Chapter 95

I returned to Regol and was busy for a while, but after that, I went back to the inn and had a good sleep. Long journeys are mentally exhausting, you know.

However, it was a good trip. I felt refreshed, and I really enjoyed myself. Guard duty is tedious and tiring, but going on a long trip while fishing isn't bad at all.

"Hey Momo, I've brought the data you asked for. And don't forget to return the flippers."

"Mongrel! You've been working! Well done!"

"Of course, I'm a pro. Here, I washed them with well water just in case."

"Oh, how thoughtful of you."

I asked the members of "Young Sapling's Staff" at the guild, and they told me Momo was at the clan house, so I went there.

As expected of a party that was making a big splash in the capital, the newly built clan house was quite impressive. Some parts were still under construction, but it seemed livable already.

There was even a room prepared to receive guests like me, and for some reason, Momo was drinking tea with Miselina. She might have been taking a break between studying.

"Hmm, what do you think, Miselina? Mongrel's report says this..."

"...The handwriting is messy... Ah, I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. It's the truth. Sorry for the poor handwriting."

"The important thing is the content. ...You think it should be more flexible?"

"The material, or the thickness. This one felt a bit thick. But I think the length can compensate for that to some extent."

"...Hmm, the length, huh."

Well, I only swam for a few minutes, so my opinion as a layman is a bit embarrassing. But based on my memory, I think the flippers were longer, and I believe the results will be better if they match that memory.

"I have this material. It's a whale's baleen."

"...Oh, this is...!"

"I've never seen it before. Is it from the Kiritas Sea?"

"Apparently. I don't know what kind of whale, but it was caught by a large sailing ship."

"...Wow, it's so elastic. If I trim and shape it, maybe...!"

"Well, that's just one example. It might be cheaper and more reliable to get shells from insect-type monsters."

"Insects... hmm."

Insects in this world are unusually large, so if you look hard enough, you might find a material with similar elasticity.

"...What do you think, Miselina? The test with magic suggested that the prototype had the right stiffness..."

"Hmm, hmm... We experimented with water flow and fixation devices... but I think the sensation is different when you actually wear them on your feet... probably..."

"That's a problem. Elasticity... it's not easy to achieve..."

"Well, I feel like it helped a bit with swimming. Diving and surfacing were a bit tough, but I think it's just a matter of getting used to it."

Momo thought for a while, then suddenly looked up and bowed to me.

"Thank you, Mongrel. I can see the direction for improvement now."

"Sure, I'm glad I could help."

"I'll make a tool that will surprise Vandal. Mongrel, can you help again if there's a next time?"

"Sure, if I have time. But prepare some compensation, not necessarily money. I don't do free work."

"Understood."

"Ah, here's some salmon jerky... no, High Tail jerky. Share it with the party. It was well-received."

"Really? Thank you!"

"Wow... thank you. I'll enjoy it..."

With this, the flipper quest is over for now. If there's a second round, I hope they give me something better. Then maybe I'll try swimming in the sea. Sea monsters are scary, so I can't swim carelessly.

"I'm so hungry... Oh? Thomas and Joslan are here."

"Hey."

"What's up, Mongrel? How was the job?"

"That's what I was going to ask you..."

I missed the izakaya where you can order food and drinks that just appear, so I went to "Forest's Bounty." There, I found two familiar faces.

Thomas, who works at the sawmill, and Joslan, the blacksmith. I've worked with Thomas a few times splitting firewood in winter, and I think I bought whetstones from Joslan. That's about it. I rarely go to him for sharpening, so I don't visit often. Actually, I interact more with his daughter, Joseette, who does casting.

"Can I sit here?"

"Sit wherever you want. It's not my seat."

There was an empty counter seat, so I sat next to Thomas. He was smoking a corn pipe as usual. Well, there's not much I can do about cancer in this world, so it's fine. It's good to take care of your back, but I hope he also takes care of his internal organs.

"Hey, three grilled Mallet Rabbits and one ale."

