Chapter 33 Part II

    The Appearance of the Mermaid "Aime"

    “Where is your city, Aime? Do you have seafood there?” 

    Gumiho asked curiously, wondering if there would be any unusual food to try. Möbius shared her curiosity, though his concern was more about how they would reach that city. As Möbius had expected, the mermaid pointed out to the sea.

    “It’s about 50 kilometers that way.”

    “And how do we get there?” 

    Möbius asked Aime. He had looked at the map and was certain that there was no island in the direction Aime had pointed. All he could think was that their city must be at the bottom of the sea.

    “Swim, of course. I swam here, too. You just need to hold your breath for a day or so.” 

    Aime replied casually, as if it were a simple task. But Möbius thought it was very unusual for them to not be able to breathe underwater like mermaids. As for Leia, she began to grow suspicious since she had thought mermaids would be more like fish or at least something close.

    “Hold your breath...? Don’t you breathe through gills like fish?”

    “We breathe through lungs, just like humans. We can just hold our breath for a long time. In our city, there’s air to breathe.” 

    Aime answered, which eased some of Möbius’s concerns. At least now he had a clearer idea of how they would travel, though he was still worried about fighting the prince. If there was breathable air in the mermaid city, though, they might manage.

    “Hey, Möbius, good to see...uh.” 

    Kujikatsu greeted Möbius cheerfully as he approached with the rest of the Teppanyaki group, but he paused upon seeing the new girl, thinking that the young man, the lucky guy, must be trying out something really unusual—and not just slightly unusual, but very unusual.

    “Uh...” Teppanyaki, who was stunned by Aime's beauty, momentarily forgot what he wanted to say. He stood frozen, mouth open, trying to form words but failing.

    “Oh, let me introduce you. This is Miss Aime, and Miss Aime, these are my friends.” 

    Möbius introduced the dugong girl, while the Teppanyaki group stared at her, unable to take their eyes off her.

    “Well, I know I’m beautiful, but you don’t have to stare so much.” 

    Aime, flustered by their gaze, shifted in her seat. The chair creaked in rhythm with her movements. This reminded everyone of a certain dish served at fancy Chinese banquets, where the ingredients are turned repeatedly while being grilled. Eventually, Teppanyaki remembered what he wanted to say before the beauty of Möbius’s new girl made him forgot what to say again.

    “We have to leave now. Something has happened in Sakura Town.” 

    “The Bushido Federation, right?” 

    Möbius could guess who caused the trouble in the city, but he wasn’t sure exactly why. The truth was that this incident stemmed from Möbius’s recent involvement in saving Nigiri as part of the mission for the Injustice Upholders of the World Guild. Not wanting to burden Möbius, Teppanyaki took responsibility for handling the situation.

    “Yes, although the news hasn’t been fully verified, it seems reliable enough for us to check out what’s happening. You should stay here for now, Möbius—no need to rush back.”

    “Got it. I don’t have any plans to return just yet. Don’t worry, Mr. Teppanyaki.” 

    Möbius smiled at Teppanyaki. Initially, he had considered inviting them to the mermaid city after revealing that Aime was a mermaid. However, he couldn't invite them anymore. In order not to make the other party feel uncomfortable, he didn't tell his friends about the mermaid city.

    “How are you guys getting back?”

    “I’m renting a small system boat. Mr. Möbius, when you’re ready to leave, you can use the boat we came on.”

    Teppanyaki answered Möbius’s question. Earlier, he had consulted with the game master Capitan whether they could return separately or not. He was advised that if we wanted to return quickly, renting a small boat would be much faster, though it would also be more expensive. With no other option, he had to go with that plan.

    “You’re leaving already? Bye-bye. Come visit again sometime.” 

    “Good luck.” 

    “I’ll bring you some seafood next time.”

    Möbius’s three girls said their farewells to the Japanese food group with warmth and friendliness. Tempura and Shabu-Shabu had also grown closer to the group during their time together in Tanuki City and on the island. When Teppanyaki felt the timing was right, he turned to Möbius to say his own goodbye.

    “Well, we’ll be off now.”

    “Safe travels, see you again.”

    The two groups exchanged respectful bows before the young man led his team toward the dock.

