Chapter 90

The goblin has a large liver.

...I said that as if I knew, but I just found out. I've never really looked at it closely.

Wow, it's big... Is this because it's an omnivore, to deal with toxins or something? I don't know.

I don't go around looking at the internal organs of monsters I don't plan to eat. Well, I get it. It's developed because it's an omnivore. Let's just say that.

So, I took out this big liver...

"...To use as bait."

It's big. What do I do with this? How do I use it as bait?

...I'll cut it up so it doesn't fall off the hook.

I sewed the liver with the needle in a loop-like pattern... It feels like sewing. But this is fine. It's fine, but...

"Smelly... Omnivores are no good..."

I can only trust herbivores. I can forgive the crazy boar. Everything else is no good. It's too smelly. The organs are too smelly. What is this?

Why do carnivores smell so bad... Or is this just my bias?

Will fish really come for this? I think it will either attract them strongly or they'll run away...

But anyway, I'll give it a try. I'll catch something with this goblin's liver...

"Hnnn!"

With a brave shout, I cast the bait far.

This heavy bait will land in the middle of the lake! Might as well aim for the big ones in the deep!

"Hehehe... This is my first time using a gang hook... In Japan, I might get beaten up for this..."

The hook is extra large. It's a super thick gang hook made from the bait. It's a violent hook designed to hook fish as it reels in.

But there's no one here to stop me. I'll do it. If I'm going to do it, I have to do it.

"Archers are good, aren't they? They're doing well today, aren't they?"

I cast and regularly reel in and cast again. While doing this, I hear the sound of bow skills, whether it's a "squeak" or a "boom," resonating from somewhere in the lake.

It might be the sound of the water being hit. It's not like a gun or something. It's lighter... but in this world, it's a sufficiently terrifying shooting sound.

...There are no guns in this world.

No gunpowder either. Not that it doesn't exist, but it hasn't been invented yet. The materials are there. They can be combined to make gunpowder. The sources of saltpeter and sulfur are separate, but both are available, which surprised me.

However, this world is not simple enough to use black powder and a simple matchlock to do anything, and the important figures are not weak enough to be targeted with the limited resources. I think even better methods would still lack firepower. The tough ones are really tough.

If I were to do it, I'd say using a skill for sniping would be best.

I think scientific sniping is really difficult. The question is where and how to hone that skill...

"Huh?"

A reaction on the fishing rod. The tip of the whale's mustache bends and sinks. ...Is it snagged?

"Oh, oh... Is it really...?"

But this root isn't moving. It's pulling like crazy. ...If this isn't a treant, it might be a fish.

By the way, there are no treants in this world. So, is it a fish?

"Ugh... No, wait, wait... Calm down... This isn't the Last Fish... This pull isn't like an Abite...!?"

I don't know how strong the pull of a fish from another world is. In my previous life, even small fish could have a good pull, but this is different today. It's clearly a big one.

Is it a bass? Is Mr. Suzuki here in another world? Or is it the black version of Mr. Suzuki?

"Ugh... Hey, this is a rod made by an amateur...! Treat it more gently...!"

I feel the weight, and it pulls to the side. It's still deep and far. The amount of movement is incredible. What is this thing? It's not a big blue fish from the sea...

I stand the rod up and adjust to the movement. ...The hook is probably already set. I can't believe it. Do you know how big this hook is? It's as big as two clothespins. This gang hook... even though I cast it with the bait...

"K, How do I make a drag in another world...!"

I don't know the durability of the line or the rod. But it's not good to keep giving in.

I bend the rod to its limit and slowly reel in the drum.

While occasionally giving in to the opponent's movements, I reel in twice as much when there's a chance to pull it closer.

Fishing is a test of stamina. It's not just me. It's a battle between humans and fish.

Fish are at home in the water and pull strongly, but their stamina is not infinite. There will definitely be a time when they get tired and give up.

My stamina is... infinite. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but let's say it's infinite.

Actually, I'm starting to doubt the durability of the Sky Forest Spider's thread. I'll bring this fight to a stamina-based one as much as possible...

"Is there a goblin? No goblin? Are you okay?"

I look around for the immediate threat, but there's no ominous shadow. It's a serious battle between me and this mysterious fish.

"This is it, a big one... It's definitely over 50 cm..."

