Chapter 547 – Merfolk Tavern
by spirapira# 547. Chapter 547 Merfolk Tavern
Chapter 547 Merfolk Tavern
“Over there.” Rose pointed to a patch of sea and said, “When the ocean swallows the last trace of sunlight, the Merfolk Tavern will appear from there…”
As if responding to her voice, the afterglow of the setting sun vanished completely.
Where she pointed, a merfolk signboard inlaid with iridescent pearls slowly rose from the sea.
Immediately after, the merfolk emerged through the surface, seated upon enormous starshine shells.
The light from the starshine shells reflected on the seawater, as though a sky-full of galaxies had fallen into the ocean.
The merfolk all leapt into the water together, and the galaxy in the sea was churned into countless stars scattered everywhere.
The starshine shells opened as well.
Inside every starshine shell, there was a row of arc-shaped sofa chairs made of coral, along with a matching curved table.
At the top was also a moonlight pearl lamp—just enough to light the inside of the shell, not dazzling, but sufficient for illumination.
In the largest starshine shell, half was a bar counter, and half was an open kitchen.
A Witch stood inside, brandishing her Wand and using Culinary Magic to prepare food and drinks.
“That is the owner of the Merfolk Tavern, Lady Aquina,” Dora introduced.
So the Merfolk Tavern was actually run by a Witch—only the staff were all merfolk.
Lena saw the doubt on Mo Lan’s face and explained, “It can’t be helped. When it comes to business sense, merfolk aren’t even as good as Elves, but they’re the most loyal employees. If merfolk could fly, we’d all want to recruit merfolk knights.”
There were already guests waiting on the beach, and the merfolk pushed little shell boats to the shore to guide them aboard.
“Let’s go! We can just fly straight into the tavern.” The moment Rose arrived, she had already set her sights on the starshine shell with the best location.
Mo Lan and the others followed her down into that starshine shell.
“It’s close to the bar, so ordering food and drinks is convenient. It’s also close to the reef stage, so we can admire the merfolk songstress’s beauty from the closest distance… no, I mean, her singing! Her singing!”
Rose’s mouth ran ahead of her brain for a moment and she nearly blurted out what she really meant.
She stole a glance at Mo Lan. Thankfully, Senior wasn’t showing any particular expression.
Mo Lan: “…”
Mind Witches really were all looks-obsessed.
But merfolk really did have high looks!
Whether male merfolk or female merfolk, they all had a stunning face so pretty it was hard to tell male from female, and their figures were even more beyond reproach.
When their lower bodies were in the sea, they looked no different from humans; but when they revealed those sleek-lined fishtails beneath the waist, there was an added sense of gorgeous, sensual splendor.
“Beautiful ladies, what would you like to drink?”
A blond, blue-eyed male merfolk swam up to the edge of the starshine shell where they were seated. Clinging to the rim of the shell, he floated his upper body above the surface, propped his chin in one hand, and gazed at them with watery azure eyes.
“Glancius, it’s Mo Lan’s first time here—bring us a menu first!” Rose said.
Glancius’s gaze fell on Mo Lan. “Just a moment!”
With that, he flicked his tail and dove into the water.
His tail was the same color as a Purple Gold Coin.
In less than a minute, he returned with a booklet made of fishskin. “Would you like me to introduce it for the new guest?”
“No need!” Rose refused at once.
If it were any other time, she definitely would have let Glancius do the introduction. But today—of course they would be the ones introducing things to Senior!
With a regretful look, Glancius manipulated the seawater, wrapping it around the fishskin booklet and sending it toward Mo Lan.
Rose, Dora, and Lena’s brows snapped up.
To merfolk, the seawater under their control was essentially an extension of their limbs. Using it to touch others without permission was frivolous and rude.
Rose didn’t miss the faint trace of teasing that flashed through Glancius’s innocent-looking eyes—his old bad habit was acting up again. Just as she was about to slap the seawater away, she saw Mo Lan move a finger. The seawater immediately slipped free of Glancius’s control and spat the fishskin booklet out.
The Levitation Spell floated the fishskin booklet down onto the table in front of them, and then a Cleaning spell fell upon it.
The remaining seawater curled back and slapped straight into Glancius’s face.
That sequence of actions was the equivalent of swatting away someone’s wandering hand, giving him a slap, and then washing one’s hands in disgust afterward.
Tears burst from Glancius’s eyes at once.
Tiny pearls pattered down, filling his palm.
The merfolk cradled the pearls and sprang out of the water. Seawater held him aloft to the starshine shell, and he extended the pearls forward. “Please forgive my rudeness.”
Mo Lan: “…”
Was there something seriously wrong with this merfolk?
She didn’t take the pearls. Instead, she produced a card from thin air and tossed it to him.
“For me?” Glancius asked in delighted surprise.
Mo Lan gave a small nod.
Glancius looked at the cover, and the smile on his face cracked apart inch by inch. “《A Waiter’s Self-Cultivation》?”
“Read it properly. Keep this up and sooner or later you’ll lose your job,” Mo Lan said.
“Hahahaha!” Rose and the others couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. “Mo Lan’s right. A waiter should behave like a waiter. Off you go—we don’t need you for now.”
“…” Grinding his back teeth, Glancius sank to the bottom of the water.
“Glancius is really an oddball among merfolk. Other merfolk are very devoted, but Glancius always falls for someone the moment he sees them. He especially loves teasing people with seawater—particularly Witches,” Dora said.
“I heard it’s because he was once mercilessly rejected by a Witch,” Lena whispered, gossiping.
“Sometimes his behavior is hard to judge, but his singing is really quite good,” Rose said.
…
Mo Lan had seen merfolk with her own eyes. After satisfying her curiosity, she wasn’t particularly interested in them anymore.
Glancius was indeed good-looking, and none of the other merfolk waiters in the tavern were as handsome as he was, but Mo Lan wasn’t a looks person.
Compared to merfolk, she was more interested in this tavern’s menu.
“[Drinks]
1. Merfolk’s Tears
2. Siren’s Lullaby
3. Bubble Coral
4. Moonlight Tide
5. Pirate’s Regret
…
[Desserts]
1. Starfish Crème Caramel Pudding
2. Merfolk Dressing-Mirror Cake
3. Forgetting Shell Cake
4. Crystal Beach Shaved Ice
5. Runaway Ice Cream
…
[Mains and Snacks]
1. Sunken Ship Treasure Platter
2. Seaweed Elf Spiral Pasta
3. Tidesong Conch Chowder
4. Coral Reef Fish-and-Chips
5. Captain’s Lucky Dinner
…”
Mo Lan had read quite a few of Valen’s cooking and gourmet books, but she didn’t recognize a single drink or dish on this menu.
“Everything on this menu is Aquina’s exclusive recipe. You can’t get it anywhere else. Every single item has its own special character.”
Rose introduced them to her: “Like Merfolk’s Tears—after you drink it, you can briefly understand the merfolk language. It’s almost time for the merfolk songstress’s performance; if you take a sip of Merfolk’s Tears before listening, the effect is even better. If you drink siren’s Lullaby to the third sip, it’ll make you float ten centimeters above your seat. Bubble Coral will puff out rainbow bubbles when you shake it, and if you poke a bubble with your hand, it goes ‘pfft’ and turns into a little flower… And this Runaway Ice Cream—you absolutely have to order it, hehe~”