    After the Teppanyaki’s group departed, Möbius, his girls, and the dugong mermaid gathered on the beach. Möbius then summoned his sleek black car and parked it on the sand.

    [Yawwwn...!!! Good morning, everyone.] 

    Black Lightning yawned as it greeted everyone, as if it had just woken up. Möbius felt a little surprised that even his car could feel sleepy, but he greeted it back and immediately asked his pressing question.

    “Hey, Black, can you drive in water?” 

    [Of course, Mr. Möbius. I even have a waterproof mode, though it’ll take a little time to switch over to that mode. Oh... We haven't seen each other for a while. Oh...] 

    As Black Lightning was about to comment on Möbius having yet another new girl, it stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Aime’s beauty, stunned that he couldn’t speak and remained in that state for a long moment.

    “A...hem, Black, let’s see that waterproof mode.” 

    [Y...Yes, Mr. Möbius, right away.] 

    Understanding his pet well, Möbius gently cleared his throat to remind it to focus. He wanted to see how Black Lightning’s waterproof system worked before actually going into the water to ensure everything was safe. The sleek black car quickly complied. Small motors began whirring, and several metal plates unfolded from the back of the car, expanding to cover its body perfectly, transforming it into a sleek, enclosed vehicle capable of withstanding water. However, since it wasn’t a submarine, it still had a few limitations to address.

    [This is my waterproof system. I can prevent water from getting in, but I don’t have an oxygen supply system.] 

    “No worries, I’ve already figured out a solution for that.”

    Möbius raised his left hand above his head. Suddenly, a massive gust of wind swept down, surprising everyone who stood there. 

    “You’re sucking in the air, huh?”

    Inari was the first to figure out what the young man was planning. By storing a reserve of air in Möbius’s black hole, he could continuously cycle out the stale air and replenish it with fresh air during the journey. This would allow everyone to breathe comfortably until they reached their destination. However, despite resolving the breathing issue, Black Lightning still had some concerns.

    [Uh… is your new girl coming along with us, Mr. Möbius?] 

    “I don't think so, since I have to swim ahead to guide you. No need to feel left out.” 

    Aime, the beauty, replied to Black Lightning flirtatiously, which left the usually talkative car speechless, unsure of how to respond.

    [Ah, I see. Understood... What a shame, though.]

    “Alright, let’s get going.”

    Möbius nodded to Gumiho, Leia, and Inari, signaling for them to board the car as they prepared to head toward Aime’s city, Blue Aquarium. As the mermaid saw the young man’s group ready, she slowly walked into the ocean.

    When her plump legs touched the seawater, they transformed into her short, stubby fish tail. When she swung her tail, it didn't look like she was swung it, but rather looked like she was swaying her body from side to side. Looking at it, it looked like a round fish that could only sway its small tail to move forward. If you only looked at its lower half, it could be said to be quite cute.

    Once Black Lightning submerged into the sea, propellers emerged from the wheel hubs, propelling the vehicle forward.

    [This function is usually meant for short distances, but don’t worry. I can withstand pressures up to 20 kilometers deep. We’ll soon be entering a zone where there’s no light.] 

    Black Lightning provided updates to Möbius and his crew as they ventured deeper, making him wonder if the car knew more than he did at times.

    Soon, their car was surrounded by total darkness, as they had descended beyond the reach of sunlight. Using Black Lightning’s headlights and following Aime’s guidance, they navigated the depths without getting lost. Undersea, strange sea creatures, unlike anything on land, occasionally appeared. Möbius felt fortunate that the system’s justice didn’t send monsters to attack in such a place where they would barely be able to fight like this.

    “There!!! I think Aime is signaling that we’re almost there.” 

    Inari, sitting in the back, pointed at the dugong girl, who was making some kind of signal. Ahead of them, a massive cave appeared at the base of an underwater cliff.

    [Whoa... Is that where Aime’s people live? Mr. Möbius, please keep me packed away while we’re here. They seem... terrifying.] 

    Black Lightning gossiped about the mermaids swimming ahead. Möbius, not objecting, understood the feeling well, being an average-looking guy himself. He knew what it was like to receive strange looks, especially back when he wore simple cotton clothes. Aime’s high confidence made him feel a bit uneasy, though he understood that everyone’s idea of beauty was different.

