Ch.237August Dungeon and the Artisan’s Trial (1)

While all these events were unfolding, Sasits and Prill were thoroughly enjoying their daily life. Moreover, today was Saturday—a weekend without school. In other words, they could leisurely cuddle from morning without restraint.

After breakfast, Sasits and Prill were sipping coffee and engaging in affectionate behavior.

“There! Bathroom cleaning is done!”

Saeko, who had become a freeloader, toddled over carrying cleaning supplies. Apparently, there was an unspoken rule that since she was living with them for free, Saeko would handle all the housework.

“Saeko. Good job.”

Prill praised her while patting her head.

“You… when do you plan on returning to human form?”

Sasits asked.

“I’ve been searching hard for clues… but I still haven’t found any leads about the curse that made me like this.”

Saeko replied.

Saeko lived quite diligently. She said that while Sasits and the others were out hunting monsters, she earned money working part-time as an exorcist. At the same time, she was searching for the yokai called “Ningyotsukuri” who had turned her into this. In her own way, Saeko was desperate too.

Ding dong-!

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Oh! A visitor?”

Prill said, looking toward the entrance.

“Just pretend we’re not home. It’s probably a door-to-door salesman.”

Sasits said with a yawn.

Ding dong-! Ding dong-! Ding dong-!

Then came the sound of someone frantically pressing the doorbell.

“I’ll go. I’ll go.”

Sasits said in an annoyed tone as he opened the front door.

At the entrance, there was a person.

Outwardly, they appeared human. However, Sasits sensed the same presence he felt when facing monsters.

“You… you’re an alien.”

Sasits immediately took a defensive stance. Sensing the presence as well, Prill quickly ran over and stood protectively beside Sasits.

“Ah! There’s no need to be on guard!! Sasits-nim!”

He laughed cheerfully.

“Sasits? My name is Aiueo Sashisseso. My nickname, for short, is ‘Eo’.”

Sasits quickly corrected the wrong name.

“I apologize. Your common name in the galaxy has already been established as ‘Sasits’.”

He spoke in an apologetic tone.

“………..”

Sasits lamented his fate of inevitably being called Sasits.

“I’m from the Galactic Association!!!”

The alien said in a cheerful tone.

“Galactic Association… are you one of Pink Beard’s people? Tell me straight.”

Sasits immediately grabbed the sword in the living room. Perhaps influenced by Arigiri Shota, Sasits always felt secure with a sword within reach.

“No! We’re neutral!! We’re an association that ranks powers based on factions within the galaxy!”

The alien replied in a refreshing tone.

“Ah… such an organization does exist.”

Prill said with a sigh.

“Yes!! Sasits-nim has become ranked 5th in the galaxy!! Congratulations!! Thanks to Sasits-nim’s achievements, Earth’s defense capability has risen to 13th place!!”

The alien exclaimed, clapping his hands.

“Ranked 5th…?”

Sasits wore a bewildered expression.

Shit. What the hell is this? Sasits was honestly confused, but due to his cool-guy persona, he couldn’t show it.

“5th place… that means just below the Four Heavenly Kings?!”

Prill understood the significance. Being a native of space was the reason.

“Yes!!! We look forward to your continued achievements!”

And with that, the alien retreated cheerfully, as if having completed his business.

Only Sasits and Prill remained at the entrance.

“I don’t know what happened… but one thing is certain.”

Sasits muttered with a sigh.

“Yeah. Somehow I have a feeling too.”

Prill also sighed.

“Shota….. what have you done this time…..”

Sasits rubbed his aching forehead.

———

At that time, back to Shota’s perspective.

After enjoying a delightful date, Mika and I returned home.

“Looks like you had a great time.”

Umi looked at me with drowsy eyes.

Well… I did have Mika’s kiss marks and bite marks all over me. Mika really liked leaving traces on my body.

“Ahaha….”

I could only laugh awkwardly and avoid her gaze.

Anyway, all the solo dates with my girlfriends so far had gone well. I think it’s fair to say I’m doing a good job as a boyfriend.

“Alright!! Who’s next!!”

I raised my hand like an MC running a show.

“Me! Me!!”

The next in line was Tina. And it seemed Kirtan would be after her.

“I want a solo date too…”

Kana said.

“Hey! You spent the whole day with Shota last time! No way. Next time!”

Umi cut her off firmly.

“Heeeng.”

Kana made a genuinely disappointed face.

“Tina, is there anything you want to do?”

I asked Tina.

After all, Tina was an exchange student from Japan. I thought we could focus on things she wanted to do in Japan.

“Ah!! Horse racing and pachinko!! I want to try those!”

Tina said with a smile.

“That’s a bit… you know.”

Yeah. Those hobbies were too gambling-oriented for a middle schooler. The two words already reeked of cigarettes. Definitely Japanese-like, but still.

“Let’s do something wholesome. Something wholesome.”

