Chapter 329: Fish and Dog Contend, The Dragon Princess's Continuing Tragedy
If Velas's Song was like the clarity of a mountain spring, like the purity of a Gentle Breeze, representing the Soul of the Plains, and Alice's Song was the awe-inspiring mercy and sacredness that symbolized the Saintess's noble purity, then the Voice I was hearing now was yet another Realm—melodious, delicate, gentle, just like a Mother's lullaby softly whispering in my ear, reaching deep into the Soul.
Could it be...
I abruptly sat up, not forgetting to kick the Dead Dog, who was sleeping soundly, off me. Seemingly hearing the Movement/Activity here, the Song abruptly stopped, and then a "plop" sound came, likely the owner of the Song jumping into the water.
Did she leave? What a shame, I still wanted to see what a Mermaid looked like!
I took a few Leaps to the Boulder where the Voice had come from, but unfortunately, I only saw ripples spreading across the Calm water below. I wanted to jump down and see if I could catch a glimpse of the Mermaid's beauty, but hey, don't you all find it strange? Why can people float on water? It's impossible, right? Like me, jumping down and sinking straight like a Stone is the most normal thing, isn't it? Physical science and all that is just a superstition invented by scientists to trick everyone into jumping into the water and drowning to solve the Population problem.
I stood there Dumbfounded for a long time, until the ripples had long since become Calm. Looking at the empty sea surface, I shook my Head, preparing to go back to the Old Woodcutter's Home for a meal. Just then, relying on my sharp Intuition, I discovered something was Scrying me from behind.
I spun my Head around abruptly. Within my Line of Sight, there was nothing. It was still the unchanging Boulder and sea surface, and the Feeling of being Scried upon immediately vanished.
I turned my Head back, and the Feeling of being Scried upon reappeared. I took a deep breath and counted to three. Then I turned my Head back again. Just like the first time, I found nothing, and the Feeling of being Scried upon immediately vanished again.
What a vigilant Little Guy.
I sighed inwardly, turned my Head back, counted to three, then turned my Head back again, counted to three. I turned my Head back again, repeating this constantly. The owner of the Line of Sight seemed to have gotten used to this rhythm. When I turned my Head back, they cast their Line of Sight over, and the moment I turned my Head away, they retracted it.
I repeated this n times. When I felt my neck starting to ache and go numb from the frequent turning, I turned my Head back for the last time and counted to three. But I didn't turn back again.
A small Brain, like a vigilant little bird, slowly peeked out from beside a Boulder behind me. Its Gaze suddenly met mine, and its large Golden-yellow Eyes blinked and blinked. It froze, as if saying: Why aren't you turning your Head back?
We stared at each other, big Eyes against small Eyes, for a while. I finally came back to my senses and instantly understood one reason—why no one coveted the Mermaid's beauty. Why stories of Mermaids and princes could only appear in Novels.
Are Mermaids not beautiful? No, that's not it. If the Mermaid before me, whose face was beautiful to the extreme, could only be considered above average in Appearance among the Merfolk Race, then I'm certain that if there were any beauty rankings in Sanctuary, the top spots would all be taken by the Merfolk Race. Even the Elf Race, famous for their beauty, could only sigh in resignation.
Is it because the Mermaid's lower Body is a Fish Tail? Probably not. I think if all Mermaids were as outstanding as the one before me, many people wouldn't mind their Fish Tail. Moreover, it is said that adult Mermaids have the Ability to transform into a human Stance.
The real reason, this Little Mermaid has already told me the answer—a slightly smaller Beauty is cute, and a Beauty several sizes smaller might also be deeply loved by certain specific groups of people, but who would be interested in a Beauty dozens of sizes smaller, you Bastard!!!
This Mermaid before me, if I were to guess her size based on the Brain she revealed, her Height would be at most as long as a normal person's arm. At this moment, those watery Golden-yellow Eyes were timidly meeting my Gaze, but she didn't run away.
