should be thanking you.”
“I hate to admit it, but I owe you too. I’m sorry for using your cloak. It’s all tattered now because I used up all the magic power it contained at once.”
That’s fine. It’s a miracle that no one died. Then, Pearl gave me a compass as a replacement.
“Wow, the needle is made of crystal. Is it a magic stone?”
“No, it’s a repulsion stone, like your shield. It’s designed to make the needle spin in the opposite direction when it reacts to strong magic, like a magnet. You can’t navigate further with a normal compass.”
Oh, so strong magic means it’s harder to encounter enemies? I received it, but I don’t quite understand how to use it.
While we were talking, a ladder was lowered from the ship.
“Well then, I’m going.”
“Be careful. There might be Dark Elves there, like the ones I met.”
“Goodbye.”
I waved one last time and said goodbye. I think my leg being touched as I climbed off his back was just my imagination.
