Gentle Hydrangea ③ – Hobby Fishing and Knives.
The day after a good night’s sleep in my new bed.
Today is for fishing. Actually, this isn’t just ordinary fishing.
“The Lab is amazing.”
Right now, I’m holding a fishing rod equipped with a Fishing Reel. That’s right, it’s not just a simple flexible stick.
A reel. It actually has a reel.
There was a fishing rod with a reel in the Lab’s database. A proper rod.
Of course, I had to gather the materials and have them make it.
Today is the test for Prototype No. 1.
And so, I’ve come to the riverbank on the outskirts of town. It’s as quiet as ever.
I put bait on the hook and cast the fishing rod.
It lands on the water’s surface, and I sit down on a convenient sitting rock nearby and wait for a while.
“…………”
It’s quiet because I’m alone.
Dagaa went with Mineha-san.
Mineha-san was invited by ‘Torquetum’ to the Fire Dungeon.
Apparently, it’s a designated request from the Guild due to a series of sightings of a strange monster, requiring investigation and subjugation.
I was also curious about Mineha-san’s new OOPArts, the ‘Phantom Star Spear’.
Hayyarn is at the Lab again today. But that guy… he was hitting on girls in town before.
Well, he’s free to do that, but I just hope it doesn’t lead to any trouble.
So, I’m alone for the first time in a while.
“………”
I wait.
Holding the fishing rod, I gaze at the rippling surface of the water.
First off, it’s quiet. How long has it been since I experienced such tranquility?
“Glub glub, help, help me!”
So much has happened that I’m grateful for peaceful moments like this.
And I truly feel that people need silence.
Thinking calmly, I believe I’m quite fortunate.
My environment. My relationships. My Relics. Especially my environment and relationships are almost too blessed.
“H-help, drownin’…”
Then I remember yesterday.
No, not the Stance Layering, but the question I asked Juicy-san.
‘Why do you have such high favorability towards me?’
“…I thought it was strange, but…”
But maybe the truth is I was just anxious.
When I asked Mineha-san the same question this morning, she flicked my forehead with a sigh.
‘Honestly. What are you so anxious about?’
Hearing that, I felt like she’d hit the mark.
Anxious? Anxious about what?
Am I anxious and scared because there’s no reason why I’m liked?
Is it because I don’t know when I might become disliked?
That’s why I wanted to know the reason I was liked.
Mineha-san saw right through me.
The other thing is an even bigger anxiety.
That anxiety… anxiety towards the Relic [Generous]. It’s the worst.
Selfishly hating it, selfishly making assumptions, selfishly relying on it, selfishly getting disappointed.
It’s far too selfish. Aren’t I the worst?
“Drownin’, bwagh, glub, this river, deeper than I thought, help me, gonna die…”
Yeah, that’s right. This river is surprisingly deep.
“Hm!?”
S-Someone’s drown— I stare, dumbfounded at the sight.
The one drowning while being swept away right before my eyes was a fish. Or was it a fish?
Anyway, it had arms and legs and a torso, ah, it sank.
I hurriedly jumped into the river. I somehow managed to save him.
“Hah… hah… hah… hah…”
“…Ooooh… I thought… I was going to die… I did…”
Me, panting heavily from exhaustion. Next to me, lying limp… this, what is it?
Its head was a fish. And not like a merman, but a whole fish.
Yes, its head was an entire fish, from head to tail. It was vividly blue.
At this point, what can I even say?
The head was a fish, and the body was male. For some reason, he was wearing a tailcoat. Why?
Seriously, what is this?
Seriously, this world sometimes has gag-like characters.
Like Hayyarn. Or Hayyarn. Or the Goddess of Knives.
“…Um, are you alright?”
“Somehow… My apologies. You saved me…”
“Well, I couldn’t just ignore that.”
“I… had actually been swept quite far downstream while drowning… but you were the only one who helped me.”
“Well…”
I don’t know what to say. But maybe that’s normal.
If something like this was floating by, maybe the one who helps is the strange one.
“Heh-choo!”
“Achoo!”
We both sneeze. Being wet, our bodies feel suddenly cold.
We’ll catch a cold if we stay like this. I gathered some deadwood nearby.
Using a firestone on the gathered wood, I made a simple bonfire. We used it to dry our bodies and clothes.
“My name is Gymnema Sylvester.”
He introduced himself while warming himself by the fire.
“Gymne… your surname?”
“I am technically a noble, but pay it no mind. We are fallen, you see.”
“…Um, so, are you a monster?”
“Human? Ah, this head? Don’t worry about it. It’s a mask. It’s cursed, you see. I’ve been wearing it constantly for ages.”
“Is that okay?”
“Since it cannot be removed, you know. I can see and use my mouth, so I won’t die.”
Saying that, Gymnema-san opened his mouth. A fish mouth… scary.
“Why were you drowning?”
“I… cannot swim.”
