Chapter 3: The Mermaids’ Holy Spring (Part 2)
“I thought the Holy Spring is referring to spring water.”
Two seconds later, Leido blurted out my confusion.
“Initially it was a little spring indeed. But later after the expansion, it became its current look. However, it still preserves its original name.” Flying above us, Simmi explained, “This place has undergone a longer history than the Water Fairies, you shouldn’t underestimate.”
“Understand~” Giving her a smile, Leido’s gaze sharply notices the surrounding situation.
Not just him, I notice that Yado is also doing the same.
“This is weird, usually at this hour there should be some mermaid around. Why are there none today?” Looking around, Zachary squints his eyes: “Simmi, did something happen? Why were you all worked out earlier on at the entrance when we first met?”
After being pointed out, the little Elf shivers.
I also suddenly feel that something is amissed. Although it is a Holy site, there was no reason for the little Elf to attack us instantly, unless she was trying to protect something.
“Is the Holy Spring no longer safe?” Asrian similarly queries: “But I do not sense anything foreign trespassing.”
“This is not the case. Actually there has been an increase in trespassing attempts lately, so we have been slightly more anxious.” Letting a sigh, Simmi stops on Zachary’s shoulders, “Afterall ancient Holy sites possess certain magical strength. Even though it has been like this since the beginning, we somehow realised that these invaders have become more powerful, resisting their attempts have also become more difficult. We fear that one day we may also lose this place that’s why I mistook your friends as one of those invaders earlier on.”
“I see.” Giving a moment of thoughts, Zachary’s horse body sitson the white grass patch, “I still advise you to join the Guild’s alliance. With the Guild’s support, these incidents will decrease.”
“But not everyone from the Guild is good.” Simmi frowns her pretty little face, “They even failed to protect Bing Ya Elf’s child. How can you expect us to place our Holy site under their care?”
Zachary coughs.
Simmi’s words are repeated in my heart. Though, under the protection of others in school, I have not heard much rumours, Senior’s incident has indeed created a large commotion in this World.
“We are here this time to retrieve a piece of the Soul Enforcement Bell to help Prince Bing Yan reawakening.” Yado says, his attitude has become a lot more polite, despite wearing that grumpy expression, “We hope to have your assistance. The alliance amongst the ancient races should have a position for the Bing Ya Elves. Please lend your help for them.”
Simmi frowns.
“Since the Water Fairies brothers have named their requests, Simmi, you can’t be so inhospitable.”
Before the little Elf can answer, a clear voice interrupted her thinking, followed by the sound of water. Something silver in color came flying out of the reverse flowing waterfall then gracefully falling back into the lake, almost creating little or no splashes around. Then, as quickly as a flash of lightning, swimming through underneath the water, and reappearing in front of our eyes from the water in the blink of an eye.
Coming out first is a mermaid with some water droplets shining on her golden hair and reflecting her smooth and white skin; vastly different from the Elves, her body is like been kneaded by the water -- slightly transparent -- as if it will be scattered with a touch, while her lower body are made up of silverish white scales that are still flowing, the glow comes from the water brought along when coming out of the lake.
The person appearing in front of us has a pair of blue eyes, bringing a hostile aura and firm gaze directly looking at all of us.
“Aslya.” Watching the female mermaid floating out of the lake, Zachary calls out her name with certainty.
“Zachary, it’s been a while. Little did I expect you who’d once ignored our invitation to suddenly drop a visit.” Slightly swimming half a round, the beautiful mermaid lifted her body onto the rock next to the lake. Soon after, a few beautiful faces appeared around us.
Speaking of which, I seem to have never met a male mermaid before.
At the moment, the five or six mermaids that have appeared are all females. Their long hair floating on the water resembles a satin, it was difficult not to give another gaze.
Noticing that I have been staring at them, another mermaid waves at us before swimming towards the waterfall.
“My time is money. There isn't money here, unless you want to foot the bill instead?” Putting aside all the manners, Zachary directly quotes his price, then lifting his chin towards our direction: “Those two Water Fairies want to look for the Soul Enforcement Bell, and, do you have the Water Spirit stone too?
The mermaid gives us a look, evidently disinterested, “Hey, Mr. Zachary, it’s been long since you visited and yet you instantly asked for two treasurable items. This appears to be slightly overboard, uh?”
