The following morning—after breakfast, mind you—I found myself still feeling a bit drained, so I slept right through until past noon. My plan was to head to the Adventurer's Guild for my card, but I figured I should wait a bit, just to be sure it was ready. They were making the card out of the goodness of their hearts, I was sure, so it only made sense to let them take their time. A midday stroll seemed like the safer bet.
"Speaking of which, there was a river, wasn't there?" I mused to myself. A sudden thought struck me, and I quickly picked up a few supplies around the town before making my way toward the gate.
* * *
Since the whole incident the other day, the gate guards and I had become acquainted, and the conversation flowed easily, without any suspicion from their side.
"My bad about the other day," Mile admitted with a grin. "I don't think I ever told you my name. I'm Mile. And this one here is Ron."
"I'm Shinsaku, but please, just call me Shin," I replied. "And I actually wanted to head out of town to the river."
"The river? You mean the one right below the gate?" Ron questioned, tipping his head. "What exactly d'ya want to go to the river for?"
"Well, you see..." The conversation went smoothly, but my explanation must have been poor, because trying to convey my purpose proved to be quite the struggle.
"So, to put it simply, I just wanted to test whether or not I could catch fish there. That's all. Is it dangerous, perhaps? Are there monsters?" I finally asked.
"Nah, we don't hear of any monsters in this river," Mile assured me, shaking his head. "There are fish, I'm sure, but..." Ron glanced subtly at the wooden bucket I'd bought in town, then back at me.
"Anyway, I don't know what you're up to, but be careful out there," Mile said, waving me off. He might have been suspicious that I didn't have any proper fishing gear or a net. But I couldn't help that. I'd checked everywhere in town, and no one sold anything remotely useful. Maybe fishing simply wasn't a common practice in this area. Regardless, I decided to wander along the river, looking for a suitable spot.
Down below, the river stretched about twenty meters wide. Given that the stone bridge above was easily thirty meters, I'd expected a big one. I hadn't had the chance to take a good look yesterday, thanks to the Giant Boar commotion, but this was a sizeable river.
Apparently, there was another river on the opposite side of town, too—meaning this town was essentially sandwiched between two major waterways. It was like a moat, utilizing the natural terrain to beef up the town's defenses.
"This should do it, I think."
I found a spot with a shallow, accessible area where rocks and larger stones were scattered. Perfect. I spotted a nice, protruding rock and an equally weighty stone that looked just liftable. I rolled the heavy stone into position.
"Heave-ho!"
* * *
About an hour later, I returned to the spot where the two gate guards were posted. My 'catch,' secured by a fishing method from Earth, was circling inside the bucket: about ten fish. They looked somewhat like the Japanese dace or pale chub¹, though I couldn't be certain about the local species.
What I had tried was an ancient, simple method called Stone-Bashing Fishing. The process is straightforward: you strike a stone or rock where fish are hiding, stunning the fish momentarily with the underwater shockwave, and then you just scoop them up. In my old world, it was often banned, but hey, this was a different world—it should be fine, I figured.
I had two reasons for trying it. The first was to confirm if Earth's methods even worked here. The second, and more crucial one, was to secure a viable means of feeding myself or acquiring food in an emergency.
"Whoa, you actually caught somethin'—wait, WHAT!?" Mile practically yelled.
Both he and Ron stared at the swimming fish. They must have known fish existed, but maybe they didn't have a tradition of eating them?
"How did you catch those?" Ron stammered out, eyes wide. "Are you using Water Magic?" Was there such a thing as a fishing spell? In a world with magic, I suppose it wouldn't be surprising.
"No, I didn't use any magic at all," I explained. "I just caught them using a method from my homeland. Do people here not eat fish very much?"
The two guards exchanged a look.
"We think there are plenty of fish, but almost no one can catch them," Mile admitted. "They're actually considered a high-class food."
"And you caught 'em alive!" Ron added, shaking his head. "You could sell those for a good price at the inn, I bet."
I felt a slight sense of unease right then, but I'd achieved my goal, and it was about the time my card should be ready. I decided to head back to the inn. "Oh, then I'll set aside a couple of fish for you two," I offered. "Consider it a souvenir."
