The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World (Light Novel), Volume 7 Chapter 1

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Volume Seven, Chapter One

The debriefing session in the guild courtyard has become such a familiar sight by now. Borrowing a portable stove, I cook the souvenirs we pick up during our travels while reporting to Mr. Tori about everything that happens on the trip—this little ritual has become downright routine at this point. This time, I’m busy grilling, slicing, and plating all sorts of things: sausages we buy in the elven village, plus “today’s specialty” inspired by the village’s traditional cuisine, and some Ushika ribs I prepare beforehand as a palate cleanser.

Ms. Sheila’s off today, apparently, and I can’t help feeling disappointed that I don’t get to see her face. She would absolutely love the flavor of these sausages too…! To make up for it, I’m leaving some nuts as a souvenir with Mr. Tori and hope she enjoys those instead.

“I see. Things are just as outrageous as ever, huh…?”

Mr. Tori stabs his fork into the herbed game-meat sausage and lets out a sigh, his face wearing the look of a man who’s given up trying to keep up. Well, I suppose that’s only natural once he hears what happened at the elven village this time. I hear a report did come in via urgent messenger bird from Mr. Arthur, but apparently hearing it straight from us in person only made things more confusing, not less.

Yup. Even for us, the people directly involved, if someone asks whether we fully process everything, all we can say is, “We’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.” So it’s no wonder Mr. Tori, who wasn’t even on the scene, reacts that way.

I mean, I still can’t quite believe we saved the World Tree from disaster. And while we’re at it, I definitely haven’t forgotten the terror of free-falling from the World Tree. That’s one experience I could really do without repeating, thank you very much.

Having both feet on solid ground really is a blessing.

“…By the way, why has Xenon been frozen in place holding that fork this whole time?”

“Well… what I hand out to everyone is something inspired by a festival dish from the elven village, and it seems to have hit him pretty hard…”

Having polished off "today’s specialty" in no time, Mr. Tori has been idly toying with his fork, but now he looks up, brow furrowing. He can’t seem to help being bothered by Mr. Xenon, who’s been sitting there rigid as if struck by lightning ever since taking one bite of the specialty.

“What are you saying, Guildmaster!? How can you not appreciate the magnificence of transforming village cuisine—food people say is worse than eating the ingredients raw—into something actually fit for human consumption!?”

“H-Hey!? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden!?”

Having apparently caught wind of my conversation with Mr. Tori, Mr. Xenon cuts in with tremendous force. Well, I suppose out of everyone here, he has the deepest ties to the elven village. No wonder he’d perk up the moment it came up as a topic. Fork in hand, practically radiating some kind of blazing fervor as he makes his case with all his might.

The illustration’s description: agitated Xenon with a fork in his hand.

“Calm down… please calm down, Mr. Xenon! Mr. Tori’s never actually eaten real elven cuisine, so I don’t think he can even imagine what the original tastes like.”

The sheer intensity makes Mr. Tori lean back instinctively, but the fact that he still doesn’t drop the plate with food on it is impressive.

“Besides, the ingredients are different from elven cuisine to begin with, and so is the cooking process. This is a completely different dish, just inspired by that one, you know?”

“Even so…! Even so, it’s fine…! Thank you, Rin…!”

Right beside me, as I try to calm him down by insisting it’s "a completely different thing," Mr. Xenon trembles with sheer emotion. If his hands were free, it feels like he’d grab my hand and drop to one knee.

Hmm, hmm… This is a dish where the whole point was "how much of that elven cooking’s essence survives the remake," and I never expected it to be received with this much joy…! Honestly, I think the flavor itself turned out pretty decent, but it’s not the elven dish itself. That stings my conscience a little.

What I based it on was a remake of the offal dish that had split opinions even among our own group.

The mushy, crumbly grains that seemed to be the source of the bad texture, I swapped for cold cooked rice, and I kept the spices and herbs to just a faint hint rather than a strong presence. The organ meats—heart, liver, kidney, and who knows what else, a whole assortment of beast innards—I replaced with chicken liver, heart, and gizzard. Of course, after draining the blood thoroughly, I boiled them with bay leaves and other seasonings to remove any gaminess. As for the main ingredient, the minced meat, I made that by hand-chopping leftover Ushika meat from the fridge. And since stuffing everything into a stomach casing was difficult both in terms of technique and ingredient-wise, I packed the mixture into a metal bowl and steamed the entire bowl in a pot instead.

I did try to keep the key points in mind—"mix meat with grain," "use organ meat too," "either steam or boil it"—but… in the end, different is different. I even increased the proportion of raw minced meat because the mixture crumbled too easily when molded. I think the result ended up closer to meatloaf than to that traditional dish.

“Maybe wrapping it in caul fat would’ve gotten the atmosphere a bit closer? No, but… caul fat and casings both seem like a pain to handle… I’d love to unlock that achievement someday, but hmm…”

Anyway, I do feel bad for Mr. Xenon getting this worked up, but I did explain it’s "a different dish from elven cuisine." I’ll just go ahead and stick with that story!

Feeling Mr. Xenon’s gaze full of reverence on me, I take a bite of the renovated meat dish I’d set aside for myself.

“Hmm. I definitely can’t call it the same as that meat dish, but it might actually turn out pretty delicious?”

Maybe because I increased the raw meat ratio to help it hold its shape, or maybe because I mixed it thoroughly until it got that sticky binding texture during prep, it doesn’t crumble apart and goes down easily. Thanks to the steaming, the moisture’s retained too, giving it a soft, fluffy texture. The cold rice I mixed in soaked up the meat juices and sealed them in, so after steaming, it came out plump and tender. In fact, I bet adding a small amount of pearl barley or rolled barley would work well too. The chicken offal mixed in has no gaminess at all—if anything, the crunch of the gizzard and the silky richness of the liver work as nice accents.

Giving it a light sear in the oven after steaming might add a nice toasty aroma too, but… at this point, it’s completely different from that dish from the elven village anyway.

By the way, the sauce is made by simmering down berries I bought at the elven village. You might think it’d be pretty sweet since berries are the base, but actually, the tartness stands out more, and it pairs really well with this slightly distinctive meat.

“It’s not ‘might,’ Rin! This is unspeakably delicious!”

“I agree…! No weird gaminess, just delicious!”

“Once you stop comparing it to the original and judge it on its own merits, it’s amazingly good!”

“The distinctive flavor’s toned down, but I’d say it’s gotten a lot easier to eat because of it.”

While I tilt my head, still assessing the taste on my tongue, everyone chimes in with praise, one after another. Mr. Xenon’s clearly the most invested, but it seems like everyone else is satisfied too.

Yup. More than anything, I’m glad everyone likes it! I suppose I can call it a success.

“…Well, that’s about it, so… let’s keep going with the report while we eat?”

“Ughhh… fine, fine! We’re getting back to it, all right!?”

As soon as the topic of the revised recipe reaches a stopping point, I glance at Mr. Tori and discover him looking at me as though he’s begging for mercy.

…Yup. I get how he feels, but the story’s not going to move along if he doesn’t listen. With that thought in mind, I look him straight in the eye and give a firm nod, and the battle-hardened guildmaster scratches at his head and lets out a growl.

“Ah, come on! You’re telling me you actually made contact with the Saint’s party!? Who could’ve seen that coming!?”

“We do make contact with them, but fortunately they don’t seem to realize who Rin really is.”

“And the Saint herself seemed to be trying to stop the prince, so… it’s a relief she doesn’t seem hostile toward us.”

“That said, we can’t let our guard down. Let’s hope we don’t have any further encounters with them.”

I quietly place a piece of seared Ushika ribs onto Mr. Tori’s plate—something I prepare in case the reinvented meat dish doesn’t suit his taste. I have an ulterior motive, hoping it may calm him down a little, and it works better than expected.

Letting out a huff, Mr. Tori resettles himself and bites into the freshly seared ribs. His brow’s still creased with sharp furrows, but in the amber eyes turned my way, there’s a look that seems to say, " You realize how dangerous that could’ve been if things went wrong, don’t you?”

…Right. Thinking back on it now, I really do take a risk. I think I just got a bit carried away, swept up in the festival atmosphere. But still, neither Mr. Tori nor Mr. Ville scolds me for being so careless, and just moves the conversation along… I’m truly grateful, but it stings my heart all the same!

Ugh… I’ll be more careful so this doesn’t happen again…!

“Direct contact with the Saint… It’s definitely important information, but man, that’s a really awkward amount of information to work with. How the heck do I even write this up? Maybe you should head to the royal capital just in case?”

“No. Even though we made direct contact, it’s not like we got any significant information out of it. I think reporting it via messenger bird should suffice, don’t you think? If he decides he wants an in-person report, I’m sure he’ll send a reply saying so.”

“Man, you really don’t wanna go over there, do you…? Well, fine, but if you do end up heading to the capital, let me know. I’ll assign a request specifically addressed to your party to someone else.”

Mr. Ville lets out a sigh with an expression like he’s just bitten down on a bug, while Mr. Tori, still not letting go of his Ushika ribs, raises an eyebrow at him in exasperation.

First, Mr. Xenon threw a fit about not wanting to go back to his hometown, and now Mr. Ville suffers a relapse of his “I don’t want to go home” syndrome…!

But well, Mr. Ville does have a point. If all we have to report is “we encounter that group” and “the saint’s party doesn’t appear entirely united,” then a letter is more than enough.

…Besides, this is Mr. Noah we’re talking about. I have a feeling he’s probably already got his own information network out there quietly watching us. If we did go to the capital, I can just picture him, all cool and composed, saying "Oh yeah, I already knew. Rough time, huh?"… Knock on wood, knock on wood…

“…Wait, hold on. What’d you just say? A request addressed specifically to us?”

Mr. Ville, still possessed by his one-track determination not to go home, seems to have noticed something. Come to think of it, Mr. Tori did mention something about a request addressed specifically to us. And he’d said if we went to the capital, he’d hand it off to another party!

“Yeah. There’s a request come in, naming your party specifically, to investigate Aios Island.”

“Ehh! Aios Island!?”

Mr. Tori, rummaging around in his inner breast pocket, pulls out the request letter, and the moment Ms. Aria sees it, she raises her voice—rare for her. Whirling around to face me, her face breaks into a huge grin.

“That’s my home! That’s where my family’s from!”

“Eh, really!? Wait, Ms. Aria, you’re from an island?”

“Ah, right, come to think of it, Aria was from Aios Island, wasn’t she? In that case, this sounds like the perfect excuse for a trip home.”

With her cheeks flushed pink, Ms. Aria excitedly bounces up and down while grabbing my hand. Meanwhile, the empty plate and fork that slip from her hands during the process are smoothly caught by Mr. Ed. Radiating an aura of pure "I’m so happy!" from head to toe, Ms. Aria seems to be delighted right down to her core.

Ah, I see, I see. Unlike the guys refusing to go home, Ms. Aria’s actually the type who wants to go back to her hometown. Come to think of it, I did hear a bit about her’s family on the way to the elven village.

“Your mother works as a fortune-teller, right, Ms. Aria?”

“Yeah! Rin, you said you’d come with me, right? We can go home together! This time of year, both the stars and the flowers are at their best, so let’s go see them together!”

“Ooooh! That sounds wonderful!”

“On the beach… flowers are blooming everywhere, so pretty! And the fish, so good too!”

Practically bursting with joy, Ms. Aria explains with even more energetic gestures than usual. I’m sure it’s just my imagination that I can see her ears standing straight up and her tail wagging furiously. Watching her like this, I can’t help but break into a smile myself.

Plus… after going to see the elven festival, now flower-viewing and stargazing too… yes please, yes please! This is really starting to feel like the ultimate other-world sightseeing trip!

“…That said, they’re asking for a thorough investigation of Aios Island… just who exactly sent this request?”

“That’s the thing, it came in anonymously. The wax seal on it is just some generic design sold to the general public.”

“The paper and ink don’t stand out in any way, either…”

While Ms. Aria’s off in her own excited world, Mr. Ville and Mr. Tori are deep in discussion with troubled expressions. Mr. Ville’s got quite the sour look on his face, but well, that makes sense. The Gourmands used to only take requests that could be completed within the Ellarge area, and it’s only since I came to this world—so, less than a year now—that we’ve started taking requests further afield. And yet someone found out we could now travel long distances and specifically named us for this request? …Whoever sent this, aren’t they awfully well-informed?

Not knowing the identity of someone with that much information must be a serious concern from a party leader’s perspective. I’d been thinking this sounded like a fun sightseeing trip, but is there maybe some kind of trouble brewing again?

“And you can eat tons of freshly caught fish! So good! And you can fish too!”

“Ooooooh! That’s fantastic!”

…But even that worry dissolves in an instant against Ms. Aria’s giddy, excited invitation. Delicious fish and fishing too, that’s the best! Ooh, would it be surf fishing? Or maybe even rock fishing is an option!? I can’t help getting excited! My spirits are soaring through the roof at the thought of fishing on an island I’ve never even seen.

“Speaking of Aios Island, it’s famous for the magic crystal ore mined from the twin peaks rising in the center of the island, but fishing is thriving there too.”

In front of me, still pressing a hand to my mouth in overwhelmed excitement, Mr. Xenon—having settled down a bit now that he’s recovered from his culinary fervor—nods with a look of understanding.

A thriving fishing industry on an island makes perfect geographical sense, but… I feel like I just heard some term I’ve never come across before?

“Magic crystal ore? What’s that? Is it different from magic stones?”

“It’s not as powerful as a proper magic stone, but a stone containing mana is called magic crystal ore. It gets used in all sorts of places, actually.”

“It’s not as valuable as a genuine magic stone, but depending on the quality, it can fetch quite a high price.”

“On my island… as Xenon said, it’s mined… from the mountains.”

The moment I tilt my head in confusion, information about magic crystal ore comes flying at me from all directions—ahead, left, and right—without a beat’s pause. Such lovely voices surround me in stereo; my ears are in absolute heaven!

Piecing together this luxurious flood of information, it seems Aios Island was formed a very, very long time ago when it rose up from the ocean floor—probably from an undersea volcanic eruption pushing it upward, I’d guess—and as a result, it’s packed full of powerful earth and fire mana. Because of that, apparently high-quality magic crystal ore can be mined from underground at the twin peaks that symbolize the island.

Magic crystal ore doesn’t carry as much magical power as a true magic stone, but it does have enough strength to serve as a charm in a pinch, so it gets used for high-end accessories, or sometimes as core material for magic tools and elemental weapons.

And most importantly of all, the amount of magic crystal ore mined on Aios Island and where it’s delivered to are all properly recorded and managed. Also, you need a permit to be involved in the mining, and unauthorized extraction carries heavy penalties.

“There was apparently a period in the past when the mining regulations and the various agreements around sales caused friction between the central government and the island…”

“Well, from the central government’s perspective, that’s a rather explosive issue.”

Based on what Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ed are saying, there seem to be all sorts of complications involving mining interests, historical issues, and who knows what else. Maybe this request to “thoroughly investigate Aios Island” is asking us to look into that side of things too? It’s Ms. Aria’s home, sure, but it sounds like it might be sitting in a pretty complicated position.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Aria’s town have someone who oversees the mining operations or something?”

“Mm. There’s one, in the neighboring town… but… I hate that guy…!”

When Mr. Ville brings it up, Ms. Aria grimaces so dramatically that I almost do a double-take. W-Whoa… Ms. Aria’s usually rather idle facial muscles are actually hard at work for once…! Though honestly, her moods are fairly easy to read to begin with. After spending so much time together since joining the Gourmands, I’ve gotten pretty good at picking up on her feelings from the atmosphere she puts off, and once you get used to it, her emotions really are quite easy to read… but even so… has she ever shown this much open hostility on her face before?

Like during that whole vegetable incident, or when we had to offer up Drauwurm meat as a sacrificial offering… she made some pretty displeased faces back then too, but I don’t think it was ever quite this bad.

So this mining overseer guy or whatever must be seriously hated, huh?

“Bad drinker… and womanizer, and greedy too… just, ugh! I don’t like him!”

“Well… those are definitely some pretty unappealing qualities…”

“For you to say that much is surprising… I mean, is being a drinker really that big a deal?”

“Guildmaster… you are… a good drinker, so it’s fine.”

At Mr. Tori putting on an exaggeratedly wounded expression, Ms. Aria’s face softens with the faintest smile.

“…Well, I’ll manage to pull together your report on the elven village somehow. As for the Aios Island investigation—I’m counting on you lot!”

◆◇◆

The day of departure for Ms. Aria’s hometown arrives before I know it. Since the ship’s set to leave around noon, we head for the harbor while snacking around the market and browsing the shops along the way.

“Since mealtimes on the ship are fixed, why don’t we pick up some snacks to keep us going in between?”

“Mm. Also, drinks… are expensive too… let’s buy some of those as well?”

Unlike preparing for a long overland journey, it’s really nice and easy, just needing to buy quick bites that’ll keep for a day or two. Shopping for long-trip provisions is fun in its own way, but it does take some thinking, working out combinations with whatever ingredients are already left over and all that.

“Ever since Rin joined us, we hardly eat out anymore. The party’s finances keep improving, so spending a little extra here shouldn’t be a problem.”

“In that case, why don’t we buy some meat-packed sandwiches—the kind we normally wouldn’t splurge on?”

While I’m off quietly having my own moment of reflection, the others—clearly speaking from experience—jump into the conversation one after another. Eyeing the stalls that look like they cater to the dock workers, Mr. Ville’s gaze sharpens, and Mr. Xenon grins as he points out what looks like a local specialty stand with a keen eye.

We stroll together along the canal-side road leading to Ellarge’s harbor. Apparently, the ship bound for Aios Island departs from a nearby dock once a week, and we’re currently on our way there. After the debrief at the guild, Mr. Ville went ahead and bought our tickets at the sales counter. That kind of thoroughness really is just like him.

Meals are provided on board, and once we arrive, we’re already at our destination, so setting off feels wonderfully easy. Once there, it’ll probably just be moving around the island, so it doesn’t really feel like it’s shaping up to be some grand long journey.

“Since you’re from that island, Ms. Aria, you must have taken a ship to get to Ellarge, right?”

