ITHMF 11

Chapter 11

*”Anything?”* She says she’ll give me anything. This girl is throwing around some dangerous words.

For a moment, I thought about saying something, but I kept my mouth shut. Kairan’s eyes were so earnest that I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Right. The potion must be that important to her. She can only get it from me. But understanding Kairan aside, I had no desire to take her money.

After thinking for a long while, a good idea came to me.

“Then can I ask you for one favor?”

“A favor? What is it?”

“Later, when you have time, take me sightseeing on land!”

“Sightseeing on land?”

“Yeah. I’m curious about how people here live. I’ll take that as payment.”

“Is that really enough?”

“It’s not ‘just that’ to me, so it’s fine!”

For someone on their first visit, a guide is incredibly important. I felt a little proud for coming up with such a decent exchange. I get to see the land and spend time with Kairan too—two birds with one stone!

Smiling happily at the thought of it, he asked back with a slightly bewildered face.

“Are you really okay with that?”

“I told you, I’m fine! Why, do you not want to take me sightseeing?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then it’s settled! Deal! I’ll bring you potions regularly from now on, so don’t worry.”

I could see his pupils shaking in confusion. He probably couldn’t believe such a simple price. Only after I asked if he wanted to write a contract did he finally regain his composure.

As I celebrated the deal by myself, Kairan let out a soft laugh.

“What’s so great about making a losing deal?”

“Who says I’m losing?”

“Objectively speaking, it is.”

“From my subjective view, it’s absolutely not a loss. It’s a gain, actually!”

As I insisted strongly, Kairan looked at me with eyes that clearly said he didn’t approve. Still, he didn’t say anything more.

“So where do you want to go sightseeing?”

“Huh? I haven’t thought of anywhere yet.”

Kairan nodded slowly and fell into thought. It seemed he was trying to come up with places worth visiting.

I wasn’t suggesting we go right away, but before I could tell him we could decide later, Kairan spoke in a low voice.

“I just thought of something that would be perfect for sightseeing on land.”

“What is it?”

“A festival is going to be held here soon.”

“A festival?”

“Yeah. Pranerua’s Flower Festival is famous enough to be known in neighboring kingdoms… Have you heard of it?”

As soon as I heard “Flower Festival,” the original story flashed through my mind like lightning.

Isn’t this the festival where Flora is chosen as the “Goddess of Flowers” in the original?!

Once I made that connection, I knew I had to go. Absolutely had to go! Not seeing a festival that served as the backdrop of the book would be absurd! My eyes sparkled as I clasped my hands together neatly.

“So when is the festival?!”

“Hmm, probably about a week from now.”

“Whoa. That’s really soon, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Since you’re going sightseeing anyway, I thought it’d be better to walk around during the festival.”

“That’s perfect! So perfect! What a great idea!”

Unable to contain my excitement, I agreed enthusiastically, and Kairan let out a soft chuckle. Then, apparently thinking it was rude, he covered his mouth with his hand and pretended he hadn’t laughed.

Ignoring whether he laughed or not, I lost myself in my own thoughts.

I heard the streets are so full of fresh flowers that the scent fills the air—is that true? They also sell food made from flowers—I want to try it!

But as I was smiling giddily, Kairan’s next words made me freeze.

“But you’d have to come out during the daytime. Is that okay?”

“…Daytime?”

“Yeah. There’s more to see during the day. And nighttime is more dangerous too.”

Come to think of it, Flora definitely only went out during the day too!

Oh no, what do I do?

The excitement that had me floating on cloud nine came crashing down to earth in an instant.

Can I sneak out of the castle during the day?

Hmm… it’s not impossible.

But on top of that, I still can’t transform into human form.

Faced with these practical problems, despair washed over me.

Seeing me groan, Kairan asked with worried eyes.

“Is daytime a problem?”

“Yeah… but since I’m sightseeing anyway, I’d prefer to do it during the day…”

“If it doesn’t work out, we can go another time. You don’t have to see the festival.”

“No. I want to see the festival!”

Is there a potion that lets me transform into a human? Should I ask the Deep Sea Witch?

I decided to try my best to find a way, clenching my fists.

“I’ll find a way!”

“Alright. Let me know when you can go.”

“Yeah! …Ah, I should go now. You should head back too. Take good care of the potions.”

Kairan nodded and picked up the potions lying on the ground. His hands were quite large—he held five bottles without any trouble.

I waved at his retreating back and quickly returned to the castle.

—

* * *

The next day, as soon as I opened my eyes, I went to see the Deep Sea Witch. I came to find out how to sneak out to land, so I didn’t bring Mei.

At my loud knocking, the witch came out and her furrowed brow relaxed as soon as she saw me.

“What brings you here, Princess? I believe I sent word that I’d think about the tutor position a bit more…”

“Ah, that’s not why I’m here! I came because I have something to ask.”

“Come in, then.”

I entered the witch’s house and sat on the sofa as if I’d done it a hundred times. After rummaging through the cupboard to bring out simple desserts and tea, the witch sat across from me and asked what I’d come to ask about.

