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The Night Stillness
"(Hyuooh~! Gasa-gasa-gasa-zazaa~!)"
After dropping Serai-san off at her apartment on my motorcycle, I parked by the riverside, where the wind blew strongly and gazed at the night view.
"(Faa...n! Gatan-goton... Gatan-goton...)"
In the distance, a bridge was illuminated like a band of light as a train passed through it. The river's water was as dark as the entrance to a dungeon.
I felt an intense restlessness in my heart.
When we parted, Serai-san, while returning her helmet in front of her apartment, said, "Master, thanks for everything.", and those words bothered me more than I expected.
Although it was just a simple expression of gratitude, it felt like it marked the end of something...
Turning around to look at Serai-san's apartment, I heard only the lonely sound of the wind, and there was nothing more to discern.
(What was that all about...?)
But if it had nothing to do with me, interfering would only cause more trouble.
(Well, it's Serai-san. If something's bothering her, she'll probably tell me without hesitation. I'm curious, but I'll wait and see.)
"(Hyuooh~! Gasa-gasa-gasa-gasa-zazaa~!)"
Right, I should change my mood.
Yes, changing my mood and looking down at the riverside below, the scenery appeared different. Several points made the previously lonely-looking riverside at night seem more inviting.
That's right, I got a taste for it because I caught a wild snapping turtle.
No matter how many monsters I hunt in the dungeon, it doesn't mean I'll get delicious ingredients. Yes, hunting and eating the prey. The catch-and-eat spirit fulfills the primal instinct.
(That's it, let's look for prey...!)
Is it possible that by fighting monsters in the dungeon, my primitive instincts have been awakened? I have an inexplicable desire to hunt and eat prey.
I make my way through the dense reeds, clearing a path to the river. The ground is slightly muddy, but it's not seeping through my shoes too much.
I'll keep going and reach the riverbank in one go.
"(Gasa-gasa-gasa...)"
I saw reeds everywhere. The reeds are dense.
In Japanese mythology, a god named Umashiashikabihikoji-no-Mikoto appears at the very beginning. This god appears before Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, before the creation of the Japanese archipelago by the heavenly jeweler Amaterasu, in the country-building mythology.
Umashi is a beautiful term. In today's context, you might think of it as [awesome] or [magnificent]. Ashikabi refers to the young shoots of reeds, and Hikoji means a male. So, when you put it all together, it becomes the [Magnificent Male Deity of Reed Shoots].
It might not immediately make sense with today's sensibilities, but reeds are fast-growing plants that shoot up quickly no matter how many times you cut them. The male deity with the vitality of young reed shoots reflects this aspect.
"Well... I've finally arrived at the river. Let's see if there's anything here...?"
The riverside is lined with concrete blocks for protection, and when I shine a light on the sloping concrete, I see small eyes reflecting the light, flashing like mini lanterns.
"Hmm, are those shrimp...? Oh, there are so many crayfish here!"
When I was a kid, I often went to rivers and ponds to catch creatures. Crayfish, frogs, and killifish were some critters I'd catch and keep as pets. However, I only recently learned that crayfish like these can be tasty, thanks to the knowledge gained from survival-themed videos.
"Well, they're a bit small as prey, but there are plenty of them! Tempura or kakiage, isn't it the same? Anyway, let's catch some!"
Once again, I don't have a net or fishing rod. But it's okay; I can use my skill, [Mucus], to catch crayfish.
"Go for it! Mucus Dome! (Kyubaaan...!)"
The extended mucus, like a throwing net, lands on the water's surface and slowly sinks.
"Hmm... it seems that with a thin film of mucus, it gets dissolved quite a bit by the river's flow and water... I need to control my magical power carefully... Okay...!"
As the mucus dome settles on the riverbed, I tighten it as if closing the opening of a pouch to trap the crayfish. Then, I gradually drain the water through a hole in the top and pull the crayfish up from the river.
(Za...shaaahhh... Bichi-bichi! Bichi-bichi!)
"Wow, amazing! Quite the catch!"
Catching with the mucus net turned out to be slightly tricky because the crayfish were small. However, I successfully caught a significant number of crayfish, just as I had planned.
In terms of monetary value, it might not be a big deal. But obtaining ingredients to eat for oneself is something that makes the heart race.
"All right, crayfish buddies, we're taking you home to enjoy!"
With a bag full of crayfish that I managed to catch using the mucus net, I head back home with a sense of triumph.
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