Incidentally, she was used to seeing freshwater fishes because there were lakes and rivers in the Sea of Trees. However, she felt they weren't the same even though the marine creatures were shaped similar to those fishes. Though Hajime thought them as only fish... he didn't say anything since he read the mood. Hajime was going to be nice to Shia today.
"Hee~, for marine creatures to be inland... that's the point. Though the management, maintenance, and transportation must be troublesome..."
Though Hajime wasn't interested at all, he didn't reject it since he didn't have any reason to refuse her. Furthermore, Shia was happily smiling as she pulled Hajime's hand.
On the way in street performers avenue, their eyes were caught by people who did acrobatic as they challenged the human's limit, when they finally reached the big facility of Meerstat. Maybe as to represent the sea, the whole building was painted in blue and there were crowds of people in there.
The interior was extremely similar to the aquarium in the Earth. However, maybe because they didn't have the technology to make transparent water tanks that could endure the water pressure like the ones on Earth, bulky glass tiles were buried in the fence made of crystal-like metal, and it only somewhat visible.
However, Shia didn't mind it. Her eyes sparkled from seeing the marine creatures for the first time, and she spoke to Hajime while pointing her finger. Right next to them, was a little girl with her family who also pointing with sparkling eyes. Unexpectedly, his gaze met the father-like person's gaze and because Hajime noticed he looked at him with warm gaze. Hajime, who felt awkward, took Shia's hand and moved elsewhere. Shia was surprised by Hajime's action but she was happy he took her hand, and needless to say she returned his grasp while blushing.
After this and that, they enjoyed the aquarium for one hour, when Shia suddenly became wide-eyed when she looked at a certain water tank again, and began to stare at it.
Inside was... a Seaman. It was human-faced fish very similar to the one from the game Hajime knew.
"... Wh-why is he here..."
Shia backed away and trembled. Maybe because the Seaman noticed Shia, it turned to watch her with the same lazy expression from inside the water tank. The tension raised for some unknown reason. Because of two people, Hajime looked at the explanation placed beside the water tank.
According to it, this Seaman was an aquatic demonic beast, and it capable of using peculiar magic called "Telepathy." It seemed to be able to speak fluently though it rarely spoke, and he confirmed from the description that it was famous as a demonic beast one could converse with.
However, even if it was possible to talk to, it would only answer with an unmotivated voice as though the talk was very troublesome for it. Also, caution was necessary because the person it spoke to would become depressed as a side effect. It like alcohol and becomes talkative as it drinks. However, it wouldn't be called a conversation as a person would one-sidedly continued to preach to the conversation partner... Incidentally, it was named Lehman.