Uh. Forget it. Anyway, I wasn't originally coveting the Mermaid's beauty; I just wanted to see one. Whether she's big or small doesn't matter, I guess. But seeing this super mini-sized little beauty for the first time really broadened my horizons.
Let's see if I can try to Approach her. Thinking this, I showed a Smile and tried to Approach the Little Mermaid gently. She seemed to sense my intention. The Little Mermaid's Brain shrank back a little, but she didn't run away. Instead, she watched me Approach with timid and curious Vision/Insight.
What? Mermaids are too naive, letting strangers Approach? If you think that, you're completely wrong. Although Mermaids are naive, their Intuition is very sharp. They can clearly distinguish the other party's intentions. It must be because I only had the Idea/Thought of taking a look and didn't reveal any greed towards her that she could cautiously allow me to Approach.
Finally, I was less than a meter's Distance from the Mermaid. I bent down and carefully leaned closer to examine the Mermaid—what a Beauty she was! Sea blue Long Hair, a face so beautiful I couldn't describe it with words. Even though she was so small, I could clearly see her exquisite Features arranged on her face according to the most perfect proportions. She had a pair of large Golden-yellow Eyes, revealing a noble Aura within their cuteness.
Seeing that I was just carefully examining her and had no Malice/Ill Will, the Little Mermaid's Guts seemed to grow bolder. She slowly revealed the back of her Brain from behind the Stone. Just as described in Novels, her fair and slender Upper Body had only her Chest covered by two beautifully shaped shells. Her Skin, delicate and smooth like a baby's, was completely exposed within my Line of Sight.
And when she slowly revealed her lower Body, the Light of the Sunset shining on her lower Body reflected a dazzling Golden-yellow Glow that made me squint my Eyes, and then I was Dumbfounded.
A Golden-yellow Fish Tail!
Oh my God, I'm not dreaming, am I? Just meeting a Mermaid was already a huge blessing, but now I've encountered the Monarch of the Mermaid Race, a Golden Mermaid—if Mermaids are Rare, then Golden Mermaids are even rarer among Mermaids. There are probably only two or three in the entire Mermaid Race, truly deserving of the title Mermaid King. Now, I am fortunate enough to witness one. Even dying immediately would be worth it.
Of course, that last sentence was just talk.
The Little Mermaid pattered out, her Fish Tail shimmering with brilliant Golden under the Light. Looking closely, the scales on it were extremely tiny. Even at such a close Distance, I could only see densely distributed small dots. The exquisite and gorgeous Tail looked like a magnificent Golden dress wrapping around the Mermaid's legs.
"Come here, Little Guy." Seeing the Little Mermaid gently approach, I friendly extended a Large Hand towards her.
The Little Mermaid seemed quite curious about me. Perhaps I was the first human she had ever seen. Looking at my outstretched palm, she hesitated for a moment before touching it with her slender little hand, which was only as thick as my Thumb. Instantly, a cold sensation came from where we touched.
After a tentative touch, the Little Mermaid seemed to know that this Large Hand was harmless (?). So she grew bolder, extending her other hand as well. Her two cold little hands touched and felt around on my palm, looking exactly like a curious baby. Finally, she pressed down hard on my palm with both hands, and I felt it sink. Seemingly finding it very stable, she flicked her Tail and actually jumped onto my palm.
She really is a friendly Little Mermaid. Looking at the Little Mermaid Princess standing curiously on my palm, wagging her Tail and smiling shyly and brightly at me, I was quite speechless.
"Little Guy, can you understand me?" I extended my other hand and affectionately touched her cheek with a finger.
She nodded, letting out melodious and moving "Eeyah~ Eeyah~" calls.
She can understand me, but can't speak herself? Probably. When she was singing just now, she was just humming a Melody. Okay, I get it. I didn't expect the Mermaid Race to also popularize the Dark Common Tongue. I was worried we wouldn't be able to have Communication.
