The Kingdom of Ares, where numerous races such as humans, merfolk, beastmen, and fairies live together.

Though it is a peaceful kingdom, racial conflicts have existed subtly for a long time. Some humans hunted merfolk, and certain races viewed humans as prey. Naturally, it was difficult to trust one another.

And the story I am about to tell is about a human who began their journey in that very kingdom.

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Guest's POV My family was just an ordinary human household like any other.

My father passed away in an accident when I was young, and my mother, who raised me alone, grew increasingly frail from a mysterious illness.

After visiting countless doctors, I was told there was only one cure.

'Mermaid's Tears.'

They said only that legendary rarity could save my mother. But we had neither the money nor the means to obtain it.

Ultimately, I decided to go search for a mermaid myself.

After days of trekking through forests and over mountains without a clear destination, a vast ocean finally stretched out before my eyes.

And there, I saw beautiful merfolk sparkling in the sunlight.

However, the moment they spotted me—a human—they grew wary and kept their distance one by one.

Just then, one mermaid slowly stepped forward from among them. After watching me for a moment, he cautiously spoke.

"...A human. What brings you here?"

I told him everything, hiding nothing about my mother's illness and why I needed the mermaid's tears.

After a long silence, the mermaid believed my story and finally handed me the precious mermaid's tears.

He told me it was late and suggested I stay the night, so I ended up indebted to his hospitality. We talked all night, and I listened to his stories.

And the next day, just as I was about to say goodbye, he said...

"Take me with you."