<Chapter 26>

“You’re so dumb, aren’t you? It’s negative three.”

“Negative what now? Since when do numbers go minus?”

“Of course they do. Honestly, your level…”

Brix confidently gave the right answer, shaking her head at Paul’s protest.

“You little—!”

Paul sprang up from his seat with clenched fists, marched over, and made a beeline for the block tower he’d built earlier during free play.

“Paul!”

I called out just in time to stop him before he could knock it over.

“I know you’re upset. But I’m proud of you for not taking it out on your friend.”

“……”

“If you break your own things, you’ll only feel worse later.”

Paul slowly lowered his fists. Thankfully, he was convinced.

“Good job, Paul.”

“Hmph. I just didn’t want to lose out even more, that’s all.”

He pouted, clearly embarrassed about being reasoned with.

“Right? I knew our smart Paul could stop himself. Cheer up. We’ll finish building your dragon later. I can’t wait to see it.”

“Prepare to be amazed.”

He smiled, and we returned to our spots.

“Brix, you can’t use hurtful words toward your friends either.”

“I was just being honest. Or are you saying I should lie?”

“Hmm. Brix, how would you feel if someone called you dumb?”

“I’m not dumb. Letting a lie like that get to me would be foolish.”

She looked at me defiantly. I crossed my arms and struck a playful pose, matching her gaze with the same energy.

“Oh? So it’s not true?”

“Of course not! Are you trying to say I’m du—dumb?”

Brix choked on the word, trying to keep her anger in check. Her face scrunched up.

“See? Whether it’s true or not, being called a dumb mermaid still upsets you.”

Sometimes, changing perspectives helps. Understanding someone else’s feelings isn’t always easy.

“I’m not mad, but… fine. I get it. I accept it.”

She finally gave in, chewing her lip as she did.

“A good ruler knows when to admit their mistakes.”

Is Brix’s title more of a shackle than a crown?

She seemed more bound by being a “noble mermaid” or “ruler” than guided by her real feelings.

Maybe that’s why she’s so good at calculating things, more so than the other kids.

“Alright. Shall we make up, then?”

Brix nodded and turned to Paul. But instead of lowering her head, she lifted her chin.

“I’m sorry I called you dumb. I assumed you’d know something that basic. Clearly, I misjudged you.”

“Ugh, still acting superior. But fine. You apologized, so I’ll let it go.”

Was this a truce or just a pause in fighting?

I decided to scrap the friendly handshake I’d planned. No need to risk stirring things up again.

“Then Brix, since you got the answer right, could you explain to the others why it’s negative three?”

Time to return to the lesson.

“Gladly. It’s negative three because…”

She launched into the explanation with her usual lofty tone.

Still, our little mermaid was being surprisingly cooperative today.

* * *

Though Paul and Brix had made up, things weren’t back to normal yet.

The other kids kept glancing over at Brix, who remained in her crystal bathtub.

“Why’d she bring a bathtub to school?”

“Brix is a mermaid. If her scales dry out, it’s dangerous. She needs to stay in water.”

I explained, and Ardishu and Valentin added their thoughts.

“Must be nice. Playing in water all the time.”

“But also annoying. She can’t leave the tub.”

“Why doesn’t she have legs? Is she a fish?”

Paul’s innocent question made me suck in a breath. That was toeing the line.

‘Well… even I’m not used to mermaids. Of course the kids wouldn’t be either.’

Since different races usually lived in separate areas, it was likely none of them had met a mermaid before.

‘How do I help them accept Brix more naturally?’

I thought for a moment. First, I had to make the classroom more mermaid-friendly.

‘Ah! There’s an inflatable pool in storage!’

I had ordered it for summer water play and completely forgotten.

Excited, I ran to the storage room, only to run into a problem.

“There’s no pump.”

The pool needed to be blown up, and it looked like I’d be doing it manually.

“Hoooph!”

I gave it my all, but it barely inflated. Eventually, I called for backup.

“Jiho, can you help me set up the pool in the classroom?”

“You want me to what?”

“Blow it up.”

“With my mouth?”

“Exactly.”

“Come on, kids. Let’s all cheer for Jiho!”

“Fighting~!”

“…I can’t believe this.”

With the kids’ loud cheers behind him, Jiho started blowing with everything he had. Slowly, the limp rubber began to puff up.

“Huh. It’s working. It didn’t budge when I tried.”

“Pffft!”

Jiho coughed hard, clearly winded.

“You okay?”

“You… you could’ve told me you already tried it…”

“Hey, I’m not that cruel. Of course I tried.”

Without another word, Jiho returned to his task, face turning red from the effort.

Thanks to him, the pool was ready soon enough. I fetched water from the well and made several trips to fill it.

‘I really need to get a proper water line in here…’

The kids helped, so it didn’t take too long, but it wouldn’t be sustainable every time.