“…”
“Why is it that every time I say that, there is a strange silence?”
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Allow me to thank you again. Thank you. That’s right. I hadn’t asked your name.”
“I’m Wof.”
“That is truly a fine name.”
“You think so?”
“If I should have a child in the future, I plan to name him Gymnema Sylvester Junior.”
Doesn’t that have nothing to do with my name?
That kid… when he grows up, he’ll probably introduce himself using his pet dog’s name.
“Well then, my clothes are dry. By the way, may I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“I wish to go to Hydrangea, do you know the way?”
“I can guide you there.”
“Oh, I am indebted to you.”
I put away my fishing rod and picked up my basket.
The fishing rod is telescopic and can be stored.
Hayyarn would probably laugh if he knew I had no catch.
No, I look at Gymnema-san.
In a sense, maybe I can count this as… one catch? Even though I didn’t fish him out.
I parted ways with Gymnema-san at the Hydrangea gate.
He mentioned a reward, but I politely refused.
It’s better not to get involved with types like that.
Although, I suppose I already got involved the moment I saved him.
“Now, what should I do?”
Going back to fish now seems… but going home also feels…
Ah, that’s right.
“Knives. I need to restock soon.”
I should buy some new knives.
The weapon shop is fine, but… ah, right.
There’s something I need to apologize to Arifa-san for.
I head towards Arifa-san’s shop.
Arifa-san was carrying parcels at the front of the shop.
Two small wooden boxes. She placed them on the counter.
Black horns. Flaming red hair with braided bangs.
She was a tall, beautiful woman with an imposing figure that radiated a valiant aura.
She wore a top that exposed her shoulders and chest, along with black trousers torn open on one leg.
The reason she somewhat resembles Mr. Agaro is that she’s his older sister.
The owner of this Antique Shop and a Tier III Seeker. She’s known as the Red Heroine.
“Oh my, long time no see.”
She smiled at me with her lively orange eyes.
“Hello. Um, actually, I have something I need to apologize to you for, Arifa-san.”
“Oh my, what is it?”
“About the knives I bought here before for 50,000 Oro… I actually ended up breaking almost all of them.”
“Broke them? That’s quite a wild story.”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Angry? Why would I be? It’s merchandise that was already bought, and weapons break, you know. From your attitude, it’s clear you didn’t treat them poorly, so apologizing is actually stranger to me. Though I am surprised they broke one after another like that.”
“S-Sorry.”
“Hahaha! Ah, yeah, I heard. You became a Seeker, right?”
“Yes. I did.”
“Disciple of the Witch, huh? Ah, you probably dived into some tough dungeon with my idiot brother, right? Did that idiot cause you any trouble?”
“Actually, he helped us out a lot. Ah, congratulations on Mr. Agaro’s promotion to First Class.”
“Thanks. Honestly, that idiot making First Class…”
Arifa-san gave a wry smile, looking somewhat pleased.
But there was also some embarrassment. She’s probably been told that by everyone she meets.
“Where is Mr. Agaro?”
“That idiot’s probably drinking somewhere. Said he’s just been getting treated constantly for celebrations lately. Well, he’s probably at the ‘Cidre Tavern’ anyway.”
“Ahaha… Anyway, I came here to buy some knives.”
“Knives? Then I have just the thing for you.”
Arifa-san opened one of the small wooden boxes she had placed on the counter.
It contained nothing but knives. All sorts of knives were inside.
“What’s this?”
“There was a weapon shop elsewhere that went under, and this is their stock. It just arrived with today’s caravan.”
“Hoh, may I take a look?”
“Line them up there… right. I’ll give you one you like.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s to celebrate you becoming a Seeker. If you buy others, they’re about 2000 to 5000 Oro each. There shouldn’t be any duds.”
“Thank you very much.”
I took out several knives from the box and lined them up on the counter.
First was a heavily curved knife with a black grip. Drawing it from the black sheath revealed a beautiful blade.
“This one is quite nice.”
“Taking that one?”
“Ah, no.”
The blade is splendid, but the grip… it’s a knuckle type. Meaning, the kind you fit your fingers into.
I don’t really like those. I put it back. The next one is, hmm.
Something doesn’t feel right. Leaving the ones I’d lined up, I rummaged inside the wooden box.
Still, there’s quite a variety here. Ah, this knife.
What I found was a tanto housed in a vivid vermilion sheath.
Among the Western-style knives, only one was Japanese-style, standing out conspicuously.
The hilt was black lacquer. Drawing it revealed a straight blade.
“The hamon pattern is inverted choji, huh?”
It shone beautifully, Arifa-san noted.
“Has that one caught your eye?”
“Yes.”
My memories from my previous life recognized this knife. A tanto.
I’ll go with this one. I secured the tanto in its vermilion scabbard to my knife belt.
I thanked Arifa-san and left the shop.
I was getting hungry, so the timing was perfect. I headed for the Cidre Tavern.
And that’s where I met…