"Haha, just order everything at once, Mongrel."

"Joslan, I like eating freshly grilled skewers. If I order too much at once, they'll get cold and ruin the meal."

"Just eat them quickly! You should eat more and get bigger, Mongrel."

"You're a noisy old man. What do you think, Thomas?"

"Hmph, I don't know. Both of you are noisy."

Here comes the rabbit meat. It's not just the hind legs; the front legs are also meaty and delicious. Maybe it's because of their diet, but the rabbits are quite fatty.

And the ale. Even if it's not cold, it's good in the summer.

"Phew..."

"You're still as old as ever."

"Mongrel has always been an old man."

"I'm 30 this month. Don't call me old. Being called a middle-aged man hurts my feelings."

"30? I thought you were almost 40!"

"Joslan's dad is quite noisy. If you drink too much, you'll get scolded by your daughter again."

"It's fine today! I've reduced my drinking. I have my own calculations!"

Craftsmen's rough estimates are unreliable.

"Anyway, about that. The fishing rod I made with the rod material from Thomas and the parts made by Joslan's daughter. I went to the lake and caught some fish."

"What? Which lake? The one near Dryden?"

"Zahia Lake."

"You know it well."

Both of them know it. They are indeed old men and almost old men. They are quite knowledgeable.

"Fishing rods don't catch anything good. It's just for fun."

"Did you see anything? That lake is full of birds."

"But I caught a huge fish."

"Tell a better lie, you idiot."

"It's true! I'm not lying! There were High Tails!"

"High Tails, huh? What are they?"

While ordering more salted beans and meat, I drew a simple sketch on the parchment at my chest.

"Here, it looks like this. Have you seen it before?"

"No."

"Hmm, it doesn't seem to be dried or anything... It has quite colorful fins. They almost look like birds."

"It was a strong pull. The rod was almost broken. It was a miracle the line held... If the archer who came with me hadn't finished it off, it might have escaped."

Joslan was looking at my sketch, moving it closer and farther away. I didn't think it was that detailed.

"Did you catch and eat it?"

"Of course. I tried it with vinegar, grilled it, and made it into jerky. Here, I brought some. Try it, Joslan and Thomas."

"Hey! Good job, Mongrel!"

"Hmm, it looks good. I'll take it. Let's see..."

Both of them bit into the High Tail jerky, savoring it for a while.

"...Hey, another ale."

"...I'll have one too."

"See? It's good, right?"

"This goes well with ale. Good, good, Mongrel. I'd buy more if you had it. How much?"

"I don't have enough to sell. I gave it out to acquaintances in town, and that's it."

"Don't give it to people I don't like!"

"...Joslan, you're really bad at this."

"True, he is. He's so petty, Joslan."

"Hey! Just kidding, kidding!"

It didn't sound like a joke at all. That's why drinkers are so troublesome.

"At least take some to my daughter, Mongrel. She made the parts, not me. If it's a gift, give it to her."

"Oh, that's true."

"And a little for me, too?"

"What? No way. That's what you're after, isn't it?"

"Hehehe. ...But this fish isn't bad. I'm not a big fan of dried fish, but this is good."

"Mongrel, does this fish appear in the market?"

"No, I've never seen it. I only knew about it from an encyclopedia. It's apparently in the sea too."

"Well, it's a fish, so it's in the sea."

"Not exactly, Joslan. Usually, fish live in either freshwater like rivers or saltwater like the sea."

"What?"

"Hmm, that's interesting. Haha, you sound like an old man."

"Hahaha! That's true! My grandfather was also knowledgeable and talked like this!"

These two older men... I am older than them if you count my previous life, but...

"I'm angry now. I'll eat the jerky and drink ale in front of you. Excuse me, another ale!"

"Hey, that's mean! You're not a grown-up, Mongrel!"

"I'm an old man! Old men forget their shame!"

"Hehehe..."

That day, I drank a lot of ale and enjoyed idle chatter with the old men.