Read Novel Full Vol 12 Chapter 25
Here’s the chapter. Enjoy~
Chapter 25 – Festival in the Mermaid Kingdom
Using the Sea God’s sacred treasure, I was able to restore the barrier of the Mermaid Kingdom. As soon as the barrier was restored, Her Majesty the Queen used the magic tool of light to illuminate the castle, and the entire Mermaid Kingdom was bathed in light. The celebration of the Mermaid Kingdom’s resurrection begins!
“Something amazing is happening, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I wonder if I need to help?”
Alessia-san responds to my words with an air of indifference. I guess she wants to be a part of the festivities below.
I agree. It’s a lively and joyful scene, like the preparations for a high school festival, and it’s exciting for us to watch. But unfortunately, it is not possible.
“If we participate in helping, we will make people around us feel uncomfortable, so I think it would be better if we stay quiet.”
I don’t think I’ve accomplished much since it’s the Sea God’s sacred treasure, but from the Mermaid Kingdom’s point of view, I’m being treated like a benefactor who has fulfilled their long-cherished wish.
It’s hard to imagine such a benefactor taking part in the preparations for the festival without reading the atmosphere.
“…You’re right, we can attend the festival, so we should keep a low profile here.”
Alessia-san disappointedly agreed with me. Well, I guess she understood that she couldn’t participate in the preparations either. But since it looked like fun, it just came out of her mouth.
Alessia-san has a surprisingly childish part… not surprising, but childish in a normal way. She’s also a speed freak who runs wild on a boat…
The curtain of light covered the Mermaid Kingdom, and then things turned chaotic.
As the people of the Mermaid Kingdom swim around in the light, soldiers with materials come out of the castle and scatter throughout the country.
The soldiers call out to the mermaids swimming around, and the mermaids gather one by one to begin preparing for the festival.
Some mermaids set up food stands. Some mermaids get tables and chairs out of their houses. A child mermaid arranges dishes.
The mermaids are happily preparing for the festival, swimming in all directions in the country illuminated by the lights.
Even in the castle garden, preparations for the festival are in full swing. They loudly ask what they need and what they should bring. The one in command is… the Captain of the Royal Guard. Is Her Majesty’s escort safe?
Well, she should be fine. They’ve been preparing for the festival since I reported to Her Majesty that the restoration of the barrier seemed to be in order, so I’m sure the guards are up to the task.
It’s too early to start preparing for the festival, you know. The pressure was on just to notify the people, but the preparations for the festival put even more pressure on the people.
But looking at the scene below, I think the early preparations were not a mistake. The mermaids were so excited that if they had not been prepared, there would have been a lot of confusion.
“Master, they’re setting up a stall in such and such a place.”
“Oh, it’s true.”
When I looked at the place Felicia had pointed out, I saw that they had set up the stalls so that they were lined up higher than the balcony of the castle. I didn’t know they were being prepared up there because I was watching from the balcony, looking down.
I know that underwater, unlike on the ground, you can use three-dimensional space, but is it relevant to have a festival site that overlooks the castle?
Well, the commander of the security forces is in charge of the outside of the castle, and if there was a problem, he would have stopped it, wouldn’t he?
A festival site floating on the sea. It’s kind of romantic, so let’s go play there when the festival starts.
＊＊＊
“As you all know, it has been the long cherished wish of us mermaids that the barrier of the ocean currents be restored, and the light be brought back to our land!”
Her Majesty the Queen began her speech from the balcony of the castle.
It may have been a pre-festival greeting, but the atmosphere was different from that of a school principal or PTA president because she is the ruler of a country. Most of all, the fact that the queen is a beautiful mermaid draws you into the story.
On either side of Her Majesty, standing in the center of the balcony, are Princess Adalicia and Princess Annemarie, flanked by the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Commander of the Security Forces. There are a few more people, but the fact that they are in this place probably means that they are important people. Despite the people’s stares, they look very dignified.
“Master. You were asked to greet the people in this place, weren’t you? Were you sure that you should have refused? If you had made a heroic speech there, you would have been irresistible to the beautiful women of the Mermaid Kingdom, wouldn’t you?”
“…Ines, you understand and listen, don’t you? Can you imagine me standing there and making this speech?”
“Fufu, I can’t imagine that.”
Ines declared firmly. I want to tell her not to ask, but there’s a part of me that’s not too happy about being teased by such a beautiful woman.
However, I am a little touched by the words irresistible or… to the beautiful women of the Mermaid Kingdom.
If I could make a cool speech while attracting a lot of attention, I might be able to combine my position as a benefactor to make an exciting speech. I did my best to refuse the moment they asked me, but it was a bit of a waste, wasn’t it?
Maybe I should have at least nodded my head when they asked me to join them on the balcony.
…No, it’s not a gala. This thing is no different than a parade; it just breaks my heart with shame.
It’s cool that Her Majesty the Queen makes a big speech, but for me, this place is no different than a punishment. Oh, Her Majesty the Queen has raised her glass. It looks like the celebration is about to begin.
“In the name of my name, Queen Adelheid. I declare today to be a free day. Drink, eat, and frolic as much as you like. Cheers!”
“””Cheers!”””
Everyone in the castle responds to the queen’s toast and sips from their glasses.