"Seriously? That's awesome!" Mile exclaimed.
"Yeah! Tonight's dinner is gonna be great, s!" Ron cheered. With the two guards grinning behind me, I walked back toward the inn to drop off the fish.
* * *
When I reached the Inn 'Clan', the Proprietress's eyes widened when she saw the bucket of fish. I asked her to keep two aside for the guards, saying she could use the rest however she liked. Her stunned expression quickly turned into an exasperated one.
"You, you idiot! Fresh fish can sell for a silver coin each!" she scolded. "Well, if you're giving them away, I'll take them, but really!" Wow, they were worth more than I thought. Still, this was more of a test run, and knowing the market price was a huge plus. If things went sour, at least I wouldn't starve.
"Does no one catch fish here? I didn't see any fishing rods or nets sold in town," I inquired.
She gave me a puzzled look this time. "A Tsurizao? What is that? And who can catch a slippery fish with just a simple net?" Was that really how it was? Still carrying a vague sense of confusion, I headed off to the Guild as originally planned.
* * *
"Ah, I've been waiting for you, Shin-san! Your card is ready," Milia-san greeted me as soon as I stepped through the Guild doors. It felt quieter than yesterday, though. Less of the usual rowdy chatter. Also, everyone seemed to be subtly avoiding looking in my direction.
I went up to the reception counter and stood before Milia-san.
"Here is your Guild Card. Branch Manager Jandou covered the cost for you, so it's free this time. But be careful; a replacement will cost you two gold coins, so keep it safe," she cautioned.
As she explained, I received the card. It was a tangible acknowledgment of my existence in this world, and I felt a wave of satisfaction.
"A-Um, does this have a rank, by any chance?"
"Yes, it does. Ranks are set in the order of Gold, Silver, and Bronze from top to bottom. Shin-san, you're starting at Bronze, but I think you'll be Silver in no time at all!"
That was a pleasant compliment for a rookie pushing forty, but I knew I needed to face the harsh reality. "How does one increase their rank?"
"It's mainly based on the number of requests completed and—well—recommendations from the Guild Master, or contributions to the Guild, among other things."
"Contributions to the Guild?" The first two made sense, but what exactly was a 'contribution'?
"Anything that benefits the Guild's profit... taking the lead on difficult requests, helping out other Guild members in trouble, or maybe even becoming famous. Improving the Guild's overall reputation works too," she clarified.
I see. A high volume of requests meant some would be undesirable, and saving a fellow member was a clear contribution. Improving the Guild's reputation was like brand image. That was crucial when business depended on transactions and trust.
"Besides, Shin-san, you've already been credited with the discovery of the Giant Boar—which is considered a huge profit for the Guild!" That must be why she said I'd quickly reach Silver. It wasn't just flattery, and a small smile crept onto my face.
"Oh, hey, Shin-san. What's up, s?" Raid-kun called out as he came down from the second floor, and I greeted him.
"That inn is pretty good, isn't it?" he asked.
Since it was my first inn in this world, I had no basis for comparison, but I needed to maintain the facade of a seasoned traveler. "It certainly is. The breakfast was delicious, too."
"—Speaking of which, it's awfully quiet today, isn't it?" I changed the subject, glancing around. The last time I was here, I remembered many more adventurers jovially drinking.
"Ah, that's 'cause everyone partied hard with the gold coin you gave me yesterday! It was way too much for me to spend on my own, s," Raid explained.
"Oh, really?" That made sense. Everyone looked a bit worn out, or maybe just sickly. Three gold coins would have bought a serious round for everyone here. Temporary income was probably quickly and lavishly spent in a group. Adventurers certainly seemed to have a strong sense of solidarity.
"By the way, um... before coming here, I caught some fish at the river. Is a side job like that allowed by the Guild?"
"Huh? Fish?" Milia seemed surprised. "Well, as long as it doesn't violate any laws, you're free to do whatever you like."
Since there was no set salary, things were probably pretty relaxed on that front. Raid-kun jumped back into the conversation.
"I knew it! Shin-san can use Water Magic, s! That'll totally widen the range of quests you can take on, ya know?"
