Chapter 189
(189) You’re amazing, Pionia
Translator: Tseirp
The day after the negotiations .
The talks would be carried out at the same place at 3 in the afternoon so we planned to go to the cove where our ship was anchored at when it was noon . Before that, I entered My World while carrying something I purchased .
When I entered My World, Pionia came riding on a horse with a pure white coat of hair — Fuyun, and she respectfully bowed her head as she welcomed me . It seemed like that temperamental Fuyun had opened his mind to Pionia after spending most of his time with her in My World . He has never allowed anyone apart from Haru to ride on his back after all .
“Master, welcome back . ”
“I’m back … this … this wasn’t here yesterday . ”
“Yes, that’s because it was inside the shipbuilding hut until yesterday . I finished it this morning and carried it here . Does it suit your liking?”
” … Er, I do find it amazing . ”
Standing there was an enormous sailing ship about 5 times the size of the one we were sailing with at the moment .
“But I think we won’t have any more chances to sail on a ship?”
“I see — then let’s create an ocean in this world . If I can procure 30 million MP from Master, I can create an ocean . ”
“To create an ocean for such a reason — ah, that’s right, I brought the item we talked about . ”
I passed a bucket with the item inside to Pionia .
They were small light brown semi-transparent spherical fish eggs . Such fertilized eggs could easily be obtained just by scooping with a net at the shallows near the estuary . I recalled that Malina once said that she wanted to make a fish reserve here so I discussed it with Pionia and Carol . I went to harvest fish eggs at the estuary via the information I got from Carol .
Pionia took the bucket and fixedly stared into it .
“How is it? They’re quite good right?”
“Yes — ”
Pionia nodded and transformed her hand . Her fingers turned slender just like tweezers as she threw egg after egg onto the ground and stepped on them .
“Pionia! What are you doing!?”
“I discovered harmful parasites within those eggs . It is a type of parasite that plants itself within fish eggs so these eggs won’t hatch . After these fish eggs get eaten by shellfish, the parasites will turn into an adult within the shellfish . If humans consume those shellfish, it would rarely cause death but will cause symptoms such as 3 days and nights of high fever as well as 3 weeks of diarrhea . ”
“Pa, parasites — sorry, I didn’t think until that far . ”
It is said that freshwater fishes have a lot more parasites in them compared to saltwater fishes .
But I didn’t expect that there would be parasites even within the eggs .
“I exist for that sake so there are no problems . Master, the remaining eggs are all okay . ”
When Pionia returned the bucket to me, the eggs had decreased by 30% and the fish egg crushed by Pionia’s feet left a muddy color on the ground .
“Would it be fine if I just place them in the fish tank with water plants we made previously?”
“Yes, but the water temperature would need to be adjusted too so I will do it . ”
“Okay, please do then . ”
I once again handed the bucket to Pionia .
“With this, maybe we will be able to eat grilled fish or something similar . Sashimi from freshwater fish might be a little impossible though . ”
“No, because the parasites have been removed, it is possible to make the sashimi Master spoke about — we can also make soy sauce if you want to . ”
“You can make soy sauce!?”
“Yes, it is possible . Knowledge regarding soy sauce has been passed down by the transported people since hundreds of years ago . However, the soy sauce culture did not spread and it gradually declined . Now, although part of the name remains, the method to create it has been lost but we have soybeans thanks to Master Carol and as for the Aspergillus mold — Master, could you please take out a piece of bread from your item bag?”
“Hn? Okay — ”
I took out a piece of hard bread as I was told . I bought it as part of the portable rations but I still have it because it was way too tough .
“Are you going to grow Aspergillus using this?”
“No, to be exact, Aspergillus already exist in it . However, in this state, it will not be an Aspergillus that is appropriate for the creation of soy sauce so I will mutate it and create a fungus similar to Aspergillus sojae —I estimate that I will be able to create soy sauce in roughly 3 months . ”
“It will take 3 months!? Actually, taking into account mutating the fungus and fermenting the soybeans, 3 months would, in fact, be record-breaking speed . ”
She claimed to be able to create soy sauce in 3 months with the Aspergillus sojae in their original form after all .
“Then, I’ll leave it to you . ”
“Yes, understood . ”
“Now then, what should I do — . Should I make fish sauce to go with the sashimi?”
It would probably go well with the sashimi .
Maybe I should just make it since we’re going to make sashimi .
