We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 1009

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

A Gambler of the Sea

Splash. Hish! The white waves crash against the rocky shore.
Peeking into the endlessly ebbing and flowing waves, I could see fish swimming gracefully in the depths of the transparent seawater.
Small fish. Colorful fish. Occasionally, a large shadow would quickly pass by, causing the smaller fish to scatter in a panic. But soon, they would return to their original positions, swimming joyfully and elegantly once more.

I was currently casting my fishing line on a rocky outcrop near the white sandy beach.

“Elnea-kun, you haven’t caught anything at all.”
“Elnea-kun, if this continues, Priscilla-chan will become the Demon Lord.”
“We have to stop that!”

Beside me, Yufilia and Nina sat with me, gazing out at the sea in the same way.

Priscilla-chan?
She was currently playing tag with Violetta-san and Vietta-san on the white sandy beach!
Joining them were Yunyun and Rinrin, the earth, wind, and light spirits Priscilla-chan had summoned, as well as Ares-chan and Nimia.
And the two Shooting Stars, having learned the true meaning of hellish tag, were screaming!

Priscilla-chan isn’t one to be caught by just any means.
The spatial jump of the Mimicho Race is overwhelming.
No matter how dire the situation, she would escape in an instant.
Just when you thought you had her and reached out your hand, Priscilla-chan would be in a completely different place the next moment. Or perhaps Yunyun and Rinrin.
Violetta-san and Vietta-san were the taggers, but they would probably be chasing her all day long.
After all, everyone but Priscilla-chan could fly!

“Elnea-kun is looking away.”
“But don’t worry.”
” “Because the fishing line hasn’t moved at all.” ”
“Yufi!? Nina!?”

What, indeed!

That’s right.
For a long time now, ever since I started fishing, there hasn’t been the slightest sign of the fishing line being pulled!

“There must be no fish.”
“But I just looked into the sea beneath my feet and saw a school of fish swimming.”
“You’re the only one who isn’t catching anything, Elnea-kun.”
“N-no way!?”

I shook my head in disbelief and peered into Yufilia and Nina’s baskets.
To my surprise, there were already several fish, both large and small, inside.

“When did that happen!”
“Ah, I’ve got another one.”
“Nina, after you catch that one, it’ll be my turn.”
“W-what!?”

As they spoke, Nina reeled in a large fish.

This must be a mistake…
Why couldn’t I catch anything, I shouted, and my voice seemed to reach the white sandy beach.

“Bōzu bōzu (skunked).”
“Umm, Older Brother, are you bad at fishing?”
“Priscilla-chan, that’s not true, is it?”
“But Elnea-kun hasn’t caught a single one yet.”
“Moreover, the fishing line hasn’t even moved.”
“Sob, sob.”

With Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan coming over to the rocky shore, the game of tag was put on a brief hold.
Ares-chan took out a water bottle filled with water from a mysterious space, and Yunyun and Rinrin poured it into cups and distributed it to everyone.
Violetta-san and Vietta-san also joined us, and we rested while having some light snacks.

“I, I am most humbled… I never imagined that even Priscilla-chan couldn’t be caught.”
“We have been made to keenly feel our own immaturity. Do you always play games like this?”
“Yes. we play games like tag and hide-and-seek almost every day, so everyone is good at running away and hiding!”
“And we’re good at chasing those who run away.”
“And we’re good at finding those who are hiding.”
“Violetta-san, Vietta-san, please don’t be too discouraged! After all, even the dragon warrior soldiers cry when playing with Priscilla!”
“If you can catch Priscilla, you’re top-tier.”
“If you can find Laira, you’re top-tier.”

Priscilla, the master of evasion.
Laira, the master of concealment.
I wonder how many among the Shooting Stars will be able to capture these two in the future?

Heh heh heh.
I’m looking forward to it.

“Elnea-kun is spacing out again.”
“But the reality hasn’t changed.”
“Big Brother Elnea is only after the big ones, nyan.”
“Nimia, you said something good.”
“Big ones, yes, but also big troublemakers, nyancat.”

At Nimia’s words, the entire family nodded in agreement.
Sob, sob. I would be happy with any size, I just want to catch a fish, you know?

“By the way, isn’t that a strange fishing rod? Oh, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a fishing rod, but it looks a little different from the ones depicted in books?”
“And this fishing line, even though it’s so thin, it doesn’t break? Moreover, when I look closely, it’s very beautiful. It didn’t break when you caught that big fish in the basket, did it?”

Violetta-san and Vietta-san had grown up inland, it seemed.
And being women, they had never had the opportunity to touch or see a long fishing rod for sea fishing in their lives.
Nevertheless, they seemed to be quite knowledgeable, knowing about the sea, fishing, and sea fish from books.

“Umm, this fishing rod is…”

As I said that, I raised the rod, thinking the bait might have been taken, and started reeling in the fishing line.
The bait was still perfectly attached to the hook!

“The rod is made from the bones of a Wyvern’s wing. So, you see. It bends like this and doesn’t break. The fishing line is Teruru-chan’s thread, so it definitely won’t break either.”
“W-Wyvern’s wing bones!?”
“T-Teruru-chan, you mean…!”
“The Thousand-Handed Spider!”

Yes. In fact, this fishing rod is a super custom-made item from the Dragon Race!
The fishing hook was also a masterpiece crafted by a craftsman from the Beast Race, the otter clan, who are skilled at sea fishing, and the basket for the fish is a craft by the Mimicho Race.
Impressive, right? As I boasted, Violetta-san and Vietta-san nodded repeatedly.