"What? No, I don't use magic. I just caught them using my homeland's method—" The slightly buzzing floor suddenly fell silent. Dead silent.
"Uh, did I say something wrong?" I asked, feeling the immediate weight of the silence.
Milia-san shook her head. "N-No. I was just wondering if such a method existed, that's all. So, what are your plans for today? You have enough money now, so you don't necessarily need to take a request right away."
Given how she mentioned fish were a 'high-class food,' I was leaning toward the idea that fishing simply wasn't a common or successful practice here. "Is it alright to not take a request?"
"We don't generally force anyone. Requests are categorized by rank, so you just decide what you want to take based on that." That was reassuring. I had economic breathing room, but if this world had seasons, winter might mean no fish. I had to live here, so the sooner I learned the ropes, the better.
"Hmm, I'm embarrassed to admit it, but this is all new to me... Which requests are best for a Bronze rank?" I asked.
Milia-san turned to Raid-kun with a smile. "Raid-san, would you mind helping out?"
"O-Oh, sure. I'll show you the ropes, Shin-san, s." I thought I heard a faint 'Guh' escape his lips, but I must have imagined it. I followed him over to a corner where sheets of paper were plastered all over the wall.
"Bronze requests are mostly things like gathering medicinal herbs or cheap materials, s. Or just general errands around town, ya know?" he explained. Looking at them, the low-rank requests felt more like a handyman's job than an adventurer's. The pay was only three silver coins—the same value as three of the fish I'd caught. "Why is it so cheap? That won't even cover the cost of staying at the inn, will it?" I questioned my senior.
"Well, you're supposed to do a lot of them, s. Anyone can do these kinds of jobs," he responded. Ah, so the assumption was that you'd take on multiple jobs. That made sense. But... what about hunting? Monsters were too much, but small animals like rats or birds seemed feasible for me.
"Is there anything like 'Catch a bird for food' or something?"
"Huh?!" He blinked. "No way, s! If you could use that kind of magic, you'd be taking on much higher-ranked quests than this!"
.................................................................................................
There it was again. That feeling. A strange sense of unnaturalness. "For now, I'll start with this herb-gathering quest, just to learn the process," I decided, peeling a request from the wall and examining it.
"That's probably a good idea, so you can get a feel for the flow of a request, s," Raid said. "First, take the paper to the receptionist, along with your Guild Card, for rank confirmation and registration. Then you're off! But I bet you'll be done in no time, Shin-san, if you just use a Body Boost on yourself, ya know?"
"Ah, I see." I couldn't use magic, of course, but I kept that to myself. I was determined to try out my first request.
* * *
"Hmm, I think that's the last one," I murmured to myself, catching my breath in a nearby forest, closer than the one I'd been to yesterday. Since I enjoyed the outdoors as a hobby, gathering the required medicinal herbs was surprisingly easy. I had no knowledge of this world's plants, but the request included a clear illustration and distinct features, so I had no trouble finding them. The 'request' was complete in about two hours.
"Well, I could just head back, but—" Wandering through the forest, I noticed a good number of creatures: animals resembling squirrels and mice, and small birds were visible everywhere. They were wild animals, though, and possessed a strong sense of caution; 'hunting' them would be difficult with a weapon. But there are two ways to hunt: direct attack, and the other is...
"A trap... I might as well try it."
I took the simple, circular woven basket I'd brought for the herbs—and stood it up with a makeshift stick prop, tying the end of the stick to an improvised vine rope. I scattered some grain bait underneath. ...Oh? After hiding for just ten minutes, a bird the size of a pigeon flew down. It pecked tentatively at the bait, slowly moving closer to the basket's center. Confirming that one was eating, two more flew down to join it. Waiting until all three were as close to the center as possible, I gave the rope a hard pull.
"FLUTTER! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!" Two birds thrashed and chirped in confusion inside the suddenly collapsed basket. One got away, but this was a good result.
"Maybe I could quit being an adventurer and make a living as a hunter," I mused to myself. I tied the birds' necks with a vine, slung them over my shoulder along with the herbs, and headed toward the town.
