Blood of the Merfolk

I'm back, Aldo.

Milsha and Minchy! Did you swim to your heart's content?

Yep! I've gotta say, the water from your era is pretty good!

Haha, is that right?

It's not up to the standards of Atlantica, where we were born... But it does seem like a pretty nice place to live!

Haha, I see.

So you're both from a place called Atlantica, huh?

That's right. It's a city in the western ocean. Lots of merfolk live there!

I'd love to bring you there, but... I'm kind of runnin' away from home right now.

Running away from home?

Yeah, it's complicated. I'll take you there some day!

Um, all right...

I'm more curious about what you were doin' while you were waitin' for us! I've got a strange feelin' crawlin' down my back!

Uh... I was fishing. I just remembered that girl who fished up Milsha, and thought I'd give it a shot...

Fishin'?

Yeah...

Ah!

S-Sorry... I know. Fish are your friends of the sea, right?

Fishin's great! You catch anythin' delish?

What?!

What're you surprised about, Aldo? We eat fish too, you know.

Wait... Didn't you say that coelus from before was your friend of the sea?

What're you talkin' about?! Of course we don't eat coelus! I mean, there are clear differences between the kinds of fish we eat and the kind we don't!

Right, Minchy?

It's just natural! By...the...way... I am NOT a fish you can eat. And it's not just because of my great personality!

Huh? I don't think I get it...

No way... This must be the difference between races with fins and those without...

Huh?

L-Look, Aldo! Your fishin' rod!

Huh...? Ah!

You're right... It's crazy taut! Aldo! This is a big one! You've got this!

Y-Yeah!

......

......

Huh? Who're you?

I'm Denny! I'm a freedom-loving, wave-crossing man of the sea!

Ah. I'm Milsha. Nice to meet you.

Uh... This isn't exactly the time for self introductions!

Oh. Right.

Haha! I never thought I'd see the day where I'm caught by a fisherman while searching for treasure!

Aldo my boy! You've got quite an arm on you!

I'd take the compliment if I had a clue what in the world was going on...

You two know each other?

That's right. Hey, could it be... Are you a mermaid?

You've got quite an arm on you!

I'd take the compliment if I had a clue what in the world was going on...

Come now! This is the perfect time to take a compliment!

Hey, could it be... You over there. Could you be a mermaid?

Yeah, and?

Hmph. Have you already fallen head over heels for me and Milsha here?!

Huh? While it's an honor for a man of the sea to meet a mermaid... Sexy, mature women are more my type.

Give it 50 years and maybe I'll try and hit on you again. Don't forget about me, okay?

F-Fifty years...

Wait... We've got more important matters at hand.

If you're really a mermaid, I want to warn you about something. There's apparently a peddler in Rinde who's somehow gotten rich off of selling mermaid's blood.

Mermaid's blood?!

They say it cures anything from illnesses to injuries. Someone might come after you for your blood, so you'd best be on your guard.

A peddler selling mermaid's blood...

There's no way a mermaid would willin'ly give up their blood to a human! That peddler must be catchin' mermaids and doin' somethin' terrible to them...

Aldo, Minchy! We've got to help them!

We can probably find some hints if we go to this Rinde place, right?

Yeah. Rinde is this way! Let's hurry and check out the situation!

Mermaid's blood? Heard it was good for hip pain, so I started drinking three cups a day a few days ago...

After that, I was ripe as rain!

So it does have some positive effect...

And the expulsion! Right after drinking it...

After about half a day, your body goes numb and becomes as heavy as lead!

Huh?!

It's supposedly a detoxing reaction to the bad stuff leaving your body... Endure the sensation, and sure enough your body becomes light again! And it feels so good.

That mermaid's blood really does the trick! It's really turned my life around!

Wait... That sounds like he's mistaken his body's reaction to going numb and heavy for the medicine's effect to me...

I've got horrible indigestion... I heard that mermaid's blood would cure it, so I started drinking it.

