Bastard Swordsman

Shrimp Fishing and Undesirables

As a newcomer to the guild, I quickly realized that I was practically useless on any mission.

Firstly, I couldn't take on any security missions. Coming from the countryside with no influential backing, nobody wanted to entrust me with anything important. If I were related to a village chief, maybe a letter of introduction would have helped, but for someone like me, there was no hope.

Gathering missions were tough as well. Nearly everyone in the country had farming experience, and almost all valuable wild herbs had already been harvested by somebody else. To collect anything, I would have had to venture deep into the forests or take long trips.

Even the usually unpopular urban cleaning mission became crowded this season with newcomers trying to earn pocket money—it was, after all, limited.

Then there were the dirty jobs like sewer work, extreme manual labor like construction, or diving into unfamiliar extermination quests. The 3K jobs—using the old saying of kitsui (difficult), kitanai (dirty), and kiken (dangerous)—have always been tough. Seriously.

... Well, it was tough. For some reason, extermination quests were always popular. Perhaps it's because rural youth were overly confident in their strength or dreamt too big about becoming guild members. People kept taking extermination missions way beyond their abilities.

And inevitably, each year saw a disheartening number of young people killed on such quests. Maybe it's because they couldn't ensure a safety margin or lacked the know-how...

Even though guild training should have covered these basics thoroughly, the moment it ended, everybody was eager to jump into their next quest—

「Alright, let's go on a hunt!」

The moment was already hopeless right after I'd finished telling them everything.

Why do people venture into the forest with the mindset of a game they haven't played, feeling safe until they've "died twice"? It's like feeding the goblins in there, and I wish they'd spare me the whole skeleton-respawning ordeal too.

「It's too lively, there's no work available.」

Raina stood dejectedly in front of the guild's notice board. Artemis, which usually focused on extermination missions, would find it tough when so many rookies suddenly swarmed the forest. Hunters say that even careless wandering by amateurs changes the forest landscape, and these days, the monster habitats seem quite dynamic.

「I've got no work either. Every cleaning job in Regor is wiped out.」

「You need to give beginners a chance there...」

「I was joking. I don't have a hobby of letting kids starve. ... Honestly, I wanted to camp deep in the forest for several days, but it's just too crowded this year.」

「Well, business is booming in Regor. This year, not just locals, but people from quite far away have come to base their activities here. That's why it's bustling.」

The prosperity in Regor. It all stemmed from the success of numerous inventions spread by Lord Chaos. In other words, it was my fault. I messed up.

「Various workshops are recruiting temporary workers too, you know. It's not a guild job, but you can earn money there as well. Might be worth considering if times get tough.」

「Well, the workshops are expanding all over the place.」

「They're all constantly expanding, and there's a manpower shortage. But bustling times are good, right?」

Regor was on its way to becoming a thriving trade city... apparently. Previously, it was a middle-of-nowhere relay city—neutral and almost irrelevant. But suddenly, multiple specialty products cropped up all at once, making trading with other cities lively. The count managing Regor was reportedly overwhelmed by unexpected busyness. Funny, really.

「... Alright. Raina, if you're free, what do you say about going down to the river with me?」

「The river? What's there at this time?」

「A little-known sweet spot that amateurs won't target. It's better to go with more than one person... Just gear up and meet me at the east gate. You'll see.」

「Hmm... well, I'll go.」

Having made a bit of preparation, I headed with Raina to a nearby river. The sound of leaves rustling and the ripple of running water were all around us in nature's raw form.

「Alright, let's fish for shrimp!」

「What!?」

When I pulled out my homemade fishing rod set from my bags, Raina did a double-take at her bow in her right hand.

「... I thought we were hunting something!?」

「This time of year, the place is full of shrimp.」

「Isn't this something you could do alone!?」

「You mentioned being free, right? Fishing alone is, you know, lonely and kind of bleak.」

This world boasted no smartphones. Some people could enjoy themselves alone for hours, but I wasn't one of those people. Without someone to talk to nearby, it's quite tough for me.

「Okay... ah, you made a rod for me too?」

「Of course. This is my specially crafted, super high-performance fishing rod. Planned to be a trade good soon.」

「It's basically a stick with a string... but thanks, I'll use it.」

Fish and seafood were rare in Regor. The few that showed up were mostly dried or smoked. Occasionally, someone would fish up river fish and offer it as bar cuisine, but mostly it's non-existent. When self-sufficient, they're always available. The river is rich with fish and shrimp, making it a hot spot for me.

