A bluish-black fish clung stubbornly to the handle of the net that her husband had hastily pulled up, refusing to let go.

It was quite large—maybe 70 or 80 centimeters long. At a glance, it looked like a carp, but its mouth was wide, filled with tightly packed teeth. Its scales were also large, almost like armor.

The pectoral fins were thick and fleshy, almost like legs. Just as she was thinking that, the moment the net was placed on the ground, the fish released its grip and began walking toward them on those fins.

Its teeth chattered loudly all the while.

Mika hesitated for a while, pulling a bottle of pesticide from her pocket, but eventually put it away and tightened her grip on the shovel instead.

“Papa, step back for a sec.”

Without hesitation, she swung the shovel down, aiming for the head of the strange fish as it advanced on its fins.

“Gyu!”

The fish let out a cry and thrashed violently, but after the second and third shovel strikes, it finally stopped moving.

“Even if a fish looks dead, it can still jump around. Some have spines or poison, so don’t touch it, okay, Papa?”

As she spoke, Mika checked the monster encyclopedia.

Dragonfish
A fish-type monster that inhabits rivers. Highly aggressive and carnivorous. Its scales are hard and sharp, often used as arrowheads. Non-venomous. Edible for most races.

There is a legend that if the number of dragonfish grows too large, they will summon the Sky-Soaring Blue Dragon.

“Ah! It says we can eat it. Let’s take this back as a souvenir!”

She pondered for a while on how to carry it, then suddenly remembered when she glanced at her husband’s face.

“Oh, right! Let’s wrap it in this towel.”

Both Mika and her husband still had towels wrapped around their necks. Carefully, they bundled the fish in one, making sure not to cut their hands on its scales or fins.

“Here, I’ll carry it. Let me take it.”

“Thanks,” Mika said, handing the fish to her husband. Though heavy, he accepted it with a smile and began walking, while Mika followed behind, shovel in hand.

Earlier, Mika had contacted Dada via telepathy to let him know they’d be visiting today.

So when they stepped through the door and emerged in Acid’s domain, Dada was already sitting there, waiting.

“Oh, sorry we’re late. Were you waiting long?”

“No, not too much… But the person behind you…”

Behind Mika, her husband stood frozen, staring at Dada and the receptionist.

Incidentally, today’s receptionist was a kobold—a bipedal Chihuahua-type.

“This is my husband. Flower-chan’s papa. Come on, Papa! This is Dada, who’s always looking after us.”

“Nice to meet you… So this really is another world, huh?”

Her husband stood there in a daze, but Mika figured he’d reboot eventually, so she decided not to worry too much and just tugged him along.

“Oh, right. Dada, we caught this earlier—do you know how to cook it?”

Mika showed Dada the strange fish her husband was carrying.

“This! Mika, where did you find this dragonfish? Was there only one?”

“No, there were tons of them swimming around! Is it really that delicious?”

“Well, delicious or not—come to the guild, right now!”

Suddenly flustered, Dada jumped up and perched on Mika’s shoulder.

What’s got him so worked up? Wondering but not dwelling on it, Mika and her husband headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild.