Chapter 9
「Making your own lunch, is it?」
「I'm in the mood, you see. If you don't catch it, you can eat someone else's and don't worry about just saying it. I just thought it would be nice to have some competition once in a while.」
On their second day at sea, their plans for today were to test out the submarine and go fishing.
The dwarves have told Mars that the submarine has been repaired and should be in good working condition, but since he couldn't test it at the mine, he's going to give it a shot here.
But first, he wants to use it as a boat.
The top of the submarine is flat, just like a normal boat, and can be used as a boat.
They are going to have a fishing contest on it to see if it is durable enough.
「The first place is the authority to decide the menu for dinner, including dessert. And that's for a week.」
「Eh!? Can I have meat every day!?」
「Nemu will ask you to make both ice cream and cake, but is that okay-nya!? Pizza? Can Nemu ask you to make her a pizza, too-nyaa!?」
「Of course it's fine! You can even request two or three kinds of cake!」
――No matter who wins, though, I'll end up making a batch of everyone's favorites!
This is a farce.
Mars suggested it because he thought it would be fun to have a competition if it didn't involve life.
Except for Mars, none of them had any fishing experience.
Their ability level was even, and judging from yesterday's sea conditions, the fish were not too alarmed, so Mars thought they would be able to catch enough fish to have fun.
The fishing rod was a simple rod with a line, float, and hook attached to it. There was no such convenient thing as a reel in this world.
Mars took the submarine out of Hazuki's treasure room, lowered it onto the beach, and pushed it together.
The submarine is not that big, about the size of a small bus. Its shape is streamlined like a bullet.
The submarine was airtight and floated without any problem.
Then, if you fill it with ballast water, which is water used to adequately submerge the hull, it can be used for applications ranging from ships to submarines.
When used as a submarine, a large amount of magic power is poured into the special magic steel used as the nucleus――Thardonyx Magic Steel――to activate the magic power of the nucleus, which is then used as the engine.
In the case of the previous nucleus, for example, it was not enough even if all the magic power that a genius-class Hazuki could have was poured into it, but thanks to the replacement of the nucleus with Thardonix Magic Steel, which has a large amount of magic power from the beginning, even Mars, whose magic power is not so high, can start the engine.
If it is used as a boat, it is rowed with oars. This is physics.
「I can't catch any fish at all. ......」
「I caught one fish. It was small and didn't seem to be edible, so put it in the number I caught and let it go. I think it would have been happier in the sea.」
Hazuki was nodding her head as she hung her fishing line at the tip of the boat.
She kept getting baited, but she couldn't catch anything.
It had been less than 30 minutes since she had started fishing, but she already looked bored.
Lilia, on the other hand, seemed proud. Because she had caught a fish early in her first time fishing.
――Hazuki-chan is very short-tempered, isn't she?
The sea was so clear that you could see the bottom even when you went out to sea.
It is difficult to tell the distance when the water is so clear, but I guess it is about 10 meters deep.
After reaching to somewhat deeper water, he sunk a magical steel, which he did not intend to use as an anchor, and stopped the boat.
「Why can't I catch fish when there are so many of them?」
「The fish you can see are surprisingly hard to catch. Because they are watching you, too. But, well, if there are this many fish, you'll catch them soon. ――Oh, here they come again」
After feeling the bait being poked, the rod bent with a pull.
After waiting for a moment, Mars pulled the rod.
「There's a big one on the hook! Hazuki-chan, get the net ready!」
Lilia said in an excited voice.
The water was clear, so you could see the size of the catch.
Hazuki was going to scoop it up with a net she had prepared――Or that was supposed to, but she slipped and fell into the sea.
「Gyaa!? I-I'm going to die! I feel like the ocean is calling me!」
「What are you doing!? Come on, grab hold of it!」
Hazuki is not a very good swimmer, and her life is in danger in such deep water.
Lilia approached Hazuki with her fishing rod, and Hazuki grabbed it.
Mars helped Lilia pull Hazuki up.
Because of the danger, he also used 『Body Strengthening』.
Hazuki came on board clutching the fishing rod desperately, crying because of the tragedy, even though she had been so unhappy because she couldn't catch a fish. It was the biggest cry Mars has ever heard. Her lovely face was ruined.
