#713 The Younger Brother Invades the Farm School

So it begins anew.

Introducing! Attack on Farm School!

Given the fact that students who studied on the farm have been very successful after graduation, it was decided that we’d continue this program.

Not to mention, it also gives Sensei the Lifeless King his raison d’etre.

Sensei, who is happiest interacting with young people, wants to start a new school term with new students and a new class.

The project, now officially titled “Farm School,” has matured from its predecessor.

Reflecting on the exchange student system, various improvements have been made.

The most notable change, if any, is this.

Something has been bothering me since the farm exchange students started studying on our farm...

The concept was for humans, demons, and merfolk—the main races— to gather and learn together, but something was missing.

The merfolk’s...male population.

The original informal farm exchange student system only scouted merfolk from Mermaid Witch Academia’s students.

And since Mermaid Witch Academia is an all-girls school, it was inevitable that only female students were sent.

Thus, during the exchange system period, there was not a single merman to be seen.

This can’t go on.

We’re all about inclusivity, so this time, we made sure that young mermen could also study at the Farm School.

Mermen have become familiar from participating in Martial Swimming Tournaments and sumo tournaments in recent years, so they’re more than welcome to come and learn.

Well, adult mermen who participate in the Martial Swimming Competition probably won’t come to school...

It was a great honor to facilitate interactions between the sea and land, which are still few and far between, at our farm.

But then, when I checked the faces of the mermen who came to enroll...

I found a familiar face among them.

*   *   *

“Long time no see, brother-in-law! I’ve come to get stronger!”

Mersudents took the humanizing potion to change their tailfins into human legs and landed.

One of them rushed at me fiercely, shocking me.

“Um, you are...?”

...

......

...Um.

Gimme a sec, okay?

“What, you don’t remember?! What rude behavior towards your brother-in-law!”

“Brother-in-law?”

With that keyword, I had a hunch.

Ahhh, him?!

“Tetra, son of King Nagus!”

Nagus is the former Mermaid King, who has now abdicated. 

He and his wife, Mahi Kanne, have been blessed with many children, and I met one of them, their second son, Tetra.

Since my wife Platy is also their daughter, she and Tetra are siblings.

So Tetra has enough reason to call me “brother-in-law.”

“I see, you’re at the right age to study here, aren’t you?”

King Nagus and Queen Mahi have a large family, and the siblings are of a wide range of generations.

While the eldest son and daughter, Arowana and Platy, are independent and have their own families, there are still boys and girls growing up.

...That couple sure gets along really well.

I’m a little worried about whether a younger aunt or uncle will be born to our children.

“Well, I’m sure Platy will be happy to see you. Let’s get along, okay?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I came to the surface to get revenge!”

Huh?

Revenge? Was there some kind of grudge to be avenged?

...Ah.

Was it... Was it during the sumo tournament last year...?

“Tetra was defeated by Gobukichi in an instant. He was eliminated from the tournament without getting to show off once, so he’s been bothered by that.”

“Ngyaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Don’t say ittttttttttttttttt!!!”

A screaming adolescent.

Apparently, the utterly disgraceful loss weighed heavily on his sensitive age.

“Yeah, that’s right! I, the younger brother of the Mermaid King, Tetra, have finally reached the age where I can participate in the Martial Swimming Competition this year. I was looking forward to going on a rampage like my father and brother! I wanted last year’s sumo tournament to be a preview of that! I thought I’d debut a little early!!!”

Alas, his enthusiasm was killed right away.

Gobukichi, who can use high-speed movement, see into the future, and stop time simultaneously, defeated Tetra in the blink of an eye.

“In order to avenge that humiliation, I came to the land! If I train where the ones who defeated me are, I’ll be able to become stronger than them in no time with my talent. My brother Arowana also said that he became stronger because he came here!”

“Tetra... I get that you’re motivated, but can you lower your voice a bit?”

The reason is, Norito, my second son, who was just born last year, is taking a nap in my arms.

He’s still a baby who needs a lot of sleep time. I don’t want him to wake up from the noise.

“Enjoy your victory while you can! Once I become the strongest and beat all the residents, I’ll become the master of this place! Leaving the Mermaid Kingdom to my brother and founding my own nation on land sounds good too!”

“Um, Tetra? Can you talk about your dreams in a softer voice...?!”

This is bad; Norito is getting restless and furrowing his brows.

At this rate, he’ll wake up and start crying!

“Hah-haha! Giving someone as remarkable as me a chance to grow stronger was your mistake! Enjoy your position as the strongest while you can... Guhah!”

What the?!

Tetra suddenly fell silent!

It’s as if he’s struggling to breathe after a solid blow to his back...!

Behind the crouching Tetra is a silhouette…! It’s...!

“Quiettttt.”

Junior?!

My eldest son!

Did he rush over, sensing that his younger brother, Norito, was in trouble?!

He dealt a single blow to the noise source Tetra, robbing him of his breath!

“G-Guh...! Who was that? Who dares to sucker-punch me...?!”

“Meeeee.”

“A mere little brat?! Don’t mess with me!”

Seeing Junior, Tetra is furious to be done in by such a child.

Has his pride been damaged?!

“Um… Tetra? It’s just a kid’s prank, so let’s be more mature about this…!”

“You brat…! You’ve got guts to pick a fight with me, praised as the boisterous prince of the Mermaid Kingdom. I hope you’re prepared to cry!”

Oh boy, this young man is being so immature and petty!

Of course, I won’t stay silent when my son is in a pinch. Although I’m holding Norito and my hands are full, I will protect both my kids!

“Silly pranks can lead to serious consequences. Let this big brother teach you the fear of adults… Ngah!”

Wow... Junior’s strong...

A three-year-old who doesn’t even need his father’s help anymore.

“Nguhuh?! Wait, why am I being one-sidedly done in... by a kid…?!”

“Humane Face Breaking Fisttttt.”

“Guhooooooooooh!”

Junior is outrivaling him.

Tetra, who was bragging about his strength, hasn’t shown any signs of fighting back at all.

“How can this be…?! I, hailed as the Iron Bullet Soldier of the Reefy Coast, can’t lift a hand against a child…?!”

“Spiritual Platformmmmm.”

“Ngyohooooooooooooooooooooooooohhh!”

It’s safe to say the outcome has been decided.

Before I knew it, Norito was wide awake, giggling and frolicking.

Is he enjoying watching their fight?

Your big brother is strong, isn’t he? Daddy’s surprised too.

“Don’t mess with me, you damn brat!!!”

Pure fighting spirit is welling up from Tetra’s body!

He’s displaying just how immature he is!

“How dare you push your luck while I’m playing nice! This isn’t my full strength! I’ll show you there’s no nephew better than his uncleeeeeeee!!!”  

Whoops, this isn’t good.

I thought I should step in soon to show my dignity as a father... but then another intervenor appeared...!

“And what do you think you’re doing, really?”

“Ah, Big Sis...!”

Tetra’s much older sister.

And the mother who truly loves Junior.

Namely, it’s Platy.

“Tetra… You must be eager to die, causing trouble so early in your visit. Picking a fight with my children can only be seen as a suicidal act, you know?”

“Wait, wait, wait, Big Sis…?! It’s been a while, but there’s a good reason for this, I swear...!”

“You think I, a witch, wouldn’t grasp the whole situation? In consideration of causing Norito distress, I’ll etch the rules of life on this farm, right here, right now...!”

“Gyaaaaaaaaah! Please forgive me, Big Sisssssss!!!”

Despite his pleas for mercy, Tetra is forcefully dragged away by the head.

So, starting this year, he’ll be living with us on the farm as one of the members?

Our family is growing, huh?

“Dad, I’m hungry. Snack timeeee.”

And just like that, Junior’s earlier bravery is nowhere to be found.

“Good idea, let’s all have a snack together.”

Life on the farm seems to be getting livelier again.