CH 124

Continuing Shizuku’s POV*

Following the man, we moved out of the store in the basement in the back alley.

We were guided to a hut near the cape on the opposite side of the wharf.

It existed to hide from the public eye, and even while guiding us, he checked the surroundings and made sure not to be seen.

. . . . . This is the hideout of poachers.

I think it was unexpectedly easy to come here, but I’m sure Thruster-san’s use of money and the handling he said he did yesterday were good.

“I heard that strange guys have been sniffing around since yesterday, but I didn’t know you were such a beauty.”

. . . . . . It seems that it was good that I was there.

“From the outside, it looks like a small hut, but it’s spacious inside.”

“It’s amazing, it’s dug from the cape to the shore below. Under this cape is like a little cave, and there’s a boat in there.”

“Does that mean you can fish without being noticed by people in the harbor?”

“Yeah. If the guys at the port find it, there’s a mooring fee, and there are too many things taken from the union fee of the fisherman’s cooperative. Don’t get close to the magic sea, shut up.”

We enter the hut and go down the stairs to the basement while talking.

Then I heard a voice coming from underground. . .

“Boss! A magic fish seems to have appeared!”

“Ah, are you serious!”

“Go out on the wharf and stay around the market.”

“Okay, let’s go out!”

“Yes!”

After saying that, the man who came from the basement immediately ran down the stairs.

Apparently a magic fish appeared.

Does it feel like last night?

Shina-san and the others said they were going to the market, but i wonder if it’s alright. . .

My chest feels tight and I feel like I’m going to look down.

Then, I felt a gaze from the side.

That gaze belongs to Thruster-san.

‘Please don’t show your anxiety on your face.’

Knowing that he was saying that, I desperately held back my head and looked forward.

“. . . The dog of the north and my brother are over there.”

A small voice.

I could hear it at a volume that the man in front of me couldn’t hear.

This must be the voice of Ash Claude-san behind me.

That’s why he said it’s okay. That’s what he’s telling me.

“Are you going fishing when there is a magic fish?”

“After confirming that I had calmed down, Thruster-san asked the man a question.

Yes. We thought that because poachers ravaged the seas, magic fish would appear.

However, what is happening now is the opposite. . .

“The guys at the port are misunderstanding, but we go fishing so the magic fish don’t come out. We’ve been fishing since the magic fish came out.”

“Is that so.”

“When a magic fish appears, the guys at the harbor stop fishing and stay away from that area for a while. If you go there, you can easily catch fish. It’s a sign of good luck for us.”

The man grinned when he said that.

I wonder if this kind of thing is called a fire place thief.

I don’t like the attitude of trying to get only their own profit while the port people are in trouble.

What’s more, right now Shina-san is working hard to protect the life of this port. . .

Thruster-san covered his nose with one hand at the same time, as disgust was about to appear on his face.

The man wasn’t looking at us and didn’t seem to notice the gesture.

“That’s why we’re going fishing. Let’s talk later.”

The man continues to talk as he descends the stairs.

Thruster-san then suggested, ‘If that’s the case.’

“Do you mind if I go fishing with you?”

“Huh?”

“I want to know how many magic stones you can actually get. I want to know how many you can send to the royal capital.”

“Got it.”

The man nodded and stopped.

Then turn around and looked at me.

“I can imagine it. If the young lady wears a white magic stone, it will be very popular.”

“Yes. It will soon become a rumor in society. Where is that gem? You will use me as a foothold to advance to the royal capital and I will get money. It’s a good story for both of us.”

“Oh, as I thought, I wasn’t the kind of man who would end his life in a port like this!”

“Yes. Let’s show you the fishing and let’s proceed with the conversation.”

“Okay. I’ll put you on the boat.”

It seems that the reason we stopped was because we reached the bottom floor.

After saying that, the man starts walking again.

Down the stairs was a corridor with stone walls, and we followed.

And when you open the door at the end, there. . .

“This is our home base.”

