It sinks. It might rise. Everything is water. Faintly glowing blue water fills every direction. I cannot tell where the sunlight comes from, nor where darkness lurks. There is only water, and so it feels like nothing exists.

Park Ye-rim is sinking or perhaps rising or perhaps drifting away.

“...Hey!”

Slowly she blinks, then suddenly shouts. The water shudders slightly, but that’s all. Her voice, amplified by an item, soon drowns back into the depths. Park Ye-rim stretches out her limbs as if to stand upright—but she cannot tell if she’s standing, lying down, or balancing on her hands.

It does not feel good.

...I didn’t plan to stay here alone.

Unlike before, the Mermaid Queen’s water flows slowly. It seems for the first time that if she summoned a wave she might deflect it. If waves collide, she could buy time and teleport out in a narrow escape.

But she fails.

...Everyone else got out, so it’s almost a success, right?

Park Ye-rim nods to herself. She hadn’t expected to be caught like this. ...It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought escape might fail, but it hadn’t felt real. Somehow, surely, it would work this time. It always had.

“What are you planning to do? Hey!”

Park Ye-rim shouts again. The water gulps down her voice. Though she’s fully awakened to the Mermaid Queen’s power and the water is now familiar, in this moment it feels alien. Nothing but water. Endless water, and water again, and water again. No surface, no floor. A chill crawls up her spine, and a bizarre fear sneaks in—she shakes it off.

“Try sending a message at least!”

She grumbles, drifting slightly in an unpredictable direction. Nothing is heard or seen beyond her own voice. She bites her lip. Just as she’s about to grow anxious—

— I have no intention to harm you.

A resonant voice rides the waves. Like a shadow beneath the surface, a colossal form shimmers. All space quakes at once, and the presence of the water’s master fills every drop.

Park Ye-rim stiffens her jaw, forcing her eyes wide to hide weakness.

— Little water droplet.

“What’s my name is Park Ye-rim.”

A dark shadow ripples beneath her feet. It seems infinitely distant and yet almost brushing her toes at once. Above her, too, a presence like storm clouds blankets the sky. Water flows slowly from every side. Park Ye-rim takes short, rapid breaths. It feels as if she’s drowning without any skills to save her. With each inhale, bubbles escape her lungs, as if never to return.

She instinctively clamps her hands over mouth and nose. Her heart pounds fiercely.

— You cannot leave the water without my permission.

The water’s voice continues.

— This is my domain, so nothing you trust can rescue you here.

There will be no rescue. No one outside can even locate this place—not Han Yujin, not an S-rank Hunter, not even a Transcendent.

— So accept it.

Become the successor of the Mermaid Queen. A wave brushes gently across Park Ye-rim’s cheek. Her shoulders tremble.

“...I said I don’t want to.”

A muffled voice murmurs beneath her palm—but it remains firm.

“You said to leave behind Mister, and now it’s me? Why are you doing this?”

— Because it is necessary. Han Yujin possesses abilities we need.

“If it’s necessary you should explain with words and persuade. We can talk and understand!”

— But he is weak. One who cannot protect himself cannot share secrets. Understand my stance: I cannot speak until you fully come under my protection.

“...Why us? That’s not understanding, that’s forcing demands!”

Shapes in the water gather along the waves, slowly forming mermaid figures, swaying like drenched silhouettes. Park Ye-rim stares at them squarely.

— You may feel it’s unfair. But little droplet, you have failed.

Park Ye-rim’s eyes narrow. Her covered lips twitch.

— Han Yujin will try every method to save you, and ultimately offer himself.

Park Ye-rim had freed him, but because she’s trapped, Han Yujin will walk into the Mermaid Queen’s presence of his own accord. Her breath quickens. She tried not to imagine it, but the scene is too easy to picture.

“...Mister will find a way.”

— He failed and remained behind. Both he and you lacked the power.

“But—”

— Everyone has a time of youth and weakness. No need to be ashamed.

A hand reaches toward Park Ye-rim. The mirage-like form now gleams with distinct scales.

— Accept my protection.

It resonates with warmth and strength.

— As the water’s master, I will embrace you. You will have no need to fear or tremble again.

“...I’ve never been scared.”

— You will always stand proud.

As the Mermaid Queen’s successor, on the path of promised glory. One day, all this water will shimmer beneath your hand.

Feeling her breath grow ragged, Park Ye-rim still shakes her head, stubbornly glaring.

“I still refuse!”

The Mermaid Queen makes no further demands; her hand withdraws quietly. As the gesture fades, Park Ye-rim trembles all over, longing suddenly to seize that hand. She grits her teeth.

— I could [N O V E L I G H T] crush you at any time. Yet I offer this in kindness never given before.

The Queen’s form blurs and her voice scatters like echoes.

— Remember my care and consideration, and think slowly. Time flows very slowly here, so you have plenty to change your mind.

The water ripples dramatically.

— If you wish to escape, accept my power and call me.

The presence of the Mermaid Queen vanishes completely. Once more there is nothing but water. Park Ye-rim, left entirely alone, blinks.

“...I mean to—”

Her voice emptily swallowed by the water. She strains her mana senses—but still only water surrounds her. The Queen does not watch her depart. She leaves without even a trace.

She is alone.

It is desolate. Park Ye-rim takes a deep breath and begins to move. Though she knows neither up nor down, she swims in the direction she believes the surface lies.

...What if I’m heading downwards?

If she keeps sinking forever— At that thought, the way ahead feels particularly dark. Panicked, she changes course. But soon the same thought returns.

Am I not heading for the bottom? Am I plunging myself to ruin?

There is no path. No guiding light. Only solitude.

“...I still have to get out.”

