Here, indeed, lives up to its name, Shark Sea; there are truly many sharks. Most sharks don't actively attack humans, but even so, in half an hour of searching, the three encountered four shark attacks. Three were Golden-tier, and one was Platinum-tier.
The result? Field's storage ring gained four more crystal cores and some shark materials. Half an hour later, they finally found the second target—the Electric Jellyfish.
This thing wasn't easy to deal with. Once it sensed a threat, the area within several tens of meters would turn into an electric field. Although the damage wasn't high, the paralysis was quite nasty. But with Hilda around, it was really convenient.
If Field had to deal with the Electric Jellyfish, he would definitely get shocked despite being able to handle it. But with Hilda, it was different. If you're good with electric fields, then I won't enter the field. With a long-range light magic spell—Light Cone Cannon, Hilda could take it out from a distance.
The Electric Jellyfish was slow, and after being bombarded by Hilda a few times, it completely softened, making no more movements. Field swam over to finish it off.
Finally, only the Blade Fin Shark was left.
Among sharks, the Blade Fin Shark was also considered formidable. Field had encountered one earlier, but it was only a Golden-tier juvenile shark, which didn't meet the requirements.
Of course, Field didn't let it go either because it was among the four sharks that attacked them.
After another half hour of searching underwater, they still hadn't found a Platinum Seven-Star Blade Fin Shark. Field began to suspect that there might not be any adult Blade Fin Sharks here.
"Forget it, let's head back," Field said.
Because the sea was chilly, staying underwater for too long, even with magic to breathe underwater, would inevitably lead to hypothermia. He was fine, but Kiki and Hilda were starting to shiver.
Moreover, it was getting late, and the sea was becoming dim, reducing visibility, making it harder to search.
Anyway, it was only the first day, and Hilda had three days off.
It worked out well; if they couldn't find it today, they could spend another day admiring Hilda's swimsuit skin.
Happy~
Hilda nodded and returned to the boat with Field.
Jumping onto the crabbing boat, Field set up a grill on the deck. He bought it for restocking supplies; it could be used for grilling and making fires.
Just as he was setting up the fire, Hilda suddenly patted his shoulder.
"Field, look."
Field looked at Hilda and saw her small face glowing in the orange sunlight. He followed her gaze and smiled.
"The sunset at sea is really beautiful..." Hilda sat beside Field and said slowly.
"Yeah, it's beautiful," Field nodded, with Qiqi leaning against him on his other side.
The three of them sat there, watching the setting sun on the horizon. At that moment, the deep blue sea seemed to turn into orange-red, and the clouds on the horizon were also glowing with warm light.
Truly beautiful.
But no matter how beautiful it was, it couldn't compare to Hilda's beauty in appreciating it.
After the beautiful sunset, the sky was adorned with stars. Dried off, Hilda and Qiqi lay on the deck, pointing at the night sky's stars, chatting happily.
"Qiqi, look, that's Lynx constellation. Connect those stars... and that one... it looks like a leaping lynx."
"Wow~ I don't understand, meow."
"Haha, what's with the 'wow' if you don't understand?"
"Even though I don't understand constellations, I still think the stars are very beautiful, meow~"
"Haha, indeed!"
At that moment, Field's voice came: "You two, stop staring at the stars and come help with grilling the skewers."
Upon hearing this, Hilda and Qiqi simultaneously turned over, lying on the deck, swaying their four fair legs lightly.
Hilda propped herself up with her arms and hands supporting her chin, watching Field busy at the grill, she giggled, "But we don't want to move~"
Qiqi nodded, "Tired from swimming, don't want to move, meow~"
Field chuckled, "You've been lying on my back the whole time, where could you be tired?"
But seeing these two suddenly lazy girls, Field also knew why. It was because at this moment, they felt comfortable and happy, which made them behave so lazily.
"Then I'll have to grill skewers for three people," Field looked at the various seafood skewers he had prepared, "It's quite tiring."
Hilda said, "You can do it, I believe in you!"
Qiqi added, "I believe too, Field is the best, meow!"
Upon hearing this, Field chuckled, "Then I'll grill for Kiki, and Hilda can do it herself."
"Huh?" Hilda blinked, then pouted, "Why?"
Field replied, "Because Kiki praised me, so I'll help you grill if you say something nice too."
"Um..." Hilda puffed out her cheeks.
Normally, proud Hilda would have grilled on her own. But at this moment, she really wanted Field to grill for her, so she thought for a moment and said, "Field, you have a heart of gold!"
"You've already said that, give me another one," Field replied.
"Then... you're the best mercenary!" Hilda said.
