The Hero awkwardly smiled and waved away the enthusiastic sales pitch from the Warrior Guild Leader, then crossed the trestle bridge and finally reached the lakeshore where the Lake Holy Sword rested.
In the distance, the lake shimmered with ripples, and several small fishing boats were engaged in catching fish.
The Hero's gaze swept over this tranquil scene, and her thoughts inevitably returned to the first time she visited this small town.
At that time, she wasn't even a Professional, and it was only upon the recommendation of a Little Girl that she completed her first Reincarnation to become a Martial Monk. So much had happened since then.
But now, visiting for the second time, the small town remained as peaceful as ever, whether it was the Great Demon disaster at the Border or the Magic Cloud Undercurrent within the Kingdom, neither had stirred a ripple here like the shimmering lake surface — calm, serene, yet unlost in beauty.
The Hero walked to the lake shore, standing on the shallows by the water.
There was still a long time before next year's fishing festival, and without the Twin Moons triggering the low tide, the sword-shaped reef remained hidden, quietly slumbering beneath the water.
Her clear eyes reflected the calm lake surface; the Hero closed her eyes, bathing in the lake's gentle breeze, a relaxed smile curving her lips.
When she opened her eyes again, they were tinted with a deeper and purer azure than the lake water.
[Lake Holy Sword's reaction]
[Hero's Perception (Seven Seas Witch:159)]
Note: Luck insufficient, summed 100+ Successful, divergence point 100 (guidance), 120 (landmark), 180 (sea map), 250 (door)
The Hero's gaze penetrated the lake's shimmering surface, focusing on the unassuming Lake Holy Sword submerged below.
Now she understood, it was not essentially a weapon, but a reef eroded by long lake waters into a form resembling a Longsword.
Yet, over the same lengthy years, this reef was imbued with the offerings and beliefs of the townspeople, gaining an incredible spirituality, closely connected to this natural setting and town.
Despite no human processing, it possessed the power comparable to Legendary Equipment, a Holy Artifact forged by both nature and humankind.
Back then, the Hero even participated in the traditional program at the fishing festival, the Ceremony of Unsheathing the Sword from the Lake Holy Sword. As it turns out, the "sword" couldn't actually be pulled out, which in retrospect felt somewhat deceptive.
However, although unable to unsheathe the Holy Sword, she received its acknowledgment, gaining a Magic Power gift from the Siren Princess.
And it was due to this gift, along with the side effect of losing her voice, that she set out towards the Border, seeking a way to recover her voice, and then...
And then the voice was indeed found, but her body accumulated increasingly varied side effects.
Though it wasn't really anyone's fault...
Sensing the Hero's gaze, a faint light emanated from the Holy Sword beneath the lake, pulling her back from reverie.
Seeing the light seemingly inviting her, the Hero didn't hesitate, leaping lightly into the water.
When she first gained the Mermaid Form, she couldn't even touch water, as it would dissolve her Magic Body into foam, but now, after several evolutions, such concerns naturally vanished.
No need to close her eyes nor hold her breath; a translucent membrane emerged on her eyes, isolating water to keep her vision clear, while slits opened in her neck behind her ears, allowing her to breathe underwater.
In Mermaid Form, the Hero's physique wouldn't significantly change; it was a difficult Humanoid Transformation nonetheless without major alterations.
As the icy lake water enveloped her entire body, the Hero truly transformed into a Seven Seas Mermaid living below the Deep Sea, her slender legs gently swaying as the water proactively carried her to the Lake Holy Sword.
She reached out, gently grasping the stony sword hilt; as she closed her eyes, Magic Power converged, and immense information emanated from the Holy Sword.
[Hero's Perception Critical Success, Miracle Spark +1, value exceeding 200, Sea Map gains extra bonus]
A song of longing for homeland sung by an exiled Mermaid depicted the scenery of the seabed, eventually dissipating into invisible foam, with only Tear Drops falling into the sea, carried by water to this great lake.
The Lake Holy Sword's brilliance intensified, expanding to sweep across the entire lake, then returning to gather again as if collecting something.
Consequently, waves arose on the lake's surface, evoking puzzled and amazed expressions from fishermen who knew the lake intimately.
At the lakebed, a tear drop resembling a diamond appeared at the sword's tip, the Siren Princess's final memory crystal shattered bit by bit, absorbed by the Hero.
A vast Sea Map slowly unfolded in the Hero's mind.
[Hero received the Holy Sword's gift: Siren Princess's Mysterious Sea Map]
7. Musical Instruments
10. Great Success/Great Failure
[Kingdom's coastline length (exceeding 100 is a small continent)]
[Sea Map range (120-East, South, West, North, 120+ is Global)]