. . . There was a scene like a pirate hideout.

As mentioned in the conversation, the bottom of the cape is hollowed out, and about half of the ground is filled with water.

Perhaps this is salt water and the cave leads to the sea.

The boat is not as big as I imagined, about ten small boats.

The part of the cave that is not sea water has a wooden floor and seems to be used as a workshop and warehouse.

This is probably where pearls are sorted, processed, and stored.

Right now, they seem to be busy preparing the boat to go fishing when the magic fish appear.

All I could see were men, about twenty people.

“. . . It’s authentic.”

I don’t know how to convey it correctly, but for the time being, I’ll be careful not to turn it into a disparaging nuance.

Hearing my words, the man burst into laughter.

“A classy person like the young lady is different from what they say.. . . . . Hey, look at this young lady and the man behind her. Guide them appropriately.”

“Yes.”

A man calls out from the people around us. He still looks young.

Apparently, it’s a guide for me and Ash Claude-san. . . or rather, it’s surveillance.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Leaving me and Ash Claude-san alone, he follows the man alone.

I wonder if it’s alright. It seems like he’s been holding his nose a lot since a little while ago. . .

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

After saying that, Thruster-san got into the boat and headed off to fish.

Ash Claude-san and I were guided through the hideout for a bit, and waited in a place that looked like a reception room, but the time just passed.

“They haven’t come back yet. What do you want to do? You can stay here, but you won’t come out during the day.”

It seems that it was already noon while we were waiting.

We tried to have a conversation, but the man we were dealing with seemed to be in quite a low position, and we weren’t likely to get any new information.

When I look a Ash Claude-san, he’s also looking at me, and we’re probably thinking the same thing.

. . .Even if I’m here, there’s nothing I can do.

I haven’t received any other instructions from Thruster-san, so my role may be over.

“Then, I’m thinking of going back to the port to have lunch. Please guide us.”

“Yes.”

It seems that Ash Claude-san chose to return to the port with me instead of waiting for Thruster-san.

Thruster-san told me not to worry about myself. . .

I was guided back to the port from the poacher’s hideout.

For the time being, I decided to have lunch, so I entered a nearby café terrace.

“Is it okay to eat here?”

“Yes. . .anything is fine.”

“Do you want something to eat?”

“. . . Anything will be fine.”

I’m not particularly hungry, but it would be better to eat.

“Okay. I’ll bring you something you can eat.”

Ash Claude-san is a bit similar to the knights of the Special Forces that I have come into contact with.

Properly polite, proper honorifics and proper politeness. . . remote.

I guess he’s dealing with me on the premise that I’m a saint.

In front of Shina-san, he often laughs and gets angry, so it’s like he’s a different person.

. . . I guess it’s the same for me.

“Here you go. If you can’t eat it, I’ll get you something else.”

“This is fine. Thank you.”

What Ash Claude-san brought was something like vegetable soup and a fried egg. It was a menu that I could eat even if I didn’t have an appetite.

“Ah. . .so you like Isarai Shina.”

“Yes.”

“I saw you working so hard today too. You must be tired. . . Ah . . . Let’s finish a lot of things quickly and see Isarai Shina.”

“. . . . . That’s right.”

Ash Claude-san was hesitant as he spoke slowly.

I feel that he has a kind temperament from the menu he chose and his words.

I know he’s trying to cheer me up, so I nod and take a sip of the soup.

Just like Ash Claude said.

Let’s finish it quickly and play a lot with Shina-san. I have to work hard for that. . .

Thinking that, I swallow another sip of soup.

Then, a noisy group approached. . .

“Hey! Isn’t that Shizuku-kun and Ash Claude over there?! Are you going on a date? That’s not fair! I want to join too!”

Hahahahahah! It was the crown prince laughing and the women surrounding him.

There are 5 parts to this from Shizuku’s pov. The tension is killing me. I need to know what happened to Shina, but I also need to know what this ‘truth about pearls’ is.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!