“Do you really have the Water Spirit stone?” Seeing that the mermaids did not deny, Yado quickly asks: “I really need these two items, please. What do we need to do in exchange for these?”
The pair of blue eyes turns to look at Yado: “Water Fairy, your name?”
“Yado Glando.”
“Very well, young Water Fairy brother, you evidently do not know that giving your name to the ancient mermaids also means giving your life to the opposite party. “ Reaching out her hand, Aslya gently pats Yado’s cheeks, her voice sweet and seductive.
Almost at the same time, Leido immediately pulled his twin brother back.
“Aslya, stop teasing us.” Sitting at the shore, Asrian gently smiles and looks at the female mermaid next to us: “If you do so, the Water Fairies brothers will misunderstand.”
“I’m just telling them that they need to mentally prepare themselves if they want to establish a relationship with the ancient races.” Aslya gives a smile, probably after gaining satisfaction from teasing Yado, “Why did you not introduce this last…… human?”
She turns to look at me.
I reflectively take a step back, feeling a little scared.
“That’s right, why is there a human tagging along?” Simmi immediately flies next to me, circling around me like a mosquito, making me want to slap my hands at her, but obviously I don’t have the nerves to do so.
“Frankly speaking, Yangyang is a descendant of the Devil Master.” Having no intentions in avoiding the topic, Asrian reveals my identity in less than a second.
“Devil Master!” the little Elf instantly turns into a black Elf, as her body enlarges, as black as a bull dog and howls at me: “What is this dark race in the Holy site trying to do!”
What can I possibly do….. Other than standing here and being howled by you……
“This is a student from our school.” Carrying the bull dog away, Zachary calmly says: “He’s also someone on our side in the future.”
“So is he able to escape scot free from robbing a bank?” The rumoured innocent and naive little Elf spouts the same words as our form teacher.
“No, I will certainly be caught.” I righteously burst her bubbles.
“Tsk, useless Devil Master.”
Up to this point, my impressions of the little Elf have been completely tarnished. Though they have been mostly ruined ever since I came here, this somewhat still feels sad.
But after the short exchanges, Simmi returns back to her little Elf form, resting back on the stone next to Aslya. “Then what should we do?” Turning her head to look at the mermaid next to her and mutters, as if she is talking to herself.
Wearing a beautiful collar, Aslya stares at Yado with great interests, “Then, what should we do……. We indeed have a Water Spirit stone here but to a Holy site, this Water Spirit stone serves an important purpose. We can’t possibly casually give it to strangers.”
“So, what would you like to exchange it with?” Patting Leido’s hand, Yado asks again.
Aslya smiles.
“I’ll give it to you.”
We are all in a startle.
Including Zachary and Asrian, they probably never expect the mermaid to say something like this.No, I think Zachary is probably thinking -- I didn’t know it can be attained for free.
“Then, let me repeat once more, I’ll give it to you, ‘Yado Glando’. You’ve given your real name to the ancient mermaid and your presence after entering our Holy site has affected us. Giving you the Water Spirit stone represents your implications with the mermaid race.” Holding onto the shore, Aslya slowly walks up. Her silverish white mermaid tail slowly transforms into a pair of human legs as water droplets dripping down forms a thin satin. The flowy cloth brushes against us before she stands next to Yado and her voice softly speaks: “Till the very last day, you will --”
The last part of the sentence disappears within Yado’s ears, the volume is so soft that even Leido and I could not catch it.
Yado closes his eyes as Aslya takes two steps back from, wearing the same old smile, “If you want to regret, now is the best time before it is too late.”
“No, it shall be this.” As if he has made a firm decision, Yado immediately replies.
“Wait wait! What did the both of you discuss just now!” Noticing something was wrong, Leido grabs his twin brother’s shoulders: “Why can’t be openly shared?”
“Because this is the contract between the both of us.” Revealing a mysterious smile, Aslya flicks her fingers. The mermaids who were playing at the waterfall quickly stop and disappear into the lake.
“Then you can establish a contract with me too. I am Lei --”
The pale hands cover Leido’s mouth. Aslya’s lips almost pasting on the back of her hands, then seductively breathes: “We don’t need a second person, uh?”
“Leido, it’s nothing big.” Pulling his twin brother, Yado’s expressions remains the same.
“You’re lying --”
A loud splashing of water interrupted their dispute.
