077
‘Where I belong?’
〔This vast sea of Pashayen. This is where you were born, where you will return, and where you must live.〕
There was warmth in that humming voice.
Just hearing it made me feel at peace, somehow.
〔Welcome home, child.〕
‘…..…!’
〔The Spirit King of Water pestered me endlessly to make you into a Resonator…〕
While listening to the words of the Ancestral Whale, a certain conversation came to mind.
That day, when I entered the belly of the Ancestral Whale to meet the grandmother Resonator…
‘The new Spirit King of Water is the one closest to you. No matter how hard you try, you can’t be separated from them. Their name belongs to a one and only being.’
‘Huh? A soulmate?’
‘Soulmate? Hmm… I’m not sure about that. But one thing is certain—they are someone who will give you endless love.’
Yes, that’s exactly what she said.
But I had completely forgotten that I needed to come up with a name for the Spirit King of Water.
〔Child chosen by the spirits, you may choose your own future. You may live as a Resonator or as a Spirit Master—either is fine.〕
‘Okay!’
〔Your origin loves and protects you. Think deeply, and live happily. Until we meet again…〕
With that, the eyes of the Ancestral Whale gently closed once more.
Had it fallen asleep?
Whales need to breathe to live, but since the Ancestral Whale is a divine beings, I guess it can sleep soundly even in the depths of the ocean.
It didn’t even stand upright. Both its eyes were fully shut.
‘Well, considering how huge it is—about the size of a castle—it must be hard to stand up vertically.’
I chuckled to myself at the irreverent thought.
Then suddenly, I felt something odd with my body.
‘Huh?’
My back itched, so I rolled around this way and that, until the Admiral quickly came over, picked me up, and began swimming upward.
‘Ah, I guess my time as a dolphin is over!’
My silvery skin returned to soft, pale human flesh.
The proud fins disappeared, replaced by arms.
And the moment I lost my tail and gained two legs—
“Haaah!”
—I took a deep breath.
I was human again.
And that meant… it was time for the second punishment.
***
“When I grow up, I’m going to become a whale.”
The next day.
I declared this in front of the gathered children during our Ancient Language class.
“It’s true. Starting today, my dream is to become a whale.”
The bigger, the better.
I’m going to become a giant, enormous whale.
That means I need to eat even better, right?
“But seriously, how did you even become a dolphin?”
“Who knows? The adults won’t tell me anything.”
Ever since the turtle shell bread incident, I’d grown closer with Louis and Jillian. They sat next to me, listening, and shook their heads in unison.
“To go through all that and still be fine… that’s so Shupetty.”
“I think so too. If it were me, I’d have panicked and flopped around like a flying fish.”
It was fun, though.
Honestly, I don’t remember it that well.
But I do know that it felt incredibly free and fun.
‘And I think I saw Lacifer too… maybe? That golden and purple aura was so pretty.’
The memories of being a dolphin were hazy.
Not detailed or sharp—kind of blurred and distorted. Especially in the aquarium, I couldn’t see things properly.
It was a bit better in the ocean, but not that much.
“Hey, Jillian. How do you grow fins?”
“Hmm… that’s…”
“I need a tail too. When you slap with your tail, it’s really fun.”
Everyone looked unsure whether to laugh or cry at my words.
Just then, Yupyrhos appeared for the first time in a while.
[Actually, the Spirit Kings—who were all watching anxiously—said they had a great time. (^w^)]
Oops. It was supposed to be a punishment, but maybe I had too much fun?
I scratched my cheek awkwardly, and Yupyrhos continued, reminding me of the second punishment.
[Starting today, for three days—exactly three days—you won’t be able to refuse a request from someone you dislike. It’ll be tough, but hang in there! (≧ヘ≦)]
Ah, right.
But then… I don’t really dislike anyone. So I should be fine!
‘As long as I don’t hate anyone, there’s no problem, right?’
How clever am I?
Puffing out my chest proudly, I was feeling smug when the door opened and Sister Luarel appeared.
“Shu, Shupetty. I was worried. You were… gone.”
“Hi, Sister!”
“I thought maybe you were… avoiding me. Because you… didn’t like me. That maybe you hated me, so I… got worried.”
“…..…?”
All of a sudden?
I tilted my head in confusion, and Jillian stepped in.
“Shupetty was a dolphin for days, you know.”
“O-oh…?”
“And avoiding you? Our Vice Leader doesn’t avoid things. She’d punch someone before she’d run.”
…Um?
That’s a weird assessment. Is that a compliment or an insult?
“Punch someone…?”
Sister Luarel looked at me wide-eyed, as if to say, ‘How could you do that?’
But before she could say a word, the door suddenly burst open—
Angela stormed in.
“Hey!”
She stomped over to me, clearly furious.
“Do you even realize how much trouble you’ve caused me?!”
“Hmm?”
“For days now! She’s been tailing me everywhere I go!”
Ah… so this is about Sister Luarel.
“Even when I’m just having tea with friends—she follows me there too! What am I supposed to do?!”
Angela stamped her feet, on the verge of tears.
Her nose turned red like she might actually cry.
“She’s your sister, so deal with her yourself! Don’t dump this on me! Go tell Grandpa. You tell him!”
That’s when I felt it—
My body moved on its own.
“Okay.”
Even my mouth moved without me willing it!
What in the world?!
“…What? Seriously?”
Angela, who had been on the verge of tears, now looked stunned.
“You always talk back to everything I say—and now suddenly you’re just agreeing?”
She gave me a suspicious look, and Jillian chimed in with a smirk.
“Wow, even when she says she’ll help, you complain. Unreal.”
“Shut up! No one asked you, boy!”
Angela snapped, flaring up, and Jillian flinched and looked down.
I was still in shock—because I was really going to do what she asked.
What if Angela makes me do something weird?
And sure enough… that fear became reality.
“But it is kind of weird. Why are you suddenly being so obedient? Something’s fishy… Come here.”
Angela narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and jerked her chin at me.
And again—
My body and mouth moved on their own.
“Okay!”
Zoom.
My legs sprang up and carried me right in front of Angela.
She smirked and raised an eyebrow.
“Hand!”
And extended her palm out to me—
“Okay!”
Ahhh, I don’t want to.
I really don’t want to give her my hand!
[The Spirit King of Air, ‘Shaparsi,’ giggles.]
[The Spirit King of Water mutters that they’ll pretend they didn’t see anything.]
“Sit.”
“Okay!”
“Roll over.”
“Okay!”
Angela, who had been coolly giving commands, suddenly grinned mischievously and her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Now act like a crab.”
So unfair!
But I couldn’t refuse. In the end, I used my hands like crab pincers and sidestepped awkwardly, puffing my cheeks out.
I thought I didn’t dislike Angela…
I was wrong.
And now—I dislike her even more!
Angela, not missing the opportunity, made me do forward rolls. Then backward rolls.
Teacher, where are you?!
I was gasping from exhaustion, throwing glances toward the door—
And finally spotted Teacher Tillia.
But… she didn’t come in right away.
She was standing at the door, talking with Teacher Cedric.
“Teachers…!”
“Ah…! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t know you hated it so much… I-I really didn’t realize. I’m sorry. Really, I’m so sorry…”
Just as I opened my mouth to call the teachers—
At that same moment, Sister Luarel, who had been watching everything, collapsed to the floor, burying her face in her hands.
“Sob… I know. I know everyone thinks badly of me.”
“But—but I’ve just finally come home…”
On her knees, Sister Luarel shouted and burst into tears.
Angela was left speechless, fumbling for words.
“W-What’s with you all of a sudden? Are you crazy?”
