Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Fairy and the Huntress
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nesneria, or Neri for short.
Reflecting on what this little sea spirit means to me, she'd probably be the first bond of this lifetime.
The one splash of color in my drab orphanage life.
Greece itself was a place where wars raged constantly and incidents were commonplace, making orphans as common as street stones.
Among them, the lucky ones were those picked up as laborers for small farms, while kidnappings and sales into distant slavery happened all too often.
In that environment, being entrusted to a proper Zeus temple marked me as one of the truly fortunate.
For starters, there were three solid meals a day, and I could learn reading and various subjects from priests skilled in theology and mathematics.
Sure, starting all three of my lives in an orphanage had me fed up, but objectively speaking, that's how it was.
However, in ancient Greece where child rights were nonexistent, orphanages had no choice but to be harsh, with an atmosphere so rigid it rivaled the military, leaving no room for the kids to slack off amid their endless work.
Even I wasn't granted solo outings until the priests witnessed Poseidon's gift and Ares temple's miracle.
That gives you an idea of just how strict and suffocating the discipline was.
On top of that, my mental age was worlds apart from the others, so aside from Thalus—that guy who picked fights with me at every turn—I barely talked to anyone. Dealing with them felt like wrangling kids, so I had no real friends.
In that unfamiliar new world, my early years in Greece passed in a haze of orphanage routine, drifting along without much thought.
Then Neri burst into my days like a star in the night sky.
This sea spirit would always appear quietly by my side whenever I wandered out from the orphanage, walking along with me.
When I danced with a spear and wooden sword, she'd toddle after me, mimicking until she tripped over herself and sniffled on the verge of tears.
She lived alongside me like an extra in my story, wandering through a lucid dream.
A white wave suddenly seeping into my vision as I kept a step back, just coasting through life.
That's what Nesneria was to me.
And now, her arms suddenly wrapping around me again, her scent, her perfume.
My already numbed reason and surging emotions froze solid in unison.
"Neri!"
"Kyaaa! Finally, finally we meet again!"
Reunited after so long—or just under two weeks, to be precise—Neri looked almost unrecognizable in that instant.
Gone was the spotless white mini-skirt activewear she always wore.
Her new attire, rippling like the deep blue sea and adorned with a sapphire brooch, blended with her snowy skin to evoke the gentlest of waves, utterly breathtaking.
A tiara of pearls and coral made her silvery lavender hair shimmer even brighter.
And dominating it all were those innocently pure blue eyes, the very picture of a sea fairy.
-Whoosh!
"Wha—?!"
"Hehehe...! We meet again, again..."
Her snow-white arms locked around my back like she'd never let go, her face nuzzling into my chest, sending ripples through her lavender-silver locks.
Her muffled sobs told me just how much she'd missed me, and as I slowly moved to hug her back...
"Hold it! What do you think you're doing?!"
A sharp voice from behind, followed by a strong arm yanking my reaching one away from Neri.
"...Huh?"
"A-Atalanta..."
Startled by the intruder during our long-awaited reunion, Neri lifted her head.
I snapped to my senses at Atalanta's glare, fierce enough to nearly wrench my arm off as she eyed me and Neri.
"You, you...!"
Her face flushed red as a setting sun sinking into the sea, Atalanta trembled while glaring between us.
Those crimson eyes burned with shock, sorrow, and jealousy.
'...Oh boy.'
I inwardly sighed at her eyes brimming with overflowing grief.
Atalanta had shown feelings beyond fondness toward me, likely from our recent heart world ordeal.
Looking back at these newfound human emotions, I harbored something more than fondness for her too.
That's why I'd let the reins slip, planning to cap off the day with a sunset beach stroll—the ultimate drama cliché date.
She'd been overjoyed, the mood perfect.
But to her, this was a third wheel crashing the scene.
So, I figured I'd pry Neri off first and make introductions...
"Who are you?! How dare you barge in here?!"
"Me? Nesneria. And you, why are you butting in?!"
"I didn't ask your name!"
Caught between two beautiful girls snarling at each other with fire in their eyes, even I shrank back.
How to handle this...
I gathered my wits to speak up just then.
-Whoosh!
"Wha?!"
"Kyaa!"
"Whoa!"
A massive wave crashed in without warning, sweeping up our tangled trio and hurling us far out.
"Guh! Ptoo!?"
"Cough cough! Di-Dianes?!"
"Wah? Huh? Wha?!"
The salty seawater flooded eyes, nose, and mouth in an instant, soaking us head to toe.
Yet amid the chaos, fearing the wave might carry them off, I pulled them both into my arms.
We tumbled a couple rolls along the sand with the retreating tide.
-Splash...
As the wave receded, we three finally blinked our eyes open.
"Phew! What a sudden big wave!"
Well, precisely speaking, only I and Atalanta were dazed.
Neri might act bold and innocent, but she's a full-fledged Nereid.
Nymph or not, with sea god parents, she could stay dry as a bone unless she allowed otherwise.
Tumbling from my arms in the wave's bounce, yet clutching the hand I'd grabbed like a doll in both arms, Neri popped up beaming brightly.
"Haha... Yeah, tell me about it... Huh?!"
As I tried to rise following her lead...
Something soft and warm pressed against my face.
"Wh.. huh? What?"
"H-Hey, hold on?!"
Warm, soft, subtly springy tan skin texture.
Smooth contours of faint muscles without a single blemish, down to the cute little navel in the center.
Only then, tracing my gaze up, did the full situation sink in.
Atalanta's loose tunic had hiked up to her belly, and fearing I'd slip away in the waves, she'd instinctively cradled my head in both hands while locking her legs around my chest.
"Cough cough! Dianes!? You okay?"
"Uh... well..."
Spitting water and coming to, Atalanta grabbed my face in her arms, checking me over frantically.
The problem was, to any onlooker, both she and I looked utterly compromising.
"Get off!"
"Kyaa! What the—?!"
Neri launched herself at Atalanta, shoving her away, but Atalanta dodged the surprise attack with agile reflexes, letting out a yelp.
"Eek!"
"Hmph...!"
In a flash, the sea nymph and Artemis's huntress faced off with me in between.
Trapped between two beauties seething with fierce hostility, I could only sigh repeatedly.
"Hey, girls?"
"Dianes! She's bullying me!"
"What the—?!"
Like old times fleeing her mischievous sisters' pranks into my arms, Neri teared up and lunged, but Atalanta wouldn't stand for it and swatted her away.
Or tried to.
"Hya!"
"Huh?"
Grabbing Atalanta's outstretched arm, Neri twisted it flawlessly, upsetting her balance and yanking her in—a textbook joint lock.
As Neri moved to trip the stumbling Atalanta...
-Thud!
Atalanta slammed her foot down, halting her fall and weathering the counterattack.
Evidently caught off guard, Neri's eyes went wide, while Atalanta shot her a savage glare.
"Huh?"
"Hmph! Know your place... Nymphs should stick to singing!"
Snarling low like a wounded leopard, Atalanta twisted her wrist in turn, seizing Neri's arm and yanking her forward.
"Wha— Kyaa—"
"Enough."
Left unchecked, Atalanta looked ready to slam Neri into the dirt.
I wedged between their murderous intents, prying their hands apart by force.
"Let go! Dianes!"
"Why stop us!?"
"Hey, girls? Calm down first..."
"Who is she to keep you from hugging you?!"
"Dianes, explain properly. What did this nymph just say?"
....What now?