Chapter 89

I am with Shina, making our way to the management building.

Each of us has a boat. Considering the bird meat we've loaded and the cargo we'll receive on the way back, there was no choice but to row alone.

It's almost dusk. If I don't start rowing soon, I might have a maritime accident on the lake before it gets dark.

"Wow, so much in one day! Ha, you're quite the worker, even as a young guild member!"

"Hehe. Here's the promised teal duck. We can't eat it all, so please take it."

"Oh, oh, I'm so happy! Hehehe, I have some vegetables, so take them with you."

"Thank you very much."

We even had more than enough duck meat to share. I gave some to the old man at the management building and received a lot of vegetables in return. There were onions, shishito peppers, turnips, and potatoes. I already had more than enough to eat, but I ended up receiving even more. The birds were in such large quantities that we couldn't eat them all, and now I have to deal with the excess.

"Here, eat this. If you only eat meat, you'll become a rough guild member."

"Where did you hear that? But I'll take it."

Vegetables are appreciated. Especially onions, they're the best.

"Today, Nastasha and I will be on the small island. You... well, do as you please today. However, if you lay a hand on anyone, you must take full responsibility. If you run, I'll shoot you."

"I won't lay a hand on anyone... How's the small island? Are there any monsters?"

"It's safe. It's not impossible for something to swim to a small island, but that small area would be too cramped to live in."

"That's good. You've found a good spot."

"Yes. It's a good place to hunt waterfowl."

"Sure, you managed to catch so many."

"I cheated."

Shina was grinning.

...Cheating, huh? Cheating...

"Nastasha mentioned it before. I didn't want to know, but..."

"I'm sure she was talking about the Gift. It's fine. Those who know, know."

We rowed the boat side by side. Shina seemed surprisingly accustomed to this.

"I don't care, Mongrel. I don't want to know about the power you possess, whether it's a Gift or a Skill..."

"You're modest."

"Hiding your power isn't wrong. There are powers in this world that are better off unknown."

...It doesn't seem like she's just saying this to sound good.

Shina's profile was tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"But remember, we Artemis will accept those with such powers. If we huddle together as outcasts, we might be a bit safer."

"Outcasts, huh? I see..."

"A pack of wolves hunts better than a lone wolf. Life is probably the same."

"Heh, I'm not a wolf type."

"Then a dog?"

"Just a mutt."

I recommend not getting close, as I might have a strange disease.

But mutts are generally resistant to diseases. I'll live a long life.

"I won't join your party, but if you need help, call me. If you prepare the reward, I'll come running, wagging my tail."

"...Then, raw meat would be a good reward, right?"

"A thick steak from a high-end restaurant would be perfect."

"Expensive dog, huh..."

The sun was setting, and the lake surface was reflecting brightly.

It's about time to prepare for bed.

After tying the boat to the shore, Shina returned to the small island with Nastasha. It seems they had already set up a temporary base there.

I brought the roasted teal ducks, which I had carefully prepared earlier, so they should have a full belly. There are vegetables too.

Lina, Ulrika, and Gorilliana will spend the night on this shore.

They have already spread out their fur rolls and prepared their mantles for the cold night.

Even in summer, it gets a bit chilly at night. Camping can be quite cold and might even cause a cold.

"Man, fishing is pretty good, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It's not very filling, but it was fun."

"...Just waiting after attaching the bait isn't so bad, either..."

Gorilliana's face, probably smiling gently, was casting scary shadows in the dim light of the campfire. She's a good person, though...

"I brought three fishing rods, but I hardly got to fish at all."

"Ahaha, I was busy plucking feathers and cooking. Sorry about that."

"Tomorrow, I'll hunt with my bow... Mongrel-senpai, please try hard with fishing."

"Sure. I got a feel for the right hook size today, so I should do well tomorrow."

"You sound confident."

Of course, I'm confident. The fish in this lake don't seem to be wary at all.

If the hook fits, it should work fine, I think.

Dinner was a whole roasted duck. A simple hunter's meal with herbs and salt.

I cut it up with a knife and ate it non-stop. It was delicious. The meat was dark like liver but didn't taste gamey and was surprisingly tender.

The side dish was steamed potatoes cooked on the wood stove. Simple and delicious. I think this is a better way to eat potatoes than the cheap, watery potato soup from the cheap restaurants in Regal. Preferences may vary, though...

"Split arrows are made by crushing slag and clay. You scatter the slag on a mold and press clay on top, then bake it."

"Wow, that's cool."

