ITHMF 06

Chapter 06

Sipping on my second drink, I let out deep sighs. The sweetness seemed to loosen up my stiff head, and it started working again.

“Why does it keep failing?”

“You said you were doing it exactly as the book instructed, right?”

“Yeah. I guess self-study was too much after all.”

For about a week, I’d rummaged through all sorts of books and tried my best, but I only repeated failures every time.

Was it a mistake to try self-study? I should have just found a teacher first.

It’s all the fault of that book, *Making Potions? It’s Not Hard~!* It lied, saying I could make potions well enough through self-study, leading me to this state.

One day, I will burn that book.

“What should I do? I told him it would be okay, but…”

During the time I was making potions, I’d gone to meet Kairan a couple more times. Each time, I asked about Riose’s condition, and he always said it was the same.

His bitter eyes made me feel sorry for him, so I told him not to worry and boasted that I would definitely cure her.

Ugh… I’m going to end up being a liar at this rate.

The potions wouldn’t turn out as I wanted, so I just kept sighing.

“Maya, is there any mermaid around who can teach me how to make potions?”

“Hmm, not among those I know. They might know the basics, but none of them are skilled enough to teach someone.”

“Ah… then what should I do? I really don’t think I can do it alone…”

Seeing my dejection, Maya hesitated, as if she was thinking about something. She seemed to know something but was reluctant to say it. I tilted my head.

“What’s wrong? You look like a dog who needs to poop.”

“Um… No, it’s nothing.”

“Do you know what’s one of the quickest ways to make a person… no, a mermaid angry? It’s starting to say something and then stopping! What is it? I’m curious!”

Urged by me, Maya finally spoke cautiously.

“There is one mermaid I know who makes potions very well…”

“Really?! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“But that mermaid is quite eccentric…”

“Eccentric?”

“Yes. She’s famous among mermaids.”

A famous eccentric among mermaids?

I actually like that.

It felt like a ray of light had seeped through a blocked wall. With a brightened face, I grabbed Maya’s arm.

“She’s definitely skilled, right?”

“…Yes. Her skill is certain. Most of the potions that mermaids consume are made by her.”

That meant her skills were beyond question.

To think there was a mermaid who could solve my problem so close by! I looked up at Maya with hopeful eyes.

“Who is she? Can you ask her to be my teacher?”

“The thing is… that mermaid isn’t the type to listen to others.”

“Then I’ll persuade her! Just guide me!”

Seeing my enthusiasm, Maya frowned in trouble, then squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. She looked like she was facing a huge dilemma.

What is it? Is she a mermaid who lives on land? That would be a bit troublesome…

To go to land, I’d need my parents’ permission, which would take much more time. I kept pressing Maya, who was still hesitating.

“I don’t know what the problem is, but I’ll solve it all! Just tell me where she lives, okay? She doesn’t live on land, does she? I think land would be a bit difficult, but I’ll find a way somehow…”

Then, Maya suddenly spoke.

“The east.”

“Huh? What?”

“The east. That mermaid lives in the east.”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard, and I even dug at my ear with my finger.

What? The east?!

Seeing my eyes slowly widen, Maya nodded as if confirming my suspicion.

Oh my god…

“Isn’t that the village of the sirens?!”

At the eastern edge of the mermaid kingdom was the place where the sirens, called the Sudden Change, used to live.

Although they were the same species, sirens and mermaids had completely opposite natures and didn’t get along well. Both tried to coexist, but over time, they only had a negative influence on each other.

So eventually, the sirens, who were in the minority, moved to the outskirts, and for mermaids, the east had long been a restricted zone.

“But it’s a ruin now.”

Ten years ago, the sirens suddenly disappeared.

Whether they had all moved together or had been attacked by someone was unknown, but they left everything behind and vanished overnight. So currently, only ruined buildings remained in the east.

“That’s right. Light no longer reaches there either.”

“But she lives there?”

“Yes. I heard she says potions are made better there?”

“She lives there just because of that?”

“That’s why she’s called eccentric.”

There was a reason mermaids left the ruined siren village untouched.

It was because of the dark magic used by the sirens. For some reason, all sirens were born dark mages, and for mermaids to live there again, purification was essential.

But until then, there was no mermaid strong enough to purify the dark magic accumulated over a long time. It was just that enough time had passed that most of the dark magic residue had dissipated, and now it was okay to visit briefly.

Still, staying there continuously would cause some effects… Does she have enough strength to overcome that?

The more questions I had, the more curious I became about this mermaid.

“So who is she? Would I know her if you told me?”

“Hmm… maybe?”

“Tell me!”

When I looked at her with hopeful eyes, Maya hesitated for a moment and then whispered.

