The only disadvantage is that it’s not a simple substitute for mermaid armor—it’s an entire set of armor and can’t be easily worn or removed alone. Once it’s been equipped, the outer attachments need to be removed by a second party before the entire thing can be taken off. Merman armor—that’s the name of this bizarrely imposing piece of equipment. I’m already sick of it. “I love how you look in it, Ares,” says Amelia with narrowed eyes as I remove the fish-head part of the armor. Next, Rabi chimes in, and I can’t tell if she’s being serious or stirring up shit. “Boss, you won’t have anything to feel embarrassed about in that outfit. If anything, you might get attacked by accident—” Sanya is still laughing. I manage to remove my legs from the bottom half of the merman armor—a painstaking ordeal, thanks in part to the fact that I’m wearing my robe underneath. That said, I should probably be grateful the wearer doesn’t have to be completely naked under it like with the mermaid armor. That would be even more of a hassle. The merman armor is dripping wet and smells like raw fish. The fact that it’s completely airtight is my only savior. The top half of the armor lies in the sand, casting a gaping, vacant gaze my way. “I’m going to go speak with Zolan… Sanya, clean this up, will you?” “Um, boss?! This won’t fit in my bag! Are you telling me to carry it all the way back?” This merman armor is definitely the kind of thing I was looking for: a magic item that allows me to move around in the ocean. But it’s not exactly what I was expecting. —“I was deeply moved by yer passion.” When I requested a male version of the mermaid armor from Zolan, he responded as if he was speaking to one of his own brethren, eyes narrowed. —“Until now, I’ve only made mermaid armor for the ladies to wear. I was happy just havin’ ’em wear my creations. But perhaps I’ve been mistaken all this time.” His voice was filled with emotion. It was all just complete bullshit from a crazy old geezer, but I listened in silence and nodded along. So long as I could get what I wanted, I’d listen to his griping. —“You’re right, Ares Crown. I knew it all along, but I’d never met a man of conviction such as yerself, and so I was mistaken. I was foolin’ myself. Just like ya said…I wanna see ’em, too—the beautiful ladies, wearing my mermaid armor! Under the sea!” Oh shit. This guy’s all mixed up; I’m just not getting through to him. I’d all but given up when Zolan began to scream with delight. “That’s why I changed my mind. As a result, I’ve created this! Ares, spare yourself from throwing away yer dignity! I got just the thing fer you in yer quest to become a mermaid! Please take it now! It’s my ultimate masterpiece, only one of its kind in the entire world—something every young man has been eagerly waiting for… Behold, merman armoooorrr!!” And that’s how I became a merman. Not that I chose this method, but in what world does a priest provide support for the hero dressed as a merman?! The armor covers my entire body, allowing me to protect my identity, but when Toudou looked my way when we were underwater, he seemed like he was face-to-face with a monster. I’m not Rabi, but even I would’ve made the same mistake in Toudou’s shoes. I storm into Zolan’s shop and he greets me with a smile stretching from ear to ear. Somehow, against the odds, Zolan now seems to think of me—in my merman armor—as a fellow pervert who wants to chase after Amelia and the others in their bikinis. Did any of my behavior give him that impression when we spoke? “What’s the matter, Ares? Somethin’ wrong with the merman armor?” “Yeah. The way it looks.” “Heh… Pretty cool, right?” Zolan contorts his lips in a crooked smile. Is this the kind of thing he’s into? I at least wanted it to look a bit more humanlike. However, that’s not the topic at hand today. I do wish he would improve the armor’s appearance as well as the method for putting it on and taking it off, but that’s for a different time. I recall what Toudou looked like during our encounter on the ocean floor. I was some distance away, but he didn’t appear to be struggling. He must have been wearing the mermaid armor. “I’ve seen Toudou underwater. It appears the mermaid armor still functions even with armor worn over it…” I have to make sure, just for the record. Zolan didn’t seem to be lying. In any case, telling us that mermaid armor loses all functionality if worn underneath armor is the top kind of lie that would quickly be exposed. Zolan wouldn’t do something so meaningless. Zolan’s expression is stern. He scowls and crosses his arms, closing his eyes in thought for a few minutes. When he opens them again, the energy that had been filling the room just before has completely dissipated. “…It’s just a theory, but Toudou’s armor’s gotta be custom-made. No one understands the properties of mermaid armor better than I do. There hasn’t been a single example of it working when worn under clothing or armor.” Zolan’s tone is dark, and he sighs deeply. Toudou’s armor, the holy armor Fried, was obtained by a previous Holy Warrior, just like his holy sword Ex. It’s the hardest armor