Chapter 250: A Gift of Sharks
Rest had transported three sharks he had defeated during his exploration of monsters, magically levitating them all the way to the fishing village. Although the villagers had not been fishing yesterday, they quickly gathered and erupted into excitement as Rest placed the sharks on the beach.
“Oh! This is a fine catch indeed!”
“We can make some delicious Tsukeage with these!”
“It’s a feast tonight!”
As Rest returned with the three sharks, the villagers of the fishing village welcomed him with cheers. They danced around the sharks laid out on the sand, their joy palpable.
“Oh! It’s the nobleman!”
“I happened to find and defeat them. Feel free to eat as you like.”
“Nobleman… you’ve driven away the monsters, healed our injuries, and even brought us such a magnificent gift…”
“You’re like a god among us… we are truly grateful…”
“Um… could you please refrain from worshipping me? It’s a bit uncomfortable, to say the least.”
Rest felt a bit taken aback by the villagers kneeling and clasping their hands together in reverence. Since arriving in this village, his reputation had skyrocketed. Though he had only received a meal and some alcohol as a reward, being showered with such gratitude felt oddly satisfying.
“By the way… can we eat these sharks?”
“Of course! They may be headless, but this is a Horn Shark, right? It’ll make for excellent Tsukeage.”
“Tsukeage…?”
Rest was unfamiliar with the dish. When he inquired further, an elderly villager eagerly explained.
“You take the fillets and grind them down finely, mixing them with grated potatoes. You can also add leftover vegetable scraps if you have any.”
“Madam Sanada loves it, you know. She often enjoyed fried Tsukeage as a side dish with her drinks.”
“We can’t afford to use precious oil, so we usually just grill them over a fire or boil them in a pot.”
“Ah… so it’s somewhat similar to Kamaboko, then…”
This dish was likely popularized by the Queen Dowager. Perhaps it was something he had enjoyed in his previous life as well.
“We’ll prepare it during the day and bring it to the inn later.”
“Ah, I appreciate that.”
“Alright! Let’s start butchering before they spoil! Everyone, gather around!”
The villagers brought out their knives and began to skillfully dismantle the sharks. With practiced hands, they removed the entrails and cut the meat into blocks.
“Oh…”
What was this? Despite the gruesome scene, it was strangely captivating and entertaining. He had never seen it before, but perhaps this was what a tuna cutting show looked like.
“Oh, Rest! You’ve returned!”
“Celestine.”
As he was lost in thought, Celestine approached him, flanked by her guards.
“……!”
Celestine’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the butchered sharks, but she quickly regained her composure, true to her noble upbringing.
“I need to speak with you for a moment…”
“Ah, shall we move?”
This scene was likely distressing for Celestine. The two walked side by side from the beach toward the inn.
“I arranged for food earlier. It’s a substantial amount, so it may take some time, but it should arrive within a week.”
“A week, huh… well, that should be fine, I think?”
He wasn’t sure how much stock the village had, but they had today’s sharks as well. It was unlikely they would face starvation before then.
“Also… I subtly informed the lord governing this land about the monster situation. I inquired under the name of the Crocus Duke House, so I expect some response soon.”
“I see… well, I won’t get my hopes up too high.”
The lord had ignored the villagers’ pleas, leaving them to fend for themselves. Moreover, considering the monsters that even Rest struggled against, he doubted the lord could do anything even if he decided to act.
“Thank you, you’ve been a great help.”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all. So… how did the monster hunt go?”
“I didn’t find any… just searching for them seems like it’ll be a challenge.”
“I see… it’s the sea, after all, so it can’t be helped.”
“Yeah… but I did think of something.”
The image of the Unicorn Shark he had defeated flashed in Rest’s mind. The blood spreading across the sea, and the multitude of Unicorn Sharks gathering around it.
“I’d like to try something tonight. Would you be willing to join me?”
“Of course! If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
Celestine smiled gracefully, placing her hand over her heart.
She was truly reliable. Rest nodded deeply and began to share his idea with her.
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I am posting the continuation of this episode in the limited update notebook. If you’re interested, please take a look!