We continued walking downstream along the river, but we didn’t encounter any lizards or crocodiles.
Actually, we didn’t even see any people.
“There’s nothing here.”
“It’s not like this place is a popular spot or anything.”
That’s true…
This massive river is quite spectacular, but…
“This place seems like it would have a beautiful sunset.”
“Like couples would come to a river where crocodiles appear?”
That’s right.
“By the way, didn’t Ilmera say she was going to the mountains?”
Frank suddenly remembered.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Apparently, they got tired of looking for bears and are going to hunt birds.”
“Birds… I guess they’re a sure sale, but they’re not that valuable, right?”
“They’re probably more into hunting than money. They are a bloodthirsty bunch of girls.”
Don’t put Noel in that group.
“What’s the mountain like?”
I asked out of curiosity.
“It’s just a barren hill. There are a lot of birds and rocks.”
“That place doesn’t seem to be a popular spot either. I haven’t climbed it, but the view from the top is apparently amazing.”
Sure, the view would be good.
“Seems tough to climb, doesn’t it?”
“I think so. I’m good, though.”
I know.
“Frank, you like mountains, right?”
“More than rivers. But I’m not really into mountain climbing… Hey, isn’t that Ronald?”
Frank looked downstream and noticed something.
Cedric and I followed his gaze downstream and saw a man sitting on a rock by the river, fishing.
He had long black hair and was unmistakably Ronald from class A, whom I had seen earlier in the building with the academy’s transfer magic circle.
“Is that Ronald? Fishing?”
“Looks like it.”
As we approached, Ronald noticed us.
“Frank and Cedric, and young Nagase… I suspected you were going out, but I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Ronald gave a faint smile.
“What a coincidence. Ah, you seem to know him, Tsukasa from the same class.”
Frank introduced me.
“I know. The guy who instantly defeated Matias from class C, right? And Nagase’s young master, of course.”
What’s this ‘young master’ business?
“Sorry. Do you know each other?”
“Not really. It’s just one-sided from my side. I’m Ronald Elton. Unusual name, but my mother is Japanese, so that’s how I know Nagase.”
Oh…
“A minor but prestigious family in Japan.”
“Same here, though. You wouldn’t know the Shirakawa family, right?”
My mother’s family, I guess.
“I don’t know the famous ones either.”
“I see… Well, let’s call it minor prestige. That’s why we know each other.”
“Do you know Akaba?”
“Yeah, isn’t that Yuka’s family from class D? Though, I only know the name. Rumor has it they’re a rough family.”
They are rough.
“Hmm, by the way, what are you doing? Are you catching anything?”
“Look.”
Ronald pointed to the bucket by his feet, and we saw three fish swimming inside.
“Will you eat them?”
“No, sell them.”
“Will they sell?”
“Cheap, but poor students need food.”
A poor student?
“Not you?”
“Not me. My fishing is more of a hobby. The real deal is…”
Ronald looked back, and we followed his gaze into the forest to see the same girl in a hakama with a sword at her waist who was with Ronald earlier.
“Ronald, are these friends?”
The girl asked while approaching. However, she had her eyes closed.
“Class D. You know Nagase, right?”
“Nagase…”
The girl stared at me intensely, though her eyes remained closed.
“Why are your eyes closed? Can you see?”
“I can. I sense magic and auras, closing my eyes is part of my training. At home, I keep them open.”
Ah, I see…
She’s a weird one.
“Japanese people have a lot of unique individuals, don’t they?”
“Because Japan has its own unique history.”
Frank and Cedric are whispering.
“What’s your name?”
“Hmm, why don’t you introduce yourself first, Nagase Tsukasa?”
That’s true…
“My name is Nagase Tsukasa.”
“My name is Shirakawa Yuki. Nice to meet you.”
Yuki introduced herself with a graceful bow.
“Japanese people are strange, aren’t they?”
“That was a strange conversation…”
The whispering duo again.
“Hmm? Shirakawa?”
I asked while looking at Ronald. I remembered that Ronald’s mother’s maiden name was Shirakawa…
“Did Ronald mention that? Yes, she’s my cousin. My mother’s older sister is Ronald’s mother.”
I see.
They’re relatives.
“Hmm… What are you doing here? Ronald mentioned fishing…”
“It’s work. You probably don’t know, but the Shirakawa family is almost bankrupt and we’re short on money.”
Eh?
“Really?”
“Yeah. My father, the previous head of the family, lacked magical talent… Details are embarrassing family matters, but because of that, various actions were taken and the family went into decline.”
“Ah, I see… That’s tough.”
“It’s not an uncommon story. That’s why I, as the current head, am working to restore it. I have younger siblings, so money is needed. That’s why I’m working.”
I see…
The current head at such a young age.
I’ve heard about struggling students, but it’s like this…
“Anyway, I’m accompanying her. I can’t let the head of the household venture outside the town alone, can I?”
Ronald added an explanation.
“Right… Ronald, did you catch anything? Three fishes?”
Yuki glanced into the bucket.
Still keeping her eyes closed, though.
“Not bad, you caught quite a few. How about you?”
“I caught one lizard”.
I caught a lizard.
“Do lizards sell?”
“They do. The magic shop at the back of the commercial district buys them. Apparently, they’re some sort of material, but they’re not clear about it.”
Sharl would probably be delighted to hear about that.
“By the way, what about crocodiles?”
“Crocodiles? I’ve heard they sell, but they’re dangerous. You’d want to avoid them. They’re toughened by magic, their scales are hard, they’re fast, and they can bite through metal. Quite tough.”
“Already defeated one.”
“Ho… Could you show it?”
Yuki asked, so I glanced at Cedric.
Cedric nodded and summoned the crocodile.
“Wow! That’s amazing! It’s really a crocodile!”
“An impressive catch.”
Ronald and Yuki approached the crocodile.
“It’s big… What do you think, Yuki?”
“It’s quite the big one. There are no visible external injuries.”
“By hand…”
“Likely. I’ve heard that Nagase took down Matias with his bare hands, and it seems true.”
“Taking down” makes it sound like Matias is dead.
“What’s this ‘Nagase young master’ business?”
“My apologies. It’s something we started calling you. Tsukasa, was it with your bare hands?”
Yuki corrected herself.
“Yes, after an elbow drop, I swung it around and slammed it into the ground.”
“I see… Hmm, perhaps I should have witnessed the duel…”
Yuki crossed her arms and started pondering.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, thank you for showing it to me. This should sell well, don’t you think?”
“Seriously? Let’s sell it then!”
I wonder how much it will be worth?
“Yes, that’s a good idea. We are from minor prestigious families, so let’s work together. I will head back into the forest again. I’d rather not deal with crocodiles. Ronald, please continue with the fish.”
Yuki said that and disappeared into the forest.
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