Chapter 75

"Hey, they're selling something interesting over there."

One day, while walking through the market, I discovered a rare material.

I had heard that it existed and was used in this world, but I never thought I'd come across it in Regol, this inland town... Surprise came before joy.

"Hey, mister, is that a whale's baleen?"

"Yeah, you know your stuff, huh? That's right. It's pretty rare."

I had only come to the market to restock the spider silk I use for fishing, but there it was, prominently displayed in the shop that sells monster materials.

The material was a brownish, almost amber color with a lustrous sheen, and it looked like a wooden boomerang cut in half. It must be nearly a meter long. I can't even imagine how big the whale must have been.

"It was a whale caught by the Halperia's largest warship, the Snowcone. I don't know much about the specifics, but... it's a strange creature, isn't it, to have such a large baleen in its mouth?"

"Caught by a warship, huh? That's impressive... There are creatures like that in the Kirytis Sea?"

I've seen the sea before. If you head south from Halperia, you'll find a large port where trade is conducted with the Allied Nations and... occasionally with the Demon Continent.

I've been on several expeditions for guard duty. The food was fine, but the security was poor, so it wasn't a particularly enjoyable city...

"It's an incredibly large monster, but the amount you can get from one is enormous. So, the baleen isn't that expensive. Lately, it's been showing up in Regol, too, you know?"

"Hmm, does it sell well?"

"No, not at all. Skulls and horns would look good, but apparently, the baleen doesn't make for a good trophy. It's bulky and heavy, and I really want to get rid of it. I'll give you a discount if you buy it."

Yeah, I can see that. It's hard to tell what it is just by looking at it. I understand why it's not popular as a hunting trophy.

But I know a good use for this material.

"Then, I'll take one. It's interesting to hear the story, too. Might as well."

And that's how I ended up with the whale's baleen.

"Oh, those tusks over there are rare too. They might be good for making small items. Can I buy a few?"

"Sure thing! But, buddy, they're pretty hard. Most craftsmen find them difficult to work with..."

"Don't worry, I'll manage."

It might be a material that ordinary craftsmen can't handle, but I have brute strength.

Alright, let's head back to the inn and do some DIY. There's no Sunday in this world, but...

"Well then... I'll use this baleen to win today."

I declared to myself in a moist voice and placed the baleen I had bought on the workbench in my room.

My room at the inn is already cluttered, but it's a large room designed for multiple people, so it's quite spacious.

It serves as a storage place for my equipment collection and also as a workshop of similar size.

The workbench is a sturdy one, with a vise and other tools that can be assembled from parts that are not immediately recognizable.

"...I heard the whale's baleen is like plastic, but it's not as much as I imagined. It's more like cow horn or tortoiseshell...?"

Needless to say, there's no plastic in this world. The closest thing would be the transparent, flat material inside a squid, but that's obviously not plastic. It's similar, though.

What's important is the elasticity and flexibility, similar to plastic.

"Oh, it cuts well. This is a good, straightforward material."

The baleen has a fiber direction like wood, and if you cut along it, it will split. However, with a saw, you can cut it smoothly without splitting, allowing for more precise work than I expected.

Cutting along the fibers, I first made a plate. Then, I cut the plate into thinner strips... and the baleen rod was complete. All I had to do was shape it into a cylinder.

"...Yeah, this flexibility. It's not bad."

The completed part was the tip of a fishing rod. When I applied pressure to the tip with my finger, it bent to about 90 degrees without much resistance, like a spring.

When fishing for large fish, a flexible rod is essential to avoid putting too much strain on the line. In my previous life, some fishing rods used whale baleen for the tip.

This material was necessary to upgrade my fishing rod.

"This could be useful for other things too... This might have been a good purchase."

Wood can split and crack from a rough spot, but the baleen is more flexible. It can be shaped freely, making it a good material for crafts. It has a plastic-like feel.

The processing was quick. It wasn't that difficult to begin with.

The final step was to attach it to the wooden rod I had already made, ensuring it fit snugly.

"Hmm."

The new fishing rod was complete.

The tip was made of whale baleen, making it a must-have item for fishing in this world.

"Let's try it out!"

When you get a new tool, you can't help but use it. That's just how boys are.

"Hey, Mongrel! You've been making a lot of noise with that grinding sound!"

"Sorry! I'm off!"

I took the certificate from the bewildered gatekeeper and quickly left the city.

It was obvious I was going fishing. I understand his frustration.

But when you make something, you want to try it out, right?

I headed to the usual Sylsaris River and set up my rod near the bridge.

This time, I used a river insect I found nearby as bait. I'll need to go to deeper water for lures, yeah.

"...Hmm, how's the flexibility?"

As I let the line out, the current carried the rig downstream, creating a resistance that might fool a beginner into thinking they had a bite.

"Oh, not bad..."

When I let it drift, I could feel the tension on the baleen tip of the rod from a considerable distance.

It was pulled hard, but with the rod upright, only the tip flexed... Good, good, this is the feel I was looking for.

"The only thing missing is a reel... A smoother one would be better..."

A reel that lets the line out smoothly is beyond my skills. I can't replicate a drag mechanism either. Well, I could attach something like a bicycle brake to the reel to simulate a drag... but a brake on a fishing reel sounds odd.

"Oh, oh...? Is this...?"

While holding the rod and pondering improvements, the tip of the rod bent slightly.

It was a subtle bite that might have been hard to detect with a wooden rod. ...No rush, just wait. After a moment...

"Got it! Got it, got it!"

A bite! Yes, yes, got it! It's not a crustacean, this is it!

"Whoa... not as strong a pull as I thought..."

At first, the sensitivity of the rod tip made me think it was a big one, but it's probably a small fish.

I reeled in the line steadily, overpowering the fish without much of a fight.

Soon, small splashes appeared on the surface, and the fish was easily brought to shore.

"Oh... a Last Fish..."

The fish I caught was a Last Fish, about 15 centimeters long. It's a freshwater fish found widely in the rivers of this country.

It has a dark skin with rust-red scales, and its appearance, which resembles a disease that affects wheat, makes it a rather unlucky fish. However, it's edible, as noted in the guild's records.

"Since I caught it, I might as well eat it. Come to think of it, I haven't had lunch yet."

After cleaning the fish, I used the blade of the Sword Breaker to scrape off the scales and remove the guts.

I washed the inside with river water, then skewered it on a stick and roasted it over a fire.

There were plenty of white driftwood logs along the riverbank for fuel.

Roasting a small fish would only require a few additions to the fire.

"...Alright, now I can relax and wait for more bites."

A small fire in a makeshift stone hearth and a skewered fish.

I let the line out and hoped to catch another one while cooking.

It was a leisurely, idle time. But that's what I love about fishing. It's nice to have the peace of mind knowing I've already caught one. Knowing there's something in the river is important.

"Nothing's biting..."

Well, that doesn't mean I'll catch another one right away!

"Hehe... Oh, the flesh is fluffy. Fresh grilled fish is really delicious."

In the end, I only caught one Last Fish that day.

It was a slow day in terms of catch, but it was a good test for the rod. Next time, I want to fish in a spot with more fish and use lures.