I'm Supposed to Lay Eggs?
My head was a mess. Still, I couldn't just lounge around here in a daze forever. Yoo Seongwoon had to be worried sick about me.
I took a moment to calm the turmoil in my mind, then asked the first thing I needed to know.
"May I ask how much time has passed since I fell into the water?"
"About three hours."
"I'm sorry... did you say three hours?"
My jaw dropped at how much time had already slipped by. I wanted nothing more than to surface right this second, but there were things I needed to confirm before returning to land.
"Dragon King. You said I turn back into a mermaid at night. Does that mean I absolutely have to stay in this form then?"
"Not necessarily."
At the Dragon King's gesture, one of the mermaids nearby approached carrying a small box. Inside were ten glass vials, each about the size of a finger.
"What are these?"
"A potion the mermaids prepared for situations when they must remain in human form. Drink one bottle, and you'll keep both your legs for the night as well."
"Oh... Then couldn't I just keep drinking them? Living like this seems like it'd be pretty inconvenient."
"You may not overuse them. The limit is ten bottles per month."
"I'm sorry to keep asking questions. I figure I need to understand things at least somewhat before I can deal with them."
"That is fine. Ask whenever something puzzles you."
"Thank you. Then, if I use all of these, can I receive more next month?"
"If the need arises, return to the Dragon Palace. I shall provide them again."
"This is awkward, but... I don't actually know where the Dragon Palace is."
"There are ways for all things."
At the Dragon King's second gesture, another mermaid brought over two bracelets strung with white beads.
"Use these bracelets. Wear one on your person at all times, and keep the other stored where you live, in case you lose the first."
I accepted the bracelets and examined one of them.
"...Do I simply wear it?"
"You must snap the bracelet at the water's edge and scatter the beads into the sea. Two mermaids will receive the signal and come to find you."
"Ah, so if I follow them back, I can return to the Dragon Palace?"
"That is correct."
With so many questions, he'd have been forgiven for finding me annoying, yet the Dragon King answered every single one without omission. Since it had come to this, I decided to press my luck and ask a few more.
"Does it have to be the sea? Would a river or a lake work too?"
"Anywhere that touches water will serve."
"That's a relief."
As I answered, the mermaid beside me handed me a small bag.
"You may store the potions and bracelets in here."
"Thank you."
After thanking her, I transferred the potions and bracelets into the bag. That seemed to wrap up everything I'd need for life on land.
"Then please send me back now. I have no way of finding my own way. And thank you so much for all your help."
I bowed my head in gratitude, and the Dragon King spoke.
"Very well. But drink this before you go."
The Dragon King opened the small box beside his chair and drew out a single vial — identical to the ones I'd just received.
"Drink this, and your legs will return when you reach land. You'll keep your human form tonight as well, so drink it now."
The Dragon King approached and handed me the vial.
"Does this one count toward the ten?"
"This one is exempt. It is necessary for your return to land, so the ten you carry may be used as planned."
"Thank you. Then I'll drink up."
I popped the cork and downed the potion immediately. It had no particular taste. As I tucked the empty bottle into my bag, the Dragon King continued.
"To live on land, you must also remember the hours of your transformation. From six in the morning until six in the evening, you keep your human form. Past six in the evening, you revert to a mermaid. You become human again after six the following morning."
"So twelve hours each."
"Correct. On days you drink the potion, as you just did, you may keep your human form through the night as well."
I etched the schedule into my memory. At least I wouldn't have to worry about sprouting a tail out of nowhere in the middle of explaining everything to Yoo Seongwoon.
"And even while in human form, you may return to being a mermaid whenever you wish."
"Even during the day?"
"Yes. Your mermaid form is your true body now. Should you need to enter the water, you need only will it."
It stung a little, honestly — I couldn't stay human at will, but turning back into a mermaid was fair game anytime. Still, better to know than not.
"Understood."
I was about to ask him again to send me to shore when the Dragon King spoke first.
"One last thing you must know."
"And what would that be?"
"Mermaids come into a spawning season once every four months."
"......?"
For a moment, I couldn't process what I'd just heard.
Spawning?
I turned it over in my head, but only one meaning came to mind.
"...You're telling me I'm going to lay eggs?"
"When the time comes, you will understand naturally."
