Melusine and the others took us to a nearby fishing village.
Sharin and I stepped into the fishing village. We probably couldn’t stay long, so our first priority was to resupply. After that, we’d ask if there were any ships heading to Zetsuky.
The people of the fishing village stared at us, strangers, wondering who we were. I spoke to one of the fishermen.
“Excuse me, we’re traveling, do you have any shops around here? We need food, water, and sleeping bags.”
“Ah, there are a few shops over that way, but I don’t know if they’ll have what you’re looking for.”
I thanked him and headed in the direction he pointed. It was a small village, but it seemed like we could get everything we needed. However, since there were two of us, it looked like we’d have to make several trips.
Before I knew it, the sun had set while I was desperately carrying luggage. The small village was bathed in the colors of the sunset. I wanted to finish up quickly and rest. I was exhausted from walking all day with heavy things. We managed to gather the minimum necessities we had lost, so I’ll ask about the ship tomorrow. Just then, I heard a man’s angry shouts from behind.
“Finally got you! Forgive me, you thief!”
I turned around to see a slender girl being held by several fishermen. She probably stole some fish. Normally, I’d just think that and be done with it, but for some reason, I couldn’t look away.
She was wearing a swimsuit-like outfit made of what looked like red fabric, split into a top and bottom. The top barely covered her chest, and the bottom was like a very short skirt. No one else in this fishing village was dressed like her. She was of a decent height, with short hair and a slender build, looking as if she had come from another world.
Could a girl like her really be a thief?
“N-no, that’s not true! I didn’t do anything. It’s true, I was just getting a little bit of scraps.”
“Liar! I’ve seen you coming near the ships many times!”
The man roughly pulled the girl’s hand. I felt a sense of pity and decided to ask about the situation.
“Um, what did this girl steal? Fish?”
“Huh? She cuts our nets, so all the fish escape! She ruins the nets too!”
It seemed they thought she was cutting the nets and stealing the fish. But I couldn’t believe she was the one doing it.
“Come on, let’s go! I won’t forgive you today!”
“Wait, which nets are those?”
The fishermen frowned with annoyance at my many questions.
“Hmph, these are them. See here, there’s a hole. And here too.”
The damaged nets all had marks of being forcibly torn with a sharp object. The nets themselves were very sturdily made, and it would take considerable force to tear them. Also, could she have collected all the fish released from them by herself?
“It would take a very large blade to tear these nets. Have you checked her belongings?”
“Huh? Ah, right. Hey, hand over the weapon!”
In response, she said in a small voice that she had nothing.
