A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 6: At Star Lake

Episode 6: At Star Lake

On the fifth day after arriving at Star Lake. 

I sat on the pier, casting a fishing line. Staring at the bobber floating on the water, I was spending my time more slowly than ever before.

I placed the rod in its holder and sipped freshly brewed tea. A quiet “phew” escaped my lips.

It wasn’t like I’d been fishing the whole time since coming to Star Lake. At first, I was actually looking for the Water Elemental Slime.

On the second and third days, I circled the perimeter of Star Lake. It’s a huge lake. Even walking normally, it would take a whole day to go around it. I enhanced my vision as I scouted the lakeside. And before I knew it, two days had passed.

But I couldn’t find it. Not even a trace of anything “elemental.” I was stumped.

Honestly, wandering around a lake this vast with no leads and just walking around aimlessly… there’s no way I’d find a Water Elemental Slime like that.

It’s idiotic. I started getting irritated. I was wondering who the hell put out such a half-assed request. I’m pretty sure I wrote down the client’s name.

I took out my notebook from my backpack and flipped through it in search of the requester.

The name listed was… “Star Lake Fisheries Guild.”

Wait, they fish in Star Lake? That made me curious. And on the fourth day, I started looking for the Fisheries Guild.

It didn’t take long to find. I figured it’d be where the lake meets the highway. So I fiddled around with the map, got a good guess, dashed off, and quickly found it.

The Fisheries Guild was a wide, single-story building standing by the lake.

Peeking in from outside, all I saw were middle-aged men. Probably because they always work outdoors—everyone had dark skin and broad, muscular builds.

They looked like the type of men favored by the cross-dressing prostitutes who work in the capital’s slums.

I set up a chair, table, and a portable magic stove outside the Fisheries Guild and started grilling meat. I had loads of it stored in my expanded backpack. I picked the most appetizing cuts to grill.

Soon, the old guys came streaming out of the guild. One of them, a particularly commanding presence, spoke to me. I decided to call him the *Fisheries Leader*.

“Oh-ho, kid. That smells real good.”

“You guys want some too? I’ve got more meat than I can eat alone.”

“Oh, for real? We eat fish all the time, so we don’t get much meat.”

I stood up and took out some round stools from my backpack. I then set them up around the table.

“Alright then, I’ll keep grilling—dig in as much as you want!”

A seven-man barbecue party kicked off. At first, they quietly munched on the meat. But of course, a bunch of brawny, sun-darkened men weren’t going to stay quiet for long.

They brought out alcohol from inside the Fisheries Guild. And soon, a drinking party had begun.

Meat in hand, booze flowing—tongues got loose.

Since I hadn’t taken the request through the Adventurers’ Guild, I had to be creative to get any info out of them.

“By the way, I heard a Water Elemental Slime showed up around here. You guys know anything?”

The fisheries leader spoke. He was spitting as he talked.

“Damn right we know! That bastard ate a ton of our farm-raised Star Trout!”

Star Trout? So that’s what they call the trout raised here. Never heard of it before.

“So the Elemental Slime eats fish, huh? Was it big?”

“Big, yeah. I didn’t see the whole thing. But I’d say it’s about the same size as the Fisheries Guild building.”

He gestured toward the guild building.

Got it. That’s huge. Fighting it head-on sounds like trouble.

“So where’s this giant Elemental Slime now?”

“Well, probably still in Star Lake most of the time.”

“How do I find it?”

“C’mon, with a lake this wide, finding a transparent Elemental Slime is impossible! We gotta get it to come to us!”

More spit.

I see. So baiting it is the only way.

“Hey, Fisheries Leader, do you still have any Star Trout left? I kinda wanna try it.”

“Oh, hang on a sec. I’ll give you one of the ones chilled for shipping. And who’s ‘Fisheries Leader,’ huh? I’m Ostar.”

Yeah, yeah. Got it, fisheries leader. He stood up from his stool and headed into the guild. His steps were a little wobbly—probably drunk.

“Here you go! Eat up!”

He came back holding a fine-looking trout in his right hand and held it out to me.

“Thanks! I’m full for now, so I’ll eat it later.”

I cheerfully accepted the Star Trout and quickly stored it in my backpack. I wiped my slimy hands on my pants.

After that, I kept grilling meat and chatting with the drunk old men.

Turns out, people in the fishing business really appreciate meat. That was the takeaway this time.

#

Half a day had passed since I started fishing on the pier. I took the rod from the holder and spun the wooden reel. The hook had no bait.

“Tch. It came off.”

I picked up another piece of Star Trout from the bucket and attached it to the hook.

Then I gave the rod a strong flick and cast it far. The trout piece flew in a straight arc and landed on the water, slowly sinking.

Once it settled, I placed the rod back in the holder. And the quiet resumed.

I poured reheated water into the teapot with tea leaves. I waited for sixty heartbeats. That should be about right.

I poured the hot tea into a wooden mug and slowly raised it to my lips.

*Crunch*. The sound of hard soles grinding small stones reached my ears.

The sound grew louder. Three sets of footsteps. I also heard leather rubbing. Adventurers?

The three stomped onto the pier.

I’d been monopolizing this pier for more than half a day. I suddenly felt like my territory was being invaded.

They came right up close. I kept staring at the distant bobber on the lake.

“Sorry to bother you while you’re fishing. I’m Tomage, a B-rank adventurer. I’m gathering information on a Water Elemental Slime that was reported to have appeared in this area. Know anything?”

Tch. Adventurers, huh… Trying to steal my prey…

“Nope. Don’t know anything.”

I didn’t even look at him. I answered flatly. Go away already.

“Hey, Tomage. Isn’t this the infamous forever-F-rank adventurer?”

“Oh yeah, you’re right. It’s that thieving guy.”

“Huh? Ah, yeah, that’s him.”

The red-haired guy stood in front of me, crouched down, and stared into my face.

“Long time no see, Roger. What are you doing in a place like this?”

Who is this guy again…? Talking so friendly like he knows me.

“Fishing.”

The red-haired guy let out a big breath.

“Hahahaha! Aren’t you an adventurer? What are you doing fishing out here!?”

“Daaamn, this is hilarious!”

“Classic forever-F-rank!”

His two buddies cracked up laughing too. If the Elemental Slime escapes because of them, I swear…

“If you’re gonna interrupt my fishing, go away.”

“Ahahah! Sorry ‘bout that. Enjoy your fishing. We’ll go look for the Water Elemental Slime.”

With that, the red-haired guy—Tomage—finally moved out of my way and left the pier.

His back practically screamed, “I’m the cool adventurer here to slay the Water Elemental Slime!”

Idiots. They live to build a name for themselves as adventurers.

So stupid. The only thing that fills is their ego.

I’m fishing for the Water Elemental Slime… to honor my beloved idol.

With that vow, I picked up the rod from the holder and reeled it in again.

Once more, the hook was bare. The bait had been taken.