Maki and Chiharu frantically searched from the window . Maki had always had good eyes . As for Chiharu, she used to wear contact lenses, but her eyesight had improved upon coming to this world .
“So, what I thought were white waves, was really the sunlight reflecting off of their scales…”
“How many are there… There are more than we saw on the merfolk island . ”
Maki muttered as she turned around and said to no one in particular,
“Is the merfolk kingdom close to Lowland?”
Maybe there were a lot of merfolk near Lowland, just like there were a lot near the island . So, was the merfolk kingdom in-between Lowland and the island? They would have to go there eventually, but they had never learned about its location .
However, everyone traded glances but kept silent . It was no wonder . Because they didn’t know .
“Do you know anything, Aeris and Grudo?”
Edwy finally asked .
“I have heard about it being an island that was near the border of Midland and Lowland . ”
“But I heard it was closer to the elf territories . ”
Grudo and Aeris replied .
“In other words?”
Maki said .
“No one knows . ”
“Then how were we ever supposed to visit it!”
Maki couldn’t help but shout .
“You had plans to go?”
“Amia invited us . We were supposed to go once things settled down . ”
“Maki-chan . ”
Chiharu interrupted her .
“Maybe finding it is the quest!”
“That’s way too hard! We’ve only been in this world for two months! Even the 300-year-old elf and dwarf don’t know!”
Maki put her hands on her head and tousled her hair .
“Also, Chiharu . This involves you just as much as it does me . ”
“Right, sorry!”
Chiharu said . Maki sighed and then asked again .
“Argh . But why would there be so many here if they didn’t live nearby? Is there a merfolk store here too?”
“No . ”
Nyran shook his head .
“Merfolk can be seen here occasionally, as the beach is very beautiful . But I’ve never seen this many gather here before . That’s probably why the birdfolk came to watch . ”
And then Nyran turned to Aeris and said,
“Aeris . After we land at the airport, I would like to stop by the beach before we head to the castle . ”
“I don’t mind . But it would be best to take Maki and Chiharu straight to the castle . ”
“We will lose a lot of time if the merfolk catch the Saintesses . So that is a good idea . ”
“Very well . We will split into two groups . ”
And so Kaider and Nyran would stop by the beach before going to the castle .
The airship flew slowly around the beach and then headed for the port . Then it landed .
They got out one by one . And though airships were in no way unusual, a crowd had gathered around .
“What? Did information about the Saintesses leak? Ah . ”
As Kaider looked around them, he suddenly noticed something .
“What is it, Kaider?”
“Maki . And especially Chiharu . Don’t come out yet!”
“What? But we already did . ”
“Tsk . ”
When the crowd began to open before them, a merman draped in thin cloth walked out towards them .
“Beloved children . ”
“Ah, it’s that young guy we met on the island!”
Chiharu shouted in surprise .
“So you remembered me . ”
“Of course we did . It was only two days ago . ”
Chiharu chuckled . That meant that this young merman swam all of the way here in just two days . But it was not too strange, as they were just as fast as the birdfolk, if not faster . However…
“What happened?”
“I would like to talk by the sea, if that’s possible . ”
Chiharu looked at Maki . Then they said,
“Okay . ”
And they nodded and started to walk towards the sea .
“Maki . Chiharu! Don’t go!”
Kaider shouted .
“It will probably take longer if we don’t go . ”
“Why don’t you come too if you’re so worried?”
After all, they had decided not to go off on their own anymore .
“Tsk . We have no choice . Nyran and I will go then . ”
“No, we will all go . ”
Edwy said .
“There is no point in going to the castle without Nyran . ”
“Th-that’s true . Then we’ll all go . Uh, hey! Maki and Chiharu!”
Maki and Chiharu were walking ahead with the merman .
“Even if they aren’t getting abducted, they are too spontaneous . We have to catch up with them! Let’s go . ”
Why wouldn’t the Saintesses act like normal ladies? Kaider knew he was being unreasonable, but he still felt annoyed as he chased after them .
“It’s the white philosopher . ”
“The royals . ”
“Then who are those girls?”
“The Saintesses . ”
“The Saintesses!”
The voices rang around them as they followed the merman to the beach .
Many merfolk were standing near the rushing waves . A short distance away, Lowland soldiers were watching them with an air of nervousness . A few of them had gone out to talk to the merfolk, but it seemed like they were being ignored .
“That is my father . ”
Nyran muttered .
“His Majesty himself?”
Kaider was surprised . This was highly unusual . The king himself had come out to talk to them .
“So, here is another person who is too spontaneous . ”
“Kaider . My father is much the same . He came all the way to the train station, remember?”
“Unlike Midland, my home and Nyran’s have a lot of people to act as helpers . There is no need for the king to go wandering around . His guards must have a headache . ”
“It’s the same with the Saintesses . It really cannot be helped . ”
While the guards watched, the merman led the Saintesses over to where the Lowland king was standing .
“We have come to meet the Saintesses . We have no business with Lowland . You can return to your castle . ”
He said as he pointed in the direction of the castle . The people around them were more annoyed than the king was .
“How dare you treat the king of this country like that!”
One of the guards said as he stepped forward . But the king stopped him with a hand . Then he looked at Maki and Chiharu, and then glanced toward Kaider and Nyran .
“So, you have nothing to say to Lowland . Very well . We will wait here until you are finished with the Saintesses . ”
The merman looked like he was going to say that that won’t be necessary . But the king continued before he could .
“After all, the Saintesses were originally invited to our castle . ”
So it was you who ruined our plans, the words seemed to say . The merman fell silent and then took Maki and Chiharu towards the waves . Maki and Chiharu bowed to the king and then followed after the merman .
And then, all at once, the merfolk surrounded them . It was hard to believe that they had looked so indifferent a moment ago .
The king sighed and said,
“Nyran . Kaider . It’s been a month since I last saw you two . I feel bad for keeping you so busy . ”
Kaider kept his eyes on Maki and Chiharu as he said,
“I know how it can be when a dungeon is involved . Please don’t worry about it . ”
Nyran nodded .
“Father, will you please tell us what is happening here?”
He asked .
“There is not much to explain . A few hours ago, I heard that a crowd of merfolk had gathered to our beach . I was told that they had business with Lowland, but when I came, they say they do not . But they wouldn’t tell me why they were here either . And so we’ve been in a stalemate . ”
The king said with a sigh .
“I had no idea that they were waiting for the Saintesses . Maybe I should be relieved . I’m too surprised to know what to say . In any case, so they are this generation’s Saintesses . They seem quite normal to me . ”
He said rudely . It was then that Aeris caught up with them and said in an exasperated voice .
“Dark eyes and hair . Short and quiet . The Saintesses were always like that . No more and no less . What were you expecting, Kilian?”
“That’s true . But since they apparently stole my son’s heart, I expected a little more glamour . ”
“They didn’t steal anything . ”
Nyran was annoyed that such rumors had spread .
“And I wouldn’t choose a woman just because she was glamorous . ”
“Oh, so you like Saintesses to be plain . ”
“I didn’t say that . ”
Nyran couldn’t help but answer to the king’s teasing . Still, he kept his eyes on Maki and Chiharu the whole time .
“Still, what are they talking about?”
“Hopefully, it’s an invitation to the merfolk kingdom . ”