We didn't have to travel very far from the market to reach the harbor with the big lighthouse.

'Wow, so this is the harbour!　Lots of ships!

And this is where the fish will be delivered to the market, right?

　The port of Sevalia was a bay-shaped harbor with the sea entering the land in a square shape.
　A number of wooden boats were tied together with strings and anchored in the harbor.
　The small ones are about two-person boats, and the ones at the far end of the harbor vary in size from large transport-like vessels.
　Is the port here a combination of trade and fishing?

'There's a great big ship!　Let's go see!

Oh, hey!

You can't go by yourself!

　Freesia started to run towards the big boat that was docked at the back.
　Me and Nol hurriedly followed her, but it was unlikely that we would be able to catch up with her because she ran ahead of us and was fast.
　However, the moment Freesia passed in front of the building that was on its way.

''Kora!　What the hell are you doing, wandering around?　This is a no-go zone from here!

Wow!

　I heard a brazen male shout.
　Freesia was surprised by it and jumped up on the spot and stopped moving.
　In the meantime, Noll and I also caught up with him and restrained Freesia.

''You idiot!　You can't go to the bathroom without asking me!　Not this time!

Whew, whew, I can't do it!

　Today, which is today, is unforgivable, I promise!
　He pulls and squeezes both of Freesia's bound cheeks.
　It's as soft to the touch as Noor's, but that guy stretches better.
　So this time, instead of stretching, I crushed my cheeks and kneaded them with the palm of my hand with a grimace.
　Freesia is screaming for quit while becoming an octopus mouth.

''Oh........Freesia finally became a victim of Okura-dono.......''

I don't think I've seen anything like this in a long time.

　I guess I'm remembering seeing Freesia being rubbed by me, and Noll is also holding her own hands on both cheeks, making her pucker up.
　It's true that I don't have much to do for Noll these days.
　Before, if there was anything to do, he'd pull my cheeks, or try to pull me, and I'd fight back.
　Both Noor and I have become a lot more rounded.
　I was thinking back on it while kneading my cheeks.

''Hmmm........can't we finish this soon?''

　A big man with a big body came up to us and cleared his throat before we knew it.
　With his arms rolled up and his apron on, he looks like a fisherman.
　Is this the person who yelled at you earlier?

'I'm sorry!　Here, you too!

'Ugh I'm sorry...'

Oh, oh. You know, this is all well and good, if you understand.

　I immediately stopped kneading my cheeks and put my hand on Freesia's head and bowed with her.
　I guess we were drained of our toxicity for doing something stupid, but surprisingly, it was quickly forgiven.
　Or rather, he seemed to be pulling back a bit.
　When we raised our heads, the fisherman crossed his arms and looked around at us seriously.

'That plate........are you adventurers?'

'Yes, I do. This one is different, though.

'I'll be quiet and I need you to let me go! Help me, Noor!

This time it was Freesia's fault. Okura-dono caught you straight away to reflect on your actions.

Ummm... reflection.

Nole is tough when times are tough.

　Freesia didn't let go, but grabbed him by the neck and kept him immobile.
　Noll told me to be sorry, too, and I just shuffled my shoulders and started to jiggle over on my back.
　Phew, that should keep him quiet for a while.

''Since you came all the way to the port, did you receive a request?

'No, I just got to this town today, and I was just looking around.

That's why he was frolicking like that. You're so strangely dressed, I was surprised when you went across the street and wondered what the hell you were running at.

　Then the fisherman pointed to Freesia.
　I'm sure you'll be surprised to see a Nole with ears wearing a hand-made hood today.

"I wonder if he's a fisherman.

Oh, I'm a born-and-bred Sevarian expert fisherman!

'Oh, it's so cool!

　When the hunter bends one arm and makes a forceful hump and slaps his arm, Freesia smiles and claps.
　If you were remorseful, you're already back to your tune.......

'I see your uncles caught the fish from the market too!　It's awesome!

What, you've been to the market too?

I bought a lot of them. They all look delicious and I'm looking forward to cooking them now!

Well, it's always good to hear a good response. I've just been frying a clam.

Are you sure?　We would love to have you do that, sir!

I want to try it too!

　The fisherman blushed and scratched his face in embarrassment and walked toward the building.
　Noll shouted happily and followed him, and Freesia followed at a tete-a-tete when I stopped grabbing her neck.

''Well you should have been pissed off, but you seem to have taken a total liking to me.

'Yeah there's a part of me that wants to learn from those guys with this kind of groove.

●

　As we walked through the buildings, a group of fishermen had gathered for a drink.
　We joined them and were served oyster-like shellfish that had been grilled in the net.

Mmmmmm, it's delicious.

You're a good eater, sis!　How about this one?

Are you sure?　We will have it!

