Chapter 87

For now, I decided to gather some big rocks by the water and try some bait fishing using river insects.

I just let the line dangle near the shore and leave it there. It’s better to do this close to the shore rather than casting it far out.

While waiting, I set up a stove, placed an iron plate on top, and built a chimney. It’s the usual camping setup. Honestly, the chimney isn’t necessary this season, but I brought it to prevent getting hit by smoke and sparks. Plus, it provides a steady heat source, which is important.

"Well, that’s about it."

I set up the usual triangular tent and extended an additional canopy from the top pole, creating a sort of vestibule.

Artemis said we’d be staying by this lake for at least two days, so I made it a bit more luxurious this time.

When you camp like this, the food eventually becomes all meat, and you get tired of it... Even if it’s delicious, eating the same meat all the time is tough. If I had a cooler, I could bring fresh ingredients and have a more colorful meal. That would be a regular camping experience.

"But waterfowl, huh. I know how to hunt pheasants, but what’s it like with a bow?"

In my mind, bird hunting involves using a shotgun. You scare the birds and make them fly, then shoot the shotgun at them. The weak birds get hit by the small pellets and fall.

For ducks, it’s probably similar.

In my past life, an old acquaintance sometimes shared the duck meat he hunted. I remember the unpleasant experience of biting into the pellets mixed in the meat. The meat was also quite tough... No, it was tough because of my poor cooking skills.

While thinking about this, I was cutting branches from nearby trees with my bastard sword when I heard a loud thud from somewhere far away.

"Oh...?"

It came from the lake. ...Ah, it’s probably a skill. Either Ulrika’s strong shot or someone else’s skill.

They must have already caught something even though we just got here. ...It’s not impossible. Everyone here is skilled.

By the way, Rina is currently entering the nearby bushes to find a shooting point.

It seems that in this kind of hunting, humans have to hide carefully and aim at the prey.

In other words, I might be hindering her. I feel bad, but if I drive the prey towards her, I might be of some help... I don’t know though.

"Kyea!"

"Oh, that’s a good scream."

After finishing the setup and being idle, I was trying to cast lures aimlessly while bait fishing.

On the fifth cast, I heard a bird’s scream from a nearby spot.

The waterfowl that were probably nearby took off with a flurry and flew away to the far side of the lake. Looking at where they had been, I saw a mallard floating with an arrow piercing its belly. It seems Rina hit it perfectly.

It’s a bit far from the shore. I’ll need to use a boat to retrieve it. I’ll prepare it.

When I put the rod on the ground, Rina returned from the bushes with a satisfied look.

"Mongrel-senpai, I hit it!"

"Wow, I saw it. Good job. Where did you shoot from?"

"From behind the reeds over there. Waterfowl are easy to hit because you can predict where the arrow will land."

"Is that so? What should we do? Should I go retrieve it with the boat?"

"Yeah, the ducks nearby have all flown away, so it’s better to retrieve it. Can you do it for me?"

"Sure, leave it to me. You can keep casting the lure while I’m gone."

"Yay!"

I handed the fishing rod to Rina and went to retrieve the poor mallard with the boat.

The mallard was floating, already dead. The arrow had pierced through from the back to the upper chest, stopping where the fletching caught.

It was hit from behind. The area is small, but it’s not that difficult, is it?

"Senpai, senpai, Mongrel-senpai. It doesn’t get stuck like before."

"Is that so? Is it easier?"

"Yes! It’s quite fun!"

When I returned to the shore, Rina was happily casting the rod.

She seemed to enjoy the process of casting far and reeling it in. But, the ability to enjoy the endless repetition is what makes a good angler... Enjoy it while it feels fresh...

Well, I’ll pluck some feathers. This task becomes troublesome if not done immediately after death. I don’t know why, but the feathers get harder to pull out.

"By the way, I heard a loud noise earlier. Whose skill was that?"

"Probably Ulrika-senpai. She might have used a strong shot with a split arrow."

"Split arrow?"

"It’s an arrow with a specially made, fragile tip. Ulrika-senpai’s skill puts a lot of strain on the tip, so she uses a tip that easily breaks into pieces, scattering them to hunt. It doesn’t have much power, but it can take down birds. If the flock is dense, she might take down several at once."

Wow, it’s like a shotgun.

That’s a strong shot, I didn’t know it could be used like that.

It’s convenient to have different uses for specialized equipment.

"I’ll go back to the bow after a few more casts. The prey might come this way from the other side."

"Sure. Since Rina’s main skill is with the bow, it’s better to focus on that... Huh... Hic!"

"Did a feather get up your nose?"

Damn, these fluffy and annoying feathers.

