Chapter 247 – We Caught a Big One!
“Baah! Let’s have a race to the mountain!!”
Celes and the herd of Mopes began to run up the mountain. As they were sheep monsters, they were good at mountain climbing.
To my side, Mette shouted.
“Don’t get too excited! …No one is listening. Well, let’s see how long their energy will last.”
“I’m sure they will rest when they get tired. We should just take our time.”
I said, and Iria, Mette, Melk, and Asuha nodded.
Today, not only were we accompanying the Mopes, who wanted to go to a cool place, but we also wanted to do some work on the mountain.
First, a path that connected the foot of the mountain to the top. I would raise durable pillars made of purple iron, and then run a rope made of iron thread through them.
As I had prepared in advance, the work itself could be done in an instant. And so after creating checkpoints in between, we made our way up the mountain.
Mette looked around and said,
“As I expected…it has become so much more lively here.”
“I was surprised by the village houses and defense walls last time, but the buildings and roads have now spread to the other side of the river.”
As Iria said, Fendel’s territory had expanded greatly.
Roads stretched out in every direction, and I could see the buildings that I had built. Boats traveled back and forth along the river, and airships flew in the sky.
I looked at this and said,
“Indeed, it is quite developed. But forests and grass fields are important as well. Perhaps it would be best to not build any more buildings. The mountains, wild vegetables and herbs are also our treasures…”
“Nature is important.”
Said Melk, and I nodded.
“Aye. Let us try to protect this current scenery as much as possible… I know. Speaking of herbs, I have not had an opportunity to really inspect the plants on this mountain.”
Asuha answered.
“Previously, we were in a hurry because of the dragon and the Demon King army. If it is for healing wounds…how about this one? We often used it for such things.”
Asuha said as she picked a white flower that was growing on the mountain.
“That is a tear flower, isn’t it? It smells nice, and humans use it as well. However, you cannot grow it yourself, and so it is rare.”
Upon hearing this, Iria and Mette moved their faces close to the flower.
“It really does smell nice…”
“A sweet scent.”
Mette said as she picked one of the flowers.
“It smells delicious. Can you eat it?”
“Aye. Well, you drink it as a tea. Later, we can try some when we reach the top of the mountain.”
I said, and the three answered happily.
I continued to look at the mountain plants as we made our way up.
“That is a high mushroom. A very expensive and nutritious ingredient… This mountain is amazing.”
“We eat this mushroom so much that we are bored of it. But I suppose it is different in other places.”
Asuha was surprised at my reaction to the plants.
So for the Tengus, it was a very common ingredient. Fendel really was rich with great resources, such as purple iron and iron teak.
As I gathered any plants that we could use, I heard someone shout, ‘Baahh!’ from a high place.
“Was that…Celes’s voice?”
I wondered if it was some kind of emergency, but Melk replied calmly.
“It is the way Celes cries to draw attention to something. Do not worry.”
“So you can tell… I would not be able to tell the difference.”
As Mette said, I could not tell the difference either.
“Ms. Celes must have found something. Let us go.”
I nodded to Iria, and so we then headed in the direction of the Mopes. The higher up on the mountain we were, the more sparse the trees became.
Eventually, we could hear the sounds of running water.
Apparently, there was a river flowing up ahead. The wind was cool.
“It’s over here.”
When we came out of the forest, we could see a small river. It was the source. If you followed it down, then it likely connected to the waterfall at the bottom.
“Oh, a river.”
Celes and the Mopes were gathered around it. And they were all looking quietly at the river.
“Celes, did you call?”
“Baah! Sir Joshua, there is a giant fish in this river!”
“Fish?”
“Look closely…”
“Hmm? Oh!”
As I squinted my eyes, a giant fish jumped out of the water with a splash.
It was like a large dog, and had rainbow-colored scales…
“A kaiser bass! I didn’t know they were here.”
“Is it a rare fish?”
Asked Iria, and I nodded.
“Aye, they are a type of monster. They multiply very quickly and eat anything… And so they are mortal enemies of people who fish in lakes.”
Asuha then said,
“I see. So they are monsters. There used to be much smaller fish in this river, but ever since this one appeared, it has been more difficult to catch them.”
“Perhaps this one ate them, and so the others escaped.”
I said, and then Melk flashed her claws.
“Then Melk will catch it.”
“Wait, wait. There is a waterfall up ahead, and it will be dangerous to go inside. That being said, if you use lightning magic, then the small fish will die. And so I’ll make a fishing rod to catch it.”
I quickly used some wood materials and string in order to make several fishing rods, which I handed to the others.
“As for bait, stones and leaves should suffice.”
“Will it really bite something like that?”
Asked Mette. And so I took out the thing I had made from magic workshop.
It was a model of a small fish that was made from stone. Its fins and tail was made of leaves.
“Oh, it’s in the shape of a fish!”
“Aye. The kaiser bass will surely bite onto it.”
I made several of them and distributed them to the others.
“The kaiser bass is very strong when it pulls. And so if you feel that you can’t hold it, you must let go of the rod immediately.”
The other nodded understandingly, and then we turned towards the river.
We had gone fishing before at nearby rivers or at White Sand Island. And so I wasn’t worried about the others.
And like that, we started to fish.
Nearby, the Mopes were resting, and Celes said,
“Baah! We’ll be waiting for some delicious fish.”
“Leave it to us. We’ll catch a lot and bring them to the Tengus.”
Melk was moving her fishing rod and trying to make the kaiser bass bite it quickly. Mette was also shaking hers. It looked like she was practicing with a weapon.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Both of you. The basics of fishing is to keep still. If you just let the bait hang like this, the fish will come to you.”
It wasn’t like I was especially good, but this was common knowledge.
And then, in the next instant, something started to tug on my string.
“…Woah! Tsk!”
I managed to keep my position and hold the rod firmly.
However, the rod was bending tightly, and the force that was pulling grew stronger.
“It’s a big one… I might have to give up.”
“No, Joshua! I shall help you!”
Said Mette, and then she stood behind me as if in an embrace as she grabbed my fishing rod. I could feel the soft padding against my back, but I ignored it.
And then Mette picked me up and pulled.
“Let’s pull it out all at once! Arrgh!”
With a great splash, the giant fish appeared from the river.
And like that, we pulled it out onto dry land.
“Bahh! Huge! It looks delicious!”
“Phew. It really is a big one! Right, Joshua?”
Mette said in my ear, and I nodded.
“Uh, aye… And not only is it big…it is very soft…and tender…”
“Baah? Are you alright, Sir Joshua?”
Asked Celes, and I shook my head.
While I didn’t turn to look, I heard Iria mutter, ‘Next is my turn…’
After that, we continued to catch the kaiser basses for some time.
In the end, we caught twenty of them.
And while there were still more inside of the river, now some of the smaller fish should increase as well.
And so we took the kaiser bass with us and headed for the top of the mountain where the Tengus lived.
Thanks for the treat.