Chapter 206: Mermaid’s Condition
Even though Anel moved quickly to grab the porcelain jar, the moment she poured it into her bowl, she turned as slow and careful as a snail.
Watching her sister’s exaggerated caution and the confused looks of the three young men across from them, Andine couldn’t help chiming in,
"I’ve always wondered why Anel turns into such a glutton every holiday. Turns out, it’s because of all the saltless food here, huh?"
Sprinkling a pinch of salt into her soup, Anel finally responded,
"You’ve just never gone months without salt. Even if I’m not starving and my stamina’s fine, it still feels like... something’s missing."
Andine gave her sister a look that screamed, you’re being dramatic.
Anel clicked her tongue. "That’s because you’ve always lived in Matara Lake. We mermaids need salt. And in the capital city, salt’s a rare commodity..."
Unexpectedly, Anel went off on a full rant.
"I only realized recently how hard it actually is to get enough salt. Father, Grandfather, and the elder mermaids fight tooth and nail every year just to secure enough supply so Matara Lake doesn’t run dry of it.
We’re always on the weaker side in negotiations because of our biggest flaw, we need salt in massive quantities. It breaks my heart imagining our elders staying silent, forced to agree every other decisions in the union."
Gara, Madha, and Fian gaped at her. Andine too.
Andine knew about the mermaids’ struggle to keep their waters salty, but since she was born in an era where their home was already in Matara Lake,
and she had never even seen the vast saltwater they called the sea, she thought their current life was enough.
She never realized the hard work behind that ’enough.’
"Okay, sorry. I won’t tease you again," Andine admitted quickly.
Her sister nodded, satisfied.
Then Anel took a sip of the soup she’d just salted, and her face lit up like someone who’d just leveled up their Talent with an enhance crystal, overflowing with joy.
"Seems like it’s still not enough. Add a bit more," Gara said, handing her the porcelain jar again.
"Can I?"
Gara nodded. "Sure. And Andine can have some too."
His eyes then shifted to two figures approaching their table, Yuvika and Orman. "There. She’s the daughter of the merchant house that sells salt. She’s got plenty of stock... for free."
Anel blinked, looking like she’d just heard something impossible.
"But... aren’t merchants super stingy?" she whispered.
"Not if you’re close with their kid," Gara replied casually, making Anel nod in understanding.
Then she didn’t bother to polite anymore, pouring the salt into her soup and Andine’s soup.
Right then, Yuvika and Orman arrived.
"I didn’t expect it to be this hard not seeing you guys!" Orman cried dramatically, clinging to Madha— who just burst out laughing.
While Orman continued his over-the-top display, Yuvika leaned closer to Gara, speaking quietly though her expression clearly wanted everyone to hear.
"Gara, in my class, the beastfolk from Nozama love Alrova’s products from Yugo Shop."
"Yeah, I’ve heard the same thing from the beastfolk in my class," Gara said with a small amused smile.
"I’ve already told my father, I’m planning to open more stores there. Do you think Alrova can increase production?"
"Seems doable. Just contact Hilda," Gara said.
"Speaking of Hilda," Yuvika added, "I heard from my father that she’s going to..." She trailed off, giving Gara a knowing look.
Gara nodded, instantly understanding.
"Wow, that’s amazing!" Yuvika replied with genuine excitement.
Meanwhile, Fian, Anel, and Andine exchanged confused glances— but wisely chose not to pry.
Yuvika and Orman didn’t linger long. After a brief chat with Gara and Madha, they returned to join their classmates.
The absence of Kevio, however, made things feel oddly incomplete. No one seemed to know where the pampered boy had wandered off to.
"Oh, right— Gara," Andine spoke up, "our tour ends after this dinner. Have you picked the last two classes that Sir Pere asked you earlier?"
Gara blinked, suddenly remembering. He pulled out a sheet of paper from the small cotton pouch hanging beside his leather satchel.
Anel frowned.
"I was the last who got counseling session and it ran late, so I haven’t choose these two classes," Gara explained quickly, offering a plausible excuse.
Anel still looked puzzled. She knew Professor Langga —who’d taught her class since first year— was an extremely thorough man.
She’d been a little disappointed when he stopped being their main advisor this year. But once she learned he’d become her younger sister’s main advisor instead, she’d let it go.
To steer the topic away, Gara asked, "So... what exactly is this General Class?"
Anel, the senior among them, stopped dwelling on her professor and began explaining,
"General Class is basically a theoretical course about specific bloodlines. It’s all theory, no practice on how to use bloodlines or Talents. You’ll just learn information about them."
Gara looked back down at his list. There were many options: Element, Space— but the Space class had been crossed out.
"Why’s this one marked off? Earlier, the Auxiliary Herbalist Class was crossed out because I’m already a Herbalist. But what about this one?"
He’d really hoped to study Space properly, without having to go through the vice headmaster, after the dispute with vice’s grandson. It would be super awkward.
"It’s been years since there’s been no instructor for the Space class," Anel replied, shattering his plan. "I’ve never seen this class open during my time here."
Gara sighed, disappointed, and finally selected Element as his choice.
...
Later, the Class S students lined up again. Even though they weren’t the first ones to enter the cafeteria, their small number meant they finished dinner earlier than anyone else.
Just as they were about to leave, Sir Pere stepped inside.
"Gara, have you chosen your classes?" he asked.
Gara nodded and handed over his paper.
Pere glanced at it, then requested Gara’s class schedule sheet. He filled in the remaining blanks neatly, returned it, and gave a brief nod to Anel before leaving without another word.
...