Chapter 64

Translator: Yonnee

—

Sante’s pupils grew thinner.

“From the look of your face, it seems like Dian properly explained what conditional magic is.”

“And you lured Ariel in even though you knew everything. You’re already aware that this might end in death.”

“Fine. So should I sympathize with a mermaid?”

Sante asked back the question sharply.

“Ophelia, you must have misunderstood. It was Ariel’s choice in that previous life to come up to land. And she will do it again in this life. How can I sympathize with that?”

There was a reason why his tone was so pointed.

After meeting Ariel at the coast, Sante distinctly picked up on the feeling of guilt within Ophelia’s words.

Even as she had said that Ariel’s death was a twist of fate, it seemed like she couldn’t let go of a sense of responsibility over this matter.

A human being’s life was several times shorter than a siren’s life, and they were bound by several more things.

For Sante, this was entirely incomprehensible.

“Everyone lives their own life, Ophelia. Blaming yourself or being responsible for another individual is a burden you don’t have to carry.”

As Ophelia felt responsible for other people’s choices, Sante couldn’t understand her at all.

And he couldn’t bear to watch her be so tied up in a tragedy that she had no control over.

Rather, it would be better if Ariel and that male human disappeared from her side completely.

That’s why he met Ariel. If she wanted to come to land, then go ahead. Just don’t disturb this entertaining human anymore.

“So—”

“So you were concerned for me, Sante.”

Ophelia cut Sante off.

Her tone held a hint of amusement. And as their conversation had led to this point, it couldn’t be denied any longer.

“I know you find me interesting.”

The corners of her lips tugged up to form a crescent moon. The waves that extended outwards from within her were silent just as they were, yet these waves have become larger than life.

“I’ll make it all more enjoyable for you. Just stay by my side.”

A fire lit up in his eyes. As he always lived close to the waters, he couldn’t think of any other time that such a scorching temptation had come to him like this.

It was a really strange thing.

Originally, sirens were the ones that would captivate humans at sea.

Yet here he was, being enraptured into staying by a human’s side.

* * *

Deep into the night, leaving not even a single shadow—

Sante soared alone through the crevices of familiar reefs.

This place was a rugged reef island that any ship wouldn’t be able to reach. Yet for Sante, he could find his way here even when his eyes were closed.

Beyond this island was the sirens’ nest. And, some more distance ahead lay the tower.

This was the magic tower named after them: Siren.

As Sante entered the window he had opened, a young lad who was guarding the desk woke up with a start and took off his glasses.

Then, he noticed Sante’s presence.

“It’s a bit late into the night, but this is a rare visit, Sante.”

“I was asked to deliver a letter.”

He had met quite a few people, but this person was one that Sante had met exactly five times before.

‘His name’s Meruzia¹, I believe.’

Sante wasn’t interested in human affairs, but he knew that this man was in a fairly high position in the magic tower.

In the first place, this windowed room was a place that not anyone could even take a glimpse into unless they were in the class of a high mage or more.

Considering that Alei used to stay here in the past, Sante could surmise that this man who welcomed him would be the second-in-command of the magic tower.

With long, straight hair and slightly droopy eyes giving off a gentle air to him, the handsome young man approached Sante, undaunted. No, to be exact, he sat across Sante, tore open the seal and mouthed off.

“This is a personal assessment, but I don’t think you’re a very good mailman.”

“We’ve been acquainted before, you’re just spitting out a bitter assessment.”

“I’m not trying to criticize you. I wasn’t lying, was I? You’re the one who said following someone for more than three days is something you’d never do.”

And he was saying this because Sante seemed to come around this place more often these days.

Hearing those words, Sante jutted his chin instead of replying. What Meruzia said was somewhat correct.

For instance, the sirens’ nest was usually empty.

For the sirens, their nest was a place where they could come back to when they needed a place to rest in the future, but it was nothing like a home where they’d live in.

It was their abode, however they spent a lot more time outside.

