Chapter 3-16 : The Children’s Secret Place (part 1)
「Oooii~ Kakooo~」(Torque)
It’s been a day since I was stranded on this island.
While I was relaxing in the mermaid village square, the children approached me.
They had been sick due to the poison spreading in the sea, but after drinking the antidote I made, they gradually got better overnight and eventually became as healthy as they normally are.
「Hello, everyone.」(Kako)
「Kako onee-chan, let’s play together!」(Tina)
「Yeah, let’s go outside and play with us!」(Ratz)
They invited me to play as if inviting a neighbor’s kid to play in the neighborhood.
「Play? But you’ve just recovered from illness.」(Kako)
「Yeah, but as you can see. We’re completely fine and energetic.」(Torque)
「It’s all thanks to you!」(Ratz)
「Kako onee-chan’s medicine made us feel much better. Our parents said we could play now.」(Tina)
Looks like my antidote is very effective. I’m really glad I have this useful ability.
It seems like these children have completely recovered, and their parents have given them permission to play outside, but unfortunately, I can’t accept their invitation.
「Umm, I’m sorry, guys. I need to get potions from Granny and make more medicines.」(Kako)
I’m chilling in the village square right now not because I don’t have anything to do, but because I’m waiting for the village’s herbalist, an old lady called Granny, to bring me potions.
The village chief told me to wait for her here while she brewed the potions. I can’t just leave my post to go play with these children.
「You can go.」(Roan)
I had just declined the children’s invitation, but Roan approached me from behind and said that.
「Roan-san? But the chief told me to wait here.」(Kako)
「Don’t worry about it. I’ll wait in your stead. Granny—that old lady is capricious. Sometimes it takes her hours to brew potions depending on her mood. You will never know when she will show up. I’ll get the potions for you. You can go play with these kids.」(Roan)
So I could end up waiting until sunset? Ugh, that wouldn’t be good.
But…
「But there are still people who need my antidote.」(Kako)
That’s right. There are still some people suffering from the poison. I have to make more antidote as soon as possible.
「Don’t worry about that. Thanks to you, the severely ill ones have been cured. The rest don’t need your medicine right away. Besides, you can’t make your medicine without Granny’s potions, right? I’m sure she won’t show up in a few hours. In the meantime, you should take a break and play.」(Roan)
「Buー」(Kako)
「ーYou heard him. Let’s go!」(Torque)
「Waa!」(Kako)
Before I finished talking with Roan, Torque grabbed my hand and pulled me.
I was about to resist, but Ratz pulled my other hand, and Tina pushed my waist from behind.
「Let’s go!」(Ratz)
「Yaaay~!」(Tina)
「Be back before dark!」(Roan)
「「Okaaay!」」(children)
「Eeeeehhh!?」(Kako)
Looks like I’m going to play with the children before I even know it.
「Kako, you don’t mind being a bit wet, right?」(Torque)
「What? Wait, you’re not going toー」(Kako)
Realizing they were pulling me toward the river, I could immediately take a guess at what would happen, but before I could even finish, it really happened. They pulled me into the water.
「Hmmph!?」(Kako)
I was panicking. I thought I was drowning, but then I realized my body was floating.
No, I’m not floating. These children are carrying me. I’m sitting on Torque’s back while Ratz and Tina are supporting me from both sides.
「Are you guys ready?」(Torque)
「Ou!」(Ratz)
「Un!」(Tina)
「Whaー What are youー」(Kako)
「Kako, be careful not to bite your tongue.」(Torque)
「Eh?」(Kako)
「Ready… GO!」(Torque)
ーWOOOOOOOSHH!!
「Full speed ahead!」(Torque)
「Wooooohoo!!」(Ratz)
「Yaaaaaayy~!」(Tina)
「Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyyyyー!!」(Kako)
While carrying me on their backs, they swam at an incredible speed.
I felt like riding a banana boat powered by a jet engine. It was speedy and super scary.
Somebody, help me…
◆◆◆
「Guys, where are we going?」(Kako)
We went down the river and left the village, heading toward the center of the island.
I gradually used to this speed, but it’s still scary…
「We’re going to a special place.」(Torque)
Answering my question vaguely, Torque grinned.
「A special place?」(Kako)
「It’s our secret place.」(Ratz)
「Kako, youー」(Torque)
「ーYou saved our lives, so we welcome you to our secret place!」(Tina)
「Aa! That was supposed to be my line!」(Torque)
「Too bad for you I’m faster~!」(Tina)
「Dammit, Tina!」(Torque)
They’re competing over such a trivial matter. Sometimes children’s carefreeness makes me a bit envious.
It seems like they’re taking me to their secret base or something. That I don’t mind, but the problem is…
「Umm, guys, I hope it’s a place where I can breathe. Look, I can’t swim freely in the water like you.」(Kako)
That’s right. They’re mermaids. Young mermaids who are still not familiar with humans, to be exact.
I still remember how surprised they were when they learned that humans couldn’t breathe underwater.
What I’m worrying about isー what if they tell me that their secret base is a beautiful place in the sea and dive in? I would drown for sure.
「Haha! Don’t worry, we know you can’t swim.」(Torque)
「We won’t make you go underwater.」(Ratz)
「We promise it’s going to be fun!」(Tina)
「Uhh, alright…」(Kako)
Phew… Looks like I’m not going to die today…. I hope…
◆◆◆
「We’re here!」(Torque)
「This is your secret place?」(Kako)
After traveling upstream along the river, we arrived at a large open area with a big lake in the center.
It’s indeed a beautiful place and the perfect place for the mermaid kids to play.
「Kako, welcome to our playground!」(Torque)
「Welcome!」(Ratz)
「Welcome~!」(Tina)
They welcomed me and put me on the lakeside. I felt relieved when my feet touched the ground.
「Thank you.」(Kako)
I then replied to them with a shy smile and scratched my cheek with my index finger.
「There’s something I want to show you. Look over there.」(Torque)
「Hm?」(Kako)
I looked in the direction Torque was pointing at, which was the center of the lake, but I didn’t see anything there.
Suddenly, the children started shouting.
「Hey, come outー!」(Torque)
「Come out, come out~!」(Ratz)
「Come out and play with us!」(Tina)
While I was wondering who they were calling, a big shadow emerged from the bottom of the lake, and thenー
「ー!?」(Kako)
ーit burst out of the water and leaped into the air.
ーSQUEEEEAK!
「Whoa!」(Kako)
It was a dolphin. It looked like the one appearing on the dolphin show at an aquarium but bigger.
However, unlike a normal dolphin, this one doesn’t just swim in the water but also… fly in the sky.
「Eeeehhh!? It’sー It’s flying!?」(Kako)
I thought it would fall back into the lake, but after leaping into the air, it continued ascending and then flying around a few meters above us so effortlessly.
The children were grinning as they watched how surprised I was.
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