"Halts' territory is in the north, so the fishing village must be full of seafood."
"Is that so?"
Seri questioned my offhand comment.
Oh no.
The abundance of the northern sea is a story about Earth.
It's not necessarily the same in this world.
It's not impossible that the south has more fish.
"No, I just thought the north might have more fish."
"I think the south, which is warmer than the cold north, has more plants and animals."
"That's talking about land."
"Miria says she has heard that the north is better for fishing. However, she doesn't know the reason or if it's true."
If Miria says so, it's fine.
Good.
Well, the conditions are probably similar to Earth's.
"Why does the north have more fish? It's a mystery."
"It's a mystery."
Seri and Miria are getting along.
In a strange way.
They tilted their heads together, with Roxanne in between.
"The sea is just water. Basically, it lacks nutrients."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Where are the nutrients in the sea? When fish die, they sink to the bottom. Small bugs decompose the fish that sink to the bottom. Larger bugs and small fish eat the small bugs, and large fish eat the small fish. When large fish die, they sink to the bottom again. The nutrients in the sea circulate like this. Therefore, most of the nutrients in the sea are at the bottom. The bottom is rich in nutrients, but the rest of the sea is not. Fish don't increase in number in the sea because there aren't enough nutrients. This is the basic principle of the sea."
I explained what I learned in biology class.
Talking about bacteria, organic matter, and food chains would be too complicated.
"ΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓ"
"The bottom of the sea, which is rich in nutrients, is cold. In the southern sea, the upper part is warmed by the sun, making the water temperature higher. The warm water at the top and the cold water at the bottom don't mix easily. Therefore, the nutrients at the bottom don't spread throughout the sea. On the other hand, in the northern sea, the water at the bottom and the top are both cold. They mix well. The nutrients at the bottom spread easily throughout the sea. This is why the northern sea has more fish than the southern sea."
I explained while waiting for Roxanne to translate.
"My lord, you are impressive. Miria says she learned something new."
"Hmm. It sounds a bit suspicious."
"Amazing."
Seri and Miria had different reactions.
Miria was sincere, but Seri was critical.
Miria's reaction is probably due to Roxanne's influence.
Seri clearly doesn't trust me at all.
"It sounds suspicious, but that's the reason."
"Hmm."
"It's true."
"Are you trying to trick us?"
"I'm not trying to trick you."
Why?
I haven't lied.
"You said it was just a feeling earlier."
"..."
That's right.
"The surface of the sea is warm in the south and cold in the north. Is that correct? However, if the bottom of the southern sea is cold, wouldn't the bottom of the northern sea be even colder? In the end, wouldn't the temperature difference be the same?"
"That's a good question. Water freezes when it gets cold. And ice floats on water."
"Does ice float on water?"
Oh. Seri doesn't know about ice.
Well, there are no refrigerators or freezers in this world.
"Ice floats on water. Have you never heard of lakes freezing over in winter?"
"I have."
"It's the same. In the northern sea, if it gets too cold, the surface is covered with ice. The water at the bottom doesn't get any colder. The temperature of the water at the bottom of the northern and southern seas is not much different. Only the surface temperature of the northern and southern seas is significantly different."
"Hmm. I see. Now that you explain it that way, it seems logical."
Great.
I finally convinced Seri.
Victory of science.
This is a small step, but a great one for humanity.
After subduing Seri, I went to the thirteenth floor of Halbar.
I slaughtered two Pig Hogs with five Water Storms and finished off Glassby with two additional Breeze Balls.
A total of seven.
"Is this how it's going to be?"
Seven means, in terms of numbers, it's the same as the sixteenth floor of Koolatar.
The battle time will be about the same.
Even if half of them can be defeated halfway through.
"It's fine. We've fought on the sixteenth floor of Koolatar. This is nothing."
Roxanne is right about safety.
However, it's inefficient.
I feel like I'm losing out.
The battle time is the same even though I moved from the sixteenth floor to the thirteenth floor.
Well, it can't be helped.
There's also the duke's request.
I can't become an adventurer immediately on the sixteenth floor of Koolatar, so exploring the thirteenth floor of Halbar is a good idea.
From that day on, I entered the thirteenth floor of Halbar while taking care of miscellaneous tasks.
First, I picked up Miria's maid uniform from a clothing store in the capital the next day.
It's been about ten days since Miria arrived.
It's better to wait until she gets used to things before adding more harem members.
In the evening, I brought back Miria's maid uniform.
Roxanne and Seri also brought their maid uniforms to the living room.
"Then I'll teach Miria how to wear it."
Roxanne said this and took off her clothes.
When Roxanne took off her clothes, there were large, soft, and plump things.
I'm not used to seeing them.
They are always the best.
The large, alluring chest is hidden by the modest dark blue maid uniform.
It continues to sway and bounce even when hidden.
This is outrageous.
Truly outrageous.
I pressed down on the maid uniform to keep it from moving.
The elasticity is wonderful.
Miria's maid uniform is almost the same as Roxanne's and Seri's, with only a slight difference in the apron design.
The small, standing cat ears suit the maid uniform well.
"But why are we changing here?"
If we changed in the bedroom, I could have pushed her down right there.
Is this to prevent that?
"Well, if we change here, my lord will carry us to the bedroom."
Of course, I carried them.
I certainly did.
I put my arms under their backs and knees, lifted Roxanne sideways, and carried her strongly.
I lifted her smooth body and carried her slowly and carefully.
I focused on her chest, which trembled like a newborn fawn.
The weight that rested on my arms, the soft elasticity.
