We watch Garibas and Urbus fishing for a while, and then a fishing boat with two people on board approaches us.

　As the two fishing boats line up with our boat, Garibas lets out a shout.

'Hey, Titus!'

What?　I mean, we're this close, you don't have to be so vocal about it, okay?

　Titus was right, Garibas' voice was a bit excessive in volume.

　Or rather, Titus could speak normally.

　Apparently, the way he used the word like a bandit was just a polite way of speaking.

'I'll give you the greasiest one, let the little boy or girl have some fresh croaker!

Freshly-caught croaker is delicious!

It's true.

　Hearing Garibas and Urbus' words, Titus nodded firmly and turned back to me.

'Young lady, boy, how can I help you?'

I should take it.

I don't think those two are going to make it, but they can eat, can't they?

　Eric asks us to make sure.

　So this is a taste of the freshest ocean fish that only fishermen can taste.

　Cooking and eating freshly caught fish on the boat. I had never been to the sea before, so I had no such experience. But my friend who has had it says that the taste of freshly caught fish is so sweet that it makes you feel like you're eating something else.

　Fresh fish on the boat. The fish is fresh on the boat, and it's cooked the way the fishermen do. It's an opportunity I wouldn't want to miss out on.

I want to try it.

I'm going to have to try it.

　Me and sister Elinora nodded instantly at this.

'It's to show you how delicious freshly caught sea fish is. Let's have it.

'I understand!　I'm sending it to you now!

　When Eric said that, Garibas raised his voice loudly and used water magic.

　This time, he created a water ball for the seawater flowing around the area.

　Garibas maneuvered the water ball to move it to the center of the ship, and his brother Urbas threw two hand-grabbed croakers from the fish tank into the water ball.

　Thrown into the water ball, the blackfish swam around with great energy. However, due to the magical control of Garibas, there was no way for them to escape.

　This is a water prison to keep the fish fresh.

　As me and my sister Elinora stare at it in admiration, a water ball containing a crowana flies towards us. As Titus opens the fish tank on the boat, the water ball and the crowana are sucked into it.

　This completes the moving of the croaker.

'Well then, everyone enjoy some fresh blackfish!

'I'll take some of those black traps to the compound when I'm done fishing!

Yeah, thanks.

　Eric thanked him lightly, and Garibas and Urbus gave him a sly, white toothy smile.

　Then Urbus activated his wind magic again, and the fishing boat was off in a flash, perhaps following a school of croakers.

'You were a spirited villager, weren't you?'

My people are just as rowdy as the rest of them.

　Those twins were the kind of two people that reminded me of the noise of Coriat Village. I have a feeling that they would be able to fit in quickly in Coriat Village.

　Well, our territory doesn't have an ocean, so we can't make use of their abilities.

''Young lady, boy, how can we eat?''

...of course, raw.

It's the best way to get a good taste of croaker. With other fish, they taste better if you let them sit a little longer.

　Luna and Eric answer immediately to Titus' words, which he asks timidly.

　Huh?　Was there a culture of eating fish raw here too?

　When I'm surprised about the food culture, Titus scratches his head and gives me a look that looks like he's having trouble saying it.

Oh, I don't care if you're a little girl or a little boy. I'm sure our guests will find it tough, though, won't they?　I've probably never eaten fish raw before.

Can fish even be eaten raw?

　Hearing Sister Elinora's words, Luna-san and Eric nodded their heads in agreement.

''Well come to think of it, most of the other places didn't eat fish raw.

I totally forgot about it.

I've eaten fish raw before, but...

"What?

　I say interrupting, and Eric and his sister Elinora let out a squeal of surprise.

'Al, when did you eat that stuff!　You're an idiot!

　Sister Elinora says as if to scold you, but I think that word is rude in front of people who eat fish raw.

''I thought your village was all mountains and plains and there was no such thing as an ocean... you didn't think you ate river fish raw?''

No!

　What does Eric think of me? I'm not a bear, and I wouldn't think of eating a river fish raw.

So where did you eat it?

Kagura. You know it?

I don't know!

　I answer, and Eric gives a refreshing answer.

　Apparently Eric doesn't know Kagura.

　If I look at him, Luna-san also doesn't seem to know, and tilts her head, and her sister Elinora has a look of admiration on her face as she says, 'Heh.

It's a continental country across the sea from the port city of Esports in the Kingdom of Aldonia. The culture there is different from that of the kingdom, and eating fish raw was the norm. In the port city of Esport, there is a small amount of fish eaten raw that is not common.

'....Heh, I see. I didn't think there was a culture of eating fish raw outside of this village.



　What is Alfried's habit? I wouldn't mind going to a foreign country either.

　In my previous life, there were desperate barriers of language, money and time, but now I've cleared all of them. Plus, there's transference magic. Once you go there, it's ours.

''Well, let's assume Al-kun is okay, is Elinora okay?　Do you have an aversion to eating fish raw?　If you can't, I'll cook something else for you?

'I'm not particularly disgusted, but can I really eat it?　Do you think he'll have a stomach ache?

　Sis Elinora snorted and tilted her head.

　As expected of Elinora sister, even Elinora sister doesn't seem to be able to give two answers.



Okay. Then I'll try it.

　Perhaps because of Luna-san's encouragement, Elinora sister replies rather honestly. I've eaten the fish itself before.

　If this was an octopus or something like that, I'd be a bit more timid.

'....I understand. If it seems impossible, I'll serve it in a different way, just let me know.

All right, Titus. You can deal with the char.

