When the sun began to set, I went back home. The girls had already started making supper by the time I got back.

I talked to the four adults that accompanied them, and there werent any major problems aside from their battles with the higher variation of zombies, the ghouls.

It wasnt bad enough that we had to step in, but it took a while for them to subjugate the ghouls. [s.h.i.+va]

They were just caught off guard since ghouls are much faster than zombies. Theyll be fine as long as we throw em a ghoul or two to practice. [Remiri]

Ill have the grave slime catch some then. Anyway, what do you think about that suggestion? [Ryouma]

After hearing s.h.i.+va-sans and Remiri-sans thoughts, I talked to them about my idea to have the grils go back to town by themselves.

Hmm Even if we overestimate the time it would take them to go back and even with the time theyd spend resting added, I dont think itd be a problem.. [s.h.i.+va]

They made it here in 2 days with our help, so the five of them together should only take about 3 or 4 days at most. [Rheinbach]

s.h.i.+va-san and Rheinbach-sama seemed to like my proposition.

How about you? Hows it going on your side? [Remiri]

Nothing special. Ive been digging magic jewels here and there. The grave slimes took care of all the undead, so there werent any particular Ah- [Ryouma]

As I started to talk, I remembered that feeling I got in the afternoon.

Did you guys experience something similar? [Ryouma]

Nope And we would have realized it if someone were watching since we had our guards up just like you did. [Remiri]

Right I called the undead, but I didnt find anything unusual. Nothing came up either even after casting a search spell. Maybe it really was my imagination after all. [Ryouma]

You get it from time to time. You know that feeling where while youre was.h.i.+ng your head you suddenly go, Ah! Someones watching me! But then, considering the situation, I dont really think thats it.

Suddenly

Kyaa!!!

A high-pitched scream resounded outside. We immediately ran out of the house, and when we looked around, we saw Elia, Kanan, and Riera on their bottoms with their swords out.

I thought someone fell into the river, but their swords are out so I dont think thats the case. Around this time, Mich.e.l.le and Miyabi also came running here. So, at the very least, if someone fell, it wasnt someone we knew. Anyway, their swords are out, so it could be a magical beast or an undead, but I dont see any.

What happened! [Ryouma]

We were trying to draw water from the river, but when we pulled the bucket up, something was inside. [Elia]

Elia pointed to the fallen bucket to which a long rope was affixed. Something black was definitely there.

Is that a fish? Or maybe a magical beast? It doesnt look hostile though. [s.h.i.+va]

Could go either way, but Thats really creepy. [Remiri]

Sebasu, do you know something? [Rheinbach]

No, unfortunately. [Sebasu}

The adults discussed among themselves the ident.i.ty of the unidentified mysterious animal. I have some idea myself what it is, but the bigger question is why its here

It could be a goosefish or maybe a flounder. No, maybe its a stingray? Hmm it could also be a catfish [Ryouma]

Ryouma-kun, do you know what it is? [Riera]

No, but parts of it resemble some of the fishes Ive heard of. [Ryouma]

The fish had a flat body, and at its center was a bulge that resembled a dome. It had a pair of big eyes and a mouth like a goosefish, whiskers like those of a catfish, five on each side, and a tail behing it just like that of a stingray. The thin part of its body and its whiskers fluttered about as it squirmed on the ground.

Its all jumbled up, I have no idea what it is anymore. Besides, arent catfishes supposed to live in the ocean? What is this thing doing in a river?

In any case, you girls were just scared by this thing, and you werent in any danger, right? [Ryouma]

The girls nodded, apologizing for the trouble theyve caused. I let them off, saying its good theyre not hurt.

So, what to do with this? [Mich.e.l.le}

Mich.e.l.le pointed to the fish crawling on the ground.

Eat it? [Ryouma]

You can eat that thing!? [Elia]

We did get a request from the guild to investigate And theres not a lot of other reports we could give right now, so we might as well see if we can actually eat it. Identify says its neither poisonous nor being fed on by parasites, so there shouldnt be any problems. [Ryouma]

It looks like the fish in my previous life too, so its probably edible. Chances to eat fresh fish are rare in this country. In fact, Ive never actually been able to eat fresh ocean fish since coming to this world, so I really want to eat it.

I took the fish and spread it over a workbench outside made with earth magic. The girls were using the kitchen inside, and everyone seems to find the fish disgusting, so Im working here. I dont really see whats so disgusting though. I mean it is a bit grotesque, but its not that bad.

Anyway, I used Identify on the mysterious fish.

The first thing I cut was the tail since I thought it might have poison, but apparently, it didnt have any. Therere no parasites in its body either, but theres a lot of trash in its stomach and intestine. The stomach should be safe to eat as long as I run it through the cleaner slime first, but I think Ill have the scavenger slime take care of the trash inside the intestine.

After dissecting the fish, I found out its teeth had three layers. They were really sharp, and when broken, they could cut even better than knives. They could probably be used to make arrowheads.

I turned the fish around. The thin part of the fishs body resembled engawa. Looking good. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

After inspecting the fish, I preserved most of its edible parts with ice magic. The girls had already made supper, so we wont be able to eat most of this, but Id at least like to have some of the engawa.

I heated the engawa for a bit until it was crunchy, then I took a bite Delicious! It was like b.u.t.ter as it melted in my mouth, filling every corner with its flavor. My body came undone.

Ryouma-san, suppers almost ready. [Elia]

Eh? A-Ahh! Right! [Ryouma]

When I looked to the direction of her voice, I noticed she was calling me from a sizable distance. Does she hate this thing that much?

After heating the engawa, I served it to everyone as part of the days supper, and they all seemed to like it. But, for some reason, everyone except the two formers soldiers, Rheinbach-sama and s.h.i.+va-san, mentioned that they didnt want to eat it frequently despite being delicious.

This fish tastes good but it looks weird. Their disgust for it must be on a psichological level.

Im happy the fish is delicious, but its too bad they dont like it that much. Like this the night pa.s.sed.