in this world, and only the Holy Warrior can equip it. It is a veritable gift from God. It stands to reason that it has previously unidentified powers. This is a blessing in disguise. I don’t want to see Mermaid Toudou, and if he can wear his armor, that only increases his safety. It’s possible that Toudou decided to wear the mermaid armor because he knew he could equip his armor over the top. However, as I convince myself that this is all probable, Zolan continues in his dark tone. “Ya’ve got every right to be angry, Ares.” “No, as long as I know the reason why, then it’s fine.” “My apologies. Yeh went so far as to disguise yerself as a monster just so ya could get a glimpse of some mermaids… Just dreadful!” “?????” This old fart has truly lost it. I’m not dressed up like a monster to go ogle a bunch of mermaids! Anyway, Toudou having to wear a bikini is the real tragedy here. At least make another suit of merman armor for Toudou…… Can’t the hero be dressed as a merman, too?! “Just…leave it to me! I swear on my life that I, Zolan, magic-item creator, will render that armor useless! We can’t establish a precedent!” Zolan bangs on the counter and lets out a pained howl. Why is he getting so worked up about this of all things? This is perfectly fine. It’s far more convenient if Toudou can wear his armor. I decide to let Zolan’s espousing go. I don’t give a shit, and there’s something else I want to ask. “One more thing—when I had the merman armor on, a group of mermen gathered around…and they were worshipping me…” Back at the inn, Amelia—who was preparing materials to submit to the Church’s headquarters—looks up and asks me, “How did it go?” “As expected…” Merman armor was made to deceive everyone and everything. It will even fool mermen themselves. And Zolan was proud of this. This world is pure madness. It’s certainly a benefit that merman armor allows one to move through the water. However, the side effect of luring monsters toward the wearer is a different story altogether. If that ends up affecting Toudou and his party, it’ll defeat the whole purpose. “Boss, we should be sufficient in terms of protection,” says Rabi, her hood pulled way down over her face, as always. “Judging from the information we’ve gathered in Cloudburst and Sanya’s experience going underwater, there won’t be any seriously tough monsters. The appropriate level to defeat them might be around thirty, at most. The sunken temple is complex, and the ocean’s greatest threats, gigantic monster types, can’t even enter—not without destroying any of the structure itself, that is.” “There is a chance you won’t be able to wear any armor. Are you still confident?” “…I’ve always worn just a single layer of clothing. The same goes for Sanya.” She has a point. Sanya is tough as nails, and if Rabi—who’s supposedly even tougher—comes along, there should be no problems in terms of combat strength. I initially intended to hold down the fort anyway. I ought to prevent any unfortunate accidents. Amelia chimes in, sounding perplexed. “However… Ares, you said those mermen surrounded you—where did they come from, I wonder?” “The ocean’s a big place.” Mermen inhabit every corner of it. You hear stories of them all along the coast, and people hate any aquatic monster that can function on land even for short periods of time. Apparently, mermen form colonies, and if you see one, then that means a hundred are lying in wait, or so they say. “It’s precisely because the ocean is so vast that for them to have swarmed you so quickly on a single test dive sounds…quite rare to me. Ares, you truly are unlucky…” I instantly resent the look of pity that Amelia gives me. Yet, thinking about it, she’s right. Even though I was wearing the merman armor, should they really have converged around me so quickly right after I dived in? Maybe one of their colonies was close by? Well, Toudou was nearby as well, so there’s also a chance that he’s the unlucky one… “……You’re right. Okay, I’ll try going down there again tonight.” “…Huh?! But why…? Are you going to wear that again?” Sheesh—I don’t want to put it on, either. But there’s still time. If there’s a merman colony close by, we should annihilate it straightaway. Best to be on the safe side. Sanya has just returned from doing some additional surveying outside, and when I tell her of my plans, she grins and says, “Huh?! Wait, that sounds like so much fun! I’ll go with you!” “…I doubt there will be any fun involved.” The beach is deserted again. In the pitch darkness, only the scent of the saltwater lingers. If anyone showed up now, we’d have a hell of a time explaining ourselves. Any man caught wandering the beach in a merman costume (well, it’s really closer to armor) would be labeled as a freak. After I equip the merman armor, Amelia looks at me with a different gaze than usual and asks again, “…Ares, do you really intend to go down there?” “I’m just going for a quick dip.” “……You better come right back to this spot! You won’t be able to take it off yourself, so if you don’t come back, you’ll be a merman for life—got it?!” Don’t say something so terrifying! If worse