"Little Guy, are you here alone? Where are your other kin?" I lifted her up and placed her In Front of me.
"Eeyah~ Eeyah~"
She nodded, then shook her Head.
"You're alone, without other kin."
She nodded desperately.
"Then why are you alone?" Logically speaking. A Champion like her. Should have Mermaids guarding her, right?
Hearing this, the Little Mermaid shrank her Brain. She showed a timid Gaze, yet couldn't hide a hint of mischievousness and smugness.
Uh, that Expression, could it be...
"Did you sneak out by yourself?" I asked tentatively.
She indeed nodded shyly.
"..."
If her guards happened to arrive right now, they wouldn't take me for a kidnapper and carry out Humanitarian Destruction, would they? Mermaids can become Overlords of the Ocean, and the Combat Power of male Mermaids is absolutely not to be underestimated.
"Then you should go back quickly, lest your Family worry."
Looking at the darkening sky, it was getting late. I had also seen the legendary Mermaid, even a Golden Mermaid, which was enough to make me laugh heartily three times. It was better to quickly let her go back. I had no interest in exchanging blows with Mermaid guards.
Ah, what a good person. I heard my Father say that Humans are greedy Creatures, but this kind person before me had no intention of harming me at all. Could this be the will of the heavens?
Just as I was about to put the Little Mermaid into the water, she suddenly tugged at my sleeve, looking like she didn't want to leave.
"..."
Little Guy, do you really want to see me play real-life PvP with your guards?
"Your guards will find you soon, right?"
The Little Mermaid shook her Head and exaggeratedly indicated a length with her little hand.
"You mean you've gone very far, and they won't be able to find you."
Nodding.
What a bold way to run away from Home. A drop of Cold Sweat appeared on my forehead.
"You want to follow me?"
Nodding again.
"But you can't leave the water, can you? I have nowhere to keep you."
The Little Mermaid tilted her Brain and thought for a moment. She jumped off my hand with a splash, sinking into the water. After a while, the surface of the water stirred, and with a splash, she emerged from the water, dragging a Glass Tank several times larger than herself with both hands.
It seems she's truly determined to run away from Home. She even prepared a Residence for outdoor travel. Looking at the Glass Tank before me, large enough to hold the Little Mermaid, I was truly speechless.
The Little Mermaid dragged the Glass Tank onto the Beach, chose some fine sand to spread on the bottom of the tank, then took out a few small Coral Stones from who knows where to decorate it, and finally poured two-thirds of the water into it. Then she jumped into the tank with a splash and played inside for a while with great Excitement. Afterward, she surfaced her Upper Body, resting her two little hands on the Edge/Rim of the Fish Tank (?). Like a Small Animal abandoned in a cardboard box by the roadside, she looked at me with watery Eyes, as if saying: Take me Home, take me Home.
"Uh... Still no. There are many bad people outside, I can't give you Protection."
Hardening my heart and ignoring the Little Mermaid's Dejected Gaze, I shook my Head and said, "Just because I don't want you doesn't mean others don't. Especially a Golden Mermaid. I don't want to be targeted by those guys."
"It's okay. Leave it to This Saintess."
A proud Voice came from beside me. Turning my Head, I saw it was the Little Ghost, who had woken up at some point.
"What Method do you have?"
"Heh heh~~"
The Little Ghost picked up the Fish Tank containing the Little Mermaid. With a whoosh, the entire Fish Tank actually drilled into the Necklace.
After a while. The Little Ghost came out holding the Fish Tank, looking proudly at me, who was Dumbfounded.
"The Necklace can actually hold living things?" I widened my Eyes.
"What do you mean by that? Am I not alive?" The Little Guy immediately puffed out her cheeks.
Uh... In a certain Meaning. Not really.
However, this was great News! In the future, when going on Trials with Velas and the others, if we encountered any Danger, I could let them hide inside the Necklace. I could even hide inside myself.
