"Rest? Are you sure you want to do that?"
Celestine looked at Rest with a hint of surprise as he brought up the idea of monster subjugation.
"You may be a landowner here, but you aren't the local lord. You have no obligation to get involved..."
"Well... I figure it’s fine," Rest said, shrugging as he scratched the back of his head. "From what I’ve heard, the lord isn’t going to lift a finger for this village anyway. It would weigh on my conscience if I just ignored it. Besides, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the hot springs properly."
Rest had planned to spend another two or three days in the village soaking in the springs. If he turned his back on the suffering villagers—on a crying child—the thought of it would haunt him, ruining the relaxation he’d come for.
"And it’s not just that," he added. "I’d hate to lose access to the local cuisine. That sashimi was incredible."
If the fishing stopped, the supply of fresh sashimi would vanish. That was a tragedy he wanted to avoid.
(It’s not like I’m being sentimental. I just want to eat well. This definitely isn't for Shoko’s sake,) he told himself.
He wasn't sure who he was making excuses to, but he felt the need to clarify it in his own mind.
"If that is your decision, then I shall assist you in any way I can," Celestine said.
"I appreciate it, but... you have even less reason to get involved than I do, don't you?"
"Not at all. I believe this village is full of untapped business opportunities. My participation is strictly for the sake of profit."
It seemed Celestine saw her own kind of value in the fishing village.
Even though they were supposed to be on vacation, both Rest and Celestine had found a way to start working. In the end, both were chronic workaholics.
In his previous life, Rest had been a struggling student balancing several part-time jobs. Since his reincarnation, he had done nothing but study, train his magic, and fulfill his noble duties. Celestine was no different; as the daughter of a Duke House, she had been buried in academics and lessons since childhood, and her adult life was consumed by work. Neither of them was the type of person who knew how to simply sit back and enjoy a holiday.
"All right then. Can you tell me anything else about this monster?" Rest asked.
"U-Um..."
The young girl, her mother, and the surrounding villagers began sharing what they knew. While no one had seen the creature clearly, the consensus was that it resembled a massive shark or sea snake. It was significantly longer than a fishing boat, and its mere presence in the water created waves large enough to capsize vessels. It didn't seem to actively hunt humans, but its movements alone were enough to devastate the fishermen's livelihoods.
"So it doesn't prey on people? That makes it different from a typical man-eating shark."
Rest thought of orcas and whales. In his old world, orcas were known as the "marine gang"—apex predators of the sea—yet they rarely attacked humans. They supposedly knew that humans were lean and unappealing compared to fatty seals, and they seemed to understand that attacking people led to being hunted. Of course, accidents still happened when they mistook a person for prey or got too rough while playing.
Whales were similar; they were non-aggressive giants. Their diet consisted of small fish and squid. He’d heard of cases where whales accidentally scooped up divers only to spit them out immediately.
"Perhaps it is only after the fish the men are catching," Celestine suggested.
"Maybe. But we can't just leave it. People are actually getting hurt."
Even if the creature lacked malice, its actions were causing harm, and that required a response. Rest was firmly on the side of humanity. People took priority over marine life, regardless of the creature's intent.
"Do you know where it usually appears? Or what time of day?"
"Well... we aren't really sure," a villager replied after a moment’s thought. "The attacks have happened at all different times. It tends to stay further offshore, so we've been trying to stay close to the village, but..."
"Agggggggh!"
A scream cut through the conversation. Every head turned toward the sound. Out on the water, fishermen on a small boat were shouting in a panic.
"It’s him! The monster is here!"
"Turn back! It’s going to flip us!"
"I don't know if we're lucky or cursed," Rest muttered, "but it looks like it's decided to show itself early."
Rest kicked off the ground and took to the air, using his magic to fly out across the sea.