Chapter 20

They were fumbling and adjusting the equipment at a slow pace.

'Just how stupid is Karon to be stuttering here like this?'

I turned my head after looking at Karon, who had been living in fear and not even daring to speak to me since that day.

Has my life ever been this smooth?

I might be abnormal for feeling uneasy, but I couldn't help it.

'What a tragic life I've had!'

Of course, I know I shouldn't think like this at just three years old.

My life, which had been going so well until then, was completely ruined by the protagonist's scheme, wasn't it!

This experience gave me a warning.

'No matter how smoothly life seems to be going, one variable can ruin everything!'

While I was breathing heavily, a cheerful voice came to my ears.

"Master Gongnyo, are you done? I'm done too!"

"I'm done too!"

"......I wonder if it's your hobby to always speak in sets?"

"Ah, Ruga is imitating me!"

"No, Ruba is imitating me!"

"Okay, okay. It's a hobby. I respect it."

I nodded casually and patted Ruga's head.

Then Ruba insisted that he should be patted too, so I did the same.

"Master Gongnyo! If the teacher is done, we can play with blocks! Do you want to play blocks?"

"No, this body doesn't play such childish games."

I politely declined Ruba's request.

Then, not only the twins who were about to hand me the blocks but also the other children who were focused on their activities ran over, their eyes sparkling.

...What is this?

"Wow, that's so cool."

"Our dad uses that tone."

"I use it too!"

I shook my head gently.

"You can use it when you're a bit older. There's a proper way to speak for your age."

"Okay!"

"Okay!"

The children who had gathered nodded enthusiastically.

I dismissed the children.

It's bothering me. Go away. Shoo!

Unfortunately, the only ones left were the twins.

"Master Gongnyo, my mom really wants to see you."

"Really? Thank you, but I can't meet just anyone."

"Ah, but she really wants to greet you!"

"Really!"

Squawk, squawk. They chattered like chicks, making it hard to ignore, so I turned my head.

"What kind of greeting?"

"A thank you!"

"Thanks to Master Gongnyo, we don't get hit by Karon anymore!"

"He doesn't kick us either!"

My expression became subtle.

I was reminded that these children had been bullied.

Of course, I knew that compared to ordinary human children on Earth, these whale children were much tougher, but I still felt a bit sad.

"......Did you get hit a lot?"

"We and Niro got hit the most."

"Got hit. Right away."

Niro was the name of the ghost whale child in this class.

I moved my head from side to side and stretched my hands.

"Want me to give him one more hit now?"

"Wow, really?"

"Wow!"

"Yes. If we do it secretly, it might be possible once."

Thinking about it, I wondered if one hit would be enough to avenge all the times they were beaten.

And our Beluga twins looked very pleased with this idea, their eyes sparkling.

"Master Gongnyo, we'll be loyal!"

"We'll be loyal!"

"What, loyalty too?"

Right now, your loyalty is useless to me. Maybe when you're older.

I waved my hand, telling them to go, but the twins didn't budge.

These leech sharks!

"Master Gongnyo, aren't you tired? Our house is rich!"

"Yes. Our dad is richer."

"Master Gongnyo, we have lots of delicious food at our house!"

"Yes. I'm already warm and full."

No, I suddenly caught a thought that flashed through my mind.

Then I straightened my posture, which had been slumped.

"I don't need anything from you, but I have one question."

"Okay!"

"Okay!"

"Have you ever cooked before?"

"Huh?"

Now that I had asked, I felt like I had asked a pointless question.

Yeah, it's not a question to ask young children.

It just slipped out because it suddenly came to mind.

"......No, never mind. No, I chose the wrong person to ask."

As I was about to shake my head, both hands were grabbed.

"We've cooked before!"

"Our dad taught us!"

"Really?"

According to them, in the Beluga family, a man who can't cook well isn't loved.

I had never heard such a thing before, but I nodded since they said so.

"Really? Then let's ask your dad who cooks well. What I want to know is......"

* * *

"Lunchtime!"

"Right!"

In the elementary school, lunchtime was like this.

You either eat the lunch you brought in the morning or the one brought by maids or butlers on time.

In some families that care deeply about their children, relatives would bring meals themselves.

In my case, there was no family or relative who cared that much about me, but I didn't go hungry either.

"Ah, Calypso. Open your mouth. Ah~"

"Ah~."

"Ah, so cute."

As the chapters progressed, things changed.

In this chapter, there was one more significant change: I finally became close to the maids.

It was strange.

In previous chapters, no matter how hard I tried, nothing changed.

'I did put in effort.'

However, in the first and second chapters, when I hadn't awakened the power of water, I was sold after enduring a harsh, dark room.

In the third chapter, I fled from home without even trying to befriend anyone, and when I returned, I had become so strong that I didn't need to talk to the maids.

So, it felt strange to have something new happen.

'They say mackerel mermaids are especially adaptable.'

They quickly adapted to the shabby building and started to dote on me.

It was an incredible adaptation.

'It feels awkward......'

It was very awkward for me.

After all, in this world, I had never had anyone dote on me.

Moreover, even if my will dominated my body, sometimes I instinctively acted like a child, which was embarrassing.

Look at me now. Just seeing the food, my body almost reacted before I could control it.

'I can't do that.'

If I did, it would undermine the effort I put into overcoming the language barrier.

I held the fork and spoon solemnly and said,

"Next time, I'd like some sausages."

"Ah, yes! Calypso."

Aya, who was just organizing the lunch box, suddenly looked up and nodded enthusiastically.

Then, Bjo and Dede, who were standing next to me, excitedly asked,

"Calypso, your hair is messy. Can we braid it in two pigtails this time?"

"Yes. But don't tie it too tight. It hurts when I bow."

"Of course not! Of course not!"

"I'll help too!"

It was as if Misa had become close to the maids a long time ago.

The two of them braided my hair enthusiastically, and Misa shook candies and chocolates, saying, "Let's eat after lunch."

Aya, flying a toy airplane, eagerly offered me the spoon.

It was a very chaotic situation.

Damn, they don't need to do this much. What if Grandma finds out?

But I quickly changed my mind.

Yes! Let them dote on me as much as they want!

'I am generous to those weaker than me.'

Thinking of the fact that most of the blushing maids were fragile aquatic animal mermaids, I couldn't get angry.

It might undermine my dignity, but since Grandma wasn't watching, I didn't mind.

"How can our princess have such fair and delicate skin? It goes so well with your hair!"

"Your hair too. How can it be so soft?"

"I've never seen such a well-behaved child!" Dede added, having had many experiences as a nanny.

'Hmm, I can still be treated like a child despite speaking so well, probably because my body is young.'

I looked down at my small hands and felt a strange sensation.

As I said, this kind of attentive service was a fresh experience in this chapter.

So, after they came, they sometimes braided my hair into five strands or made cute bun hairstyles and dressed me in matching, cumbersome clothes.

Even if it was bothersome, I just let them.

'Sometimes it feels like a parenting story.'

Anyway, it was lunchtime, so I was busy chewing.

Eating is very important for growth.

'What I need is growth and a dragon, but.'

While I was eating, the maids who had been happily braiding my hair started chatting among themselves.

"By the way...... the Dragon Festival is being held this year, right?"