Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Aquarium Holding a Whale (6)
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Enbi looked at me with surprise.
“You’re stronger and freer than anyone else, aren’t you? You picked a fight with us for that reason, too. Not because Elsenote ordered you to, but because you love battle.”
“What nonsense are you...”
“You enjoyed hunting the sea beasts with us. Sure, it was partly to protect Elsenote, but you had fun driving them off and watching the fireworks, didn’t you?”
“......”
“What if that’s the life you truly want?”
Enbi fell silent, at a loss for words.
“Even if you don’t become the king of the merfolk, the orca pod will follow you. You’re their family.”
“That’s... true enough.”
“The other merfolk swim the seas so freely they don’t even need a king.”
“But my kin...”
“If you need to protect the seas from sea beasts, humans will lend their strength too. So there’s no need for you to gather dozens of scattered merfolk tribes across the ocean, play king, and fight their battles.”
[Sierra’s Penetration Trait Activates]
“What you need isn’t Lagia. It’s the strength to be free. Isn’t that right?”
“You...”
At my words, Enbi’s face lit up brightly. He pulled me into a sudden hug, then let go just as abruptly. My clothes were now soaked through with seawater.
“You really are a clever human, aren’t you?”
[♥♥♥]
His affection shot up by another level in an instant. It seemed one of the questions tormenting Enbi had vanished.
Now that his affection was higher, could I ask about Elsenote?
“That’s why I want to help you. I’m a clever and kind human, after all. How about joining me on the way to Elsenote’s temple...?”
“......”
This time, he hesitated!
Enbi pondered seriously for a long while. Then he cautiously spoke up.
“I was planning to hand over the pearl to you anyway. My mother’s pearl is filled with holy mana. Shattering it will draw out Halo’s leader, lured by that mana as bait.”
“The method itself isn’t hard, then.”
“Fighting that beast is my destiny, but I suppose I could yield the honor once.”
“That’s awfully generous of you.”
“But taking you to the temple...”
So that’s the sticking point.
It’s because his affection isn’t high enough. If it were, he’d have taken me to Elsenote’s temple without a second thought.
“Well, can’t be helped, then.”
I recalled the fish tank the Crown Prince had mentioned. I’d have to put this fish in it. To prepare for the future, you know.
And make him Dalia’s entertainment. Revenge for the fifteen-year-old Dalia who had to watch other people’s happy endings in the game so many times!
“I’ll invite you to our Duke’s Castle. Take your time and enjoy yourself until you make up your mind.”
“Huh? What’s a Duke’s Castle?”
“The house where I live. You do know what a house is, right?”
“What do you take me for? You’re inviting me to your family’s den. I’ve never seen a human den before.”
“Den...? We don’t live in a den.”
The plan to go to Elsenote’s temple was on hold for now. I’d drag him to the Duke’s Castle, raise his affection plenty, then try again. I could always come back to the sea anytime.
“A human den sounds intriguing. How do you pile up sand solid without water?”
“...Haha. You’ll see when you get there.”
Enbi seemed pretty positive about it too.
“Pippin! Pippin! I’m heading home with a guest!”
At my booming shout, Pippin emerged from the cabin, awkwardly holding Lagia, fiddling with his ear. He’d clearly been listening to Lagia’s nagging for a while.
“Yes? A guest?”
“I’ll be escorting Lord Enbi.”
“Yes? That merfolk?”
“You need to speak more politely. Haha, what dishes should we serve when we get home? And hearing stories—”
I approached Pippin with a laugh. Hahaha, to catch Enbi off guard and distract Pippin, I grabbed his earlobe and pulled it down.
“Lagia? Can you hear whispers?”
[Is it because I’m rusty? I can’t hear whispers. Of course. But if you whisper to me, I’ll listen with all my heart. Actually, that’s a lie! I have no ears! Hahaha!]
“Good enough.”
Pippin wisely held Lagia a bit farther away. I whispered in his ear.
“If need be, kill him.”
It was obvious who I meant. Pippin furrowed his brow.
“That’ll be tough. You’ll order me to do it anyway.”
“Of course.”
“Isn’t that a bad idea? He helped with the sea beast subjugation.”
“Why do you think that?”
As I straightened Pippin’s clothes with one hand, I spoke sweetly.
“Think about it. He’s not human. You saw how aggressive he is, right? The moment he boarded, he challenged His Highness the Crown Prince like he owned the place. You saw that, didn’t you? That’s the kind of guy he is. A madman.”
“You had a hand in that too, Master.”
“...Even if he seems fine now, what if he flips and bites Dalia? Would you just stand there and watch our family treasure get hurt? Huh?”
“Before I could, you’d probably...”
“No backtalk, answer me, Knight Escort Pippin Sloss. Would you stand by while my little sister gets hurt?”
“Then don’t bring him home in the first place...”
“Don’t argue.”
“......”
