The boat stops overlooking the rocky shore.

Below us, there were mermaids. It was the first time I had ever seen one.

The lower half of her body was a fish, and the upper half was a woman. She was blonde, beautiful, fair-skinned, and her ample breasts were hidden by shells. She was just like the mermaid I had heard so much about.

As Prine and I stood on the tip of the boat, the mermaid swam toward us. Her hair was mysterious, swaying in the wind. And her breasts were so large that they were not well hidden by the shell. It makes me nervous to look at her.

I'm going to give Prine two seashells as a gift. I don't mean to be mean or anything, okay? I'm not trying to get you to imitate a mermaid, okay? Really?

I was fantasizing about something like that when I saw a mermaid in front of me.

Hello, adventurer! My name is Thetis, and I am a mermaid.

He greets me politely. We followed suit.

'My name is Rana Prata.
My name is Prine Lamode. Pleased to meet you.'
'Kugyu Eri. I'm not an adventurer, I'm a captain.

After a brief self-introduction, the mermaid Thetis folded her hands tightly in front of her chest,

'Dear Adventurer. I have a favor to ask of all of you who have made it this far.

You came.

I nodded.

Yes, what is it?

'Please defeat the demonic beasts that lurk at the bottom of the sea.

'Hexenbiest.'

'My sisters have been taken away. They will eat them if we don't do something. Please help us.

He nodded his head in acknowledgement.

It was just as I had heard, and it was also in the guild's strategy information. In order to get to the 21st level, we need to defeat the monsters and clear this "event.

Incidentally, before the information was released, there seemed to be many parties who had not found the stairs to the lower level and continued to get lost, bypassing the mermaid's request.

I reply to Mr. Thetis.

Yes, I understand.
'Well! Thank you, adventurer. Please take this one.

He hands me a shell. Inside was a pearl-like sphere. He explained to us that we would need it later.

We nodded in agreement.

Then, I'm off.
'Please be careful, Miss Rana, Miss Prine, Miss Kugyu.

The mermaid sees us off.

The sails billowed with the magical wind, and the boat slowly rose to the surface and began to sail forward.

The boat passed through the rocky shore and dived deeper.

'Wow, mermaid, that was beautiful. ......'

I was about to open my mouth when Prine, who was holding her hands to her cheeks and looking entranced, said, "I'm sorry, but I can't help it,

'You're more beautiful than me, Rana, and I'll get angry if you say so.
'How did you know?

Captain Kugyu nails me, and I crack my mouth open.

Oh dear. I let out a sigh.

You're more beautiful than me, Prine.
'Koooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
'Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I dare to say it, and Captain Kugyu gets angry, and Prine seems to be happy even though she's afraid of me. I'll look for shells later. Two big enough to fit Prine's chest.

The Titanikko, with the three on board, soon reaches the bottom of the ocean.

....... Are you sure you two are going to be okay from here on out?

In front of us, there is a huge gate so large that even a large ship could pass through it, and it is tightly closed.

It is a "submarine gate.

Right next to the gate is a small door. This is a door the size of a human being entering and exiting anywhere. Naturally, a ship cannot enter it.

In order to open the gate, we have to go inside first, go deeper into the cave, go through the labyrinth, and unlock the door.

From here, it's just us for a while.

Captain Kugyu will wait on the ship for the opening of the gate. We will meet up with him later.

I nodded.

Yes, it's all right. We have done this together before. Prine?
'Yes! I'll be absolutely fine with Ra-kun!
'I feel like I can do anything with Prine, too.'
'Me too!
'Yay!
Yay!

Captain Kugyu looks at me and Prine high-fiving each other with a disgusted look on his face.

'Ah, yes, yes. Go ahead and get out of here.
'I'm afraid I'm going to miss you for a while, Captain Kugyu.
'Oh, Captain, are you lonely? I'm sorry.'

Me teasing the child captain and Prine seriously apologizing.

'Bubk--! I'm not lonely! Just get the hell out of here!
'Yes, yes, I'll bring you some souvenirs if I find any.
I'm off!

Captain Kugyu turned away from us, and we got off the ship, hearing him say in a tiny voice, '...... be careful' behind our backs.



By coming to this gate, the Titanikko receives the "sailor's blessing". It is said that it prevents monsters from attacking the ship for a whole day. Captain Kugyu calls it "insect repellent.

I left the bag with the items on the ship. We can't use any recovery items for a while. We can't drink potions in the water anyway. I have only the transfer crystals in my pocket.

It would be a terrible thing if the captain had run away with them, but the Hoppers in the harbor are affiliated with a guild, and Captain Kugyu is a captain, so I don't think we have to worry about that. By the way, except for the armor, all the other valuables are kept in the safe of the inn, and a lot of money is kept in the guild bank. No problem.

We are at the bottom of the sea.

You are still in the foam that surrounds the ship. The sole of my shoe can feel the rough ground at the bottom of the sea.