comes to worst, I’ll just destroy this stupid suit. I’m good at destroying things. Probably even more so than fixing things! I swing my mace—Wrath of God—a few times through the air. There’s no way to tell what god is angry right now. To be honest, I don’t even know who I should unleash my wrath on. “In that case, Ares, we’ll be in regular contact while you’re down there.” “Of course.” Sanya is looking at me, full of excitement. Rabi remains silent and turns her cheek, quivering slightly, away from me. She’s smirking, isn’t she?! I enter the water silently; it’s quiet down here. The sky is cloudy tonight, and not even the light of the moon reaches the ocean floor. Nonetheless, it’s teeming with life. I walk through the swaying seaweed and past schools of small fish. Perhaps the ocean floor is home to many nocturnal creatures, because the water is full of them right now. Due to my intimidating appearance, however, none of them look my way, and instead they flee in the opposite direction. The current is strong, and the ocean floor is largely void of landmarks. If I get lost, I might never find my way back. Seriously, I am so glad I sold off Stey when I could. There’s no way I could handle her going rogue down here. With that on my mind, I push off a large boulder and swim around slowly, taking in my surroundings. Nothing in particular seems awry. I roam listlessly along the ocean floor for a while, but I don’t see any mermen. That said, the ocean is immensely vast. It’s probably due to being underwater, but I have trouble sensing any nearby presences. Perhaps earlier was just a coincidence? Just as I waver on whether to call off the dive, I hear a voice coming down from above me. “Ah, there he is! Hey, monster man!” I swing my head around and look up. Sanya is waving at me with a smile. I try to rub my eyes, but the eyes on my suit are on the sides of my head—for decoration only—and my actual eyes are in the suit’s mouth. Nothing doing. Sanya paddles through the water with outstretched arms and legs and swims toward me at a decent clip. Her tail acts as a perfect rudder, veering left and right as she approaches. Not that I care, but she definitely doesn’t look like a mermaid. Following after her, a swarm of mermen runs along the ocean floor, spears in their hands. There’s a ton of them. Is this fun for her? The hell is she doing?! Fascinated, Sanya swims down to me in her perfect doggy paddle. The mermen following behind her notice me and stop dead in their tracks. The ones at the front come to a sudden stop, and all the mermen behind them trip over one another. That’s odd… I told Sanya to stay put, didn’t I? Also, I’m not a “monster man.” Sanya lands in front of me and raises both hands in the air with a smile. Seriously, she looks like she’s having the time of her life. “What are you doing here?” “Boss, you stick out like a sore thumb. You’re super intimidating. Even with dulled senses underwater, I still picked you out instantly. You look like the king of the mermen. But I’d rather you not talk with that thing on—it’s terrifying.” “And what about watching over Amelia, like I asked you to?” “Rabi’s there with her. She’ll be fine.” This chick just does whatever the hell she pleases, doesn’t she? What kind of shitty subordinate directly disobeys commands? The mermen stare at Sanya and me in bewilderment. It turns out I’d seen only a small fraction of their total numbers. The mermen expand their range instantly and surround Sanya and me. There are so many of them. I can’t even feign to begin counting how many. It’s as if the ocean floor itself is wriggling. Only their eyes give off a disgusting glint. “What did you do?!” “…I was just swimming, and they followed me. What can I say? I’m popular.” She’s right that the mermen seem to be interested in her alone. Their emotionless eyes are focused on her limbs. “…Well, mermen are known for kidnapping the females of other species…either to eat or to reproduce with…” They’re a bit like goblins or orcs in nature—if they interbreed with a different species, then whatever offspring they produce will supposedly be even stronger. Personality aside, Sanya’s appearance and abilities are top-notch. For these mermen, she’s a first-rate trophy. “…Ewww. You gotta be kidding me…” Sanya makes a face and crosses her arms to hide her chest, staring at the mermen surrounding us. Anyone would react that way… Suddenly, I have a great idea. “With these numbers…there must be a colony nearby. Maybe if they capture you, they’ll lead us to it?” We’re up against mermen, after all—I can annihilate as many of them as needed. Even if an evolved type or subspecies appears, it’d be a cakewalk for me. Sanya’s bare shoulders shudder in disgust. “……Y’know, boss, there are some things you just shouldn’t say.” “…” As they surround us, the mermen tighten their circle to the maximum. They don’t seem keen to attack. From their perspective, I’m a mysterious, unidentified merman who took some prey they were after. They aren’t attacking me, despite their advantage in number, because of my larger size—or perhaps because they think I’m one of them. With