…Hmm, normally, a lot of people would empty their glasses at once, but it’s hard to chug a glass of jelly-like alcohol under the sea. This kind of thing is more powerful and solid on the surface.
“Come on, Wataru-san, let’s go!”
While I was thinking about the difference between the surface and underwater, Alessia-san spoke to me as if she couldn’t wait any longer. Apparently, she wants to go outside the castle.
“Is the food in the castle good?”
“The food inside and outside the castle is not that different because the castle is releasing food for this festival. In that case, I’d rather go to the festival outside the castle than here, where the food is more refined.”
Alessia-san had done some research on the festivals before I noticed, and as an A-ranked adventurer, I guess she understands the importance of information.
Not that there aren’t special dishes only available at the castle, but I agree that it looks more fun outside the castle than here, where there are no food stalls, and it looks like a classy party.
It seems that the other members of Girasole besides Ines, Felicia, and Alessia-san, have no objections, and I have already informed Her Majesty the Queen that we will be watching the festivities outside the castle. It may seem a little early, but I think we should go to the festival outside the castle.
“Wataru-samaーー”
As I was about to go outside, a voice came from above. When I turned toward the voice, I saw Princess Annemarie, Lea-san, and several members of the royal guard swimming toward me. They seemed to be swimming directly from the balcony. Underwater is pretty free, isn’t it?
“Princess Annemarie, how can I help you?”
“You’re going out, aren’t you? I’ll go with you!”
She answers with an innocent smile, but to be honest, it’s a little annoying. The princess is going with the escort, and it’s a bit conspicuous.
“Uh, I’m going to enjoy the festival in secret, so it will be more conspicuous if Princess Annemarie is with me, or how should I put it…”
“Even without me, Wataru-sama and the others will stand out because you are wearing clothes from the surface, you know? And since your faces are known, I think you will be surrounded by people who have been drinking. I think you will be able to enjoy the festival with me because you won’t be surrounded.”
When I think about it, the lower half of my body is mermaid-like, but the upper half is dressed in surface clothes, so it’s very different from mermaid-like clothes.
Since our faces will be known during the inspection, there is a possibility that we will make a fuss if we are noticed. If that’s the case, it would be better to stand out from the beginning and enjoy the festival without making a scene.
Above all, it would be difficult to leave Princess Annemarie, who is already holding Rimu and has Pent wrapped around her body. Rimu and Pent, you are too attached to Princess Annemarie!
“Please accompany us.”
“Yes. Leave it to me to show you around!”
I’m a little sad that we seem to have been rolled into the palm of the little princess’ hand.
It seems that I was right about Princess Annemarie. Everyone is thanking me and raising their glasses from afar, but I am able to take part in the festivities without being surrounded.
Food stalls are set up in the clear water.
Child mermaids look around the stalls and call out charmingly.
Adult mermaids drink in a circle as they float in the sea.
Schools of small fish pass through the gaps between the stalls, reflecting the glittering light.
A magic tool that continuously creates a circle of air.
Princess Annemarie, Rimu, Pent… Ines and Alessia-san are happy to go through this circle.
Dorothea-san and Marina-san enjoy feeding Fuu-chan and Beni-chan.
Claretta-san is watching with interest how the food is prepared at the food stall.
Ilma-san is looking intently at the mermaid’s magic tools.
Felicia looks around happily as she stands by my side.
An underwater festival that is rarely experienced. Just looking at it is exciting.
In my mind, festivals are usually held at night, with lanterns lining the approach and food stalls illuminated by the lights, so I feel a little uncomfortable at this festival, which is as bright as day. But this light is the main part of the festival, so I guess this festival is the right one in the Mermaid Kingdom.
But it might not be a problem under the sea, but what about those places where the stalls are randomly arranged in three dimensions? It’s kind of like a maze, isn’t it?
“Wataru-san, this is delicious.”
While I was questioning the arrangement of the stalls, Carla-san, who was carrying a lot of festival food, handed me something that looked like black bean jelly. It’s a rare underwater festival, but Carla-san is more interested in the dumplings than the whole flower. She never wavers.
But more importantly, what is it? It’s as black as seaweed but shiny and scary? Is it an inferior product?
I’d like to say no, but I can’t resist Carla-san, who tells me with a serious expression that it’s very tasty.
Anxiously, I take a bite of the stick-shaped, jelly-like object.
The warm, deep, rich broth and the plump, elastic ingredients spread out as it unravels in my mouth. It tastes like something I’ve had before.
“Is this squid soup? Is that black stuff squid ink?”
Carla-san tilts her head at my question. She seemed to have just recommended it because it tasted so good, but did not seem to understand what kind of soup it was.
“Wataru-sama is right. It’s a popular soup in the Mermaid Kingdom, where you can taste everything squid has to offer. We couldn’t serve it for dinner because of its unique color, but I’m glad you liked it.”
Perhaps unable to hear the strange exchange between Carla-san and me, Lea-san explained the dish to us. As one would expect from Princess Annemarie’s close aide, she is a clever mermaid.
But squid ink soup? I have had squid ink noodles before, but I think this has a more concentrated squid taste than that.
I had underestimated the cuisine of the Mermaid Kingdom because of the lack of seasoning, but perhaps there are more hidden flavors to be found there. The Mermaid Kingdom is so mysterious.