And then...

My stomach would get upset, but at the same time I could sense the smell of the sea throughout my entire body!

Now that you mention it, there is a familiar scent waftin' around here!

Gettin' an upset stomach and then noticin' the smell of the sea? That sounds pretty strange to me...

No, it's just a detoxing reaction! It's proof that your body's getting rid of bad toxins!

Smelling the sea after your body gets rid of toxins... Sounds fishy to me, but I'm surprisingly not appalled by the scent.

Whoa! What's with that face of yours?!

You see... I heard that it was good for the skin, so I've started rubbing mermaid's blood on my face lately.

And then...

Your face ended up like that?!

Yes...

Great skin, smooth and slimy just like a fish!

Huh?! You're happy about it?! It's pretty grotesque... You should probably take a look in the mirror!

My skin's shedding its toxins right now, so I know it's a little shiny, but...

If I keep applying more, before I know it I'll have fresh, translucent skin just like a baby dolphin! I can't wait!

Eep. I've never seen a baby dolphin that looks like that...

Yeah...

We've heard a few reports, but...

It's all so strange! I've figured it out. This so-called mermaid's blood is a big, fat lie! Everyone's bein' sold fake goods!

That's what I was thinking...

We can't forgive the peddler sellin' fake goods, but... At least no mermaids are comin' to any harm, right Milsha?

No, Minchy! Think about it... It might not be mermaid's blood, but it's gotta be somebody's blood, right?! I can't leave this be! I'm definitely goin' to get to the bottom of this!

Whew! I think I'm gonna faint! Just how many times do you plan on makin' me fall for you, Milsha?!

I agree with her. If we let this continue, the townspeople will just keep getting worse off...

Papa, hurry up!

If we don't hurry, they're going to sell out of mermaid's blood!

You're right... We should hurry to the lighthouse!

Hey...

That must mean the peddler is sellin' mermaid's blood at the lighthouse!

What great timing. Let's hurry there!

Yeah. We've got to stop this!

Welcome! Have a look! Just one drink and you'll be ripe as rain! It's the legendary mermaid's blood! It's nearly out of stock! It's a very precious commodity, so there's no telling when I'll be able to get my hands on more...

I'll take one!

Me too!

M-Me three!

Don't be fooled, everyone!

That mermaid's blood is fake! Whatever he's sellin', it's definitely not mermaid's blood!

That's right! Hurry up and apologize to everyone!

Huh...? It's fake?

What's that girl going on about?

Well, well... This is troubling. Are you accusing my wares of being fake?

We've heard stories from the townspeople. Call it a detoxing reaction or whatever you like, the effects are too strange to ignore.

Hmph... Every reaction thus far is exactly what is supposed to happen.

But if you insist on doubting me... Allow me to provide you with some full-fledged proof.

Huh?!

Proof?

Are we in agreeance? Have a look...

Everyone, feast your eyes on this! A mermaid's scale... I received it as proof of friendship from a certain mermaid. Its glittering, rainbow color is beautiful, isn't it?

I-It's true! It's so beautiful...

Hey, Milsha. Doesn't it resemble the color of your fins?

Amazing... There's no way the blood is fake, then! I'll take five more!

Ah... Wait a second! Me too!

Hehe, my thanks. I must be off to the next town to sell my wares. I bid you adieu.

Who'd have thought he'd pull out proof like that...

......

No... Somethin's fishy here.

Huh? Milsha?

That scale... It did resemble the color of a mermaid's scale... But it's shape was totally off. That was a sahuagin scale.

No way...

He's painted a sahuagin scale to look like that and is just callin' it a mermaid's scale! I can't let this one go! I know that vermin must be takin' blood from sahuagin!

Milsha! Sahaugin may be monsters, but they're still friends of the sea!

That's right! Now I'm angry!

Let's chase after him, Milsha. He looked to be making his way toward the Serena Coast.

