A clear affection shone in her gaze toward Yerim. But to me, it felt all the more disquieting. Even the waning moon must have cherished Seong Hyunjae. As that former filial sinner said to the F-ranks, the love of S-ranks could become violent—so the affection of transcendent beings would hardly be purely sweet.

“I didn’t expect you to embrace so well the one-time skill you received to block my illusions.”

Yerim was impressive. Still, she had sharp eyes, but I wouldn’t let my guard down.

“It’s common for one’s abilities to rise after experiencing a much higher power. But to make even a part of that power your own is far from easy. Even when your innate aptitude matches, it remains extremely difficult.”

...In any case, I liked hearing Yerim praised. Yes, our child is truly wonderful. Stop lifting my mouth corner so obviously.

“And yet, Little Droplet has acquired my power and nurtured it to suit herself, even to the point of finding me in an instant beneath the sea.”

“Your help made a big difference, ajusshi.”

Yerim said, a little bashfully.

“You’ve grown very close to us already. Our clan is born with the power to manipulate water. Let go of the hand that holds Honey.”

“But this ocean is so deep, it might be dangerous.”

“This valley has low water pressure. Inside the house is even safer.”

Hesitant, Yerim released my hand. As soon as she let go, my body wavered slightly.

“Uh—”

I floated upward. Rising slowly, I touched the ceiling with my hand. The buoyancy was remarkably strong.

“Ordinary humans cannot remain here without something to hold onto. They’d float up and be expelled beyond the valley.”

“I don’t seem to float up much without doing anything.”

“That’s because Little Droplet’s mana moves you naturally. As if land-dwellers walk, run, and breathe. It means you’ve become that adept in water.”

The Mermaid Queen’s mana came to me and pushed me gently back onto the sofa. Still, my body swayed. I ought to have fastened the belt.

“Our clan, too, when young and inexperienced, often floated away on the currents like land children crawling before they learn to walk. That’s why we built houses with ceilings and walls.”

I’d thought an underwater house looked too ordinary; now I knew why.

“If one falls into a deep sleep, even an adult can drift away.”

The Mermaid Queen smiled faintly, as if recalling distant memories. Perhaps none of her kin remained but her.

“What has become of your world, Queen of the Merfolk?” Yerim asked. The Queen sighed deeply. The water around her mouth blurred and trembled slightly. Come to think of it, how does one speak underwater? Does water carry sound like air?

“After attaining the rank of Transcendent, I left my world. Some devour their own worlds to grow stronger, but I had no such intent. I believed one of my descendants would reach the rank of Transcendent.”

So she didn’t destroy ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ her world herself. Then why gamble with another’s world? Perhaps because it wasn’t hers.

“But without a single kin coming to find me, my world perished long ago.”

“As a Transcendent, couldn’t you have extended its lifespan?”

“The power to create and sustain a world belongs only to its Source. Even the strongest Transcendent can only destroy worlds; they cannot create them.”

I suddenly recalled the Child of Chaos. He guards the world but doesn’t try to erase the Source—because if the Creator vanished, this world would vanish too.

“At best, one can stitch together a semblance of a world from its fragments.”

You shouldn’t do that with someone else’s intact world. Yerim tilted her head.

“What exactly is the Source?”

“Nobody knows. Were communication possible, much would change. Yet despite possessing that power, it has never once expressed sentience. It’s puzzling. Even a tiny mouse can communicate simple needs.”

“Then it’s just a lump of power?”

“Even a lump of power births something when it reaches a certain size.”

The Mermaid Queen pointed to the pearl at Yerim’s neck.

“Spirits are likewise born when elemental power concentrates. So the existence of a Source is mysterious. It has undergone no change for ages.”

Yerim fiddled with the pearl. The water-light translucent orb spun in her palm.

“Do you know why the spirit inside hasn’t awakened?”

“Hard to say. It may lack the power to hatch yet, or the spirit within may refuse to awaken.”

“Spirits can refuse?”

“Of course. High-rank spirits are particularly choosy about their contractors.”

I thought of Rin, who jumped straight to a contract before Yuhyun even agreed. Rin didn’t seem too picky—though Yuhyun was unusual. Had the criterion been anyone but Yuhyun, Rin might still be a free spirit.

...Surely, the Water Spirit wouldn’t demand a born-S-Rank like Yerim. That would be wrong. A shadow passed over Yerim’s expression.

“Maybe I’m not enough....”

“It’s impossible to know. Most Water Spirits would welcome Little Droplet, but some are exceptionally selective.”

“I see....”

Yerim drooped. Poor thing.

“Yerim, in our world you’re the greatest. So it must be another reason. If the spirit wants someone else, that’s not being picky, it’s the opposite!”

No one surpassed Yerim in water mastery. I was certain. She nodded with a smile, but she hadn’t fully cheered up.

“As Honey said, Little Droplet is amazing.”

“Yes, the Transcendent said so too.”

“If you continue to grow smoothly like this, you may one day reach Transcendent rank yourself.”

Impressive, but I wasn’t so keen. My view of Transcendents had soured.

“But it will take a long time. I spent nearly a thousand years to reach Transcendent rank myself.”

“A thousand years?” Yerim’s mouth fell open. I was surprised too. That long? Even S-Ranks can’t live that long. Of course they’d gain lifespan while advancing to SS and SSS ranks.

“I had to grow by my own power alone. In my world, I was the first to make myself my own teacher. That’s why I bestowed your title.”

