Chapter 100

While the merfolk chief had already left the room, he turned around when he heard Norfe and Chouze’s voices .

“Children . Thank you for your hospitality these past few days . I will go now . We should meet again on the merfolk island . ”

Then he turned back to the lake and took another step forward .

“Please! Please wait . We haven’t finished talking yet . I invited you to the royal capital . ”

“And I refused . ”

“However, you said you would consider it for a day . ”

“No, I didn’t . I’m already bored . I’m returning to the sea . ”

He shrugged away Norfe’s request and started to walk again .

“The Lowland boy…two of them? Why are you here?”

Chouze said in a small voice . Norfe seemed to calm down as he took in the situation . The chief was now walking smoothly on two feet, and he had the two Lowland children on each side of him . And there were two adult men standing by the window as if urging them to hurry .

“What happened to the guards! Ah, so they are at the cave . ”

Norfe came to the conclusion on his own . Then he shouted towards the hallway .

“There are intruders in the merman’s room! Call the soldiers!”

The royal guards that came with him would not have left . And so one of the servants ran to go and call them . However, the chief knew that this was an emergency, and he was not about to wait around for their arrival . He silently started to walk to the lake .

“Wait!”

However, no one obeyed him .

“Amia . You should let go now . We’re just slowing you down . The birdfolk will carry us . See, the merfolk are here for you!”

As Chiharu talked to Amia, the merfolk started to come out of the lake .

“That Saia . Always getting in the way!”

“You disappeared without saying anything! Of course people would be worried!”

“Tsk . ”

He tsk-ed! If anything, Chiharu was impressed by how spoiled he was . Just then, four big dogs jumped out from the shadows .

“How long do you mean to hold the Saintesses? Let them go already . And go back to the lake . ”

Said the grey dog, who was Zynis . It was unusual for him to sound so stern . Chiharu and Maki looked at him in surprise .

“Monsters have actually appeared in the cave . The soldiers will not be able to return for a while . It’s your chance to go!”

And so the chief reluctantly let go of Maki and Chiharu .

“Chief!”

Norfe shook off his guards and ran outside . Amia slowly turned to him and their eyes met . That’s when a flutter of wings descended near the dogs . And in spite of it being night time, they looked pure white . Behind them, brown birdfolk descended .

“What? Birdfolk? And this big dog! Beastkin! Why are you here?”

Norfe was stunned by all of this as he turned to the chief . Just then, countless merfolk came out of the water .

Dear brothers in Japan . I’m living happily in another world . How is Rasche doing?

Currently, I’m in a really loud place . It’s strange . This was supposed to be a simple job involving secretly finding information about the chief, Amia . Information that can’t be found in the water . It might involve some people from Lowland . But that couldn’t be helped . We would just search for information for a few days and leave quietly . That had been the plan .

But then a lot of birdfolk came . Beastkin dogs as well . Oh, they really look like Rasche too . And then all these merfolk arrived . Also, there’s this prince? Well, three of them . And one princess . Am I crazy? You’d think so .

“Maki-chan . Pull yourself together!”

“Chiharu…”

“This is an emergency . It’s no time to be losing consciousness!”

Maki had been trying to escape from reality, but she returned after receiving a good shaking from Chiharu . Just then, all of the beastkin looked up at the sky .

“Gazers…”

“What!”

Soldiers started to run from the cave as they chased after the gazers . But then they saw what was happening and froze .

“What the…”

None of them could do anything . If just one person moved, the balance would be broken . They needed to escape quickly, and yet only the time seemed to pass .

The first to move were the gazers .

Maki and Chiharu could tell that the monsters recognized them . And as they joyfully approached Maki and Chiharu, the oblivious guards attacked them .

“Wait!”

A high-pitched voice echoed in the night air . It was Chiharu .

“Gazers . Wait up in the air!”

Chiharu wasn’t sure if they would understand her, but they obeyed and gathered together over their heads .

“Amia . Go!”

“But…”

“Nothing will be solved unless you leave!”

Amia touched Maki and Chiharu lightly on the cheeks and then returned to the lake . And one by one, the merfolk followed their chief into the water .

“Amia!”

Chouze’s sad voice rang in the air . Amia turned to look at her .

“Child . ”

He said in a loud voice .

“Please stop casting so many nets into the lake . Then we might meet again . ”

He said with a smile . And then he went into the water . It was a promise to visit this lake again .

Once the last of the merfolk had disappeared into the water, Maki and Chiharu saw a familiar pair of white wings .

“Now, let’s go back . ”

“What? Didn’t you promise not to come because you draw too much attention?”

Chiharu couldn’t help but say to Sauro, but Norfe realized his identity at the same time .

“You . You’re the Midland birdman! You and the beastkin . Is Midland trying to instigate something!”

See! Chiharu thought with annoyance .

“I’m not from Midland . ”

Sauro declared as he combed back his short hair with his hand . Who would believe that!

Chiharu screeched in her heart . At the same time, Norfe raised his voice in anger .

“I don’t believe you . You’re from the castle in Midland . The one who never works and is always playing with the Saintesses . ”

“You . Now that I think about it, you’re that rude royal . ”

“Wha-”

If anything, Norfe was more angry about being recognized so late . Sauro didn’t reply . He just opened his wings wide and then declared,

“Borders have no meaning to us . I just came to Highland to sightsee . ”

“Me too . ”

“Same here . ”

The other birdfolk declared .

“Then why are the beastkin dogs here!”

Norfe demanded .

“Sightseeing . ”

“Yes, sightseeing . ”

The beast answered .

“And these Lowland boys?”

Norfe thought it was ridiculous but was at a loss for words . It was then that Chouze asked the question in a small voice .

“They ran away from home . I’m here to take them back . ”

“But they were selling oranges!”

“It must have been part of the disguise . ”

Suggested Sauro . Maki and Chiharu were very annoyed now . It was true that they had originally been headed for the elf lands . And the oranges were used as a disguise . So Sauro wasn’t actually wrong . However, who was sent back home by so many birdfolk after running away from home?

“Are they so important for all you to come…”

Maki had been thinking this for a while . The only one here who seemed remotely normal was Norfe . However, the birdfolk ignored him .

“Now, let’s take the little runaways home . The Highland air is wonderful!”

He declared . And then Maki, Chiharu, Edwy, and Aaron were picked up .

“The upward current is especially great!”

“I’m going to go to the royal capital next time!”

The other birdfolk informed Norfe as they took flight .

“Ah . ”

Chiharu had survived all of the training, and yet when so many wings started to beat at once, she could not stop her wig from blowing off . Her long hair blew in the wind . Norfe saw it and shouted .

“You! The orange girl!”

No! I mean, yes . But, no! Chiharu protested wordlessly . The gazers looked startled .

“No! Maybe? That hair! You are the Saintess!”

Norfe realized it on his own . It was no wonder… Chiharu thought her eyes met his for a second . They had been wide with shock . However, Chiharu and Maki were quickly taken away by the birdfolk, and the gazers followed them .

The only thing that remained now was some stunned soldiers and the prince and princess of Highland .