CHAPTER 55………………………………….
Since I was already here quickly, I rummaged through my desk, intending to grab the medicine and head back, when an awkward silence settled between us.
Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’d been alone with someone in such a quiet place.
“D-Do you know anything about mermaids?”
Why don’t you just put up an advertisement that there’s a mermaid in the lake, seriously!
I wanted to swallow back the words I had blurted out in my awkwardness, but Luce’s lips were already parting.
“I do.”
“Have you ever actually seen one?”
“Yes. A long time ago.”
“I-I see. They say they were on the verge of extinction… that’s amazing….”
Another silence fell.
“Then have you ever heard of the story of a human who turned into a mermaid because of a mermaid’s poison?”
Damn this mouth of mine. Just blurting out whatever comes to mind!
“I know it. It’s a pretty famous tale.”
At that unexpected reply, my eyes lit up as I leaned in. Maybe I could get some information related to Sordim.
“There’s such a story? This is my first time hearing it.”
“It’s only well-known in the Mage Tower.”
“Could you tell me, too?”
“It’s nothing much. A human bitten by a mermaid turns into one, despairs at their fate, and eventually—”
“That’s really nothing! Fine, thanks!”
I had already heard what I needed, but since there was no decisive word mentioned, I decided to pretend I hadn’t.
“They only turned back into a human after they died.”
What a bastard. Do you feel better now that you’ve said it?
I glared at Luce, who just shrugged smugly and asked,
“Why? Did you see a mermaid or something?”
“No?! Of course not! I was just reading a bestiary and got curious, okay? Where would I even see a magical beast on the brink of extinction?!”
I needed to hurry up and get back to the lake! I swung my bag open and started sweeping the bottles of medicine off my desk into it.
“What’s the rush?”
“I’ve got stuff to do. Anyway, aren’t you busy? Is it fine for you to hang around here like this?”
I had to shake Luce off and get back to the lake, but today of all days, that magician didn’t look like he had any intention of leaving my side.
“…If I leave, you’re planning to go back to the lake, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
How the hell did he know? His brain works disgustingly fast.
“I didn’t know you were acquainted with the successor of the Dragon Clan.”
Could you even call it an acquaintance? We had only known each other by rumor, and we’d barely just met.
But I had no excuse ready, so I just nodded vaguely.
“Yeah. Sir Seran helped me a bit.”
He had avenged me at the banquet.
“So you decided to help him in return?”
“Well, it’s a world where people should help each other, right?”
“And you’d do that for a divine beast you just met for the first time?”
“What’s so important about that?”
“It is important. After all, the request was to heal a magical beast.”
“…Wait. What did you just say?”
I tried to act calm, but my movements were anything but natural. I creaked my neck around to look at Luce. Resting his chin on his hand, he grinned slyly.
“Careless, aren’t you.”
“Y-You—! H-how did you know?”
“Not knowing would be harder.”
Damn it. This wasn’t the time to be judging Helion’s acting skills. My own acting was a disaster.
“…You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?”
Even as I asked, I was certain. Luce wouldn’t tell a soul.
First, whatever was in the palace lake was clearly outside his interest.
Second, even if he reported Sordim’s existence, he’d gain nothing from it.
“Who knows. Maybe I will.”
And that reply—so unlike what I’d expected—completely threw me off.
“Wouldn’t you just pretend you didn’t see anything? It’s not like this has anything to do with you—”
“Who says it doesn’t?”
…Does it?
“That damned snake’s been annoying me anyway.”
Why does everyone—Eve, Luce, whoever—insist on calling the dragon a snake?
“You know Sir Seran?”
“First saw him at the lake.”
“Then what could possibly be so bothersome about someone you just met? Achoo!”
Maybe from being soaked earlier, I sneezed. Lifting Seran’s jacket still draped over my shoulders, I noticed Luce’s eyes narrow sharply.
“Ah.”
He slowly ran his long fingers along his neck. His expression seemed sour, and even the furrow of his brows looked annoyingly alluring.
“Thanks for reminding me.”
“What the heck are you even talking about…?”
But no matter what I asked, he gave no answer. I gave up and went back to sorting my bag.
And then, the last bottle on the desk.
The unfinished “medicine.”
After a brief hesitation, I picked it up to tuck it safely into the drawer.
“I’ll just leave this here—”
“What’s that?”
“Whaaaah!!”
A low whisper right at my ear made goosebumps crawl up my neck. Startled, the bottle slipped from my hands and flew.
“N-Nooo—!”
Time seemed to slow.
The glass bottle rose before me, traced an arc through the air, and began to fall. I lunged desperately to catch it. Not that I had expected to look graceful doing it.
But did I really deserve to trip on my dress and flop face-first over broken glass?
