The academy vessel once again began moving.
The giant sails unfurled beneath the ocean wind.
Wood creaked softly.
The enormous ship slowly turned away from the battlefield.
Behind them.
The mermaid tribe gradually disappeared into the distance.
The sea calmed.
The waves became gentle once more.
The danger had ended.
At least for now.
Upon the upper deck.
Students gathered in small groups.
Some discussed the giant monster.
Others discussed the battle.
Others discussed the legendary Divine Spoon Art.
Unfortunately—
Most discussions eventually returned to one topic.
The silver-haired mermaid.
Wrapped inside a large blanket.
Standing quietly near the railing.
The blanket covered her entire body.
Only her face and portions of her silver hair remained visible.
The sea breeze occasionally moved several strands across her cheeks.
Her beauty remained impossible to hide.
Even covered completely.
People still stared.
Far too much.
Far too often.
She stood silently.
Observing the distant horizon.
Trying her best to ignore the growing crowd.
Trying.
Unfortunately—
Human males possessed a terrifying ability.
The ability to completely ignore hints.
The first student approached.
A noble.
His clothes were expensive.
Dark blue academy attire.
Polished boots.
Perfect posture.
Confident smile.
He bowed elegantly.
"My name is Victor Ashwell."
The young noble smiled warmly.
"It is my pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady."
The silver-haired mermaid blinked.
Slowly.
Then nodded.
"...Hello."
Victor's smile widened.
Success.
At least he believed so.
Several nearby male students immediately cursed internally.
Someone had made the first move.
The race had begun.
Soon—
A second appeared.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
Then six more.
The crowd multiplied rapidly.
Like monsters spawning during a dungeon outbreak.
The sailors watched with amusement.
The female students watched with pity.
The silver-haired mermaid watched her future headache materialize before her eyes.
"My name is Leonard."
"My name is Marcus."
"Edwin."
"Thomas."
"Richard."
"Alexander."
Each introduced themselves.
Each attempted appearing charming.
Each attempted appearing confident.
Each attempted appearing unique.
The results were mixed.
Very mixed.
One noble attempted showing off family influence.
Another attempted showing off wealth.
A third attempted showing off magical talent.
A fourth immediately began explaining his future plans.
The silver-haired mermaid listened.
Quietly.
Politely.
Patiently.
Inside—
Her soul was slowly leaving her body.
Because she suddenly understood exactly what Kel meant.
Attention.
Too much attention.
Everywhere.
Always.
She couldn't even stand peacefully near the railing.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
Nearby.
Several female students exchanged knowing looks.
One shook her head.
"Poor girl."
Another nodded.
"They aren't going away."
"Not anytime soon."
Meanwhile—
Kel sat alone near the opposite side of the deck.
A book rested within his hand.
The title read:
Practical Methods of Observation and Situational Awareness.
Completely unrelated to beautiful mermaids.
Completely unrelated to social interaction.
Completely unrelated to reality.
He calmly turned another page.
The ocean breeze moved his silver hair.
The noise around him didn't exist.
Or rather—
He deliberately ignored it.
Inside his mind.
Seiren observed everything.
Then immediately began laughing.
"Look."
"No."
"Look."
"No."
"They're surrounding her."
"I know."
"Like starving sharks."
Kel turned another page.
The Guardian laughed harder.
Far away.
Scarder Lake experienced another mysterious disturbance.
Meanwhile—
The silver-haired mermaid's situation continued worsening.
One noble student had begun explaining his family history.
Another discussed swordsmanship.
Another discussed academy rankings.
Another discussed future political ambitions.
One even started describing the size of his family's estate.
The mermaid listened.
Or pretended to.
Her eyes slowly drifted elsewhere.
Toward the sea.
Toward the sky.
Toward freedom.
Toward literally anything else.
Then—
Her gaze landed upon Kel.
The strange human sat alone.
Reading.
Completely isolated.
Completely peaceful.
Nobody bothered him.
Nobody interrupted him.
Nobody surrounded him.
For a brief moment.
She felt envy.
Actual envy.
Inside her mind.
A dangerous realization appeared.
Being ignored.
Was wonderful.
The thought horrified her.
Because only hours ago she had never imagined such a thing.
Then another noble approached.
The silver-haired mermaid nearly groaned.
"My lady."
A handsome young man smiled confidently.
"I haven't introduced myself."
The mermaid slowly looked toward him.
The young man bowed.
"Arthur."
Pause.
"Arthur Wexley."
The mermaid nodded politely.
"...Hello."
Arthur smiled.
Then sat nearby without permission.
The surrounding competitors immediately became hostile.
Silent war erupted.
Invisible battle lines formed.
The academy hadn't even started.
Yet political warfare already existed.
The female students watched with amusement.
One girl whispered.
"They're competing."
Another nodded.
"They absolutely are."
A third laughed.
"Over someone who hasn't shown interest in any of them."
The first girl shrugged.
"That never stopped men before."
Nearby.
The captain observed everything.
Then sighed.
Long.
Deep.
Experienced.
One sailor noticed.
"What?"
The captain pointed toward the crowd.
"Idiots."
The sailor looked.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
Meanwhile—
The silver-haired mermaid continued enduring introductions.
Name after name.
Family after family.
Achievement after achievement.
Eventually—
Someone finally asked.
"What is your name?"
Silence spread.
The surrounding students immediately became curious.
The mermaid froze.
Because honestly.
Nobody had asked before.
They had all introduced themselves.
None had asked her.
The realization felt strangely amusing.
She hesitated briefly.
Then answered.
"My name is Seraphina."
The ocean breeze moved her silver hair.
The name spread quickly.
"Seraphina."
Several students repeated it.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Memorable.
Fitting.
Very fitting.
The young noble Arthur smiled.
"A beautiful name."
The surrounding males immediately hated him.
Meanwhile—
Seraphina's gaze drifted back toward Kel.
The young man remained reading.
Still.
Calm.
Peaceful.
Uninterested.
The contrast felt absurd.
One side of the ship resembled a battlefield.
The other resembled a library.
Inside his mind.
Seiren spoke.
"The fish keeps looking at you."
"Mermaid."
"Persistent mermaid."
Kel ignored her.
Again.
The Guardian laughed.
Then suddenly asked:
"Are you going to tell her?"
Kel turned another page.
"Tell her what?"
"That if she follows you to the academy she'll become even more famous."
Kel paused.
Briefly.
Then continued reading.
Because honestly.
That sounded like a future problem.
And future problems belonged to the future.
Meanwhile—
Seraphina watched him again.
The strange human.
The monster slayer.
The explorer.
The disciple of Nameless.
The blanket-throwing uncategorized-species expert.
The only male on the entire vessel who genuinely seemed uninterested in her.
And somehow—
That made him the most interesting person aboard.
The academy island slowly appeared upon the distant horizon.
Aetherial Institute.
Their destination.
Their future.
And unknown to everyone present—
The real chaos had not yet begun.
Because once the academy discovered who Aedon Flinth truly was...
The peace of this voyage would become a treasured memory.