Chapter 158: Though the Mermaids were protectedAs we kept cutting across Samandour Kingdom, it soon began smelling like salt water.


    The west of the Sanctuary also faces the sea, but it’s like the south sea has a somewhat sweet, tropical scent.


    「The seaaa nyaaa~~!!」


    「Mister Sun is so briiight nya~!」


    「<em>Howaaa</em>~ lots of water~」


    The little girl trio cheered in excitement when they saw the sea from the carriage.


    「<em>Uwaa</em>, cool.」


    「………………so big.」


    「It’s blue, vast, and pretty.」


    It seems that even Wappa, Colette, and Miri were impressed seeing the sea for the first time.


    「Takumi-sama, it seems we are steadily getting closer.」


    「Got it, I think we’ll be fine since we can activate Perception Inhibitor MD, but let’s be careful so we aren’t noticed.」


    Just as I was took over as the driver, the Wind Spirit told us through Sophia that we’re close to cove where the mermaid protectees were.


    The location the Spirits guided us to was a small cove. The mermaids likely came here after escaping from monsters. This is already in the border regions of Samandour Kingdom, a ce where there were no viges or towns close by. Originally, they would live close to where people inhabit so they could find a male to pair with, but with the recent monster activity, they had to escape to this small cove.


    Maybe because it’s a ce untouched by human hands, the cove was really beautiful. With directions from Sophia who could hear the voice of the Spirits, we walked closer to the water’s edge.


    Leaving the little sister trio ying by the ebbing and flowing waves to Wappa, Colette, and Miri, we waited for the mermaids to make their appearance.


    There were several responses in Kaede’s and my wide-range Presence Detection.


    「Master, it looks like the mermaids are here.」


    「Yep, they’ve arrived.」


    One by one, twelve long green and light blue haired mermaids, the elder half being in their 30’s and the younger half as young as 5-6 years old, emerged from within the sea and approached us.


    When the mermaids reached shallow waters, they transformed into humans and walked with two legs.


    Yup, the mermaids were very stimting.


    Their upper halves were concealed in tube top-like swimwear while their lower halves were stark naked.


    「K-kaede, prepare clothing for a lot of people urgently!」


    「Roger, Master.」


    Kaede distributed one piece dresses to the mermaids for the time being.


    A mermaid who appears to be in her mid-twenties approached me.


    「We heard the story from the Water Spirit-samas. I am Fluna of the Mermaid Race.」


    「My name is Takumi. At the Great Water Spirit Undine’s request, we’vee to protect youdies.」


    「Thank you very much. Recently, the monster activity in the vicinity of this sea has be ferocious. They’ve driven us out of the ce we live in, and it is difficult to say that this cove is safe either, as such, we have had to depend upon the Water Spirit-samas for help.」


    Everyone looked thin when I took a better look. They probably couldn’t fish normally because of the impact of the active monsters.


    「Fluna-san, we will send everyone to a safe sea so please don’t worry.」


    「Thank you very much.」


    「Master Husband, why don’t we prepare a meal for everyone?」


    「You’re right. Fluna-san, is there food that you and the mermaids can’t eat?」


    「No, it’s fine, be it meat or vegetables.」


    Marnie had proposed to have a meal with the mermaid protectees. She probably noticed the grumbling stomachs of the young mermaids.


    When I asked Marnie and Maria to prepare the food, I perceived arge response in the direction of the open seas.


    「…………that’s huge.」


    「<em>Un</em>, something really big ising.」


    Both my Enemy Search skill and Kaede, who is best when ites to enemy perception among us, sensed it.


    「Sophia, evacuate all the mermaids to Tsubaki’s carriage!」


    「Ha! Fluna-san! Everyone! Hurry this way!」


    Sophia guided the clueless mermaids to shelter.


    Our group had already switched to battle stances.


    「It’s not a monster that’s in this shallow cove.」


    「Did it think there was a lot of prey here?」


    I took out Ice Bringer from the my Item Box and waited.


    Havinge back, Sophia readied Tempest and Maria took out Explode; The three of us were ready to fight.


    Marnie took a bow in her hands, and Akane prepared her magic. Lulu-chan was made toe with Fluna-san and the mermaids.


    <b>Zazazazaazazaーーーーーーーーー!!</b>


    We began hearing the sounds ofrge waves.


    This cove is supposedly shallow, so it should show up any time now.


    「It’s here!!」


    <b>Zaabaaaaaaaaan!!</b>


    The open-mouthed gigantic figure that appeared from the sea had a serpentine body with dorsal and pectoral fins, with a probable overall length of over 30 meters. A Sea Serpent.


    The Sea Serpent is a lesser dragon species like the wyvern, but because of itsrge body and the fact that fighting in sea is difficult, it is often treated as a higher middle rank monster.


    Whether or not it sniffed out the scent of the mermaids or us, it raised its enormous sickle-shaped neck and attacked with itsrge open mouth.


    ***