* * *
"...He went for herbs and came back with birds, too," Ron sighed in exasperation when I reached the gate. Mile and Ron both sounded utterly baffled.
"Well, haha... Do you think I could make a living this way?" I asked.
They both shook their heads with a light chuckle and a long, drawn-out sigh.
"No, no. You're too humble!" Mile insisted. "If you can do all that, you could get a much better-paying job!"
Scratching my head, I neither confirmed nor denied anything. I decided to head to the inn first to drop off the birds.
* * *
"More food! And you brought them alive this time... well, that's nice and fresh, I suppose," the Proprietress remarked. She skillfully bound the birds, preventing them from moving, and placed them on the floor.
"I apologize for the trouble. Could you reserve two birds for the guards again, please?"
"Listen to me! A live bird sells for ten silver coins each! Even a dead one is no less than five silver! And you're just handing them over like that—" Again, so expensive. It felt strange that something so easy for me, something a kid could pull off, was valued so highly.
"Well, I guess there's room for a food specialist among adventurers. I don't know what kind of magic you used, but anyone capable of that usually finds a different line of work, you see."
"......" Everything kept being tied back to magic, it seemed. But regardless, I needed to head to the Guild to report my request complete.
* * *
"Shin-san, welcome back! How did it go?" Milia-san asked. I handed her the bag of herbs. She checked the contents while we continued talking.
"I wasn't worried, but... one, two, three... yes, everything is here. Request confirmed! Here is your three silver coins as payment." I put the coins into the small pouch I used as a wallet. I'd left the gold reward from the Giant Boar with the Inn 'Klan' for safekeeping.
"I am surprised, though. I expected you to be back sooner," she mused.
I scratched my cheek with my index finger. "Ah... I was just catching some birds, you see."
A sudden ripple of change swept through the room's atmosphere. What was it? Maybe the very concept of fishing and hunting was foreign here? "T-That's amazing... But where are the birds now?"
"I left them at the Inn 'Clan' where I'm staying. I imagine they'll be served for dinner tonight," I told her.
The moment the words were out, several adventurers on the floor bolted from the Guild, running out the door.
"Awwwww!! My chance at fresh bird is gone! I'll never get any if I don't hurry!" Milia-san wailed, eyes glistening with tears. Were birds really that rare? I hadn't seen any fishermen or hunters at the river or in the forest. A town of this size should certainly have someone making a living by hunting.
Seeing Milia-san so distraught right in front of me, an impulse made me speak up. "Um... would you like me to catch a few more birds for you?"
"Please, I beg you!" she choked out.
Leaving the Guild, I quickly bought a large sack and some grain for bait, then rushed back to the forest. It goes without saying that Ron and Mile either sighed in exasperation or gawked at me every time I passed through the gate.
* * *
The sun had already set. With no streetlights, the glow from the houses was the town's only illumination. Inside the Inn 'Klan' dining hall, a strange, boisterous energy was pulsing.
"Three skewers per person! You've had enough! Hey! Take that plate to Table Three right away!" the Proprietress commanded, running around the room while giving directions. "There's still fish! Just make do with that tonight!"
When I'd dropped off the extra birds earlier, about ten of the adventurers from the Guild had already gathered. Realizing the amount would be too little, I had decided to go back out and catch more fish at the same time. The final result: another ten birds and twenty fish. I didn't know much about cooking, but the birds were being served as skewers, and the fish were cut into quarters and either grilled or added to a soup.
"Man, I never thought I'd get to eat bird and fish together on the same night..." Mile exclaimed, enjoying the meal at my table.
"And it's a free meal, too, s!" Ron cheered.
"Fresh bird at last! sniff Oh, wait, this is fish. Oh well, it tastes good, so I guess it's fine!" Milia-san was at the table right next to us, happily eating with Raid-kun.
Across from me, the Guild Master, Jan-san, sat, eating quietly.
"Sorry for imposing on you for this feast," he said, his voice gravelly.
"No, um... Is this really such a rare occurrence?" I asked.
Ron chuckled lightly. "Guild Master, you got yourself quite the rookie, s!"
