The Mysterious Fish Appears

* * *

Suddenly, an impact ran through my side.

A nasty sound from the bones, cracking.

Blood spills from my mouth.

I was clinging to Zaratopus head using Silverfish so I wouldnt fall off.

That worked against me.

Because I was clinging, I couldnt deliberately blow away and scatter the damage as I normally would.

<<<Ah, Anego!? Anego, whats wrong!?>>>

Noticing my abnormality, Zaratopu flusteredly panics.

Calm down

I get on my knees and hold my side, but still calm it down.

Then, I glance to the side.

The direction the attack was launched from.

Zapaaaahn!

Then, what surfaced there was a giant fish.

Giant, but not as much as the giant shrimp and giant squid from earlier.

Its difficult to compare because the length and shape are different, but well, it gives the impression of being about the same size as Zaratopu.

However, whats characteristic about that giant fish is not its size but its appearance.

Its entire body is covered so densely with barnacles that its original form is unrecognizable.

And its eyes are clouded white it doesnt look alive at all.

Its an eerie giant fish that doesnt give any sense of life.

<<<Hieeee! What is this thing!? A-A ghost fish!?>>>

Zaratopu, whose concentration was interrupted for a moment, has completely lost its nerve, and its cowardly personality is showing on the surface as it cowers from that eerie giant fish.

But, indeed, a ghost, huh?

Is this thing whats called an undead?

<Thats impossible!>

And here, the one who interjected was Extra-sama.

<In this world of Ardyst, currently, the soul collection system created by the god of the underworld, Asava, is in operation! Except for a very few cases, the souls of the dead are automatically collected and reincarnated! Theres no way undead can occur!>

Even if you say that

I glare at the ghost fish, as Zaratopu calls it, while holding my aching side.

As I said earlier, the cloudy white eyes.

The mouth thats left open in a stupid, vacant way and doesnt move.

Speaking of not moving, thats right, since it floated to the surface, this thing hasnt moved an inch.

As I thought, no matter how you look at it, its dead

But even so, how and why did it attack me?

Or rather, why did it show up at this time?

Filled with numerous questions, Zaratopu and I were confronted by the ghost fish in confusion.

However, thats when it happened!

<<<You guys have done well>>>

An arrogant and unpleasant Telepathy voice reached my and Zaratopus heads!

This is

<<<Hieeee! The ghost fish is talking to us!>>>

While calming down Zaratopu, who is completely frightened and wriggling skillfully while backing away, I continue my speculation.

Indeed, the Telepathy just now was delivered from the ghost fish in front of us.

Even if I look around, there are no other beings that seem capable of doing such a thing.

But undead dont exist in this world, right?

<Except for a very few cases!>

Then, in other words?

The owner of this Telepathy voice is?

I stare intently at the ghost fishs figure.

And I realized.

The existence of the living, other than Zaratopu and me, in this place.

Ah, I see.

I slowly point my finger at the ghost fishs forehead and say.

The one talking to us is and incidentally, the one who attacked me is you, right? Barnacle.

Shushushuuuu!!!

The moment I made that assertion!

From inside the particularly large barnacle attached to the ghost fishs forehead, a giant cirrus shining in silver appeared!

!!

Its dazzling!

I unconsciously narrow my eyes and stop the Magic Perception that I had been using without thinking.

Thats how powerful and vast the magical power emitted by that cirrus was!

<<<Hmph, for a lowly land creature, you have a clever mind.>>>

That giant barnacle, while swinging its cirrus intimidatingly.

<<<Very well. I shall permit you to hear my great name.>>>

It introduced itself in the same arrogant voice as before.

<<<My name is Barnacle Garozg! The barnacle that has obtained the power of god! The king of barnacles who will eventually rule this great sea no! The entire world!!>>>