“Do you happen to have a potion that lets me transform into a human?”

“A humanization potion?”

“Yeah. I have somewhere I need to use it!”

The witch nodded knowingly with a slightly deflated expression.

“Humanization potions are one of my main products. They’re usually needed by mermaids around your age when they’re practicing walking.”

“Ah…!”

Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered Mei telling me something similar. Back then I thought she meant they practiced after they could already transform, but it turns out they practice *before* that!

Making a mental note of this new information, I placed a pouch of jewels on the table.

“I’ll buy a humanization potion! And there’s one more thing I need…”

To sneak out of the castle during the day, I needed a decoy. After I explained the situation, the witch grinned knowingly.

“Don’t worry. Just wait a moment.”

She disappeared into her workshop and soon returned with items in both hands. She set them down on the table and briefly explained how to use them.

This is it! This is exactly what I was looking for!

Filled with hope that I could go see the festival, I immediately purchased the items.

A week later, the long-awaited Flower Festival finally began.

I’d been so excited that I could barely sleep, having planned out our festival sightseeing with Kairan in detail.

I woke up early, but I couldn’t go to land right away. Mei, who’d been glued to me all day, only left briefly after lunch to run an errand.

Not missing the opportunity, I pulled out the items I’d bought from the witch from under the bed. A small mermaid-shaped doll and a bottle of blue liquid.

“The instructions said to pour the potion on the doll, right?”

I tucked a strand of my hair into the doll’s clothes and poured the potion over it. The doll slowly grew larger until it was exactly my height.

Wow, even the face is identical?!

As I marveled, the doll opened its eyes.

The doll’s performance was surprisingly impressive. After confirming it could understand and respond to others, I felt somewhat relieved.

“Then I’m off. You have to do a good job while I’m gone!”

“Yes. Safe travels.”

Receiving the doll’s farewell, I immediately slipped out of the castle. Unlike at night, there were mermaids swimming around everywhere, so it took twice as long as usual.

Pulling my robe down deeper, I blended into the crowd of mermaids heading toward the land. Judging by how excited they all seemed, they were probably going to the festival too.

After safely surfacing, I headed straight for the cave. Since it was daytime, the light pouring down from above was warm compared to the moon.

He’s not here yet?

As soon as I confirmed Kairan wasn’t there, I pulled out a new potion, swallowed it, and climbed up over the cave.

Poof!

“*Cough cough!* Ow, that’s a lot of smoke…”

The billowing smoke was thick enough to obscure my vision.

I waved my hand in front of my face as I coughed. When the wind blew the smoke out of the cave, I saw that where my tail used to be, smooth legs had appeared.

Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve had legs!

I happily touched my legs, then used magic to dry the remaining moisture from my hair and clothes.

“This should pass for human, right?”

The light breeze gently swayed the hem of my pink skirt.

The outfit I wore today was the most unassuming dress I owned. Mermaids didn’t wear layers like humans, but they did wear simple clothing, and this dress was made to resemble human clothes the most.

With the shoes I’d bought from the Deep Sea Witch, I now looked convincingly human.

“Wow, but why do these shoes feel so awkward?”

Maybe it was because I’d lived with a tail for over ten years, but having something wrapped around my feet felt incredibly strange. Like a puppy wearing shoes for the first time, I stiffened in place, standing awkwardly.

I’ll get used to it after walking a bit.

Using the cave wall for support, I practiced walking slowly. Fortunately, though slightly unsteady, I was getting used to walking faster. Having memories from my past life definitely seemed to help.

Should I try letting go of the wall now?

But as I gradually moved away from the wall, I was startled by a voice from behind.

“Serinelle?”

“Oh, hi. Kairan!”

I narrowly avoided falling. Turning around with an awkward smile, I saw Kairan slowly entering the cave.

He approached and looked me over once, murmuring.

“Incredible…”

“Because I’m actually out here on land?”

As if I’d hit the nail on the head, Kairan nodded slowly.

I’m amazed too. The fact that I’m walking instead of swimming! I hope I don’t suddenly trip and fall here…

Seeing my worry written all over my face, Kairan cautiously extended his hand.

“If you want, I can hold on to you.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I was just thinking I needed something to steady myself anyway!

Thinking this worked out perfectly, I readily took Kairan’s hand. But after grabbing it, I realized something… it meant I was standing right next to him.

I’m holding the male lead’s hand!

Something I’d never even imagined happening made me feel a little giddy.

As we approached the area with dense shops, the streets grew crowded. Especially since it was a flower festival, every shop was decorated with colorful flowers. The street was filled with a subtle floral scent.

It’s exactly like how it was described in the book!

My heart swelled with emotion.

But somehow, there seemed to be a lot of people. The deeper we went into the festival’s center, the more packed it became. I turned my head toward Kairan.

“Let’s be careful not to get separated. If we lose each other here, we’d never find each other.”

“That’s why we’re holding hands.”

Kairan shook our joined hands and asked where I wanted to go.