Chapter 37: Meat Hunting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 37: Meat Hunting
Day two of the operation.
After hauling up the nets, I took a brief moment to step into the cabin.
“How are you feeling, Young Lady?”
“Alto…”
She answered feebly at my call.
Surprisingly, the Young Lady was prone to seasickness. While the rolling of the sea was certainly on a different level than the swaying of a carriage, she was the only one in our party who couldn’t even stand, ending up bedridden.
Unable to watch her suffer, Arasen took over nursing duties, while I took on the role of the heavy lifter.
Captain Maya and the other crew members initially looked at us with dissatisfied eyes. However, once they saw that my strength and speed in hauling everything—from the traps filled with bait and hooks to the heavy nets—were several times greater than theirs, they quickly backed down.
“A man really is built different, I tell ya.”
“Them weak lasses can’t even lift a single trap properly.”
I didn’t bother responding. We had been treated as honored guests who came for a quest, yet half the party was out of commission. To save face, I focused entirely on the work.
Since the work speed increased exponentially compared to usual, no one complained, and it became acceptable for me to check on the Young Lady’s condition like this.
“Is your stomach still upset?”
“I feel so nauseous… and my head is spinning…”
The only silver lining was that Arasen didn’t get seasick.
Why didn’t I? It’s not something to brag about, but the Bertrand Unit had been to almost every front line at least once. That included several naval battles.
Ah, I remember now. Janks used to get just as exhausted from seasickness. They really are siblings.
Unconsciously, I took the Young Lady’s hand and did exactly what I used to do for Janks. I pressed firmly, but not too painfully, on the center of her palm. Doing this makes you feel a bit better while the pressure is applied. It was a first-aid trick I learned from Janks.
“You’re like my brother…”
“…”
She gave me her hand obediently and offered a faint smile. Since I was doing for the sister what I had learned from the brother, it was hard to return that smile.
As I massaged her palm, her breathing grew steadier. A light sweat broke out on her forehead, and only then was she able to close her eyes and rest for a moment.
Once I confirmed she had fallen into a light doze, I pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped away the sweat.
A handkerchief—surprising, isn’t it? After the war ended, I bought it thinking I might need it for Mirei’s party. I thought they might need it when things were tough, during times when it was hard to endure alone.
But it seemed those girls preferred a man’s embrace over a handkerchief. And someone else’s embrace at that.
“Ahem! Hmph!”
I heard the captain’s dry cough from outside. She was telling me to stop and come out. The Young Lady had finally fallen asleep, so this was enough.
As I tried to pull my hand away, she gently gripped my thumb to keep me from leaving. I had no choice but to open my palm again and massage her hand with both of mine. Only when her breathing slowed further did I quickly set her hand down and exit the cabin.
The women’s gazes were a bit overwhelming.
Come to think of it, the sun was so strong that I had taken off my shirt. I hadn’t intended to, but it was so hot and I was so drenched in sweat that I couldn’t stand it.
Surprisingly, my body is quite lean and solid, with muscles forged through actual combat.
“My, my… the more I look, the more my heart flutters.”
“Did you see that? Holding his woman’s hand and wiping her sweat ‘cause she’s sick.”
“If it were Luke, he would’ve just said ‘don’t be sick’ and been done with it.”
“He’s got a great body, and the more you look, the more charming he is, don’t ya think?”
“But he’s got those fire-hole scars on his body, just like you’d expect. It’s a bit scary.”
They were just saying those things because I was working hard. I wouldn’t be fooled anymore. I used to hear those kinds of empty compliments back in the early days of Mirei’s party. Back then, I thought they were sincere and tortured myself with hope. Hope that I could actually be with them.
“Hmph, that’s a real man right there. You lot shouldn’t just look at faces; you need to meet a man who knows how to do his job properly when it counts.”
“Aww, but if I’m gonna live with ‘em, they might as well be easy on the eyes too.”
“You wenches! Have you still not grown up?!”
“Why are you gettin’ all snappy! I’m already annoyed ‘cause we ain’t catchin’ no fish!”
Captain Maya tried to take my side, which only sparked an argument with the crew. Everyone was already on edge because the nets were coming up with almost no mackerel.
“Hey, city girl. Are city men always that sweet?”
“…Hardly.”
I heard Arasen’s voice answering a crew member’s question. For some reason, her voice sounded drained of energy.
* * *
The work continued, but there was no significant harvest. The baskets of hooks and the nets attached to the traps, which were filled with plenty of bait, only yielded a few small fry and a tiny bit of mackerel.
“Tsk, another empty haul.”
One crew member spat out the words in frustration, but there was only emptiness in her voice.
“Something’s strange.”
“What is it?”
Captain Maya scanned the fish in the net and picked up a few.
“Every now and then, there’s one with its body bitten off, like something tore into it.”
“There’s plenty of predators in this sea, could happen.”
“Hmph… what kind of predator is it that scares all the other fish away?”
“Maybe the fish got tired of listenin’ to your foul mouth and left, Captain.”
“What was that?!”
The crew didn’t pay much mind to the captain’s suspicion, but I was different. As a fellow predator, I could tell just by looking at the mackerel heads that whatever did this was incredibly vicious.
Suppressing the anticipation of when it would finally show itself, I blended in with the other crew members and hauled up the next net.
“Heave! Heave!”
Alright, where are you?
“Huh? Why won’t it budge?”
“Whoa, did it get snagged on the bottom?”