"...I saw a brickmaker do it once. Since there aren't many molds, they usually bake a few at a time with regular pottery."

"I wish they could mass-produce them... They're expensive, and it's not profitable for hunters."

I yawned in the tent while listening to the hunters' talk around the campfire.

It's already dark outside. When it's dark, I lose all motivation. I wonder if there's some magical item that can replace a lantern. It would probably be expensive... In this world, even the rich use candles.

"Mongrel-senpai, are you sleepy?"

"I'm going to sleep."

"Come on, let's talk more."

"I'm not as young as you. You should go to bed too. Fishermen wake up early."

"Hunters wake up early too."

"True..."

With that silly exchange, my consciousness slowly sank into the darkness.

The young people seemed to continue chatting happily until the very end...

In the morning, I woke up to find Lina lying next to me.

"...Ah, good morning."

"...No, it's hot!"

How can I sleep next to someone in the summer, even when camping! There's even a wood stove nearby!

"Whaaa!?"

"Phew, I'm awake."

I wrapped Lina in a Charge Deer rug and stretched.

It was still quite dark outside. It was just about time for the sun to rise. In this world, as long as the outlines are visible, it's enough to start activities.

"...But this outfit is somehow comforting..."

Lina, wrapped up, had a peaceful look on her face.

I remember a kid from elementary school who liked to wrap himself in curtains. I can kind of understand the feeling.

"Phaaa... Ah, Mongrel-san, you're awake... What's with Lina...?"

"This way, she can sleep better..."

"...Okay, adding a fur pillow..."

"Oooh..."

"Ahahaha, she looks so comfortable... I need to wash my face."

Gorilliana was still snoring on the fur.

I didn't want to risk waking her up and getting killed by her sleep-talking, so I left her be.

I started a fire, cut some onions, and fried them with the leftover butter, teal duck meat, and mushrooms. This was breakfast.

I thought about adding the shishito peppers but gave up because they were too spicy. What are they even for? They're more like spices than vegetables.

"Then, I'll go hunting. I'll aim for a Fletch Duck, so look forward to it."

"Oooh, bring back a big one. I've never eaten one before, so I'd like to try it."

The hunting group ate breakfast and went hunting right away.

Ulrika and Gorilliana took a boat to a slightly farther location. They said they could manage with single shots even without shotguns today.

"Finally, I can focus."

I was left alone with three fishing rods.

I'll use two for bait fishing and one for lure fishing.

I know I can catch fish with bait fishing.

But since I'm using lures, I want to aim for a big catch. So, I'll use a larger hook for the lure.

It's just after sunrise. The fish should be active now...

"Hmm..."

But I'm not catching anything. I've been trying for about 30 minutes, but it's not working.

I can feel small fish nibbling at the tip of the rod, but they're not biting properly.

The bait fishing rod I left out caught a Last Fish, but it's just a small fish. I've put it in a pot with moss stones to keep it alive. I plan to eat it later, but...

I want to try the prototype fins I received from Momo before noon.

It's best to do it during the warmer part of the day. Even though it's summer, it's not as hot as in Japan, so I expect it to be quite cold. I'll definitely need a campfire when I get back.

"Ah."

While thinking about this, the nearby reeds rustled.

I thought it might be Lina, but there was no greeting.

"Gi?"

"...Lina... You've changed a lot..."

"Gi gi"

A goblin appeared from the bushes. It appeared, but wait, I just cast my line. Can you reel it in for me?

"Gi i...? Gi gi gi!"

"Hey? What's going on? Ah, that's the Last Fish I caught. Stop it? Please?"

The goblin was eyeing the pot with a "hehe" look.

No, seriously, stop it. Please. I'm almost done reeling in. If I let go of the rod now, it might get stuck. Please, just wait a bit.

"Gi gi gi!"

"Aah!? You! Aah! Customer! No! No!"

It was taken by hand!

"Gi gi!"

"Customer, no! Customer!"

It was eaten!

"Among the goblins I've encountered, this one is in the top three for not being forgiven!"

"Gi gi!"

Finally, I finished reeling in and quickly drew my bastard sword, slicing the goblin's upper body.

...But it was too late. Everything was too late...

The Last Fish I caught was chewed up and swallowed into the goblin's stomach... Damn it...

"...I can't help it. I'm angry now. I'll use goblins as bait for fishing..."

If bird livers can be used as bait, maybe goblin livers can too.

This is both an experimental verification and mostly my revenge.

The liver fell out nicely from the goblin I just cut, so I'll use it