"No, hold on a second."
Waking up as a woman overnight was bad enough, and now I was apparently going to lay eggs on top of it? I was completely dumbfounded.
"Shouldn't that have been the very first thing you explained?!"
"Had I told you that first, you would have been even more alarmed. There is ample time before your first spawning season, so return to the Dragon Palace when it draws near. I shall explain everything in detail then."
"......"
Well, at least it wasn't happening right away. That was a genuine mercy.
I wanted to press for more details, but finding Yoo Seongwoon came first.
"...Understood. Then please send me back now."
Leaving that lingering unease behind, I bowed my head once more to the Dragon King and made my request. At once, the two mermaids who'd been waiting approached and took hold of me.
They carried me out of the throne hall, practically lifting me clear off the ground. A short while later, wanting to try a stroke on my own, I asked them to let go and gave my tail a wag.
Far from propelling me upward, my body tipped sideways instead.
"Whoa—!"
I scrambled to right myself, only to spin all the way around in the opposite direction. The mermaid beside me quickly grabbed my arm.
"It's only because it's your first time. Once you're used to it, the movements will come naturally."
"I really can't get the hang of this at all..."
It was such a strange feeling, having a body that wouldn't obey me. I tried a few more times, but the results were much the same. In the end, I gave up on moving by myself and rose with the two of them helping me along.
After traveling for a while, the shimmering surface came into view far above. That was when another problem occurred to me.
"Wait a moment."
Both of them turned to look at me.
"W-when I transform back into a human, what happens to my clothes?"
"You needn't worry. When you take human form, a swimsuit will appear along with it."
"What a relief."
Since my destination was the beach, a swimsuit wouldn't look the least bit out of place.
As we continued upward, the surface drew steadily closer.
"This is as far as we shall escort you."
"Okay. Thank you so much for bringing me. Take care getting back."
After parting ways with the two mermaids, I was alone. I still wasn't used to moving my tail, but a distance like this seemed manageable. Remembering the motions I'd watched them make, I swished my tail slowly, and my body glided forward. I drifted off course a few times, but at least I wasn't pirouetting in place like before.
Getting the feel for it bit by bit as I climbed, my face finally broke through the surface.
"Pwah..."
I looked around — the shore wasn't far at all. Wiggling my tail clumsily, I swam toward the beach. Then, once I'd waded in shallow enough that the bottom was nearly under my feet, a strange sensation spread through my lower body.
"Huh?"
I peered down into the water and saw the long line of my tail rapidly reshaping itself. In the blink of an eye, a pair of human legs appeared — and just as promised, my clothes shifted into a swimsuit.
I emerged from the water and slowly pushed myself upright on the sand.
"......"
Now that I was actually out of the water, it didn't feel real. I stood there blankly for a while before snapping out of it and carefully taking a few experimental steps.
Thankfully, walking was no problem at all.
First things first — find Yoo Seongwoon.
Scanning my surroundings, I saw plenty of people still lingering on the beach. I wove quickly through the crowd, searching every face for Yoo Seongwoon.
Before long, I spotted him standing and gazing out at the sea. He'd already changed into his regular clothes, all his gear packed and ready to go.
"Found him."
The moment I laid eyes on him, I sprinted straight over.
"Hey, Yoo Seongwoon."
At my voice, he turned his head. Our eyes met, but he only studied me for a moment before turning his gaze back to the sea.
Right. Childhood friend or not, there was no way he'd recognize me as Park Doyoon when I looked like this.
I gripped his shoulder and tried again.
"Seongwoon, let's talk for a minute."
"Sorry, but I'm kind of busy right now."
Even after I called his name, this guy apparently hadn't noticed anything strange.
"It'll only take a second."
"I'm looking for someone. My friend's been missing since he fell in the water."
Yoo Seongwoon's expression turned grave. That friend is me, I wanted to say, but blurting out "I'm Park Doyoon" out of nowhere would only get me written off as a lunatic.
First, I had to get him out of this beach. Only then could we have a proper conversation.
"Yoo Seongwoon, calm down and come with me for now. I know where Park Doyoon is, but it's not something I can really explain here."
At the sound of my own name, Yoo Seongwoon stared at me in surprise. I took his hand and slowly began leading him toward the edge of the beach.