The day after I slept great on my new bed.
Today was fishing day. But this wasn't just ordinary fishing.
"The lab really is amazing."
Right now, I was holding a fishing rod with a reel attached. It wasn't just a bendy stick anymore.
A reel. It actually had a proper reel.
The lab's database had a fishing rod with a reel. A proper rod.
Naturally, I gathered the materials and had one made.
Today was the test run of the first prototype.
And so, I made my way to the riverside on the outskirts of town. Quiet as always.
I baited the hook and cast the rod.
It hit the water, and I sat down on a conveniently sized rock nearby to wait for a while.
"......"
It was quiet because I was alone.
Dagaa had gone along with Mineha.
Mineha had been invited by Torquetam to the fire dungeon.
Apparently there had been a string of strange monster sighting reports from the guild, and they wanted her to investigate and subdue them.
She'd also been curious about her new OOPArt, the "Phantom Star Manifest Spear."
Haiyarn was at the lab again today. That guy, though—he'd been hitting on girls in town the other day.
Well, that was his business, but I hoped it wouldn't turn into a problem.
So that's how I ended up alone for the first time in a while.
"........."
I wait.
Fishing rod in hand, I stare at the water's surface, rippling with concentric rings.
First off, it's quiet. When was the last time it was this peaceful?
"H-help, help, I'm drowning, somebody help!"
After everything that's been going on, a calm moment like this is a real relief.
And it really hits me that people need silence.
When I think about it calmly, I realize I've got it pretty good.
My surroundings. My relationships. Relics. Especially the first two — I'm ridiculously fortunate.
"H-help me, I'm gonna drown!"
That reminds me of yesterday.
No, not about the setup — about the question I asked Juicy.
"Why do you have such a high affinity for me?"
"......I thought it was strange, but..."
Maybe what I really felt was anxiety.
When I asked Mineha the same thing this morning, she sighed and flicked me on the forehead.
"Seriously. What are you so anxious about?"
When she said that, it felt like she'd hit the nail right on the head.
Anxiety. What exactly was I anxious about?
What scared me was the anxiety of not knowing why I was being liked.
Because I never knew when I might be disliked.
That was why I wanted to know the reason I was liked.
Mineha had seen right through me.
The bigger anxiety was the other one, though.
That anxiety — my anxiety toward the Relic [Generous]. It was the worst.
I arbitrarily disliked it, arbitrarily assumed things, arbitrarily relied on it, and arbitrarily got disappointed.
So selfish. Wasn't I the worst?
"S-spluh, bluh, glub, this river, deeper than I thought, help, gonna die."
Yeah, that was the thing. This river was surprisingly deep, huh.
"Hm!?"
S-someone's drowning — I stared at it, struck dumb.
What was being swept along and drowning right in front of me was a fish. Or was it a fish?
Either way, it had limbs and a torso and — oh, it just sank.
I dove into the river in a panic. I managed to pull it out.
"Hah… hah… hah… hah…"
"…O-oh… thought I was a goner… I did…"
I was panting hard, exhausted. And next to me lay this completely spent — what was this, exactly?
The head was a fish. But not like a mermaid with a fish head on a human body.
No, it was a single fish from head to tail, the whole thing. And it was bright blue.
At this point, I had no idea what to say.
The head was a fish, but the body was a man's. For some reason, it was wearing a tuxedo. Why.
Seriously, what even was this thing.
This world really did have creatures like this sometimes — things straight out of a gag manga.
Like Haiyarn. Like Haiyarn. Like the goddess of knives.
"...Um, are you all right?"
"Somehow... thank you. You saved me..."
"That's something I really can't just overlook."
"I... truthfully, while drowning and being swept along a considerable distance... you were the only one who came to my aid, so it would seem."
"That's..."
There was nothing I could say. But maybe that was just normal.
If something like this came drifting by, you'd have to be out of your mind to help it.
"Hh-choo!"
"Ah-choo!"
We both sneezed at the same time. Our wet bodies were rapidly growing cold.
At this rate, we'd catch a cold. I gathered some nearby dead wood.
Using a flint on the collected wood, I made a simple bonfire. That way we could dry our bodies and clothes.
"My name is Gymnema Sylvestre."
He introduced himself while warming himself by the fire.
"Gymn... a surname?"
"I am technically a noble, but you need not concern yourself with that whatsoever. My family has fallen on hard times, you see."
"...So, is that a monster?"
"I'm human? Ah, this head. Pay it no mind. It's a mask. I'm cursed, you see. I've been wearing it nonstop for quite some time now."
"Is... is that safe?"
"It's not as though I can remove it anymore. I can see and I speak, so I won't die from it."
With that, Gymnema opened his mouth. A fish's mouth... terrifying.
"Then why were you drowning?"
"I... am hopeless with water."
"..."
"Why is it that every time I say that, there is an awkward silence?"
"Putting that aside, I'm glad you're safe."
"Allow me to thank you properly. Thank you. Oh, I never asked your name."
"I'm Wof."
"Quite the fine name."
"Is it?"
"If I were to have a child in the future, I intend to name them Gymnema Sylvestre Junior."
Has absolutely nothing to do with my name.
That kid, once he grew up, would probably introduce himself by his pet dog's name.
"Now then, my clothes are dry. I have one question, if you would permit it."
"Go ahead."
"I'd like to go to Hydrangea. Do you happen to know the way?"
"If that's the case, I can guide you there."
"Oh, much obliged."
I put away my fishing rod and picked up my basket.
The fishing rod compresses and expands for easy storage.
If Haiyaan found out I caught nothing, she'd probably laugh.
No wait — I look at Gymnema.
In a sense, he's catch number... I guess I can count that. Even though I didn't technically catch anything.
I part ways with Gymnema at the gate of Hydrangea.
He kept thanking me, but I politely declined.
Better not to get involved in things like that.
Well, I was already involved the moment I decided to help.
"Now then, what should I do?"
Going back to fish some more... but then again, heading home...
Oh, right.
"My knives. I need to restock soon."
I should buy some new ones.
The weapons shop would work, but... ah, that's right.
There's something I need to apologize to Arifa about.
I head toward Arifa's shop.
Arifa was carrying cargo out front of her shop.
Two small wooden crates. She set them down on the counter.
Black horns. Her fiery red hair was braided into a front braid.
She was a tall, striking beauty who gave off a valiant aura from her imposing figure.
She wore a top that left her shoulders and chest exposed, and black pants that were torn on one leg, showing skin underneath.
She bore a certain resemblance to Agaro — because she was his older sister.
She was the owner of this antique shop and a Rank III delver. They called her the Red Heroine.
"Oh my, it's been a while."
She looked at me with those lively orange eyes and smiled.
"Hi. Actually, Arifa, there's something I need to apologize to you about."
"Oh my, what is it?"
"About the knife I bought here before for fifty thousand — it actually broke on me."
"Broke? Now that's quite the tale."
"You're not angry?"
"Angry? There's no reason to be. You've already bought it, and weapons break. From the way you're acting, it doesn't sound like you were careless with it. If anything, it'd be strange for you to apologize. That said, I am surprised it broke in quick succession like that."
"S-sorry."
"Ha ha ha! Oh, right. I heard. You became a delver, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I did."
"The witch's apprentice, huh — ah, you must have gone deep into that terrible dungeon with our idiot. That idiot, he wasn't too much trouble, was he?"
"Actually, I'm the one he helped. Oh, and congrats on Agaro's promotion to Rank I."
Thanks. Seriously, that idiot reaching Rank I..."
Arifa-san gave a wry smile, looking somewhat happy about it.
There was a hint of embarrassment too, though. She'd probably already heard the same thing from everyone she met.
"What about Agaro?"
"That idiot's off drinking somewhere. He kept saying lately how people keep treating him to drinks for the celebration. Well, it's the Cidre Inn anyway."
"Ha ha ha... So, I came to buy a knife."
"A knife? Actually, I've got just the thing."
Arifa-san opened one of the small wooden boxes on the counter.
It was nothing but knives inside. All kinds of knives, packed in neatly.
"What's this?"
"A weapons shop went under in another district. This is their inventory — it just arrived on today's caravan."
"Oh, can I take a look?"
"Spread them out there, sure. Pick one you like — it's on the house."
"Really?"
"A little celebration gift for becoming a delver. If you want to buy more, they go for about 2,000 to 5,000 oro each. None of them should be duds."
"Thank you."
I pulled several out of the wooden box and laid them across the counter.
First was a heavily curved knife with a black grip. When I drew it from its black sheath, a clean, gleaming blade caught my eye.
"This one's... pretty nice."
"Going with that one?"
"Oh, no."
The blade was impressive, but the grip... a knuckle-duster. The kind where you thread your fingers through.
Not really my thing. I put it back. The next one... hmm.
Something just didn't feel right. I left the displayed pieces as they were and rummaged through the wooden box.
There really is a lot in here. Oh, this knife.
What I found was a short blade housed in a vivid vermilion scabbard.
Among all the Western-style pieces, this single Japanese one stood out conspicuously.
The hilt was coated in black lacquer. When I drew it, a straight blade emerged.
"The temper line is a reverse clove pattern."
It shone beautifully. Arifa spoke up.
"Does that interest you?"
"Yeah."
My past-life memories recognized this knife. A short blade.
I'll go with this one. I tucked the red-sheathed short blade into my knife belt.
I thanked Arifa and left the shop.
I was getting hungry, so the timing was perfect. I headed for the Cider Pavilion.
And that's where I met someone.