Chapter 28

### Shocking Fact.

Prati was a princess of the mermaid kingdom.

"Prati! I'm so glad! I finally found you!!"

The noble prince mermaid named Aruana, upon finding Prati, had a look of gentle relief on his face.

"It's been months since you disappeared. We've been searching for you with all our might! Recently, one of the search party members reported seeing a figure that looked like you on a shore where no one else goes, so I led a team here myself!!"

Indeed.

His words immediately clarified the situation.

"Your father and mother are very worried about you! Come, let's return together!!"

"No."

Prati refused with unusual firmness.

I thought she could have been a bit more gentle, considering it was her family... But maybe that's because I'm just an outsider.

"May I ask, why are your brothers trying to bring me back?"

"Of course! Because we are worried about you as family."

"That's not it. It's because you don't want to lose me as a pawn in a political marriage, right?"

She hit the nail on the head.

It seems there are some complicated family issues.

"But I'm sorry, I've already decided to marry the person I love! This person!"

With a decisive push, Prati presented me.

"I've given my body and heart to this person! So I can't marry anyone else! Please tell Father and Mother that!!"

"What?!"

Aruana was shocked by her words.

He had the look of a brother who had just learned his beloved little sister had a boyfriend.

"...You land dweller! As I suspected, you've seduced Prati! Everyone! Continue the battle!! We must tear that scoundrel to pieces and bring Prati back!"

The mermaid soldiers, brandishing their spears, were ready to fight...

"Stop it!!"

Viel's roar shattered their courage, and they all fell apart.

"What?! What's going on?! Is that dragon helping the land dweller?!"

Aruana, the prince, managed to hold his ground, but the other soldiers fled in fear without waiting for orders.

"Prince! This place is dangerous! Give the order to retreat!!"

"Even our kingdom's main forces wouldn't be enough to face a dragon!! We should report to the king and await his instructions!"

The mermaid soldiers were crushed by the dragon's presence without even fighting.

The prince seemed reluctant to leave, but the others had already fled deeper into the sea.

"...So, one of you stayed behind."

Viel directed a cruel gaze at him.

"Daughter of the Geyser Dragon. You didn't run away in fear before the Great Grinzel Dragon. I'll praise your bravery. As a reward, I'll turn you into ashes in an instant!!"

"Don't do it."

I punched Viel's leg while in dragon form.

"Ouch!!"

"I don't know what's going on, but you're Prati's brother, right? If so, you're not just anyone to me. Do you really think it's okay to kill someone like that?"

"I'm sorry...!"

"If you stay in that form, everyone will be too scared to talk. Change into a human form. Or I won't make you any more delicious meals."

With that, Viel became docile.

The dragon's massive body shrank, and the silver-haired beauty Viel appeared.

The dragon's pressure that had been enveloping the area disappeared.

"Good girl."

"Hehe...!"

I patted her head as a reward for listening.

"A dragon obeying a human...? What's going on!?"

"Brother."

I swam closer to the sea and extended my hand to Prati's brother, Prince Aruana.

"We just met. We don't know each other at all. Why don't we sit down and talk things through?"

"What?"

"I have a house on land. If you'd like, we can have a meal and talk more about Prati."

Before I could finish, a protest came from the side.

"Sir! I don't like this...!"

"I'm the master here."

I firmly rejected the protest.

"Who I invite and welcome into my home is my decision. Prati, can't you listen to your husband?"

"Ugh...!"

Prati fell silent after that.

"You're quite the domineering human."

I ignored Viel's comment from the side.

"To see the strong-willed Prati become so obedient...! Alright...!"

Prince Aruana, the party involved, accepted my proposal.

"As a member of the mermaid royal family, I cannot let a challenge go unanswered! I accept your hospitality!!"

That's a good answer.

"Then let me guide you to my home. Can you change your tail into legs like Prati and come to land?"

"Of course!!"

Prati's brother, Aruana, came to land in a half-human, half-mermaid form. He took a pill, just like Prati, and his lower body glowed, changing shape.

Aruana's fish tail, being male, was strong and reminiscent of a tuna. Even when transformed into human legs, the impression of strength remained.

His legs were agile and muscular.

And there was one more strong part...

"......!"

Just like with Prati.

The lower body of a mermaid, when transformed from fish to human, was completely naked.

The most masculine part of Aruana's human form was embarrassingly visible.

"Hide it quickly!!"

"Oh, right. My apologies."

Aruana took out a pair of swim trunks and put them on.

Why swim trunks?

And the design was boomerang-shaped.