Everything was wonderful.
Seri, being petite, was light.
I held her slender legs firmly and pressed her body against mine.
I carried her small body easily.
Finally, I carried Miria.
When I lifted her, her cat ears twitched.
I carried the now docile Miria gently.
After carrying them, I certainly enjoyed it.
Of course, I did.
I forgot about preparing the meal and ate all three of them.
Thank you for the meal.
The next morning, I went to the fish market in Hafen.
The smell of the tide and fish was strong.
"O, o, o, o."
Miria looked at me as if she wanted to say something.
I'm not sure what she wanted to say.
I can understand to some extent.
"Breakfast or dinner?"
"She says for dinner. She says it's better if it's a little aged."
Roxanne translated, and I got an answer.
She seems to have a lot of preferences.
"Then choose what you like."
"Yes, ma'am."
Miria led me around the market.
There were quite a few types of fish.
There were also a few shrimp and crabs.
Eventually, Miria talked to an old lady at a stall.
"Can she understand?"
"Yes. It's a bit different from Barnese, but if we speak slowly, we can communicate."
Barnese is the language Roxanne and Miria speak.
The old lady has cat ears.
The language Miria and the old lady speak might be as different as Spanish and Portuguese.
"This one, ma'am."
Miria pointed to a fish and turned to me.
It's a small fish, like a mackerel.
Did she decide on mackerel?
"She says eight of these."
"But we don't have anything to put them in."
I didn't bring a shopping basket.
I can bring bread back as it is, and I usually carry vegetables in a backpack.
I don't want the backpack to smell fishy.
Miria might welcome it, though.
"ΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓ"
"ΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓ"
"She says she can give us a bucket for twenty nals."
Roxanne negotiated with the old lady.
"Then a bucket and eight of those fish."
Roxanne translated the order, and the old lady left the stall to go somewhere.
She must be getting the bucket.
"ΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓΓ"
Miria pointed to the fish and explained something.
"She says the fish here have their guts removed and are carefully bled."
"I see."
So they are properly processed.
The taste must vary depending on the processing.
Modern fishing might have less variation.
Miria is impressive.
The old lady brought back a bucket.
It's a flat bucket with a handle, like the ones used for sushi deliveries.
Miria put eight fish in the bucket.
"It's twenty-eight nals."
Roxanne translated the price.
Cheap.
One nal per fish.
I can't get a 30% discount from an old lady from the village.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Miria nodded, so we went home.
"Is this small one okay?"
"She says these are caught with a seine net. The people who pull the net can keep the fish smaller than their palm. Therefore, small fish are cheap, well-processed, and delicious."
"I see. Miria, you're impressive."
"Yes, ma'am."
Miria puffed out her chest.
I petted her head.
We left the fish in the kitchen until evening.
In the evening, Miria filleted and pan-fried the fish.
The texture was firm and delicious.
It was delicious.
"Delicious."
"Yes, ma'am."
Miria, who finished her portion quickly, stared at the plate with the fish.
When I moved the plate to the left, her eyes followed to the left.
When I moved the plate to the right, her eyes followed to the right.
"β¦ I'm done with the fish."
"I've had enough too."
"Me too."
Of course, this would happen.
"Miria, you can eat the rest of the fish."
"Yes, ma'am."
Once again, I was served.
The next morning was the day of my appointment with Kasia.
Considering the worst-case scenario, I warped to the Bode adventurer guild and headed to the castle.
I doubt it's appropriate to introduce someone of unknown origin to a count.
They might check the Intelligence Card or something.
However, I couldn't think of a good reason to refuse the duke's or Kasia's request.
According to my grandfather's will.
β What kind of will?
For such a grand occasion.
β You always request an audience with the duke.
I can't be honored alone after my party members died in a battle with thieves.
β I already said they are safe.
I was badly injured in the dungeon by a monster.
β Healing potions can fix that.
I'm going back to my hometown because my parents died.
β If it's known that I'm in Koolatar, it will be a big problem.
I'm suddenly ill.
β I can only fool them for a few days.
No, my stomach has really been hurting for a while.
I could run away without saying anything, but if I'm going to flee, it would be the same whether I disappear after being exposed as not being an adventurer or not.
There's no need to run away at night right now.
Since I've come this far, there's nothing I can do.
I'll just have to see what happens.
I entered the castle with a resigned attitude.
In the lobby, the duke and Kasia were waiting.
Kasia was wearing an elegant violet dress with a tiara-like hair accessory.
She was beautiful.
The duke was also dressed more neatly than usual.
Both were in formal attire.
"Oh, it's you, Michio. I've been waiting. But why from the outside?"
"Well, um, just a bit."
"Never mind. Let's go."
It's not just a bit.
Of course, I don't need to say anything if I'm not asked.
"Where to?"
"We're going to Count Selmer's place."
"Right now?"
"It was supposed to be in three days."
I didn't hear that.
"I'm sorry, Lord Michio. His Excellency thought this schedule would be better. We are going to Count Selmer's place today."
Kasia bowed.
Her beautiful hair swayed, and a faint fragrance wafted.
Kasia must have put on perfume or something for the visit to Count Selmer.
It was a sweet, fragrant scent.
Kasia, in formal attire, was noble and beautiful.
The luxurious dress and the jeweled hair accessory were just supporting roles in front of Kasia.
If I'm going with Kasia, there's no problem.
"Well, it will be over quickly. It's better than visiting multiple times."
"Thank you."
"Understood."
I bowed to Kasia.
I ignored the duke, ignored.
Given the duke's impatience, I should have anticipated this.