“We, without the things left behind by others and the support of everyone, can barely live our normal lives.”
“Only Elnea-kun would boast about that.”
“Only Elnea-kun would proudly say that.”
“Because I’m happy about it! We can work hard for someone. And someone supports us. I think that means we are all living together.”
“Priscilla loves Mistral’s cooking!”
“Oh, Priscilla-chan. Isn’t my cooking delicious?”
“Oh, Priscilla-chan. Aren’t my sweets delicious?”
“Ohhh, I love them!”

Yufilia and Nina gave Priscilla-chan sweets and meat.
The little girl took both with a full smile and stuffed them into her cheeks.
Seeing her, Violetta-san and Vietta-san smiled.

“Elnea-kun, you are far better at guiding people than we are. I am truly impressed.”
“We have been made to deeply realize that we have drifted to this land by destiny.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Let’s all do our best and wait for Ada-san to visit!”

To the two who nodded energetically, I also received courage.
That’s right. We can’t just lament.
So, I will believe too.
That I will definitely catch a fish!

“Looks impossible, nyan?”
“It’s Nimia. If I don’t catch a fish, you won’t have dinner tonight, you know?”
“Nyan? I’ll eat the fish that Older Sister Yufi and Older Sister Nina catch, nyancat.”
“Nina, it’s a match. I’ll bet Elnea-kun on who can catch more fish.”
“Yufi-sama, it’s a match. I’ll bet Elnea-kun on who can catch a bigger fish.”
“I will definitely catch a fish!”

“Poof!” I tossed the line with the bait into the sea.
Yufi and Nina’s match will apparently be contested on a bait-by-bait rotation.
They are identical twins. I wonder what will happen when they compete?
I’m curious too.

“Well then, shall we go back to playing with Priscilla-chan? This time, we’ll catch her!”
“Umm, I’ll try my best to escape?”
“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about. Where is the Viscount now?”
“Ah…”

To Vietta-san’s question, I gazed out at the distant sea.

“Violetta-san, Vietta-san, don’t be fooled by the Demon Race!”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Rui Lala, you liar! You said you wouldn’t reveal your true form in front of strangers!”

I shouted towards the sea.
Violetta-san and Vietta-san tilted their heads.
Yunyun and Rinrin said with a bitter smile.

“Rui Lala-dono apparently bet on who could catch more fish than Elnea.”
“But Elnea is an idiot. Not a fishing match, but who could catch more, at that point, you’d normally realize it’s a demon’s scheme.”
“Sob, sob. I didn’t realize…”

That is to say!

“Piku!” At that moment.
A slight tremor ran through the tip of the fishing rod.
Thinking I had a fish, I swung the rod with all my might.

“Gogogogo!” The sea surface swelled!
It’s a big one!

“Hahahaha. Elnea-kun. The match is mine.”
And from the sea, a giant mermaid appeared, holding my fishing line with the bait!
…No, it’s Rui Lala.
In Rui Lala’s net was a large haul of seafood.

That’s right.
The moment it was decided to be a fishing competition rather than a fishing match, Rui Lala didn’t hesitate to enter the sea!
And then, mercilessly gathered seafood!

“That’s not all, nyancat. I was hindering the fish from gathering to Elnea Big Brother’s bait underwater, nyancat. I could see underwater from the sky, nyancat.”
“W-what!?”

At Nimia’s shocking denunciation, I rolled my eyes back and fell backward.
This is what demons are like!
Violetta-san, Vietta-san, and everyone from Shooting Star, please be careful!

Then, looking at the twin Shooting Stars.

They had witnessed the true form of the legendary creature, the mermaid, and just like me, they rolled their eyes back and fainted.

Right.
Normally, one imagines a beautiful woman with the lower half of a fish.

But!
Rui Lala was super giant, and while the lower half was indeed fish-like, it was more frightening than beautiful, befitting a demon!

“Hahaha. Elnea-kun, you’re thinking terrible things again. But the match is over. As promised, let’s have a sword fight when we get back, okay?”
“Alright, Nimia. Let’s leave Rui Lala here and go back!”
“Then we won’t have any fish souvenirs, and Priscilla will become the Demon Lord, nyancat?”
“That won’t do! But, look. We have fish caught by Yufi and Nina.”
“But that’s not a souvenir for Big Brother Elnea, is it, nyancat?”
“Gnnnnh. But Priscilla only said she wanted to eat fish.”
“Elnea-kun, you’re a poor loser.”
“Muki! Who do you think is to blame! Rui Lala, that’s unfair!”
“That’s because they’re demons.”

Unsatisfied with the seafood-gathering match with Rui Lala, I challenged him to a rematch.
This time, it would be a fishing match!

“I suppose that’s fine. Then, like those twins over there, we’ll take turns using the fishing rod. However, when the twins switch rods, we’ll switch rods too. Until then, you can catch as many as you want, and we’ll switch even if the bait hasn’t been taken. Alright?”
“I accept your challenge!”

Thus, the match between me and Rui Lala.
The match between Yufilia and Nina.
And the match between Priscilla-chan and the twin Shooting Stars, were all held with great passion in various places.

The result.
Violetta-san and Vietta-san could not catch Priscilla-chan until the very end.
Yufilia and Nina’s match ended in a draw, with both of them catching the same number of the same type and size of fish.
Amazing!

Me?
Umm…

“Skunked, nyancat.”
“Hahaha. We had a great catch today. His Majesty will be pleased too. Now, let’s go home.”
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