“…The Witch of the Deep Sea.”

“The Witch of the Deep Sea? Ah, I think I’ve heard of her!”

I remembered there being a potion shop with a similar name in the bustling district. It was quite popular, so I thought the owner was skilled, and it seemed that was true.

Alright. Since I’ve found the right person, there’s no time to waste. First, Riose was urgent, so I’d buy a healing potion, and as a bonus, I could try to cast her as my potions magic teacher.

I stood up and said.

“Let’s go!”

“Huh? Where?”

“East! I need to meet the Witch of the Deep Sea.”

“Now? You’re going now?”

“Yeah! Things like this need to be done immediately!”

And as I was about to run outside, Maya, horrified, grabbed me tightly. Her arms wrapped around my waist, and I struggled to break free.

But I was still no match for an adult’s strength.

“Why are you stopping me!”

“Are you really going right now? It’s the east! Aren’t you scared?”

“So what. A lot of time has passed, so most of the dark magic residue is gone now.”

“That’s true, but…”

“What’s the problem? I’m just going to ask her to make one potion! If she’s busy, I can just get some advice.”

But Maya still seemed reluctant. I seriously persuaded her, saying it was a necessary step for my magic studies.

Of course, if push came to shove, I was planning to go alone secretly later anyway.

As I was thinking about what would make Maya faint, she seemed to finish her deliberations and gave a determined look.

“Fine. But we go and come back as quickly as possible.”

“Of course! I’ll head straight back to the castle once I achieve my goal.”

“You said you’re going now, right? Then let me prepare!”

And she quickly left the room, returning about 20 minutes later. Carrying a large picnic basket.

What on earth did she pack…?

When I stared at her as if to ask what that was, Maya gave a slightly sheepish smile. She seemed to realize herself that she’d packed too much.

“I tried to pack only the essentials… but this is how it turned out.”

“What’s in it? Let me see.”

“Here.”

I took the picnic basket from Maya and lifted the lid without hesitation.

Inside, there were items I’d never imagined. Quickly scanning the contents with my eyes, I started removing things that seemed unnecessary.

“Maya, is being a peddler your hobby?”

“No, it’s not… Ah! Shouldn’t we at least have a change of clothes?”

“We’re not sleeping over, so it’s unnecessary. Why did you pack teacups and a kettle?”

“In case you suddenly feel like having tea on the way…”

“Nope, I won’t.”

“Th-That’s really necessary! The light ball is really necessary!”

Strange things kept coming out of Maya’s basket.

Jam knives, a picture I drew when I was little, extra shoes, clothes, hair ornaments, moisturizer… More than half of it made me wonder why she’d brought it.

After ruthlessly removing all of them, I packed only the light ball and a few simple snacks.

“This should be enough.”

“Isn’t it too little?”

“No, it’s just right.”

After putting the items into the shoulder bag inside the picnic basket, I handed it back to Maya. She had a wistful look in her eyes for the things she couldn’t take, but she obediently accepted the bag.

I took my personal pouch, which looked like a lucky charm, to the vanity and opened the drawer. Jewelry studded with sparkling gems greeted me.

If I buy a healing potion, I’ll need money…

I roughly scooped the expensive-looking jewelry into my pouch. Seeing me, Maya stammered in surprise.

“Wh-Why are you suddenly packing jewelry?”

“Huh? I need to pay for the potion.”

“You could just go to the vault.”

“I want to leave right now. I’ll get new jewelry made later with gems from the vault.”

This should be enough.

I put the pouch, now full of jewelry, into the shoulder bag and smiled with satisfaction as I left the castle with Maya.

Even while guiding me, Maya kept making expressions as if she wasn’t sure about this.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I just went alone?”

“Now that you’ve already come out with me?”

“No, the more I think about it, going to the east with the Princess just doesn’t sit right with me…”

“It’s not like we’re going somewhere forbidden. Anyway, it’s too late to back out now, so just guide me well.”

Eventually, seeming to give up on persuading me, Maya nodded in agreement.

We passed through winding alleys until a worn-out sign appeared. It read ‘Siren Village.’ The direction the sign pointed seemed to be the way east.

The path is more complicated than I thought.

Without Maya, I would have spent half a day just finding the signs.

“We should go this way.”

“There are fewer and fewer mermaids as we go.”

“Since mermaids rarely have business in the east.”

The further we got from the kingdom, the more desolate the surroundings became. Unlike the vibrant and lively mermaid kingdom, the east was quiet, still, and quite dark.

In the past, when the sirens lived here, this place was also filled with light like the mermaid kingdom, but after it became a ruin, that light was blocked.

“This is the eastern entrance.”