Kays Translations

Chapter 4: Peaceful Hydrangea ③ – Fishing and Knives

After a good night’s sleep in my new bed, the next day came.

Today was fishing day. But this wasn’t just ordinary fishing.

“Lab is amazing.”

Right now, I was holding a fishing rod with a reel. Not just a flexible stick—
a real rod, with an actual reel attached.

The Lab’s database had an entry for a rod with a reel. Of course, I gathered the materials and had it made.

Today was the first test of the prototype.

So here I am, at the riverbank on the edge of town. As always, it’s quiet here.

I baited the hook and cast the rod. The line dropped into the water, and I sat on a conveniently placed rock to wait.

“………………”

It was quiet, because I was alone.

Dagaa had gone with Mineha-san.

She had been invited to Torquetum for a fire-dungeon mission. The guild had posted a special request about strange monster sightings, and she was off to investigate and subdue them.

Also, I think she was curious about Mineha-san’s new piece of OOPArts, the “Demon Star Spear.”

Haiyaan, of course, was back at the Lab again today. Though that guy… I once saw him hitting on girls in town. I guess that’s his business, but hopefully it doesn’t turn into trouble.

And so, I found myself alone again after a long while.

“…………”

I waited.

Holding the rod, I stared at the rippling surface. It was quiet—so quiet. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt silence like this.

“Abu-bu! Help! Help me!”

After so much happening recently, this kind of peaceful time felt precious.

And I realized how much people need silence.

When I thought calmly about it, I really was blessed.

My environment. My relationships. My relics. Especially the environment and the people around me—I was far too fortunate.

“Hel—help! Drowning!”

That made me remember yesterday.

No, not about sword stances—about the question I asked Juicy-san.

‘Why do you have such high favorability toward me?’

“…I’d been wondering too.”

But maybe, deep down, it was just insecurity.

When I asked the same question to Mineha-san this morning, she sighed and flicked my forehead.

‘Seriously. What are you even worrying about?’

And I felt like she had nailed it.

Worry. But worry about what?

Am I afraid that if there’s no clear reason for being liked, then I could be hated at any moment?

That must be why I wanted to know the reason.

And Mineha-san saw right through me.

But there was another, even bigger source of anxiety.

That anxiety… was about the relic [Generous]. Pathetic.

I hated it on my own. Assumed things on my own. Depended on it on my own. And then got disappointed on my own.

It was so selfish. I really was the worst.

“Glug—blub! This river’s deeper than I thought! Help—! I’m gonna die!”

Yeah… this river actually is surprisingly deep.

“Wait!?”

Someone was drowning!?—I froze at the sight.

The one flailing and drifting right in front of me wasn’t a fish—or was it?

It had arms and legs and a torso, but then it sank.

I panicked and dove into the river, barely managing to pull it out alive.

“Haaah… haaah… haaah…”

“Uugh… thought I was… going to die… indeed…”

Panting beside me was this… thing?

Its head was a fish. Not a half-fishman hybrid—an entire fish, from head to tail. Blue and shiny.

At this point, I didn’t even know what to say.

A whole fish head on a man’s body. And for some reason, he was wearing a tuxedo. Why?

What the hell was this?

This world really does cough up gag characters every so often. Like Haiyaan. Or Haiyaan. Or the Goddess of Knives.

“…Um, are you alright?”

“Somehow… yes. My thanks. You saved me…”

“I couldn’t just ignore that.”

“In truth, I’d been drifting downstream while drowning for quite a while… but you’re the only one who came to help.”

“Well…”

I didn’t know what to say. Honestly, that’s normal. If something like this came floating by, most people would not jump in after it.

“Ha-choo!”

“Ha-choo!”

We both sneezed. Our wet bodies felt suddenly cold. At this rate, we’d catch a chill.

I gathered some dry wood nearby and used firestone to make a simple campfire. We sat by it to warm up and dry off.

“My name is Gymnema Sylvester.”

He introduced himself while warming up by the fire.

“Gymn… is that your surname?”

“Yes. I’m technically nobility, but don’t mind it. My family is ruined.”

“Uh… so are you a monster?”

“Human. Oh, you mean this head? Don’t worry about it. It’s a mask. Cursed. I’ve had it on for ages now.”

“Is that… safe?”

“It won’t come off anymore. But I can still see and speak, so I won’t die.”

He opened the fish mouth as he said that. Terrifying.

“Why were you drowning, then?”

“I cannot swim.”

“….”

“Why is there always this awkward silence whenever I say that?”

“Anyway, I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Once again, I thank you. By the way, I never asked your name.”

“Wof.”

“A fine name indeed.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. If someday I have a child, I shall name them Gymnema Sylvester Jr.”

…What does that have to do with my name!?

That poor child would end up sounding like someone’s pet dog.

“Well, my clothes are dry now. May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“I wish to go to Hydrangea. Do you know the way?”

“I can take you there.”

“Ohh, most kind.”

I packed away my fishing rod and picked up my basket.

The rod could collapse and store compactly.

If Haiyaan heard I’d come back empty-handed, he’d laugh.

…Though, looking at Gymnema-san, maybe I did get a catch today. Not from the river, but still—let’s call it one fish.

At the Hydrangea Gate, I parted ways with Gymnema.

He said something about gratitude, but I politely declined.

It’s better not to get involved in things like that.
Well, I suppose by helping her I already got involved anyway.

“Now then, what should I do?”

Going back to fishing now… or going home…
Ah, right.

“Knives. I need to restock soon.”

Time to buy some new ones.
A weapon shop would be fine, but… oh, that’s right.

There’s something I need to apologize to Arifa about.

I head toward Arifa’s shop.

She was carrying some crates out in front of the store.
Two small wooden boxes, which she set down on the counter.

Black horns, fiery red hair with her bangs braided.
Tall, with a commanding, vigorous presence—she was a striking beauty.

Her shoulders bare, her top low-cut, and she wore black trousers with one leg torn open, exposing skin.
She resembled Agaro in some ways—well, she was his older sister.

The owner of this antique shop, and a 3rd-Class Explorer.
Known as the “Red Heroine.”

“Oh my, long time no see.”

She looked at me with lively orange eyes and smiled.

“Hello. Actually, I came to apologize to you, Arifa.”
“Oh? About what?”
“The knife I bought here for fifty thousand before… I’ve ended up breaking almost all of them.”
“Broke them? That’s quite the story.”
“You’re… not angry?”
“Why would I be? Once it’s sold, it’s your weapon, and weapons break. From the way you’re acting, you didn’t mistreat it. Honestly, it’s stranger to me that you’d even apologize. Though I am surprised you managed to break so many in a row.”
“S-sorry about that.”
“Hahaha. Oh, that’s right, I heard you became an Explorer?”
“Yes, I did.”
“The witch’s apprentice, right? And you even dove into a tough dungeon with my idiot brother. He didn’t cause you any trouble, did he?”
“On the contrary, he helped me a lot. Ah, and congratulations to Agaro on his promotion to 1st-Class.”
“Thanks. Good grief, my idiot little brother, a 1st-Class…”

Arifa gave a wry smile that carried a trace of pride.
Still, she seemed a bit embarrassed—probably because everyone she met had been congratulating her.

“And where is Agaro now?”
“That fool’s probably out drinking somewhere. Said lately he’s been getting free drinks at all the celebrations. Most likely at the ‘Cider Inn.’”
“Ahaha… Anyway, I came to buy some knives.”
“Knives? Then you’re in luck—I’ve got something just right.”

Arifa opened one of the small wooden boxes she had set on the counter.
Inside were nothing but knives, all sorts of varieties.

“What’s this?”
“A weapons shop elsewhere went out of business, and this is their leftover stock. It just arrived today with the caravan.”
“Wow, may I take a look?”
“Line them up there. Actually—go ahead and pick one you like, I’ll give it to you.”
“Really?”
“Consider it a present for becoming an Explorer. If you want more, they’re between two to five thousand ouro each. No duds in the bunch.”
“Thank you very much.”

I pulled out a few and laid them across the counter.

First, a deeply curved knife with a black grip. Drawing it from its black sheath revealed a beautiful blade.

“This is… impressive.”
“Thinking of choosing that one?”
“Ah, no…”

The blade was fine, but the grip was a knuckle-duster type—you slipped your fingers through.
I’ve never really liked those. I set it aside. The next one… hmm.

None of them felt right. Leaving those laid out, I rummaged deeper into the box.
There really were all kinds in here. Ah—this one.

What I found was a short blade sheathed in brilliant vermilion lacquer.
Amid all the Western-style knives, this lone Japanese-style piece stood out oddly.

The hilt was black lacquer. I drew it, and a straight blade appeared.

“A reverse-choji hamon, huh.”

It gleamed beautifully. Arifa remarked:

“Does that one catch your eye?”
“Yes.”

My memories from a past life recognized this knife. A tantō.
Yes—this one.

I slid the vermilion-sheathed blade into my knife belt.

After thanking Arifa, I left the shop.

My stomach was growling. Perfect timing—I headed toward the Cider Inn.

And there, I encountered—

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter