Granmamare
Known as the Mother of the Sea, she is a goddess-like being who embodies the entire ocean. It is said that she has many other husbands besides Fujimoto. Her true form is an enormous, monstrous anglerfish about one kilometer in length. This massive anglerfish had an interspecies mating with a human man—essentially, two entirely different species reproduced and created a child. Anglerfish are deep-sea creatures with sharp teeth in their mouths and an appendage extending from their heads that emits bioluminescent liquid, causing them to glow in the depths of the ocean.
This means that the woman-like part of Granmamare is actually the tip of this appendage. While the tip resembles a beautiful woman, behind it lies the grotesque main body of a gigantic deep-sea creature about one kilometer in size. Anglerfish lure prey with the glowing tip of their appendage in the deep sea, and similarly, Granmamare creates a stunning full-body image of a woman at the tip of her appendage to lure human males for interspecies reproduction. She could be described as "greedy and hypersexual," with a personality that enjoys mating with a variety of partners.
So where are the other husbands besides Fujimoto? Are they living somewhere in the world's oceans, waiting for Granmamare to visit them? Likely not. The reason lies in the nature of anglerfish mating. Male anglerfish have a unique way of mating—they bite onto the female, fuse with her body, and essentially become a parasite. The much smaller male anglerfish attaches to the enormous female, embedding itself into her body. Their tissues and circulatory systems merge, and the male remains permanently attached, living the rest of its life fused to the female. It loses most of its organs—its eyes, fins, and even its internal organs degenerate—becoming nothing more than a sperm-producing appendage of the female's body. The male essentially becomes part of the female's internal anatomy.
This peculiar biological trait of anglerfish suggests that Granmamare's other husbands have already been absorbed into her body. But why hasn't Fujimoto been absorbed as well? Fujimoto is a survivor of the submarine Nautilus from Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. When the Nautilus sank in 1870, Granmamare saved him, and since then, he has been producing the "Water of Life." Fujimoto is uniquely useful to her, which is why he hasn't been absorbed like the others and is still alive.
For Fujimoto, Granmamare is a beloved wife, but she is also a terrifying entity who could absorb him into her body if he ceases to be of use. Perhaps, when he grows old and can no longer carry out his work, he too will be drawn into her form, his tissues fusing with hers, becoming one with her. Whether Fujimoto would dread or fear such a fate is uncertain—he might actually welcome it with joy.
Created Jan 1, 2025
Updated Apr 27, 2025
Published Jan 2, 2025