Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 178: Invitation to Become Delicacy Hunters
After we had gotten excited talking about Pokémon, the conversation naturally shifted to monsters.
It felt like the perfect chance to bring up the subject of delicacy hunting.
I had been wanting to discuss this with Ren and the others for a while.
“Ren-san, there’s something I’d like to talk to you all about. Is now a good time?”
“To us? Oof, when you phrase it like that, it sounds kind of intimidating.”
“No need to worry, it’s nothing scary. I’ve just been wanting to talk about monster cuisine.”
“Monster cuisine? Ohhh, did you find a tasty monster already?”
“No, not yet. But I want to try finding delicious monsters, and I was hoping you might be willing to help.”
“Searching for tasty monsters, huh? Now that sounds interesting!”
Raised in anime-loving Japan, Ren and the others reacted the same way I did.
Having seen all kinds of “monster foods” in anime, manga, and games, the idea of hunting for delicious monsters carried its own undeniable romance.
“I’m glad you’re excited. The other day, I had a chance to talk with a Delicacy hunter, and I even got to try some monster-based food.”
“A delicacy hunter? Someone who specializes in tracking down edible monsters?”
“Exactly. They try all sorts of monsters in search of the truly delicious ones. He actually called himself a ‘gourmet hunter.’”
“Gourmet hunter? Haha, wasn’t there a character like that in Hunter x Hunter?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of Toriko.”
“Figures. The moment you say ‘gourmet hunter,’ anime and manga are the first things that come to mind.”
As expected, everyone had their own associations with the idea.
Even if no tasty monsters existed, the sheer romance of the concept was enough to fire the imagination.
“So, what exactly did this delicacy hunter let you try?”
“Eggs, milk, and some jerky. The eggs and milk had a bit of a unique flavor, but they were absolutely delicious.”
“Oh, I’d love to try monster eggs and milk! What about the jerky?”
“The jerky… honestly wasn’t great. A lot of it was tough and stringy, probably from being overly muscular. The smell was also pretty distinct.”
“So the meat wasn’t all that good, huh? I actually had high hopes that monster meat might be amazing!”
“Then you’re planning to go after eggs and milk?”
“Not exactly. I’m aiming for new monsters altogether. I have this theory: land monsters tend to be tough, so instead, I want to try aquatic monsters.”
“Aquatic monsters? Like fish-type monsters? …That does sound like they’d be tasty!”
Since Japan has a strong sushi culture, the idea of fish already carried positive associations.
Ren and the others clearly shared that impression—their enthusiasm visibly grew.
“So, I was wondering if you’d be willing to help hunt aquatic monsters. Right now, I’ve only asked Lua and her team, but the more hands the better. Even if you only join in occasionally, I’d appreciate it.”
“If it’s something we can do, then absolutely—we’d be glad to help. You’ve done so much for us, and besides, the thought of tasting aquatic monsters has me curious too.”
“I’m in too! I’m seriously pumped about this!”
“Me too! Whether it’s fishing or diving, it sounds fun even without the monster food part!”
“I’ll help as well. My only concern is whether we can actually fight aquatic monsters. We’ve fought our share of enemies, but dungeon monsters don’t include aquatic ones.”
“No worries there. I’ve had Rozzo and his team craft special magic tools specifically for hunting aquatic monsters.”
Saying that, I showed them the newly crafted tools.
Just like I had when I first saw them, Ren and the others tilted their heads curiously at the unfamiliar designs.
“They look amazing, but I honestly have no idea how to use them!”
“In short, there are tools for underwater breathing, movement, combat, and escape. With these, you’ll be able to breathe, swim, and fight freely underwater.”
“Whoa… I haven’t dealt with magic tools much, but they’re surprisingly high-tech.”
“I’ll explain in detail when we actually use them. For now—will you accept?”
“Of course! No change of heart here. Yui, how about you?”
“With these tools, we should be able to fight aquatic monsters. No problem—I’ll take part.”
I was relieved they agreed so readily.
Lua’s group would only be free after finishing their unexplored dungeon run, so it might end up being Ren’s team that hunted aquatic monsters first.
Depending on how practical these tools proved to be, mass production could even be worth considering.
“Thank you so much! I’ll lend you the magic tools whenever you decide to head out.”
“I’d be fine with checking things out as soon as tomorrow! Is there a lake or river nearby?”
“There’s apparently an ocean in the Lusanso Republic. It’s across the border, but surprisingly close. We could probably reach the sea in a single day.”
“Of course there’s an ocean, but just hearing it gets me hyped! I want to go see it even without the monster angle!”
“Wait, can we even travel abroad? Surely we’d need permission first?”
“You’re probably right—we’d need to check with the king. And since I don’t even know the exact location of the sea yet, going tomorrow would be difficult.”
“Aw man, what a shame! The magic tools, aquatic monsters, the sea itself—it all sounds amazing. I want to go right away!”
“I’ll make the arrangements quickly so we can go in the near future.”
And so, our discussion about hunting aquatic monsters came to a close.
I was overjoyed to see their enthusiasm exceeded my expectations.
Before the excitement cooled, I needed to confirm two things quickly: the sea’s exact location and permission from the king.
Rua likely knew exactly where it was, so both checks should be easy to handle.