"Yeah, he came from who-knows-where, and he's a little green when it comes to the world, I suppose..." Jan-san mused. I've only been here for two days! Cut me some slack! I thought silently.
"But he'll probably shoot up the ranks in no time. So, since we won't have another chance like this, I'm eating as much as I can right now," Mile stated, stuffing his face with food.
I really wanted to make this my main thing, I thought, just as Jan-san turned to face me. "Speaking of which, about the Giant Boar—two-thirds of the meat and all the hides went to the Royal Capital."
"Oh, really? So, what about the remaining one-third of the meat?"
"A luxury item like that would only be eaten by the local lord around here. You have no idea how much it costs."
Indeed. Last night's and this morning's meals were primarily potatoes and other starches. If fish and bird were that expensive, monster meat must rarely cross the lips of a commoner.
"Seriously, Guild Master, this rookie is full of surprises! He can catch fish, he can catch birds—how many kinds of magic can he use?" Ron asked.
I was about to protest again—No, I don't use magic!—when the Guild Master leaned in close, putting a heavy arm around my shoulder.
"Well, it's a feast we haven't had in a long time. I'll cover the bill for everyone here!" he announced. "Proprietress! Give everyone a drink!" The cheer went up a notch, becoming a loud roar of excitement. In the midst of the noise, Jan-san whispered in my ear.
"(Whatever you were about to say, don't say it now. Just come to the Guild tomorrow. I need to hear the full story.)"
"(Uh, did I do something wrong?)" I whispered back, playing dumb, though I knew it wouldn't work.
"(Don't be an idiot. You've become too conspicuous in a single day. And don't misunderstand me. I'm not looking for trouble. I just need to grasp the situation as the Guild Master.)"
He was right; I had stood out far too much for just my second day. It was probably safer to hear him out quietly. And so, with a new appointment set for the next day, I welcomed my third day of life in the other world.
Summary:
Shin receives his Guild Card and immediately confuses the entire town by demonstrating simple Earth fishing and trapping techniques, which are mistaken for high-level Water and Wind Magic. This results in a massive, impromptu feast at the inn, much to the delight of the financially-strapped adventurers. The incredible, misunderstood success forces the Guild Master, Jan-san, to summon Shin for a private, urgent talk about the situation, indicating Shin's common sense is threatening to upend the local economy and social structure.
Character Insight:
Shin is fundamentally a practical man who struggles with the illogical nature of this world. His 'common sense' is his greatest weapon, but he's too polite to correct the constant, absurd misconception that he's a powerful magician. He's enjoying the success and the sense of agency, but the constant attention is starting to wear him down.
Behind the Scene:
The lack of basic fishing and hunting skills in a riverside town suggests that the only successful way to acquire such resources is through magic, making the few available resources extremely expensive. Shin's actions are not just providing food; they are devaluing the perceived status of magic and exposing the town's strange reliance on a single, expensive method for resource acquisition.
T/L:
¹ Japanese dace and pale chub are common river fish in Japan. The fact that the locals don't know how to catch them highlights the bizarre lack of basic, practical knowledge in this world. ↩
Notes:
• Mile - One of the two gate guards. He's relatively open and friendly towards Shin after their initial encounter. Wears rough leather armor, has weather-beaten face, and strong build.
• Ron - The second gate guard, usually supporting Mile. He is observant of Shin's methods, though he misinterprets them. Wears same as Mile.
• Shin - An average, middle-aged Japanese salaryman who prides himself on his common sense and average abilities. He was forcibly sent to a fantasy world by a God and granted the 'ability' to prevent anything 'outside his common sense' from occurring in his presence.
• Mel - A young girl Shin hires for her Water Magic to clean his catch. She has semi-long hair, and slightly foxy, sharp eyes.
• Milia - The young receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild. She has short hair, tanuki-face like (cute), wears round glasses, and business attire.
• Jan - The sturdy branch manager of the local Adventurer's Guild. He is short, has muscular build, and gray hair.
• Raid - A young, 'normie' adventurer who gets saddled with the job of escorting Shin. He is carefree and friendly but is instantly put on edge by Jandou's ominous warning. He has short black hair, sun-tanned skin, and wears casual adventure gear.