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Merc instantly informed Totoara about the little boat afloat on the lake.

“Hey, Totoara. Look at that.”
“What? Oh… HEY!”

Totoara ran to the shore when she saw the boat and yelled out to the person boarding it. The figure was unresponsive at first, but when Totoara yelled at him several times, he ultimately pulled the boat to the shore.

“What’s wrong?”

The young man who was aboard the boat inquired.

He instantly started ogling Totoara and Merc as soon as he saw them. He was blatantly ogling Totoara’s chest, to be more specific. Merc took a step in front of her as soon as she noticed.

“We’re travelers. What are you doing?”
“What? I’m fishing as you can see. I live in a small village to the east of the lake, and it’s my turn to fish. Although, I haven’t been able to catch anything today.”

As he slung his fishing rod over his shoulder, with the bait still dangling from it, the young man said.

“You’re fishing alone?”
“That’s right. Didn’t I tell you already, it’s a small village. And it usually bites a lot, so I’m more than plenty by myself. Furthermore, we only have this one boat. We can’t bring any more people even if we wanted.”
“I see…”

I thought he might be hired by the Guild as well, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I seem to have gotten quite suspicious of the Guild as of late…

Even though Merc had no clue what this man’s situation was, it was a good idea to consider the possibility that he was a Guild employee. Merc, on the other hand, could end up digging herself deeper into a hole if she became too suspicious, putting her in a difficult situation.

“Excuse me sir, but could you please let us on your boat? We need to get to the other side.”

Totoara, who appeared over Merc’s shoulder, remarked to the young man as Merc gazed up at him.

“Oh! I can’t refuse when asked by such beauties now can I. Unfortunately, I must fish, so I won’t be able to play with you.”
“That’s so mean!”
“However, if you help me catch 20 fish, I might think about it.”
“That’s too much! Couldn’t you give us some leeway here?”
“Hmph…”

When Totoara, who had emerged from Merc’s back, requested again with her hands clasped, the young man redirected his eyes to Totoara’s chest and became lost in thought.

“W-Well. I might consider it if you let me fondle those b-b-b-b-breasts!”
“Forget about it!”

Totoara glared at the young man, whose face flushed, and then hid behind Merc, concealing her chest with her arms. The man retaliated by stomping on his boat.

“So be it then! Despite flaunting them so obscenely, you still won’t let me fondle them, huh?! Fine! I won’t let you on my boat until you catch 20 fish!”

The man said, crossing his arms.

Given how far things had progressed, it would almost certainly be impossible to persuade the young man to change his decision. The only choice left for Merc and Totoara was to catch the 20 fish as instructed by the man.

“Merc, I’m sorry. If only I had let him fondle them…”
“That won’t be necessary.”

Like I’d let some other man fondle the breasts that I’ve set my eyes on.

Merc pondered, revealing her desire to monopolize Totoara’s chest. As she did that, she moved closer to the lake.

“Hah! Like you’d catch anything with those thin arms of yours. It’ll be a miracle if you manage to catch anything with that wooden stick on your hip.”

The man scoffed at Merc. Merc, on the other hand, simply disregarded him as she made her way to the lake’s edge. She then took a nonchalant step toward the water’s surface.
　
And as soon as her foot touched the water’s surface, it sank… or should have.

“HUH?!”
“What? M-Merc?!”

Both of them were taken aback when Merc took a few steps on top of the water’s surface. She appeared to be able to walk on the water’s surface without difficulty.

“H-How are you doing that?”
“It’s simple Mana Manipulation. I’m releasing mana at a moderate rate from the bottom of my feet. Look here. You can see that the water’s surface is dented, right?”
“W-Well yea it is… But calling it simple is… Normal people can’t do this!”
“There’s a trick to it, but I guess that doesn’t matter. Either way, I’ll be going on ahead. Totoara, you come after you catch those 20 fish.”
“WHAT?! You’re leaving me behind?!”

Totoara cried out in agony, but Merc didn’t have time to teach her Mana Manipulation now. Even though it was rude of Merc, she chose to let Totoara catch the fish as the man had requested.

“HYAA!”

Merc noticed Totoara jump at her as soon as she turned around to leave. Totoara would get soaked if Merc dodged here.

So Merc raised her Mana output instead of avoiding Totoara¹.

“Phew… That was close.”

Merc’s right foot sank a little, but they didn’t fall in.

To avoid dropping Totoara, Merc immediately wrapped her hands around her rear.

“T-Totoara?!”
“Hehe. I’m sorry. I was sure that you’d catch me.”
“……”

With a smile, Totoara replied, leaving Merc speechless. All she could do was sigh.

Well, I guess I can’t leave her after all this time.

They had come all this way together after all. Merc had grown closer to her, and it’s not like she wasn’t feeling anything. It was Merc’s first time carrying someone while walking on water, but it didn’t seem like it would be an issue. She could easily walk to the other side of the lake.

This situation is a bit…

To keep herself from falling, Totoara had wrapped her arms around Merc’s neck. Her soft twin peaks, not coincidentally, were also transferring heat to Merc’s back owing to their close proximity.

Merc had her arms wrapped around Totoara’s bottom as well. Moving them now would be odd, and even if she did, Totoara would fall.

Hmmm. This feeling… How can I explain it… Ahhh!

“Hm? Merc, is there something wrong?”
“N-No. It’s nothing.”

Merc stated casually as she walked on top of the water’s surface, grateful for the accidental good fortune.

She also shortened her stride as she walked towards the opposite side, allowing her to respond quickly if anything unexpected occurred. It had nothing to do with extending Totoara’s time on her back.

“M-My fish…”

Merc, who was fiercely fighting her own worldly ambitions, did not hear the young man’s words.

1. Robinxen: This seems problematic… for starters she’s draining her own mana here. Will she be combat capable on the other side? Seems like sabotage.