The downward staircase was carved out of a natural cave.
　We walk down the path that leads to the sea-eating cave where the siren of the spirit is heard.
　I'm joined by Aria, Chocolat, Lawrence, Pauli, and Nevis.

"This is the first time I've ever met a spirit of God!
Oh no, Chocolat. Everybody does.

　And two of the ladies were snappy.
　It wasn't so much because they were in the mood for a field trip, but rather because they were too airy to talk.
　Lawrence was a taciturn man in my circle, and Pauli was now looking thoughtful and shushed. He's usually a guy who doesn't stop talking lightly enough to be annoying. And with "Cuzio"-sama looking like that, even the loyal Nevis would have to keep his mouth shut.
　As a result, if Aria and Chocolat aren't at least chatting with each other, the atmosphere inside the cave, which is merely dark and heavy, will become more and more suffocating.

　Yes, the holy and serene atmosphere that filled the cave was a paper-thin line between heaviness and serenity.
　I'm not a man of piety, but still, I felt myself cringing with each step down the stairs.
　Then we arrived at the seat of the Divine Spirit Siren.

　The end of a sea eating cave that leads to the sea.
　At the same time, the staircase we had come down joined us here, but the foothold was broken. If we looked beyond our feet, we could not imagine how deep the water was, because it was so full.
　The smell of the tide stings my nostrils.

　In such a place, Pauli stepped forward and called out.

'Sirens!　Goddess of the Mother Sea!　Show yourself to us who have come before you!

　She responded immediately.

You don't have to be afraid of me, Pauli. It's been a long time.

　He has a dignified, yet calm tone of voice. A compassionate, gentle voice.

　Just as I thought I heard it, a siren appeared from the sea.
　The figure of a mermaid carrying a trident, just as the legend says.
　But the face is far more beautiful than the legend, it's truly divine.
　And I guess that means it's a supernatural being. The siren leapt out of the sea and stayed at a point in the air.
　While floating, she looked at us below like a loving mother.

'I'm honoured that you remember me,'

　Pauli looked up at the siren, his cheeks flushed like a boy's (Nevis was beside him, watching the scene with a complicated look on his face).

'Of course I remember,' he said. We, the gods and spirits, have had all the memories since the beginning of time.

　The siren slowly turned his head from side to side as if it was nothing.

　The fact that I can't forget every single thing is something that seems to be a constant source of heartache....... Well, it's only the measure of a person's body that makes me feel that way, and I guess it's fine with the divine spirits.

　It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new one.

We would love to talk with you, but first let us finish our business. We have two impatient people here.

　Pauli cowers her shoulders in a frightened manner as she gradually regains her composure.
　Who are these two?

I know, Pauli. I see that the Andres' successor has been born at last.

　Siren also smiled happily.
　Andres in this case is not the name of this island, but the real name of the 'Pirate King of the South'.

"May I have a good look at you?
Yes, Mr. Siren. My name is Lawrence.

　His successor came forward and lined up beside Pauli.

'It's certainly in his blood, isn't it? But, phew, you don't look like Andres at all. You're much more handsome than he is.
I'm sorry, sir.

　Lawrence is at a loss for how to react to the spirit, which unexpectedly uses humor with a human touch.
　This siren is familiar with the lore that this siren has a special human-orientated temperament among the divine spirits, but is it inevitable that he will be perplexed when he comes into contact with them?

　Meanwhile, Siren's face suddenly changed.
　He has a transparent expression, befitting a divine spirit, and tells us.

The actuality of whether the successor to Andres will really appear one day or not is something that even I, as a divine spirit, could not know. Now that it has finally appeared, I'm sure Andres is eagerly anticipating it.
To be honest, I'm not so sure I'm the Pirate King's successor, but I'm not sure I'm the right person to do it. After all, I didn't earn the gold myself.
'It is good, Lawrence. Because what Andres wanted was either for 'one powerful individual' to appear again in Kajou, or for his descendants to be united. You are, without a doubt, the successor Andres wanted.
I'm sorry, sir.

　Lawrence, who is not a great talker, repeats his artless replies.
　But Siren smiles at him, as if such a naive young man is also desirable (Pauli sees this and is on edge beside him).

'Now, Lawrence - I'll take this siren's 'eye' and acknowledge you as Andres' successor. Receive it.

　The siren lightly waved the trident.
　Three treasures leapt out of the water.

　The sign of the pirate king, a plain old gold coin, and the diary of the pirate king, a reminder of his age.
　The Diary of the Pirate King, a reminder of its age.
　The Sword of the Mountaineer, with its bright blue blade.

　The Sword of the Mountaineer, with its bright blue sword barrel, came out of the water, but was still wet, and hovered in the air, right in front of Lawrence.

'The knowledge of this diary and the prowess of the sword. I will certainly use it for the future of Kajou.

　Lawrence respectfully accepted the Diary of the Pirate King and the Sword of the Rumblings.
　But he left the Testament untouched. "Just as he had promised the League leaders.

What's up, Lawrence?
This symbol of a pirate king is for you to receive, siren.
Well. Are you sure?
By all means, take a copy of the Pirate King's last name.
"...Okay. I'll take your word for it.

　The proof of the pirate king flies through the air to her chest as Siren swings the trident again.
　The trident is a very important part of his life, and he takes it in one hand and grasps it with great care.

　Pauli stared at her face and said, "In the lore... you are the successor who will emerge in time, just as you once did with the Pirate King.

"The lore was that you would talk about love with the successor who would eventually emerge, just as you once did with the Pirate King, but..."
Hmmm, that's exactly what I call 'tails on the ground'.

　Siren humored again, making use of her mermaid form to wag her own tail fin with a twitch.

''Are you saying it was only a creation of later generations...?''
I was never in love with Andres in the first place.

　Oh, my God, you've already made that up.

Why do you pretend to be a gravedigger for the Pirate King?

　Pauli asked, as if this brazen man of nerves had already been struck down by shock.

'That's because Andres was like a child to me.
What?
Like Pauli, Andres had been found by me after his ship had been wrecked and thrown into the sea. But unlike Pauli, Andres was just a child and she was the only one who was rescued in time, so I had to wait for her to come into her own. So I raised her until she became a full-fledged adult.

　Andres is a young man who was educated by a gifted genius.
　It was half inevitable that he later became the 'King of Pirates', wasn't it?

It's just that Andres had a vain look about him. It would be better to say that they were in love with each other rather than with me, wouldn't it?　And I suppose that's how it happened.
...is a shocking fact.

　Pauli went limp and slumped her shoulders.

'I thought it was going to be a mythical, epic romance, but I have no dreams...'

　For some reason, even Chocolat was dreading it.

　The siren apologetically announced, "I love all people equally.

'I love all humans equally. Yes, equally.

　People cannot live without salt and water.
　Therefore, the sea, which nurtures both, must be a symbol of the Mother of Charity.

'But that's not what you people have for love, is it?
'You're right. This is the only person who is special to me, and I want this person to think I'm special too - because that's how it is.

　Aria answers the siren's question.
　While looking at my face.

'Then I am not qualified to be in love.

　The siren told him once and for all.
　He cut off Pauli's thoughts once and for all, which would be another form of mercy.

　Pauli had a bitter, bitter smile on her face.
　The scars on her cheeks were still twisted in this way.
　Still, it was a smile that looked refreshed, as if some possession had fallen away.