Mermaid Princess Challenge Commotion (1)
[Mermaid Princess?]
Aqua turned to the spirit user with an intrigued look on her face.
The spirit user grinned and fiddled with his phone, playing a video.
It was footage of Aqua dancing and singing underwater, surrounded by fish dressed like a gown and flower crabs as her audience.
I'd shot it while scuba diving with her—the Mermaid Princess video.
This became a challenge?
I couldn't believe it, widening my eyes in shock.
A challenge was a type of SNS trend where people imitated someone else's video, filmed themselves doing it, and posted it online.
The spirit user nodded with a smile.
"This is totally blowing up right now."
I glanced at Aqua. She stared at the screen with a blank expression.
[Uh...]
"You're talking about the Mermaid Princess Challenge?"
Mulsuja slipped naturally into the conversation.
"Spirit users around the world are going nuts over it, but the guy who started the fire had no idea."
She covered her mouth, chuckling like it was hilarious.
"Um..."
I still didn't get it, so I asked.
"This video's been up for less than a day, though?"
"True. But right now, it's in the warm-up phase. On the verge of going mega-viral."
"Mega-viral?"
"Stick around this scene long enough, and you get a feel for it. When a video like this drops, spirit users can't just sit still."
Mulsuja pointed to a YouTube comment.
She opened the account's YouTube channel. There was a fresh video uploaded just hours ago.
"Ah, the thumbnail..."
It looked strikingly similar to Aqua's Mermaid Princess video. And the title was in English: Mermaid Princess Challenge.
"It's peak vacation season, and spirit users are all about making memories with their spirits. No way they'd miss this."
The video's background was daytime. Meaning it was shot on the other side of the world, in Italy during their day.
"Our video spread to the opposite side of the planet in just hours?"
"You're a college student, right, Hyunwoo? Don't you know how fast SNS moves these days?"
Mulsuja poked fun at me like I was some out-of-touch old guy, giggling.
[I know, Lady Aqua!]
One of the undines chattered excitedly to Aqua.
[My spirit user loved your video and posted about it on Chirp!]
Chirp was one of the popular SNS platforms.
[This Italian spirit user is SNS friends with my contractor!]
I pieced it together. A domestic spirit user saw my community promo post with Aqua's video, shared it on SNS. Since spirit users followed each other across countries, it reached Italy in minutes.
And the spirit user vacationing with undines jumped right on it to film a challenge video.
Mulsuja stroked her own undine.
"By tonight, our country's spirit users will be uploading tons."
"The water spirit community is in chaos right now. Probably filming at beaches nationwide as we speak."
At their words, I stared blankly at Aqua. She gaped back at me in shock.
Smiles crept across our faces at the same time.
[Ahahaha! As expected of this supreme one! You flexed so hard even on Nutube!]
"Where'd you pick up that kinda talk?"
I laughed happily and pulled her into a hug.
[Hehehe!]
Aqua rubbed her face against my chest, giggling. I stroked her back vigorously.
The undines saw our embrace and suddenly clung to their own contractors.
[Pet me too!]
[I want skinship!]
True to form as the most touchy-feely water spirits.
After the group hug fest, we resumed chatting.
"We were gonna try filming a Mermaid Princess Challenge video this holiday too, but nowhere beats the spot in the original."
"Want me to tell you?"
"We'd be grateful!"
Before I knew it, the Spirit Knights' water spirit users had all gathered around us. Under their eager gazes, I smiled.
"I'll introduce you to the captain who knows that spot inside out."
My simple offer lit up their faces.
"Thanks! We'll make some great memories thanks to you."
"We'll send you proof shots!"
[Thank you!]
[I'm gonna film something as pretty as yours, Lady Aqua!]
[You got it! I'll be waiting for those videos!]
Aqua hugged the undines tightly.
After stuffing ourselves, Aqua and I went for a stroll.
The dining spot was the restaurant's outdoor terrace, so a short walk offered a stunning sea view.
[The sea's always so pretty!]
Aqua gazed out in awe, then suddenly looked up at me as if remembering something.
[Mermaid Princess Challenge? I was shocked!]
"Me too. Who knew it'd trend among spirit users."
But thinking about it, it made perfect sense.
"Aqua's a supreme spirit, after all. Undines adore you. So if you post something like that, of course they'd want to copy it."
Aqua's eyes went wide, then she covered her mouth, giggling.
[You're right! They all love me!]
She crescent-mooned her eyes, clearly thrilled.
I chuckled softly and pulled out my phone. There was something in the spirit community I wanted to show her.
"Aqua, check this out."
