Chapter 240
When people gather, there might be times where they can get along but there are also times where they might quarrel .
The same thing is applicable to Big Tree Village .
I think everyone gets along well but there are rare cases of quarrels too .
However, there’s no violence involve .
That’s what I decided .
In order to quell quarrels, I thought of other methods to settle it without the use of violence .
The most commonly used methods are arm-wrestling, sumo wrestling, and chess .
There’s also race and hunting the biggest prey .
One time, there was someone who suggested eating the most food or drinking the most alcohol but as expected, that’s nothing but a waste of food .
I’m not criticizing food contests in general but do that in another city or town if you really want to . I want my villagers to value food .
As for drinking contest, I gave my permission and the two dwarves who are quarreling at that time even laughed . However, I never said that it will be a drinking contest of alcohol so I have them drink water . They are both dissatisfied .
It is not right to use it as a reason to drink .
Alcohol intoxication is dangerous .
You should only drink alcohol for enjoyment .
By the way, along with the development of a place is changes in ethics and culture .
It brings various trouble too .
This time, Shashaato City’s fishermen are troubled with seakins .
What seakins? They are people who mainly live in the sea .
A good example is mermaids .
Since Shashaato City is by the sea, having a port is a matter of course .
Port workers and seamen are led by humans and demons .
You can’t see many of the seakins working there .
Even so, the cooperation of seakin is indispensable to obtain marine products .
For instance, in order to catch fish, humans and demons will depart from the port using a boat .
Upon arriving at the place where there is a lot of fish, they will need the help of seakin to drive the fish towards them .
In addition, the seakin will also inform them if there is an incoming monster or demon beast so they can escape .
After the humans and demons capture fish, the seakin will demand payment which the former must properly compensate .
Sometimes it’s money or bird, pig, goat, other domestic animals like cow, or even medicinal herb that can only be found in land .
They are provided with a month to do so and there has never been any trouble until now .
As for how they got into trouble… .
It is because the seakin requested a payment that is not easy to give .
「They want curry?」
「They seem to have heard it from the conversations of the port workers… . 」
However, the Curry Store Marla in Big Roof Shashaato won’t let its product be taken out .
I don’t want to be troubled in case the curry they take home gets spoiled which will make them suffer from food poisoning .
It was explained to the seakin and they said that they don’t mind going to the store itself to eat it .
However, they’ll still need to put them in a feed bag even though they’re already in the city .
It’s not like they can’t walk towards the store but the seakin’s body will dry up if they leave water .
After that, it has become a request for the recipe and ingredients and seasonings so they can make it themselves but… .
The recipe is out of the question .
Seasonings and ingredients are expensive .
They can’t just think that it’s cheap because of the price at Curry Store Marla .
Since nothing works out, the fishermen express disapproval which became the start of trouble .
The story has reached me in Big Tree Village after several days when the trouble started .
According to the report the small wyvern brought, they were not able to obtain seafood ever since the trouble started .
Marine products from the Goroun Company also came from the cooperation of the fishermen and seakin .
The seakin even specifically looked for seaweeds and crabs for us .
Normally, this is not something that I need to go to with…
But I can’t overlook the current situation where our seafood supply was cut off .
No, I’ll say it honestly .
I’m really interested in how to settle this trouble .
I came over to Shashaato City .
I went there riding Hakuren in her dragon form .
As for my companion, it’s the beastkin Gulf .
Along with Loo and Tier .
Gulf is the most accustomed to Shashaato City so he is a must .
As for Loo and Tier, I asked them to come with me .
Last time, I’m slightly sorry for leaving them behind .
Next time, I’ll take Ria and Ann .
There will be a panic in the city if a dragon suddenly appears so we land on a considerably far place .
We contacted them beforehand so the Goroun Company already arranged a carriage that will take us to the city .
Michael-san arranged an inn for us and we will stay there until the day we’ll meet with the parties involved .
