Chapter 137: Fishing Contest

We had finished exterminating the Afancs, which was all well and good, but the river had become a little dirty from the remains they left behind.

While we waited for all that to wash downstream, I took various tools out of my Inventory and we rested.

It had been a while since I was in charge of starting the fire, and Urume helped me.

She was well aware that her underwear was visible, and when she noticed my gaze, she smiled mischievously and said, “Did that give your eyes a little, uh, nour-ish-ment?”

No matter how much experience I had gained, it still made my heart jump, so that meant her scheme had succeeded.

Incidentally, by “nour-ish-ment,” she probably meant “nourishment.”

Instead of stubbornly putting up some pointless front, I simply nodded and said, “Yeah.”

Apparently that response was unexpected, because Urume ended up getting embarrassed instead and said, “R-right? Ah, ahaha...” That left an impression on me.

After starting the fire, we set up chairs and tables and had tea.

“Whew... A beautiful sky and a cool breeze. How lovely.”

Ms. Luminous sat in a chair and took a relaxing breath as she drank the tea Shion and the others had brewed for us.

“There are monsters, though.”

I gave a wry smile at her words.

“Ugh. That is true, but...”

“But if you take that out of the equation, wouldn’t this place be perfect as a travel destination? There aren’t any bugs, and there are lots of ingredients.”

“Shouko, ordinary people can’t borrow Mashiro or Micron’s help, so wouldn’t getting around be hard?”

“Mm. And the best place to stay would be a cave. Without So-kun, sleeping outside would be guaranteed.”

“And more things will likely be added from now on. Not only bugs, but new monsters and the like may be dangerous too.”

Shouko had tried to casually back Ms. Luminous up, only for Shion, Chiyu, and Minori to call her out.

“I-I know that... I meant for us...”

Shouko sulked.

“Ahaha, yeah. I feel like this island isn’t so bad either, as long as I’m with everyone.”

“Exactly! That’s our Sousuke! That’s what I wanted to say!”

Shouko nodded again and again.

We spent a peaceful while like that.

Then, when I happened to look toward the water’s surface, it had grown clear.

“Shall we start fishing soon?”

“Let’s!”

Shouko stood up from her chair, fired up and ready.

“Hey, hey, if we’re doing this anyway, why don’t we make it a contest?”

The one who suggested that was Urume.

“A contest?”

“Yep. Like, the person who catches the most wins.”

“I see. Having an element like that might make everyone more motivated.”

“See, Kuno gets it.”

Urume pointed both index fingers sharply at me.

“If we’re doing it anyway, I’d like to add a prize for winning too. Something like the right to ask someone for one thing. For example, if it’s me, I’ll Craft any one thing they want.”

“Sounds good!”

“Uru-chii, hold on a second.”

“Mm. There is room to improve the rules.”

Shouko and Chiyu firmly grabbed Urume by the shoulders when she was getting carried away.

“That’s right. We should borrow Minori’s wisdom here.”

“Y-yes. Leave it to me.”

Shion and Minori also began surrounding Urume.

“Huh? Huh? What? Why do you all look so serious?”

Then, a few minutes later...

“Let’s make it a team competition.”

Minori said that.

We would split into two teams of five and compete over the number of fish caught.

The winning team would be able to have me grant one request.

Apparently, those were the only rules.

—Hmm, hmm, I see.

If everyone competed individually, there would only be one winner.

But in a team battle, up to five people, and at minimum four, could obtain the prize.

The reason I had been limited to being in charge of the prize was probably because I had the Crafting Ability.

I did think they could just ask me normally, but maybe there were things they felt too reserved to request.

If it became the winning team’s right, perhaps that would make it a little easier to say.

If that was the case, I had no reason to refuse.

Still, there was one thing that bothered me.

“I understand that if my team wins, my teammates can make a request of me. But what happens to my personal prize?”

“Mm. If So-kun’s team wins, So-kun’s prize is—the right to make all the girls do anything you say.”

“――――!?”

Was it truly all right for such a precious right to be granted to me?

If anything, it was probably worth more than a Right to Return.

All at once, I was motivated.

But the rational part of me put on the brakes.

“...Wait, wait. Did everyone agree to that?”

The four girlfriends seemed completely into it, but...

“I’m totally fine with it.”

“I have no objection.”

“...Well, if it’s Kuno, then I don’t mind.”

“Yeah. If it’s Kuno, I don’t think he’d say anything girls would hate.”

Apparently, Urume, Roa, Yumekai, and Mamonaka had no problem with it either.

They had a lot of trust in me, which made me both grateful and embarrassed.

“M-Ms. Luminous is, well... I do trust you, Kuno, but we are teacher and student...”

Ms. Luminous was flustered, her face red.

“Now, now. Lumi, don’t you have one or two things you’d like to ask Sousuke for too?”

“N-no. Kuno has already been working very hard for us. To ask for anything more would be...”

Ms. Luminous denied Shouko’s words.

“Ms. Luminous, that is a lie.”

But Shion saw through the lie with her ability.

Then I quietly looked toward Roa.

With the movement of her lips, she told me, “A-l-c-o-h-o-l.”

“You’re an adult, Ms. Luminous, and I think my ability can make alcohol.”

“What!?”

Ms. Luminous’s eyes widened, and her throat audibly moved as she swallowed.

I had not known she liked alcohol, but if she was an adult, there was no problem.

“B-but as someone in a position to guide students, drinking alcohol in this kind of situation is...”

Ms. Luminous seemed conflicted.

“I’m not knowledgeable about alcohol, but given our current situation, wine would probably be the option.”

“Wine...!”

“If more materials are added or discovered in the future, I think I’ll be able to make other kinds too.”

“If it’s you, Kuno, then alcohol could be made as much as we want...?”

“Mm. Also, I can cure a hangover instantly.”

“Healing Magic can be used that way...!?”

Ms. Luminous’s eyes had started shining.

“So, Lumi, you’ll participate, right?”

When Shouko patted her on the shoulder, Ms. Luminous nodded as if surrendering.

“............W-well, I suppose it cannot be helped. With everyone else expressing their intention to participate, Ms. Luminous alone refusing and ruining the mood would hardly be appropriate. And if I do not participate, the teams will not have the same number of members, which would compromise fairness, so this is strictly as a member of the party...”

Although she was giving off an incredible air of making excuses, Ms. Luminous’s participation was decided too.

“All right, then. Let’s use the tablet’s timer function. The contest will be to see how many fish each team can catch within the time limit. Oh, and of course, I’ll provide the fishing rods and bait.”

As I generated the fishing rods, I burned with competitive spirit.