this many mermen in my path, it might be a challenge to obliterate every last one of them. Actually…maybe I can just intimidate them into freezing in their tracks? Yet this overwhelming number almost certainly means that a colony exists—maybe even multiple colonies. I would ideally like to slay them all right here in one fell swoop, but this is absurd… I remain silent, but Sanya is swaying back and forth nervously. She actually seems flustered. “Um, boss, you’re kidding, right? Right? Even if I’m a mercenary, there are certain things you just shouldn’t order people to do!! Do you understand that?!” “…I’m only kidding. I can’t have you filing a complaint with my superiors. I still have a use for you.” “When you say it like that…” In the next moment, a merman one whole size bigger than the rest emerges from the swarm. His arms are thicker than the others’ and he holds a razor-sharp golden trident. An ancient-looking necklace adorns his neck. As with goblins, these types of unintelligent demi-human monsters are defined by their sociality. Typically, a single boss commands the group with authority. They’re always easy to determine if you look closely—a pronounced difference in body size, equipment, and certain facial features. I’d bet this one is the most eminent of the bunch. Even though the leader is a whole size bigger than his cohorts, I’m still taller in my merman costume. The merman leader cries out. I have no idea where the crazed voice is coming from. It could be spoken language, but even though I may look like a merman, I can’t understand it at all. Without a moment’s hesitation, I raise my mace and decimate the merman leader in front of the horde. The merman didn’t even have a chance to wield his magnificent trident before erupting into a cloud of red mist and viscera. “Whoa! Boss, you’re the worst…” “The appropriate level to defeat him was between fifty and fifty-five. He would have been tough, for a merman…” I’m the industrious type. If there’s no specific reason not to, I kill all my enemies as quickly as possible. We’re up against mermen right now, and they’re bound to be more adept at fighting underwater than we are. But that doesn’t matter if you kill them where they stand. Eliminating the boss throws the rest of the group into chaos. As I predicted, the mermen—with their leader now dead—cry out simultaneously. Sanya slides behind me to shield herself—which is pointless, because we’re surrounded on all sides. “This is the first time I’ve ever felt bad for a monster.” “You fight, too!” “What’ll I do if I get hurt?” “I’m a priest, dammit. I can heal your arm, even if it gets ripped off.” As we exchange light banter, I lord over the mermen. Sanya now turns her back to mine, keeping an eye on my rear. The mermen’s cries reach a crescendo. Normal mermen would have already let their rage take over and attacked, but maybe it’s because I’m a merman myself that they don’t even try to come at me. I brandish my mace in their faces, but they don’t seem keen to escape, either. Just what are they thinking…? Countless unfeeling eyes are focused on me, but I can’t see rancor or despair in them. Not that I give a damn about a monster’s feelings, but…maybe this is all part of a strategy? If I can’t eliminate the entire colony, at the very least I want to kill every merman present. Where should I cut through their defenses? As I furrow my brow inside the sweltering costume, the entire horde of mermen lets go of their weapons simultaneously. They all kneel, and some begin to fall prostrate. They aren’t highly poised by any means, nor are they all in formation, but it is unmistakable that they are bowing to me. Their heads are all toward me, defenseless, as they grovel in the sand with both hands on the ocean floor. So even mermen bow down to their leaders… “…Boss, this is amazing! You’ve reduced an unintelligent species to worshipping you…” I sensed an aura of respect from the mermen I encountered last night, too, but they didn’t bow in my presence. This merman armor looks ridiculous…but the effects are incredible. Zolan, that cheeky bastard… He really is a genius, after all. Bow to me all you want—I’m not gonna let a single one of you leave here alive. “Hey, hey, I’ve got a great idea. Boss, what if you gave up the priesthood and became a merman king? There are so many of ’em, I bet you could unify the entire population.” “……I never thought of that.” “Wha—?! Eek!” Sanya cries out, but I pay her no mind, instead whirling around to grab her and hold her up for all the mermen to see with my left arm and brandishing my mace with my right. “RAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!” I let loose a scream with all my might. I can’t make the same noises as an actual merman, so it’s really just for show. However, I think they get my drift. The mermen all look up at me and begin to applaud loudly. Their distorted cheers echo through the water, forming a massive wave that spreads across the ocean. In this moment, I truly have become the merman king. I still have Sanya pinned under my arm, using her as bait, and she stammers, her face twitching. “H-hey, boss… You