In the meantime, I’ll take Loo, Tier, and Hakuren to a date while helping out at Big Roof Shashaato .
Hnn… .
Neither Loo nor Tier has come to this city but why is it that they know more about it compared to me?
I must be imagining things .
That must be it .
Big Roof Shashaato… . the employees increased again .
And the day came .
The meeting place is a beach .
A sandy beach .
The fishermen and merchants of Shashaato City are lining up on the land side while the seakin is lining up on the seaside .
From a spectator’s view, they look like far apart but they are unexpectedly near each other .
Maa, it’s not like they’re hitting each other .
The seakin, those who have an upper-body of a human and lower body of a fish are called mermaid and those who have an upper-body of a fish and a lower body of a human are called sahagin .
There are also creatures like the nyunyu-daphne . The difference is that they are corals .
I thought that the one beside it is a lizardman since it really looks like a lizardman .
However, it seems to be of a different race . They are some sort of sea lizard which is only similar to lizardmen in our village .
Loo and Tier explained that to me .
We are on the side where the fishermen and merchants are .
However, Gulf will be the only one who’ll participate with me . Loo, Tier, and Hakuren won’t be participating .
「Then, let’s start . 」
The representative of the seakin said that . He looks like an aged merman .
The table was immediately prepared .
There are ten chairs .
Five for the fishermen and five for merchants .
Randy and two more people from the purchasing department of Goroun Company sits on three chairs .
The remaining two chairs will be for me and Gulf .
「We plan to resolve our conflict with the city, using our old tradition . 」
When the old merman declares so, those around made an exaggerated gesture .
「If you lords will manage to overcome the trial, we will follow what you want . 」
The fishermen voiced out cheers of joy hearing that .
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「However, if you can’t overcome the trial, you city dwellers must obey us . 」
This time, it is the seakin’s turn to shout cheers of joy .
Maa, obeying or not will depend on the result of this so-called trial .
「Now then, the first item! Bring it here!」
They brought dishes for the 10 sitting people .
Right, this is the trial of the seakin . You have to eat whatever they’ll show you .
But why is this a trial?
I’m doubtful but I heard that it is because weird seafood comes out during trials… . the information was given by the fishermen .
Will poor food or something bizarre be served?
However, the trial considers taste preference so there’s a rule that everyone can use seasonings .
The first item .
Beautifully sliced red meat of tuna .
There are three thick tuna fillet per person .
Wow, delicious .
It tastes great with both soy sauce and wasabi .
I want another serving .
No no, if I became full, it will be troublesome for me to eat the next one .
Hahaha
I’m already thinking about the next item but when I saw the people around, I almost laugh .
All nine except for me .
The five fishermen, Randy and the two merchants, and Gulf .
They’re trembling .
「Im-impossible… . raw fish right off the bat . 」
「Last time, this came out last . 」
The two merchants are staring blankly at their slice of fish, not moving .
Randy boldly grips one tuna fillet… . . put it on his mouth but… . . he didn’t make it .
Disqualify .
As for Gulf, he looks like he is about to cry .
You hate raw fish that much?
Gulf gave up at the first tuna fillet, disqualified .
The five fishermen… . two of them managed to eat their share .
As for the other three, they look at me with eyes full of expectations .
Okay, you can give up . I’ll take care of the rest .
The two merchants too .
Don’t overdo it .
It is blasphemy to not eat delicious food deliciously .
Ah, it is probably difficult for them to do so because of cultural differences .
I probably won’t eat it with great relish if I’m not used to it too .
「Fufufu . Three managed to stay? But it will end with the next item . 」
The merman directed to bring out the next plates while saying a villain-like line .
Second item .
Living shirasu .
A little soy sauce and… . yup, just the way I like it .
The two fishermen also managed to do it .
Third item .
Sea urchin .
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You don’t need to eat the husk .
The two fishermen give up there .
I became the sole survivor .
Fourth item .
Pufferfish .