"I already know that, give me another one," Field replied.
"Then... Field, you're the most handsome mercenary!" Hilda said.
"Do I need you to tell me that? Give me another one," Field replied.
"Haha, you're really narcissistic," Hilda said.
"Uh, does that count as praising me?" Field asked.
"Because I didn't praise you," Hilda replied.
The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter.
Then Hilda lay back down, chin resting on her crossed arms, looking at Field with a soft smile on her face.
"Field, I'm not very good at saying nice things."
"Uh-huh, I can tell," Field replied, grilling skewers while holding a cigarette in his mouth.
"Because I don't usually praise people," Hilda said slowly. "Before, others praised me, and I just accepted it politely."
"So when you asked me to praise you, I had to think hard."
"Take your time, you'll figure it out," Field said.
"Hmm..." Hilda lay there, looking at Field's face.
The light from the grill reflected on his face, making his rugged features look somewhat gentle. But then the smoke from the grill made Field raise his eyebrows and squint, causing a few faint lines to appear on his forehead, making his expression somewhat comical.
Hilda suddenly laughed a few times and then said, "Field, I suddenly feel very lucky."
"Oh? Lucky about what?" Field asked.
"Lucky that I went to the Norfaklassen Forest for training, so I could meet you," Hilda said slowly. "So I could have the best friend in the world."
"Is that so? Then we mustn't let Brittany hear that, or she'll surely get jealous," Field said earnestly.
Hilda giggled, "Brittany is also one of my best friends, you both are."
"You're both the best? Can there really be two?" Field looked at her.
"Why not?" Hilda smiled, "To me, both of you are the best friends."
"Each of you is unique and the best."
"I love hearing that," Field chuckled.
"Can I have some grilled skewers now?" Hilda blinked her eyes, "I smell the aroma, and I want to eat squid!"
"Are you saying that just to eat grilled squid?" Field laughed and asked.
"Guess~" Hilda nodded slightly.
"So if I don't give you any, am I still your best friend?" Field asked again.
"Nope~" Hilda replied mischievously.
"Wow, you're a naughty one."
"Haha!"
Even though they said so, Field still handed her the grilled squid skewer and handed Qiqi a grilled fish skewer.
The two girls accepted them with hearts full of joy.
"Mmm... it's really delicious!" Hilda took a bite and then said happily.
"That's right, my barbecue, if angels could smell it, they would definitely come down to Earth," Field laughed heartily.
"Boasting~" Hilda chuckled as she ate.
And so, under Field's feeding, the two girls soon lay contentedly on the deck, holding their stomachs.
"Too delicious, meow... but can't eat anymore, meow..." Qiqi lazily said.
"Me too, it's my first time eating so much," Hilda said.
Meanwhile, Field continued grilling and showing off. There was still a lot left, and he had to finish it all.
Eating, he chuckled and said, "Eating so much, aren't you afraid of getting fat? You'll become the Plump Sword Maiden."
"Why are you saying that to me? You're eating more than me!" Hilda immediately retorted.
"I don't get fat when I eat," Field said, "I just get stronger."
"Then I won't get fat either, I just get prettier~" Hilda hummed like him.
The two looked at each other and once again laughed in unison.
Hilda sat up, hands propped on the deck, her long legs stretched out and crossed, looking at Field with a smile.
"Actually, even if you don't grill for me, you're still my best friend," she said.
"You're only saying that because you're full, I find it hard to believe," Field said.
"Really." Hilda lifted her head, looking at the starry sky, her voice filled with laughter.
"As long as you remain the person I know, you'll always be my best friend, that will never change," she said softly.
"And if one day, you don't recognize me anymore?" Field asked.
At that, Hilda looked at him, tilting her head, her blonde hair fluttering, her smile so sweet.
"Then we'll get to know each other again."
Field was momentarily taken aback, then he set down the skewer he had just finished, and said, "Then let's rehearse first, ahem..."
He cleared his throat, and then said seriously,
"Hello, I'm Field, the greatest mercenary in the world, an immortal legend. It's a pleasure to meet you, beautiful and romantic Swordswoman Miss."
Seeing this, Hilda couldn't hold back her laughter, but then she said,
"Then I'm Hilda, the strongest swordsman in the world, an eternal legend. I'm also pleased to meet you, strong and clever Mercenary Mister."
"And what about meow?" Qiqi chimed in.
Field replied, "You're Qiqi, the greatest scout in the world, an adorable and agile super meow meow!"
"Haha~" Hilda hugged her stomach and laughed heartily.
Underneath the starry sky, on the deck, laughter and joy echoed.