16 - CHAPTER XIV -- FULL OF FISH AND SHELLFISH

We get a lot of food and sand from the sea and move to the base we built on top of a rocky hill.

Now it's time for dinner. Since we're here, we're having a seafood barbecue tonight. Well, all we do is put scaled fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish on a big shovel full of sea food, lightly sprinkle sea water on it, and grill it. We can save fuel by grilling a lot of fish, since we can store the leftovers.

While grilling, I make plates for everyone and wooden knives and forks since chopsticks seem difficult to make. Wooden knives will be enough to hold the fish.

"All done!

Sylphy, Belle, and Rain approach us.

"Ah. The fish Belle caught!

"Cue."

"Oh, my. You must have baked a lot."

"Yeah, we got a lot of them, and if there's any left over, we can just put them in storage. I just soaked them in seawater and baked them, but I'd like you to eat them if you like."

"Hmm. "Hmm. You had a big pile of them. I'll take it."

If it weren't for the precious otherworldly food, I'd be surprised if Sylphy would stay for a meal with us. She doesn't eat otherworldly food, but I'll treat her to sweets this time. I think they will accept it better than a meal.

"Eat!"

"Cue."

"Belle. Rain. Let me know if there's anything you want. I'll put it on your plate.

"Yes, sir."

Cue.

"Bon appétit, then."

"Yuta. Belle will eat this."

Belle chose a large black sea bream, which she had just boasted of having caught herself.

"Cue, cue."

Rain is a big lobster. He takes one for each plate. I asked Rain if he wanted to shell the lobster, but he said he would eat it whole. Sylphy chooses the horse mackerel.

What should I eat? I'll try this colorful fish. I've never had it before, but it looks like an Okinawan fish. I think it's a member of the grouper family... and I've heard it's a tasty fish... so I'll give it a try.

It's too much trouble to untangle it with chopsticks, and it's not tasteful to eat it elegantly in this atmosphere. Okay, excuse complete. I'll bite into it as hard as I can.

Whoa... This is delicious. It's a white fish, and perhaps because it's baked, its flesh is firm and has a nice crunchy texture. The skin is especially delicious. It has a lot of fat on it, and the fat is not too much, but very refined.

It would be delicious boiled, but I wonder if it can be made well with only soy sauce and sugar.　I think you need mirin, too. And what's more, it would be hell not to eat rice with boiled fish.

The rice stock is microwavable rice. Two five-packs. Frozen fried rice. Frozen pilaf. Frozen dry curry. If I don't hold out when I can, it will be gone in an instant. I'm tempted to eat now that I think about it, so I'll just gobble up some grilled seafood for now.

Grilled fish. I'd like to open a bottle of beer and move on to sake, but I've got to level up for the night. I'll hold off on that, too. It's not going to be easy.

Well, I'll hold out for Japanese food to the limit from now on, and eat when I can't stand it any longer. For the time being, we will live mainly on seafood.

It would be much different if we could get some grains, but that is not going to be easy. Grain will never be found in the land where not even weeds grow.

Ah, now I feel like eating meat. I heard that there are no demons in the land of the dead that can be eaten with relish, so I'll just have to hang in there and hope for a town.

***

Thank you for the food.

"I was..."

"Cue."

"It was delicious."

"It's been a long time since I've eaten more than I can chew. The seafood in this world is delicious too.

I'm glad you liked it.

"Sylphie. I'm in a bit of pain, so I'm going to take some time, but would you mind helping me level up again today?"

If you think that the faster you level up, the closer you get to something tasty, you can do pretty much anything you want.

"Yes, that's fine. We'll go after zombies and skeletons as usual, right?"

"Uh, I'd like to start with zombies and skeletons. I want to try out some of Belle and Rain's magic. After that, I'd like to fight all of them except the ones I can't beat. Can you do that for me?"

"Okay. I'll walk around, and Yuta, you do your best to beat him."

"Yeah. I'll do my best. But first, I've got a sunburn and a burning sensation all over my body. Don't you have any recovery magic?"

"There is recovery magic, but it doesn't work with the members here."

"Really?　In my mind, recovery magic is supposed to be water or holy, but even Rain can't use it?"

There is a big difference between having recovery magic and not having it. Especially now I want to heal my sunburn.　

"I don't know what kind of image you have, but in the spirit world, healing is the domain of the spirit of life. In normal magic, it's only the church-controlled techniques. Both of them are very precious powers and are strictly controlled. So the average person is dependent on potions."

I can't help but smell the stench of concessions, church-controlled or otherwise. But the sound of potions is exciting. A world with fantasy potions. Advanced potions, elixirs, elixirs, dreams come true.

"I'm interested in potions, but we can't make them here, can we?"

We don't have the ingredients to begin with. We have to grow herbs first.

Too difficult to start.

"Is it possible to have the spirit of life brought to us?　If it's a lower-grade spirit, you can contract it, right?"

"Well, sure, we can make a deal, but I'm not too keen on it."

"Why not?"

The land of the dead is a hard place for the spirits of life. At the very least, they need a place full of life force around them to keep their spirits alive. Especially if Yuta is a lower level spirit who can make a contract, he won't be able to endure it soon.

Hmm. So if you make a contract with me, your magic will be fine, but other than that, you'll be constantly being drained?　It sure is hard.

"I understand how difficult it is to make a contract. It's hard when you don't have more living people around."

"You don't have to be human. Plants and animals have life too. But not demons, because they are covered in a miasma.

"If we want to get the cooperation of the spirit of life, do we need to create an environment where there is enough greenery and animals?

"Yes, at least that's what I'd like to see."

A place where greenery grows and creatures live. Is that even possible in a dead land?　I feel like by the time the environment is right, we can move into town.

"I know it won't be easy. I'll be careful not to get hurt, because there's nothing we can do about it now.

"Yes, that's the best. The higher your level, the stronger your body will be, so let's keep working hard. First of all, let's level up."

"Right. We'll start with what we can do.

We call Belle and Rain and leave the base. I endure the pain of the sunburn as I work my way up to the next level.

**

"Six zombies. ...... Bell. Rain. Can't we just take them out one by one, using as much separate magic as possible instead of all at once?"

I can do it.

"Cue."

They both sound confident.

"Well then, give it a try. Three at a time, please. Bell take down the three on the right, and Rain take down the three on the left.

"Yes, sir."

"Cue cue."

Belle and Rain use magic. Belle chants "Wind Blade" and a blade of wind flies out and cuts the zombie in half. Rain shouts "cue" and a ball of water shoots out at high speed and the zombie's head pops off.

After killing all the zombies, I think about the power of the magic, while praising Belle and Rain who came charging at me with praise.

Belle used three kinds of wind magic.

Wind Blade cuts through enemies with a blade of wind.

Wind Bullet: a compressed ball of air pierces the enemy.

Small Tornado: A small tornado swallows the enemy and cuts him into pieces.

Rain used the same kind of magic as Belle. Since we only know its cry, we name it after Bell. Let's call it a water blade, a water bullet, or a small whirlpool.

After that, we try various spells while defeating zombies and skeletons. To be honest, I don't think they need me, but it's hard mentally to leave the fighting to the little girls and the dolphins. I'll join in the fighting as much as I can.

I asked Sylphy to take me to the various demons. The Death Lizard, which scared me last time, will be no problem if I can handle it calmly.

If Belle and Rain attack seriously, the battle will be over quickly, but I've asked them to help me out.

"...... scorpions?　Sylphy. I've never seen this demon before, what kind of demon is it?"

Death Scorpion. He has two pairs of scissors with the power to cut through an entire iron shield. The other thing to watch out for is the poison in its tail. Just a graze on it will make it immobilize you."

"Poison. I don't like poison. Let's play it safe. Bell, can you cut off the tail in a surprise attack?　Rain, I want you to hit the scissors on the right side with a water bullet. I'll smash the left scissors with a hammer to stop him."

"Yes, sir."　

"Cue."

Both Bell and Rain seem confident, so let's play it safe or take a small risk for the sake of experience ...... and take them down step by step to gain experience. You can never be safe, you have to be able to fight on your own.

"Okay, when Bell attacks, I'm going in, please."

"Thank you."

Belle floats softly and takes up a position right next to Death Scorpion. I'm sure there are demons that can sense the presence of a spirit, but a spirit that is in a super-hidden state from the start is a cheat, isn't it? Can a genie even attack us?　I'll ask him later.

Belle puts her hands out in front of her and casts a spell. A blade of wind is released, and the tail detaches and flies through the air. She watches for the right moment, swings her hammer, and charges.

Ah,...... the Death Scorpion is startled by the sudden attack and turns his back. He changes his plans and smashes the back of the DeathScorpion with the hammer.

"Cue!"

Rain rubs his head as if apologizing for not attacking the scissors.

"It was my mistake, Rain didn't do anything wrong, don't worry about it."

He pats his head and comforts Rain. Before I knew it, Belle was standing next to me, stroking Rain together. Good boy.

But if his tail is cut off, it's natural for him to be wary of the rear. I wonder if you miss things that are obvious when you think about it, if you have no experience in combat.

We need to experience combat in as many different situations as we can, while still being safe.