NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46
This time, the mermaids were clearly at fault, and there was no way I could shield them. Unless I were to smack them with a shield, of course. BAM!
But the mermaids also had their grievances.
There was no way to predict that Nina would suggest I dance around the campfire.
After all, they lived underwater, had probably never heard of a campfire, and wouldn’t understand how crucial a partner invitation was.
Once again, it seemed that fate had twisted itself in a strange way.
It meant I couldn’t tell you that you couldn’t be with Nina and simultaneously hand over the pearl I needed to obtain.
In that case, I had no choice but to take decisive action.
“Nina.”
“Professor?”
“I didn’t hear everything you were going to say just now, but I will accept it.”
“Y-yes? B-but you don’t even know what I might ask for!”
“If a student needs something, it should be received positively. Above all, I know for sure you’re not the type to scheme.”
“Thank you…”
Nina turned her gaze away, trying to avoid my eyes.
Her mouth twitched with a smile, unable to contain her joy, but her eyes looked pitifully downcast.
What if I had misunderstood everything?
Maybe the invitation to dance around the campfire was actually her way of hoping I’d refuse.
Only Nina knew the truth, which now tangled my head up in confusion.
“Holy Maiden of Charity, I apologize for interrupting but, have we done something to incur your wrath?”
“You’ve misjudged me. I am not grand enough to deserve the title of Holy Maiden.”
“No! Our father, Shayden, appointed you as the Holy Maiden! This jewel of truth surely indicates your position!”
Even when I showed them the shining stone, it wasn’t an easy explanation for them to accept.
Nina denied being a Holy Maiden, while the mermaids were steadfast in their belief.
Watching them, I suddenly thought about how much influence I had in this situation.
Had I not gone out for a nighttime stroll, Nina wouldn’t have come to the beach at all.
Then by extension, the mermaids would have had no choice but to abandon their plans to take her away.
It dawned on me that even small actions could spark significant changes.
‘So that means I don’t need to react to every twist of fate.’
Adapting to a different story from the original and acting according to the situation.
With a determined mindset, I interjected into the conversation between Nina and the mermaids.
“Wait. Setting aside the matter of the holy maiden, Nina is our student, and I have the responsibility to protect my student.”
“And who are you?”
“My name is Daniel Crawford. I’m the temporary professor in charge of the girl here.”
“I’m sorry, but our mermaid tribe is unfamiliar with human culture. We don’t quite understand what a professor does.”
“To put it simply, you can think of me as a guardian.”
“I see. It’s nice to meet you, Professor Daniel. I am Meridin.”
That name was frequently mentioned in the Underwater Kingdom arc!
I only knew she was a blue-haired mermaid princess, but she actually looked like this!
Her hair had waves, and her eyelashes were quite long too.
Overall, she fit the elegant image of a princess.
“By the way, I heard you were planning to take my student away at this late hour?”
“Yes. Our underwater kingdom is currently in a dire situation.”
“Meridin?! You mustn’t share our situation with anyone other than the Holy Maiden!”
“I have no choice! If this person is the Holy Maiden’s guardian, how can we seek help without revealing the truth?”
Meridin’s character was overflowing with generosity yet had an unexpected assertiveness.
It seemed I needn’t worry about her being a fake urging Nina to leave.
“I apologize for raising my voice. But please understand, this is an urgent situation that can’t be brushed aside.”
“What exactly is going on?”
“I must warn you in advance that it will be a difficult and harsh ordeal.”
Naturally, I knew what crisis had come to the Underwater Kingdom.
A colossal sea monster that had devoured a giant island long ago had awakened.
This monstrous creature, which should have remained asleep for centuries more, had been awakened intentionally.
Now thoroughly angered, the sea monster was headed for the Underwater Kingdom; it was an emergency, no question.
The reason the mermaids sought Nina’s help was that the curse stakes that awakened the monster could only be purified with Nina’s ability.
In other words, Nina’s role was to endure until she could locate and cleanse the stake somewhere on the monster’s body.
A task too harsh for the young girl, yet no one but Nina could do it.
“Professor…”
Nina looked at me hesitantly, unsure of what to do.
Through Meridin’s warnings and expressions, she realized it would be a very serious matter.
In the original story, she’d been abducted outright but decided to help after understanding the situation, but things were different now.
She didn’t know the full story of the mermaids, and I, her guardian, was right beside her.
From Nina’s perspective, she probably wanted me to make the call.
Yet, the protagonist of this world wasn’t me, but her.
Even if she were no longer the protagonist, relying on someone else’s judgment was not a good habit.