If she cannot escape, all she’s done will vanish. Maybe it would get even worse.

You have failed. The Mermaid Queen’s voice rings in her mind. Park Ye-rim flails on, unable to find a way.

He might have had a plan.

He always did. With far lower stats than an S-rank, he faced Transcendents and still found a path out. Perhaps this time too. No—he would. He would have carved a way without her drifting in confusion.

“...Hey! Mermaid Queen!”

She shouts. The water is still. Almost no current, quietly filling the space. Park Ye-rim stops. No matter how far she goes, nothing changes. Even if she thrashes her limbs, she stays in the same blue depths. She wonders if she’s even moving or merely bobbing in place.

“...It’s okay.”

She mutters softly. Her voice reaches nothing. She can do nothing but wait emptily.

“...It’s okay.”

They will come to rescue me. The people beside Park Ye-rim would never abandon her. That much she’s sure of. So she must be okay.

“...I’m not okay.”

Her body trembles. Her heart pounds.

“...I’m scared.”

She is terrified. To be left alone, helpless, is frightening. No matter how she struggles, nothing changes. She feels so small. The belief that she could do anything slips away. She is as powerless as before awakening, as when she was a child.

— ...I’m sorry!

“......?!”

A small voice sounds. Park Ye-rim startles, looking around.

— I was scared too!

“...What? Who’s there?”

— I was so, so scared I couldn’t get out!

A faint light shimmers. It is the end of the cord around Park Ye-rim’s pendant. The spirit’s egg—a water droplet–like gem—is wrapped in misty blue glow. Park Ye-rim cups the Water Spirit’s Egg in her hands.

“Is that you?”

— I’m a coward!

The voice quivers. The blue light trembles greatly.

— There’s so much fear around you, Ye-rim.

“Around me?”

— Yes. Especially Transcendents far stronger than you! Actually I’d already awakened...

The Water Spirit speaks shamefully.

— My consciousness came long ago. I hung on your neck, planning a grand greeting, but then I bumped into Chatterbox. I held my breath.

— You stood proud, but I panicked. I thought one Transcendent might vanish—but then another...

I was dragged right into their domain. The egg trembles slightly.

— When I met the Mermaid Queen, I never wanted to be discovered. I could have been born then, but I was too scared. I was terrified of the power to swallow the world’s pieces. The great wolf, too.

Her voice catches.

— But the scariest thing was that I was a coward.

“...What’s wrong with being a coward?”

— You are always strong, Ye-rim. You face fear and stand firm. You never backed down even before far stronger Transcendents. But I... froze in fear, couldn’t even speak, crouched inside my shell... I’m so ashamed.

The light is too bright. The water too clear. The spirit can’t plunge in.

— I thought you’d hate such a coward...

“No!”

Park Ye-rim shakes her head vigorously.

“Why would I hate you? And I’m scared too.”

Even as she smiles, tears slip out.

“I’ve been scared so many times. I’m terrified now. Honestly, I’ve always been.”

Tears mingle with the water. Tears of laughter.

“But I was also—it scared me to look weak.”

— You are strong, Ye-rim!

“Yeah, but I’m still scared. Even if I grow much stronger, there will always be things I fear.”

The spirit’s egg glows brighter, more pure blue.

— I thought you’d be fine without me.

“No, that’s not true.”

— But you were scared too, so I couldn’t hide anymore.

She is inside a Transcendent’s realm, bound. It is more terrifying than ever. Yet beyond that fear—

— I wanted to stay with you.

The Water Spirit loves Park Ye-rim. From the first moment of consciousness it had admired her, silently nurturing affection. Park Ye-rim laughs.

“Thank you.”

— ...I’m sorry it took so long.

“No, and you’re strong. Not a coward.”

— But I—

“You reached out to me anyway, even though you were scared. How is that cowardice?”

— ...I’m still scared.

“You can be! I’m scared too! I want to cry my eyes out from fear!”

With that she truly sobs.

“Mister might get hurt because of me, sob! If I stepped in and ruined everything...”

She cries out loud. What if she never leaves this place? What if Mister fails and I’m left alone again? If she keeps refusing the Queen’s offer and the Queen grows angry enough to kill—

The Water Spirit cries too, whimpering apologies. Park Ye-rim shushes it, tears in her own voice. After they both cry, laughter returns.

“I think I can endure because I’m not alone. It’ll be okay—Mister will help. You’ve seen him too, right? You can trust him.”

Park Ye-rim rubs her eyes with a finger.

“It’s embarrassing that I charged in to solve everything and ended up like this. But it’s okay. Even if I make huge mistakes and ruin everything, Mister will still stand by me. I will stand by him too.”

Her wet eyes look tenderly at the spirit’s egg.

“Even if you hide in fear or run away, I will always love you. I’ll be on your side.”

Just as Park Ye-rim was once rescued, now she rescues the spirit. The egg gleams with light, sparkling as it laughs.

— I will take up the mantle.

“Huh? What?”

— Successor of the Mermaid Queen.

Park Ye-rim’s eyes widen.

“Title? You?”

— Yes! I am your spirit, so I can receive the power of the title you have not yet fully claimed.

“But then you—”

— It’s okay.

The egg turns transparently blue. It disperses into droplets, then gathers again before Park Ye-rim. The small form laughs.

— Before I am the Mermaid Queen’s successor, I am your spirit. So it’s okay. I am not subordinated.

The gem of the Mermaid Queen that once hung with the egg suffuses into the spirit. The blue droplet reaches out with tiny hands and opens its eyes, gazing at Park Ye-rim with utmost affection.

— My sea.

Successor of the Mermaid Queen, the Water Spirit’s only sea.