The Little Merman Demands Legs from the Sea Witch - Chapter 9
Kashmir thought to himself that he didn’t particularly need this new addition, but he was still impressed that the witch had crafted it so precisely. Despite his initial doubts about Iko, he found himself reassessing her abilities.
“So, you weren’t a con artist after all.”
Kashmir smiled as he tried to stand up, like a human.
However, as soon as he attempted to balance on his two legs, he plopped back down onto the sand.
“Witch, how do humans walk?”
“Just put some strength into your legs.”
Her answer was as lazy as it could be, but Kashmir tried again, focusing on the sensation of putting strength into his legs. Yet, all he managed to do was wiggle his hips. No strength went to his legs.
“Can’t walk, huh?”
Iko asked, noticing his struggle.
“Looks like you’ll need to practice walking first.”
As Iko extended her hand, Kashmir naturally reached out, assuming she was going to help him up. He was certain that she would pull him to his feet.
But instead, Iko avoided his hand and rolled him toward the water. With a helpless tumble, Kashmir found himself rolling directly into the sea.
“Good luck and take care. Oh, and thanks for the scale,” Iko said, giving him a farewell shove. Kashmir bolted upright, glaring at her with wide eyes.
There was so much he wanted to say, but her completely unexpected behavior left him speechless. He could only show his bewilderment through his expression.
“I gave you the human legs you asked for. What happens afterward isn’t my problem.”
Iko shrugged.
Kashmir tried to steady himself by grabbing the ground, but all he left were long handprints in the sand.
“Why are you resisting? Hurry up and go.”
“You’ve got to teach me how to walk!”
Kashmir finally found his voice, managing to speak through his frustration.
“I already told you. Put strength into your legs.”
“Explain it more thoroughly.”
“Why should I?”
Iko made no effort to hide her distaste. Kashmir stared at her, his expression as if he were looking at an audacious con artist.
“I gave you a scale, didn’t I?”
“Sure, in exchange for turning your tail into human legs for a while. If you want me to help you practice walking, give me your tears.”
“I told you, I can’t cry.”
“Then we’re done here. Goodbye.”
Iko was eager to end the transaction, pushing him once more. Kashmir’s eyes gleamed with annoyance.
“So you plan to be this ungrateful? After taking my scale?”
His voice dripped with anger. Iko felt a slight, very slight, pang of guilt.
But what could she do? Even if she felt a little guilty, she had no intention of helping him.
Judging by how he couldn’t even stand properly, who knew how long it would take to teach him how to walk?
She just wanted him gone so she could return to her peaceful, solitary life. Her schedule was already so terribly thrown off as it was. She hadn’t even eaten lunch yet, let alone enjoyed her afternoon tea.
If she delayed any longer, she wouldn’t be able to keep up with her evening plans. Was she really going to go hungry all day? Absolutely not.
“Seeking loyalty from a witch? You really don’t understand the world,” Iko said coldly.
Kashmir let out a hollow laugh. Witches had no loyalty. Witches were deceitful and full of tricks. He had always heard that, but never had he felt it so deeply as today.
“If that’s how you’re going to be, I have my ways too.”
Kashmir grinned mischievously as he looked at the annoying witch. He clenched his fist and struck the sand beneath him. Seeing Iko’s confused expression, he did it again, more deliberately this time.
Thud. Thud.
As he continued, something began to go wrong in the fishbowl. The once calm water started to ripple, and soon the entire fishbowl began to shake.
“When I break things, people tend to want to listen to me,” Kashmir said, smiling like a villain.
Iko finally realized what he was up to.
She had momentarily forgotten his dangerous nature, fooled by his earlier helplessness. But Kashmir was a lawless destroyer, the most dangerous merman in the sea.
Thud. Thud.
The shaking of the fishbowl was getting worse. If this continued, the bowl could crack from the impact.
Iko, pale with fear, hurried to stop him.
“Fine, whatever! You can practice walking here if you want.”
Kashmir raised his fist again, ignoring her words.
“What do you want?!”
“Help me,” he replied.
THUD.
“Fine! I’ll help you!” Iko shouted, her voice almost desperate.
Kashmir stopped his fist mid-air.
Iko was frustrated that she had been forced to surrender to a merman’s threats. If only Dalibaya had been there, she could have gotten rid of him. But, unfortunately, Iko didn’t have that kind of power.
“I won’t do it for free. I want another scale.”
It was the last shred of her pride. She wanted to think she hadn’t yielded to intimidation but instead agreed to a transaction.
“Fine. I can spare that much,” Kashmir said, finding it amusing that the witch, on the verge of tears, was still demanding payment.
He smiled kindly at her pale face.
Whether Iko saw that smile as kind was another matter entirely, but Kashmir didn’t care.
“But witch, if you’re taking another scale, you’d better help me with all your heart.”
With no other choice, Iko reluctantly nodded in agreement.