「This bug here is for bait, right?」

「Yeah, that's fine. Drop it near rocks in a calm spot, and you should get bites.」

「Interesting.」

The basics of bait fishing are to wait. Unlike lures where you actively move the rod, a fishing rod without fancy gear like a reel meant slow fishing today.

Casting lines side by side, the two of us waited. It was a relaxed waiting game. Unlike big catches, they didn't slip away the instant you hooked one. There, an inexplicable lull had settled.

「Didn't you fish back home, Raina?」

「Nope. We leaned on traps and bows. There were old men who fished, but it didn't interest me.」

「So, you've never had shrimp?」

「Never did.」

「Really, never?」

「Really. People apparently did eat them, but maybe the leftovers didn't reach my plate. Oh, we had crabs though. Love crabs.」

「Missing half your life here...」

「Half of your life is shrimp, huh...」

「Shrimp in chili sauce, to be precise.」

「Can't say I get you.」

「You'll understand today.」

「Yeah, no thanks... Huh?」

Suddenly, Raina's rod tugged. She wasn't the only one staring blankly at the bow she clutched in her right hand.

「Hold it steady. Wait about ten seconds.」

「It's pulling hard!」

「Calm down. Keep it as is. The hook isn't set yet.」

Strange, was this pure beginner's luck? Of all things, Raina snagged a catch before I could demonstrate.

「Fifteen seconds. Good?」

「Yeah, now gently lift it up.」

As Raina casually lifted her rod, a small shadow hung from the line. A river shrimp. A simple, small crayfish-like shrimp. "Oh!」

「Alright, put it in this pot and cover it right up.」

「Gotcha. Easier than I thought.」

「Right? You're good, Raina. Didn't think you'd nail it first go.」

「Hmm.」

That "hmm" sound. Watch as I showcase the skills honed in crayfish fishing.

「Oh, hooked another one.」

Second time, huh. Once you find the right spot, this kind of thing happened.

「Ah, this one's tugging too.」

If it happened twice, a third was bound to come.

「Caught one the instant it hit the water! Oh no, calm... Steadily...」

... Wait just a minute!

「Raina!」

「Hm? What's up?」

「How many now?」

「Must be about 10, I suppose.」

「Switch places with me, swap rods!」

「Well, alright.」

Something was off. Counting the lack of bites and unmolested bait, it didn't add up. We weren't separated by more than a few meters.

It had to be this place. Fishing here would surely call upon some strange force...

「Hey, Mongrel. Mongrel!」

「Whoa! It hit over there?」

「Nope, across the river.」

「... Ah.」

Raina had a sharp look on her face, pointing out across the river. There stood a creature, glaring with an unswerving gaze.

It seemed human-like on first glance. But shaggy, long hair. An ape-like slouch. And what's more, a single eye in its head declared this wasn't human.

Across the river, its distance hard to gauge, it was big enough that I could see its bloodshot eye clearly.

A Cyclops. Needless to say, it was highly dangerous.

「What now?」

Raina placed the rod on the ground, gripped her bow. Fishing was clearly over for both of us.

Cyclops were deadly creatures. Stupid, but with monstrous strength. Goblins often feared people, but Cyclops feared nothing. People were foes, prey. Seeing the drool drip from its jaw made this apparent.

「We'll take it out. This river's too shallow; it'll cross easily.」

「You're going for it?」

「You bet. Its speed exceeds humans; strength is fivefold.」

「Dangerous.」

「But dumb. It stands idle even with you holding a bow. Its weakness, it goes without saying?」

「That creepy eye.」

Raina drew her bow, its drawn tension aimed unfalteringly at the giant.

「Can you hit it?」

「Wind across the river's tricky. I can't afford a missed shot with that robust body.」

「It'll handle non-vitals.」

Had this been someone with a stronger bow, they might pierce even a Cyclops' thick hide. But, though Raina's aim was good, her strength barely surpassed a child's.

Except for the eye, it'd be challenging. I had strength, but grew bored of archery and abandoned practice, so had no ranged option.

「Well, just shoot. Can't hurt to try.」

「I can't afford to miss, though...」

「If you miss, I'll take care of it. Think of it as practice.」

When I showed my Bastard Sword, Raina gave a wry smile.

「... Bring a bigger sword next time, maybe?」

「If there's a next time, isn't 'this' enough?」

The Cyclops roared from across the river. A gaze, bloodshot, bulged from its singular eye, a gaping maw filled with crooked teeth.

Ugh, monstrous filthiness disgusted me on sight.

「Target Lock On.」

Raina activated her skill, a divine technique (so it's claimed) granted by a deity in Sun Grail.

By its power, Raina's bow quivered no more. Its point unwavering on the Cyclops.

「Pierce.」

An arrow shot forth.

Ripping winds above the river, it sped toward its mark below the Cyclops.

Yet—

「Gwah.」

The arrow hit its cheekbone, bounced off. The wind skewed it; such couldn't be helped.

「Owooo!」

The Cyclops wasn't as forgiving when unscathed, wrath billowed in roars. Wades bravely through the shallow river on rampage, bearing down on us.

「Wha–What do we do? Can you handle it?」

「Trust me. At a safe range, take the pot shrimp, retreat.」

「This now?」

「Think of our shrimp-catching mission today!」

「Well, life's more valuable ...but, alright, I'll trust you!」

While Raina backed away, I gripped my sword.

「Well then... looks like I've hooked a real scumbag....」

「Gwoh, gwoh!」

「You're not exactly the kind I can just release back, either. Sorry, but this is where you die.」

Its massive frame approached. At three meters tall, an imposing giant indeed. But the opponent had no weapon, while I did.

Even with a bastard sword of somewhat awkward length, it was well within striking range for a preemptive blow.

「Mongrel-senpai!」

If it had at least brought a club, it might've put up some kind of fight.

Crossing a river unarmed? That's a losing move even in the Sengoku era.

「Gya—」

Just before it finished crossing the river, I turned my sword toward its outstretched arm.

A tendon slash. Now it couldn't grab anything. Without pause, I brought the blade down diagonally and tore through its leg.

「Ga'aa.」

he wound was shallow, considering the creature's size, but it still dropped to one knee—no, it had to.

「Aaugh!?」

No matter how massive it was, once one leg was injured and it crouched in the river, exposing more of its body to the current, there was no way it could hold its ground.

The cyclops clumsily toppled over and was dragged slightly downstream.

「Hey, hey.」

「Gwa-bwa, gaah!」

「Oh? Did I make you mad?」

All that was left was to stab it over and over in its unguarded spots, forcing it to bleed out.

While keeping alert for any counterattacks, I'd go for the blood vessels, tendons, and muscles it used to exert force—aim for the weak points and finish it off.

「... That was incredible.」

By the time the cyclops had weakened so much it could barely move, Raina had made her way back.

「Did the shrimp get away?」

「They didn't, but... this doesn't feel like the time to worry about that, does it?」

「This thing's already dead. I wasn't planning on eating it, but now it's like I've bled it out for cooking.」

Thigh, armpit, flank, neck—I stabbed all the obvious vital points in the cyclops's body as it lay facedown in the river, barely twitching.

With something this huge, its vitality was just as ridiculous as its size. The best way to deal with it was to overkill it without mercy. Compassion wasn't needed. Even the dumbest beasts could play dead.

「That should do it... ugh, damn it, this is why I hate dismantling humanoid monsters...」

To prove a cyclops had been slain, the required part was its single eye—well, the iris or pupil, whatever you wanted to call it. As long as most of that eyeball-looking thing was scraped off, it counted as proof.

In general, proof-of-subjugation targets parts that can't be duplicated and whose removal implies death. In this case, the eye made sense... gross as hell, though.

「... Senpai, you really are good with a sword.」

「Heh, told you.」

「Even though you suck at fishing.」

「Oi, hold on now! That's just bad luck today, alright?」

「You sure about that?」

Damn beginner's luck is going to her head...

「You've got guts, I'll give you that... fine. We're fishing again soon. I'll show you what I can really do.」

「Heh, looking forward to it. Oh, by the way, how do you eat those shrimp? Do you grill them? Boil them?」

「Nah, you stuff them with moss stones and leave them in water overnight. You can eat them starting tomorrow.」

「Ugh, what a hassle.」

「Don't be like that. I'll treat you to the best batch tomorrow.」

Though before that, we'd probably be busy reporting this sudden cyclops incident...

A dangerous monster appearing out of nowhere, and at such a delicate time, too.

If this wasn't just a stray but part of a larger group, we might be looking at a bloodbath for this year's rookies.

It all depends on how the guild responds... now then, what's going to happen?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
The MC is a passive bystander. He lets things happen as they should. He doesn't prevent deaths of newbs getting pawned by monsters way out of their league.
He only moves if he's directly affected. Some readers won't like it and some readers will.
I'm one of the readers who like his personality. There's no need to get out of your way to help reckless people from meeting their doom, specially if those people are cocky and are going out of their way to pick on you, like those 4 men who got beat up by the MC and the 3 newbs that tried to stir things up with him from the previous chapters.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】