The group of mermaids who disappeared a while back suddenly stands up at an area near to us, just like how Aslya, each transforming a pair of legs. Amongst the five to six of them, a slightly younger girl holds a crystal box. I can faintly feel the clear aura coming out from the box.
It is as clear as the air over here.
“Master Aslya.” The girl politely presents the crystal box, the surrounding mermaids follow.
This ascertains the fact that Aslya is indeed the head of the mermaids but why are there no male mermaids? This makes me really curious.
I’ve digressed……
Taking the box, Aslya turns and passes it to Yado, “Then. I look forward to the day where our contract realizes.”
Receiving the Water Spirit stone, Yado lightly nods his head: “ Then, the Soul Enforcement Bell……”
“That is not with us.” After the other mermaids return back into the water, Aslya, who remains, looks towards Zachary: “The Soul Enforcement Bell is your friend.”
“Eh? With Shikin?” Not expecting such an answer, Zachary gives a stunned expression.
“Yeah, it has always been with him. Because that is something we cannot touch.” Giving her reply, Aslya’s swiftly takes jump backwards, sinking back into the waters and swimming a distance away from us, “If you want to look for Shikin, you’d have to wait around~ If you’re lucky, he’ll soon appear, that little brat!”
Finishing her words, the group of mermaids ignores us and scatters.
The surrounding quickly returns to its initial serenity, except the sound of a singing voice from not too far. Simmi also can’t be bothered to entertain us any further. Turning a few rounds, she disappears into the forest.
“Yado, spit out the truth from earlier on.” Pressing onto the matter, Leido grabs onto his twin brother’s arm, insisting the other to honestly explain himself.
Yado only gives him a look, not speaking a single word.
“Don’t start a fight over here.” Asrian pulls the two away, “If there’s anything, talk it out after we return.”
“No. If I don’t make him answer now, he will never talk about it in future.” Pulling the Yado who has no intentions in speaking, Leido angrily drags him out: “We’re healing back first. Yangyang please help us retrieve the bell. If he doesn’t speak, I’ll get Yido to make him speak!”
Finishing his words, the tugging and dragging make the both of them look miserable as they head out, completely ignoring Yado’s reluctance to leave.
Hey hey, excuse me, this wasn’t even my mission to begin with.
But I vaguely feel that something was wrong from earlier on so I still let them sort it out themselves.
“The most troublesome Water Spirit stone has been retrieved. I still have a bunch of debts to count*, the both of you can remain and wait for Shikin. If he does return, he will definitely appear here lately.” Standing up, not knowing when he has returned to his human form, Zachary pats the loose grass away from him.
[t/n: well actually the proper term to use is “a bunch of accounts to settle” but I thought translating this way was equally impactful to show how money-minded Zachary is.]
“Eh? So fast?” Seeing the guide is about to leave, I suddenly feel a little nervous.
“Otherwise I will continue to charge accordingly. Can you afford it?” Giving a look as if scorning at the poor, with his face fully written with the words ‘Sky rocket price’, Zachary snorted.
“Sorry, I don’t think I can afford it……” I don’t even dare to ask for the sky rocket price, fearing that I might get a heart attack from it.
“Zachary, Shikin can’t be…… that right?” Sitting at the side, Asrian turns his head to look around and asks.
“Do you not know Shikin?” The money-face looks at the Hunter with doubts, the latter shaking his head: “Anyways, he is what you think it is. If the mermaids all swim here, it means that he will probably appear very soon. Both of you just need to wait a little here. If he refuses to give you the Bell when he appears, you just inform him that Zachary will soon demand to clear his debts and tell him to prepare three times the interests.”
…… I know you’re a loan-shark but must you bring your loan-shark attitude to others’ Holy site too?
“I see, understood.” Asrian nods his head.
“Then that’s all, I’ll go first. Bye.”
Then, the Holy site is left with Asrian and I .
After that, I only have one thought.
The both of us are actually just a passerby here……
t/n: End of Part 2! Goodness, thanks for the wait. Finally rushed out part 2. I'm still working on part 3 so pls give me some time. Hopefully I can get part 3 soon. (I'm swarmed with my scanslation works lately) T.T
If you like the work so far, I'd appreciate if you can rate the novel and leave a review on NovelUpdates~
No comments:
Post a Comment