The arena, called the dohyō, was a circular platform marked by bales of straw. Spectators gathered all around it, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Sylena, intrigued, asked:
What is this sumo about?
Nilyna explained that before each match, the wrestlers performed traditional rituals, such as the shiko, where they lifted their legs and stomped to ward off evil spirits, and purified the ring by throwing salt.
The goal was to knock the opponent down or push them out of the ring.
There were about fifty of us watching the match.
The two wrestlers rushed at each other, displaying both strength and technique on the dohyō.
After the match, we headed to a large area where several food stalls, run by local farmers, showcased regional specialties such as honey rice, fish, and sacred cane. We sat on a wooden bench to enjoy some honey pancakes.
Sylena, holding onto my arm, said:
Life is peaceful here.
I replied that the locals lived simply and that I'd ask Kaylen to make sure the train routes were built away from populated areas to avoid disrupting their lifestyle.
At the table behind us, some men were talking. One of them said:
Have you heard the latest news? Another group got attacked—this time there are more injuries.
Another man said again it seem this situation is getting worse isn't it? .
I listened more closely.
Another man added:
Apparently, the beast struck again.
A third man stood up and exclaimed:
I tell you, it's not some sea monster. It's those bastards from the Imnisfir Archipelago. It's probably one of them behind this mess.
I walked up to their table and said:
Sorry—could you tell me more about this incident?
One of the men looked me over and muttered:
Who the hell are you, you filthy—
Nilyna tried to step in, but I raised my hand to stop her and said calmly:
Let's not get angry now.
Then I took a gold ingot from my bag, set it on the table, and asked:
Will this be enough?
He smiled and began his story.
The Fisherman's Tale
It all started two weeks ago. The first changes appeared in Kyosval's fishing zones.
The number of sea creatures in the waters of Ednia increased drastically.
At first, the fishermen were thrilled—no bait needed, the fish came on their own.
But that didn't last these fish attracted other, carnivorous creatures that started attacking our harvest boats.
During one of our expeditions, a fisherman said to have seen a creature resembling a big large white serpent.
Nilyna asked where this creature had been spotted.
The man answered that this was the problem—it was seen swimming near Sakuraggio Island.
Every group sent to deal with it returned injured.
One survivor claimed to have seen a mermaid alongside the creature.
After the men finished their story and left, Sylena said the events were strange. I agreed.
I asked Nilyna where Sakuraggio Island was.
She replied that it was two kilometers from our coast, close to the Imnisfir Archipelago.
I repeated:
The Imnisfir Archipelago, huh?
Then I declared:
It's decided. We'll go to Sakuraggio Island.