“Mm. When I did… it was pretty… rough… hard time…”

Excited one moment and gloomy the next—Ms. Aria’s ever-changing expressions are adorable as always. Then again, Mr. Ed’s stern glare at me for admiring her is just as noticeable. Yup, that’s one protective monster husband right there.

The wind sweeps through, playing with Ms. Aria’s pale hair as it passes. The breeze in Ellarge always carries the scent of the sea, but is it just my imagination that it feels stronger than usual today?

“Ship’s big, but… it rocks a lot…”

“I remember it being pretty rough when I first came to this city too.”

“Oof… there’s just nothing you can do about the forces of nature.”

According to Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, both experienced sea travelers, "when it’s calm, it’s calm, but when it gets rough, it gets really rough." Perhaps recalling their past voyages, both of them grimace dramatically.

The weather looks good for today and tomorrow, but that’s all up to the mood of the heavens, isn’t it…? Nothing to do but pray for a peaceful voyage.

And what’s more, the ship we’re taking… it’s called the Meria Celeste.

…

…Yup. I get it. It definitely sounds like the kind of ship where all people mysteriously disappear, leaving behind only signs of everyday life. Well, from what everyone tells me, it’s apparently a perfectly safe ship that’s never had a single accident or casualty in all its years of service, though.

“You board the ship in the morning… and reach your destination around midday two days later.”

“…So that means we spend about two days on board. That’s quite a while.”

According to Mr. Ed and the others with sailing experience, the Meria Celeste is a mid-sized sailing ship, with a second-class cabin where you sleep crammed together and a first-class option with private rooms. Apparently, once you’re aboard, there’s no need to prepare meals or set up sleeping arrangements yourself, so there’s nothing at all to do until you reach your destination—easy, in theory. If anything, killing time turned out to be the harder part.

Maybe she’s remembering a voyage colored by seasickness and boredom—Ms. Aria’s nose wrinkles up. Apparently when she took the ferry, she drank an anti-nausea potion, but the rocking was so severe she got horribly seasick anyway. "Don’t want to go through that again…" she says, looking thoroughly dejected.

“Ellarge and Aios Island aren’t actually that far apart in a straight line, but because of the wind and currents, it ends up being a pretty roundabout route.”

“If wind and tides are the main source of propulsion, I suppose there’s no going against them.”

“They do have a mage who can use wind magic aboard to help with navigation, but fighting against the wind and currents is just too inefficient.”

Apparently, regular ferry services like this secure wind mages to help keep the ships moving when the sea goes calm. Luxury liners for wealthy passengers and cargo ships that make long voyages sometimes even carry several mages to prepare for storms and rough seas.

Still, that doesn’t mean magic lets you travel directly to the island. Pushing a vessel against the natural forces of the sea is incredibly demanding, even with spells. The most sensible arrangement is to let the wind and currents do most of the work and use magic only as assistance.

“Sounds like a lot to deal with. But the weather looks clear today and tomorrow, so it should work out somehow, right?”

Carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle stuffed with my seasoning set and fishing gear over my shoulder and a tote bag filled with some light provisions in my hand, I try to cheer Ms. Aria up.

Even so, between the idle chatting and buying snacks and drinks along the way, the load’s grown quite a bit on top of what I’d already brought.

Since I probably can’t summon the Camping Car while on the ship, I pulled out whatever gear seemed necessary ahead of time… but since I usually just leave it all sitting in the vehicle, it feels oddly heavy now. I really do get to slack off a lot thanks to the Camping Car.

…I can practically hear the voices asking whether a fishing rod is even necessary, but hey, there’s no harm in bringing it along! You never know when some chance to fish might come up! Wait, hold on, who am I even making excuses to right now!?

“Oh, right! Hey, Gomamiso. Mind carrying this bag for me?”

‘Hmmm? Sooo, you require my royal assistance?’

“That’s exactly it… I mean, come on, you’re pretty strong, Miso! So I figured you could handle carrying this much, at least.”

‘Hmph! Hmphmph! Was my might just, shining through?’

“It was, it was!”

I hold out the tote bag full of ingredients toward Gomamiso, who’s been meowing away at my feet, and it instantly changes size and, wearing a smug-but-pleased face, clamps its mouth down on the handle.

When I first found the kitten, it was about the size of a basketball, but now it’s able to freely change its own body size. There’s that old folk tale bit about "eat a bowl’s worth, grow a bowl bigger; eat a big bowl’s worth, grow a big bowl bigger"—I feel like that’s exactly what’s happening here.

“Wow… seeing this really makes it feel like we’re standing at the front line of trade.”

“Whether it’s imports or exports, this is the biggest gateway for them.”

“The workers get breaks, of course, but the port itself never sleeps.”

I walk along craning my neck this way and that like a total tourist, but the quality of the bustle here is clearly different from the commercial district. The streets lined with stalls and shops are lively enough, sure, full of energy, but there’s also this relaxed atmosphere—customers chatting away, housewives holding little gatherings by the well after shopping, that sort of thing.

But here at the harbor, it’s more like a battlefield of unloading cargo… Shouting flies back and forth from all directions, little scuffles keep breaking out here and there… We make our way toward our ship, trying to shrink ourselves small so as not to get in the way amid the heat and energy of the sailors and dockworkers hustling briskly about.

Of course, I too watch carefully not to bump my backpack into any of the working people as I make my way toward the boarding area. As we walk further, warehouse-like buildings start to outnumber the shops. When I first arrived, I remember thinking Ellarge was a city built of brick, but walking through this warehouse district really drives that impression home all over again. It kind of reminds me of Hokkaido people’s spirits and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse!

The sea breeze, usually blocked by the buildings, now hits my body head-on, which only adds to that harbor feeling all the more.

“Whoa… is this the ship we’re looking for?”

“I’d say so.”

What sways before us on the waves is a massive three-masted ship. The sails aren’t hoisted yet, but even so, the sheer presence of it up close is something else…! I’m overwhelmed—there’s just no comparison to the fishing boats I’m used to—and this is only considered a mid-sized ship? Just how enormous do the big ships in this world get!?

The main building material’s probably wood, I’d guess. And only the lower part of the hull has what looks like metal plating attached to it. That’s probably the part that sits submerged in the water. Back on Earth, ship hulls get coated with antifouling and anti-corrosion paint, so I’d guess this serves a similar purpose.

The openings set here and there up along the higher part of the hull—windows or something, maybe?

While I stand there speechless, just staring up at the hull, at the edge of my vision I can see cargo being loaded one after another using what looks like some kind of simple hoist system operating at the rear of the deck. Come to think of it, this is the only means of transport connecting the island to the mainland, isn’t it? No wonder there’s such a mountain of daily goods and food supplies to load.

“Heading to Aios Island? Let me see your boarding tickets.”

“Right here. Five people, and one familiar.”

“Confirmed… five for second class, and one animal, got it! We’ll check the magic stamp again during disembarkation procedures.”

Mr. Ville holds out the boarding tickets purchased at the guild to the lively-looking young man waiting right in front of the gangway leading up to the ship. The man takes them, and the moment he passes his hand over them, a pattern briefly surfaces on the ticket’s surface before being drawn straight into the back of our hands. Oh, this is the same principle as Gomamiso’s familiar registration mark! It’s set up to surface when mana is passed through it.

‘Haaah? Did you just count this royal me as “animal”? Surely someone as magnificent as me should be counted like a divine being?’

“Ehh… Miso, do you think you’re some kind of god or something?”

‘Me, the most adorable and noble being in the whole world! Revere my sacred form and worship me!’

“Yes, yes. Oh Great Deity Miso, Oh Great Deity Miso. Be a good kitty and calm down.”

“Whoa there, miss. Talking to your familiar? You sure dote on it.”

Maybe it’s going through some kind of rebellious phase lately—watching me rub down the head of the lynx squirming discontentedly in my arms, tail lashing, the young man lets out a burst of laughter.

To him, Gomamiso probably just sounds like a cat meowing away, so it must seem pretty amusing that I’m dutifully talking back to it like this. A gate guard laughed at me for the same thing not long ago. Guess not many people in this world dote on their familiars quite like this, huh?

“Rin. Let’s go drop our luggage in the cabin first.”

“Ah, yes. On my way!”

Prompted by Mr. Ville, who’s already gone on ahead up the gangway, Miso and I hurry up after him too.

Mr. Ed told me that on some ships, familiars have to be kept locked in cages set up in the cargo hold until you reach your destination. Since adventurers use it a lot, I’m so glad the Meria Celeste is a ship where you can share a cabin with your familiar! Still, I’ve been told to keep the familiar close by as much as possible, so I plan to keep carrying it like this whenever I can.

“Whoa, wait—whoa whoa whoa…!”

With the rocking of the ship, the wooden gangway sways up and down too. Never thought the skills I picked up from riding fishing boats would come in handy here of all places. You really never know what’ll turn out useful in life.

Watching my footing carefully so as not to slip, what awaits at the top is a sailing ship’s deck, the likes of which I’ve never seen in person. The plank flooring, the ropes and nets strung from the ship’s rail toward the masts, the lookout platform up on the mast… It’s a scene I’ve only ever seen in footage before, spread out before me. What catches my eye most of all is the large ship’s wheel set up a little higher at the rear of the deck. I bet you spin that thing round and round to steer the ship… aah, the romance of it all!

“What’s wrong, miss? Cabins are below deck. It’s a bit rocky even while docked, so watch your step on the stairs.”

“Rin, over here!”

To me, frozen in place, moved by my first-ever experience aboard a sailing ship, one of the sailors bustling about on deck calls out. Snapping back to myself, I spot Mr. Ville waving me over in front of what looks like a small hut set up toward the rear of the deck. Oops! There goes my usual bad habit again!

I give the cloth-wrapped bundle that’s slipped down a shake to fix its position, then jog over to Mr. Ville. If the deck had been wet, that could’ve been dangerous, but thankfully it’s bone dry right now, so no worries about slipping.

Safely rejoining everyone and stepping into the hut, I find a staircase with a simple handrail inside.

“Our cabin—second class—is apparently two levels below deck.”

“Two levels down… so does that mean the area directly beneath the deck is where the first-class cabins are?”

“Good guess, Rin. The lowest level is apparently used for cargo and the crew’s quarters.”

Mr. Ville gestures to show how the ship is built in three layers.

When I think of huge cruise ships that travel around the world, I picture passenger cabins above the deck. But on a sailing ship, the deck is packed with equipment needed to operate the vessel. If you want to build cabins, there’s no choice but to put them below deck.

Nodding along, satisfied with the logic of it, I follow Mr. Ville’s lead down the stairs. This really is steep enough that it’s no wonder the sailor warned me about it. Mr. Ville’s taken Gomamiso off my hands, so I can just about manage the descent, but… going up and down these is going to take a while. There’s only this one staircase leading to the deck, too—if anything ever went wrong, wouldn’t people all crowding here at once turn into a real disaster…? I’ve heard the saying that just one plank below your feet lies hell at sea, but I never expected to actually feel it firsthand like this…

Fortunately, the weather is nice at the moment, and I can’t see any large clouds out over the sea. The wind is gentle too, so at least for now it doesn’t look like rough weather is coming. Of course, I know full well you can never let your guard down against nature.

“ Woooow… So spaciousss…”

“Second class apparently takes up an entire deck level all on its own.”

After somehow making it all the way down the stairs, I find myself in a spacious hall illuminated by lamps mounted on the walls and ceiling. The ceiling is much higher than I imagine for a ship’s hold, and there’s no sense of confinement or claustrophobia whatsoever. More than that, I expect it to be unbearably stuffy down here, yet cool air is circulating throughout the room!?

The rest of the Gourmands, who’d come down ahead of the two of us, are gathered waiting for us in a corner near the entrance. Ms. Aria notices me coming down and waves.

“It’s probably some kind of magic tool circulating the air. Since this is one of the few ships running the route connecting Aios Island to the Riessfeld mainland, I’d guess they’ve made an effort to carry passengers as comfortably as possible.”

“Now that you mention it, this ship really is a lifeline for the islanders, carrying both supplies and people.”

As I continue to stare around in amazement while unloading my luggage, Mr. Ville explains it all to me. Magic tools, apparently, are machines that run on magic stones or magic crystal ore as their power source, and they’re a fairly pricey category of item. Pricey as they are, since this ship also serves as essential infrastructure connecting the island to the mainland, he figures they’ve installed it partly to make things a bit more comfortable for the passengers too. I bet they’re funneling some of their profits back into improving conditions on board. Not a bad company at all.

Come to think of it, "magic tool" did sound familiar somehow—right, I heard it back at the guild during that whole magic crystal ore discussion. They mentioned it gets used a lot in magic tools too. Maybe the magic tools used on this very ship are powered by magic crystal ore mined from Aios Island itself. Local production for local consumption, huh?

Having successfully secured our little spot, I rummage through the pouch I’d packed alongside my fishing gear, meaning to take some anti-nausea medicine before we set sail… but…

“Ahh… the anti-nausea medicine isn’t in here. Guess I’ll need some other countermeasure, then.”

I’d been completely sure I’d packed the seasickness medicine I usually take when boat fishing, but turns out I hadn’t. Guess my check wasn’t thorough enough.

From what Ms. Aria mentioned back at the harbor, there are apparently anti-nausea potions made in this world, but none of the others seemed to have bought any either. Well, in that case, I’ll just have to rely on old skills I picked up long ago!

“? What are… you doing?”

“I don’t have any seasickness medicine on hand, so I figured I’d fall back on some traditional method.”

What I pull out from the rucksack I’d set down is a small handful of raw rice I’d set aside for just such an occasion when the anti-nausea medicine fails, along with some adhesive bandages. There’s an acupressure point called "Neiguan," about three finger-widths up from the center crease of the wrist toward the elbow, that’s said to help with nausea and motion sickness—so the plan here is to stimulate that point to ward off seasickness! It’s a method my teacher mentioned back in vocational school as a bit of trivia during class, but it’s actually surprisingly effective. Behold, the wisdom of the East!

Ms. Aria peers in, clearly fascinated, as I fiddle with sticking the bandages in place.

Come to think of it, back when I first went into the dungeon, didn’t I massage Ms. Aria’s hands and make a makeshift moxa warmer too? So much has happened since then that even though it’s all within the past year, it somehow already feels like an impossibly distant memory…

“Want to do the same, Ms. Aria? Along with this, I think drinking an anti-nausea potion too would be extra safe and secure.”

“Eh… I am curious, but…”

“Um, Rin, sorry to say this after you’re already done, but there’s actually a spell that prevents motion sickness.”

“Seriously!? Something like that exists!?”

“Yes. I can cast it too. If seasickness worried you, you could’ve just said so.”

Just as I finally finish sticking bandages on both arms, Mr. Ed, who’d been watching my work beside Ms. Aria, informs me while stifling a laugh. Mr. Xenon, brow drooping in a troubled sort of way but with a voice that’s clearly holding back laughter too, gives the staff in his hand a light shake.

Ahh! Right! This world has that convenient thing called magic! Guess it’s partly my fault for forgetting, but I really wish someone had told me a bit sooner! That explains why nobody bothers with anti-nausea potions! I’d been thinking everyone must just have really strong inner ears, but it turns out there’s actually magic for preventing motion sickness!

Meanwhile, Mr. Ville watches all our commotion while petting Gomamiso. That look on his face is some mix of exasperation and amusement. Well, it’d be a waste to peel off the bandages now that I’ve already stuck them on, so I decide to just go with it, and if I do get seasick after all, I’ll ask Mr. Xenon to cast the spell on me.

“Well, the sea seems calm today, so the ship probably won’t rock that much.”

“…I sure hope so…”

Just as I stretch out my arm to take Gomamiso from Mr. Ville, who looks like he’s desperately holding back laughter, a booming sound rings out from up on deck. At the same moment, the ship gives a big lurch.

I think I hear the sound of waves sloshing against the other side of the planks.

“Oh. We’ve set sail.”

“Mm. They blow a large conch shell… as a departure signal, I think.”

“If you blow into it while channeling magical power, the sound carries quite far. On this ship, that’s one of the jobs for someone with magic.”

“Hmm, I see… There really are all sorts of customs.”

There are several windows in the hold, allowing us to see outside from where we sit. Right now, all I can see are warehouses lining the canal, but even at this stage the rocking feels fairly strong. Maybe applying those anti-seasickness bandages isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Looking around, it seems there are quite a few other passengers besides us. About half the hall’s filled up, maybe? Seems like the spots along the walls are the popular choice, and once those fill up, people start settling in toward the middle.

Hanging on the wall near our chosen spot is what I’d call a nautical chart—a rough map showing the port of Ellarge and our destination, Aios Island.

From what I can tell, our ship is probably docked in one of the wider sections of the canal connected to the harbor. The ship may be considered medium-sized, but it’s enormous nonetheless. It would need plenty of room just to maneuver past other traffic.

“Indeed… judging from this map, we’re not out on the open sea yet.”

So right now, I figure we’re sailing the canal we were docked in, heading toward the harbor, on our way out to open water.

Hmm… if it’s already rocking this much before we’ve even reached open water, doesn’t that mean it’ll rock even more once we’re out at sea? The thought makes my chest feel suddenly tight. Even with the air conditioning working, there’s still a faint sense of confinement down here.

I’d like to get some fresh otherworldly sea air as a change of pace, but leaving the luggage with everyone else feels awkward… maybe they want to go up top too… hmm…

While I’m mulling this over, dithering, Ms. Aria takes my hand with a beaming smile. She must’ve noticed I seem restless.

“Rin! Rin! Let’s go look outside!”

“Eh, but… what do we do about the luggage? Shouldn’t someone keep an eye on it?”

“We can just take turns. Go on ahead with Aria first.”

“I agree. I’m not particularly interested in the scenery outside anyway, so please go ahead, Rin.”

With Ms. Aria practically shoving me toward the stairs and me yielding as usual, the guys send us off with a laugh. I feel a twinge of guilt, but I decide to take them up on the offer this once. Because, come on! Of course I want to see the sea of another world!

“…Only because it’s you, Rin, okay?”

“Yes! Thank you very much! I’ll gladly accept!”

“Thanks, Eddy! Come on, Rin, Goma too… let’s go!”

The monster husband’s stare is a little—okay, quite a lot—terrifying, but I decide not to worry about it anymore! Think of it like a girls’ outing, a girls’ outing! Possessive husbands aren’t popular, you know?