After that, I mainly fished, and Rina hunted.

According to Rina, the waterfowl in the lake have little caution and are surprisingly easy to catch. She already caught two more while I couldn’t catch anything. Damn, I’m losing to Rina again in terms of results. I want to catch something too.

"Mongrel-senpai, can you use a mallard as bait to catch fish?"

"Using a bird as bait... Well, it might work."

"Really?"

If it’s regular meat, I don’t know, but the liver might attract them. Fish tend to like smelly things.

If there’s enough waterfowl, it might be worth trying. The lake’s inhabitants might eat such things regularly.

"...But so far, there don’t seem to be any inhabitants, let alone a lord."

"Don’t say that. They’re just shy."

Maybe it’s because it’s not the right time. We should wait until the evening when the activity increases... But there are no lights in this world. It gets pitch black right after dusk, which makes cooking and other tasks difficult.

After a while, when the sun was at its peak,

Gorilliana and Ulrika, rowing the boat like Argonauts, arrived at our shore.

"Hey, look at this!"

"Oh, Ulrika-senpai... You’ve caught so many!"

"Hehe, yeah. I should have brought more split arrows. I ran out, so that’s it for today."

Ulrika proudly held up a long wire with five waterfowl strung together. Wow, already eight. We won’t be able to eat all the meat. What will we do?

"Oh, Mongrel, is that fishing? Fishing, right?"

"...Yeah, this is... what Rina said..."

"I haven’t caught anything yet... Do you want to try?"

"Sure, sure! Gorilliana, do you want to try?"

"Yes, I’d like to try."

I lent them the rods and started a beginner’s fishing lesson.

Fishing does exist in this world, and they knew the basics, so it wasn’t too difficult. The reel handling is a bit unique, though.

"Ah... Mongrel’s rod is completely different from what I’ve seen before... The length, the stiffness..."

"Regular rods don’t bend much at the tip. But this rod isn’t weak. It’s designed to use the bend to catch fish."

"But the fish aren’t biting... "

"No, no, it’s just the beginning. We just started."

Ulrika was casting the lure far and reeling it in happily.

Gorilliana, on the other hand, was enjoying bait fishing calmly, contrary to her appearance. She seems to be the type who likes to take it easy. She looks like someone who would spear marlins, but...

"I wonder what Sheena is doing. Still hunting?"

"Ah, the leader is on a small island, so I don’t know. She might still be hunting."

"Sheena doesn’t miss her shots often."

"Where are the two planning to camp? This side has a gentle slope and is spacious, so it’s still doable."

The tent is set up further back, and since we don’t hunt at night, there’s space in front.

If they don’t want to stay near me, I can’t force them, but I think it’s convenient. It’s easier to deal with monsters as a group.

"Um... Won’t it be crowded? Is it okay?"

"It’s fine. This time, the canopy is more luxurious. Look at that."

"Really? ...Wow, it’s really bigger! It’s amazing, bigger than before!"

"...Canopy. That’s it... I see..."

They’re busy with fishing and being drawn to the tent...

"Oh, oh? Wait, this... No, it’s definitely! Something’s on the line!"

While I was thinking, Rina shouted.

Looking at the tip of the rod, it was clearly being pulled underwater. No doubt, it’s a hit!

"Good job, Rina! Keep the rod up!"

"Like this!? The line won’t break!? Shouldn’t I aim it straight at the surface...!"

"No, that’s the opposite. Keep the rod up and let it bend. Reel in slowly!"

"What, what!? Rina, did you catch something!?"

"...It’s true, it’s pulling...!"

"Hehe...!"

Rina, despite being a beginner, skillfully reeled in the line, dealing with the fish that occasionally tried to escape.

The large reel without bearings creaked as she reeled in the line, and Rina skillfully maneuvered the rod to bring the prey closer.

"This is heavy! It must be a big one...! It’s the lord...! Not a citizen!"

"Wow, the lord is here! The lord is here with river insects!"

...But, from the way Rina is reeling in the line with her strength and the stiffness of the homemade reel, I have a feeling about the size of the catch.

I understand, Rina. It feels like a big one, doesn’t it?

"Almost... to the surface...! ...What!?"

When she pulled up the lure, the fish that was jumping was... a regular last fish, about 20 cm long.

It’s not the lord in terms of size. But it’s not too small either. It’s a fine catch.

"What!? It felt so heavy!"

"Ahaha, but you caught it! That’s amazing!"

"Congratulations, Rina...!"

"That’s right, Rina. Good job. This proves there are fish in the lake. ...Ah, it was a light bite. No, the hook is in its mouth... It tried to peck at the lure... Maybe it’s more aggressive than it looks."

"M