Swimming Bait Fishing on Land
Sheena and I have come to the management building together.
One boat per person. Considering the bird meat we loaded and the cargo we’ll likely receive on the way back, there was no choice but to row alone.
It’s already getting dark. If we don’t hurry up and row the boat before it gets dark, we might have a maritime accident on the lake.
“Heh, this much in just one day! Well, even though you’re young guildsmen, you sure know what you’re doing!”
“Fufu. These are the Reed Ducks we promised you. We can’t eat them all ourselves, so please take them.”
“Oh-oh, how delightful! Heh-heh-heh, I’ve got vegetables in exchange, so take some with you.”
“Oh my, thank you very much.”
We caught so much waterfowl meat that even after sharing some, we still had plenty left over.
We gave several to the old man at the management building, and in return received lots of vegetables.
Something like onions, something like shishito peppers, turnips, and potatoes. We already had more than we could eat, but now we’ve received all sorts of things. The birds were already too numerous to finish, but this side is also troublesome to deal with.
“Here, eat this on your side. If you only eat meat, you’ll become a crude guildsman.”
“Where’d you get that information from? Well, I’ll take it anyway.”
The vegetables are appreciated. Especially the onions – they’re the best.
“Today, Nastasha and I will be on the small island. As for you… well, do as you like today. However, if you make any moves, take proper responsibility. If you run away, I’ll shoot you dead.”
“I won’t make any moves… How’s the small island? Are there any monsters?”
“It’s safe. It wouldn’t be strange if something swam over to a remote island, but… that small place would be too cramped to live in.”
“That’s good. You picked a nice spot.”
“Yes. It’s also a good place to target waterfowl.”
“You sure managed to take down a huge amount.”
“Because I’m cheating.”
Sheena smiled slyly.
…Cheating, huh. Cheating…
“Nastasha let it slip before. I didn’t want to hear it though.”
“You mean about the Gift. It’s fine. People who know, know.”
We row our boats side by side. Sheena seemed surprisingly accustomed to this sort of thing.
“I don’t intend to try to know about the power you possess, Mongrel. Whether that’s a Gift or a Skill…”
“How modest of you.”
“Because hiding one’s power isn’t wrong. There are powers in this world that shouldn’t be known by others.”
…This doesn’t seem to be her choosing pleasant words for my sake.
Sheena’s profile carries a hint of melancholy.
“But remember this. We of Artemis accept even those who possess such powers. If outcasts huddle together, it should be a bit safer.”
“Outcasts, huh. I see…”
“A pack of wolves hunts better than a lone wolf. Surely, life is the same.”
“Haha, I’m not the wolf type.”
“Then a dog?”
“Just a mongrel.”
I’d recommend not getting too close since I might have some strange disease.
Well, mongrels are resistant to disease though. I’ll live a long life.
“I won’t join your crew though. Call me when you’re in trouble. As long as you prepare the reward, I’ll come running with my tail wagging.”
“…Then maybe raw meat would be good as payment.”
“A thick steak from an expensive restaurant would be a sure bet.”
“What an expensive dog…”
The sun sets, and the lake surface reflects dazzlingly.
It’s about time to prepare for sleep.
After mooring the boat to shore, Sheena returned to the small island with Nastasha. Apparently they had already set up a temporary base there.
I brought along a whole roasted Reed Ducks that I had been carefully roasting for a while, so they should be plenty full. They have vegetables too.
Those spending the night on this shore are Raina, Ulrika, and Gorilliana.
Each of them has already spread out fur rolls for mats and put on cloaks for warmth.
Even though it’s summer, it gets a bit chilly at night. When camping, it’s normally cold enough that you might catch a cold.
“Man, fishing is pretty good stuff too.”
“Yeah. It doesn’t fill your stomach much, but it was fun.”
“…Just waiting after putting on bait isn’t bad either…”
Gorilliana-san’s face, probably smiling peacefully, was illuminated by the firelight in the dim surroundings, creating scary shadows. She’s a good person though…
“I brought three fishing rods and all. In the end, I barely had any time to fish.”
“Ahaha, you were plucking feathers and cooking the whole time. Sorry about that.”
“Tomorrow I’ll be properly hunting with my bow… Mongrel-senpai, please do your best with fishing.”
“Yeah. Well, I got a general idea of the appropriate hook size today. Tomorrow should be easy pickings if I just do things normally.”
“You sound confident.”
Of course I’m confident. The fish in this lake don’t seem spooked at all.
If the hooks fit right, it should work out fine, probably.
Dinner is roasted duck. Simple hunter’s fare seasoned with herbs and salt.
Cut it up roughly with a knife and just keep eating. Delicious, delicious. The meat color was dark like liver, but it didn’t have a gamey taste, and it was softer than I expected, which was good.
The side dish was potatoes steamed by covering a pot on the wood stove. Simple and normally delicious. At least it’s a better way to eat potatoes than the crumbling potato soup served at cheap shops in Regol. Though there might be personal preferences…
“fragmenting arrows are made with crushed slag and clay. You scatter slag on a mold, then press clay on top and fire it – that’s how it’s done.”
“Heh, is that so? That’s amazing.”
“…I’ve seen an acquaintance who makes bricks doing it. Since there aren’t many molds, they bake just a little along with regular pottery… that’s how it was.”