Hey, I understand.

　We agree, and Titus starts working as soon as Eric gives the order.

　He opens the crate that was beside him and takes out a knife and a cutting board.

　Then he sat down in a suitable spot and placed the cutting board on top of the crate and placed the black char he took out of the fish tank.

　It was interesting to watch him handle the fish, so me and my sister Elinora peered at him from an unobstructed distance.

　Titus moves the knife quickly to remove the black char's scales. Each time he does so, the black and yellow scales scatter around the area.

　Once the scales are removed, he rinses the black char off and slides the knife along the belly.

　As I make the slit, I grab the guts as they become visible and remove them by hand. If you damage the organs at this point, the fish's flesh will smell bad, so be careful.

　After that, the fish's head is removed in a bold motion.

Normally, I'd keep the heads for use in soup or something, but this time I'd throw them away as they were improvised.

　I don't have miso, so I guess I can't make a miso soup or something like that, but I guess I can cook the leftover parts into a soup. I'm curious to see what that would taste like.

　While I was thinking about this, Titus washed the guts out of the croaker and the cutting board with a bucket of water.

　Then he places the crowana on a clean cutting board and wipes the water off with a dry white cloth.

　Then I make a slit in the back. I slide it back and forth several times so that it reaches the spine firmly. When it's done, do the same from the belly side.

　All that's left to do now is to separate the body along the spine.

　The meat is separated from the body, and the white meat is placed on the cutting board.

Oh.

Wow, that's amazing.

　Me and my sister Elinora couldn't help but be impressed, and Titus smiled shyly.

　He doesn't look good and his embarrassed face is cute.

That's it, a big part of the body has been removed. The only thing left to do is to do the same with the other side.

　When one side is done, just do the same for the other side.

　Titus explained, and then he would lower the other side as well.

　At first he was taking into account that we were watching, but he was even faster in bringing down the other side.

　Titus moved the knife quickly, and in no time at all we were three pieces down.

All we need to do now is cut them into pieces that are easy to eat.

　Titus said and moved the knife, and it was cut into bite-sized pieces that looked like sashimi.

　It's so clean and white that it's hard to believe it was covered in black scales. The flesh of the fish was lustrous and shiny in the sun.

Now it's all done. It's ready to eat.

''Well then, I'll eat first for Elinora.

You just want to be the first to eat.

　Luna-san didn't seem particularly bothered by Eric's prodding, but she grabbed a handful of crowana sashimi and put it in her mouth with a bang.

'.........Delicious as always. After all, eating freshly caught croaker on a boat is better than eating it at home.

　Luna moves her mouth to swallow with a munching motion and comments with a happy expression on her face.

　Luna's expression is not very varied, but even I, who have only met her a short time ago, could tell that she was very happy right now. She seems to be quite fond of sashimi.

'You really do eat it raw...'

　Sister Elinora is a little surprised to see Luna with a happy expression on her face.

　It must be an indescribable feeling for a friend to be eating something they didn't expect to be able to eat.

　I didn't think I could eat demon meat at first either, and when it actually came up on the table, I ate it with trepidation.

　In the end, my fears were blown away by the delicious taste of demon meat.

''Well, shall Eric and I eat next?

Yeah.

　It would be safer for Elinora sister if someone other than Luna-san ate it, too.

　The guest of honor this time is Sister Elinora, who has never eaten sashimi before. Let's turn this place over to her last.

　Eric and I grab a handful of crowana sashimi on the cutting board.

　You can season it with seasoning, but it's best to savor the flavor of the fish without any seasoning.

　I look at the sashimi through the sun and put it straight into my mouth.

　When I bite into it, the sashimi pushes it back with just the right amount of elasticity. But it's not something you can't bite off; it's soft enough to cut with a little force when you put your teeth up. As I savor that pleasant elasticity, the original taste of the croaker spreads in my mouth this time.

'........sweet!

　Is that the right word to describe the taste of sashimi? But it was the most fitting word in the vocabulary I had.

'I suppose so. Freshly caught croaker is the sweetest. You can put a citrus sauce on it, but it's good enough to be tasted as is.

　Eric, hearing my words, says with a somewhat proud expression on his face.

　This is a delicious taste that makes sense to be proud of.

　What the hell was the sashimi I used to eat in my past life? It's so overwhelming that I can't help but wonder if that's what it was.

　What will happen if I put soy sauce on it? It's frightening just to think about it.

So, I'm next.

　I guess it was because we were eating so well like that. Elinora's sister came over, a look of excitement on her face.

　Elinora walked slowly and grabbed a handful of sashimi with a very natural motion.

　I'm wondering if the fact that she is a nobleman's daughter means that she has a great grasp on the most important thing.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of the sashimi.

　As we watch in silence, she meditates on the sashimi and squirms her mouth, and when she swallows the sashimi, she puts it in her mouth.

　And when she swallowed the sashimi, Elinora's eyes widened and she said

'Delicious!　This is good!

　He squealed with delight and then went straight to taking the next sashimi and throwing it into his mouth.

　Apparently, he liked it.

''Well I knew Elinora would love the taste of this.

'Wouldn't anyone like this, unless they don't want to eat it?

Some people say they don't like the slight odor and texture of fish.

Hmmm, you're right. I don't mind the smell at all.

　Well, everyone has different food preferences. People who like really unusual foods are interesting, but I find people who dislike common ingredients interesting.

　If I compare it to a tomato, I'd say it's that squishy texture. The grains in it. The delicately hard skin, and many other reasons.

Preferences are really interesting.