Taking Ms. Aria’s hand again, we dash up the steep stairs, careful not to trip. Gomamiso clings to my back, so at least I don’t lose my balance along the way, thankfully. I do manage to hold back the urge to shout "Woohoo!" though. After all, I’m an adult, you know?

Gratefully taking the hand Ms. Aria offers, having gotten up to the deck a step ahead of me, I heave myself up and out onto the deck. The blue of the sky stings my eyes strangely. Maybe it’s from being cooped up in that cave-like cabin. The air of the outside world, drawn deep into my lungs for the first time in what feels like tens of minutes, carries a heavy scent of salt. The wind brushing against my cheeks feels incredibly pleasant.

“Whoaaa…! So this is what the view looks like from out on the water!”

“There sure… are a lot of warehouses lined up.”

“It really gives that ‘hub of commerce’ feeling!”

The sight of warehouses lined up in rows, both to the starboard side and the port side, is quite the spectacle. At the various piers set up along the shore, I can clearly see people bustling about busily, unloading or loading cargo from the ships docked there.

The sailors are working away on deck too, but it doesn’t feel all that hectic. Probably because the river current’s naturally carrying the ship along. I’d guess the sailors get really busy either inside the harbor, where they have to adjust course to avoid colliding with other ships, or once they’re out on the open sea, where they have to work the ship using tide and wind.

The deck’s bound to turn into a battlefield of activity before long, and amateurs wandering around would just get in the way… I guess we should head back to the cabin before then.

“The guide bird is calling…”

“The guide bird… ah, you mean that bird flying over there?”

“Mm, that’s it. Flies along with ships a lot… so it’s called the bird that guides the way.”

What Ms. Aria points to is a large bird soaring through the sky, letting out a distinctive meow-like cry. Yellow feet and beak, white body, gray back, wings, and tail feathers. Just going by the coloring, it might resemble a seagull. Its wingspan looks about as wide as my arms spread out fully.

The illustration’s description: Rin and Aria are holding hands, and Gomamiso is sitting on Rin’s shoulder.

There are several of them flying together, and every now and then they swoop past so close it feels like they’re deliberately teasing us, which makes quite a scene!

‘Haaah? Are they looking down on meee? If this me get serious, you know, this me can go whoosh-whoosh and take care of them!’

“Yes, yes, so amazing, so strong.”

Gomamiso, cradled in my arms, is having its rebellious streak thoroughly provoked.

I’m stroking the back of the growling, hissing cat, its tail fur puffed clean up, but it shows no sign of calming down whatsoever. Legs flailing in my arms, it’s throwing cat-punches at the birds. Not that I want to rule out the possibility entirely, but I really don’t think Gomamiso stands much of a chance catching one of those seagull-lookalikes.

Sure, Miso’s called a winged lynx, so it can fly, but compared to birds that have spent countless generations adapting to life in the sky, it’s bound to lose out in aerial maneuverability and agility… And what’s more, right below this potential battlefield is a canal leading straight out to the open sea. If the cat fell in, that’d be a disaster nobody wants to witness.

…Besides, according to Survival, those seagull-like birds are “edible, but their meat is tough and strongly odorous, so they are not commonly eaten.” So even if Gomamiso somehow managed to catch one through sheer effort, it’d just end up as a snack for the cat at best. And more importantly, we can hardly hold a bird-butchering show right there on deck. So I really wish it’d quit getting all fired up about catching birds for no good reason.

Still, I can’t help but feel Gomamiso’s grown a bit, seeing as its rampage stays within limits that don’t actually hurt me.

“Uh-oh. Is Goma in a bad mood…?”

“More like forty-five degrees off from a bad mood, I’d say. I think Gomamiso feels like those birds are making fun of it.”

‘Grrrrrr! They! They made fun of meeeee!’

Even with Ms. Aria reaching out to scritch its forehead, and me stroking its throat, Gomamiso’s mood shows no sign of improving, its attention still locked on the guide birds. I guess as long as the targets are still in view, its excitement just won’t settle down.

At this point, our best bet is simply to go somewhere the birds aren’t visible.

“Come on, Miso, you lose the moment you engage with them. Come on, let’s go explore the deck instead!”

‘Haaah? Running away before the enemy is the height of cowardice, isn’t it!?’

“Where do you even pick up phrases like that, Gomamiso? This isn’t fleeing before the enemy. It’s a strategic withdrawal.”

Readjusting my hold on Gomamiso, who’s still throwing cat-punches at thin air, I quickly leave the spot behind. The cat continues meowing complaints full of lingering resentment, but I choose to ignore them!

Taking another look around the ship, the deck feels rather cramped, probably owing to the three masts standing in a row. There are also several large barrels sitting around, though I can’t tell if they’re just temporarily placed there or have a fixed spot. It feels a bit rich coming from me, given I went dashing across the deck the moment I boarded, but this really doesn’t seem like a place you can casually run around. Still, I think that’s just a visual impression of narrowness—the actual deck area itself seems fairly spacious.

Weaving through the gaps so as not to get in the way of the sailors, who still seem to have some slack in their schedule for now, we make our way toward the bow and spot something decorating the prow.

Long, flowing hair with a gentle wave to it, and a kind face wearing a smile full of compassion. Despite being a carving, there’s even a touch of allure to the way the hem of the robe parts to reveal an elegant tail fin curving in soft lines…

We know this figure. We’ve actually seen her in person before.

“…This statue… was here the first time I boarded too, but… isn’t this…?”

“The hairstyle’s a little different, but… this is a statue of Lady Lyusia, isn’t it?”

“Right!? It’s definitely her, right!?”

Getting excited in front of a goddess’s statue might be disrespectful, but finding the image of a deity we personally know in such an unexpected place leaves Ms. Aria and me squealing with excitement. Thinking about it calmly, Lady Lyusia is the goddess who governs all things related to the sea. It’s only natural for her image to adorn the bow as the ship’s guardian deity.

Even so, to be able to recreate Lady Lyusia’s face this accurately… It’s as if whoever made this had been blessed with the honor of actually gazing upon her sacred face in person. And for that matter, I always thought figureheads like this were normally mounted lower down, along the pole extending out from the bow? So why’s this one placed so prominently, right where everyone can see it?

“Oh! That statue caught your eye?”

“Whoa! You startled me!”

Just as I’m gazing intently at Lady Lyusia’s statue with that question in mind, a man’s voice suddenly speaks up from behind. Turning around on reflex, I find the young man from the boarding procedure earlier standing there with a friendly grin. Survival hasn’t sounded any alert, and Ms. Aria hasn’t reacted either, so it doesn’t seem like there’s any hostility involved. Well, it’s not like there’d be any enemies aboard this ship to begin with, and now that we know whose voice it was, we both relax our guard right away, just as the young man from boarding strides briskly over toward us.

He’s got skin tanned a deep bronze from years under the sun, and hair that’s turned a golden-tinged red from sun and salt exposure, tied back carelessly—an energetic-looking young man. Hard to tell with all the sun damage and laugh lines, but I’d guess he’s around my age, maybe a bit older. With a face that easy to like, I’d bet he’s friendly on the inside too, to match. Still grinning away as he talks, he closes the distance between us in no time at all.

Not that I think anything bad would actually happen, but… letting a man get too close to a married woman just doesn’t sit right with me, so I slip my body in between him and Ms. Aria. Might’ve been a bit forceful, but compared to facing the monster-husband’s absolute-zero glare later… this much is nothing at all!

“Pretty nice figurehead, isn’t it? The very first captain commissioned it based on a mermaid who apparently saved him when he nearly drowned as a child.”

“Ahhh! I see! So she was a kind mermaid!”

“Yeah, yeah. Not just kind, she was seriously huge too. Guess he never could forget her.”

…Still, to have the reason for the figurehead’s resemblance to Lady Lyusia revealed this quickly. I can almost picture it: a mermaid many times larger than a small child lifting him gently in a massive hand and rising lovingly toward the ocean’s surface.

I don’t know what kind of person the first captain was, but after an experience like that… wanting to create a statue like this makes perfect sense.

Since it’s such a nice story, I decide to pretend I didn’t hear Ms. Aria mutter, "Kinda feels like it could twist a person’s tastes a little…”

“This statue does have such a kind face. I honestly thought it might be the sea goddess herself, at first.”

“Right, right? He wanted everyone to see that kind face, so he had it specially mounted here, even though figureheads usually go under the bowsprit.”

Leaning halfway out over the bow railing, the young man points at the statue. Bowsprit—that must be the proper name for the pole I’ve been calling "the thing sticking out diagonally from the bow." Guess it does have an official name after all.

Even so, this guy’s cleared up my question about why the figurehead’s mounted where it is, on top of everything else. Is he some kind of mind reader or something!?

Well, mind reader or not, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy, but one thing’s for sure—he closes distance fast! That’s some serious extrovert energy right there! First Mr. Arthur and his party, and now this sailor guy too—am I secretly carrying some sort of extrovert-attracting pheromone lately!?

While I’m internally grumbling to myself over that, the young man glances around at the surroundings and up at the main mast, then looks back and forth between Ms. Aria and me with a somewhat regretful expression.

“Ahh, if we had more time, I’d have shown you more of the ship, but… we’re about to head into open water soon. The deck’s gonna get busy, so it might be about time you two headed back to the cabin.”

“Really…? How do you know that?”

“Partly from the surroundings, but the biggest sign is… look. People are starting to climb the masts, see? That’s kind of the setup stage before hoisting the sails.”

“…Now that you mention it, that’s true. Someone has to be up there if they’re going to unfurl the sails.”

Just as he says, several crew members are climbing each of the three masts and working high above the deck. Maybe magic helps if something goes wrong, but having the nerve to work at such heights without safety lines is incredible…

Me? No way, not a chance! After experiencing that free fall from the Ancestral Tree back at the elven village, I think I’ll be steering clear of high places for a good while, thanks.

Putting that aside, the sailor is probably right—the deck is about to become as busy as a battlefield, and amateurs like us should make ourselves scarce.

“In that case, we’ll head back to the cabin. Thanks so much for all the explanations! You’ve cleared up nearly all my questions.”

“Glad to hear it. Next time we run into each other, I’ll show you around the rest of the ship too.”

Seen off by the young man’s cheerful wave, we turn on our heels and head back the way we came. We duck into the windbreak hut with the stairs at almost the exact same moment a booming voice rings out across the deck. Glancing back at the deck before heading down, I catch sight of the pure white sails on the masts billowing out, catching the wind. At the same time, the ship, which had just been drifting along with the current, surges forward with a sudden burst of speed.

From that point on, the deck erupts into organized chaos. Some sailors check the tension of the sails, others haul ropes on command, while lookouts call directions from above. I can practically feel how the entire crew works together as one to steer the ship!

I’m definitely curious about exactly what they’re doing, but there’s no way I’m going to get in their way! With the calls and responses flying back and forth at our backs, Ms. Aria and I make our way down the stairs, watching our footing carefully. With the ship picking up speed, it feels like it’s rocking even more than before!

“I see. So all the commotion is only happening up above, huh?”

In stark contrast to the bustle on deck, a fairly relaxed air flows below. There are a few sailors dashing around, but only a small handful. And it feels less like they’re running around doing work within this level, more like they’re carrying things up to the deck or bringing things back down from it.

Earlier, Mr. Ville was leading the way, so I headed straight for the cabin without looking around much, but now, couldn’t we freely explore each level ourselves?

“It got busy up top, but down here doesn’t seem so bad… do you want to take a quick look around before heading back?”

“Mm! Let’s go explore!”

I ask Ms. Aria on a whim, and she agrees with even more enthusiasm than I expected. I’d braced myself for her wanting to hurry back to Mr. Ed instead, but nope. More exploring companions, the merrier, honestly! Especially since Ms. Aria’s actually sailed before—could there be a more reassuring companion for this? No, there couldn’t (rhetorical).

“Let’s see… This is the level with the first-class cabins, right? It definitely has that sort of atmosphere.”

“Mmm… just cabins? Kind of a letdown…”

Ignoring the stairs leading further down, we step onto the level we hadn’t bothered looking at earlier. The moment you step into second class, there’s this hall stretching out that practically announces "this is where you’ll be spending your time and sleeping!"… but this floor, with the first-class cabins, feels different the instant you set foot on it. A long corridor lined with doors on both sides, the floor still just the same wooden planking as the deck, but apart from that, it looks just like a hotel hallway.

Is there anything particularly interesting to catch the eye, though? Hard to say. If we could actually see inside the rooms, maybe, but just a hallway and doors doesn’t offer much.

“It’s quiet on this floor, isn’t it?”

“Mm. Feels like chatting loudly here would get us in trouble…”

“I doubt that’s actually true, but I get the feeling too.”

The second-class cabin, with no partitions at all, had been loud and lively with the voices of other passengers, but this floor with the first-class cabins is quiet. Quiet enough that you can hear the commotion on deck and the sound of the waves. Caught off guard by the unexpected stillness, Ms. Aria’s and my own voices instinctively drop lower too.

The reason for this quiet… it’s probably partly the sound insulation from being sectioned off by doors and walls, but I bet it’s also that there just aren’t many people talking loud enough to carry outside their rooms. In second class, since it’s noisy all around, everyone’s own voices naturally get louder too, and that in turn makes everyone else louder, in this sort of cycle.

“Come to think of it… Ms. Aria, didn’t you take this ship when you first came to Ellarge? Did you not explore it back then?”

“Didn’t. Back then… I was quiet.”

“Eh… you, Ms. Aria, quiet…?”

I’d been fully convinced she’d wandered all over the place back then. Never expected the "didn’t explore" declaration to come straight from Ms. Aria herself!

I mean, was that Ms. Aria actually quiet back then? …I can barely even picture it.

“…Rin, you’re thinking something rude, aren’t you?”

“Eh!? No, of course nooot!”

Ms. Aria puffs out her cheeks and stares at me with suspicious eyes. Her lips are pursed like those of a sulking child, and her whole face practically screams "OBJECTION!" But I mean, come on! A quiet Ms. Aria would just be your classic fragile, ethereal beauty! The kind of girl who looks like she’d get swept away by falling cherry blossoms!

And a fragile beauty like that, wandering off exploring alone with nobody around… wasn’t she swarmed by shady types looking to prey on her? The Ms. Aria I know—an energetic troublemaker (putting it mildly)—would cut those pests down with her beloved threads. But could this hypothetical fragile Ms. Aria have defended herself properly?

Eh? Now I’m getting worried, a bit late in the game.

“A quiet Ms. Aria traveling all alone… were you really okay? Wasn’t it dangerously dangerous?”

“That part was fine! I was strong!”

“I see. So on that front, you had confidence.”

Even though my wording comes out a bit ridiculous, Ms. Aria gets the point. Seeing her confidently puff out her chest, I find myself believing her completely, and a sigh of relief escapes me.

Well, as long as nothing happened, that’s genuinely a relief.

…Wait? But then… when exactly did Ms. Aria meet Mr. Ed? Didn’t they meet as enemies originally, and then somehow ended up eloping…?

“Um, Ms. Aria—… whoa!”

“Rin!”

Did the ship just make a sharp turn or something? Just as I open my mouth to ask her about that, the hull lurches hard, and my footing gives way. Ms. Aria hastily catches me before I fall.

Since we can’t see outside, not knowing why it’s rocking this much is a bit unsettling, but the weather couldn’t have suddenly changed this drastically in the short time since we came down to the hold. What else could it be—maybe we nearly got too close to another ship unexpectedly, or maybe there’s an unavoidable sharp turn required when leaving the harbor?

Meanwhile, Gomamiso had leapt out of the way before I stumbled, so at least I didn’t crush the cat… but why’s it coming right back!?

“Hey, Gomamiso! Don’t cling to me while it’s rocking! What happens if I trip and smash you flat into a Gutsy Miso!?”

  ‘Hah? What’s that? Never heard of it!’

“Generation gap!”

Not knowing that classic old gag anime about a frog…! …Well, thinking about it calmly, it’s less a generation gap and more that we’re from entirely different worlds, so of course Gomamiso wouldn’t know it.

Feeling the gap between worlds all over again, the three of us end up bundled together in a heap in the middle of the swaying corridor, rocking side to side, but the big lurching gradually settles down. Once it calms to a point where it feels like "well, ships rock this much sometimes," the two of us and our one cat slowly untangle ourselves.

“…I thought it would be… more exciting…”

“Well, even first class, it’s still just a hallway. Guess there’s not much that’s actually fun to look at.”

“That’s… probably true…”

“Hmm… well, now we’ve got a feel for what first class is like, so, shall we head back and behave ourselves with everyone else?”

It doesn’t seem like there’s anything particularly interesting left to discover here. In that case, might as well head back and chat with everyone else instead, which would probably be more fun anyway.

Thankfully, that idea seems to be met with approval from both Ms. Aria and Gomamiso. Having reached agreement in no time at all, we quietly make our way back down the swaying corridor to the stairs…

“Back already, Rin. Sooner than I expected.”

“The sailors’ work got serious, so I figured we should head back and not get in the way.”

Having carefully made our way down the stairs, we safely reunite with everyone. I’m genuinely glad nothing happens that turns Gomamiso into a flattened cartoon cat.

I didn’t particularly report going to look at the other cabins, by the way. Nothing new to see there, so I figured it was fine to skip.

“So, what have you all been up to while we were away?”

“Ehh… watching outside the window, talking about the schedule after boarding, I guess.”

“I see. Come to think of it, you’ve traveled by ship before too, Mr. Ed.”

Right, right! We have another experienced passenger here. In that case, the guys probably aren’t bored out of their minds while we’re off exploring. That’s a relief.

Then again, my head had been so full of thoughts about exploring the ship that I hadn’t given a single thought to what the actual daily flow would look like once we’re underway. I had heard beforehand that we’d be on this ship for about two days, sure, but nobody mentioned what the day-to-day routine would actually look like.

That said, this isn’t some luxury cruise ship, so the only thing I can readily imagine is fixed mealtimes? At this scale, there’s probably no bath or anything either.

“Rin, you’ve got this look like you’ve figured it all out, but yeah, your guess is about right. Today it’s just dinner and then bed, basically.”

“Ah, so it really is like that. What about after today?”

“Second and third day, brunch gets served before noon, and dinner comes out around the same time as today. Then, barring anything unexpected, we should reach the island sometime around the afternoon on the third day.”

“I see… Yup, that really does mean we spend about two full days on this ship.”

Two nights, three days, or however you want to count it… works out to over forty-eight hours getting rocked around on this ship.

I think I finally understand what Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed meant back before boarding, about "killing time being the hard part." On a ship with limited space and limited entertainment, this must be an absolute nightmare for anyone who doesn’t handle boredom well.

The first-class passengers at least have private cabins. The second-class passengers, stuck in a "what even is privacy" kind of situation, have to be even more considerate of each other. Thinking about it, modern-day Japan, where you could kill time with a smartphone, really was something else in its own way.

“…Come to think of it, where do we actually eat?”

Killing time’s important and all, but the most important thing for us, above everything, is food! Food!

Having taken a rough look around the deck and the first-class floor, I didn’t spot anything that looked like a dining hall anywhere. First class probably gets meals brought to their rooms, but I was wondering where we’d be eating.

“Ah, that. When it’s time, the sailors bring big stockpots of staple food and soup down to this hall here. We get it served up, and everyone eats wherever.”

“Ohh! That feels kind of nostalgic to me.”

I see! So this room doubles as both cabin and dining hall! Guess everyone lines up in a row, and gets dishes and bowls dished out onto a tray?

Seconds are apparently free, by the way. It’s served from a pretty big pot, but if it looks like it might run short, they’ll refill from the kitchen as needed. According to Mr. Ed, there’s also a basket set out for dirty dishes, and once mealtime’s over, it gets collected along with the pots, so you have to return your dishes before then.

Setting aside the whole kitchen-refill system, this is basically school lunch style!

…I’d love it if they served fried soybean-flour bread or those soft noodles. And there was that mild but delicious curry, plus that fruit yogurt "salad" that’s really just dessert despite the name. Personally, I also loved the bacon and eggs served in aluminum cups, hearty glass-noodle salad, and classic seaweed rice.

Even knowing full well none of that’ll ever actually get served, I can’t help but feel a little giddy just thinking about it. While I’m chewing over these oddly nostalgic memories, Gomamiso pats my foot, splayed out on the floor, with a front paw.

‘Heeey. Heeey. What about my food?’

“I packed raw meat and fish scraps in the cooler, along with some frozen meat. If it’s not enough… I’ll get a permit and go fishing for you.”

‘Good! That’s acceptable!’

To Gomamiso, tilting its head with an anxious look, I give the cooler box beside me a pat.

Some shops in town do serve familiar-friendly menus, but I figured that wouldn’t fly out here on the ship. So I’d packed the cooler beforehand with things from the fridge and freezer that Gomamiso could eat. Mr. Ed cast a freezing spell on it, so it should stay cold for about two days, and the meat shouldn’t spoil.

The moment it realizes it doesn’t need to worry about its own food supply, the lynx flops right down on top of my legs. Once it does that, though, I can’t really move anymore, can I?

Rubbing the belly of the shamelessly relaxed cat, I glance over at the small window nearby. Outside, the blue surface of the water sways quietly. With no signs of choppy waves, the sea seems almost glassy.

Leaning my back against the hold’s wall, I let my body sync with the ship’s rocking. A slow rise, and then a quiet sink back down… up, down… up, down…

…I don’t really know, but maybe this is what a fuzzy fluctuation feels like.

Somewhere off in the distance, I feel like I can hear everyone talking. They should actually be right nearby, but I can’t quite make out what they’re saying…

Just as I think I hear a splashing sound, like a fish leaping somewhere deep in my ear, my consciousness slips quietly away.

“—Huh!?”

A savory aroma that stirs my instincts smoothly pulls my drifting consciousness up from the border between dreams and wakefulness.

“Awake, Rin?”

“Mr. Ville…? Wait, was I asleep?”

“Yeah. You seemed to be sleeping pretty soundly.”

Mr. Ville’s voice, carrying a hint of amusement, echoes into my still-foggy head. Rubbing my sleepy eyes and looking around, I find everyone’s already-familiar faces all gathered around. Ugh… I feel like I’m being looked at with rather warm, indulgent eyes… is that just my imagination?

Then I notice that the scent that woke me is drifting from the food placed in the middle of our circle, and my stomach immediately rumbles in response.

“Pff… no, really, you woke up at the perfect time. We were just discussing whether we should wake you.”

“Hehe… you did walk around a place you’re not used to! Bound to be tired!”

“U-Ugh… I appreciate the consideration…”

Waking up from the smell of food, only to have my stomach growl right on cue… I’m not some starving orphan child, honestly… Feeling embarrassed, I can’t help but look down, and Mr. Ville pats my back soothingly. Ms. Aria seems to be comforting me with all her might too, but… It’s painfully obvious neither of them is managing to hold back their laughter! I appreciate the thought, but it just makes it hurt more!

“Now, now. Even on a short voyage, having a healthy appetite and avoiding seasickness is a good sign.”

“That’s right. If you can’t eat, your body gets weak, after all.”

Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon try to help smooth things over too, but the more they do, the more mortified I feel!

‘Hey, if you ask me, waking up and finding food waiting for you is the best thing ever!’

“Well… That part, at least, is true.”

Gomamiso’s carefree opinion is honestly the one thing that’s put my mind at ease so far.

I mean, it’s true. Falling asleep and waking up to find food already served—that really is the best possible situation. I get it, deeply, profoundly. And on top of that, when it’s food made by someone other than yourself, that just makes it even better.

“…Hm. If it’s true, then there’s no problem at all, right?”

“Just like Ville says! Let’s eat before it gets cold, okay?”

“They say adventurers work on their stomachs. Let’s make sure to eat properly, just in case.”

At Mr. Ville’s words, tilting his head, Ms. Aria nods vigorously with a serious look, and Mr. Ed casts a cleansing spell on my hands. Mr. Xenon, smiling and holding out a fork to me, seems to be making some version of the "you can’t fight on an empty stomach" argument.

To think I’d encounter a similar proverb in an entirely different world…! It really drives home the fact that hunger is an enemy to all living things, no matter the world.

“Well then… in that case, thank you…”

Accepting the fork as offered, I take another look at the dish set in the middle of the circle.

…To be precise, it’s a pile of green leaves stacked on the plate. Even faded a bit in color from the heat, the broad leaves with their parallel veins running through them look familiar to me. It’s Zeeram leaf, the same kind I used to wrap rice back when I’d first met everyone. That said, whatever is tied up inside them with plant fibers isn’t rice balls, that much’s for sure.

Beside the plate piled with these mysterious bundles, there’s soup loaded with ingredients served up in wooden bowls, one for each of us, and cut pieces of what looks like orange fruit, also one portion each lined up.

“…Eh…? If it’s still steaming, does that mean… this was actually cooked on the ship?”

I’d been fully convinced we’d get served something like hardtack or biscuits, food you could eat without needing a fire… but to think we’d actually get to eat something hot!

There’s no way this world has microwaves, so how are they serving hot food? Don’t tell me they’re actually cooking on board the ship!? Wait, hold on a second? Cooking in this world’s mostly done over open flame with things like hearths and stoves, right? Is that actually safe? Won’t the ship catch fire?

…Ah, but maybe there’s some kind of heating equipment like a portable charcoal brazier or a fire pit stand, something that doesn’t put the flame directly on the floor? Or maybe they’ve built a hearth on top of heat-resistant bricks or something?

“Rin? Something on your mind?”

“Ah, no… I was just thinking, it’s impressive they can actually cook on board a ship…”

“Oh, that! Surprised me too! Apparently, they’re very careful about fires, and the galley is built sticking out over the sea. If the worst happens, they can detach it to stop the flames from spreading.”

“Wow! Well, a fire really is terrifying.”

Noticing me groaning to myself in thought, Mr. Ed lets me in on the ship’s little secret. Ah, I see. So it’s designed so that even if a fire breaks out in the galley, it won’t spread to the rest of the ship.

And since there are mages aboard who can control the wind, they probably have magical firefighting methods as well. Maybe their fire-prevention measures are better than I expected.

“And honestly, I’m also surprised they have so much fresh food.”

“It’s a sea voyage, sure, but the whole trip’s only about three days long. Restocking food supplies shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Good point! They can restock every time they reach a port.”

There’s soup loaded with vegetables, and fruit for dessert. My eyes go wide, unable to help it, at a menu with far more variety and fresh ingredients than I’d expected.

I mean! When I think "sailing ship," my mind jumps straight to "the Age of Exploration!" first thing. I can’t help associating it with malnutrition, scurvy, shipboard epidemics, that sort of thing. Maybe that’s why I’d assumed sailing-ship meals wouldn’t include fresh vegetables or anything like that… but just like Mr. Ville said, it hits me that since the route’s short, they can resupply quickly. No wonder they can use plenty of fresh ingredients.

Even if the weather turned rough and we got delayed somehow, it seems like there’s no need to worry about food supplies, since they’ve got preserved provisions ready too, just in case.

“Now that the mystery’s solved, shall we eat? I’m seriously starving.”

“Fair enough! Sorry for keeping everyone waiting!”

Mr. Ed’s voice, clearly unable to wait any longer, pulls my mind up out of its whirlpool of thoughts. Well, of course! Sorry for keeping everyone waiting this whole time!

Snapping back to myself, I press my hands together, and everyone else quickly follows suit, reciting their pre-meal prayers in rapid succession. Such crisp enunciation, all of them! At this rate, even said quickly, I’m sure it’ll reach the gods just fine.

“Well then, Itadakimasu!”

I mutter just that much myself, quick as the others, and reach out to untie the grass cord binding the Zeeram leaf bundle shut.

Even though it’s been a fair amount of time since this was brought over, I can still feel a faint lingering heat under my fingertips. Must have some serious heat retention going on inside.

“Wow, amazing…!”

Opening up the leaf, still tinged faintly green, what leaps out at me first is something that looks like chicken and what appears to be a fish fillet. The chicken-looking piece has plump, tender meat nestled into the dough, its skin crisp and taut. The fish, too, has a genuinely beautiful contrast between its slightly yellow-tinged skin and pure white flesh. Scattered in alongside them are what look like root vegetables and green beans, adding nice little accents that are a treat just to look at.

…And, up to this point, everything was great, but… underneath the meat and vegetables, there’s this unidentified, whitish, chewy-looking substance… what even is this? An Unidentified Mysterious Object… U.M.O., for short?

“Hm? Hmmm? What is this, I wonder?”

“Oh? You noticed? It’s actually an ingredient you’re quite familiar with, Rin.”

“Eh, wait, what…? Have I actually dealt with something like this before?”

While I turn it this way and that, scrutinizing it, Mr. Xenon gives me a hint with a mischievous grin. Judging by the way he doesn’t hesitate at all to pop a cut piece of it straight into his mouth right in front of my baffled self, it’s definitely food, at least.

The illustration’s description: Rin, holding a fork in her hand, looks at the opened up Zeeram leaf.

An ingredient I’m quite familiar with? Hmm… something layered on top of kneaded flour, maybe? Or is this chewy texture from rice flour…?

Racking my brain, I take a small piece of just the white part and put it in my mouth, and a faint hint of salt mixed with a savory, nutty aroma wafts up through my nose…

“Ah! Wait, is this maybe Muche flour? I see! So this is what it turns into when you steam it!”

Ohh, nostalgic! I remember making improvised Pão de Queijo at Lent’s church, and making crepes mixed with wheat flour for Lady Meel too! Yup, this really is an ingredient with a lot of history for me!

While I sit there nodding to myself, satisfied, Mr. Ville, who’s already finished the contents of his leaf, reaches for the next bundle and speaks up:

“It’s a dish the dockworkers eat a lot, apparently. Since it’s steamed in a big pot, you can make a huge batch all at once, and the water you steam it with can be seawater—easy and convenient.”

“Ahh, I see. If you boiled it in seawater, it’d turn out salty, but for a steamed dish it doesn’t matter whether the water’s fresh or salty, does it?”

Hearing all that, I really do want to say "well, of course, that makes total sense"—it really is a logical choice for food on the job site.

I mean, Muche flour’s cheap and available year-round, and at a harbor, fish and the like would be easy to get, and there’s water everywhere for steaming. Plus, since you get carbs and protein together in one bite, it’s convenient and probably keeps you full for a while too—perfect for people working busy jobs.

Now then… if the taste holds up too, that’d give it the full trifecta of fast, cheap, and delicious, but… how does it actually taste, I wonder?

“Ah! Hmm, hmm? Really simple!”

My impression after one bite: really down-to-earth, tastes like the ingredients themselves. Base flavor’s salt. On top of that, there’s a faint aroma that suggests maybe a bit of herbs has been used too. The root vegetable’s got a crisp-yet-melting texture and taste, kind of close to daikon radish, maybe? The beans have a texture like oversized green peas, and they taste great too!

“But because it’s so simple, you can really appreciate the quality of the ingredients… it’s quietly, deeply delicious…”

The meat, which must be one of the main fillings, is wonderfully plump, and the more you chew it, the more the juices well up. I’d thought it was chicken, but the flavor seems a bit richer than that. I got so absorbed eating it that I forgot to check with Survival what kind of meat it actually is… I’ll check when I get seconds.

The fish has no unpleasant smell at all, and its flesh is moist and juicy… but more than anything, the steamed Muche dough soaked with the flavors of both the meat and fish is amazing… slightly sweet, pleasantly salty… and deeply satisfying…!

…It’s very delicious, but…!

“I wonder if maybe… a little drizzle of soy sauce would make this even better?”

I’m firmly in the "just one drop of soy sauce on fish" camp, you know!

WHO’s sodium intake guidelines? I can balance things out the next day! Dieting and cutting back on salt can start tomorrow!

Since they say “the best time to start is now,” I pop open the seasoning box I’d brought along in advance.

Naturally, it contains soy sauce, along with other of the Four Heavenly Kings of condiments—mayonnaise, ketchup, and Worcestershire-style sauce. I also pack my own homemade spice mix and even the otherworldly spices Mr. Rolf gave me. On top of that, there’s the basic cooking ingredients—sugar, salt, vinegar, and miso—plus olive oil and sesame oil. And just to be absolutely clear, the sesame oil is not, under any circumstances, oil extracted from Gomamiso.

By the way, in the cooler box packed with meat for Gomamiso, there’s also some rice and butter tucked away that I brought along just in case!

“Rin… what’s that…?”

“…Ah… would everyone like to change up the flavor too?”

I’m so excited while preparing everything that I fail to notice everyone watching me happily drizzle soy sauce over my second helping. Whether it’s because I cave under the pressure of all those sparkling eyes or because I feel bad enjoying it alone, I push the condiment box into the center where everyone can reach it…

“Definitely! I mean, there’s no reason not to!”

“Me too, I’ll try!”

“That’s cruel, Rin! To think you were hiding a secret weapon like this…!”

No sooner said than done—as if they’d all been waiting for this moment—hands reach out from every direction, snatching up the various seasonings. Whew… I’d expected some demand, but I never expected it to be this much!

Well, thinking about it, I suppose it’s no surprise the food-loving members of this group wouldn’t let a flavor-changing item slip by unnoticed.

Guess my expectations were way too modest here.

“Oh wow! That completely transforms it! The flavor feels much more focused now!”

“Spicy and… super delicious!”

“Ugh… mayonnaise really does it again! Goes great with both fish and meat!”

“This is truly dangerous… it’s an addictively sinful flavor.”

Starting with Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, who sprinkle on my homemade spice mix and cheer in delight, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon’s eyes light up too. Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ville both went with mayonnaise, incidentally. Ever since trying the cockatrice nanban, Mr. Ville’s been completely won over by mayonnaise… What’s more, he seems set on enjoying his with shichimi sprinkled into the mayo, making his own shichimi-mayo.

Watching Mr. Ville out of the corner of my eye, savoring his steamed Muche dish with the shichimi-mayo flavor change, I reach for another serving myself. The ingredients used, by the way, are apparently a fish called rabbitfish and a type of wild chicken known as the red-backed long-tailed bird. Both turned out to be delicious fish and meat, so once this mission’s done, I think I’ll check the market to see if they’re sold anywhere.

“Actually, thinking about it, I bet a combination of sweetened vinegar-soy sauce and chili oil would taste great with this too.”

Against a combo like this plump, chewy dough and rich, hearty meat, I feel like something refreshing and spicy would work really well! In that case, maybe mixing in chili oil for a spicy mayo would taste great too? No wait, would that be too rich on top of rich?

For now, let’s just go with vinegar-soy sauce with a sprinkle of shichimi to keep things simple. Yup. Refreshing with a kick, genuinely delicious.

“Eh? This is incredible! I feel like I can eat this forever!”

“Hey, Ed! Don’t take three or four at once! You too, Xenon!”

“What are you talking about, Ville? Things like this are first come, first served.”

While I mull over different seasoning ideas, a fierce battle for seconds unfolds beside me. Since refills are unlimited, maybe bringing back more food will put an end to this squabble?

“Come on now! Don’t fight like that. I’ll go get a bit more from over there.”

“Ah. Sorry, Rin. It’s bound to be quite a bit, so… let me help too.”

As I stand up with the plate that’s emptied in no time, my fellow member of the Glutton Alliance offers to help.

Hmm… Mr. Ville’s consideration really is perfect as ever. Even out here on the ship, I guess the core nature of our group doesn’t change one bit.

Bringing my seasickness-immune companion with me, I plant my feet firmly against the swaying, rising-and-falling deck planks beneath us.

◆◇◆

The second day of life aboard the ship passes peacefully, wrapped in gentle rocking and the soothing sound of waves. Today too, the sky stretches out blue and clear, and the waves are remarkably calm. Judging by how the pure white sails billow out, there must be just the right amount of wind blowing.

‘Hey, instead of doing something so utterly fertile, pet me instead!’

“If you’re going to say that, isn’t it ‘futile,’ not ‘fertile’? More importantly, where do you even learn words like that, Miso?”

‘Who cares where! Hey, hey, pet me!’

“Just a little while longer, okay? Then I’ll give you all the attention you want.”

It would have been even more idyllic if Gomamiso weren’t grumbling and sulking at my feet while I work by the railing.

Under this "smooth sailing weather" sky, I give the rod a big swing out toward the open sea. With a whoosh cutting through the wind, the lure slides into the water far off in the distance. Normally I’d flip the bail—the device on the reel that lets out or stops the fishing line—right after, to stop the line, but… today I’m deliberately leaving the bail open just a little longer. This way, as the ship moves forward, the line pays itself out naturally.

Watching the line spool out with a soft whirring sound, over Gomamiso’s complaints I catch snatches of the sailors talking—"the wind and waves have been unusually smooth this whole trip," or "Maybe we’ve got someone with a goddess’s blessing aboard?”

…Yup. There actually is someone like that aboard. Someone who casually wears a necklace and hairpin imbued with the blessings of the Sea Goddess Lady Lyusia and the Pure-White Lady Mirage Dragon. Her name is Takanashi Rin. The one fishing right here!

“Ahh… I never expected I’d actually get to go fishing too…”

“You’re really saying that when you’re the one who brought a fishing rod aboard, Rin?”

Catching my half-dazed muttering, Mr. Ville lets out a laugh and teases me back. Well, I mean… even I never expected things to turn out this way!

“I didn’t bring it thinking I’d fish off a ship, I just thought it might be fun to kill some time using it in some empty space at a port or something…”

‘Hmph! If you want to kill time, you should be doting on me! I’m boooored!’

As I dodge Gomamiso’s dissatisfied attempt to headbutt my shin, I think back to how all this started. It began when that guy from yesterday noticed me idling around by the railing.

‘Yo, what’s up, miss! You’ve been staring out at the sea real intently today—come up with something fun to do or what?’

‘Eh, ah… just, since we’re out on the water anyway, I thought it might be fun if I could fish.’

Maybe it was the ease of having already gotten to know his face over yesterday and today, or maybe I’d just let my guard down too much, but the thought slipped clean out of my mouth to the friendly-faced guy walking over toward me. The instant after, I thought, what a dumb thing to say, but it was too late by then. Once words leave your mouth, there’s no taking them back…!

I mean, come on! Suddenly saying something like that out of nowhere would just leave any sailor baffled, wouldn’t it? While I was busy sinking into embarrassment over my own slip of the tongue, the guy put a hand to his chin, mulling something over for a moment…

‘You wanna fish? That’s great! If you catch something, we’ll make it dinner, so bring in something big!’

‘Eh, ehhhh… is that really okay, deciding something like that so easily…?’

‘Sure! I’m the captain of this ship, after all! If your fishing goes well, maybe I’ll even plan a fishing-focused voyage next time.’

He agreed to the fishing thing without a moment’s hesitation. Giving a thumbs up with enough force that it practically made a "click!" sound, he winked at me.

When I met him yesterday, I remember thinking he seemed to be taking it easy on deck while the other sailors were busy… but thinking back on it now, he must’ve been doing rounds of the ship and checking on the other crew.

Reeling from that shocking revelation, but hurrying to get set up in my excitement at getting to fish…

“Never expected that guy from yesterday to actually be the captain.”

“Ah. The man you met while exploring with Aria, you mean?”

“Yes. And I definitely didn’t expect him to approve fishing so easily… he’s either very easygoing or incredibly quick to spot a business opportunity…”

As a result of that whole exchange, here I am, finally getting to enjoy the sea fishing I’d been dreaming of.

A single offhand remark from some eccentric woman about wanting to fish off the ship, and this guy not only allows fishing on his ship but comes up with the idea for a whole fishing-themed voyage—isn’t that something? If it actually happened, an otherworldly fishing charter cruise sounds like it’d be a blast. Feels like you could catch all sorts of things out here, doesn’t it?

…That said, thinking about it, I don’t actually recall ever seeing a proper "fishing boat" since coming to this world. There are fishermen who make their living off fishing, and adventurers who take on coastal gathering requests, sure, but how many people actually fish here just for fun or as a hobby, I wonder? Is there enough of a fishing crowd out there for the captain to sense any real business potential in it?

Mulling that over, once enough line’s played out, I lock the reel and slooowly reel it in, jigging the rod here and there… It’s trial-and-error time, trying to make the lure move as lifelike as possible.

“Hmm, hmm… I’m getting something that feels like a bite, so it seems like it might turn into a hit before long…”

What I’m doing right now is basically pseudo-trolling, kind of? Ah! Trolling’s a fishing method where you run the boat while trailing a lure through the water, targeting bigger fish like marlin, tuna, or yellowtail. It’s the kind of fishing that certain now-departed veteran period-drama actor was famously fond of. I’d bet it ranks pretty high on the list of things any angler would want to try at least once!

…That said, this ship isn’t quite fast enough for proper trolling, and I don’t have the gear to fix the rod in place along the rail… so instead, I’m making do like regular lure fishing, reeling in the line and jigging the rod to add movement, trying various things to compensate for the lack of speed.

For the lure, I went with the biggest, heaviest metal one I had on hand! A fish-shaped one, the kind called a minnow. Found it in the storage shed back home, but it was always too heavy and too big to use at the managed fishing ponds, so it never got its chance. Finally, here, it gets to see the light of day! So glad I never threw it away during one of my decluttering sprees!

Honestly, this lure’s total overkill for the rod and line I’ve got with me… but Survival’s assured me it "won’t break or snap," so it should be fine, surely!

Between jigging the rod and reeling in the line, over and over, a tap, tap sensation starts coming through into the hand holding the rod. Sensing a bite through the feel transmitted up the rod and the state of the line, and hooking it cleanly without letting it get away, is what really makes the difference in your catch rate… but unfortunately, reading bites just isn’t my strong suit. Ugh… I really do want to get better at this…

“…I thought so before too, but how can you tell all that without even seeing it?”

“To be honest, I don’t really understand it that well myself either; it’s just a vague ‘feeling,’ I’d say.”

“Come on, vague feeling or not, you’ve still got a grasp on it, don’t you?”

“Mm. Rin, you’re amazing…!”

“Whoa, Mr. Ed, Ms. Aria… when did you two get over here?”

Before I know it, Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, who were supposed to be off exploring the ship, pop their heads out from beside me and Mr. Ville. Apparently, they’re heading back toward the cabin a little early for the shift change, but they sense something interesting going on and decide to turn back.

Ah… sorry for leaving Mr. Xenon alone in the cabin! Well, he was reading some old tome-looking book when I dashed back to grab my fishing gear and announced "I’m going fishing!", so I’d like to believe he wasn’t bored!

Surrounded by my expectant party members and the captain and crew who’ve somehow gathered around too, I slowly reel in the line, and—

“Here it comes!”

Suddenly, a jolt hits with a heavy thud, and reflexively I flick my wrist to lift the rod. Instantly, the line snaps taut, and the tip of the rod—no, the whole rod gets yanked hard toward the sea.

It’s hooked! …Which is great, but…! What is this thing!? If I don’t grip it tight, the whole rod’s going to get pulled right out of my hands…!

“H-Huh?! W-Wait a second! This pull is insane!”

“Rin, are you all right!?”

“This… this is bad…! Ahhh! If I let up for even a second, I’ll get dragged in!”

Nearly losing my balance from the unexpectedly powerful pull, Mr. Ville instantly grabs my belt and yanks me back. Even so, I keep getting pulled forward, dragged along—just how strong is this pull!? Ugh, come on! With the sheer strength of whatever’s hooked, combined with me barely managing to reel properly while off balance, line just keeps spooling out from the taut, bent rod tip.

Damn it! No idea what’s on the other end, but bring it on!

“There’s no way I’m losing this one! I’m reeling this thing in no matter what!!!”

Steadying myself while Mr. Ville holds on, I fight to lift the rod, which is bent almost flat. This isn’t even a bow-shape anymore—it’s practically curled into a full U. Please hold, otherworldly rod and otherworldly line! I believe in you two, you can do this! I know you’ve got it in you!

Whatever’s down in the water must be shaking its head, trying to throw the hook. A juddering, tugging sensation comes through the rod into my hands in intermittent pulses.

Um… let’s see… I remember back at that offshore fishing pond I went to a while back, when a big pelagic fish hit, I raised the rod up firmly, then lowered it while reeling in line, then raised it again… repeating that to bring the fish in. So this time should be the same deal!

“Nghaaaahhh! Once I lower the rod, I can barely lift it again!!!”

…Or so I think, but every time I lower the rod, it feels like I’m about to be dragged into the sea with it!

“Hold it together, Rin! Plant your feet! Do not let go of that rod, understood!?”

‘Y-You can do iiiit!!!’

“W-Wait… Miso, let go of my hood! You’re choking me!”

Mr. Ville, apparently deciding just holding my belt wasn’t enough, shifts to wrapping an arm around my stomach for support—just how bad is this situation!? Gomamiso, realizing things have gotten more serious than expected, floats in midair, biting down on my hood and pulling… trying its best to help, I guess. This is just like that giant turnip story, isn’t it?

…The tiny bit of sanity I have left is joking about that, but what are you doing spacing out?! You’re the last one with a clear head! Figure out how to land this thing! You’re the commander here!

“I heard you were going fishing… but this certainly looks far more exciting than I expected, Rin.”

“Eh… Mr. Xenon!? When did you…? Wait, is the luggage okay to leave—gyaah!?”

Amid the internal screaming match happening in my own head, a voice I shouldn’t be hearing right now suddenly reaches my ears, pulling my attention away for a split second. At the same moment, my grip on the rod must’ve loosened. The rod nearly gets yanked away entirely, and I let out a strange yelp as I scramble to regrip it.

I think I heard something about Mr. Xenon saying a sailor came to fetch him and someone was watching the luggage, but I don’t have room to process that right now!

“It looked like things were getting serious, so I asked one of the sailors to go fetch Xenon… but this seems even worse than I expected?”

“You bet it is! Aaaahhh! It’s dragging me off again!!!”

“I’ll help too… but what should I do?”

At the same time, Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria rush over as well… and I’m already at my absolute limit!

Um, uh, um… first things first, what’s needed right now is… even with a guaranteed otherworldly rod and line, I don’t want to risk it snapping, and more importantly, if this thing pulls any harder, I’m getting dragged into the sea!

Right in front of my half-panicking, flailing self, the very culprit finally breaks the surface with a dramatic splash.

“Wha!? That thing’s HUGE!!!”

Leaping up between the deep indigo of the sea and the blue of the sky is an absurdly massive fish, something like a cross between a marlin and a tuna… It is a fish… right? Because honestly, that size would be totally believable as a monster!

No wonder it’s pulling this hard!

[Spear Tunia (edible: extremely delicious)

Originally, it is a migratory fish that swims through the ocean at incredible speed. It normally lives in schools, but individuals whose snouts become excessively developed and transform into magical creatures leave the school and roam the seas alone. It evolves for sustained, long-distance swimming, and because its body is built so that it stops breathing if it stops swimming, it is capable of continuing to swim even while asleep.

Because it swims constantly without rest, its body temperature runs higher than other fish, eliminating concerns over parasites or viruses, making raw consumption possible. Its flesh quality varies greatly by region of the body—prized red meat built for long-distance swimming, and a fatty belly that keeps the body warm—creating distinct differences in flavor by cut, said to be so good you could never tire of eating it no matter how many you had.]

Maybe I got a little too absorbed watching that magnificent leap and my grip slackened, but the rod nearly slips clean out of my hands. Catching it back just before it gets away, I desperately try to reel it in to make up for my slip… reel… ree… I can’t reel it in, that’s the problem! Well, of course, given a fish that size and power is on the other end.

…So then…

“Mr. Ed, could you cast that gravity-manipulation spell as you did at Melnoa… Ms. Aria, get the net ready for when the fish comes close… Mr. Xenon, please have a calming spell ready in case it thrashes around!”

To help counter the fish’s strength, I ask Mr. Ed to use gravity manipulation just like when we caught the Hell Catfish in the boiling mud swamp of Melnoa Volcano. That should reduce the fish’s effective weight and make it easier to control… hopefully! Ms. Aria will secure it once it comes close, while Mr. Xenon stays ready to calm it down if it starts rampaging. If something that size starts flopping around on deck, it’d be an absolute disaster.

“Leave it to me! I’m really good with nets!!!”

“So I’m on suppression duty… that’s quite the responsibility.”

No sooner said than done, Ms. Aria leans out over the ship’s rail, peering down at the water’s surface with an utterly thrilled expression, hands at the ready. Guess it’s so she’s ready the moment the fish comes up, but leaning out that far makes me a little worried she might fall in. Well, given Ms. Aria’s physical abilities, worrying about that might actually be an insult to her.

Mr. Xenon, meanwhile, spins his long staff around with a somewhat confident look, readying his stance. The support crew’s more than fired up. As for me, I’ll just trust Mr. Ville to keep holding me steady and focus entirely on handling the rod!

Adjusting the direction I point the rod to match the fish thrashing wildly this way and that—

“Man, this is getting fun now!”

“Eh, ah, whoa! It suddenly got lighter!”

“Ed! Say something before you cast a spell!”

Mr. Ed, having slipped up right beside me on the opposite side from Mr. Ville, casts the spell through the line of the rod. In an instant, the weight that had felt so heavy until now lightens as if it were never there at all, and the rod springs up with enough force that it feels like my arm might snap off. Both Mr. Ville, who’d been holding me back, and I, nearly losing my footing, stumble backward together like we just got the rug pulled out from under us!

But still! The pulling force is as intense as ever, but with this, I think I can actually manage to reel it in!

…I mean, the catch’s actual weight shouldn’t have changed, but to think a single spell could make the whole struggle this much easier…! And on top of that, the fish might be gradually wearing itself out too.

As we wrestle with the giant fish under the support of magic, cheers like “Amazing!” and “Hang in there!” begin pouring in nonstop from the crowd that has gathered around us.

Well, of course—on a ship with this little entertainment, someone fishing off the deck was bound to draw a whole crowd of onlookers.

Continuing to reel in with everyone watching, a whitish silhouette of the fish rises up to the surface with a creaking, straining sound.

“Now!!!”

With a battle cry worthy of some brilliant strategist from ancient China, a burst of white thread spreads out from Ms. Aria’s hands in a net shape and scatters across the water. At the same time, the crowd lets out a roar of excitement, and a wave of murderous intent flares up from Mr. Ed the moment he realizes people are staring at Ms. Aria… quite the chaotic scene, I should add.

Still, despite the sudden call, the net gets a solid grip on the giant fish. That’s Ms. Aria for you! Even then, the enormous fish keeps thrashing in an attempt to tear through both the line and the net, prompting Mr. Xenon to cast his spell.

I did say "Now!" myself, but honestly, less than a second has passed here. Our party’s teamwork really is incredible…!

Right before my impressed eyes, a glowing mass of magical energy strikes the fish… but it only slows its swimming slightly.

“Oh? I was certain I hit it…”

“Well… this is just my opinion, but I think the spell is working, and that’s exactly the problem.”

“Really? Even while it’s working, the fish can still move?”

“Apparently, its body is built so that if it stops moving, it stops breathing. That’s why it can keep swimming even while asleep.”

Watching the giant fish keep swimming despite the spell clearly landing, Mr. Xenon looks somewhat shocked. But going by what Survival told me, I think this is actually the expected outcome here.

Which brings us to the real question—how do we haul this thing up…?

Should I just trust the otherworldly fishing gear and haul it straight up? With Ms. Aria’s net too, if we all combine our strength, it feels like we could actually haul it up as is.

“At this point, wouldn’t timing it together and hauling it up in one go be the fastest way?”

“Mm. On the count of three…?”

“Sounds good!”

From behind me, groaning over the problem, Mr. Ville proposes basically the same thing I’d been thinking. Guess that really is the fastest way. Ms. Aria, gripping the edge of the net, seems eager to give it a try too.

Exchanging a quick glance, we all nod together… and just as I tighten my grip on the rod, it happens.

“No, no, hold on a second! We can’t have that thing thrashing around on the deck!”

“Oh, Mr. Captain!”

The person in charge of the ship calls a halt. At Mr. Captain’s broad grin, which somehow also carries a gentle air of admonishment, the excitement in my head over hooking such a huge fish gradually cools.

…Thinking calmly about it, Mr. Captain is absolutely right to stop us. If a fish this huge thrashed around on the ship and broke the deck or equipment… that’d be a disaster! It wouldn’t just disrupt the voyage; this ship itself is practically a precious treasure passed down through generations of his family. We can’t go breaking something like that.

“I-I’m sorry! I got so excited that I completely forgot about all that.”

“Indeed… apologies for getting ahead of ourselves.”

“Sorry…!”

“No, no, don’t apologize! I did say ‘be nice if you caught something,’ but I never expected you’d hook something this big.”

To us, still bowing our heads while holding rod and net, Mr. Captain gives us a bright, easygoing smile and waves it off generously. According to him, "landing a catch this big means we can make dinner extra lavish, and it’ll boost the crew’s morale too, so honestly, I’m grateful." Just as he mentioned earlier, he’d really rather the caught fish not thrash around on deck.

“Eh… in that case, how do we subdue it…?”

“For times like this, we seamen have got just the thing!”

Grinning broadly, Mr. Captain pulls out a sharp harpoon seemingly out of nowhere. Its shaft is about as thick as my wrist and almost as long as I am tall. Looking closely, I can also see something resembling a metal wire extending from the metal tip.

I suspect it’s the type where the spearhead separates from the shaft once it pierces the prey. That would eliminate the resistance from the shaft and make it harder for the harpoon to come loose, while the attached metal wire keeps the prey from escaping. I’ve seen videos of people fishing with hand harpoons on video sites before, and this looks like a much larger version of those.

But even if he drives that harpoon in, I doubt it’d be enough to actually stop this giant fish’s movement… or so I thought. How naive of me.

“I don’t have much magical power, but this is one thing I’m really good at!”

“Eh, ah… aaaaaaah!”

No sooner does Mr. Captain say that with a beaming grin than he drives the harpoon, shouldered up, straight into the giant fish. Naturally, I braced myself for the fish to thrash violently from the shock and pain, but…

The moment the harpoon strikes, there’s a loud crackling sound, and the fish’s body convulses hard. And then, it floats up belly-first, just like that!

Eh, wait, what just happened!?

“Sorry, sorry! Did that startle you?”

“It did startle me… but, what exactly happened?”

“I just channeled some lightning-attribute magical power through the enchanted wire, that’s all. One hit as that finishes it off, or at least knocks it unconscious even if it doesn’t kill.”