sure you don’t wanna rethink this? I mean, I’ll still do what you ask of me and all, but…shouldn’t we focus on more humanlike targets? You’ll be sick of eating fish before you know it.” This chick really likes pushing my buttons. Just like Amelia, I can never tell if she’s being serious or sarcastic. The mass of mermen writhes and opens up a path, almost as if the ocean floor has been split in two. I take a step forward, still holding Sanya under my arm. “……You shall be my sacrifice. Heh-heh-heh… Mwa-ha-ha… Silverwolf… You will prove an excellent broodmare in helping the merman race to flourish!!” “Holy crap! Boss, you’re terrifying me!! Boss?! Um, boss?! Have you forgotten that you’re only acting like a merman?! Hey! Your scales are scratching me, and it hurts!! Boss!!” “…Are you sure you’re okay? Ever since you went underwater to test the magic item, you’ve looked really stiff.” “…Mm, I’m okay now. There’s no use worrying about me anyway.” Aria offers a few words of concern, and Toudou nods, her expression dark. It’s been a number of days since her chance encounter with the massive monster under the sea, but she’s still not feeling like herself. It’s not from a sense of fear, however—it’s bewilderment. She’s put her life on the line in battle thus far. She was deathly afraid of the undead, but she overcame it. There is no reason that Toudou should be so frazzled by the slightly powerful enemy she saw. Yet nonetheless…as Aria waits in silence for a response, Toudou continues. It sounds like she’s making excuses. “I mean, I feel like I’ve grown a lot on our journey, too…but I just can’t…see how I’m gonna beat this one.” Their eyes met for only an instant, but the merman’s figure remains freshly ingrained in Toudou’s mind. Ever since, Toudou has gone over in her head how she would fight this creature, but she ends up killed each and every time, at a loss for what to do. Of course, since she fled so quickly from the water, she saw the merman king attacking the other mermen for only an instant. There’s no way to know how accurate her imagined battles against the merman king are. Yet, based on her leveling up and her experience, Toudou’s capacity to gauge difference in strength has grown more precise. It’s highly out of the ordinary for her to remain this out of sorts even after checking that difference multiple times. “Was it really that bad…? Mermen aren’t a particularly strong race. Sure, they’re much larger than we are, but given the time we spent battling in Golem Valley—although brief—they shouldn’t be very tough—” “I dunno how to describe it, but…he just felt different. Maybe he was some kind of demon…” “…But it was unmistakably a merman, right?” “Uh-huh. Definitely a merman.” Toudou nods immediately, and Aria furrows her brow. All demons are superior beings compared with humans, but even the word demon itself indicates a wide range as well. In this current age of the Demon Lord’s menace, the appearance of any sort of powerful demon becomes quickly known far and wide—even among commoners without combat experience, much less Toudou, the Holy Warrior. There can’t be that many possibilities as to who this merman being is. Aria and her clan know a great deal about demons. She’s been taught the names of those that have sided with the Demon Lord, along with their powers and what they look like. There aren’t any merman-like demons among them. “Since we don’t have any information on him, maybe he’s a rogue demon…? That much is possible, but…having said that, the entire ocean has fallen into the Demon Lord’s army’s hands by now.” “Oh yeah… You mentioned a sea demon, right?” Aria nods in response to Toudou. The demon controlling the ocean, Heljarl, is famous for his cunning intellect and brutish personality. Most of all, his power to freely command the various ocean-dwelling monsters that have historically remained out of sight beneath the surface has left humanity landlocked. “Heljarl is really the only sea demon out there… But I’ve heard he’s not a merman.” “Hmm…” That means all that Toudou knows is that a powerful, unidentified demon-like monster now inhabits the coast. Toudou is about to withdraw into thought when Limis, who’s been listening to the conversation all this time, suddenly claps her hands. She sounds exasperated as she changes the subject. “Oh come on, you two! Aria, Nao, you both look so depressed—I realize there’s a powerful monster in our midst, but we should really be focused on forming an elemental spirit covenant, yes?” In the time the party has spent chatting while walking along, they are now drawing near to Cloudburst’s port. Toudou squints against the salty wind. The blue sky is translucent, the water’s surface calm. Aside from how tiny the moored boats are against the massive scale of the port, the peaceful seascape reaches every corner of her vision. The party has come here to check the procedures involved before actually establishing a covenant with a water elemental spirit. Any spirits close to the beach are low ranking, but they can at least use this as a chance to verify the steps leading up to the actual