Chapter 387: The Mermaids

Called by Arte, I turned around, and just off the coast, there were countless heads floating on the sea surface…

“Eek, scary!”

I involuntarily let out a scream. Do ship ghosts appear in this sea?

“Is this the time to be fooling around, Boy?”

Panamera chided me. Having my back smacked, I reluctantly switched to serious mode.

A large group of bright blonde men and women had gathered in the sea. Were there about thirty of them? Looking closely, Rilda’s figure was also at the very front.

“Ah, it’s Rilda.”

When I said that and pointed, the three of them also narrowed their eyes and confirmed her face.

“……Could it be that this island is a sacred place, and since we trespassed……”

“No, Rilda carried us all the way to the beach, so shouldn’t it be fine?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

Having that conversation with Till, this time Arte spoke up looking anxious.

“Then, what is their business here……”

Even though we exterminated the monster whale, if anything, we were the ones who were saved. In that case, it wouldn’t be to return a favor.

However, there’s no reason for them to be hostile either. Surely they didn’t just come on a sightseeing tour because they heard humans had arrived.

We froze, staring at each other for a second or two. I was the one who ran out of patience first.

“Umm, do you need something?”

I tried asking them their business. If they wanted us to yield the monster whale meat to them, I’d gladly present them with all of it.

However, they probably didn’t go out of their way to come ask something like that.

I waited for a reply while intently observing Rilda and the others. Then, three men and women in the center looked at each other, discussed something, and then turned to face us in unison.

“……Humans.”

“Yes. Ah, if you don’t mind, please call me Van-kun.”

I was addressed by a male mermaid, but since the categorization was too broad, I asked him to call me by my personal name. At that, the man tucked his chin and spoke.

“Understood. Van-kun.”

“Yeees! What is it?”

There was a slight sense of incongruity in the nuance, but I replied firmly. The man nodded back deeply and opened his mouth again.

“We heard there were those who defeated a Weel. And indeed, on the beach, there was the figure of a Weel that burned to death. Did you do that, Van-kun?”

“Is a Weel that monster whale? It’s a cute name, though.”

I muttered that, tilting my head at the man’s statement. Well, there’s nothing else that burned to death. Reconsidering, I answered while pointing at Panamera.

“If anything, Ms. Panamera here is the culprit~”

“Culprit? Hey now.”

Upon my slip of the tongue, a rare style of retort came from Panamera. I was surprised she had such a surprisingly wide repertoire of comebacks.

“I’m just kidding, come on.”

“What kind of reply is that?”

She crossed her arms and stared at me with a deadpan gaze. It would be dangerous to fool around any further.

I immediately averted my gaze and turned to Rilda and the others. I met eyes with the male mermaid from earlier.

“I see. So that one named Panamera-san defeated the Weel. Indeed, she has the scent of the strong.”

The man nodded deeply, convinced. I’m curious what the ‘scent of the strong’ smells like, but I should probably let it slide for now.

While I was wondering about that, the man opened his mouth with a solemn expression.

“……Then, I have a request. Panamera-san. A Tyrant King has appeared in this sea. We would like you to somehow lend us a hand in repelling it.”

The man said.

“Tyrant King?”

“Wh-What could that be?”

“If it appeared in the sea, couldn’t it be the large magic beast from before? Rilda did say there were still many more.”

Following the man’s words, Till, Arte, and Panamera spoke up in that order. However, since they called the monster whale a Weel, it probably wasn’t that.

If it lacked a specific species name and had appeared in the sea, it was probably another new large magic beast that had shown up in these waters.

“What should we do? Repelling a large magic beast underwater sounds difficult, though.”

When I asked that, Panamera knitted her brows and groaned.

“……If possible, I want to answer the debt of gratitude we owe Rilda. However, it might take time. Boy. You should be the one to decide.”

“Eh? Me?”

I asked back, surprised by Panamera’s statement. Her true feelings must be that she wants to return the favor, but it seems she is worried about Dee and the others.

I took a few seconds to think and decided to make a choice I wouldn’t regret.

“Then, we will go to the other side of the island.”

When I announced that, Panamera wrinkled her brow and nodded.

“……Indeed. First, we must prioritize our own subordinates.”

Panamera replied looking disappointed. At that, Till and Arte also made complicated faces. However, of course, that wasn’t the end of it.

“If we have the mermaids help us, we can get to the other side of the island quickly, right? If we do that, we might be able to rendezvous with Dee and the others. I think repelling the magic beast in that condition would be the most certain way……”

When I stated that, Panamera blinked and then lifted the corner of her mouth.

“That is…… true. Boy. That’s exactly the right answer.”

Panamera laughed, showing her teeth, as she said that.