    The cave Aime led them into was far longer than expected, but soon enough, they saw a beam of light shining down from above. Black Lightning began to ascend, surfacing in another cave. Ahead of them, they saw the city of the blue mermaids, Blue Aquarium, nestled within a massive stone dome. Möbius estimated that the space was large enough to fit an entire mountain.

    “Wow, this city is absolutely beautiful.” 

    Gumiho, sitting in the front, widened her eyes in amazement. The city was quite large, with low-rise houses made from multicolored seashells. Although the city’s layout was somewhat chaotic, it gave the impression of a wildflower garden where flowers of various colors bloomed together. In the sky, countless small glowing bubbles of different colors floated around, creating a brilliant display of light. The young man guessed that the combination of all these colors formed the white light that illuminated the city.

    “Let’s go explore.” 

    As soon as the car came to a stop, Leia urged Möbius to hurry out so they could explore the mermaid city. The petite girl was clearly excited, as it was her first time visiting the underwater city. In fact, their group was only the second to make the journey to this hidden city beneath the waves.

    “Aime, can we take a walk around the city first?” 

    Möbius asked the dugong girl, who had just transformed back into her human form. Though helping Aime’s parents was important, he didn’t want to rush things, especially since his girls deserved to have some fun first.

    “Of course. I’ll use the secret path to wait for you at the entrance of the castle. When I arrive there, I’ll contact you.” 

    Aime pointed to a massive shell that reached nearly to the ceiling, about 30 meters tall. From a distance, it looked like a pillar supporting the dome. Without hesitation, Aime entered her secret path immediately, while Möbius and his girls headed into the mermaid city.

    This city was particularly appealing to female travelers, as all the mermen were incredibly handsome. They dressed in a way that showcased their muscular upper bodies, flaunting chiseled abs and six-packs that would make any woman swoon. Their smooth, fair skin was flawless and touchable. Möbius began to understand how some women felt when they looked at his own girls with envy.

    For male travelers without female company, however, this city was a living nightmare. All the mermaids resembled Aime—short, round, with frizzy hair like broom bristles, and faces covered in blackheads. Yet none of them matched Aime’s level of charm. Möbius realized that when Aime claimed she was the most beautiful mermaid, she might have been telling the truth. He also started to notice that people were staring at him more than usual. It took him a moment to realize it was probably because he was still wearing the bright red palm tree-patterned shirt the hotel had provided.

    "Look, Möbius. There's a restaurant." 

    Gumiho pointed excitedly at a building with the universal symbol for a restaurant—a crossed spoon and fork above the entrance. Of course, both Inari and Leia were eager to try the local food as well, and without waiting for Möbius's opinion, they grabbed him and dragged him inside.

    The restaurant was beautifully designed, with its walls made of spiraled seashells, creating a stunning two-story structure. A waitress, who looked significantly better than the average mermaid walking around the city, greeted them. Möbius immediately requested a table on the second floor to get a better view of the city.

    "Can we have a table on the second floor, please?" 

    "Uh... yes... sure, anything you want." 

    The mermaid stared at Möbius for a moment in a daze before snapping out of it. Möbius didn’t rush her, assuming this was just typical mermaid behavior, considering Aime had done the same thing when she first saw him. She, blushing for some reason, led them upstairs.

    On the second floor, there were a few tables occupied by mermaids who looked similar to Aime. As Möbius and his companions walked in, every mermaid in the room stared at him with wide eyes, zoning out for a few moments. But once his three female companions followed him up, their gazes quickly shifted. Möbius chose a table by the window, but before they could even order, he overheard a conversation nearby.

    "Look at that guy... he's so handsome." 

    Two mermaids sitting at the table next to theirs were whispering to each other. Möbius, who couldn’t remember ever being called handsome in his life, looked around and realized he was the only man in the area. He couldn’t help but think they were praising that he was handsome.

    "Congrats, Möbius. You're super handsome in the eyes of the mermaids." 

    Leia said, making Möbius realize that if Aime was considered the height of beauty among mermaids, then being called "handsome" here might mean...