The spirit community's 'HOT Posts'—the most popular posts of the day—had two Aqua-related entries.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua's eyes sparkled with wonder. Mine did too.
The spirit community was a place I'd frequented since awakening as an awakener five years ago.
My spirit making the HOT list? Talk about hometown fame.
It might seem small, but to me, it felt like having my name up on a village billboard back home—pure joy.
"Spirit users are obsessed with you too."
Aqua wasn't just loved by spirits.
[Hehehe! I'm dying to know what they say!]
Beaming, she tapped the one titled Hot Aqua Photo Collection feat. Aqua Fan Club.
I hadn't checked it yet either, so we scrolled together.
"Whoa..."
The post had about 20 photos of Aqua: playing with undines and kids on the beach; wearing a straw hat with a fishing rod; riding a turtle across the sea.
...Huh?
A strange sense of déjà vu hit me.
I've seen these photos before. A lot.
Looking closer, they were all shots I'd taken. Especially the one of her on the BNW electric cart with sunglasses—that was from just this afternoon.
How'd my photo from today end up here?
Puzzled, I checked the photo's source.
Aqua Fan Club...?
A memory flashed.
"It's those sisters who helped with the molester incident!"
The pair who'd assisted in catching the creep had said they'd start an Aqua fan club.
[Ooh! That's them!]
Aqua nodded, remembering too.
[Hehehe! Such kind people!]
She seemed delighted about her fan club. I'd figured it was just a casual remark from a beach mishap, but they'd actually followed through—I was touched.
"Wanna look it up?"
[Let's do it! I wanna see!]
I searched 'Aqua Fan Club' online. A few pages in, up popped a portal café called Water Spirit Aqua Fan Club.
The front page banner was a photo of Aqua singing underwater.
"Let's see... Membership: 500?"
[500 people!]
We gawked at each other in surprise. The Nutube video must've packed a punch.
We read through the posts. Being new, there weren't many.
Then we hit the one.
Who has all these photos?
I checked the poster's nickname. And it clicked.
And the first comment, 'Aqua's so cute as always!' was from 'Haynaru Guesthouse'.
"...Mom and Dad."
Every photo with Aqua got uploaded to our family chat instantly.
I'd worried about a hack, but now I just deflated into a chuckle. Parents gonna parent.
[Your parents joined my fan club?]
"Looks like missionary work got 'em in."
[Ooooh...!]
Aqua stared at her fan club with sparkling eyes for a good while. I watched her just as long.
We finished our walk and returned to the terrace. Everyone had wrapped up eating and was leisurely enjoying drinks and desserts.
Mandu was still buried in salamanders, soaking up endless attention and love.
"...I see. I'll relay it to the guild master ASAP."
"Appreciate it. This'll benefit both Union Guild and Phoenix Guild for sure."
Jeong Ri-on and Jang Gilsan were deep in serious business talk.
I set Aqua back on the table from my lap, and somehow Americanos and macarons had appeared for us.
A glance back showed Jang Gilsan nodding at me. He'd set aside our share.
"Thanks."
[Thanks!]
"No biggie."
I sipped the Americano. Bitter with a slight tang filled my mouth.
[Mm...]
Aqua silently glared at hers. She hated the bitterness. But she kept peeking at Jang Gilsan, not wanting to seem ungrateful.
Then—
[Hey!]
[Hey, undines. It's ration time!]
Jeong Ri-on's sylphs hauled an entire slushie dispenser onto the terrace.
[Waaah!]
[Slushies!]
The undines swarmed it excitedly. Jeong Ri-on shook his head with a helpless smile.
Cold, sweet slushies were one of their ultimate snacks.
[Ooh!]
Aqua craned her neck toward it, forgetting the Americano entirely. At her adorable lack of subtlety, I gently lifted her down.
[I'll get your share too!]
She waved and toddled off toward the dispenser. I smiled at her back, then took another sip.
I don't love Americano, but with macarons? Game changer.
Before the bitterness lingered, I popped a macaron. The sweet shell crumbled, chewy candy-like filling teased my teeth, and creamy softness coated my tongue. I chased it with more coffee without thinking.
Sweet-salty's great, but sweet-bitter packs a punch.
Plus, it felt grown-up. Turning fifty soon but still a student, I craved these 'adult moments' sometimes.
I savored it leisurely. Brutal training in massive fields when grinding, total rest slicing steaks at a resort.
Perks of the Spirit Knights under a mega-guild like Phoenix.
Tough drills boosted survival; killer benefits kept morale high. No wonder folks chase big corps.
"...Huh?"
Aqua, who I'd expected back quick, wasn't returning. I turned to check the line at the dispenser—and froze.
The undines had been wiped out.