Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (LN) - Volume Ex1 - Chapter 4.3

Pochi's Fishing

"Aaaahhhhhhhhh!"

As I was setting up camp on the river shore, I heard Pochi's scream from behind me.

I quickly turn around to see a giant fish latched onto her tail.

"Pochi!"

As if by reflex, I hastily grab a stone out of Storage and throw it at the insolent fish.

The fish takes a direct hit from the rock and bursts into pieces. The head-portion is still stuck to Pochi's tail while the rest sinks into the river.

"Master! Tail! Pochi's tail!"

Pochi's tail is bleeding heavily as I take off the head and extract the teeth. Then, I pour a potion on her wounds to heal her.

"It doesn't hurt anymore nanodesu."

She still has tears in her eyes, but at least Pochi's 'nanodesu' verbal tic is back now.

"What am I going to do with you! We've told you multiple times, it's brimming with danger outside the cities! You need to keep your guard up!"

"Sorry, nanodesu."

Liza scolds Pochi as she wipes off her tears and saliva with a towel.

But, I saw that Liza was the first one to run over to Pochi.

This harsh scolding must be her way of showing how much she cares.

"--You understand now, right Pochi?"

"Yes nanodesu. Pochi won't let her guard down again nanodesu!"

Liza finishes her scolding, and Pochi replies with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Good answer, now prove it."

Liza brings Pochi to the middle of the river.

"After all, fish are--"

Liza lectures Pochi as she assumes a crouching stance, using her tail as a balancing weight.

In the blink of an eye, Liza snaps her hand towards a small sparkle in the river. Water sprays in all directions.

"--nothing more than food."

"Liza is amazing nanodesu!"

Pochi cheers as Liza shows off the fish that she caught.

"Now you try."

"OK! nanodesu."

At Liza's side, Pochi begins trying to capture a fish. Her face is barely above water level.

Pochi shouts energetically as she reaches out to grab one. However, her hands are too small to get a firm grip.

Liza is watching over her silently, without giving any help.

"--Pochi, aim for the tail!"

After a while, I end up giving Pochi a tip.

It doesn't really suit me to just watch like Liza.

"Got it nanodesu!"

On the third try after my advice, Pochi finally succeeds in capturing a fish.

Pochi grins widely, but a small shadow starts creeping up on her from behind--.

The sneaky fish dives straight for Pochi's tail, but is intercepted by a kick and sent flying back into the water.

It looks like Pochi noticed the fish approaching her.

"The same attack won't work twice on Pochi nanodesu!"

Pochi pridefully sticks out her chest as she states a line that is probably from some manga's main character.

"Pochi!"

"--Ah!"

Liza's warning was a bit too late.

The fish that Pochi had captured breaks loose and swims off.

"...nanodesu."

Pochi reaches her arm out towards the escaped fish, but the only thing she managed to grab was a handful of water.

It seems like it will be a bit longer before Pochi is able to keep her guard up.

Pochi heads back in and starts shouting at the fish again. It looks like she has started her revenge match.