Chapter 9

"My name is Prati, and I am a mermaid!"

The mermaid I had caught declared her name with great dignity.

She looked to be around twenty years old. Her lively expression and large, open eyes gave an undeniable impression of beauty.

Her skin was as smooth as if it were translucent, and her hair was lustrous and vivid.

Even among humans, she would be considered a beauty of the highest caliber.

If only her lower half weren’t that of a fish.

"My name is Ito... I mean, Kidan."

I had changed my name when I moved to this fantasy world, but I was almost forgetting it.

I hadn’t met anyone since I started my pioneering life, so it’s no wonder I forgot my name.

"Kidan...! That’s the name of my husband...!!"

"Wait, just a moment."

This mermaid was trying to finalize the conversation by completely marrying me.

Why is it coming to this?

"Mermaids generally look down on land-dwelling races!"

Why did she suddenly start a fight?

"To be caught by a land-dweller who despises us from the bottom of their heart...! My pride is shattered! How can I return to the sea with my head held high!?"

Ah, that’s what she means.

Wouldn’t it be fine if she just went back normally?

"I am already tainted. Tainted by you! I can’t return to the sea! So you have to take responsibility and take care of me!!"

"No way!!"

But please, wait.

I am human, and she is a mermaid.

Is it even possible for us to marry, given our different species!?

"Um, international marriage? I mean, I’ve heard that marriages between different species are very difficult...! Perhaps we should reconsider...!"

I tried to dissuade her by appealing to common sense.

From the old tales I heard in my original world, a marriage with a mermaid seems destined to be a tragic love story.

Even if she were to disappear into bubbles, it would be a bad way to wake up, so couldn’t she just go back home honestly?

"Different species? Oh, you mean this?"

The mermaid... Prati, as she said her name.

She looked down at her fish-like lower half.

"Indeed, with a tail like this, it’s hard to imagine mating. Just wait a moment..."

She took out a small bottle from somewhere, opened the cap, and put it to her mouth.

The contents were probably liquid?

She drank it all in one go.

Then, an incredible transformation occurred.

Her fish-like lower half split into two and changed into human legs.

The mermaid, now fully human, was just a regular person.

"How about this?"

Her legs, which were now smooth and beautiful, appeared before me.

She was no longer a mermaid but a woman who looked like any other human, and not just any human, but an extremely beautiful one.

"With this, I can live on land without any problems and can even bear your children! Now there’s no reason for you to refuse marrying me, right!?"

"No...! Um...!!"

She stood there boldly with her newly formed legs, but I was taken aback by her appearance.

The reason being, her lower half had been a fish just a moment ago.

A tail covered in scales, with nothing else on it.

What happened when it turned into human legs?

That’s right.

She was now completely naked, with everything exposed!!

"Put something on, at least!!"

Pants or a loincloth, anything!

Otherwise, my sanity will be destroyed!!

* * *

In the end, overwhelmed by the chaos of her naked lower half, I ended up accepting her as a live-in partner.

"Living alone in a place like this? You have a unique way of life, don’t you?"

This hut, which had been my stronghold until today, welcomed its first guest.

No, she’s more like a live-in partner now.

This girl really intends to live with me.

"I heard that humans—especially humanoids—can’t survive without living in groups. They are weak and get killed by monsters quickly when alone, right?"

"Probably not wrong."

I thought I was going to die when I encountered a wild boar in the mountains.

Humans are inherently weak creatures.

" Hmm, so you’re special? You look like a humanoid, but the mana you possess is different from both humans and demons. ...This makes you even more suitable to be my husband."

Prati, with a mischievous and seductive smile.

To reiterate, Prati is her name.

She seems to be my wife now.

Despite all the talk, it ended up this way.

While it’s a bit much for a live-in partner, there’s also a part of me that feels relieved to have her around.

It’s been quite a while since I started my life in this new world, but I’ve been more lonely than I thought.

I was shaken by the fact that I almost forgot my own name just now.

To live as a human, it seems that recognition from others is indeed essential.

"So, how do you live here?"

Prati asked.

She was now wearing a pair of my spare pants to maintain a decent appearance.

At first, she was full of complaints, saying, "I don’t want to wear such ugly clothes!!" but I couldn’t back down.

I even issued an ultimatum, "If you don’t wear pants, we can’t get married," and managed to make her comply.

Eventually, I’ll have to buy or make clothes that she likes.

"How do I live...? I guess you could say I’m aiming for a self-sufficient life here. I produce everything I need—food, shelter, tools—and consume them myself. It’s a modest life."

"Hmm, that’s strange."

She dismissed it with one word!?

Damn! The romance of self-sufficiency isn’t understood!? Is it seen as just a meaningless act!?

"But I understand that you want to live this way, my husband. Leave it to me."

"Leave it to you?"

What exactly?

"If that’s the case, there are many things I can help you with. This capable wife of yours will support your self-sufficient life."