I can't tell if it's a big-mouthed catfish or a carp. It might have swallowed the big hook whole.

But if it can easily bite into a goblin's liver... How big is it? Over a meter? That's not a freshwater fish...

"Oh, oh, oh...! No way, no way...! You're not going to dive, you stupid thing, absolutely not!"

I feel it about to dive and quickly reel in.

If it dives into the roots or fallen trees at the bottom of the lake, the line will get tangled and it will be over. I have to pull it up to the surface before that happens.

Giving in is no good. While it's a stamina battle, if it dives, it's over. This is not a rocky sea. It's the worst field with the worst bottom conditions. I'm worried about the line's durability, but I have to keep reeling...

"Oh...! No way, it's heavy...!"

I have enhanced my body. But the effect is subtle with a thin layer. This is not an opponent I can handle gently. What is this thing?

For me to feel it's heavy, it must be something significant. Even though I'm fighting with a rod and a junk reel...

Oh, it's dangerous! Is the tip of the whale's mustache at its limit!?

Is there stress at the joint...!? It's bending in an ominous way...

"K, I won't let this break...!"

I quickly send the magic power of enhancement to the rod. Normally, I use it on my bastard sword, but there's no choice. This is not an opponent I can handle gently.

"Alright, back to five minutes!"

With my enhancement, the fishing rod's strength has increased.

The bent fishing rod tries to straighten and pull the big fish in the water with its strength.

This is simple. The rod, enhanced by my magic, won't break.

...If I enhance the line, it will tear due to the difference in strength, but this is fine for now. I'll fight with this.

"Alright, it's getting closer...! Let me see your face, big one...!"

I pull and lift. The resistance is strong, but I reel it in bit by bit.

As I do, the shadow of my nemesis rises in the water.

"Big..."

It was a dark shadow.

In the slightly distant water, a dark, slippery shadow flapped and pulled to the left.

...It's not just over a meter. It's definitely twice that. What is that? A pirarucu? A giant catfish?

No, I don't know about big catfish, but this is definitely not a catfish's pull. I can tell somehow.

Who is this? Remember the encyclopedia. Was there something... a monster? No, it must be a monster. What's the name of this thing?

"Oh!"

The fish shadow jumps out of the water. It was a shock, and I forgot to reel.

Explosive splashes and black scales. No whiskers, but a big tail fin and pectoral fins, resembling a flying fish. And the highlight is the crescent-shaped yellow pattern clearly visible on the gills...!

"Hey, I remember that! You're it, right!? A High Tail, right!?"

The High Tail. A monster fish with long, strong pectoral and tail fins. It also has a fin-like structure on the upper side of its back, making it look like a jet plane.

Due to its extremely high swimming ability, it can ascend rivers and waterfalls, appearing in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater, making it a super active monster fish.

I see, now I understand this weight. But how did it get to the lake? It's not just ascending...

"But you're supposed to be delicious...!"

The High Tail's favorite food is seaweed and algae. It's said to live mainly at the bottom of the water, eating plants attached to rocks. Herbivorous fish are good. They usually taste good...

"Senior, Senior, Mongrel Senior...--!?"

"Oh, Rina! Is there something? As you can see, I'm a bit busy...!"

"More than just catching two...! Should I help...!?"

Rina tries to hold the rod with me, but that's too much.

"No, it's fine! I'm pulling it bit by bit! So, Rina, get the net...!"

"Net?"

"Net..."

A net... I don't have one! What do I do! Help, Net-san!

"Oh, what is this!? For a fish, it's resisting more on the surface!"

"Wow! It's big!"

"Do you know what a High Tail is, Rina?"

"No, I don't!"

"That's what it's called!"

"Now's not the time for that!?"

No, that's true!

Actually, this is it! It's tough! Even though it's being pulled up to the surface, its resistance is getting stronger!

What do I do... How... No, I shouldn't have worried!

"Rina! Shoot the High Tail with your bow!"

"What!? That thing!?"

"You can do it! Aim for its face or gills and take it down!"

"But, but it's moving a lot...! I've never shot a fish...! What if I hit the line...!"

"You can do it, Rina!"

The High Tail's resistance is fierce, and it shows no signs of tiring. Monsters are troublesome like this.

The Sky Forest Spider's thread is commendably strong, but without enhancement, it seems to have its limits. If I pull it any harder, it will definitely break. I have that