"Long time no see."
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea,
Fish-Man Island.
Inside the royal palace, a figure had arrived ahead of time.
Before him stood an incomparably huge, beautiful pink-haired mermaid.
"Lord Austin, you took great care of me when I was little~"
Shirahoshi smiled shyly and held Austin in both hands. Because of his height, even sitting on her palm was a little cramped.
Looking at the two waves of white before him that could have drowned him, Austin gave them a reassuring pat.
"Don't mind it. Well-behaved children are loved wherever they go."
Thanks to Austin having strangled Vander Decken in the cradle when he was younger, Shirahoshi's childhood had not been as oppressive as it originally would have been.
Though she was still gentle and timid, she was far better off than before.
"Lord Austin, you're too kind~"
Not far away, Neptune, King of the Ryugu Kingdom, held a trident with a broad smile on his face.
"No matter what, you are Fish-Man Island's benefactor—the Hero who once protected our people."
"Hero?"
It was the first time Austin had heard someone use that word to describe him.
Nothing he had done had ever come from some heroic mindset. He had simply done what he wanted to do.
Neptune knew that as well, yet he was still willing to call him that.
After all, Fish-Man Island had received his favor.
Besides, given how much Austin liked Shirahoshi, if her identity as Poseidon were ever exposed, they might have to ask him for help.
And then there was the issue of protection for the other half of Fish-Man Island...
If possible, Neptune naturally hoped Austin could take it over and bring all of Fish-Man Island under his protection.
That way, Fish-Man Island could become a true sanctuary on