Chapter 296

What…?

“Man-eating Crab?”

“Exactly, it’s because of the strange phenomenon related to that Man-eating Crab! My dad didn’t come back home on his own will!”

As he said that, Lito continued with the story.

After listening more to Lito’s story.

The reason his father didn’t return home wasn’t because of the Man-eating Crab, but precisely because of the strange phenomenon occurring throughout Leila this year, including the appearance of the Man-eating Crab.

Originally, the Man-eating Crab, which inhabits the deep sea, has been appearing in large numbers on land. Conversely, the Man-eating Piranha, a monster that usually lives in freshwater, has been appearing in groups in the waters of Leila. Additionally, various other sea creatures have been disappearing from their habitats or appearing in places they shouldn’t be.

However, the migration of sea creatures, including the Man-eating Crab, is only part of the strange phenomenon.

But the real anomaly lies not in the suspicious behavior of the creatures, but in the sea itself.

In fact, the migration of sea creatures could be considered a byproduct of this anomaly.

The currents are flowing in unusual directions, and even on calm, windless days, waves are higher than usual. There have even been sightings of sudden whirlpools in waters not far from Leila.

In every way, the sea around Leila this year has been behaving differently than usual.

I had a feeling something was up when the request to exterminate the Man-eating Crabs came in, but it seems like it’s a bigger deal than I thought.

And in the midst of all this chaos, Lito’s father went out to sea as usual for work.

And that was two months ago.

He should have returned long ago, but even though the expected return date has long passed, he hasn’t come back, and there’s been no contact.

“That’s…”

“My dad not coming back is all because of that strange phenomenon!”

Perhaps because the story was more serious than expected.

My companions, who had thought it was just a reckless act by a kid who didn’t know the dangers of monsters, could only look at Lito with expressions of not knowing what to say in response to such a heavy story.

“So. Why did you want to go to the coast where the Man-eating Crabs are appearing? Did you think your father would come back if you defeated the Man-eating Crabs?”

“Ku, Kurt! That tone is a bit…!”

“That’s not it! I just wanted to pray!”

“Pray?”

“Yes. You adventurers from outside might not know, but people from Leila pray on the coast, looking in the direction the ship departed, hoping for the safe return of those who went to sea! So I wanted to pray for my father’s safe return…”

As Lito continued, he started to choke up, overwhelmed by emotion.

Seeing this, Mari and Karina began to comfort him in a fluster, while Serena approached me with a dark expression.

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard of it. In regions adjacent to the sea, there are various cultures born from the hope that those who went to sea return safely…”

“Is that so…”

“But if it’s already twice the expected return time and he still hasn’t come back…”

The chances of survival probably aren’t great.

Generally, a ship planning a month-long voyage only carries enough food and water for that period.

There are ships that carry extra provisions for emergencies, but those are usually large ships with room to spare.

The survival probability of a ship running out of food and water on the vast ocean decreases rapidly day by day. While food can be supplemented by fishing, water is very difficult to secure reliably unless it rains by chance.

And if you include the probability of the ship being wrecked by various troubles or attacked by monsters…

Perhaps because they knew this.

Serena’s face, as well as Mari and Karina’s faces comforting Lito, were all equally dark.

Meanwhile, Lito continued to stammer on.

“I, I fought with my dad the day he left home. I asked why he insisted on going out to work when the sea is so chaotic these days. Why couldn’t he just stay home…”

‘Dad! Do you really have to go on that boat? Can’t you just take a break like everyone else? You haven’t been able to play with me much lately.’

‘Hahaha. Yonseok! You worry too much, just like someone! Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon! And if I get scared of the rough sea weather and don’t go out, when will I catch fish! If you’re a man of the sea, you don’t flinch at a little change in weather! And I’ll play with you a lot when I get back from the sea! Let’s sell the fish and go eat some delicious food together!’

‘Ugh…! I’m not throwing a tantrum because I want to play, I’m telling you not to go because it’s dangerous!’

‘Sailors live with danger! And the more everyone else takes a break, the more I can catch rare fish and sell them at a higher price!’

‘Money! Money! Money! Is money that important!?’

‘Lito!’

‘I don’t care! If you love money so much, just go wherever you want!’

‘Dad’s leaving.’

‘….’

‘…Are you asleep?’

‘….’

‘Honestly. Even though I told you to sleep, you usually get up to see me off, but now you’re sulking… You really take after your mother.’

‘….’

‘…Dad’s thinking of quitting fishing after this job.’

‘….’

‘We’ve saved up enough money, and after this job, I’ll make a big profit. So when I get back, I’m thinking of quitting fishing and opening a fish shop.’

‘….’

‘Well, you know… I haven’t been able to play with you much or be home much. So if I open a fish shop, then… I’ll be able to spend more time with you.’

‘….’

‘Tch. Not even a goodbye. Well, I’m off.’

‘…Idiot.’

“Sniff… Sniff… But I knew. That dad was pushing himself to work at sea to earn money to raise me… It’s not like he enjoys such dangerous work… But even though I knew that, I pretended to be asleep and didn’t see him off when he left… If I had known it would come to this, I should have said goodbye then… But I couldn’t see him off that day… So at least I wanted to pray for his safe return… Sniff… Sob…”

Eventually, Lito couldn’t hold back his tears and continued to speak in a choked voice.

A father, huh…

A flashback of old memories suddenly came to mind.

It was a nightmare that once weighed heavily on me, a scar that still remains in a corner of my heart.

Perhaps because I recalled those old memories.

For some reason, I felt a pang in my chest.

“Well, that’s just superstition, so let’s not go to such a dangerous place alone.”

“Right. Lito, your father wouldn’t want you to do something so dangerous.”

“Exactly. Even Kurt got mad at you earlier because he was thinking of you.”

The three of them were trying to comfort the crying Lito while persuading him to change his mind.

No matter the circumstances, taking a child to the coast where Man-eating Crabs appear is too dangerous, so even after hearing his story, they had no choice but to dissuade Lito.

However,

“Alright. I’ll take you to the coast.”

“Kurt!?”

“What are you saying!”

“Hey! Kurt! Are you really going to take this kid to that dangerous place?”

After hearing Lito’s story, I changed my mind and decided to take him to the coast.

At my words, the three of them naturally expressed shock and tried to dissuade me, but I ignored them and approached Lito to continue.

“However, it’s too late to leave today, so we’ll depart tomorrow.”

“R, really?”

“Yes. So for now, let’s eat some soup and sleep.”

“Kurt! How can you do this!?”

“That’s right. No matter how strong you are, Kurt, taking a child to such a dangerous place is unlike you!”

“Exactly! Why is your opinion the complete opposite of before!”

It was only natural for the three of them to oppose my decision.

But even so, I didn’t change my mind.

“Sorry to you all, but I won’t change my decision on this. Instead, I promise to protect Lito.”

“B, but…”

“…Are you okay, Kurt? You don’t look so good…”

“Don’t worry. What you’re worried about won’t happen. I’ll go ahead.”

“Hey, hey! Where are you going? There’s still soup left…!”

Thus, I somewhat forcibly persuaded the girls who were opposing my decision, got up, and went up to the second floor.

.

.

.

I know all too well how much of a wound it leaves when you can’t reconcile with your father and your last memory is of a fight.

So if I can at least lighten the weight of that regret…

At least so he doesn’t end up like me…

And so, the next morning arrived.