Chapter 223: Aha Draws a Mermaid
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "A mermaid! So beautiful! I never thought you'd get to see such a magical and beautiful creature, Kenji ♪"
Elysia admitted she was in love again. The mermaid's tail... it looked like it would feel great to the touch. She really wanted to reach out and stroke it.
[Shadowkhan Queen]: "Now that's a beautiful mermaid. The mermaid I saw was so ugly."
Jade was talking about the Water Demon, Baxa, one of the eight demons. Although she also had a mermaid form, compared to Streaming Light... let's not even talk about strength, her visuals were just completely crushed.
[Monkey D. Kizaru]: "Mermaids... I've seen a few. But not many can compare to the one you saw, Kenji. Perhaps only that mysterious Mermaid Princess could."
As Devil Fruit users, the Admirals rarely went to the deep-sea Fishman Island. If something went wrong, they would be in real danger. In the deep sea, even a non-Devil Fruit user couldn't last for long. For a ability user who becomes helpless upon touching seawater, it was even more troublesome.
[The Champion]: "If we're talking mermaid forms, Primarina counts as one."
Some of the group members' worlds had creatures like mermaids, but they were a far cry from the Streaming Light Mermaid in Kenji's world.
[Galactic Baseballer]: "Why haven't I seen any mermaids here?"
Stelle declared this unfair.
"Boss, have you ever seen a mermaid?" When it came to who understood the universe best, asking Akivili was always the right move. Having trailblazed the vast majority of planets, he had seen many things.
"A mermaid?"
"Is that the creature that's a person on the top half and a fish on the bottom half?"
Akivili thought for a moment. He had some impression of one. But Aha had already started drawing on a piece of paper.
"Haha! Is it this?"
What Aha had drawn... was truly hard to describe in a few words. The top half was a round, bald head like a potato, and the bottom half was a fish head with an open mouth.
Hoshi: Aha, are you doing this on purpose, or was it an accident?
Stelle's mouth twitched. This was a completely different species from the mermaid photo Kenji had posted in the group.
"It's a female."
Just in case Aha didn't know, Stelle added the mermaid's gender.
"A female? Understood. Arranging."
Rustle, rustle...
Aha added to the original manuscript with his pen, adjusting the facial contours and casually arranging some curly hair.
"Is it this?"
Stelle: "..."
Akivili: "..."
Stelle looked at it and was even more speechless. She felt like a clown. What had she been expecting?
Akivili covered his forehead. This is indeed very Aha. This was exactly the kind of thing Aha would do.
"Is this some kind of rare and exotic beast?" March 7th asked, walking over. Seeing Aha's world-shocking masterpiece, she was simply amazed. Unbelievable. Was this a grafting technique?
"A mermaid. Never seen one before, have you?" Aha smiled, as if it were the real thing.
"Huh?"
A question mark appeared above March 7th's head. Am I the one who's wrong, or are you? This thing is a mermaid? Aha, do you think I'm an idiot? Don't destroy my image of mermaids!
"This creature... the train's databank does have a record of it, but it's not a mermaid," Dan Heng frowned. Strange. Could such a magical creature really exist in the universe? The databank should be fine.
Aha's inner thought: Yes. Aha has been to the databank. I can confirm the records are not wrong.
"Aha, stop misleading the children!" Akivili retorted. "And also, what is an Aeon of Elation like you doing hanging around the Path of Trailblaze all the time? Have you abandoned your tavern?"
Aha thought for a moment. Index finger pointing to the sky. World-shaking wisdom—activate! He had an idea.
"The Astral Express has a lot of carriages now. How about I move my tavern onto the Astral Express?"
"That way, Elation and Trailblaze can be a family in the truest sense!"
"NO!!!" xN
Himeko and the others rejected the idea in unison. Just thinking about that situation made them shudder. Coexisting in the same space with an uncontrollable factor like a fun-lover... it would definitely cause them all to have a nervous breakdown and descend into madness. Aha had blown up a train before. Other fun-lovers might want to emulate Aha and look for fun. It was too dangerous.
Most importantly, if all the factions in the universe found out that the Astral Express was pulling a train car full of Masked Fools, no one would be willing to let them trailblaze on their territory.
"Haha, Aha has no face."
Aha seemed to be hit hard, but no one wanted to comfort him. If they really showed any sympathy, they would just become Aha's next source of fun.
"Kenji, is this really okay?"
Atashino watched as Kenji put the mermaid into a fish tank, her mouth twitching uncontrollably. Are you really keeping her as a pet fish?
"No problem. She's like a fish in water."
Kenji thought of the idiom.
Buer blinked. Is that Liyue idiom supposed to be used in this situation?
Himeko's coffee was pretty strong. Having been used to the ingredients of the Final Land, it was Streaming Light's first time drinking it, and she had been put right to sleep.
"These are the Mermaid's Tears. You guys try some." Kenji took out a few of the crystal-clear glass spheres.
Atashino and the others nodded and ate them directly. They were all captivated by the ultimate, exquisite deliciousness.
Umai~~
"My Gourmet Cells have undergone a leap in evolution," Atashino marveled. As expected of a God Ingredient. The taste was impeccable, and the energy it contained was like a concentrated star.
At the level of a God Ingredient, there was actually no need for any extra cooking. Any seasoning would just be gilding the lily, a completely unnecessary step. Unless it was a seasoning that was also a God Ingredient.
"Blub~"
The mermaid in the water opened her red lips slightly, blowing bubbles, and slowly opened her eyes.
What just happened? I think I blacked out.
So bitter~
Although the effect of the coffee was gone, an extremely bitter taste still lingered on her lips and teeth, making her frown.
[What is this?]
The experience of soaking in a fish tank was also very novel for Streaming Light. What a small place. It's not even as big as my home.
"It's your bed. Are you satisfied?" Kenji asked with his arms crossed, smiling.
[I can't move around.]
Splash!
Streaming Light shook her head and shot straight out of the water, splashing water all over the tables and floor of the carriage.
...
Life is hard. Time for the mermaid to work.
As the perpetrator, Streaming Light was now unhappily cleaning the floor with a mop. When had she ever had to do this kind of thing?
Oh well. Forget it. She had finally encountered something interesting. She wasn't in a hurry to return to the Final Land.
"It looks like... she's planning to mooch off us," Atashino said with a helpless smile.
"It's fine. If she gets bored, she'll leave on her own. If she wants to stay, we'll have a native guide for next time," Kenji said, not minding an extra passenger. He hadn't sensed any malice from Streaming Light; she wasn't approaching them with any ulterior motives.
The Final Land... there must be the most delicious ingredient of all there, what could be called the ultimate ingredient.
If they didn't know the route, they would need a somewhat reliable guide.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 250 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter