Rest used magic to float the three sharks he'd slain while searching for monsters and carried them to the fishing village.
The villagers hadn't been able to go fishing since yesterday, so when Rest placed the sharks on the beach, they gathered around and began to make a commotion.
"Oh! That's some fine shark!"
"We can make some tasty tsukeage from it!"
"Another feast tonight!"
When Rest returned with the three sharks, the villagers of the fishing village came out to greet him with cheers.
The villagers were dancing for joy around the sharks lined up on the beach.
"Oh! The great noble!"
"I just happened to find them and killed them. Eat them as you like."
"Great noble... you drove away the monsters, healed our wounds, and even brought us something this amazing..."
"You're like a god... Thank you, thank you..."
"...Could you stop bowing to me? It's embarrassing, to be honest."
Rest was taken aback by the villager kneeling and pressing their hands together.
His reputation had skyrocketed since he'd come to this village.
All he'd received in return was dinner and alcohol, but it didn't feel bad to be thanked so wholeheartedly.
"By the way... can this shark be eaten?"
"Of course. There's no head, but this is a horn shark, isn't it? It'll make good tsukeage."
"Tsukeage...?"
It was a dish name he wasn't familiar with.
When he asked what kind of dish it was, an elderly villager cheerfully explained it to him.
「It's a food made by grinding up the fillets of this, making them fine, then kneading in grated potatoes. Sometimes we also add leftover vegetable scraps.」
「Lady Sanada was also fond of it. She used to drink sake with deep-fried tsukeage as a snack.」
「We can't use precious oil extravagantly, so we mostly just roast it over fire or boil it in a pot.」
「Huh… so it's really a food similar to kamaboko, after all…」
Probably, this food was also spread by the queen dowager.
Perhaps this was also one of her favorite foods in her past life.
「I'll make it during the day and bring it to the inn later.」
「Ah, I'm counting on you.」
「Alright! Let's take it apart before it spoils! Everyone, get to it!」
The villagers brought knives and began to butcher the shark all together.
With practiced hands, they removed the internal organs and cut it into blocks.
「Oh…」
What is this… Even though it's a gruesome sight, strangely, it's compelling and interesting to watch.
I've never seen one, but this might be what a tuna butchering show feels like.
「Ah, Rest. You're back.」
「Lady Celestine.」
As he was inadvertently absorbed in the scene, Celestine spoke to him. Behind her, there were also her guard subordinates.
「…!」
Celestine's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the shark being butchered, but like the iron-willed young lady she is, she quickly composed her expression.
"Excuse me, I'd like to talk to you about something..."
"Ah, shall we move?"
Rest aside, this sight must have been hard for Celestine.
The two walked side by side from the beach toward the inn.
"I've already arranged for food supplies. It's a large amount, so it'll take time, but I think it should arrive within a week."
"A week… well, I suppose that should be fine?"
He didn't know how much reserve the village had, but there was also the shark from today.
There probably wouldn't be a shortage so severe that people starved.
"Also… I discreetly informed the lord who governs this land about the damage the monsters caused. I made the inquiry under the name of House Crocus, so I think we'll get some kind of response soon."
"I see… well, I won't get my hopes up."
The lord had received petitions from the villagers yet had done nothing and left them ignored.
What's more, these were monsters that even Rest found hard to handle. Even if the lord did take action, Rest couldn't imagine he would be able to accomplish anything.
"Thank you, you've been a big help."
"No, not at all. So… how did it go with the monsters?"
"We didn't find it… even just searching is going to be tough."
"I see… It is in the sea, so there's no helping it."
"Ah… but I've thought of one thing."
The scene when he had defeated the one-horned shark surfaced in Rest's mind.
The blood spreading across the sea. A large number of one-horned sharks had gathered there, swarming.
"I want to try something around tonight. Would you mind coming with me?"
"Of course. If there is anything I can do, anything at all."
Celestine smiled gracefully and placed her hand on her chest.
Truly reliable.
Rest nodded deeply and told her about his little idea.
-------------------- I am posting the continuation episodes in the limited status note.
If you would like, please read them here as well.