Chapter 5

I was absolutely shocked, but somehow managed to suppress a scream from echoing through the air.

I tried hard to contain it.

Or more accurately, I was too startled by the sudden encounter to even make a sound.

Swish!

And instead, tentacles emerged.

"Oh, could you perhaps be from the same homeland?"

What is this? I don't know!

Internally I was panicking with my eyes rolled back, but meanwhile my mouth moved smoothly.

Despite my panic, the tentacles moved in an extremely calm and rational manner. Seriously, what is this?

"It's been a long time since fishing was practiced here. The catches are plentiful, Mister."

"I don't recognize your face. Are you one of my customers? If so, let's celebrate our meeting in this remote, desolate land."

Cannot. Mr. Goodenough.

Well, that's clearly an alias. Most powerful beings in the world of Terra typically use aliases.

A suspicious merchant with deep connections to the wasteland outlaw combat group—or rather, division-class battle collective—Rusty Hammer.

I can't gauge how dangerous he is, but he's someone who continues his trade even as "the Sea" begins its invasion of the land.

At the very least, I probably shouldn't think of him as a normal Aegir.

...But wait, isn't the presence of Skadi the Corrupting Heart extremely problematic?

She's the kind of monster that 10 out of 10 people would unquestionably identify as an enemy of mankind, like an alien or predator. This is practically an Ultraman scenario.

Skadi is... oh boy, she's casually floating next to me. If only... if only she'd at least keep her feet on the ground! I could have passed her off as a normal Aegir! Don't float! Walk! Normal inhabitants of Terra don't fly unless they're Anshinin-san!

"But well, it's quite... s-u-r-p-r-i-s-i-n-g to see someone fishing a-l-o-n-e, especially in Iberia of all places. I thought you might be some new kind of death seeker."

"...Alone?"

"Am I wrong? I don't see anyone accompanying you."

...Huh?

Does this mean I might be saved?

Cannot's gaze—is fixed solely on me, without even a glance towards Skadi with her ambiguous, unreadable expression.

Could it be that he can't see her? Despite her overwhelming presence? Hey, stop, stop, don't come out, Seaborn! Not now! Just when the atmosphere was getting good, you're disrupting everything! ...Good, it went back to the sea. That's a relief.

Even so, I'm increasingly confused about this eccentric floating woman beside me, but regardless, my golden brain cells independently assess the situation and continuously send activity signals. My mouth moves on its own.

"Sorry, it must have been my imagination."

"That's good. If there were a lot of people in such a remote area, they'd quickly become food for the monsters."

I haven't been wasting these past few weeks or months either.

I've killed time by constantly thinking about what to ask if I ever encountered someone, or how to explain myself. With nothing else to do, my thoroughly rehearsed mental simulations (merchant encounter version) guide my next words without hesitation.

"I'm a traveler who happened to find this ruined village. There are surprisingly few terrifying fish around, and it's unexpectedly comfortable."

"That's good to hear. A solo traveler is rare in this world. How about doing some shopping while you're here?"

Cannot says he'll give me a discount, one kindred spirit to another.

Is Cannot's race Aegir? He can see tentacles, so probably yes.

If so, it seems Cannot thinks I'm an Aegir too.

...Well, I did grow tentacles after all.

They're still wiggling around now. I tried thinking "bend!" and they bent. When I tried to extend them, they extended.

Seriously, what is this!?

I glance over at Skadi.

"Consumption is assimilation, and digestion is adaptation. The blood you accepted guides us to greater nobility, and that will eventually return to become your flesh and blood. 'The Awakening swirls and churns unending,' isn't that right?"

So it was you!

In front of Cannot, who presumably couldn't hear Skadi's words either, I couldn't shout that out. My tentacles, reflecting my will, hit the ground, making a wet slapping sound.

"...Can I use LMD?"

"Of course."

Cannot's Traveling Store, catering to customers' needs, right here. Electronic payments not supported.

I open my coat.

It's shopping time, just like the Doctor is used to.

...Oh, there's a Guide Beast! This is great, how much is it... 50,000 LMD? Not sure if that's expensive or cheap...

Night Luminescent Flower, Phosphorescent Originium Bugs too... wow, there's even Siracusa's Fury. Food items are always welcome, so I'll buy them. No idea about the taste though.

Coin-operated toys... without an Originium Drill, they're meaningless.

A sculpture of the Deep Sea Dominator? Why are you selling something in such bad taste, Cannot? Of course I'll buy it.

"Hey, wait... why are you selling this?"

"Got something that might interest ya, Haha, it's good merchandise, right? Hahaha"

Shut up!

What was there was a Deep Blue Heart.

This is practically cursed merchandise! Where did you get this... huh? You found it by the shore? Talk about entrepreneurial spirit.

"So, what'll it be? It's a bargain?"

"Of course I'll buy it."