「Poison is bad news . With that in mind, give me the not poisonous part」
「Lord… . are you sure?」
「I’m not a fool to decline a pufferfish . 」
When I eat pufferfish, voices of admiration broke out from the seakin .
「Amazing」
「Even us dislike that fish… . 」
On the contrary, screams can be heard from the fishermen and merchants .
Why?
Fifth item .
Crab .
Yeah, crab sashimi is delicious .
I don’t understand why one of the fishermen fainted when he saw me .
「Kuh, let’s see if you can continue to act that way with the next dish . 」
「Hnn? It’s that bad?」
「Unfortunately, even among us, there are few who can cook and eat it . 」
「I see . 」
I’m already prepared .
Sixth item .
Salmon roe .
…… .
You cook this?
What did I even prepare for?
I dip it slightly to soy sauce and eat it raw .
Ah, another food I want .
Seventh item .
Horned turban .
It can be grilled in its own shell .
… .
Areh?
I feel like I have seen some being grilled in a stall in Shashaato City .
「Does the seakin not eat horned turban?」
「No, it looks really gross… . 」
Ah, so that’s how it is .
It’s delicious .
Eighth item .
Abalone .
This will be more delicious if they have dried it .
I grilled it then eat it .
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Ninth item .
Moray eel .
I stew it .
It’s not bad .
「Yo-you’re quite a courageous man . 」
No, I’m just eating food .
「Though the next plate will be the last… . even a courageous seakin wouldn’t dare to try eating it . 」
When the merman said the name of the item, loud screams spread around .
Only a few of the seakin didn’t scream .
Tenth item .
Octopus .
「I’ll sashimi one of its tentacles . As for the rest of the tentacles, they will be deep-fried . As for the head… . grill it after removing the internal organs . 」
It was very delicious .
Thus, the trouble between the seakin and the fishermen of Shashaato City was settled .
They continued working with each other like what they’ve always done so .
Maa, even though we won the trial, if we abuse them, the issue will happen again next month .
As for the seakin’s request, they want to eat curry once a month so we’ll open a store on the beach once a month just for them .
That is Marcos and Paula’s proposal .
I heard that they also wanted to open branches in other places . It looks like they have already thought of the future .
Are the employees thinking about the future too?
As thanks for resolving the issue, the merchants, fishermen, and seakin bowed to build the store at the beach for me .
I would love that .
However, are you all satisfied with the result?
The fishermen only complained about eating gross food… .
Okay .
But they’re not really gross you know .
As for the seakin, they apologize for causing trouble .
They talk about the expenses in opening the branch store but I declined and said that I’ll propose a business with them .
Of course, the Goroun Company will take care of it .
「I want supply for all the marine products you used during the trial . I want them regularly . Shirasu and salmon roe are hard to find so… . just supply them if you have them . Don’t overhunt moray eel too . I want tuna, crab, horned turban, abalone, and octopus as for the amount, give me as much as you can . As for pufferfish… . I don’t know how to prepare it…if you can remove the poisonous part… . ah, Loo can do it? You know a spell that can do that? Okay . Then, I want a pufferfish too . 」
I’ll be happy if there are squid and flying fish too .
Eh?
Squids are regularly caught by fishermen since everyone knows they can be eaten .
Then, why are you like that with octopus?
Yeah, it’s food culture .
In any case, this trip has a lot of harvests .
TN: Eh(too)? Chapter 35 in the manga, they are sun drying squid . Probably a LN/manga exclusive detail . I personally don’t remember translating something about drying squids but I feel like I’ve translated grilling a squid . Or, I’m just imagining things .
Later .
The only ones who can eat everything are me, Zabuton, Ursa, and the cat .
No, I didn’t force them to eat… .
Everyone especially dislikes octopus .
How can they not know the deliciousness of octopus?
Fufufu .
Ah, I won’t overdo it .
They’ll probably try to taste it too because of curiosity sooner or later .
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