“I wish they’d mass-produce more… They’re luxury items for hunters and don’t pay off.”
Listening to hunter talk around the campfire, I yawn inside the tent.
It’s already dark outside. When it’s dark, I don’t feel like doing anything. I wonder if there’s some magic tool or item that could substitute for a lantern sold somewhere. It’d probably be expensive… Even the wealthy use candles in this world.
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“Mongrel-senpai, are you sleepy?”
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Aw, let’s talk more.”
“I’m not as young as you guys. You should go to sleep soon too. A fisherman’s morning comes early.”
“A hunter’s morning comes early too.”
“…True…”
With that silly exchange as the finale, my consciousness faintly sank into darkness.
Until the very end, the young people continued their cheerful chatter… I think.
In the morning, when I woke up, Raina was lying down next to me.
“…Ah, good morning.”
“…No, it’s hot!”
Even when camping, I can’t sleep next to someone in summer! There’s a wood stove burning nearby too!
“Waaaaah!?”
“Phew, I’m awake now.”
I roll Raina up in the Charge Deer rug mat like a sushi roll, then stand up and stretch.
It’s still quite dim outside. It’s just about time for the sun to rise. But if I can see outlines dimly, that’s enough to be active. This is that kind of world.
“Ah… but this position is somehow calming…”
Raina, rolled up like a sushi roll, has a peaceful expression.
There was one, a kid in elementary school who liked to wrap himself in curtains like that. I understand the feeling a little.
“Yaaawn… ah, Mongrel-san, you were awake… wait, Raina, what’s that?”
“I could sleep like this…”
“…Here, an extra fur pillow.”
“Ooh…”
“Ahahaha, you really do look comfortable… ah, I need to go wash my face.”
Gorilliana-san is still sleeping soundly on the fur.
If I wake her up, there’s a slight possibility I might get killed by her sleeping position, so I’ll keep quiet.
I light a fire, roughly chop onions, and use the leftover butter to fry them with Reed Ducks meat and mushrooms. This is breakfast.
I thought about adding those shishito-like things, but they were more spicy than I imagined, so I gave up. How am I supposed to use these? They’re more like spices than vegetables.
“Well, I’m going hunting too. I’m targeting Fletch Ducks, so please look forward to it.”
“Oh, catch a big one. I’ve probably never eaten one, so I’d like to try it once.”
The hunter group went hunting right after eating.
Ulrika and Gorilliana got on a boat to go a bit farther. Today they plan to manage with single shots even though they can’t use buckshot.
“Well, I can finally concentrate.”
I’m left alone. And I have three fishing rods at hand.
I’ll use two for bait fishing and enjoy lure fishing with the other one.
I know that bait fishing works normally.
But since I’m using lures anyway, I want to go for big fish. So I’ll use a bigger hook for the one I’m casting.
It’s just after sunrise. The fish should be active now…
“Hmm.”
Or so I thought, but nothing’s biting. I’ve been at it for about 30 minutes but it’s not going well.
From the feel of the rod tip, small ones seem to be nibbling occasionally… but they’re not really taking the whole thing.
The bait fishing rod I left out caught just one Rust Fish, but catching small fish isn’t much. Right now I have it alive in a pot with moss stones and water. I plan to eat it later though…
Before noon, I want to try the prototype fin flippers that Momo entrusted to me once.
It’s best to do it during the warm hours. Even though it’s summer, it’s not blazing hot like Japan, so I’ll probably get pretty cold. I’ll definitely need the campfire when I get out.
“Oh.”
While thinking about such things, the nearby reeds rustled.
I thought Raina had come, but there’s no greeting.
“Gii?”
“…Raina… your atmosphere has changed quite a bit…”
“Gi-gi-gi.”
A goblin emerged from the bushes. It emerged, but wait a minute, I just cast this. Let me reel it in.
“Giiiii…? Gugi-gugi!”
“Hey? Hey, what? Ah, that’s the Last Fish I caught. Cut it out, will you?”
The goblin is looking at the pot with the fish with a “perfect” expression.
Seriously, stop it, idiot. Please stop. I’m almost done reeling in, so please wait just a bit. If I let go of the rod like this, it might get snagged. Please.
“Gya-gya-gya!”
“Ahhhh!? You! Ahhh! Customer! That’s not allowed!”
It grabbed it with its hands!
“Gi-gi!”
“Customer, that’s troublesome! Customerrrr!”
It ate it! You, you, you seriously you…!
“Of all the goblins I’ve met, you’re in the top three of ones I can’t forgive!”
“Gugya!?”
I finally finished reeling in and quickly drew my bastard sword to slash the goblin’s upper body.
…But it’s too late. Everything is too late now…
The Last Fish I caught has been chewed up and is in the goblin’s stomach… Damn it, damn it…
“…Can’t be helped. I’m angry now. I’ll use this goblin as bait to fish…”
If bird liver works as bait, then maybe goblin liver might work as bait too.
This is experimental verification, but it’s largely my revenge.
Conveniently, the liver popped out onto the dirt from my earlier slash, so I’ll make use of this.
You’re going to be bait for me even in death…
Ah, I’ll have to throw the corpse away somewhere later… A monster that doesn’t make money but creates more work…
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