If we add Princess Grey, who has been coming and going from the Wan Jin Chamber of Commerce branch here from time to time in the past few days, it can be said that the three heirs who occupy most of the Mermaid Port market have been gathered together.
It sounds like a sign that something big is about to happen.
I'm not sure if it's related to the market or technological development.
Putting aside my wild thoughts, I first greeted him and then explained, "It's a little embarrassing to say, but I'm actually quite afraid of water."
"How can a resident of Mermaid Harbor be afraid of water?"
Swift's face clearly showed disbelief. He moved closer to the small boat, turned around and sat down on the gunwale, letting the swaying motion cause the water to rise over his calves.
It was a little awkward, but his agreement was also true.
As residents of Mermaid Harbor, the children who have spent their childhood playing on the waterfront are naturally good swimmers. There was even a thrilling story of a twelve-year-old boy battling the high tide for three days and three nights before successfully returning to shore. This incident made all passersby who heard about it feel both amazed and exasperated, and they couldn't help but sigh that the stereotype had been reinforced.
But I am an exception.
Perhaps because I was often sick as a child, I rarely spent time on the riverbank. On one occasion when I did go, a strong wind whipped up waves, and I swallowed a mouthful of seawater, let alone went into the sea to play. Thanks to this experience, I often walked around the coast afterward, and only stood in the square to look out for a while during the mermaid festival.
Fortunately, after entering the academy, I overcame my slight fear of water, but that only meant I could stand in water up to my waist; I still avoided anything deeper.
"Besides, didn't Yuel say you're a mage? If walking underwater is something you should be able to do easily, right? Why are you afraid of water?"
Swift continued to press on, while Hikari, who was standing to the side, seemed to remember playing with me at the beach before. She looked up from the iced juice she was holding and tilted her head, giving me a questioning look.
I couldn't frankly express my fear to outsiders, but I didn't really want to deal with their nagging too much, so I could only say half-truthfully, "Because I was once submerged in water, and that feeling still lingers in my body."
Swift looked on with a sudden realization, glanced at the rippling water at her feet, and then turned back to look at him with a hint of infuriating pity in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have asked that."
But he still let go of me: "Anyway, I hope you have a nice day."
As Swift spoke, she waved her hand, then deftly leaped into the sea, carrying the cleaving waves, and swiftly returned to the small boat with white sails.
Relieved, she turned her gaze back, just about to explain to Hikari alone, when she saw the naive little fool uncontrollably bursting into tears: "So, it was all to take care of me that Mr. Yumi, who has bad memories of water, chose to go to the beach? I thought he was having a lot of fun. How ignorant I was..."
I have absolutely no idea what's going on in this little idiot's head. Should I have an axe or pliers in hand to open it up and fix it for her?
With a sigh, I tried to offer another reason, one that I wasn't sure if it was even comforting: "Have you heard the story of the Lady of the Lake?"
The sobbing stopped for a moment: "...Legend has it that if you throw an iron axe into the lake and pass the goddess's test of integrity, you can obtain two other axes, one gold and one silver, along with it."
I nodded; at least this story from before the kingdom was quite well-known: "But think about it, you can get a golden and silver axe that doesn't belong to you just by throwing an iron axe into the water. But what will a person get in the goddess's test if they fall into the water?"
Hikari looked confused and hesitated for a moment: "...Silver people and gold people?"
I shrugged, not directly answering the question that was too radical for a child, and instead offered another perspective: "Imagine you are the being known as the Goddess of the Lake, and your daily activities usually take place near the lake. One day, while you are resting, you suddenly notice an axe falling from above the lake and landing right near you—let's assume it's nearby."
"So at this moment, what would you be feeling, and what would you want to do?"
"Is this a test of integrity for the reckless fool who dropped the axe, or will he make a different choice?"
Hikari pondered for a long time before giving her answer this time.
Of course, I wasn't in a hurry. I simply tried to separate a wisp of magic and manipulate the thread to connect the floating water vapor together, condensing it into a transparent blue ball that floated in my palm. For someone like me who prefers to use powerful lightning and fire, this was a little troublesome, but not difficult; it just required a bit more effort.
As for the question I just posed to Hikari, I naturally have a clear answer in mind. Given Hikari's mild-mannered nature, perhaps she will ultimately choose to let that impudent person off the hook? In any case, this doesn't deviate too much from the conclusion I had prepared later.
However, Hikari's answer was slightly unexpected.
The girl, her face still streaked with tears, looked up with a serious expression and answered the question in a light voice: "I was startled, and I felt scared and angry because of it. But I won't vent my anger on that reckless person. Instead, I will make him realize his mistake so that he will be careful not to make the same mistake again."
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