I met a strange pair of Sirens on God’s Island.
“Whoa, slow down, no need to rush. Why don’t you all relax for a while?”
The pacifist Siren told us to rest. I wanted to reply that we were in a hurry, but honestly, I was exhausted. The aftereffects of the ship’s rocking still lingered. Even with my feet on land, I had a nauseating, unsteady feeling.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll take you up on your offer then. Everyone, let’s rest a bit. We might have more battles ahead of us.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Philiana said that and took a sip of water. Being targeted by someone, day in and day out, really wears down your nerves. I sat down and stared blankly at the sea. Ah, I thought, how far we’ve come, truly. It felt like just yesterday I first arrived in this world, yet also like a lifetime ago.
How much time has passed since I disappeared? Is the flow of time the same? Will there be a place for me when I return to my original world? Can I readjust and fit in in my current state? After parting with everyone and being alone, I’m sure I’ll feel lonely. I’ll probably gaze at the equipment I brought back and indulge in nostalgic emotions.
Where is my true home?
“Hey, Arisugawa, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just a little tired.”
“I see.”
Sharin stood next to me, gazing at the sea with me.
“Hey Sharin, what are you going to do after this journey ends?”
“Me? I’m going back to the Bandit Group. They might have moved to a different place, but I’ll find them. My boss took care of me, so I hope I can bring back a souvenir or two.”
Come to think of it, I recall her saying she’d accompany me on this journey to search for treasure after defeating the Orc.
“It seems there hasn’t been any significant treasure found so far. Shall we bring back spoils from defeating the Dark Elf?”
“Ah, that’s right… I wonder if everyone else is still stealing. I want them to be able to live without resorting to wicked deeds anymore.”
Everyone is thinking about their path after the journey. What should I do when the journey ends?
“Arisugawa, what will you do when you return to your original world?”
“Hmm, let me see. I’d probably just work a normal job. If I had the chance, I’d like to get married. Then I’d want to go and introduce myself to my parents together and repay their kindness.”
“I see, that’s a good future.”
I thought I heard a small sigh. Come to think of it, I wonder how everyone else is doing. Looking back, I saw the Siren woman talking to Piyo about something.
“Piyo, what are you doing?”
“It’s relaxing with this smoky incense. Hiro, you should try smelling it too.”
Smoke rose from a glass container. It was something the woman had been burning earlier. It smelled strange, though…
“What is this?”
“This? It’s Canopus. When you smell it, you feel all floaty and good. It’s often found on ships. Other people throw it all away saying they don’t need it. It’s such a shame, you shouldn’t waste plants, you know?”
Wait a minute, isn’t this some kind of dangerous herb? I grabbed Piyo by the shoulder and pulled her back.
“Hmph, why? It smells nice, Piyo wants to smell it too!”
“No, this herb is no good. Uhm, you’ll get an allergic reaction.”
“An allergic reaction?”
“R-Right, I’m hungry. Shall we have a meal?”
I managed to change the subject and pulled Piyo away. Things that aren’t officially processed frequently pass through this area. Narcotics and the like are probably smuggled here too.
“Are you hungry, customer? Alright, I’ll go catch some fish, so please wait here.”
The two Sirens kindly went out to fish for us. Hmm, I thought they said they didn’t hunt? Where did they plan on getting it from? Unable to rely on them, I decided to use the ingredients I received from the Hummingbird Harpy.
By the time Pauline’s cooking was ready, the two returned. Their basket was full of fish.
“We brought a lot for you, customers.”
“Thank you for going to the trouble… Ugh.”
As I peered into the basket, I instinctively covered my nose. Most of the fish were half-eaten and dirty. Some even only had their heads left. They had probably brought back food that someone else had already eaten. Being pacifist is one thing, but living on other people’s leftovers is questionable.
“It’ll all taste the same once it’s boiled. Of course, we won’t eat it raw, though.”
With that, Pauline tossed the fish into the pot she had made. Everyone’s faces turned pale.
“Mmm, delicious, it’s seasoned well.”
“Delicious, delicious.”
“…”
I glanced at Pauline and saw an expression I had never seen before. In the end, we couldn’t have a proper meal and had to go to sleep hungry.
