第８４２堀：襲撃の結果 (Part2)
"Oh, come on. Don't flatter me that much."
It seemed a group had already gathered, buzzing with lively activity.
"Agil and Comet are already here, I see. Quick as expected."
"Well, they are researchers, after all. But then again, why is Sia-chan here? She was on the front lines fighting just a moment ago."
If my memory served me right, the combat footage I’d seen earlier definitely featured Sia-chan.
"True. Good grief, did she fly over here again..."
"Ah, I see. That explains it."
If she flew, then returning in almost no time at all made perfect sense. Though, is a flying fish actually a fish? Well, flying fish do exist, I suppose.
As we chatted, we approached Agil and the others.
"Oh, if it isn't Yuki and Taiki. Take a look at this monster."
"Wow, it really is the same type we used for training in Weed."
At that prompt, I looked at the fish before us. It was indeed the same monster we’d used in Kagura’s training sessions. It was dead, of course, and the way the carcasses were piled up—heaped in a row—felt less like a forensic examination and more like viewing a massive haul at a fish market. It felt like an auction was about to begin.
While I was lost in such ridiculous thoughts, Yuki-san began speaking with General Lake.
"It’s definitely a coelacanth type. General Lake, are you certain?"
"Yes. There is no mistake; this is the monster."
If General Lake could state that with such conviction, then this fish-type monster was undoubtedly the one ravaging the Sea of Saisifo. Well, whether it was the *only* one doing the ravaging was up for debate, but it was certainly responsible for the damage dealt to the Saisifo Navy.
"Kagura, Mikos, Solo—do you three notice anything from your perspective?"
"Hm? Oh, well, we didn't actually fight them, so I can't say for sure, but I’m certain it’s the same type as the ones in training. Right, Mikos, Solo?"
"Agreed. It looks like the same monster to me, too, Mikos-chan."
"Yes. It looks like the same monster to me as well."
So, Kagura and the others were of the same mind. That left only the opinion of the one who had actually fought it.
"Hey, Sia-chan. How was it in terms of strength?"
I asked her directly. From what I’d seen, Sia-chan had utterly dominated the fight, but there might be nuances only the combatant could perceive.
"Hmm. Let’s see. Honestly, the ones in Weed were significantly stronger."
"So it doesn't have that level of power. Well, if monsters of Weed-class strength were just wandering around everywhere, I doubt humanity or anyone in this world could survive."
"I suppose so. Oh, but this fish is surprisingly lean—it’s almost malnourished. I wonder if it hasn't been feeding properly?"
"Feeding? Malnourished? This fish?"
I looked at the giant, grotesque coelacanth lying before us. It didn't look malnourished to me in the slightest.
"Well, you can’t always tell by appearances. Fish do starve to death, but usually, they get eaten by other fish before that happens."
"Ah, I see. Wait—aren't these things eating plenty of people?"
They’d attacked countless warships. Surely, they’d had their fill... I thought, before realizing my own oversight.
"Wait, I get it. If there are hundreds of these things this size, the amount they’ve attacked here wouldn't be nearly enough to sustain them."
I felt like I’d had a stroke of genius, but...
"Actually, it’s not quite like that. Fish are surprisingly fuel-efficient. Even without eating people, they should be able to survive just fine by eating other sea life..."
"...Fair point."
Having my theory so easily dismissed by Sia-chan was a bit of a shock, though I had to admit she was right. If you dive into the ocean, there’s seaweed, shellfish, and other fish; it’s hard to imagine them starving.
"Then why the malnutrition?"
"Well, when I looked at it, it came at me with bloodshot eyes, so that’s what I assumed. I thought, 'This thing is starving.'"
"I see. What do you think, Yuki-san?"
"Who knows? I’ve never held a conversation with a fish."
"Ah, well, I am a fish, you know."
"Sia-chan is the exception. Regardless, we have the corpses. You two researchers—can you figure anything out?"
And so, it fell to the resident research duo.
"Alright! Leave it to us."
"First, let’s fillet it."
...Wait. Are they planning on eating it?
*Let’s dress the fish and have a feast.*