"That won't work." The Little Ghost quickly shattered my beautiful dream.
"The Space for survival inside the Necklace is maintained by my Strength. It can Reluctantly/Barely fit this Little Mermaid, but fitting a Living Person? I can't do that right now."
I see. But when the Little Ghost's Ability becomes stronger in the future, won't it be possible? I found some comfort in this. I looked at the Little Mermaid, who was bewildered and at a loss, then looked at the Little Ghost, and gently leaned towards her ear.
"You Little Squirt, why are you suddenly so kind as to take in a Mermaid?" I know that this Little Ghost never cares about anything other than me.
"Because, Xiao Fan. Don't you think the lullaby this Mermaid sings is absolutely amazing?" A hint of the unique smirk of a kidnapper flashed in the Little Ghost's large silver Eyes.
So that's it, I understand now. A Ghost who likes to sleep + a Mermaid who is good at singing lullabies is indeed a wonderful combination. Of course, all the benefits go to the former.
"Since that's the case, do as you please."
I affectionately stroked the Little Ghost's beautiful hair. She had been with me for so long and had never made any Request of me. Now that she had made such a Request, I had to satisfy her no matter what.
"Yay~~ Xiao Fan, thank you."
The Little Ghost hugged the Fish Tank, kissed me on the cheek with Excitement, and cheered. The Mermaid beside her seemed to know she had been taken in and also cheered along with the Little Ghost. Looking at them like this, the two of them were quite in sync, except one was cunning and the other was pure. The Little Mermaid was destined to be completely dominated by the Little Ghost.
"Oh right, I still don't know your Name, Little Guy. Do you have a Name?" Before heading back, I suddenly remembered I didn't know her Name yet.
The Little Mermaid made some "Eeyah Eeyah" sounds. Seemingly realizing she couldn't explain herself that way, she couldn't help but jump out of the Fish Tank, flicking her smooth Golden Tail, and wrote a few words on the Beach with her little hand.
Eriya.
"Eriya? Then can I call you Xiao Ya from now on? My Name is Wu Fan."
I gently poked Eriya's cheek with my pinky finger. She seemed to really like me treating her so affectionately. She couldn't help but grab my finger and play tug-of-war with it.
Actually, I've always been a little curious about the two shells on her Chest. Of course, I didn't have any lewd thoughts, just pure Academia research—these two shells weren't bound by anything, so how did they stick so tightly to the Little Mermaid's Chest? It's not like they were bandages. Because I was so curious, I even had the urge to create an "accident" to see how firmly these two shells were attached.
"My Name is Alice. You can call me Saintess, or Her Majesty the Queen, I don't mind." The Little Ghost leaned over and said proudly. It seemed she was determined to make the Little Mermaid work like a dog.
"Eeyah~ Eeyah~~"
Eriya gave the Little Ghost a brilliant Smile and nodded. Hey, hey, I say, Little Ghost, seeing such an innocent Smile, don't you feel guilty? Don't you feel Sin?
And so, our Team gained a Little Mermaid. Although I don't know how long we can stay together, because the entire Twin Seas is the Territory of the Mermaid Race, and we are currently in their Territory. I had a Feeling that the Mermaid guards could show up at any moment.
In the evening, after eating the Wild Game prepared by the Old Woodcutter, I suddenly thought, what should the Little Mermaid eat? What does a Little Mermaid usually eat in the sea? Meat? Doesn't seem likely. Vegetarian? Does she eat seaweed? That also doesn't seem to fit her Status. Thinking about it, I could only think of one Food that might be suitable for her—Fruit. Whether vegetarian or meat-eating, she shouldn't reject Fruit, right?
Under the cover of night, I went down the mountain to the Market at the Dock. After much effort, I managed to buy some Fruit from a Merchant. When I ran back, I discovered a rather interesting Scene.
The Dead Dog and the Little Mermaid were fighting.