If you’re the ones I think you are, there’s no way you’d just let me pass.
“Alto, pull harder!”
Because neither you nor I can live a single moment without smelling blood. And the blood of a truly strong opponent at that.
I pulled the net with a moderate amount of strength, but it didn’t move an inch. That was because the creature on the other side of the net was engaged in a tug-of-war with me. Since I was matching its strength perfectly, the crew felt as if the net wasn’t moving at all.
I was playing with it.
The creature realized this. I could tell because the tension in the net was slowly decreasing.
“Arasen.”
“A-Alto? You’re speaking informally to me…”
“Look through my gear next to the Young Lady. There are two large daggers with spikes on the handles. Bring them.”
“Daggers with spikes…?”
“Hurry.”
At my urge, Arasen rushed into the cabin. They wouldn’t be hard to find. They would be very heavy to carry, but there was no time.
And as soon as I gave that order—
“Whoa?!”
The creature let go of the net. The crew member in front of me stumbled slightly. Just as I was about to move to catch her, the creature suddenly yanked the net back toward itself with immense force.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
“Eris!! You wenches, Eris is gettin’ dragged away! Grab her! Grab her now!”
The crew member named Eris was hoisted into the air. Look at this.
I let out a hollow laugh at the pathetic trick. The moment I put strength into the net—
Creeeeeak!
The net tore away completely, and Eris was flung off the deck, soaring into the air. At this rate, she was going to fall into the sea.
“Eris!!”
“Mommyyyyyyy—!!!!”
Eris cried out for her mother, her face covered in tears, while the people on the ship watched in horror.
Sorry, but I won’t let that happen.
“Uoooooh!”
After a short run-up, I stepped on the ship’s railing and leaped. Having jumped just as the ship surged, I managed to grab both Eris and the net. The long, massive net stretched down into the sea.
“Let’s see your face!”
I wrapped the net around my arm and pulled with all my might. I felt the creature being dragged up without much difficulty. It was amusing, yet a fun attempt for something that wasn’t even a Demon to try and win with pure strength.
And the creature didn’t give up its resistance until the very end.
Bubble, bubble, bubble.
White foam continued to rise from beneath the water as a massive shadow approached. Finally, caught in the net I had hauled up, the creature revealed itself. A head half as thick as this large ship finally emerged from the water.
[Krawaaaaaaar—!!!]
“A-A Serpent…! It’s a Serpent!”
Ho, the captain recognized the type of monster immediately. I wonder what she used to do?
Eris and I were still suspended in the air. Noticing this, the Serpent opened its maw wide, preparing to swallow us in one gulp.
“Hiii… Mommy…!”
Eris froze, unable even to scream. The creature’s mouth, packed with rows of teeth, drew closer by the second.
What now?
Heh. It smells fishy, but this will have to do, Alto.
Naturally—
I have to hunt it!
As we came within range of the creature’s maw, it tried to snap its jaws shut. I curled my hand into a fist. The glinting teeth flashed before my eyes, coming in to slice us in two.
I threw a punch at the sharpest part of those teeth.
CRAAAAACK!
[…?!]
With a sound much duller than expected, the counterforce of the blow sent us flying back through the air.
“It spat them out!”
“No! The man punched it and made it spit ‘em out! Everyone, get ready to catch them!”
Contrary to the captain’s worry, I landed safely back on the ship.
“Eris!”
The crew rushed over to take Eris, but her entire body was frozen from the shock. She could only shiver intermittently, unable to do anything.
I shouted at the panicked women.
“Everyone, get inside! I’ll handle this thing! Arasen! Where are my weapons!”
“Just… a moment…! They’re so heavy I can’t even lift them!”
I heard straining sounds from inside the cabin, but it seemed Arasen wasn’t strong enough.
[Krawaaaaaaar—!!!!!]
Furthermore, the Serpent, enraged by the punch, unleashed a shockwave and lunged its teeth at me again.
Ah, this sea snake bastard is slippery, so it’s easier to catch it with blades…
What should I do?
As I was racking my brain, I heard a voice calling me from behind.
“Alto!”
It was the Young Lady.
Whoosh. Two heavy, solid daggers cut through the air with a weighty sound, flying toward me in an arc.
As expected of the Dakuren bloodline. To throw both Roar and Howling, one in each hand, required no ordinary strength.
“Blegh…!”
Even her seasickness was identical to her brother’s.
“Go kill it… urgh…!”
When the party leader gives an order like that, there’s no way a hunting dog wouldn’t obey.
It’s been a long time since I’ve smelled blood firsthand.
“By the way, Captain, shouldn’t you get into the cabin?”
“If I don’t hold the helm, the ship’ll capsize!”
“I see. But Captain.”
“What! I’m busy!”
Why so cranky?
“How much does a Serpent sell for?”
She paused.
“I asked how much?”
When I asked again, she looked at me with exasperated eyes. What, did she think I was just going to kill it for fun?
“Four years ago, when we subjugated one smaller than that, it sold for 40 million Dalk.”
“40 million Dalk!”
With that much, I could pay off the debt this stupid Alto guy incurred right away.
“Now I’m motivated!”
I let the blood circulate through my entire body. I pumped up and tensed my muscles. My body instantly flushed red, its contours becoming even more defined. Holding my beloved swords, Roar and Howling, in each hand, I let out a boisterous laugh.
“40 million Dalk! Let the hunt begin!”
Let’s see if your blood smells like 40 million Dalk too!!!