　The fishermen around him are getting better and better at feeding him more and more of his food, as Noor's magnificent bite.
　Although you can't see his face in the helm, he's in a super good mood with his cheeks loose and his hair flicking from side to side.
　........Well, it's true that this shellfish is that good, but....
　I'll get some more if they're sold at the market later.

Sorry for the feast.

It's all good. It's a pleasure to watch you eat, so it's worth it.

Your uncle is a good man!

'Stop calling me Uncle so many times. My name is Loken.

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late in introducing myself. My name is Heihachi Okura.

　We were chatting with the first person we met, Mr. Lorken, while Noor, who was bombing, was elsewhere.
　Perhaps Freesia couldn't keep up with Noll's pace, but she joined in with us.
　We responded to Loken-san's self-introductions and carried on the conversation further.

''You guys are pretty high-ranking adventurers, though, aren't you?''

Yes, I'm new here, but I'm a B-grade kid.

Ha, that's quite a feat for someone so young. And there's even a child in the mix. From the way you're dressed........are you a mage?

Yes, I do. You know a lot more about mages from the way they dress than I thought, Uncle.

'We have to take care of the mages in the harbor too, you know. If you're a fisherman, you'll have a good chance of seeing them.

　Heh, a mage at the harbor what the hell do they call a mage for?
　Could it be to freeze fish or have them take countermeasures against demons?

'Hey, hey, Mr. Loken. Why is this place off-limits to me?

There are transports docked here, and they're unloading cargo, so it's dangerous. That's why it's a no-go zone for everyone.

　I knew that ship was a transport ship.
　If something like Freesia comes in the middle of carrying things, it is dangerous, and it is right to prohibit it.
　By the way, there is also a transport ship and fishing, it looks like a fairly developed port.

I don't know much about the sea, but there are demons in the sea too, right?

Of course they're there. I'm sure you'll find them around, as long as they don't go offshore or into certain waters. When the transport is leaving, I'll ask an adventurer or mage who knows the sea to provide an escort.

　
　So the skyfish we encountered yesterday was the one that comes out of the sea around there?
　In the meantime, I'll just ask about that monster.

''Are flying fish demons and the like rare around here?

"A fish in the sky?　Hmmm ... maybe a tornado shark?　But those guys only come out when the seas are rough.

　Tornado shark?　What a fancy name for it.
　Flying through the air... it's not like a shark riding in a tornado or something, is it?
　It's far scarier than a skyfish or anything else.

'Could it be that you came to Sevalia to look for that demon?

No, we were on our way to the city when we ran into a demon that flew very fast.

'I think it's a sea demon because it came from the ocean, but if you don't know, then it's not. It's a white, winged, tubular demon, a little bigger than the palm of your hand.

　Esther joined in and asked for more details, telling him the approximate size of the thing with her hand.
　However, Loken-san crossed her arms and tilted her head.
　Even the locals don't know about the Skyfish.......could it be that monster, a sign of something strange?
　But it's too early to conclude anything, we need to get confirmation from the association.

I don't know such a strange monster. Where did you encounter it?

There's a stone shrine on a steep cliff.

What?

　As soon as he heard the location, Mr. Loken stood up with a loud voice.
　Even some of the fishermen who were listening around him rolled their eyes in surprise.
　Wha, what?　Did I say something wrong?

Hey, guys!　You didn't do anything to that shrine, did you?!

No, no!　I was just curious, and I didn't even touch it!

Phew, that's good.

　Loken-san exhaled and patted his chest, and the fishermen around him looked relieved.
　........I was curious about that shrine, but I'm glad I didn't do anything about it.
　If Freesia had been interested in it, there was a possibility that it would have been destroyed if it was a bad idea............................Just thinking about it is terrifying.

''To be so upset, was that shrine an important thing?

That shrine belongs to Testudo, the guardian god of Sevalia, who has been worshipped since ancient times. It is said that the presence of that shrine protects the seas around Sevalia from demons.

Oh, I didn't realize it was so important...

　
　Could it be that the reason we were attacked by the skyfish was because of all the noise around there...?
　No, no, no, no. I didn't harm the shrine itself, so it must have just happened to attack me, yeah.

"Huh?　But if it's so important, why is it in that place?

There are several of those shrines around Sevalia. You've found one of them. This is one of the finest shrines to Testudo in the city.

　If I ask more about it, I hear that they sometimes hire adventurers to periodically patrol that shrine.
　When I hear that there are shrines all over the place, the story of Sevalia's guardian gods becomes more realistic.
　With shrines all over the place, it's a bit like a branch of a shrine, isn't it?
　.........I'm afraid if it wasn't a coincidence that I was attacked by a skyfish, I'll go to the shrine in this town to pray.

''Mmmmm, it's delicious!

　While we were talking about it, Noll was happy to eat the shellfish by the end.