Chapter 585: Barter
And so, here I am, experiencing Harvgova for the first time.
It has scales and a large fin beneath its throat. It looks like a live-action version of the rough medieval drawings of whales from my original world. There are also Dolphin Demon Beasts around.
The taste is reminiscent of whale—though I’ve never actually eaten whale. The sautéed Harvgova, along with mushrooms and onions, is simple yet delicious. It leans more towards the flavor of meat than fish.
Ah, right. The Earth Folk love their meat. Even with scales, this is still meat.
“Oh, it’s here!”
“The main dish! It’s here!”
“It’s here!”
The voices of the Earth Folk spread through the air.
Main dish? Is it something like Harvgova steak?
“Behold! The boldness of the Black Iron Pit folk is truly mesmerizing!”
“Behold! The delicacy of the Sulfur Valley folk steals the heart!”
“Behold! The balance of the Red Silver Valley folk is captivating!”
“““Beautiful!”””
Just when I thought it was the main dish, what was brought in like a portable shrine was the Wanwan House.
“Look! That smooth wood finish is the work of the Blue Stone Valley folk!”
“Look! Those elegant curves are crafted by the folk of the Enji Stone’s side tunnels!”
“Look! That splendid inlay is the handiwork of the Jade Valley folk!”
“Look! That marvelous dyeing is the creation of the Sumikoke River folk!”
“““Beautiful!”””
I thought it resembled a portable shrine, and indeed, its shape is shrine-like. No, it’s more like a small shrine covered in numerous carvings.
I had initially requested a pedestal, but it got mixed up along the way due to the doghouse, so it has a roof now.
The color is pitch black, but it’s not ominous; rather, it inspires awe. A small Spirit already resides within, occasionally revealing itself on the surface.
It’s black, but not just one shade, right? There’s a glossy black that glimmers, a black that absorbs light, a black that showcases the ebony wood grain, and the inlaid pieces are probably made from black Dragon Scales.
It’s incredibly beautiful. Beautiful, but for some reason, the plate I made for Wanwan is right in the center at the top… It’s fine; it’s in hiragana, so no one else can read it.
If, in some distant future, someone from Japan is summoned as a Hero, I hope they avoid Karn’s Country.
Even as I try to divert my gaze from the plate of praise, I can’t help but admire the Wanwan House. I want to gaze at it without distractions! It’s that amazing. The source of my distractions is me, though.
“Goddess’s Great Tree”
“Ebony of the Goddess”
“Dragon Scale”
“Dragon Bone”
“““Gratitude for being able to handle these!”””
Lightly, but all at once, the Earth Folk bow their heads towards me.
“Thank you for creating such wonderful things,” I bow my head in return.
And then the banquet resumes. The completed Wanwan House—though it feels too divine to simply call it that—serves as a centerpiece as we share drinks and enjoy the food.
Harvgova steak, served with a reddish sauce mixed with Harvgova’s blood. It’s cooked rare, as it becomes tougher the more it’s cooked; rare is the standard.
“What kind of fish is Harvgova? I can tell its shape from the decorations, but how do you catch it?”
“Harvgova lives in the northern sea!”
“The Northern Sea, where Puffins fly!”
“Where Puffins fly!”
What’s a Puffin? If it flies, it must be a bird, right?
“The Harvgova in the sea looks like two reefs!”
“When it gets hungry, it lets out a big belch! It scatters a unique-smelling bait!”
“It gathers fish and swallows them whole!”
Ah. Right, humpback whales do that, opening their mouths and waiting for fish to jump in while their companions herd them. I’ve seen videos of it, but I remember thinking it looked more like a type of plant than a reef.
Did the whale turn into a Demon Beast? Elwin, who was in Elichika’s salt mine, was a white whale, so I think whales still exist as whales.
“When searching for Harvgova, first look for the paths of the fish!”
“Follow the fish’s path, and next, look for the Puffins in the sky!”
“Under the Puffins, you’ll find Harvgova!”
“If it’s a suitable size, shoot the harpoon!”
“Shoot the harpoon!”
“Then it’s battle!”
“Battle!”
While the searching part seems straightforward, the fishing itself is a test of strength. It seems there are quite a few Harvgova around.
“Island Soleil! Please accept this Harvgova Magic Stone!”
“Island Soleil! A token of our gratitude!”
“Island Soleil! Accept our thanks!”
I received something. Is it too light to be called a stone? I’ll have Soleil judge its value later. Or perhaps defeating Harvgova itself is a heroic act, and this Magic Stone serves as proof of having triumphed over it.
“Thank you. I also brought some rare food as a token of my appreciation. And just the usual sweets, too,” I say, having been swept into this hall for the banquet, pondering when to present the Golden Series.
“Oh!?”
“This is the Apple of Conflict sent by the Gods!”
“This is the Plum of the Deep Forest’s Turmoil!”
“This is the Grape given to the King of the Divine Garden!”
“This is the Supreme…?”
Sorry, it’s an eggplant.