After a few steps, there is a film of bubbles within reach. When I put out my hand to test it, only the part of my hand that came out of the bubble touched the water.

It is similar to the feeling of being inside a waterfall, but unlike a waterfall that falls down, I do not feel the flow of water. It was more like sticking my hand into a tub of water.

'That's interesting.

I nodded to Prine, who was standing next to me smiling and watching me do my thing, and took out the shell that the mermaid had given me earlier. I opened it and took out a pearl from inside.

The explanation I received from Mr. Thetis went something like this.

This is a mermaid's candy ball. While you are licking it, you can breathe underwater and move like a fish.

I can breathe underwater thanks to my [Breathing] skill, but it would be nice to be able to move like a fish. It's a good thing that Prine can't swim either.

I put a candy ball in my mouth. It is a little salty, yet sweet. It tastes like the "salted caramel" that Prine's family used to sell.

'...... Ra-kun

Prine, with a piece of candy in her mouth, looked up at me and put out her hand. It's cute that her tongue is slurring more than usual because she's licking a candy ball, and it's also cute that her cheeks are puffed up by the amount of the candy ball.

But she looks anxious.

Her eyebrows are furrowed in the shape of a c and she looks like she is about to cry.

That's right. Prine can't swim.

People who can't swim often can't put their faces to the water. Prine is one of them.

The fact that she was thrown into the river by two bad kids also affected her. They are scum.

I smile gently at Prine.

It's okay. I'll get out first.
Ummm, yes!

I shook his hand, nodded, and went out of the bubble first.

The water.

It covered my body.

--Wow.

I feel lighter, a little floaty. It's because I'm buoyant in the water.

My clothes are waterlogged, but I don't feel so heavy. Is this also the effect of the candy ball?

I open my eyes. I see clearly as if I were wearing glass glasses. There is no pain when I put my eyes in the water.

Slowly, I try to breathe.

--Wow.

I could breathe. And maybe that's a blessing in disguise. Be careful not to take a candy bar out of your mouth, though.

It's weird. I wonder if he is taking in only air from the water.

I wade through the water with my hands and put my floating body on the ground. Amazing. I can really move my body as I want. Even underwater.

I put my face in the foam and called Prine.

Yes, you're going to cum!
'Whee! ......!'
'Here, Prine. Take my hand. Put your face on it slowly. It's okay, I can breathe.
'Uh, yeah. ......!

Prine squeezed my outstretched hand and pulled her face out of the bubble fearfully.

With her eyes tightly closed, Prine's face came into the water.

I gave her a tap on the arm and she opened her eyes with lickety-split speed.

She looked surprised. I guess she was surprised that she could see so well underwater.

I said, 'See? You're fine, right?' Prine shook her head and opened her mouth.

Suu.

Huh.

She is breathing.

And then..,

'--Wow!

With a gurgling sound, Prine's voice could be heard. I see. Apparently, it is possible to talk while licking this candy. How convenient!

Can you hear me? Prine'.
'Uh-huh! I can hear you! Wow, I didn't know you could talk in the water!

Prine, who has never even played in a river, makes such a mistake. It's funny.

No, no, you can't do that. It's thanks to this candy ball, isn't it?
'I see! That's great!''
'Come on then, Prine.


'Yes, Mr. Ra!

Holding my hand, Prine slowly walks into the water. Her toes touched the water and her fluttering coat swayed in the sea.

Eventually her whole body is out of the foam and Prine slowly rises to a prone position, following the buoyancy of the water.

'Wow ......!
'You're not scared, are you?'
'Yes! I'm with Ra-kun!

I think it was more thanks to the candy ball, but Prine said such happy things with a smile. Cute.

Okay, let's go inside the door. Let's go unlock the gate so that Captain Kugyu can enter.
'Yes!

I linked my left hand with Prine's and flapped my legs. And then..,

--Oh, my God!

Wings of light appear around my feet and begin to rotate gently.

'Oh? Oh?
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

The wings of light grab hold of the water and carry it behind us, bringing us forward. Wow, it's like an oar is spinning!

'Like a fish...... this is it!
'It's true!

Equipped with propellers on our feet, Prine and I moved toward the door without moving our limbs. We could adjust the speed with a simple thought in our heads. How convenient.

When we tried to open the door..,

'!

The monster was caught by Shifu's skill "detection".

Up.

Prine!
'Wahyaa!

As I jumped backward with Prine in my arms, something long and thin fell down at a frightening speed right in front of my eyes and nose.

--A spear!

A trident, a three-pronged spear, was piercing the seafloor with a whizzing sound.

I look over my head.

A monster about twice the size of a human, with the lower body of a fish and the upper body of a human, but with four hands, was looking down at us with a spear in its throwing position. It was holding a trident, a three-pronged spear. This one...

'Trideen!
'Mr. Fish Monster!
'I'm the gatekeeper here!
Please let me through!