Grinning broadly, Mr. Captain’s holding onto the metal wire connected to the harpoon—from what he’s explaining, this must be what’s called an "enchanted wire.”

I see. So the principle’s basically like an electric shock! Yup, that would definitely take it down in one hit. And since the electricity isn’t being discharged directly into the water, it doesn’t shock any other fish besides the target either, so it’s eco-friendly too. Whoa! Amazing!

“Sorry to interrupt your admiration, but if we don’t get it onto the deck and butcher it soon, it’ll start losing its freshness.”

“Really?! Then let’s haul it up on the count of three this time for sure!”

I couldn’t help being impressed, but come to think of it, Survival did mention its body temperature runs high. Right, if we leave it like this, this perfectly delicious ingredient’s going to spoil! Guess we’d better process it quickly, just like the advice said!

Exchanging glances with Ms. Aria and Mr. Ville again, I regrip the rod. Both of them read my intent and nod firmly back at me.

“One, two… three!!!”

Just as Mr. Ville and I heave the rod up together, at the edge of my vision I see Ms. Aria pulling the net. At the same time, Mr. Ed layers on his gravity-manipulation spell again to help with the hoist.

A weight far heavier than expected transmits through the rod, and then suddenly, the heaviness vanishes in an instant. Before I even register it, the blue-and-silver body of the fish soars up into the sky in a shimmer of spray… and lands on the deck with a thud that resonates deep in my gut.

Seen up close, the spear tunia has a rounded, streamlined body like a tuna, with a long, sharp bill like a marlin’s. Its total length, even excluding the bill, easily runs past three meters. And it’s plump and round too, making it look even bigger.

Isn’t this basically a monster catch among monster catches!? Even with everyone’s help, to think I was wrestling with something like this!

“Uuughhh… I’m exhausted…”

“Are you all right, Rin?”

It must be because the tension finally leaves my body. With the giant fish lying on the deck in front of me, my knees suddenly give out. Luckily, Mr. Ville catches me before I can collapse onto my backside… but my hands and legs just won’t stop shaking!

Relief at having safely landed the catch, joy, excitement, exhaustion. All sorts of feelings I hadn’t felt until now come crashing down on me all at once! Something similar happened to me when I landed a pretty big trout back when I used to fish at managed ponds, but whatever these “symptoms” are, they’re much stronger this time.

In the end, unable to stay standing, I sink down into a crouch, and Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria take turns rubbing my back. Mr. Ed’s watching with a worried look too, and Mr. Xenon even goes so far as to cast a healing spell on me! Isn’t this more careful treatment than an MMA fighter gets after a round?

I can hear the sailors and passengers gathered around us saying things like "Amazing!" and "What a catch!" over and over, along with the sound of enthusiastic applause.

“…Seeing it up close again, that’s really something, miss. To think you were battling something this huge!”

“Thanks to everyone… I somehow managed to reel it in…!”

“You look pretty worn out. Think you can butcher it?”

“Um… honestly, I’m super eager to try butchering it and cooking with it too, but my strength just isn’t cooperating right now…”

“Ah, I see.”

To me, my trembling hands finally starting to settle, Mr. Captain offers some words of encouragement. He must’ve retrieved the harpoon tip from the fish—he’s got the full, undamaged harpoon firmly in hand.

…Oh, right. We need to butcher this giant fish quickly so it doesn’t spoil. Besides, my motto is to process the fish I catch myself. I mean, enjoying only the fun of catching a fish and then dumping the unpleasant work of dealing with it on someone else feels a little wrong to me. Cleaning the fish, disposing of the waste afterward, washing the equipment and sink—in my opinion, you’re not a proper angler until you take care of all those jobs yourself, too.

Of course, if the fishing venue has a service where they prepare your catch for you, that’s another matter entirely. I’d happily use it and be grateful for the convenience.

So this really should be a moment where I butcher it myself, but… my strength just hasn’t come back yet. And honestly, there’s also the question of how you’re even supposed to process a fish this size in the first place.

“Hey, miss. In that case, how about our ship’s cook butchers this fish, and in exchange, we keep half the cleaned meat?”

“Eh… you’d really do something that generous for us? I’d love that, please! Honestly, my legs are shaking like crazy right now.”

“Huh…? Wait… I know I’m the one who suggested it, but is it really fair for us to get that much in exchange for merely butchering the fish?”

I accept Mr. Captain’s grinning offer without a moment’s hesitation, and now it’s him who looks surprised? Eh… wait, is this one of those “door-in-the-face” negotiation techniques where you make a big demand first, get rejected, and then present the request you actually wanted? I guess Mr. Captain expected me to say something like, “Surely half is a bit much…!”

…Heh heh heh… too naive, Mr. Captain. I’ve recently started learning to lean on others for help, you know! "Don’t push yourself, your life matters"—that’s my motto these days! Besides, my arms are absolutely trembling from gripping that rod nonstop. I’ve got no strength left in my hands, and much as it pains me, there’s no way I can butcher a fish that size in this state!

“There’s nothing wrong with it! I already burned through all my stamina just reeling it in. I’d love it if you’d take it as compensation for the trouble of butchering it!”

“…Well, with legs like that, I guess… Then, I’ll gladly take you up on that!”

Mr. Captain scratches his head, looking quite apologetic. Hmm. So it really was door-in-the-face after all. But even having negotiation tactics used on me didn’t feel bad at all this time. Probably because the proposal genuinely felt like a lifesaver for me too.

Honestly, my legs are shaking to a comical degree! Like a newborn fawn, practically! Mr. Captain, apparently noticing my knees while I’m still bursting into laughter, lets out a great booming laugh of his own too. …Yup, I guess I’ve shown a pretty ragged side of myself here, but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s seriously worried about it, at least.

Mr. Ville too… judging from the sideways glance I sneak at him, looks half exasperated and half concerned. So I guess everything is okay!

“All right! Now that that’s settled, let’s get to butchering it right away! Though with a size like that, we’ll have to do it right here on deck… I suppose we can think of it as entertainment for the passengers.”

“Eh!? You mean, I get to actually watch the cook butcher that fish!?”

“Hm? Well, guess that’s how it’ll go, but… miss, are you sure you’ve got the energy for that?”

Seeing my eyes light up at the word "butchering," Mr. Captain furrows his brow, looking worried. No, no, no. I mean, come on, how could I not? Watching someone butcher a fish that size sounds just like one of those tuna-cutting shows, doesn’t it? I’m genuinely curious how the cook’s going to handle a catch that huge!

A ship’s cook, after all—even on a route this short—has to be a professional at making do with limited ingredients, right? Getting to watch that kind of professional knife work is such a luxury! There’s no way I’m missing this!

“Yes! I think I can manage as long as I’m just watching!”

“Oh, now, with that much enthusiasm, how could I say no? Then, in honor of the young lady who landed that beast, I’ll have a chair brought over so you can have the best seat in the house!”

My legs are still shaking like crazy, but I lean forward eagerly, and Mr. Captain throws his head back and laughs loudly at the sky. Is it just my imagination, or is there a hint of exasperation in his laughter? I’d like to think my enthusiasm has gotten through to him!

Still shaking with laughter, Mr. Captain gives some kind of instruction to a sailor running around the deck, and the sailor, catching his meaning, brings a stool up from the hold and sets it in a spot with a great view of the cook’s work. I thank the sailor’s retreating back as he immediately heads off to another task, and gratefully take a seat.

“Ahh… my legs feel so much better…”

“Glad to hear it. You were shaking pretty badly there.”

“Just sit back and relax. Take your time enjoying our cook’s skills!”

Mr. Ville’s voice, tinged faintly with amusement, and Mr. Captain’s cheerful voice, come from either side of me.

Hehehe. Say whatever you want! Right now, savoring the comfort of this chair takes priority. It’s just a plain stool with no backrest, but the moment I sit down, my whole body relaxes instantly. I can practically feel the blood rushing through my stiff muscles. I just hope it keeps carrying away all those fatigue-causing substances that have built up in my muscles!

While I catch my breath, the rest of the group gathers around me one after another. Gomamiso, spotting my lap open, hops right up onto it too.

“You got yourself a great spot to watch from, Rin.”

“Should be… a really good view…”

“If you looked too exhausted, I was thinking of layering some healing magic on you, but it seems that won’t be necessary.”

Everyone’s voices were reassuring even while I was wrestling with that giant fish, but hearing them now while I’m relaxed is comforting in a different way. Being together with everyone has really become a part of me by now. While I’m basking in the warmth of having everyone around me, it seems the preparations for the fish-cutting show are complete.

Probably sake or water barrels—several big barrels lined up, with a long, thick plank laid across the top, making a makeshift counter. And sitting proudly on top of it is the giant fish we all just reeled in together!

“…Bit late to say this now, but Rin, you really did catch that thing. Wow.”

“That’s all thanks to everyone’s help! If it’d just been me alone, I’d be fish food at the bottom of the ocean by now.”

At Mr. Ed’s words, tinged with admiration, I nod firmly in agreement.

No, seriously! The only reason I’m here in one piece is that everyone helped me! That’s why, even if it isn’t enough to call it “repaying my debt,” I’d like to make a delicious meal with the fish we caught and thank them that way.

While I’m mulling that over, a man who looks nothing like a "cook"—carrying a knife so huge it looks more like a sword—steps up in front of the fish. A twisted bandana instead of the usual twisted headband, a thick black long apron, boots that look non-slip on his feet… Honestly, "fishmonger" fits him better than "cook," and "old guy" suits the image better than "man.”

That old guy takes up his massive knife and…

“HAAAAH!”

With a spirit-cleaving battle cry, the white blade flashes once, twice… glinting under the sunlight. As the knife flashes through the air a few times in movements almost like a sword dance, the reflected light stings my eyes, and I reflexively shut them.

…But that lasts only an instant.

…It should have been only an instant… but…

By the time I open my eyes again, the giant fish already lies before me, magnificently butchered with no wasted bloodshed at all. The body’s been filleted into three, split into back and belly cuts, and the head’s been severed off, gills still attached.

The onlookers probably had no idea what just happened either. For a moment, dead silence falls over the deck like water poured over it…

“Eh, wha…? Eh? It’s already done!?”

I couldn’t help but shout, but I don’t think it stood out much. After all, the very next moment, cheers louder than mine erupted from all around! Combined with a thunderous round of applause, it’s basically a flood of sound!

But I can’t blame them. The way he cuts it and the finished result are both absolutely incredible.

Dorsal flesh, belly flesh, and bones,

The giant fish now lies apart—

Yet once it’s eaten,

In my stomach it shall become one again…

The giant fish is divided into its back meat, belly meat, and scraps, but I figure it’ll all become one again in my stomach after the meal. …Well, that’s the sort of poem I can’t help composing in my head, even though I’m pretty sure the original poet would be furious if they ever heard me parodying their work.

…Anyway, seriously, how in the world can he turn a fish into cuts this perfect with movements that fast?

While what looks like an assistant, a young sailor boy, walks around holding up the butchered cuts on a board for the passengers to see clearly, the old guy has already gotten straight into cooking. And once again, his knife skills are phenomenal.

“So, miss? Pretty impressive, right?”

“To be able to butcher a fish that big so beautifully—that’s genuinely incredible!”

“Right, right? That guy’s not just good at butchering fish, he’s good at cooking too. That’s why he’s popular with the first-class passengers.”

From behind me, still watching in fascination, Mr. Captain peeks in with a proud, smug look to brag.

Ah, I see. Being in charge of first class, plus Mr. Captain’s smug expression and tone—putting it together, that old guy—or rather, the cook—must be quite the skilled hand. Probably has some kind of culinary skill or ability, I’d guess. That’s probably how he managed to butcher that giant fish so magnificently.

Ughhh! Watching such godlike skill in dressing and cooking, I’m getting the urge to cook myself now too!

“Hm? What’s up, miss? You’re looking oddly restless.”

“Are you all right, Rin? Guess the exhaustion’s catching up with you after all?”

They must’ve noticed me getting antsy while watching the cook. Mr. Captain’s and Mr. Ville’s voices ring out from either side of me. Mr. Ville, who’s known me a long time, sure, but even Mr. Captain, who I only just met yesterday, is watching me pretty closely too.

Guess anyone who ends up at the top of something really does keep a close eye on the people around them. Or maybe it’s the other way around—keeping a close eye on people is exactly what lets you become the one at the top.

“Actually, watching him butcher that fish has made me want to cook too!”

The moment my honest feelings slip out, Mr. Captain’s eyes go wide in surprise.

Okay, okay, I admit it. I feel a little guilty seeing one of the guys look at me with interest and the other with concern. And sure, maybe it’s ridiculous for someone who’s so exhausted she’s sitting down to say she wants to cook! But seeing that kind of spectacular knife work has made me want to give it a try myself!

“You want to cook…? Are you perhaps a chef yourself, miss?”

“I wouldn’t call myself a chef, but believe it or not, I do double as the luggage carrier and cooking duty for our party.”

“I see, I see. So you’re the one in charge of meals…”

Once I properly state my role, Mr. Captain nods several times as if it all clicks into place. Seems like he understands now why I said something so out of nowhere. Just as I’m inwardly relieved to have avoided being treated like some suspicious weirdo… his amber eyes fixed on me crease into an amused grin, and he claps his hands together.

“Sounds great! If you’re up for cooking together, I’ll get you a prep space and cooking tools, and you’re welcome to use the ship’s ingredients freely too!”

“Eh, really!? That’s exactly what I was hoping for!”

This is like a perfect ferry coming along right when I needed one! …Eh? What, I’m already on a ferry? That’s not something we need to point out, mister!

But well, if you think about it in terms of "using water to transport people and goods to distant places," I guess you could say the ship I’m on right now is pretty much a large-scale ferry, right? If I’m already aboard the very "ferry" that’s supposed to come along right on time… then surely the universe itself is telling me that my wish will be granted!

Striking a triumphant pose at Mr. Captain’s easygoing proposal, I ride the momentum straight into turning toward Mr. Ville.

“…I do understand how much you love cooking, but maybe you shouldn’t push yourself too hard, Rin? You were resting because you were tired from the fishing, after all…”

“I do think it’s reckless of me, honestly! But watching him work has given me all sorts of ideas—marinated fish, fried fish… I can’t help wanting to make them!”

“Ugh…!”

Maybe pushed back by my momentum, Mr. Ville falters and lets out a groan like a lady knight caught by the enemy. That sound probably speaks to a battle raging inside him—concern for my condition, guilt over working me while I’m exhausted, and the tag team of hunger and appetite, all at war.

After all, Mr. Ville and I are members of the same Glutton Alliance! It’s not hard to imagine his heart being torn a thousand ways right now.

For what it’s worth, the rest of the Gourmands are all giving Mr. Ville and me the same kind of look, glancing back and forth between us.

Heheheh…! Listen, everyone. I’m the one who wants to cook here! So there’s no need to feel any guilt about it at all!

“I’ll be fine! I absolutely won’t push myself too hard! I want to make crispy deep-fried giant fish drizzled with a sweet-spicy-sour sauce, wrapped in a fluffy Muche-flour crepe!”

“Guuuh…! Rin… are you assuming that if you suggest a dish that sounds delicious, I’ll just accept it?”

“I kind of do. But I also think that freshly caught giant fish marinated with onions and tomatoes and served on a crispy baguette toasted in butter would be absolutely delicious!”

“—Aughhh! Fine, fine, I get it!”

As long as I cook while sitting down, I won’t get any more tired, and honestly, it might even lift my spirits enough to shake off the tiredness altogether, right?

With that hope in mind, I stare intently at the face of the other member of the Glutton Alliance towering somewhat above me… and finally, Mr. Ville throws both hands up in surrender.

Victory! I’d call that a win by sheer force of persistence!

A grin of triumphant joy slips out despite myself. Looking at me like that, Mr. Ville’s brow still bears traces of mountain-range-like furrows, though somewhat shallower now. Even having said "fine," he clearly isn’t 100% convinced.

But there’s really nothing else for it here but to accept defeat gracefully! My exhaustion’s still lingering, sure, but my motivation and appetite for cooking are climbing sky-high with no ceiling in sight! Can you see the roaring flames of my burning spirit?

“Listen, Rin. If you need anything, we’ll go get it for you. You stay put right here, understood? Don’t push yourself, no matter what.”

“I know my own limits too, I think. I’ll speak up properly before I cross that line!”

In the end, Mr. Ville seems to have given up in the face of my sheer enthusiasm… but… he grips my shoulders firmly, and looks me dead in the eye to drive the point home. Meeting the gaze of Mr. Ville’s endlessly worrying eyes, I nod back firmly in return.

For my part, I’d rather avoid the outcome where breaking a promise here means I lose the freedom to act on my own later too.

Seeing me like that must have finally put him at ease, because Mr. Ville lets out a sigh, nods firmly, and hands over the cooking tools and seasoning set that had been left sitting on deck. Ah, right. I’d brought those along with the fishing gear specifically so I could process and cook anything I caught right away!

The illustration’s description: Rin talks and Ville, clutching his head, imagines all kinds of dishes.

“Here you go, miss! Your share, and your cooking space!”

“Ohh! What perfect timing!”

Just about the same moment Mr. Ville brings my things over, Mr. Captain and a sailor set up a makeshift counter using a wide wooden board and a medium-sized barrel. Just the right height for working while seated on the stool.

Just as Mr. Ville casts a cleaning spell over my hands and cutting board, the crew brings over the fish meat. Set down with a thud on a thick wooden board is the gigantic fish, beautifully cut down into what is essentially a pair of “fillets.” The belly bones and pin bones are already removed, and the skin is cleanly stripped off too. In this state, all I have to do is cook, so it’s super convenient.

…Still, the sailor who brought it over told me, "This side’s the back, this side’s the belly!" And let me tell you, it’s incredible! I mean, this fish was swimming around very fast. So even though I knew the flesh was supposed to differ between the back and belly, I’d assumed it would basically be all red meat throughout…

“Ehhh… this is a little unexpected.”

The back meat really is a beautifully deep red, almost translucent, but the belly meat is a pinkish white! I mean, Survival did say the "flesh quality differs," but I never expected it to split so clearly into red and white right along the spine like that. I’d assumed it’d be like tuna, with a gradient from red meat through slightly fatty, medium-fatty, and fat under-belly. It’s so extreme that I’d almost find it easier to believe if someone told me they’d taken the back and belly meat from two different fish and stuck them together.