Aldo, I knew I could count on you! We're gonna teach that man a lesson!

Well then... I need to replenish my stock of blood to sell in Unigan.

Hehe, I gave this one a bunch of feed the other day. We should be able to get heaps of blood out of it no problem.

Don't get greedy. Even one sahuagin isn't easy to catch. We've got to squeeze it of every last drop of blood before killing it.

Just don't get greedy, okay?

You villains! If you take one step closer to that sahuagin...

I won't let you get away with it!

And who're you supposed to be?

Oho, the brats from before...

How annoyingly persistent. Are you planning on disrupting my business again?

That's right! We know you're takin' blood from that poor sahuagin! You shouldn't pick on those weaker than you!

Hmph... I just don't get it. Why are you so worked up about a monster like this? If we let it go, it's sure to harm humans. We're just making good use of it. There's no reason to complain.

You're the one speakin' nonsense! That sahaugin may be a monster... But it's a friend of the sea, just like me!

Huh?

Hyahaha! Friend of the sea? You think you're some kind of fish, lass?

That's right. I'll have you know... I'm a mermaid!

Wait, Milsha! If you say something like that in front of these guys...

Heh... Hehe...

Bah hah hah! A mermaid, is it? That's rich!

Mermaids are supposed to have the upper half of a human, and the lower half of a fish, you know. They don't run around on land with two legs like you...

No... Wait.

Boss...?

Boys... Grab her.

Huh?!

I remember reading it somewhere... Real-life mermaids are indeed...

Just the same as humans, they walk on two feet, but they have scales and fins.

No way?!

That sounds like a great book. You're right.

Is this really the time for that, Milsha?!

Haha... Lady luck has plopped herself right down in my lap. If you're a real mermaid, we've got no more use for this sahaugin.

We'll get all the blood we need right from you!

Hey... Just what do you think you're sayin'?! Y-Y-You're jokin', right?!

No one's joking here. We'll capture you right here and take your mermaid's blood...

Eeek! Stop! I can't believe this! You pervert!

Urgh... Tryin' to catch me and make humans drink my blood, are you...

Don't think I'll let you do somethin' so embarrassin'!

That's right! Teach 'em a lesson!

E-Embarrassing?

What're you all riled up about? If you're gonna resist, we won't hold back either!

Eeep! Another monster's appeared!

Ack... Looks like we have no choice but to fight! Are you okay, Milsha?

F-Fo' sho', Aldo! No problems here!

I've got to make a good example for all the friends of the sea!

Take thiiiis!

Wha, ?!

Hey, Sahuagin! Now's your chance to run!

Dammit... Our golden egg-laying monster!

You're still worried about that?!

These guys really don't know when to call it quits...

If you do somethin' bad, you'll eventually get caught. If you hurt somebody, karma will eventually get back to you.

Take this as a lesson. If you ever do somethin' like this again...

Eeek! F-Fine! We won't ever have dealings with your lot again! It's a promise.

Hey, boys... Let's go!

Ah... They ran away before I could finish sayin' my part.

Still, I think your message got through to them.

Seems like everything's taken care of for now...

Huh? What's that sound?

It sounds like it's comin' from behind us...

Huh? What is that?!

It's a huge school of sahuagin!

This is no good...

They're lookin' really mad! I think they're sayin' they want revenge on those humans!

What?! Are they going to go after those men?

No... They're sayin' they're goin' to attack a human nest!

A nest? You mean a town?!

Hold on, hold on! I know how you feel, but...

We already punished those bad men! You can't lose yourselves to anger!

Ack... It doesn't look like Milsha is getting through to them!

This is bad! If we don't stop them, they're really goin' to attack the town...

We can't let that happen!

Everyone, listen! Please! Stop!

They stopped!

Thank you! Please, listen to me...

Huh?!

Milsha!

Ngh!

Aldo!

You scum... Don't think I'll let you lay a hand on my little bro!