What Nina needed now was courage to move forward, not just wise judgment.
I gently placed my hand on her head and patted her reassuringly.
“Act according to your instincts. No matter what situation you face, I’ll always be here to support you.”
“…Yes!”
After a brief moment of daze, Nina nodded.
Determination glimmered in her eyes.
Nina clenched her fist and approached Meridin.
“I will help you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
“Ah, thank you so much! Holy Maiden!”
“However, it’s still hard for me to accept that I’m a Holy Maiden, so please just call me Nina from now on.”
“Understood, Nina!”
“And may I make one more request?”
“Now that you’ve made such a firm resolution, how can I hesitate? I will fulfill any request!”
“Could you permit Professor Daniel to accompany us?”
“Ah…”
A near-sigh slipped from Meridin’s lips.
She’d vowed to agree to anything, but upon hearing that, she found herself in a predicament.
It was understandable enough. Many mermaids scorned the idea of entrusting the kingdom’s future to humans.
Yet even so, they had barely received permission after passionately persuading that she was the Holy Maiden appointed by the goddess, now they would take one more human?
There would be strong backlash from the conservative mermaids, and even if Meridin was a princess, she would undoubtedly face harsh criticism.
“Is it really impossible?”
“…No, it’s fine!”
“Meridin! That absolutely must not be! This was not something previously agreed upon with our king or the elders!”
“Quiet! Just moments ago we made a promise, and if you say you cannot keep it, what happens to our honor? I will bear all the blame for this, so please don’t say anything else.”
But Meridin was not one to yield to such matters.
Being a true princess who loved her kingdom, she was prepared to do whatever it took to avert its destruction.
Nina, sensing Meridin’s sincerity, had wide eyes, so I thought it would have a good influence.
A leader leading a group must possess such spirit.
“With the authority I possess, I will escort both Nina and Daniel to the Underwater Kingdom. Will you please accompany us?”
“That said, we are land creatures and cannot stay underwater for long. What should we do?”
“Worry not about that! I’ve brought treasures that will allow land dwellers to breathe underwater!”
“Though I’m not sure about the mermaids’ sleeping times, it’s nearly bedtime for us. How about we delay the departure?”
“To reach the Underwater Kingdom from here will take quite a long time. We’ll ensure your safety while you both rest.”
“Is that truly okay? Wouldn’t it be a bit inconsiderate?”
“It is fine! After all, I was planning to carry you both!”
Sure enough, the mermaids would swim much faster than we could walk, so Meridin’s judgment was sound.
Once told I could sleep, Nina felt relieved, and her eyes began to soften.
Given that this little incident had consumed quite a bit of time, it was about time for us to feel drowsy.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes, rest easy!”
Meridin commanded a following mermaid to respectfully take Nina away.
The attendant gently scooped Nina into a princess carry and plunged into the ocean.
Now it was my turn, and Meridin flashed me a smile.
I could immediately tell that her smile was an act.
Not that I minded.
“Are you really okay taking along a human of unknown identity?”
“How could we doubt someone who is trusted by the Holy Maiden? Moreover, your attitude in dealing with the Holy Maiden shows that you are certainly a good person.”
“…Well, maybe that’s a bit hasty of a judgment.”
“Really?”
“Since Nina is gone, I’ll just say one thing.”
I prefer to walk a sure path.
The crux of this situation is calming the rampaging sea monster, but the root cause lies elsewhere.
That’s right, it’s right inside the Underwater Kingdom.
Because of them, Nina would be plunged into life-threatening danger.
With Kyle’s help, she might barely survive, but I wasn’t the forgiving type like a crown prince.
“I will extract the tumors as soon as we arrive in the Underwater Kingdom. In the process, countless mermaid blood will undoubtedly cover the kingdom.”
“Eep…!”
I could only guess how Meridin perceived me at this moment.
As I radiated killing intent like I was about to devour every mermaid, perhaps in her eyes, I looked like a monster.
That might make her second-guess taking me with her.
But I didn’t care; even if they didn’t take me, I could make my own way to the Underwater Kingdom.
Once they took Nina, there was no way to avoid purging the corruption within that realm.
“Don’t worry; I won’t kill any innocent mermaids. I’ll only get rid of those who are up to filthy deeds!”
“Y-you black disaster!”
“Are you talking about me? Calling a person a disaster? Especially when my hair isn’t even black…”
This time, I wore a fake smile.
I approached the trembling Meridin and whispered softly into her ear.
“I won’t deny that I’m a disaster for you. After all, once everything’s over, the mermaids will fear me for the rest of their lives.”