「What am I going to do if I get caught(?) ...... Lilia-san is catching the biggest fish of them all, isn't she!?. ...... I'll eat vegetables for a week now! Sheesh!」
「N-No, as expected, you are not included in the count. If someone caught a big fish, I'd include it, but it's a numbers game and ...... First of all, you're not even a fish ......」
「S-So I just fell!? For nothing ......! I feel frustrated!」
「If I win, we'll have Hazuki's favorite dinner! So please calm down!」
Lilia was making a rare appearance to soothe Hazuki, who was making a fuss and stamping her feet in frustration.
「Go take a bath and change your clothes for now!」
Mars joins in the soothing.
Even though it was caused by carelessness, it was a fact that she had suffered a misfortune that could have killed her if no one saved her.
The fact that she was so distraught shows that she must have been quite frightened.
「*Sob*......C-Come to think of it, what kind of fish was it?」
The fish that caused the tragedy for Hazuki seemed to bother her.
It was a big fish that brought out the nets.
The fish he caught was a fish similar to a sea bream. In this world, it was classified as a high-class fish.
「Oh, that's nice. I'll handle it right away. It gets damaged quickly, and it's fun to eat it as sashimi while fishing.」
「――Is it a trap!? Knowing that all I want to do is eat! Please bring me some white rice too!」
「Let's work hard there while we eat, okay!?」
After calming down Hazuki, who was half-staring and demanding rice, Mars decided to process the fish he had just caught in the treasury. Hazuki will take a bath too, so it's just right.
Mars, an experienced person, was not participating in the fishing race.
So all he had his eye on were the high-end fish. He adjusted the length of the bottom of the float and targeted mainly deep-water fish.
He had already caught a few fish and was planning to prepare sashimi as well as pickles for lunch, a seafood bowl, and a hand-rolled sushi dish.
――I thought I would have to rely on the ingredients I had brought with me, but I was surprised that I could catch fish. But still, Hazuki-chan is too liked by trouble.
As expected, it's fun.
Everyone seemed to be having fun, so this project was a success.
After processing the fish and leaving the treasury, Mars walked around the boat and went to the pair of Nemu and Sion.
He's curious that despite all the fuss, the two of them were looking at the ocean seriously the whole time.
Perhaps because Sion adores Nemu as her senior, Nemu seems to like Sion and was often by her side.
「Wow!? How many fish are you catching!?」`
There were countless fish in the net hanging from their feet.
The fish were kept in a fishpond, with the nets placed directly in the sea.
Nemu's ears were twitching out of her straw hat and her eyes were closed.
She was not sleeping, but concentrating on the sensations in her hands.
She does not react when Mars approaches.
Nemu is so absorbed in her work that she is unable to see what is going on around her, even when she is making something.
『Nya!』
When Nemu uttered a small voice, the surface of the sea shakes slightly. Immediately her ears responded again.
――I see, echolocation......!
Mars recalls Nemu grasping the environment from the echoes of voices in the dungeon.
That magic was the magic of the voice, obtained from the 【Forbidden Magic Book】. The combination of Nemu's hearing and the echoes that are formed is something that cannot be imitated even if you try to imitate it.
The current Nemu knows the underwater environment, including rocks, the number and location of fish, and their movements.
She can target fish that are not moving properly.
If you catch one fish, it becomes a sample case, so all you have to do is just keep on doing that.
――It's like a fish finder. Is that even possible!?
Mars is a little unsure if he should allow Nemu to use more advanced techniques than modern fishing.
Since he has not established any rules against using magic, he has no choice but to admit that there is a bit of cheating.
But he could not overlook the other one.
「――You know, isn't there a lot of fish here? What did you do, Sion-san?」
There are an unusually large number of fish at Nemu's feet. They look like a school of sardines. Even fishing ponds are not this dense.
「Right. Nemu-senpai asked me if I could call the fish, so I did, you know?」
「...... You can call fish?」
「You know the song I used to sing before I came here? That song brings the fish to me. That's how we get our food.」
――What is that cheat ...... food cheat?
Mars groaned and scratched his head.
「――Banned!」
「I-I can't do that!?」
「It's not that you can't do that, but ...... Lilia and the others are at too much of a disadvantage. There's just no way they can compete with you.」
「I'm sorry,...... Nemu-senpai was so pleased that I got carried away.」
Mars couldn't say anything strong to Sion, who bowed her head and thought about what to do about the count so far.
The conclusion he came up with was one that respected everyone.
