5. The Promise (Epilogue)
Never go to the islands where humans live alone. It was practically an unspoken rule among merfolk.
No matter how insignificant humans were compared to merfolk, they were cunning. Even after merfolk rose to dominance, humans frequently staged rebellions with small numbers. They were crushed every time—but one could never be too careful.
Occasionally, they might capture a young merman and use him as a bargaining tool. So Theodore's parents had warned him time and again.
But adolescent merfolk didn't listen well. Theodore was no exception.
So he came alone to a nearby island. After all, humans were too frightened to come near the shoreline. If anyone did, he could just drag them underwater and kill them.
"Wowww, so pretty."
"......"
Theodore frowned at the sound of a young human's voice. He turned his gaze toward the source—and there, on the shore, was a grimy little human child. Her clothes were in tatters, as if she'd been kicked around by someone. Yet she wasn't crying—she was staring at Theodore, who had emerged from the sea up to his torso, with sparkling eyes.
"Get lost."
"...Can't I look at you just a little longer?"
"Hmph."
It was annoying, but he could just leave. As Theodore turned to go, a disappointed sigh reached him.
"Mister Merman, can't you stay with me until my injuries go down? Just until they heal?"
"I don't see what I'd gain from that."
"...I suppose so."
The child hugged her legs sulkily. Normally, he would have dived back into the sea—but he was bored. And he was curious about the human who'd been told never to approach. After letting out a small sigh, he came up onto the beach, and the child's eyes sparkled.
"Thank you! I've never seen a merman before."
"Mm. Consider yourself honored."
After a moment's hesitation, the child pulled something from her pocket and held it out. Glancing over, he saw shimmering pebbles.
"They're my treasures."
"These?"
"Yes! I found them on the mountain. Oh, Mister Merman, my name is Jahyun."
She said she was twelve years old. Theodore's actual age was older, but converted to human years, he was similar. Resting his chin on his hand, he watched as Jahyun prattled on about all sorts of useless things. Then he heard her say her uncle had hit her, and he frowned.
"Even merfolk have trash, but humans have even more of it. Hitting a twelve-year-old child?"
"Ah! Th-that was my fault. I dropped the herbs I was gathering..."
Even that she defended as family. Theodore clicked his tongue involuntarily. He rose and pressed some medicine he carried into her hand. He didn't particularly like humans, but he didn't like seeing a child beaten either. Jahyun looked at the medicine, then at Theodore, and bowed her head deeply.
"Thank you... Mister Merman."
Signs of violence always followed Jahyun, but the islanders always looked away. Still, she was satisfied because her uncle had raised her without abandoning her... Jahyun roughly wiped her tears and held out the shimmering stone she'd been clutching. Looking closely, it wasn't an ordinary pebble—it was a gemstone. They were abundant in the sea and in his home, but Theodore accepted it for the child's sincerity. It was a brilliant gem that resembled his eye color—he rather liked it.
"I'll take it."
"...Thank you!"
Jahyun beamed. Seeing her smile, she was rather cute. He could understand a little why some merfolk chose to mate with humans and raise young together. Before he knew it, they'd been talking so long that it was time for him to go.
"I'm leaving."
"Ah, um, okay."
She looked like she wanted to tell him not to go. He shouldn't have spoken to her in the first place. Letting out a deep sigh, Theodore said casually:
"Come at this time tomorrow, then."
"Yes!"
It was just passing the time. If he got bored, he could simply stop coming. That's what he thought—but Theodore found himself returning to the beach more and more often. The way her eyes sparkled when she saw him, the way she presented strange things she'd gathered from the mountain—it was just entertaining.
Then came one day, after they'd been meeting frequently. He didn't like that bruise marks kept appearing on her, but he hadn't intended to interfere beyond that.
"Theodore-nim, you said after today you'd be going to a different sea, right."
"Yeah."
"Um, I... I have a wish."
"What is it? You want me to bring you some seaweed when I come back?"
"Th-that would be nice too, but... today is my birthday."
"Hmm."
He pretended to be indifferent, but he remembered what she'd told him last time. Jahyun lay down beside Theodore, looked into his eyes, and carefully spoke:
"If I become an adult... could you take me with you, Theodore-nim?"
"What?"
"I'm really good at cleaning. I can cook too, I think. The aunties told me I learn really fast."
"......"
In the sunset glow, Jahyun's eyes were vivid. Theodore wanted to deny it, but looking into those eyes, he had no choice but to admit it.
I... like this human.
When she became an adult, he too would be recognized as fully mature—so he could take her as his bride then, couldn't he?
After looking into her eyes for a moment, Theodore said gruffly:
"Alright. I'll come for you when you become an adult."
"...! Yes! I'll work even harder on my household skills until then!"
Jahyun seemed to think she was being hired—but that wasn't it. Gently stroking her bruised cheek, Theodore transformed his tail into legs and stood up. Seeing that, Jahyun's eyes widened, and Theodore said:
"Guide me to your house. I have something to say to your uncle."
"Ah, yes!"
He absolutely couldn't allow her to be beaten to death before he could take her as his bride. He just had to instill enough fear in that so-called uncle that he would never dare to hit her again.
Walking by lamplight, they arrived at a hut reeking of alcohol from outside. When they went in, a bottle flew toward the door. Theodore had left Jahyun outside, so he immediately approached, grabbed the man by the throat, and lifted him into the air.
"Ghk! Kkhk!"
The man sobered up instantly, scanning Theodore with terrified eyes. Then, noticing his ears, his eyes filled with horror as he realized he was a merman. He might not have known about his niece, but throwing a bottle at a merman could mean death.
"I'll give you a chance."
"Khk, ngh!"
"Don't lay a hand on Jahyun until she comes of age. Raise her well, and you'll be rewarded."
At those words, the man's eyes gleamed with greed. He'd wondered what use his useless niece could be—and now such an opportunity had come. Of course, if he made even one mistake, death was certain. The man nodded desperately.
Only then did Theodore drop the man to the floor. Gasping from being choked, the man coughed, and Theodore met his gaze.
"I'll erase the memories of violence from Jahyun. But know this—if you lay a finger on her after today, you'll die immediately."
"Y-yes, yes, of course! I'll raise her well!"
As the man groveled and trembled, Theodore smiled in satisfaction. Then he tossed a rare gem he'd brought from the sea before the man. This should be enough to keep Jahyun well-raised until they met again. After threatening to keep watch, he stepped outside—and there stood Jahyun with an anxious expression.
He stroked her head and said with a smile:
"We'll meet again when you become an adult."
"Yes... I'll wait."
Then, to erase the traces of violence, he reached into her memories.
...The only problem was that even her memories of him had been swept away.
Perhaps because she was young, his memory-tending skills had been immature. But Theodore didn't mind.
When they met again, they could just make new memories from that point on.
For a merman, eight years passed in the blink of an eye. He thought they might meet at the beach—but he never expected it would be underwater.
In the moment he breathed life into the unconscious Jahyun as she sank into the sea, Theodore smiled with a sense of fulfillment.
---
[The End]
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