They often ran errands for the magic tower, traveled to and from the mainland, flew as they pleased, sank a few ships.

It could be considered a miracle if a siren would stay in one place for more than three days.

By nature, they were beings who were in the east today, then would be in the west tomorrow.

Therefore, Sante’s recent actions were far from common.

‘Of course, since I stayed in these narrow waters for days.’

This was truly unusual considering that sirens were beings that could cross a continent in one night if they wanted to.

Even more so if he considered that he didn’t intend for this to happen in the beginning.

‘I really am not an errand boy.’

When he came to his senses, he could only find himself already perfectly conditioned to the post. To the point that he earnestly delivered this letter even if it was already so late at night.

As though everything he found interesting in the world had coalesced into just Ophelia herself.

He constantly hovered over the waters of Ladeen.

The moment a feather was broken and there was that certain scattering of mana pulling him back, he would fly speedily back to that place like a kingfisher.²

‘No way. When I think about doing things that aren’t even asked of me, it’s hard to say that I’m just devoted.’

Something like a truly loyal characteristic that’s not ordered by a master, or something like meeting Ariel in secret—he wouldn’t do these things.

But if these actions would entertain him, then who knows.

‘How ambiguous.’

It was definitely entertaining to be near Ophelia. However, every time he tried to turn away from her, it felt like green, tangled seaweed would hold him back. Since this feeling had gotten bad, he’d think that he wouldn’t meet her next time. But the moment a feather was broken, he would fly back to her as though he was waiting for the chance.

He knew that this was something unusual, but it was even more strange that he didn’t seem to have the will to set himself straight.

It was also evident that she was the cause of this peculiar phenomenon. However, rather than avoiding her, the more he thought about her, the more he wanted to see her.

The sensation of holding Ophelia in his arms constantly wandered around Sante’s mind.

It was clear in his memories.

Her heartbeat, pounding so fast while she was in his arms.

Her hand, holding his shoulder for fear of falling.

Her body, so close to his with only their clothes between them.

At that time, it felt as though Sante could read the excitement contained within Ophelia’s azure eyes.

This was because whenever she was in his arms, he would soar high up into altitudes humans would not be able to reach.

He didn’t realize it either, but he would look forward to seeing her face, which resembled a flower petal caressed by dew. A stray thought even entered his mind—that he wished to place his lips upon her.

But it all ended there, with only his thoughts and his imagination.

Before coming here to meet this man, he had been with her.

That woman who, as she was standing at the very edge of a cliff, threw a coin into the sea while saying it was her payment for a ferry ride.

That woman who, as she was engulfed by the night’s darkness around her, looked out into the black and white sea.

—Why do you think it’s impossible? It’s possible, you know.

That woman who, towards his dishonest words, answered with deception as well.

As interesting as she was, as charming as she was, as unpleasant as she was—the root of it all was her.

As soon as she finished doing what she came there for, she took a letter out of her sleeve.

It was a letter with a magical seal on it.

—This is a report written by the mages who came from the tower. But you see, they forgot to bring a siren feather with them.

—Those punks seem to be careless.

—So I’m asking you to do it. I was going to meet you anyway, and I thought that it would be nice if you deliver this as well.

Until the very end, Ophelia shrewdly used Sante.

She said that it was good to know that he’d go all the way to the magic tower. However.

At the end of the recollection of this recent memory, Sante’s lips twisted at an angle.

His reminiscence did not take up a long time. While Sante was grumbling inwardly, Meruzia finished reviewing the letter and soon opened his lips.

“So it seems Cornelli met Lord Alejandro safely.”

“Yes. They had a very sentimental reunion today, I think.”

“On top of that, Yennit also came to Lord Alejandro’s side despite being in Ronen herself. But what strikes me as strange is the ordinary person who’s close to Lord Alejandro. Have you also met that person?”

“I’ve met her. I see her often whenever I go there.”

To be exact, he went there just to see Ophelia, but Sante lied smoothly without even batting an eye.