“Should we pack a lot of sea beast meat as spoils? The ones you hunted. I could set some aside separately. Send them to your hometown. Or hire an artist to paint your catches for a bestiary. Sound good?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Pippin tucked Lagia under his arm and bowed politely to me. His already maxed-out affection sparkled even brighter.
The kid gets happy over the little things.
“We’ll sail through the night back to the capital! We came fast with the orcas’ help, so the return will be slower.”
Captain Dashima adjusted his cap and shouted. The crew cheered with “Aye, aye!”
Kicking aside a sea beast in my path, I gazed out at the vast ocean. No more beasts appeared, but my heart felt a tiny bit heavier.
“Ha... What a detour home.”
All this hassle for one garibi.
Enbi buzzed with excitement at the thought of sightseeing human lands. For now, let’s keep it light.
I curled my fingers into the OK sign like Dalia used to, brought it to my eye, and captured Enbi in my sights.
Yeah, it’s fine.
I’ve already got him in my fish tank.
***
As night fell, the ship grew quieter, until soon only the faint lapping of waves could be heard.
Thanks to Enbi’s help getting us here so quickly, the return trip would take quite some time.
Taimers posted a few on watch and let the rest rest fully. I got the privilege of sleeping at night too, in recognition of my daytime exploits. While I rested, Enbi would patrol around the ship in orca form.
“You’re not using this as an excuse to run off, are you...? You’re not thinking of becoming the merfolk leader someday but lacking the guts to see a human house first?”
Enbi laughed off my light provocation.
“I swear on Elsenote’s name. I’ll circle your ship tonight. If any sea beasts show, I’ll handle them. My body’s still itching for action.”
Feeling the sincerity in his excited voice, I permitted the orca’s night patrol.
“I’m tired. I want to sleep soundly too...”
Even though Taimers was considerate, the rocking ship and worry that Enbi might bolt kept sleep away. The wooden ceiling seemed to vibrate. Sloshing sounds came from outside—probably Enbi swimming.
‘Well then...’
Sleep wasn’t coming anyway, so instead of forcing it, I started sorting through everything that had happened.
First, Enbi staying to guard our ship. And accepting the Duke’s Castle invitation.
Both were no small feats. Orcas live in pods. Enbi’s companions had already headed to the deep sea.
In other words, Enbi was defying the pod and acting alone against their rules.
“No... Maybe he’s the one abandoned.”
Though the opposite wasn’t impossible. If Enbi were fully content in the pod, he couldn’t have romanced the heroine in the original game. Only because he didn’t fully fit in did heroine Anemone have an opening in his heart.
Blinking as I mulled every possible angle, a peaceful snore came from beside me.
Pippin, who’d volunteered for watch, sat slumped against the door, hugging his halberd and dozing. His deep snores showed how exhausted he was today.
Just as Pippin’s snoring made sleep impossible, Lagia hummed and buzzed with presence.
“What? You trying to ruin my sleep too?”
[Sierra. Sierra. Is the sea beast subjugation over?]
“Thanks to Enbi stepping up, it ended decently enough. His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t seem keen on chasing Halo to the ends of the earth either...”
[But something’s off? I sense mana. Immense mana. This is that Crown Prince’s mana.]
“A sea beast?”
His unexpected words jolted me upright. I grabbed Lagia.
Music to my ears, honestly. I’d already given up on sleep amid all my tangled thoughts.
“Better if a sea beast shows. Can’t sleep anyway. Might as well go watch.”
Even if one appeared, it wouldn’t be strong. Enbi would’ve raised hell if it were a big fight, and sensitive Pippin was out cold. If Pippin could sleep through it, swinging Lagia would suffice.
“Snore... Snore... Zzzzr... Zzzzr.”
“You can sleep like that?”
I nudged Pippin—halberd and all—with my foot. He toppled easily.
“Zzzzr... Zzzzr...”
Testing the limits of human snoring, he kept sleeping even after falling. I fetched a blanket, draped it over him roughly, and headed out.
Meanwhile, a few crewmen wandered the deck with scared faces.
“What’s going on?”
I grabbed one and asked.
“Lord Duke! It’s... nothing. No sea beasts... We’re just cleaning up.”
He glanced at me nervously, whispering hoarsely.
“But His Highness the Crown Prince isn’t sleeping, and his aura’s ferocious...”
“His Highness?”
Lagia vibrated. It seemed the mana on deck belonged to the Crown Prince.
“We lowly folk are terrified. Could you talk to him, Lord Duke?”
He bolted after saying that.
“No sea beasts in sight, for sure.”
I walked the deck’s edge, scanning around. Not a beast, fish, or gull in view. Not far off, Enbi flipped and circled the ship like a dolphin show. Cold moonlight gleamed white on the lone orca’s black hide. Quite the sight.
“Nothing special, then. So His Highness is just enjoying a midnight dolphin show?”