CH 114

“That’s impossible. The fishing boats around here can’t go out to sea.” (Shopkeeper)

So said the old shopkeeper, who had a thick white beard and was only as tall as my chest.

This is the port town of Ruda. It is located south of Elem, at the southern tip of the Kingdom of Karim. Its main industries are fishing and salt production. The town was built at the end of the cove that was created when the land was eroded by the sea.

I arrived at this town in the light of day, and as I wandered around and shopped in the stores I found, I asked if I could take a boat to the Kingdom of Almst.

“Why can’t you get out? Oh, the candles please… 20 candles of them, please.”

“Here! —For whatever reason, there are big monsters in the open sea. A fishing boat would be torn to pieces.” (Shopkeeper)

The shopkeeper replied as he took a candle from the shelf.

I see… Of course, there are monsters in the sea as well. If you’re in a shallow cove, you won’t get any big monsters, but if you’re out in the open sea, you might run into some dangerous monsters.

“Then, can I go by moving through the mountains to go to the Kingdom of Almst? Also, I need three bunches of dried fish too.”

“Yes! Three bundles of dried fish! — It’s not a deep mountain to cross, there’s a road there, and there are no big monsters there, you can get through in a day.”

The shopkeeper untied the strings that hung the dried fish and continued, “Wagons can’t get through there, though.”

I see. I knew from the adventurer gossip I’d picked up at the tavern beforehand that you could get through to the Kingdom of Almst from here, but I hadn’t seen many horse-drawn carriages going south from Elm until now because you can’t get to and from here by horse-drawn carriage.

Normally, if there were trade routes with other countries, it would be more crowded.

“Oh! Do you have some salt?”

“Hey, where do you think you are. We’re a salt town.” (Shopkeeper)

The store owner smiles as he pulls out some bulging cloth bags from under the counter.

“Hahaha, that’s true! Then, two of these small bags!”

I ordered two more bags of salt, about the size of two of my fists.

This is just in case salt would become more precious in the inland areas. I should buy more just in case.

This area – including the southern villages, Rankfurt, and Elem – is actually quite close to the sea. However, since everything along the coast was mountains and cliffs, it was difficult to get to the sea. The only exception to this is the cove of Ruda. In other words, this is the town of Ruda.

I guess most of the salt consumed in these areas comes from this town.

The cove was formed between the mountains along the coast, which was cut off as if it had been shaken by a machete. There was a river flowing into it from the town. The mountains blocked the view of the open sea. I couldn’t see the open sea, but I felt nostalgic for the sea I hadn’t seen in a long time and enjoyed the scenery from the shore.

I took a deep breath.

As I inhaled, the indescribable scent of the sea filled my lungs, and I realized that the scent of the sea is the same in both worlds.

“Alright, you got it?” (Voice)

“Yes!” (Voice)

“Okay. Let’s go! (Voice)

“Alright! Let’s go! Alright! Let’s go!” (Voice)

I looked in the direction of the voices.

There was a man with cat ears and a long tail, a human man with multiple scars on his face and arms, and a short, bearded, muscular man. There were also a number of men, including a short, muscular man with a thick beard, pulling a net filled with large fish from the boat to the shore.

The size of the fish in the net was about two meters. It had the appearance of a prehistoric fish from Earth. Its whole body was covered with armor-like scales, its head was as thick as a helmet, and its large fangs jutted out like saber tigers.

This is a fish you would never see on Earth.

I don’t even want to imagine being attacked by one of these things in the ocean. I guess being a fisherman is a more deadly job than I expected…

As I was thinking this, the entire body of the giant fish was pulled up to the shore. The giant fish seemed to have already lost its breath and was bleeding red from its gills.

“OK! Dismantle it!” (Fisherman)

“Wooo!” (Fisherman)

“Don’t you get really excited! When this is over, it’s time to launch!” (Fisherman)

“Woohoo! Let’s do it!” (Fisherman)

A small, bearded, muscular man gave the order, and the men began to move vigorously.

Long knives, saws, crowbars, small knives, and various other tools were taken out to dismantle the giant fish. The scales and armor-like parts of the head are pulled off, the head is removed, the belly is split open, the entrails are scraped out, the skin is peeled off, and the flesh is removed.

It was like watching a tuna dismemberment show, but then I noticed the sky was turning red and decided to head for the inn.

Walking from the beach to the town, through the alleys between the houses, and exploring the main street for any interesting stores, I pass a short, bearded man.

“…”

I walked into the inn I had my eye on and rang the bell on the counter with a clanging sound.

“Yes! Are you staying? It’s three silver coins!” (Innkeeper)

A few moments later, a short man with a white beard came out from the back of the store, paid him three silver coins, and gave him a wooden board with a room number written on it.

“The room is just upstairs. It’s terrible. The best rooms are already full. It may be a little annoying, but please bear with me!” (Innkeeper)

With that said, the man laughed as his muscular chest shook.

I went into the designated room and sat down on the bed. I sat down on the bed and thought about the day.

The orc meat was delicious. My first time in the sea. The big fish.

And…

“Wait, this town has too many dwarves!?”
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