The pool was just big enough to fit all the children.

‘Next, I’ll ask Lian for some pool toys. That should help everyone get used to the water.’

“Alright! I’ll call your names one at a time. Paul, you’re up first!”

“What for?”

“We’re going to become mermaids today. Try this on.”

I handed him a pair of tail pants I had stitched while Jiho was inflating. No foot holes, just a closed tube.

“What is this?”

“Try it on. I wore it too.”

Since I went first, Paul didn’t refuse, though his face said he wasn’t thrilled.

“Brix, tell us if we look like mermaids, okay?”

Paul and I splashed in the water, kicking like mermaids. It was harder than it looked with our legs trapped.

“Fail. A real mermaid’s tail moves gracefully.”

“Really? Watch again. How about now?”

“Hmm… a bit better. But what’s the point of all this?”

Brix tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

“Because it’s cool! I want to be a mermaid too.”

I made a snap decision. Today’s lesson would be “Becoming a Mermaid.”

Kids often draw lines between themselves and others who seem different.

‘Even if it’s not meant in a bad way, the one being singled out still feels it.’

A classroom is a small society. I don’t think teachers should always meddle in how kids interact.

But sometimes, it’s necessary.

‘A kid shouldn’t be picked on just because they don’t have legs.’

So I shifted the focus to having a tail. Something fun and unique. That way, everyone would want to join in.

The next day, we made mermaid tails with shiny sequins.

They were beautiful, but no matter how much they sparkled, nothing compared to Brix’s real tail.

After a few days, the way the kids spoke about her began to change.

“Brix, your tail is really cool.”

“Hey, I have a tail too!”

“I like swimming now. I do.”

Ardishu was drawn to the beauty, Paul related to her through his own tail, and Valentin got interested in mermaid activities.

Their feelings toward mermaids shifted from uncertain to warm.

To seal the deal, I pulled out my secret weapon.

“I’m going to tell you a mermaid story from my world. It’s called The Little Mermaid.”

The story of the sea instantly hooked them. I remembered being moved by it as a child too.

The mermaid saves a prince and asks a witch to turn her into a human.

“The witch said, ‘I’ll turn you into a human. But in exchange, you must give me your voice!’”

“Gasp!”

She becomes human, voiceless, but the prince falls for someone else.

If he doesn’t return her love, she’ll turn into sea foam.

“What happens next?!”

The kids were hooked, fists clenched.

Her sisters give her a knife, saying if she kills the prince, she’ll become a mermaid again.

“But she couldn’t do it. She loved him too much. So she threw herself into the sea and became foam.”

“That’s so sad…”

Ardishu sniffled, clearly moved.

“I don’t get it. Why would a mermaid want to be human?”

Paul didn’t seem convinced.

“Because she wanted to live with the one she loved.”

“Then just make the prince a mermaid!”

“Well, she’d need his permission too, right?”

“I want to try being another race.”

Valentin saw it as a tale of adventure.

And Brix…

“I want to experience a love like that. One that crosses species…”

Her eyes sparkled. Sentimental, surprisingly.

“I’m going to find my human prince!”

She cried out, dragging her tub toward the dining hall.

Wait. No way. Don’t tell me… Jiho?!

* * *

“Whoa, you startled me! What’re you doing here? Lost or something?”

Jiho jumped when Brix showed up unannounced. From the look on his face, he’d been slacking off and got caught.

“I will now give you the honor of becoming my prince.”

“…Huh?”

Even I was thrown off by how sudden it was.

‘Then again, Jiho is pretty handsome.’

He had sharp features and a stylish, idol-like look without even trying.

“What do you mean, ‘become your prince’?”

“It means love.”

“Me? With you?”

“Exactly.”

“No way. You’re a kid.”

Jiho scooted back, alarmed. Brix’s eyes narrowed.

“Who needs a prince who looks down on me because of my age? You clearly lack dignity anyway.”

Brix gave up fast.

Correction.

Brix made decisions fast.

“Teacher, take me to the Human District.”

Still holding back laughter at Jiho’s stunned face, I nodded.

“Sure. After classes.”

“A pity, but I understand.”

Apparently, she was off to find a proper prince. That kind of childlike determination was… oddly cute.

After class, I approached Brix as she waited alone.

“Ready? Want me to push your tub?”

“I don’t need help.”

She turned away, nose in the air.

“Right, sorry. Brix can handle it herself.”

I pulled my hand back.

“That tub is like your legs outside the water. Probably uncomfortable to have someone else touch it.”

“……”

She turned back, surprised, but the expression faded quickly.

“Lead the way.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Just like that, we headed toward the Human Special Autonomous District.

“So… what exactly do you plan to do there?”

“I’m going to find the prince worthy of me. The perfect prince.”
 

<To be continued>

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