Look. The Fish Tank was placed on the table. The Dead Dog climbed up, resting one front paw on the Edge/Rim of the Fish Tank, and constantly reaching the other front paw inside to stir things up. Just like a greedy cat about to steal Fish from a Fish Tank.
The Little Mermaid was not a Fish to be slaughtered. After discovering the Dead Dog's intention, she pulled out a Golden Trident from who knows where—to be Accurate, its size was more like a dining fork. The Little Mermaid surfaced, gripping the Golden Trident tightly with both hands, constantly fighting against the Dog's Claws that were trying to touch her.
"What's going on?"
I glanced at the Little Ghost who had stayed behind. She explained what happened with a wide smile.
It turned out. Ever since the Dead Dog discovered there was another Mermaid in the Team, she seemed to want to establish her Leader (?) Status in the Team. So, while a certain person was away, she initiated an in-depth conversation with the Little Mermaid. As a result, they spoke different languages. The Dead Dog went "Ga-oh ga-oh," and the Little Mermaid went "Eeyah eeyah." It was like talking to a chicken and a duck; they couldn't understand each other at all. In Helplessness. The Dead Dog chose to use force to prove her Status. And so, a Golden Pekingese Dog and a Golden Mermaid started fighting like this.
Leona: We of the Dragon Race speak with Strength/Power, hmph hmph. You Little Mermaid, obediently make your Submission at The Princess's feet.
Tsk, I said, how could a gentle Little Mermaid possibly fight with others? It turns out it's this Dead Dog, proud to death, causing trouble again. Looking at the Dead Dog standing on her hind legs, with one front paw resting on the Fish Tank and the other waving vigorously, I let out a Cold Snort, crossed my arms, and prepared to watch a Good Show.
What, you ask why I'm not going to Help/Assist the bullied Little Mermaid? A Pekingese Dog is several sizes larger than a Little Mermaid. Isn't the Little Mermaid very pitiful like this?
Let me tell you, there's absolutely no need.
Do you still remember the Scene when I first met the Little Mermaid, when she stroked my hand with her little hand and then pressed down hard on it? I remember saying that my hand "felt a sink" at the time, right? With the Strength that can make a Strength-type Druid "feel a sink," do you think the Little Mermaid is really as weak as she appears?
As expected, before the meaningful smile at the Corner of the mouth could fade, the Little Mermaid, who was continuously subjected to the Dead Dog's Harassment, couldn't help it anymore, no matter how gentle her temper was. She let out two "Eeyah Eeyah" cries, suddenly let go of the Golden Trident in her hand, freeing up her seemingly fragile little hands, and grabbed the Dead Dog's front Claw that was constantly Harassing her.
"Ga—oh——"
Leona, still unaware of her impending doom, saw that the other party actually "overestimated herself" and dared to resist her. She couldn't help but let out a happy cry. She was just about to lift the opponent up and let this ignorant Mermaid witness the Dragon Princess's Strength/Power, to see clearly who was the boss here.
The next moment, Leona found that her hind legs were off the ground, and her Body was floating up. She looked blankly at the Little Mermaid, discovering that the entire Act seemed to be spinning rapidly around the other party.
What was going on? The unexpected turn of events happened too suddenly; she still didn't quite understand.
Haha~~
I, who was watching clearly from the side, burst out laughing. The Little Mermaid, weak in Appearance but incredibly fierce in Strength, actually grabbed the Dead Dog's front limb and swung her entirely into Mid-air, then started spinning her rapidly. At the current spinning Speed, if the Little Mermaid were to let go, the Dead Dog would fly out of the House at least.
However, the Little Mermaid was ultimately kind-hearted. After spinning her for a moment, she threw the Dead Dog forcefully upwards, using this to counteract a lot of the Strength. But even so, the Dead Dog was still thrown onto the Roof, hitting the ceiling, and then fell down like a pile of mud, right into my waiting hand.