…What exactly is going on with this fish?

“Well, whatever. I guess I’ll give it a taste.”

No matter what, I can’t cook properly without knowing the flavor.

First, the back meat—I slice a thin piece off the edge of the red meat. It’s soft, but doesn’t feel like it’ll fall apart easily. There’s a springiness to it that holds up against the knife’s edge. Popping it straight into my mouth with no seasoning at all, a light tartness bursts forth alongside a deep, rich umami. It’s like eating pure swimming power itself! Biting down, it meets a soft, springy resistance before tearing apart with a satisfying chew. Kind of like the best of both tuna and bonito combined. Given this texture, I’d bet it’s better enjoyed raw or lightly seared rather than thoroughly cooked.

The belly meat, on the other hand, is just—! The moment it hits my tongue, it melts smoothly with body heat, unraveling gently in my mouth, and that mouthfeel is something else! At the same time, the umami of the flesh and the richness of the fat hits my instincts full force, absolutely irresistible! This one’s delicious raw too, or quickly seared to enjoy that melting texture, or even thoroughly cooked to enjoy the fluffiness… it seems delicious no matter how you cook it.

“So? Tasty?”

“Ahh… this is insane! Delicious no matter how you handle it!”

Ms. Aria, peering in at my face, opens her mouth as if to say "taste test." It’s adorable, like a baby bird begging for food. I pop a slice of the back meat into her open mouth, and her face, chewing away, lights up brightly. Looks like Ms. Aria likes it too.

As she excitedly holds her cheeks in both hands, I think over cooking methods that might suit each part of the fish.

As a Japanese person who loves raw fish, sashimi’s absolutely non-negotiable! …Though, well, something like carpaccio or a marinade might go over better than straight sashimi with people in this world. Ceviche could work too, I think.

If the belly bones—harmonica cut, was it called?—are still intact, maybe salting generously and grilling it crispy for people to bite right into would work too?

…But thinking about it, the ship’s cook will probably make Western-style dishes anyway. Maybe I should lean into something a little more unusual, which might delight the other passengers too?

“So? What exactly are you going to make, Rin?”

“Let’s see. First, I’m thinking of making one or two dishes you can eat raw, like carpaccio or sashimi. I also think it would be delicious if I made something like namero… or rather, a tartare-style version!”

To Mr. Xenon, peering over at my hands as I plan the menu with excitement, I list off the dishes running through my head right now. A fish this delicious even without aging it. That’s exactly why I think it’s worth including one dish that lets you enjoy the ingredient’s raw flavor first.

Anyway, like I said, since the cook’s probably going to make Western-style stuff, guess I’ll go for something more Japanese-leaning!

“Ah! By the way, if I want to cook something with fire, what should I do? Would I need to borrow the galley?”

“In that case, there’s a shipboard grill you can use—want me to bring it over? It’s the same one that guy’s using too.”

Mr. Captain immediately picks up on the question that suddenly occurs to me while I’m planning the menu. Grinning brightly like the sun, he points toward where the cook’s still busily cooking away, and a sturdy-looking device that resembles a barbecue grill. So that’s what the "grill" is! I feel like the mystery of shipboard cooking I’d been puzzling over yesterday just got solved. Yup, with that kind of build, the fire probably never touches the ship’s floor directly—perfect for cooking on board, I bet.

While I’m off admiring it, the sailors, following Mr. Captain’s instructions, set up a barbecue grill—or rather, a shipboard cooking grill—right beside me too. And as if it’s nothing, they also bring over an assortment of cooking tools in various sizes! I’m grateful for every single thing here. What’s more, when I thank them, they just grin and say, "Looking forward to the food!" Everyone here’s such good people!

I’ve got to make something delicious enough to live up to their expectations!

“All right. First off… let’s get the rice cooking!”

“Eh? Not the fish dish first?”

“Nope. I firmly believe rice is the perfect companion for eating fish, after all!”

Watching me dump the rice I’d brought along into a medium pot, Mr. Ed voices the obvious question. I get where he’s coming from. But the marriage of fish and rice is seriously the best! It pays off big time later!

Eating freshly steamed, piping-hot rice topped with marinated pieces of this giant fish or tartare-style namero, or stuffing your mouth with it alongside fried fish or salt-grilled fish! And if I turn the leftover bones and scraps into a clear broth soup… there’s just no way you could stop eating! I could even turn half of it into hand-pressed sushi like the dish I served to Lady Meel. Wouldn’t that be delicious, too?

Maybe my excitement got across somehow. Thanks to Mr. Ed conjuring water with magic, I can wash the rice without worrying about how precious fresh water is out here on the ship. Then I put the lid on and let the rice soak while I prepare slightly sweet sushi vinegar and the marinade for the fish…

“Okay! Time to begin!”

Still buzzing with excitement, I grip my knife, and cooking officially begins!

…Though first, I start with the vegetables. That way, I don’t have to worry about dirtying the cutting board with fish. Onion, some coarsely minced, some finely minced. Then some roughly chopped, some thinly sliced—the sliced ones go into water to draw out the sharpness. I cut the tomatoes and cucumbers into small cubes and chop the aromatic herbs as needed… Before long, the large bowl is piled high with vegetables.

Once the necessary vegetable prep’s more or less done, it’s finally time for the fish!

“First, let me cut off the portion for marinating!”

Marinating needs time to let the flavor soak in, after all. Since the taste differed so much when I tasted it earlier, let’s splurge and use both the back and belly meat! Honestly, this fish has a really interesting texture to work with. I noticed it while dressing it too, but it’s soft yet has a firm springiness, so it doesn’t fall apart.

“Sliced portions go into the marinade I made earlier… and the rest…”

Half goes straight into the marinade made from soy sauce, sake, and sugar, and I layer Zeeram leaves over it like plastic wrap, letting it sit for a while.

The other half, I’ll use for a different dish.

“The tandoori-style one… I add lemon juice to the milk, stir until it thickens, then add the spices…”

The other dish I’m preparing in advance is a spice-heavy ethnic-style dish… In simple terms, I’m aiming for something like the fish tikka you often find at Indian curry restaurants.

No yogurt on hand, but since milk had been loaded aboard for the first-class passengers’ tea, I got some of that shared with me, along with the lemon I just used. Mixing them together makes it thicken up, so I figured it could stand in for yogurt.

Leaving it too long makes it separate, so before that happens, I add in the spice mix and salt and pepper, then plunge in the remaining fillet not used for the marinating.

With the flavor-soaking prep done like that, next I cut the back and belly meat into chunks, skewer them onto metal skewers, and lightly sear the surface on the grill they set up for me!

“Hey, hey… what’s this one going to turn into?”

“I’d call it a seared-style carpaccio, I guess? If I cook the surface, I think it’ll be easier for people who aren’t comfortable eating raw fish to try it.”

“Just looking at it, you can tell it’s going to be delicious! As expected of you, Rin.”

I’d originally planned it as fully raw, but reconsidering that some people might be hesitant, I landed on this seared-style method instead. Once the surface gets a nice sear from the firewood’s heat, I take it off the fire, and with Ms. Aria peering in with keen interest and Mr. Ed grinning proudly watching over me, I put the knife to the seared chunk of fish meat.

…Yup. Just as planned, the surface is cooked through, but the inside’s still rare! The back meat doesn’t look too different, but the belly meat has this vivid contrast of white and pink!

And with that, cutting the meat into slightly thick slices…

“I’ll lay it over the sliced onions, then scatter fried garlic chips, thinly sliced green onions, and shredded peri leaves on top, and…”

Hmm, the sliced onions are spread across a large white serving platter decorated with blue vine patterns. On top of them sits the white-and-pink seared cuts, along with green scallions and peri leaves—similar in color and taste to perilla, but more than twice the size—and golden-brown fried garlic chips. Turned out looking pretty delicious, if I do say so myself.

For seasoning, just a light drizzle of olive oil, then a sprinkle of salt and lemon juice. I keep it very simple.

“Oh, that was quick, miss! Is this one ready to serve to the passengers already?”

“Yes, it’s ready!”

He must’ve been watching the whole cooking process. Right around when I finish plating the seared-style carpaccio, Mr. Captain calls out to me. I answer him cheerfully, and after a moment’s hesitation, he speaks up:

“From what I saw, it looked fine, but… well, this is part of a captain’s job too. Sorry, but let me taste a little of it first.”

Mr. Captain looks apologetic, but I guess it’s something like a poison check, or a food safety inspection, that sort of thing. Checking with Survival, there’s no alert for foodborne pathogens, parasites, or biomagnified toxins, so hygiene and infection risk shouldn’t be an issue… but the real concern is the taste. After all, even though I go by "cooking duty," I don’t actually have a chef’s license, and I never trained at some restaurant in this world either… Feeding it to my own party is one thing, but serving it to the general public…

Actually, having someone check both the taste and the hygiene side, plus getting an objective opinion—that’s honestly a relief. There’s still time to adjust the flavor if needed, after all.

While I wait for the taste test, a little anxious about how this’ll turn out, I can sense the Gourmands behind me putting on their proudest faces. If anything, I swear they’re all standing there with arms crossed, looking smug, and I think I even hear someone chuckle, "he’s in for a surprise with Rin’s cooking.”

Aren’t their expectations for my cooking a little too high!?

“Yes, of course. Please, go ahead.”

Under the full weight of my party’s smug "we’re just here supporting our girl" gazes, I dish out a portion of the seared-style carpaccio and hand it to Mr. Captain. The plating on the big plate got a little disturbed, but it’s the kind of thing I can fix up in a moment with cooking chopsticks, so the presentation should be fine.

While I fix up the plating beside him, Mr. Captain pops the seared fish into his mouth…

“Huh? Wait, hold on a sec! The searing gives it that toasty aroma, but the rare center means you still get all the juiciness! And on top of that, the fat just melts and spreads through your mouth… but the lemon and onion keep it refreshing too… what is this, this is insanely good!”

The moment he swallows what’s in his mouth, an enthusiastic review bursts out of him along with the cheer.

Mmhehe. Of course, of course. Freshly caught and freshly seared! There’s no way it wouldn’t be delicious! I’d heard that people sometimes eat seared bonito without cooling it in ice water, so I tried it that way—and judging by Mr. Captain’s reaction, it turned out pretty good?

As Mr. Captain finishes it in no time and trembles with delight, I can also sense Ms. Aria smugly murmuring, “So he finally understands… how delicious Rin’s cooking is…”

“Um… so, is the seared-style carpaccio okay to serve to the ship’s other passengers?”

“More than okay! If anything, I want you to make more! I give it my wholehearted approval!”

“Ohhh! Hearing that makes me really happy!”

The seared-style carpaccio, having earned Mr. Captain’s seal of approval—him still pressing a hand to his mouth, savoring the aftertaste—gets the honor of being set out alongside the cook’s own dishes! From a distance, I can see passengers steadily stopping by and helping themselves. Is this what you’d call getting off to a good start?

Of course, I’ve made a separate plate for our own party too! I can’t exactly unleash starving beasts into a crowd of passengers peacefully enjoying the buffet on deck, after all!

“All right! Time to make the next dish!”

Buoyed by that success, the next thing I take on is the tartare-style namero! I’ll be using both the back and belly meat here too. I’m hoping it’ll strike the perfect balance—not too light, but not too rich, either!

“First, I finely chop the back and belly meat, then roughly mince it with the knife…”

It’s difficult to mince the fish when it’s still in large slices, so I first chop it into smaller pieces and give them a light pounding with the flat of the knife. This is basically preparation to get the texture I’m aiming for. I’ll add seasonings after this, so I’ve got to be careful not to mince it too fine. Mince too much here and I’d lose that melty, flaky texture I’m going for.

Come to think of it, chopping like this is strangely meditative. The longer I do it, the more I stop thinking about anything else. I can’t help enjoying it.

“Next, mix in minced onion, add a secret ingredient, mince it again…”

Once it’s just a bit short of my ideal texture, I add in some pre-minced onion and a bit of miso I brought aboard… and then just keep mincing with the knife however long feels right! Simple, right? Personally, I prefer the combination of the rich, creamy texture like in negitoro—minced tuna with scallions—and the tender, flaky texture like in seared horse mackerel, so I’m going to avoid making it too sticky.

Finally, I adjust the flavor with lemon juice, a touch of soy sauce, olive oil, and pepper, and it’s done.

Using miso and soy sauce together boosts the richness and umami. And on top of that, combining the fish’s inosinic acid with the glutamic acid from soy sauce and miso boosts the umami even further—that’s a big factor too. In other words, fish with soy sauce and fish with miso are foolproof combinations. Delicious things combined with other delicious things just become even more delicious!

“…Is this finished?”

“Yup, more or less. Want to try some?”

“I do!”

“Ah! Me too, me too!”

The couple, who have been peering in at my cooking from both sides, open their mouths wide at my invitation. Whether it’s endearing, like baby birds waiting to be fed, or something I should worry about—being that unguarded in front of me. What if I got a mischievous urge and shoved in some namero loaded with shichimi? Well, I’d never actually do that, but still!

But seeing them open their mouths like this, with zero wariness at all, thinking about how much trust that shows in me… it makes me a little—no, quite happy. The tartare-style namero I scoop up with the taste-test spoon ends up piled a bit high; I can’t help it.

Call it favoritism if you want! That’s just how happy it made me!

“Mmmmm!!! This is delicious! Mellow! Refreshing!!!”

“This is seriously amazing, Rin! Now I want ale to go with it!”

The moment the generously piled namero hits their mouths, both their eyes light up brighter. Ms. Aria presses a hand to her cheek, overwhelmed, while Mr. Ed keeps saying how delicious it is while lamenting there’s no alcohol around right now.

…Yes, I get it. Guess I made something excellent as a drinking snack. Well, honestly, I kind of saw that coming. I mean, fresh fish combined with soy sauce and oil—there’s nothing but delicious potential in that combo!

‘Heyyy, hey! What about mine?! Where’s mine?’

“Want to taste some too, Gomamiso? This one’s got onion in it, so you can have a piece of the fillet instead.”

To the cat looking up at me with round, sparkling eyes, playing cute at my feet, I pop in a slice of the plain fillet. Munching away, Gomamiso’s eyes suddenly go wide. Its shimmering golden eyes pierce right through me, full of expectation.

‘Soooo tasty! I want this for my meals every time!’

“Every time might be a little difficult. But how about I set a little aside for your special meal?”

‘Nnfu♪ Thanksie!’

I can understand why Gomamiso feels that way—the fish really is that delicious. But unlike the rice and barley tea stocked in the Camping Car, once we eat this fish, it’s gone. But if it makes the cat this happy, I don’t mind setting a little aside for it.

When I suggest it, it sticks its tail straight up and purrs loudly, clearly pleased. Well, I’m glad Miso’s pleased with it!

“All right, now that the tartare-style namero’s done, let’s get the rice cooking!”

With the tartare namero a success, the rice should’ve soaked up enough water by now, so time to move on to cooking it!

I set the pot, filled with rice and a bit less water than usual, over a spot on the grill where the heat’s moderate. This is the "gentle heat at first" part of the classic rice-cooking rhythm. Gradually raising the temperature is supposed to bring out the rice’s natural sweetness, or something like that…

By the way, the old saying continues with "don’t lift the lid even if your baby’s crying," but personally, I’m the type to lift the lid right before it comes to a boil. Gently stirring the contents evens out the temperature, and I feel like that makes for a better finished result.

After that, I put the lid back on, move it to a spot with stronger heat, and let it bubble away vigorously for a while. Once the lid starts rattling and something like watery gruel starts bubbling over the edge, I move it to a weaker heat spot and let it cook the rest of the way slowly. Amazing how just this much gets you delicious rice!

By the way, if you wanted to, you could actually do something similar even on a stove at home! As for the pot, one with a Teflon coating works great since the crispy bits at the bottom peel off easily, yes indeed.

“…Hmm… the bottom of the pot’s starting to crackle? I’d say it’s ready!”

The signal that it’s done is when you start hearing a crackling, popping sound from inside the pot. Opening the lid, I can see the watery gruel stuck to the sides has turned a faint golden-brown from scorching slightly. Perfect timing!

To make up for the heat escaping when I open the lid, I keep it on the fire for maybe ten more seconds…

“Hot pot coming through, everyone step back a bit!”

“I’ve already cleared a spot for you, Rin.”

“Mm! Careful!”

When I grab the pot and call out, Ms. Aria quickly picks up Gomamiso and clears a path for me, making it easy to reach the spot Mr. Ville has prepared. Hmm. Today really is a day of teamwork!

The pot with the plump, freshly cooked rice is heavy, but it’s not an exaggeration to call this the weight of happiness. Careful not to drop the pot and ruin everything right at the last second, I set it down carefully but quickly…

“Now I’ll let it steam for a little while, then turn it into sushi rice!”

For sushi rice, I’ve heard you’re supposed to mix in the vinegar while it’s still hot, but adding the sushi vinegar immediately after cooking seems like it might make the acidity evaporate. Fifteen minutes of steaming shouldn’t cool it down that much, so it should be fine.

While it steams, I quickly wet down a slightly bigger pot to use as a makeshift mixing tub. A big wooden sushi tub would be a dream, but when I think about where I’d put one, it’s a pipe dream.

While I prep the next dish and tidy up, Ms. Aria quietly speaks to me:

“…Still, though… Rin, you can tell when it’s done so well…”

“I guess it’s just practice? Back when I was starting out, I sometimes burned it, or went the other way and made it too watery… I had plenty of disastrous results.”

“Eh…! You, failing…!?”

Back when I had the knowledge but not the experience yet, sure, I made some genuinely terrible rice.

The part touching the heat rock-hard, but the middle still mushy… or the whole thing undercooked and a soggy mess… I choked all of it down through sheer willpower and creative fixes, though!

But it seems Ms. Aria just can’t believe it. Her ice-colored eyes and mouth stay wide open in shock.

“Even you, Rin, fail…?”

“I failed plenty! I do it less often now, but I still screw things up sometimes!”

“Eh, no way…! I could never tell at all!”

“Well, along with failing, I’ve also learned ways to cover it up.”