The Mermaid Queen’s successor. From her fingertips, a small gem formed. Laden with potent water power, it drifted toward Yerim.

“This time, it is not one-time use.”

The gem’s light made Yerim’s eyes glint blue.

“Only one recognized as my successor can wield this power. Of course, in Little Droplet’s vessel, you cannot fully master my power. Yet you will grow stronger and faster than before.”

Water Sovereign, Mythic grade. This gem was a permanent power, not a single use. A mythical item worthy of the L-rank title.

But—

“You give this as an achievement reward? With no cost, purely as a gift?”

As if. The Mermaid Queen looked to Yerim, not me.

“By accepting my power, you naturally become my successor. It is not a mere title but an unbreakable bond.”

“What happens then?”

“Think of any master-and-apprentice relationship. Something older and stronger.”

Nowadays students don’t fear teachers much, but think of ancient artisans and their apprentices. I couldn’t help frowning.

“...Must I obey orders?”

“The coercion is slight.”

“That means it still exists.”

“Only until Little Droplet fully matures. Before you grow into an independent Transcendent, you belong to me.”

“To accept that—”

“And you will be safe.”

...Words failed me. The Mermaid Queen’s calm voice continued.

“As my child, I bear the duty to protect Little Droplet. If you fall into danger, I may intercede directly to some extent.”

“.......”

“Even if Honey’s world vanishes, Little Droplet will survive. I will be your guardian and protector.”

It was an offer I couldn’t easily refuse. Yerim would gain the most powerful protector of all—even in this very moment, behind her for an unknowable future.

“My guardian and protector is ajusshi,” Yerim said, poking the gem with her fingertip, disinterestedly.

“Besides, it’s okay if I grow slowly. A thousand years? I can take it one step at a time. No rush.”

“...But Yerim.”

“I’d like to be stronger than Han Yuhyun, but it’s not my power. Trying an item once is fine—seeing what it’s like— but using it continually feels cheap. And a teacher has her own grandfather too.”

Even as she spoke, it seemed she wasn’t fully without regret. Why wouldn’t she want it? She’d already felt the power once. Of course she’d desire it.

“That’s how girls tend to be.”

The gem moved toward the pendant chain. A loop formed and it hung there. Clink—the gem and the spirit’s egg lightly struck each other as the chain swung.

“Especially strong girls act like they can do everything on their own. I was the same when I was young. I felt the world was entirely mine—and then I became queen.”

Though Yerim had refused, the Queen’s gaze remained gentle. Her high regard for Yerim seemed sincere. Perhaps Yerim reminded her of her younger self? In personality more than appearance. The Queen looked far calmer, perhaps due to age. ...Though given the Queen’s wager on my gender, maybe not.

“Use it whenever you wish.”

“...I’d feel uneasy if I thought I might dump it in a crisis.”

“Yerim, keep it. Okay?”

I stopped her from returning it.

“You never know. You must stay alive to do anything at all.”

Even if she later regretted it, she’d at least be alive. Having a power for emergencies couldn’t hurt. Reluctantly, Yerim nodded.

“ajusshi might be in danger too.”

“Use it for yourself, not me. If you just blitz into a master-pact to protect me, I’ll cry.”

“That might be fine. I have a handkerchief in my inventory.”

“But still, no.”

Suddenly I felt anxious. The Mermaid Queen rose.

“I bear genuine goodwill toward Little Droplet. But as a Transcendent charged with protecting worlds, if you belong to me, you will follow our will to some degree.”

...If she were fairly using her power to protect worlds, I wouldn’t worry. The problem was gambling with someone else’s world.

“The choice is yours, Little Droplet. Due to my position, I cannot offer help beyond the title’s scope. But is there anything else you need?”

“May I take a few of these gems with me?” Yerim asked abruptly. The Queen smiled kindly.

“They hold no special power. You may take as many as you like. Follow me.”

As soon as I unbuckled the belt, I began floating again. Yerim grabbed my arm to steady me. I felt like a huge balloon.

The Queen led us out of the house and swam into a forest. Trees with seaweed-like leaves stretched their coral-like branches toward the light above the gorge.

“Wow.”

Beyond the forest lay a broad field of gems. Orbs of every hue covered the ground.

“They’re like pearls. Certain creatures consume bioluminescent flora and fauna; the remnants solidify inside and are expelled here.”

“ajusshi, look—there’s an enormous one!”

A pearl the size of a child’s head. Yerim picked up a few and stored them in her inventory.

“Yerim, save inventory space for items.”

“I’ll only take a few as gifts for the others. Are pearls safe to eat?”

“They’re similar to mana-stones. They might even help you—though at a low grade.”

My breath caught. Should I take more? They’d be good toys, and edible too. Holding the glowing pearls, we returned to the room. As soon as we teleported back, water splashed down. Right—I was soaking wet.

“Hyung, you’re going to catch a cold!”

Yuhyun quickly fetched a towel. Yerim offered blue pearls to Noah and Riet.

“Riet-unni likes shiny things, so gold! Noah-oppa, you’re shiny too, so gold!”

Whenever Yerim moved, the pendant and egg shimmered too. ...Maybe I should keep them. But if I was alone and in danger, she’d have no chance to retrieve them.

“What’s wrong, hyung?”

“Nothing. Really.”

Our rest time was almost over. I hurried to wash up, and Yuhyun helped dry my clothes.

Soon the rest period ended, and a message window appeared before me.