第１５９３堀：期待の海は？ (Part2)
"Beyond that, the terrain is far too disadvantageous; they attack from the water's edge. The recommended level is 35 or higher, with a party of at least three."
I nodded at Kaya’s assessment, as did Tori.
Facing an opponent of that caliber alone, especially in such treacherous terrain, is a recipe for disaster. Unless one is blessed with exceptional starting stats or a rare class, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Challenging a superior foe is a fool’s errand. In games, you’re often thrown into the fray without prior intelligence, but this is reality, and we are the ones doing the scouting. We can provide recommended levels and issue warnings through the guild, so I doubt there will be any fatalities, but still...
"I wonder if a mid-level party would even have a reason to come out this far."
"Adventurers... they adventure to earn coin. Even if the payout is decent, the risk here is too high."
"We’ll have to consult with Milly. Rather than hunting monsters in a disadvantageous spot by the water, it’s far more stable to earn in the dungeon."
She’s right. As Tori suggested, honestly speaking, it’s much safer to gather drops in the dungeon we’ve constructed within Weed. Since we have complete control over the environment, sudden, catastrophic mishaps are virtually non-existent. Occasionally, a monster might get chased into a different floor, but that’s about the extent of it.
Well, idiots will find a way to die anywhere, I suppose. While there are no deaths among Weed’s residents or tourists—barring illness or accidents—adventurers do perish from time to time. That’s the reality we’ve reached after thorough discussions with the Adventurer’s Guild. Assuming no one will ever die is just naive.
Setting that aside, I looked down at the lifeless crab and octopus and a thought crossed my mind.
"Come to think of it, I wonder if these are any good to eat?"
"Crab and octopus are... delicious... or so they say."
"Let’s take them back for now. Some monsters are toxic depending on the region, so we’ll need to have them properly examined."
"True. But if we consider them as a food source, this place might actually be a goldmine, right?"
"Indeed. If they’re that massive, the meat inside... there’s a lot of it. A significant quantity."
"I wonder, though? Sure, each one is huge, but are there enough of them to supply all of Weed?"
"We don’t need to source everything from this one spot, and that’s what we’re here to investigate, isn't it?"
"Exactly. First, we confirm if they’re edible. Then, we head to the beach."
As Kaya said, our work wasn't finished yet. We left the river mouth and made our way toward the shoreline.
"Oh, look at this. A beautiful stretch of sandy beach."
It wasn't quite an endless expanse, but unlike the rocky shore we had been exploring, this area opened up into a wide, sandy beach. The sand was fine, and it looked inviting enough to walk on barefoot. However...
"...Only if there aren't any monsters."
"Exactly."
As they both noted, even this pristine beach was thick with the presence of monsters. Still...
"What is this? There’s something on the beach, but I can’t see it, can you?"
"Indeed, I can feel a presence. But as Riel said, it’s invisible. Is it hiding?"
It was just a stretch of sand, yet the air was heavy with the presence of monsters. And yet, nothing was visible.
"Is there even a place to hide? It’s over there, right? I’m going to head in, so please provide cover from there."
"Got it."
"Leave it to us."
Tori headed toward the source of the presence. Suddenly, the ground beneath her erupted. In a normal situation, one might panic, but Tori is my partner; she deftly leaped away in a single bound, revealing the true form of the enemy...
"Ugh!?"
"Whoa!?"
"...A giant lugworm? A ragworm?"
Just as Kaya said, it was a lugworm—the kind prized as fishing bait—but this one was five times the length of a human and as thick as a person’s torso, bursting out from the earth. It was, to put it mildly, a grotesque sight. Imagine a giant, monstrous centipede, and you’ll get the idea.
As we stood there, frozen by the sight of such an unexpectedly repulsive monster, a sound echoed through the air—*SPLASH!*
With the roar of the waves, a massive fish leaped from the sea, hurtling toward the lugworm on the beach.
"Yeah... I think this is a bit much, isn't it?"
"A bit too many... attractions."
"No kidding."
And so, we stood there, watching the battle between the giant lugworm and the massive fish unfold. The sea of Rogari was, it seemed, a stage for kaiju-level showdowns. Well, that’s just nature for you.