Somehow I didn't want to hold it with my bare hands, so I let my tentacles grasp it.

Making them grip it firmly, they have surprisingly good holding power. Tentacles are unexpectedly useful, huh.

"I have several other items too. Want to take a look?"

...I've been thoroughly drained!

Almost none of the savings I found in the abandoned village remain!

"Fair buying, fair trading. It's a wonderful thing."

Since I don't know the market prices, I can't tell if I'm being ripped off.

But I also can't ask too many questions and expose my ignorance.

Well, it wasn't my money to begin with!

Losing something that didn't exist to begin with doesn't hurt my wallet!

And now, this enjoyable shopping comes to an end.

After spending a decent amount of money and engaging in conversation, I carefully choose my words and get to the main point.

"—By the way, Cannot. Do you know of Rhodes Island?"

What I want to know consistently is the status of humanity's survival.

More specifically, the continued existence of one of the few trustworthy organizations in Terra. Or perhaps, methods to contact groups that correctly recognize the threat from the sea.

Cannot is a merchant who appears in both the Troupe and the sea, but he also seems well-informed about the state of the world.

I was startled at first, but encountering Cannot is truly a stroke of luck.

"Even information is merchandise to me, but since you seem like a good customer, I'll give you one as a service."

Cannot speaks with what sounds like an unexpectedly cheerful voice.

"Rhodes? Of course I know them. Their Doctor is sharp, and above all, they're valued customers."

"Do you know where the Rhodes Island ship is?"

"Hey now, anything beyond that will really cost you money... Incidentally, I don't know its location. You should ask a Transporter about such things."

When he offers to introduce me to a skilled operative from Laterano, I inadvertently let out a sigh of admiration.

I'm certain now.

Rhodes is still active.

If Cannot isn't lying, then the nation of Laterano is similarly intact.

In other words, the sea invasion hasn't occurred since the Great Silence.

The world of Terra is still robustly surviving.

The loneliness that had been gradually tormenting me seemed to be swept away all at once, and the sense of relief made me want to sit down right there.

"Hey, hey, why that face? Is there someone at Rhodes you want to meet?"

Someone I want to meet.

Forgetting that Cannot couldn't see her, I instinctively looked at Skadi.

She was poking at the Deep Blue Heart with her fingertip.

Stop, stop, stop! Don't let one dangerous object approach another!

When I used my tentacles to separate them, I thought I saw a slightly sad expression cross her face.

...If Rhodes is still active, and if the sea invasion hasn't occurred, then what has happened to Skadi? Including the identity of this woman floating before my eyes, there's much I want to confirm by meeting Skadi and other Abyssal Hunters.

"...Yeah. There might be... someone I yearn to see."

"That's nice. Human encounters are once-in-a-lifetime, and established relationships are worth a thousand gold."

Cannot began busily packing up his shop.

I should go too.

Courage, motivation, energy, and hope have welled up inside me. The flame lodged in my heart hasn't gone out.

...Oh, right.

"Do you sell maps? Mine got washed away by the sea."

I never had one to begin with, but no traveler wanders without a map.

Cannot seemed to consider for a moment, then with a gesture that suggested "good grief," he said:

"It's actually a valuable item, but to celebrate meeting a good friend, I'll give it to you as a service."

Here, he said, tossing over a rolled-up paper.

I appreciate it, but don't throw valuable items.

When I unfolded it, a rough, old-fashioned map spread out before me.

The place names... I can read them. Here's the Iberian border, and here's Laterano.

Rem-Billiton is to the east. Ursus is still massive as ever.

"We're currently here in Iberia. Naturally, since many countries are mobile cities, you'll need to catch a Transporter for specific locations."

"I appreciate it."

Cannot finally gathered his luggage and turned his back.

"You buy, I sell. Looking forward to our continued relationship, valued customer brother."

He vanished.

Not metaphorically—in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from my sight.

I wonder who that man really is.

As I pondered this and glanced at Skadi, she too was tilting her head curiously.

Oh well.

I have my tentacles carry the fruits of my shopping and start walking toward my base in the abandoned village.

Let's head to Laterano. It's a relatively peaceful and friendly country in the world of Terra. Except for the Sarkaz.

Somehow I'll trace Rhodes' whereabouts from there and join up with them.

After that, whatever happens, happens. Dr. Kal'tsit will surely figure something out.

I open the map.

It seems there are several villages and towns scattered along the way to Laterano.

All locations are marked with X's... because they've all been destroyed? Looking closely, Gaul is also mentioned, but it too has an X mark.

It's a bit sad, but as someone of unknown origin and identity, this might be more convenient in Iberia.

"...What is this?"

Skadi notices something.

It seems there's something written on the back of the map.

Let's see...

There, in messy scrawl, a short sentence was inscribed:

Rhodes has an Abyssal Hunter.

Be careful, valued customer from "the same sea"