“Master, I do not recommend fish sauce to go with sashimi . Fish sauce has a fishy taste so if you wish to eat it together with fishy raw fish, we will have to prepare a triangular sink tidy . ” (TL: I don’t know how to sink tidy fits into the sentence but going by the later sentence, they probably use it to strain the ginger and wasabi?)
“Guh, I’m glad I asked . ”
I questioned why Pionia knew about the existence of triangular sink tidies but without wasabi or ginger, it is impossible to eat food that is extra fishy .
“Then, I’ll be leaving now . Ah, that’s right . Do you know about Shijimon shrimps?”
“Yes, they are miraculous shrimps that are the specialty of the southern parts of the West Continent . I have heard that they are extremely delicious shrimps with fleshy bodies that can be grilled, boiled or even fried . What about them?”
“I was wondering if we could farm them here if I got my hands on their eggs . ”
“The Shijimon shrimps inhabit the deep sea except for when they spawn and we will also need to prepare seawater so I will have to obtain about 1000MP from Master . ”
“Only 1000MP!?”
After all, if I set all my jobs to pure elemental magic jobs at their highest levels, my maximum MP can easily go pass 1000 .
I see, so it’s possible .
Well, farming and selling them would probably negatively impact Port Kobe and Port Ithaca but it should be fine if I only do it for our personal consumption — as long as it suits our taste .
“For now, take about 1000MP . But I can’t guarantee that I will be able to obtain the shrimp eggs . ”
I changed my jobs to magic-based jobs and took off my upper shirt before facing my back to Pionia .
“Are you sure? I heard that you will be having an important discussion after this . ”
“Don’t worry, there won’t be anyone who would dare to attack after they’ve seen what I did yesterday . Even if there is, I’ll make do with using a sword . ”
“Understood — Okay then — ”
Pionia gently rubbed my back as she absorbed my MP through the sweat pores on my back . That sensation of weakness and massage-like hand movements felt very good but I would probably not be able to stand if she overdid it and caused me to run out of magical power .
Then, 10 minutes late .
Just as the stiffness of my back was relieved,
“Master, I confirm the acquisition of 1000MP . ”
I saw Pionia lick her lips with her tongue as she said that when I looked back .
“Is there any meaning in licking your lips if you didn’t eat with your mouth?”
“It suits the situation . ”
Pionia replied instantly .
She really acts just like a human at times like these . She might even be better at joking around than Haru . Actually, Sheena also gave off a similar vibe .
“Now then, it’s about time I leave . ”
I staggered a little when I stood up too quickly .
“Master, are you all right?”
“Sorry, sorry, it’s just a little bit of light-headedness . It won’t affect my movements and it’ll go away soon . ”
I said as I waved goodbye with a smile and passed through the door to return to the fishing inn operated by the Fishing Union .
As soon as I returned to the room,
“Ichino-sama . Hallock-san has been wanting to see you and is waiting at the neighboring room . ”
“Is that so? Okay — do we still have time?”
“Yes, he seemed to have something urgent . ”
Urgent matters?
I wonder what it is?
I left my room and knocked on the neighboring door .
“Sensei, sorry to bother you when you’re busy . ”
“No, it’s all right, what is it?”
“We’ve received a courier seagull from my people from Port Ithaca . ”
Carrier seagull? Maybe it’s similar to carrier pigeons .
I was really curious but it wasn’t the time to find out so I let it slide .
“Actually, those Port Ithaca pirates seemed to have hired an amazing mercenary and might suggest a one-versus-one match . ”
“Mercenary? That’s allowed?”
“Normally I would warn them against doing that but well, we’re also …”
True, they were also doing the same thing .
“Well, I don’t think I’ll lose to a mercenary . ”
“Please don’t let your guard down, according to the report, that mercenary only had the support of one companion but that person single-handedly took on dozens of pirates and took control of the pirate hideout without suffering any injuries . ”
” … That’s amazing . ”
Maybe I really won’t be able to drop my guard
Shit, if this was going to happen then I shouldn’t have given my MP to Pionia . However, if I switched my magician jobs to swordsman-type jobs, my MP would also fall accordingly and there’s a high chance that I would genuinely fall into magical power depletion . In other words, I would have to fight in this condition huh .
“Well, I’ll probably be fine . ”
I took it easy and replied .
When needed, I can just use my trump card .