Damn it. In the end, I had completed the medicine—by testing it on myself.
Seran waited a long while for Linnegrym to return.
He wasn’t bored. Sordim was with him.
“Yes, her mana is considerable. It was refreshing, really—the first time a human openly showed such hostility toward me.”
-It was scary….
“How could you be scared when I’m here? Anyway, I’m glad Linnegrym gave permission. Now if only Lunaris agrees…”
Seran and Sordim whispered to each other, careful not to be overheard.
Seran, laughing with Sordim, suddenly stiffened when he sensed someone approaching quickly.
“Sordim. Get back in the water.”
At his words, the little head vanished beneath the surface. Seran rose to his feet, preparing for the approaching footsteps.
And soon, out of the brush—
“L-Linnegrym?”
It was Linnegrym, who had gone to fetch medicine. But something was clearly wrong. Aside from the red blotches covering her face, she suddenly leapt straight into the lake.
Splash!
The surface churned violently, her dress billowed once, then sank.
Bubbles broke the surface. Time dragged on, and she never resurfaced. Should he go in after her? He hesitated, then decided his blessing on her would keep her safe, and simply waited.
Minutes passed.
“Linnegrym, are you alright? What happened to your face?”
Seran called gently toward the water. Soon the surface rippled, and two figures rose—Linnegrym, supported by Sordim.
“Hah… I almost died….”
-Sir Seran. What about Lady Linnegrym’s face?
Sordim peered closely at her. Seran tilted his head.
“I’m sure I saw…”
Her face had been covered with angry red blotches. But now, above the water, her skin was clear, radiant in the moonlight, save for some smudged makeup.
-Huh?
“Never mind. I must’ve been mistaken.”
While Seran and Sordim puzzled over it, Linnegrym sighed underwater. Bubbles escaped her lips.
Of all things, why did the bottle that had to shatter mid-experiment have to be that one? Honestly, that useless magician wasn’t to blame. I was the one who’d carelessly left it out on the desk.
Still, despite the accident, the result I wanted was certain.
“Yes…!”
Ecstatic, I raised my hand. The skin that had broken out in blotches was now smooth. Feeling the cold water slipping through my fingers, I clenched my fist.
“I’ve done it. A way to protect myself…!”
A clear, joyous laugh rang out, so out of place in the night air.
Both Seran and Sordim, startled, looked at me in confusion.
“Something good happened?”
“Ah. Was it that obvious?”
I had smiled too brightly for that question to make sense. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek and rummaged in my bag.
“Mr. Sordim, this is for you.”
I handed him an antibiotic. He tilted his head, as if to ask what it was.
Unable to hold back a smile at his childlike innocence, I explained,
“This is a medicine I made. It fights infection—well, it’ll drive out the bad energy clinging to you. You just need to drink it.”
Sordim turned the vial curiously in his hands, then opened it and swallowed as I instructed. His youthful face instantly twisted.
-Ughhh….
“Tastes bad, huh.”
“There’s no helping that. Medicine isn’t for taste. Tomorrow morning, I’ll wrap a bandage around your tail.”
The ragged scales needed support so they wouldn’t keep falling off.
“Well then, I’ll go for now. I’ll be back early tomorrow, Mr. Sordim.”
He nodded, waved, and slipped beneath the water.
I watched the rippling surface until it stilled. Then Seran asked,
“Do you still want to go to the sea?”
“Of course!”
“I see.”
He smiled, looking pleased.
When I returned to the palace with Seran’s escort, I was met with an indignant Eve and Liri, horrified at my smeared makeup.
The night passed, and early dawn arrived.
Even before Sir Rail had started work, I awoke early to visit Sordim. On my desk I found a pile of divine stones—more than ten—and a hastily scribbled note beside them.
[If it’s not enough, tell me. –Tehinra]
It was the healing-infused stones I’d requested from Tehinra!
The day would be a busy one. After seeing Sordim, I would need to meet with Marianne.
I packed the stones into my bag and headed to the lake.
The misty lake was silent, no presence felt.
I neatly set aside my shoes, then eased into the water, shivering at the chill.
Taking a deep breath, I submerged completely.
At the lake’s bottom, I found Sordim, crouched, gazing upward.
“Mr. Sordim, what are you doing?”
-…Waiting for the sun to rise. Since becoming a mermaid, I haven’t been able to see sunlight at all. At least this is a shallow lake. The sea is truly dark. Light barely reaches there.
Sordim longed for the sunlight he had once taken for granted as a human.
-I’ll have to adapt, won’t I? Since I’ll live like this forever.
He forced a smile, but as his lips pressed tight, it was clear how bitterly he felt. I couldn’t bring myself to offer any empty words of comfort.