Ignoring Prine's request, Trideen swoops down with a thud. The lower half of his body is a fish, and he is extremely fast. The tip of the spear in his hand glinted.

Whoa!

With Prine in my arms, I turn the propellers on my feet and move quickly to avoid the monster's rush,

--You're fast!

Trideen is adjusting her angle of descent to match my movement. I can't avoid him. Then!

Geeeeeeeeeee!

The tip of the trident flew through the water. I swung the sword out of my stance, and my eyes met those of Tridean, who was passing by, wide-eyed in surprise behind his helmet. The monster is moving away from me at breakneck speed.

As the monster rushes forward, I slash the Trident with my sword.

Unlike on the boat, where I was in the foam, I was underwater, so my movements were a little slower.

But now I understand.

I am suddenly in an underwater battle, but I think I can handle it.

In my arms, Prine stiffened in surprise and pointed a finger fearfully at the monster.

What? Mr. Monster's spear, is the tip missing?''
'I just cut it off.
'Heehee! Ra-kun, that's amazing!

Prine didn't see it. She's so surprised, she's praising me. Cute. Besides, she seems to have gotten over her rigidity.

I look down at Tridean gliding along the seafloor and mutter to myself.

'What's next ......?

The monster retrieves and equips the Trident, the three-pronged spear that it first threw and pierced the seafloor, and slowly rises and turns as if to observe us.

He seems to be wary of the fact that we easily blocked his blow as we passed by him.

That's right, I think to myself.

They have the advantage in speed of movement, but we have the advantage in speed of sword and skill in close combat by far. --The next time he gets in my way, he will lose his life. I'm sure they sensed that with that single thrust.

Then that's the only next move.

Prine, please!
Yes, sir!

Trideen moved above our heads and raised his spear high in the air. The tip of the spear makes a spark. It may be a special light, but even though we are underwater, it does not seem to spread.

I knew it was coming.

A bolt of lightning shoots out from the monster's spear and hits us.

Immediately after, a cute yet dignified voice emanates from within my arms.

'--Raiden's staff!

B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B!

The blue-white lightning converged on Prine's upraised staff and bounced off it.

Those of us who had been informed of Tridean through the guild newspaper knew that he used lightning, and that he was vulnerable to it (even though he used it himself).

A blinding flash of light shot through the sea, swallowing the monster and then vanished. All that remains is the mist that proves we have defeated it.

Victory.

Yee-haw! That's what I'm talking about, Prine!
'Wow! Rah-kun Rah-kun!

Me and Prine dance together as we swim, manipulating our spinning propellers. Yeah. Underwater dancing isn't so bad.



Yo!
'Wow!

As she focused on the "Dance," a clown's skill, the water flow created by the propeller's revolving wings was filled with the light of magical elements and shone like a rainbow.

You're so beautiful, Ra-kun!

Prine hugs me tightly.

The feeling of her big tits is pleasant.

Because of the height difference between us, her tits, which are usually placed against my stomach, were now pressed against my chest because we were in the water.

I am really glad that I am a mage. This robe is so thin that I can feel it easily. It's hard to tell with a warrior's armor.

'...... shells,collect them'.
'Huh? What did you say, Mr. Ra?
''It's nothing, okay?''
Whenever Ra-kun uses honorifics, he's usually thinking of something s*xy '.
'Oh, did you find out? Ha-ha-ha-ha.'
'Oh my god, Ra-kun. Heh heh heh heh.'
'Chug'.
''Boo''
'You're pretty in the water too, Prine.
'Ehehe. ...... Ra-kun, you were staring at the mermaid, weren't you? By any chance, shells are ......'
'Ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha!
'You're trying to cover it up with a smile. You're so naughty, you're such an editor!
''Sorry, sorry.''
'Oh my god. Do you want ............ shells?'
''I like it!
'Well, ...... if you like that kind of thing, ......///'
'I love prine!
'Wow, you're a real rah-rah. I love you too!

Chucky-ooh-hoo.

Prine is so cute. I can't wait to see the shells. I was just thinking..,

What the--?

Then, I felt a piercing coldness on my back, and at the same time, I suddenly remembered.

I remembered that we were in front of the Seabed Gate.

The Titanicco that we had boarded was waiting for us right there in front of the Seabed Gate. I felt something like a deadly atmosphere, so I turned around,

'.............................. ( Kolos)'

A leader of the Nigyu Sencho was looking at us as if he was going to kill us.

Scary!



Beyond the door is an underwater labyrinth.

It is a cave with a rugged rock face.

I can't bring the map from the guild's strategy information, but Prine has it memorized. I map it out in my brain, too. We checked the path together and proceeded without hesitation.

The labyrinth gradually transformed into a wooden passageway as we proceeded.

It was like the inside of a ship.

We proceeded through the passageway and swam up the stairs, which led us to the deck.

On the mast of the large ship's post, there was an ominous skull mark.

Yes, this is...

'It's a pirate ship!