Bad fish who don't listen to reason...

Get a hundred spankings!

Looks like they've lost the will to fight!

Are you okay, Aldo?!

Ugh... My body is numb...

Aldo! Do you think you've been poisoned?! This is all my fault, Aldo...

Don't worry... It's not your fault...Milsha... You were just...trying to stop them...and protect the town... from getting attacked...

Urgh...

Aldo!

Don't worry. I'll heal you no matter what, Aldo.

Milsha, you don't mean...

Mermaid's blood can heal any injury and cure any poison right on the spot. Aldo! Drink some of my blood!

Huh?

How do you feel?!

How do I...feel?

I can feel strength...returning to my body. I feel even better than before they attacked me!

I... I-I-I'm so glad, Aldo! So mermaid's blood really does take effect instantly?!

Yeah, thanks Milsha! You really saved me there.

But why's your face all red like that?

H-Huh?! I'm not blushin'!

Aldo...

Whoa! Minchy... Why are you bawling your eyes out like that?!

I'm so glad you're saved... I really am... But... *sniff* But... I won't have it! I can't agree to this!

What are you talking about?

F-F-First let's head back to Rinde! We've got to explain everythin' to the townspeople, right?!

Yeah...

Everyone seemed pretty surprised... But I'm glad they understood that they were drinking sahuagin blood.

Y-Yeah. I guess they all knew deep down that somethin' was fishy.

Haha... There were a lot of people with pretty strange symptoms.

But still...

*sniff*... Hey... It's...It's not fair!

Minchy, you've been crying for a while now.

Aldo! You... You better be ready to take full responsibility! But still... My chance to shine! This is so not fair!

H-Hey, Milsha... What is Minchy talking about?

W-W-W-Well... Um...

He's talkin' about us gettin' married, of course!

M, ...

Married?! Wait a second! What's marriage have to do with anything?!

It's obvious, isn't it?!

We mermaids... If we let a human man drink our blood...

It means we are to be wed!

Wh-What?!

And if that man lets a mermaid drink his blood, it's taken as h-his agreement to get married...

Wait a minute here... Why would drinking blood lead to marriage?!

Huh? Well... We mermaids originally increased our numbers by splittin' off a part of ourselves that would grow into a child. That's why we don't need to reproduce, or get married like humans do. But...

But there's a certain tradition in Atlantica...

A tradition?

There was a man and a mermaid who met, and fell in love. They faced many difficulties, and it seemed they were destined to be separated for each other's sake. But...

In the end, the mermaid woman gave some of her blood to the man, and the man swore a vow in return...

I see... Now I understand why you were embarrassed by the peddler's demands...

Aldo! "I see" isn't gonna cut it this time! If you marry Milsha, I'll never forgive you! But I'll be super annoyed if you don't marry her after comin' this far either!

That's a little unreasonable!

Wait a second! I know I let you drink my blood, but I don't have any intentions of marryin' you right away!

I-I mean... I haven't even ever thought about gettin' married...

And you're like a brother to me! We don't even know each other that well!

Y-Yeah... Even if it's a tradition, getting married right away might be a little rash...

But, there's still somethin' I want to ask you...

What kind of ceremony would you want?

Milsha!

Ah, but before that! If we're goin' to get married, I want to introduce you to my family! Which means we have to find my brother first!

Waaaah! I was supposed to be the one to ask Milsha's brother for her fin in marriage!

Wait a second, both of you! This is getting out of hand!

I know we haven't decided to get married just yet, but it's best to do a bit of research just in case, right?!

I also can't decide if we should do the ceremony in the style of your era, or of Atlantica...

There's no harm in learnin' about both, right?!

Aldo! Let's visit your hometown right now!

Huh?!

Hey, let me help too! I wanna help!

C'mon, Aldo!

Wait... Seriously, hold on...

CAN'T WE TALK ABOUT THIS?!