covenant. Toudou is still not herself, and Limis pats her on the back before continuing emphatically. “Besides, the place where you ran into the merman was pretty far from the sunken temple, right? He’s probably back into deeper waters by now, and even if he shows up again, we’ll all be with you next time. We’ll at least be able to distract him and get away. I’m here, and so are Aria and Glacia.” “…Yeah, you’re right.” “I’m concerned as well, but we probably shouldn’t think too hard about it. If he was an operative of the Demon Lord…he wouldn’t have let you, all alone under the sea, escape so easily.” Aria is exactly right. If Toudou was attacked back there, she isn’t confident that she would have been able to escape. That’s how much of a difference in power she felt. It’s because of her experiences thus far that she realized just how strong that merman was. “Heh-heh… Mermen are pretty dumb to begin with, and even if we had to fight him, I’m sure we’d manage, don’t you think?” Limis chuckles and looks at Toudou with her translucent blue eyes. With that, Toudou once again sees the figure of the merman, obliterating his own followers, in her mind’s eye. She has a point… He definitely didn’t seem very smart. Aria and Limis stare at Toudou; even the generally indifferent Glacia is looking at her inquisitively. Finally, Toudou slaps herself on both cheeks and psyches herself up once again. It still doesn’t make any sense, but Toudou’s not the type to remain down in the dumps for long. She can’t keep showing her unease in the face of her companions, either. Toudou feels like a brand-new girl as she takes in a deep breath. “…Okay! No use thinking about it. Limis, explain to me how this covenant stuff works.” Even if defeating the Demon Lord is still far off for the Holy Warrior’s party, they’ll continue to move forward, step-by-step. There’s no doubt about that. “The sea is vast, Amelia. So very vast…” Amelia’s boss likes to say meaningless things from time to time. He might be tired. She responds by slapping her forehead and frowning. Detection magic is difficult to wield, but when it comes to tracking Ares, Amelia’s magic is flawless. She can detect his responses far beyond her normal detection range—even at the bottom of the sea. “This is unreal; there are tons of them. What?! It’s not only mermen. Is this…a temple? Amelia, give me my location.” “…You are approximately fifty kilometers northeast of the sunken temple.” “So this must be a different place. It’s not a temple… What the…?! Why have they settled this close to the shore? It’s ancient. Ruins, maybe? Did they make these half-destroyed ruins their stronghold?” “Ummm… Perhaps you should tone it down a notch? Why are you getting so worked up?” Rabi stands motionless on the beach and watches as Amelia reports to Ares. “I-in any case, Ares, this is beside the point—” “Wait, wait—there’s a school of giant fish. They’re in immaculate formation. Why are there so many? Do mermen have such an intricate social hierarchy? Eliminating every last one of them through brute force will be tough. I’ll have to think hard about this one.” Ares is speaking quietly, but he can’t mask his brimming enthusiasm. And even though he’s on the dangerous ocean floor, he doesn’t sound nervous at all. “I’ll beat them down all at once. But…it will take time. Amelia, I’m temporarily releasing you from your post. Watch after Toudou and his party and report to Creio. And keep in contact with me as usual, too.” “Huh…? But… J-just how do you expect to make your way back to us…?” she responds, completely taken aback—she thought Ares despised the merman armor. “I’m putting Sanya in charge of navigation, since she disobeyed my orders and followed me here.” Amelia hadn’t realize Sanya was gone until Ares had already been underwater for a while. He’s gone soft now that Stey, who disobeys commands without even realizing it, has left. It shouldn’t come as a shock that Sanya, a scout, would be able to disappear without leaving behind a trace. Amelia starts to respond before realizing that the line has been cut from Ares’s end. She sighs deeply and clicks her tongue. “…Tsk. He hung up.” She could call him back, but chances are he’ll just hang up again. Amelia slumps her shoulders and inhales deeply, mumbling, “Look at him, having a real ball down there by himself… So unfair.” The mermaid armor for Rabi and Amelia will be ready soon, but they can’t dive down to follow Toudou just yet—they have no idea what shenanigans he’ll get up to next. And should that happen on their watch, Ares might be disappointed with them. Rabi remains motionless and silent, waiting for Amelia to speak. Unlike Sanya, for better or worse, Rabi keeps still unless commanded otherwise. “Ares will not return for some time. When he does, we’ll be back on schedule to continue supporting Toudou and his party. Until he returns, I will be supervising all activities as his representative. Rabi, please take over lookout duties for Sanya.” “…Understood, boss.” Rabi nods briefly. They can’t afford to just sit around because their leader is at the bottom of the sea.
Chapter 37
28 min read