It is very difficult to distinguish between a rock and a Big Oyster by observation alone.

　Basically, if you tap the shell, as Mr. Marks did, it will open its mouth, so you can make a judgment, but it is a little tricky because not all Big Oysters respond.

　However, not all Big Oysters react to it. As soon as you put your foot on it, it opens its mouth and falls on the rocky ground.

　In our case, however, there is no problem at all, because we responded to the [search for enemies].

　We pair up and search for the Big Oyster.

　When you find a Big Oyster, hit it to make it open its mouth, and use a sturdy weapon such as a two-handed sword or an iron rod as a pincers, while the other person quickly detaches the scallop.

　This is not defeating, but rather collecting.

　Incidentally, Toya tried to attack the scallop from the top of the shell with an impact hammer to see if it would be easier, but it was a soggy mess. However, the shells turned out to be a messy mess.

　I continued to work steadily for an hour.
　Marks, who was working with Mitya, stopped his work and called out to us.

Have you got the amount you need yet?　I'd like to eat it while it's fresh, how about it?

"Yes!　I'm in!

Me too!　Me too! I want to try it!　I don't know about you, but Uncle Marks' explanation sounded really good!

I'm interested, too.

　Yuki and Mitya immediately agreed, and Mary raised her hand modestly.

　If it's just freshness, you can use a magic bag, but we agree that the seafood grilled on the beach looks delicious.

So let's get started.

　We started to move from the rocky beach to the sandy beach, but right after that, we heard a shout.

"Oh no!

　When we turned around at the sound of the slightly dumb voice, there was Toya on the rocks, stomping his foot bellows.
　I looked over and saw that something was tangled around his legs, restricting his movement.
　It moved in a slippery motion and crawled up Toya's body.

"An octopus?

　For a moment, he couldn't tell what it was because of the brownish color and the thick tentacles, but then he saw the body crawling up from the surface and the suckers attached to the tentacles, and he knew what it was.

Toya, you're being too cautious!
I thought it was an oyster, even though it reacted!



　To Haruka's disgusted voice, Toya shouts out an excuse.
　I see, you have such a blind spot.

　I've seen the skillful mimicry of octopi on TV, and it's inevitable that you wouldn't notice it at a glance. If you think it's a big oyster when you see an enemy under your feet, you'll be distracted, thinking, 'It's OK as long as I don't put my feet on it.

　But that's not the time to say that!

"Toya, can't you unshake it?
I can't!　I can't! I'm trying my best to protect my face!

　The octopus, which had first been entangled in Toya's lower body, crawled up to his face.

　The body of the octopus, entangled just below Toya's waist, was probably about a meter in diameter.

　The base of the legs growing out of it is thicker than Toya's arms and is probably more than two meters long.

　There are eight of them wrapped around Toya's body.

This is something for the ladies to do!
Oh, no, Toya.
Toya, I don't think that's a good idea.
Toya's brother: ......
Toya-san: ......

　Toya was completely beaten up by everyone except Haruka.
　And even the only one who didn't say anything, Haruka, gave Toya a cold stare.

　I'm not going to lie. But the real-life octopus demon is not something that can be treated as a service scene.

　Toya's physical abilities allowed him to fight it, but if it had been Yuki, every bone in her body would have been crushed, and even the suction cups would have been quite dangerous.

　The chainmail and leather armor are not enough to deal with it, but it would be quite dangerous to have it attached directly to the exposed parts of your face and bare skin.

　However, Toya is wearing a flexible armor, and even Toya's face is getting a little red from the tightening.

　Well, it doesn't look like she's in any immediate danger, so we can afford to make such observations.

"Marks!　Help me!

"Oh, I'm sorry, Toya. I'm not an expert in handling women.

Not that way!　You octopus!　I don't have time for jokes like that!



I'm sorry about that.　By the way, sorry about that too. Unless you want me to smash you to bits, I'm not good at that kind of delicate work.

I'm not good at that kind of delicate work.　I'm really stuck here.　Help!　Help~!　I'm in serious trouble!　I'll apologize!

　The octopus's body crawled up to his chest, and it looked like it was about to get really dangerous.

　Even Toya's life would be in danger if his face was covered.

It's no use. Hey, Toya. Me, Haruka, Natsuki, and Nao. Who do you want?

　Shaking his head, Yuki held up four fingers, to which Toya immediately replied.

"Natsuki!

You didn't hesitate at all. So, Natsuki, please.

I understand. Nao, please lend me your spear. The octopus's vital point is ...... here!

　The effect was dramatic.

　The effect was dramatic. When Natsuki received the spear from me and quickly thrust it between the octopus' eyes, its body color suddenly turned white and its body stopped moving.

　At the same time, the octopus lost its clamping power, and Toya immediately ripped it off and slammed it down on the rocks.

It seems that even demons are no different from kryptonite.
Thank God, Natsuki. Oh, that's disgusting. ....... I'm in a lot of trouble.
Toya, my brother is all sticky and wet. ......
And it stinks, too. ......



　I'd like to jump into the ocean, but I'm not sure I want to.

I want to jump into the sea like this. ...... Someone, please purify.

Yes, yes. Purify. Watch your step this time, okay?

Okay. Huh. ......

　Tiredly reaching for his feet, Toya dragged the dead octopus he had just knocked over to the beach and jumped off.

I'm a little glad we got the octopus, but, Marks, what kind of demon is this?

　I'm not sure if it's because I haven't read the encyclopedia of sea monsters, or because I couldn't identify it with my [Appraise] skill, Toya asked, but Mr. Marks simply shook his head.

No, I don't know anything about it.

What?

I'll tell you, I only know a few demons that I've encountered in the short time I've been active near the ocean. I've been looking through the demon encyclopedia for a while now, but I don't remember that much.

　It was a long time ago that Marks retired from active duty, and it was even longer before that that he was active in other countries.

　It's inevitable that he can't remember anything about a demon he's never fought.

We don't even know if the octopus is a demon or not. Well, considering that it came out of the dungeon, I think it's a demon, and we can find out if it has a magic stone or not.

You know, right?　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find it on the web.

　He washed it clean with seawater and placed it on his palm for us to see.

"Wow, that's a beautiful stone, ...... shining a light blue.
It's really ...... your first time, isn't it?　A magic stone of this color?

　In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

I'm not sure what to make of it.　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

"Is that so?　I didn't know that.

　The majority of the demons I've killed so far have had blackish demon stones, which depending on how you look at it can be beautiful, like obsidian, but not at all vivid.



　If the magic stone is as beautiful as this, it may have a certain value as a decorative item. .......

The color, by the way, has no effect on the price. At least when the guild buys it.

Oh, I see.

Magical stones are practical items. There's no one special who uses magic stones as ornaments, right?　If that's the case, it's much better to sell the magic stones to buy jewelry.

"...... is that it? I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　In this world, perhaps because of the existence of alchemy, glass processing technology is also surprisingly developed.

　Since it is not an industrial product, it is not inexpensive, but it is possible to make glass beads that are beautiful enough to be used as jewelry.

　Even so, they are much cheaper than ordinary jewels, so unfortunately, even if a magic stone is somewhat beautiful, the price will not be high unless it is rare.