I said, patting Tina’s bottom.

“Hmm…..”

Tina seemed to be thinking hard.

“Ah! Then…… a cat café!! I want to go there!!”

Tina exclaimed.

“Ah… a cat café.”

Right. It was popular in both Japan and Korea. A café where you could enjoy coffee while petting cats.

Honestly… it wasn’t a place I particularly wanted to go. I imagined cat hair getting into the coffee.

But if Tina wanted to go, that was a different story.

“I saw it in anime!! In romance stories, couples go there for cute dates!! It’s so sweet and innocent!”

Tina’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay. Then let’s go there.”

I said with a smile. If she saw it in anime, that settles it.

“We’ll decide what to do next after the cat café.”

I said, giving Tina a light kiss.

“Okay!”

Tina nodded.

And so, after getting dressed, Tina and I headed out.

———

At that time, from Sasits’s perspective.

Sasits ran at full speed toward Shota’s house. Prill, Sasits’s shadow, followed closely behind.

And behind the two of them… there were many aliens. They said they were using perception-inhibiting devices so ordinary people couldn’t see them, but Sasits could clearly see them.

‘We are representatives of the Undola Planet’s interim government…’

‘We are conducting an independence movement against Pink Beard…’

‘Ah! Please save us from Pink Beard’s oppression…’

They had suddenly appeared and started saying such things. Because of this, Sasits’s peaceful weekend life was being ruined in real-time. Alien representatives had appeared and arbitrarily appointed Sasits as the leader of the anti-Pink Beard coalition.

“Shotaaaa!!!”

Sasits knocked on the door with fury.

“Come out!! Come out right now!!”

Sasits shouted loudly.

Click-!

Eri immediately opened the door.

“Oh. Sasits. Hello? Thanks for always getting along well with our husband.”

Eri said with a relaxed smile. She now had the composure of a complete wife.

“Where’s Shota? Where is Shota?”

Sasits asked, looking beyond the entrance.

“Ah… he went on a date with Tina. He decided to go on solo dates with each of them. Hehehe. Our husband is working hard.”

Eri said with a chuckle.

“Shotaaaa!!!”

At those words, Sasits felt like his blood was rushing to his head. Prill supported the distressed Sasits.

——–

Back to Shota’s perspective.

“By the way… the other girlfriends spent a whole day with me… is Tina okay with just being with me until evening?”

I asked Tina, who was holding my hand.

“It’s already August. The August dungeon will be released soon. I need to clear it quickly. No time to waste.”

Tina said with a smile.

“Well… I appreciate your consideration for something important, but you’re losing out, Tina.”

I felt quite sorry about that.

“Being with Shota is the ultimate gain for me.”

Tina smiled and said something admirable.

Not only beautiful and shapely, but also with an admirable personality… Tina is the best.

But I felt something was off. Tina… was this her original character?

“Tina. Be honest with me. You did something, didn’t you?”

I looked at Tina with penetrating eyes. I felt suspicious about her trying to please me more than necessary.

“Ah……”

Tina slightly averted her eyes.

“If you tell me now, I’ll forgive anything.”

I said.

“Well… you know? I talked with my family recently…..”

Tina mumbled.

Family… the royalty of the Neverdreaming Kingdom? After all, Tina is a princess of a kingdom.

“I told them about Shota. That you’re the prophesied warrior and… I’ve already given you my body and heart.”

Tina said, blushing.

“I see. Well, that’s not wrong.”

I never intended to keep it a secret forever. It was bound to come out eventually. I was even thinking of going to the Neverdreaming Kingdom during winter break.

“But, well… my father doesn’t trust you at all… so things got a bit heated with him.”

Tina continued, fidgeting with my hand.

This is making me uneasy.

“Then father got emotional and said he would test you. To see if you’re truly the legendary warrior, and if you’re worthy of being my husband.”

Tina said, looking straight at me.

“Test?”

What kind of test?

“I’m sorry, Shota. Actually, the test has already begun.”

Tina apologized immediately. Hey!! I thought we were going to a cat café?!!

At that moment, I sensed killing intent rising from all around. I immediately took a stance.

“Hmph. So you have the skill to detect killing intent.”

Men in suits emerged from the street. They clearly stood out as non-Japanese, being of the same ethnicity as Tina. Probably people from Neverdreaming.

“It seems you have no intention of avoiding the test. I acknowledge your courage.”

A man with an impressively groomed golden beard spoke. Beard… it really suits him. This is one thing I envy about Westerners.

“Fighting here would harm the people around us. Let’s do this somewhere less populated.”

I said with a nod.

“Ha! So you have enough consideration to think about the surrounding people. And you immediately think of fighting… interesting.”

The man nodded.

Vroom-!

A black car pulled up.

“Get in with the princess. We’ve already prepared a place for your trial.”

The man said with a smile.

Well… there was no option to avoid this. I got into the car right away.