「After all, let's ask Sion-san to call the fish, and lets all fish together. It would be more enjoyable for everyone. So, no contest!」
「Nyaa!? Even though Nemu worked hard-nyaa!? She caught so many fish-nya~! She wants to decide what to eat-nyaa!」
「Don't worry. Of course, I'll make it. It's just that the game is over.」
「Ice cream too-nyaa?」
「Of course! I like ice cream, too.」
Mars tried to put Nemu in a good mood as she was making a fuss as if the chessboard had been overturned.
She looked a little disappointed, but she regained her composure for the time being.
After that, they had lunch on the ship.
Everyone laughed as they all tossed and turned at their first hand-rolled sushi.
By the way, in this world, seaweed is not only a luxury item, it doesn't exist. Mars made it himself. He tried to make it in a similar way to paper, but the result was not so good. The taste itself was similar, but it still tasted a little greenish. Ever since he came to this world, he has been impressed by the skill of craftsmen more often than not.
「Sion-san, do you feel like you fit in?」
When there seemed to be a break in the happy conversation, Mars asked Sion.
The other members of the group also paid attention to the conversation.
「Am I not fitting in with you......?」
「No, no, I think you fit in. I'm just wondering how you feel about it. I mean, adventure, you know, is connected to this kind of everyday life. If you don't get along, you will have fights in the dungeon as well. A little fight is totally fine, but look, Lilia and Hazuki-chan fight all the time. But fatal fights are not good.」
Last time, Lucille, a dwarf, had a big fight with Lilia.
Although they were eventually able to makeup, the reality is that they often end up irreparable.
For example, do mermaids have any natural enemies?
Do they have any grudges against elves, beasts, or humans?
He wants to understand these concerns at this stage.
That's why he decided to have a day of fun instead of going immediately into the dungeon.
He doesn't mind saving the underwater city, but if the relations are going to be complicated, he will still give priority to the World Tree.
Even if it seems ruthless, he must do so in order to protect his and his woman's own interests and safety.
Unfortunately, there are priorities in what he wants to save.
At this stage, there is little reason to risk his life for Sion.
Still, if he wants to go, he needs to have compassion that goes beyond profit.
「Nemu likes Sion-nyan, though-nyaa? If we stay together, Nemu can always eat fish-nyaa. Besides, Nemu is a senior-nyaa! Nemu loves her junior-nyaa!」
「I don't particularly dislike Sion either. It's not that the mermaids have discord with the elves. If I had to say something, I would say that I am uncomfortable with the fact that I have another pair of legs. But that is not really harmful either.」
「Me too! I'd like it even more if you let me touch your boobs!」
Hazuki's typical comment made everyone look aghast.
She was still wet and had a bath towel over her head, but her tension was the same as usual.
「I don't mind if it's just a breast, but ......? Are women interested in women's bodies?」
「EH! Is that OK!? I-I'll ask you later, then! I think boobs are admired by all genders! Especially for those who don't have them!」
Mars was saddened that he could understand a little.
He still looks at their breasts and wants to touch them, even though he touches them every day.
Even without eroticism, it is a feeling that he wants to touch.
「Thank you, everyone. ......!」
――She's not doing anything that would make them dislike her, so I guess that's a natural result.
The fact that she seems curious about everything also stimulates their eagerness to teach.
In fact, everyone was teaching Sion various things as they were asked.
She is truly in the position of a cute junior.
Mars thought optimistically that this time he should just concentrate on the dungeon.
He had somehow along the way, assumed that the members' mental problems would be more difficult than the dungeon.
He had lost sight of the fact that the dungeon was a polarizing place where the slightest mistake could easily kill you.
A dungeon is like crossing a rope.
It is a tightrope walker who walks through a valley with no end in sight.
It is a place where you have to keep wondering in the darkness whether you are going the right way or not, and then carefully advance so as not to lose your footing, before finally taking the first step forward.
Moreover, you don't know until the very end whether the path you have taken is the correct one.
The tightrope that you thought was a straight path may be laced with a spider's web, and you may not even know if it is connected to the end.
Because you do not know the correct answer, you must choose the best move you can and avoid bad moves.
In terms of dungeon attacks, Mars has been doing so up to now.
This time, however, he was relaxed.
He had lost sight of the fact that he needed to be "fully himself" at the heart of all his plans.
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