Heretical Fishing 5: A Cozy Guide to Annoying the Cults, Outsmarting the Fish, and Alienating Oneself by Haylock Jobson

Author:Haylock Jobson [Jobson, Haylock]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Published: 2026-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Higher Realm Things

This is gonna be fun,” I said, lifting my new rod before me and inspecting its form in the sunlight.

To anyone else, it might seem entirely out of place. This world, as wonderful as it was, hadn’t yet achieved a fraction of Earth’s scientific advancement—which wasn’t really all that surprising, considering the existence of a System, awakened beings, and a formerly oppressive ruling class in Gormona.

My mind drifted outward, wondering if there were any other societies on this planet that had advanced further than the post-medieval setting I’d found myself in. Then I snorted at myself.

Who bloody cares? I’ve got a new fishing rod!

It sparkled with a silvery sheen under the direct light of the sun, easily grounding me in the present. Beneath those reflective specks, it was carbon-fiber gray, its eyelets midnight black and aesthetically pleasing. The reel was the only recognizable part, looking like every other Alvey variation, but stained the same color as the pole. And within, it had a new function that I couldn’t wait to try: an adjustable drag.

Maria cleared her throat and cocked her head to the side, leaning over so her concerned expression could be seen beyond my new toy. “It’s certainly lovely to look at, but—”

“I know you are, but what am I?”

Her face went flatter than a recon crab’s stealthy shell. “You are a man trying to change the subject. I need you to be serious for a second. Are you sure you’re fine?”

“I am. I promise. Besides, you can feel it, right? Through our bond?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve hidden your worries from me, and of all the things you’ve read, I thought that last message might have sent you spiraling.”

“The last message?”

“Uhhhh, yes? From the System?”

I sipped from my second coffee of the day, feigning ignorance. “You mean the one that said I reached level 112 in Fishing? It was cool, for sure, but—”

She groaned at the sky. “Fischer!”

“Ohhhhh! You meant the message about me becoming a Maker? And encouraging the entire world to hail me?”

“Yes, you big goof. Stop being silly.” She grabbed me by the chin, slight yet inhumanly strong fingers tilting my head so she was all I could see. “Promise me you’re not deflecting.”

I set one hand on my heart and raised the other. “I swear on our love, our marriage, and my many animal pals that I am playing dumb for sport, and not because I’m genuinely worried and trying to hide it.”

“Okay. Good.”

“Besides, if I was gonna worry about anything, it would be the fact that someone else has been tinkering around in the tunnels Ellis carved with our love.”

“… What? You’re serious?”

“Yup. They’ve been adding essence and something else. I wasn’t positive at first, but I am now. The fluctuations have been too severe.”

She arched one brow at me. “And you’re not worried about it?”

“Nah. Pretty sure I know who it is. No clue why they’re being all sneaky, but I’m sure they have their reasons.”

“Okay …” She leaned closer, studying my face.

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