Chapter 142 Because We'Re The Only Ones Left
Forget about rice for a moment Lake Edna looks like a trapezoid. On one side, we have Ensgard, which is pretty wide, and on the other side, it narrows down.
"Now, on this side, it becomes a steep cliff, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's right. People have to go this far to launch a boat."
Jam-san, the manager of the Ensgard branch of the Adventurer's Guild, replied. He's a Tigerman (Kojinzoku) with a massive body and pointed claws that he extended to indicate a specific spot.
You won't believe it, but Tigerman's claws look just like the ones you'd see on an old sci-fi action hero.
The place he pointed to is somewhere in between over there and here. It's a tiny, jutting out piece of land on the eastern side. I really have to look closely to notice it. It's written like a small, connected island with a beach.
"Since there is no place to moor the boats used for fishing, I've heard they have to be pulled by horses every time."
"Wow, is it really that inconvenient? Over here..."
"In the old days, when it was still one country, it might have been easier from their side..."
Jam-san, a big guy, made a small gesture like 'oh no!'.
"By the way, did you know that fishing is prohibited during winter? They do that to protect the Great Trout fish."
I got this information from my mother, and Maya-chan also knows this because she was there with me. So, I nods in agreement.
"Yup, that's right. The Great Trout fish swim up this river from the sea and lay their eggs in Lake Edna."
He points to a thin river on the map. I think it's the one we saw from above.
"It takes about two years for the young fish to grow into adults. Since they lay their eggs in winter, fishing is not allowed until spring when it's open season. Of course, there's also an agreement with Wareels (those guys) that you can't catch Great Trout fish that haven't reached a certain size."
That's true, the fish that ended up on the dinner table were about 40cm long (16inch). If I assume that they were that size even after losing parts of their heads and tails, then they were probably over 50cm (20inch) when they were caught. Well, at least that's how it should be.
Wait a minute. Rivers flow into the sea, right?
"Oh, I see what you mean. If this place is connected to the sea, then the Oso (Dreadful element) here..."
"No, the place considered to be the source of the Oso is not just here."
That's right. Just because this place is connected to the sea doesn't mean that the Oso flows into the water sources of Swiglefen or Watterhill. It's not that simple, I'm sure.
"Oh, sorry. I might have overthought it."
"Well, it's understandable to think that way."
Jam-san chuckles awkwardly. Seriously, I'm sorry. It's not like this country's Edna Lake is the cause. This place is also affected. Don't get the wrong idea, okay?
"Brother."
Oh, Maya-chan, who was I petting earlier, seems to be looking at me with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
"Yeah, I know. I was overthinking. Sorry about that, Jam-san. Really, I am."
I bow my head sincerely. I have to do this, or Maya-chan will get mad at me. Well, not just her, but if Rosalier-san gets involved, things will get even more intense. I really don't want to go back to living on just five skewers of yakitori... Rosalier-san knows I can't handle that.
"Tatsuma-sama, please lift your head."
"Oh no, it's my fault, so it's only natural to apologize, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Maya like how you can apologize so sincerely."
As I apologize, I go back to petting Jam-san.
"Hey, um... Anyway, let's get back to the conversation, Jam-san."
"Yes."
"So, I heard this from Danna, I mean, Danna Vinna-san."
"Pupupu. You're such a big brother."
"Oh, come on. That's not fair. Mom is still mom, you know?"
"Well, that's true. She's Maya's mom too, after all."
"Oh, sorry, Jam-san. We got off track. So, I heard that the catch of great trout has been decreasing year by year."
"I-I see."
It's shaking, it's shaking. Jam-san seems to be holding back a laugh. What's up with that?
"Come on, if you wanna laugh, just let it out, right? It's not like there's anyone else here besides us. Forget about our positions for a sec, Jam-san and I are pretty close in age. I think of you as a friend or something."
Having guys like Jam-san and Seteas-san around is pretty rare. There aren't many guys I can talk to without being all formal and stiff, you know? I only have like two of them.
"Oh, thanks. Sorry about that. Haha, oops... my bad."
He's laughing while shaking his body sideways. This is for real, man.
"Anyway, what's the deal with that?"
"Tatsuma-sama is right. It wasn't like this two years ago, but it definitely decreased a lot since last year."
"Hey, hey, Jam-san, Jam-san."
Maya-chan, who was busy with her fluffing, stopped and asked a question from above Jam-san's head. She was balancing herself and peering into his face. It's impressive that she didn't fall.
"What is it, Maya-sama?"
"Uh, why Maya-sama? It's the first time, you know. I've been addressed as 'sama'."
Maya-chan is seriously embarrassed, and Jam-san is looking at her with a puzzled look and eyes looking up.
"Well, Maya-sama, Tatsuma-sama's mother is the head manager and Duke-sama of this nation. As the daughter of the head manager, isn't it normal to call you Maya-sama?"
"Well, you're not wrong. I'm Duke's daughter, still."
"Uh, it's ticklish, Maya-sama... Oh, by the way about mother. Wasn't her last name Zedanzork?"
"Yes, she is Privia Zedanzork, Duke-sama."
"Isn't my mother from the Ensgard family?"
"Yes, she is. I've heard that she used to go by that name when she was very young."
"I see―― I had forgotten. Oh, hey, Jam-san. Over there, was it Wareels? Why did the country split apart?"
Wow. Maya-chan, what a straight question.
"Hey. I've heard there were various reasons, but the previous Duke Wareels family, you know..."
Oh, they were Dukes over there. I see.
"It was the previous Queen, you know, the mother of Her Excellency Privia."
"Oh, I get it now. I could follow along with the story."
"What do you mean, Maya-chan?"
"Well, you see, it's about how the previous Queen, who's like our grandma, was blamed for the Oso poison."
"Huh?"
"In simple terms, that's right. It's said that on that day, the country was split in half."
"Wow, that's not fair at all."
"Yeah, that's true. Especially the Wareels family on the northern side suffered a lot, so the current royal family over there suggested, 'Someone has to take responsibility.'"
"But, like, the previous, I mean, our moms' parents also died from Oso poison, right?"
"Yeah, that's right..."
"That's so unfair..."
"Totally! It's even more shocking than what I find shocking about brother."
"Can you not compare me? Maya-chan."
"Sorry. Just saying, think about it more carefully. Oh, and one more thing, Jam-san, Jam-san."
"Yes. If there's anything I can answer, Maya-sama."
"You know how there's a Wareels princess at the Watterhill's Headquarters?"
Oh wow, things just got even more intense. It's about Kumeiriana-san. Maya-chan isn't holding back, seriously.
"Oh, yeah. About that person..."
"Yeah, yeah, Rosalier-san and Kumeiriana-san are really at odds."
"Maya-chan, you're being too direct."
"Hahaha."
"Don't worry. Kumeiriana-san is someone who can keep our Tigerman's, I mean, 'guild's secrets' safe."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, calling her a 'defector under the guise of studying abroad' might make it clearer."
"Really?"
"Really?"
"Kumeiriana-san isn't currently a princess. In fact, if she were to return to Wareels, she could face the worst, possibly even a death sentence for treason."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
Wow, I'm shocked. I can't believe Kumei-san defected. That's why, at that time, even if it was a joke, Privia Mom said something like that.
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