Chapter 27

Mermaid Plat.

She is my first and only roommate in my pioneering life.

I caught her while fishing in the sea.

Since then, for some unknown reason, she has been calling me "Master" and moved into my home like a live-in wife.

Living with a young and beautiful woman.

Her presence heals my loneliness, and the original mermaid pharmacological magic she uses is a great help.

Thanks to the magic potions she makes, the crops in the field grow rapidly, and vegetables that usually take a year to grow can be harvested in about a month.

For faster-growing crops, it takes about a week.

She also takes care of tasks like mixing spices and seasonings, which I have no knowledge of, and it was thanks to her that I met Mr. and Viel when I found the dungeon.

Moreover, she is beautiful and cute.

Just living with her and having conversations with her nourishes my heart.

By now, Plat has become an indispensable part of my pioneering life in many ways.

This is a story about the commotion surrounding her.

* * *

While fishing by the seaside, I met another mermaid.

A different mermaid from Plat.

This time, she didn't appear as a catch but showed up on her own.

I thought, "Maybe she knows Plat?" and waved at her friendly.

"Die."

She replied.

Suddenly, a large number of mermaids surfaced from the sea.

"Throw all at once! Skewer him!!"

They threw spears at me.

If hit, the spears would pierce my body and cause severe injuries. With dozens of spears flying at me at once, I would surely die if hit by all of them.

So I drew my holy sword and swung it widely. The wind pressure generated by the swing blew all the incoming spears away.

"Ughhhhhh!?"

"Ughhhhhh!!"

The momentum also caused a huge wave on the sea surface, washing away all the mermaids.

Hmm, maybe I overdid it a bit?

If the sea surface is this agitated, the fish would have escaped, and today's fishing is probably over.

"So, what's the idea?"

I called out to the mermaids who were finally recovering from the rough waves.

Though they are called mermaids, this group was all male mermaids.

There are male mermaids too.

Of course, since they are a species.

"The mermaids I know are more intelligent and rational. Or are you guys, who are like robbers and murderers, the standard for mermaids?"

"Shut up! You're the one who's a robber!!"

The one who shouted back was a male mermaid with a higher status in the group.

His stern appearance and princely demeanor clearly made him the leader of the group. He was the one who had given orders to the other male mermaids earlier.

"Land dweller! We already know that you have kidnapped a female mermaid! Choose now! Will you return her peacefully or die here?"

"Female mermaid?"

...I have a strong suspicion.

"Are you all acquaintances of Plat?"

"Sister's name...! So it was as the search party reported! I won't forgive you, land dweller! How dare you kidnap my sister!!"

"Kidnap!?"

And a sister!?

This male mermaid called Plat his sister!?

"Keep attacking! Throw the spears!!"

At the command of the princely mermaid, the surrounding male mermaids threw their spears again.

Upon closer inspection, all the male mermaids were armed with armor-like gear.

So they are soldier mermaids!?

"Uwahahaha...!?"

There's no way I can just blow them away with my holy sword; I can only defend myself.

Then, a goddess of salvation appeared.

"What are you doing!?"

A voice descended from the sky.

Looking up, I saw a dragon's massive body with its wings spread wide, covering the sky.

"Aaaaah! A dragon!?"

"Run! We'll be eaten and killed!!"

"Dive into the sea! As deep as possible!!"

"Will we make it in time! If the dragon breathes fire, this entire area will turn into boiling water!!"

"We'll all be boiled mermaids!!"

The panic among the soldier mermaids at the sight of the dragon was intense.

Regardless of their level of training, they were clearly combatants, yet the dragon caused such chaos.

Dragons are indeed terrifying creatures in this world.

But I'm not afraid.

Rather, they are cute.

"Human, are you alright?"

Viell, the dragon, said as he landed on the rocky shore.

"Yeah, thanks to you, I'm not hurt at all. Thanks for coming."

"Of course...! If you disappear, I won't get to eat delicious meals...!"

He seemed pleased to be praised, despite trying to act cool.

"Don't get so excited, stupid dragon."

"Ugh!?"

"You just happened to be here to drop me off, right? Stop making it look like you rushed here to save me!!"

Another voice.

Upon closer inspection, Plat was sitting on top of Viell's dragon form.

"Plat!?"

"Princess!?" "Princess!" "Your Highness!?" "Princess!?"

The soldier mermaids also noticed Plat and called out to her...

The way they called her...!?

"Princess...?"

Plat slid down from Viell's dragon form, moving from his head to his shoulder and then his front leg, like sliding down a slide.

"I never thought something like this would happen while I was searching for bird monsters in the dungeon...!"

So, this group is related to Plat, right?

"Plat!!"

The princely mermaid leading the soldier mermaids shouted.

"It's been a while, brother. What brings you here?"

Brother!?

I thought it might be true when he mentioned "sister" earlier.

"Let me introduce you, Master. This is my brother. His name is Aruana."

So, he is indeed her brother!

"He is the eldest son of the current king of the mermaid kingdom, Nargus, and thus the first in line to the throne."

And he is a prince!

...Hmm?

So, his sister, Plat, is?

Really!?!