I laugh it off with a wave of my hand at Ms. Aria, staring at me like she’s seeing something unbelievable. Ha, well… believe it or not, I stand on a mountain of countless failures too.

Actually, that vegetable soup everyone raved about and finished off the other day? That was actually a remake of a stir-fried meat and vegetable dish I’d botched the seasoning on! It came out way too salty and soggy, so I added water and thickened it up, added an egg too, and finished with a splash of vinegar and some spice, and voilà, delicious soup! As a stir-fry it would’ve been a soggy mess, but reframed as a soup, it turned into a tasty, veggie-loaded hot-and-sour soup!

There’s also that time I turned a hamburger steak that fell apart when I failed to flip it into meat sauce, or mixed coarsely-mashed steamed potatoes with toasted breadcrumbs into scoop-style croquettes… I’ve pulled all sorts of tricks, yes. Even rolled omelets sometimes turn into scrambled eggs, you know… yup. I’ve messed up plenty of things, honestly.

“It’s just that everyone says, ‘Delicious!’ and eats my remade dishes, so my failures never come to light.”

“Is that so!? That was actually a failure…!? I never noticed at all…”

“E-Even when you fail, you can remake it into something delicious… That’s amazing! You’re too amazing, Rin!”

“Rin… thank you so much for joining the Gourmands…!”

“I’m never letting you go now… ever…!”

Before I know it, holding the rice paddle ready to mix the rice, I find myself surrounded by the Gourmands practically worshipping me, like some brand-new religious cult sprung up out of nowhere. Mr. Ville looks on in shock; Mr. Ed presses his hands together in prayer at me. Beside Mr. Xenon, taking my hand to worship it, Ms. Aria let go of Gomamiso and clamped onto my waist, squeezing tight.

What is this!? Am I a cult leader now!?

“Eh, wait… wait a second, everyone! Calm down! This is getting into some seriously intense visual territory!”

“…Ah! Sorry, Rin. Just thinking about how it’s thanks to all your effort that we get to enjoy delicious food every day, I couldn’t help myself…”

“I found myself struck all over again by just how blessed our daily lives are… sorry about that, Rin.”

‘Not totally sure what’s going on, but be grateful you get to be with me too!’

My frantic words bring my companions back to their senses one after another. I’m glad I didn’t have to resort to physically knocking some sense into them.

Gomamiso, freed and apparently swept up in the atmosphere too, climbs up onto me and rubs its head against me. Yup. You’re a bit different in flavor, Miso. Your attitude is so high and mighty that you’re practically looking down from heaven.

“U-Uuugh… back then… when we got that mountain bird, if only Rin had been there…!”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it, Aria. That meat was such a shame… it had the potential to be delicious, but we just went and hunted it ourselves…”

Ms. Aria, still clinging to me, and Mr. Ed hovering beside her, might need a bit more time to recover, I guess? Judging from the snippets of conversation drifting over, they seem to be commiserating over how much needless suffering they could’ve avoided if I’d been around on their past adventures.

The illustration’s description: the Gourmands worship Rin.

…No, seriously. In so many ways, I’m really glad I joined the Gourmands.

“Um… I’ll go ahead and finish making the sushi rice now.”

“Uuuh… Rin… don’t go anywhere… Stay with us…”

“It’s okay. I’ll be with you for a long, long time.”

With Ms. Aria, who’s finally started sniffling and crying, still clinging to my waist, I loosen up the steamed rice and transfer it into the big pot. Then I add in the sushi vinegar—which is more like a standard dressing-type than an actual sushi-type—and fold it through the rice with a slicing motion. At first it feels watery and loose, but as the grains soak up the vinegar, it gradually shifts into a firmer, more substantial texture.

By the way, my clothes are absorbing about as many of Ms. Aria’s tears as the rice is absorbing vinegar. My waist’s starting to feel kind of damp…

“Mr. Ed. I’d like to finish this while cooling the rice. Could you send a light breeze my way?”

“Like a gentle breeze? That’s easy!”

Sushi rice cooled with magic instead of being fanned with a hand fan is pretty luxurious in its own way. Folding the rice while a gentle breeze blows over it, the moisture gradually evaporates, and the surface starts to develop a glossy sheen. I take that as proof the vinegar’s soaked all the way through, though who knows how accurate that really is.

Trying a small pinch, the grains stand up nice and crisp, but with a plump, fluffy texture too. This might be one of the best batches of sushi rice I’ve ever made! Well, the flavor’s pretty strongly vinegary, so calling it "sushi rice" feels a bit off, but still.

But today, I’m going to add some of the sauce that I used to marinate the fish! Watching the once-white sushi rice slowly tint a faint brown feels like a bit of a shame, though I want to say "forgive me, it’ll taste better this way," so it’s a complicated feeling, honestly.

And since this is a hand-“mixed” sushi-style rice salad, I obviously have to knead it! I toss in half of the marinated fillet and some torn leafy greens into the lightly browned sushi rice! For hygiene’s sake, I’ll firmly knead it with the rice paddle!

Whew. When you’re dealing with an entire potful of rice, stirring it is seriously hard work! But somehow, that heaviness feels reassuring.

“Ms. Aria. Want to try the sushi?”

“…Unfaaair…”

Bringing a spoon up to Ms. Aria’s mouth while she’s still clinging on, her mouth opens right up with a sniffly, nasal little sound. Even while crying, still hungry—that’s exactly like our party members.

Her mouth, munching away, stops moving, and her throat moves as she swallows… and the very next moment—

“Ehh! This is insanely delicious! Sweet, and fluffy, but the fish is still crisp and firm… what is this? So good!”

Just crying one moment, laughing the next. The power of delicious food really is something else.

Maybe Ms. Aria’s brightened expression gets to them too. Seeing Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon looking restless out of the corner of my eye, I motion for our leader to come over as well. He looks torn between joining in and stopping this whole scene, so I simply give everyone a tasting spoon.

Of course, I don’t forget to offer Gomamiso an extra piece of fillet, either. If I don’t do this, it’ll get sulky later, and then things will get troublesome.

“I wondered about putting such a sweet flavor on fish, but who would have thought it could taste this good?!”

“Once you’ve tasted this, plain salted fish might start to feel a bit lacking.”

“The rice is sour, but that actually makes the rich, fatty fish taste refreshing… You get the fish’s savory flavor, sweetness, tang, and saltiness all at once. It’s absolutely fantastic!”

‘Mmm. This fishy stuff is yummy!’

It’s a flavor leaning fully Japanese, but if everyone here, born and raised in this other world, gives it their full stamp of approval as "delicious," it should probably be fine for the other passengers too.

With that settled, I arrange the remaining fillet neatly on top of the sushi rice, garnishing it with shredded perilla-like otherworldly herb.

“Oriental-style rice salad is ready!”

When the finished hand-mixed sushi is carried over, pot and all, by a sailor to the passengers, cheers of delight rise up from the crowd. Honestly, calling this a "rice salad" feels a bit off, but "hand-mixed sushi" wouldn’t mean anything to anyone here anyway… Coming to terms with things is tough sometimes!

Well, seems pretty well-received overall, so I’ll just swallow my own personal reservations about the name!

“All right! I want to let the spiced one marinate a bit longer, so before that, let’s make something with a quick sear of thinly sliced fillet, drizzled with soy sauce and lemon juice!”

“I’ve always thought this, but you really do come up with one menu after another, Rin.”

“It’s not like I’m coming up with anything particularly amazing. But the ingredients are excellent, so I’m sure it’ll taste great!”

My reply to Mr. Ville, who speaks to me with admiration, is noticeably more excited than usual—even to me. I’m actually somewhat aware that I’m getting hyper and my brain feels like it’s running in overdrive. Still, being careful not to push myself too hard, I’ll just enjoy this moment while it lasts, yes indeed!

“There are still plenty of ingredients left. Now, what should I make?”

Looking over the remaining fish meat, ideas for dishes keep bubbling up in my head. Ahh! There are too many things I want to make, both this and that! That said, my stamina’s getting pretty close to its limit…

I really should’ve built up more stamina beforehand. Grumbling a bit at my past self, I resolve to give it my absolute best with whatever resources I’ve got left, and grip the knife again.

“…Whew… I really did cook up a storm… I’m satisfied!”

Swaying on the deck lit by the setting sun sinking toward the horizon, I let out a long breath. After that, I kept cooking whatever came to mind—teriyaki, piccata-style, tatsuta-age-style—and grilled up more of the spiced fillet too… And of course, I made the deep-fried rolls I’d suggested to Mr. Ville too! The contrast of crispy batter against the chewy dough, together with the sweet-and-sour sauce clinging to the rich, savory fish! Turned out into a flavor you could just keep eating forever!

“Ahh… that was truly delicious! Thank you.”

“It’s amazing that you can fish and cook!”

“Eh, ehehe. Thank you. I’m really happy to hear that!”

To me, thoroughly worn out and sunk into a chair, the ship’s passengers keep coming up to speak to me one after another. All of them are people who tried a bite of what I made. Everyone’s smiling; it seems like they enjoyed the food. Seeing their faces, I feel like some hidden reserve of energy I thought I’d used up entirely is bubbling back up somehow.

Seems like some of the sailors, mostly the kitchen crew, tried my food during breaks too, and I felt genuinely happy when the old guy who’d butchered the fish gave me a solid thumbs up.

The cook and I kept adding to the lively buffet party filled with cheers and admiration, but as the sun began to set, it was decided that the temporary cooking station should be dismantled. Guess they judged cooking without being able to see your hands would be too dangerous. Apparently, the remaining fish will be stored in the ship’s food storage and kept fresh with ice magic. They’ll give it back to me when we disembark, so I need to remember to pick it up.

With nearly all the food served now safely tucked away in passengers’ and sailors’ stomachs, the deck’s settled down considerably. Some people are heading back to their cabins to rest, some passengers plucking away at a guitar brought up from their room, others singing and dancing along to it. Everyone’s spending time however they please. I, too, am stretching out to my heart’s content on a deck chair, which a sailor kindly brought over for me.

“…Good work, Rin.”

“Ms. Aria. Done dancing with Mr. Ed already?”

“Mm. That was… satisfying, too!”

While I’m nibbling on leftover food, watching the setting sun, a voice calls out from behind me. Ms. Aria, who’d been dancing with Mr. Ed to the mellow guitar rhythm just a moment ago, seems to have wandered over without me noticing. Bathed in the sunset light, holding back her wind-tousled hair against the sea breeze, Ms. Aria looks beautiful enough to be a painting.

Mr. Ed’s apparently off getting drinks. Monster-husband he may be, but he really is a diligent one in these small ways.

Maybe it’s the wind direction, but the guitar’s sound and the murmur on deck both feel a bit distant. It might also be because Ms. Aria and I, watching the sunset together, have gone rare and quiet. It feels strangely sentimental, like the two of us have been left behind together in the lingering afterglow of the setting sun.

“…Come to think of it, is it really okay for you two to go back to your hometown together?”

“Eh… what do you mean…?”

“I mean, well… thinking back on how you two met, didn’t Mr. Ed… won’t your family attack him or something?”

I remember hearing they met as enemies, and then somehow ended up eloping and running away together, eventually joining the Gourmands, right? So I was wondering if it’d really be okay for the two of them to head to Ms. Aria’s hometown together like this. Mr. Ed of course, but wouldn’t Ms. Aria too end up getting hated on, like "traitor who ran off with the enemy!"?

That’s the worry I meant to voice with my question… but Ms. Aria’s just staring at me, mouth and eyes both wide open in shock. Uh oh, did I just barrel straight into something way too heavy!?

Reflexively bracing myself, what hits my cheek instead is the soft sensation of a fingertip poking me…

“Sorry, Rin… did you… believe that story this whole time…?”

“…Eh…?”

“You see… um… I exaggerated, a little bit…”

“Ehh? Exaggerated…?”

Exaggerated—meaning the story of how she and Mr. Ed met?

While I seat there, mentally floored, staring off into space, Ms. Aria looks down with an apologetic expression. Reflected in her ice-colored eyes gazing at me is my own dumbfounded face, mouth hanging open.

“It’s true… that we were rivals at first. We were both adventuring alone when we crossed paths on a quest… fighting over the item that had to be delivered.”

“Ah, ahh! I see! That is technically ‘enemies’ in a broad sense!”

So if you put it negatively, they were enemies, but more generously, they were basically rivals! And from what she’s saying, it doesn’t sound quite as serious as I’d imagined! I’d been bracing myself for something really dramatic, so learning the truth is honestly a huge relief!

Given that, it seems unlikely there was ever any real family opposition to their relationship either, so nothing like what I imagined seems to have actually happened. Th-Thank goodness!

“After that… a few times, in different places, we ran into each other again… and gradually started talking more… and then…”

“The tension eased, and you two got closer, right?”

“Mm… yeah… The prey we were after turned out stronger than expected… so we defeated it together… and then…”

“So you faced a formidable enemy together, one neither of you could beat alone? That’s enough to make anyone’s heart flutter!”

Putting together everything Ms. Aria tells me in her soft, halting voice, it seems that back when they were both working solo, they kept going after the same prey and would clash over it. Even though things were a little tense between them, they eventually joined forces to take down their target, and that became the starting point for them gradually growing closer. Then, once they had confessed their feelings and gotten married, the two of them joined the Gourmands together.

Maybe remembering the time they first met, her porcelain-white cheeks are now tinged a faint cherry-blossom pink.

Ehhh! This beautiful, adorable woman is blushing! She’s always cute, but this is next-level adorable!!!

“It was such a lovely story to listen to, but why’d you dress it up so much?”

“I thought… if the love story got more exciting… maybe you would get into it too…”

“Aaaah! So that’s what it was! You prepared the whole stage for me, and I completely failed to play along! I’m sorry about that!”

I’d thought it was such a grand, dramatic story, but turns out it was really just a bit of a ploy to get me invested. Come on! And I fell for it without a second thought!!!

“So then… you two weren’t sworn mortal enemies after all. That means it should be fine for you both to head to your hometown together, right? Thank goodness!”

The tension just drained right out of my shoulders!

…Well, I get the urge to embellish a story a little, honestly. The size of the fish I caught, the number, how big the ones that got away were… yup. Plus, it’s not like Ms. Aria’s little exaggeration hurt anyone. And honestly, I had fun listening to the story regardless, so no harm done at all!

“Hey, hey! What are you two talking about all by yourselves?”

“Ah, Mr. Ed.”

I don’t think it’s just my imagination that there’s a faint tinge of jealousy mixed into Mr. Ed’s voice from behind us. Or rather, since I’m the same gender as Ms. Aria, it’s getting off this easy—if I were a man, this probably wouldn’t have ended so mildly. Terrifying, truly terrifying…

Still, the fact that he’s brought a drink for me too shows just how considerate Mr. Ed really is.

“Welcome back, Eddy. Just now, we were talking about… how we met…”

“Eh, seriously? You’re talking about the old days? Wow, that brings back memories!”

Handing a drink to Ms. Aria too, Mr. Ed slips right up beside her, taking his usual spot. The distance between them is close enough that he looks about ready to pull her in by the waist any second. …A familiar enough sight by now, in a way.

Still, watching a married couple start getting lovey-dovey right in front of me is genuinely bad for the eyes; that much is true too. Getting along well is a beautiful thing, sure! May their happiness burst forth eternally!

Still, seeing the two of them looking so genuinely happy together, I felt deeply relieved that there’s no risk of either of their lives being threatened once they set foot on the island. Period.

While I stare into the distance at the married couple chatting happily in front of me, Mr. Ed uses magic to pull a chair over beside mine. Settling into their spots, sandwiching me between them, the two chime in one after another.

“Anyway. Rin, you kept cooking non-stop this whole time—did you actually eat your own share properly?”

“Right! You kept making food… the whole time! Aren’t you hungry?”

“I ate plenty in between, so that part’s fine, don’t worry!”

The very first thing that comes up once we’re all seated is worry and consideration for me…! The Gourmands really do have a high level of human decency, right? I feel like I’m constantly learning from them.

“That’s good, then. You really were doing the work of several people today, Rin.”

“Mm. Rin, you were amazing! Today… take it easy, and rest okay?”

Sitting alongside Mr. Ed, relaxing with a relieved smile, and Ms. Aria, gently holding my hand, time passes slowly by.

Well, but with a bunch of food-lovers gathered together, the conversation naturally drifts right back toward food, of course…

“Still, though, every dish you made was delicious, but… that spiced grilled one that came out near the end, man, I really loved that one!”

“I know, right! Spicy, but with a mellow richness too… it was so delicious!”

“Really? In that case, I’ll make it again sometime with a different meat or fish.”

“Yay! I look forward to it!”

“Awesome! Better work hard hunting down more ingredients, then!”

A slow-tempo guitar and the murmur of the crowd as background music, spending a relaxed voyage out on deck… not entirely sure, but is this what people mean by "chill," maybe? Surrounded by everyone’s excited chatter about what was delicious and what they want to eat again, I feel genuinely happy.

“…What’s this? Are you two planning to make all the requests yourselves and call it a day?”

“There’s no way I’ll let that happen.”

…Well, of course, it was never going to be that simple, with just Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed getting to make requests. Our leader and our brain, who have returned carrying drinks in both hands, have a fierce gleam in their eyes.

At this rate, I’m sure I’m going to get plenty of requests from Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon too. Heheheh. Of course, bring them on!

“Rin! That deep-fried roll thing, and the hand-mixed sushi? Those were delicious! Make them for me again while we’re on the island!”

“That namero dish was so delicious, I could hardly stand it! Next time, I’d love to pair it with a crisp white wine!”

Against requests fired off with an almost frighteningly intense fervor, I can’t stop my cheeks from loosening up into a grin. I mean, being asked this seriously has got to mean they really loved it, right?

“Of course! Not just while we’re on the island, either—delicious fish is available back in Ellarge too! I’ll make it again once we’re back at base too!”

“All right! You have to, Rin!”

“Hooray! Can’t wait!”

"Mine! Mine comes first!"

“No cutting in line, Aria! Let’s decide it by drawing lots!”

Wherever that mellow atmosphere from earlier went, who knows… At my fist-pumping call, the audience responds with fervent enthusiasm. The sunset-lit deck now feels like a full-on live concert venue.

As my excited companions jostle me from every side, the sunset looks more beautiful than any I have ever seen.

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