Chapter 385: Encounter with a Mermaid

“I wonder if we can eat the monster whale…”

Saying that, I turned my gaze to the roasting monster whale.

“For now, that would be difficult.”

“Salt-grilled, is it?”

“Eh?”

The three of them each reacted to my statement. Perhaps Till was getting hungry, as she was starting to think of cooking methods. And Arte’s surprised reaction was amusing.

Now then, what should I do? The golden pattern for lowering her guard had been sealed. Or so I thought, but the mermaid approached us once again.

“Ah, hello. I am Van. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I tried calling out to her while waving my hand. Since I was giving a polite greeting, if this were my neighborhood, I’d definitely be recognized as a child with a good reputation.

However, the mermaid’s guard didn’t lower easily. Ms. Mermaid approached slowly, her brows knitted. By appearances, she looked to be in her late teens. It wouldn’t feel out of place if I was told she was classmates with Till.

“……Are you an Apkallu?”

I tried asking her again. Then, the mermaid gave a small shake of her head.

“……Uanna.”

“Uanna?”

I tried repeating the word I was told. The mermaid gave a small nod. Apparently, she is an Uanna.

No, what in the world is an Uanna?

“Not an Apkallu, but an Uanna?”

“Uanna.”

“Huh……”

After that exchange, I turned my head back. Looking at Arte and the others, I checked with them.

“Do you know what an Uanna is?”

“I do not.”

“I don’t know.”

“Tasty, huh?”

For the time being, I understood that Till was quite hungry. If things go poorly, she might even be imagining salt-grilling Ms. Uanna right in front of us.

Jokes aside, if Uanna is her race name, isn’t this a new discovery?

“……Is it okay if I call you Ms. Uanna?”

I turned back to Uanna and asked. At that, Uanna shook her head from side to side.

“Rilda. Rilda Uanna.”

“Ah, Ms. Rilda, got it. Understood.”

Having a bare minimum conversation, I was able to learn her name. But does that mean Uanna is her first name? No, Rilda is her first name? Either way, it didn’t seem to be a race name.

“Ms. Rilda. Did you happen to see a large ship? We’re currently looking for it.”

I asked, thinking it would be a long shot, but Rilda gave a shallow nod.

“……I know.”

“Eh!? You know!?”

“……!”

I was surprised and let out a loud voice, causing Rilda to disappear into the sea.

“A-Ah! Sorry! We won’t do anything!”

In a panic, I waved both hands toward the sea and apologized. Then, the severed head appeared again over five meters away. It was Rilda. She knitted her brows, displaying her wariness.

“W-Where was it? If possible, could you tell us where the ship was?”

I tried to ask as gently as possible. Then, Rilda pointed toward the forest and opened her mouth.

“……The other side.”

“Eh? The other side of the island?”

I blinked in surprise at Rilda’s words.

“Since we washed up on the sandy beach, I completely thought we were swept in from the front.”

When I muttered that, Panamera also crossed her arms and groaned.

“Does that mean we were swept away and ended up on the opposite side of the island?”

I don’t know much about the sea. I couldn’t answer the question Panamera muttered with a dubious expression. That being said, no matter how rapid the current was, washing up on the beach on the opposite side of the island felt out of place. Besides, if we had been swept away for that long, we would have drowned for sure.

As I was pondering various things in bewilderment, Rilda hesitantly spoke up.

“……The other side is deep. It’s dangerous, so I brought you here.”

“Eh? You saved us, Rilda?”

A shocking statement. Hearing Rilda’s words, I widened my eyes and asked back. Rilda then furrowed her brows in a troubled manner and tucked her chin.

“……The other side is full of things like this…… that’s why I brought you here.”

Saying that, Rilda pointed at the monster whale. I see. In other words, because the side facing the open ocean is deeper and inhabited by many large magic beasts, she dragged us all the way to the other side of the island.

Thinking that far, the memory of being thrown from the ship came rushing back.

“……By any chance, did you save us when we fell from the ship?”

When I asked, Rilda nodded quietly, just as I expected.

“Whoa, thank you! You were our lifesaver!”

“……!”

I involuntarily stood up and thanked her, but Rilda was startled and disappeared again.

“Ah, sorrrry! I won’t raise my voice anymore!”

As I apologized toward the sea, Arte spoke up, sounding deeply moved.

“To think we were saved by a mermaid in that sea……”

Just like a world from a myth. Arte was moved by that kind of atmosphere. Then, Panamera groaned with a serious face.

“……We owe her a great debt. It would be good if we have something we can give in return.”

Panamera, a knight to her very core, was dutiful.

“……For the time being, maybe I’ll give her some delicious meat and fruit?”

“Yes! I will get it ready!”

When I said that, Till bent one arm and showed off her bicep.