Ch.245Final Exams and Pirates (1)

In any case, the contest went smoothly. I successfully defended my 5th place position.

Having quickly conquered the August dungeon, August was set to pass without incident.

“All that’s left is the final exams…”

The final exams were scheduled for the first week of September.

‘That’s strange. When I was in school, I think we took them later.’

I closed the novel I had been writing with that thought. I should study a bit and get back to writing if I get stuck. Lately, my metrics have been recovering, making writing enjoyable again.

Anyway, memories from school days are easily distorted. Maybe exams were always in September.

“Ughhhhh… exams.”

Umi immediately made a disgusted face.

“Exams… I hate them.”

Eri agreed with that sentiment.

Normally, Taiga would have joined the “Exam Haters Alliance,” but he was diligently studying.

‘Well, Taiga has matured.’

He was working hard to properly learn auto mechanics at vocational school. I found his dedication admirable and patted his head.

“Hmph. Exams are nothing.”

Kana was studying without much concern. She said she had maintained top grades at the elite school she attended before transferring. The students at this rural high school would be easy competition for her.

“Heroes don’t need to study.”

Tina recited poetically while continuing her strength training.

Tina… she had her own path. Whatever she did, she was destined to become a princess of a kingdom. She was simply born with a different spoon.

“Mika. Are you good at studying?”

I asked Mika.

“Just average, I guess.”

Mika replied.

“Oh! That’s pretty good! Surprising!”

I remarked.

“Wait. What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mika immediately pinched my cheek.

“No, I just thought since you have such a gyaru image, your grades might be lower.”

I explained.

“Hmph. I can take care of myself. Besides… maintaining average grades was the condition for me living alone.”

Mika said.

“Before my high school debut, it was miserable… A girl who studies well but isn’t popular at least has something to feel superior about, but a mediocre girl just gets pitied by everyone…”

Mika spoke with a distant look in her eyes.

“Mika!! It’s different now!! You’re basically a walking sex machine!”

I immediately stroked her head.

“What a vulgar way to comfort someone…”

Mika looked at me with half-closed eyes, but seemed slightly pleased. She was happy to have her feminine charm affirmed by the man she loved.

“Exams, huh? Is there any point to such things?”

The winner in this situation was Kirtan. She didn’t attend high school and didn’t have to take exams at all.

“Earth has something called compulsory education. Everyone is educated to maintain a certain level of academic ability.”

I explained.

“Hmm. I see. That’s different from my planet. Unless you’re a scholar or technician, you don’t learn reading or arithmetic.”

Kirtan said.

“Instead, you learn how to kill. Older kids learn how to steal.”

Kirtan added in an ominous tone.

“Okay! No dangerous talk!!”

I immediately stopped Kirtan.

“By the way, Shota. Am I your partner too?”

Kirtan asked seductively, showing off her bikini-like attire.

“Of course.”

I answered immediately. I didn’t want to let go of such an amazing woman.

“When are we going on a date, just the two of us?”

Kirtan asked.

“Anytime is fine. Just not during the first week of September when exams are happening.”

I replied.

“I just need to do some quick review for the exams anyway.”

I shrugged.

Since I had really wanted to transmigrate, I had already acquired enough academic ability in my original world to get into a Seoul university. I could get top grades just by cramming for memorization subjects. First year of high school was a piece of cake.

“Great!! Let’s go right now!!”

Kirtan exclaimed.

“Now?”

I tilted my head.

“Yes!!! Aren’t you a pirate’s partner? We’re going treasure hunting!!”

Kirtan said.

“Treasure hunting?”

I tilted my head again.

“Yeah!! Since I’ve settled on Earth, I’ve been researching to find Earth’s treasures!!”

Kirtan shouted.

“Research?”

Kirtan doing such intellectual activities? That was unexpected. In her free time, she usually just had sex with me, ate, or slept… she was someone who fully embraced her desires.

“Actually… I delegated it to my subordinates. They researched treasures hidden in Japan. Anyway! I heard there’s an amazing treasure in Japan! As a pirate, I can’t let that slip away!!”

Kirtan explained.

“Hmm. Not much luck, right? Any artifacts or treasures would be in museums by now.”

I said.

That’s right. With the advancement of archaeology, everything that could be excavated has been excavated.

“You’re not planning to rob a museum or anything, right?”

I was suddenly filled with anxiety. I really didn’t want to become a criminal by following Kirtan.

“Of course not! Robbing museums is tasteless! Treasures already discovered by others are like non-virgins. There’s no excitement in obtaining them.”

Kirtan stated firmly.

Oh. She has some principled beliefs about treasure.

“There are treasures that haven’t been excavated yet. In fact, there’s one near Emoshita!!”

Kirtan exclaimed.

“Really?”

In this rural town?

But… Emoshita does have quite a few strange things. If eight-foot ghosts appear here, why not treasure?

“I heard Emoshita was once engulfed in war. And a legendary sword was crafted by a master craftsman in ancient Emoshita. That sword is what I’m after!!”

Kirtan said.

“…That’s some really suspicious information. Where did you get it from?”

I asked.

“One of my capable crew members found out by frequenting the local library.”

Kirtan said nonchalantly.

“The local library… that’s such amateur-level information.”

Are you an elementary schooler? I was about to retort.

“A cursed legendary sword… as a swordsman, wouldn’t you be interested, Shota?”

Kirtan said.

“Well, that’s true…”

Honestly, I was interested if it was a good sword.

If it was better than Tomato, I’d use it; if not, I’d feed it to Pinocchio as enhancement material. These days, I lived for the joy of powering up the Pinocchio Sword.

“Alright. It’s fine if we don’t find it. If we don’t, let’s just go on a date. The real treasure is by my side anyway.”

I mentioned a backup plan as I lightly embraced Kirtan.

“Yes…❤”

Her boisterous attitude disappeared instantly, and Kirtan became docile. That’s what makes her so cute.

——–

Strike while the iron is hot—Kirtan and I decided to go treasure hunting together today. It was a clean plan: if we didn’t find anything today, we’d call it quits. At least it would be entertaining.

Woooooosh-!

As soon as we left the house, a beam of light shone on Kirtan and me.

A massive spaceship was hovering above us.

“Kirtan!! I told you not to fly your spaceship in front of people!”

I immediately got angry. There had been an uproar about UFOs before.

“Don’t worry. I installed perception filters. People won’t notice it. I’m well aware of Earthlings’ narrow-mindedness. Seriously, causing such a fuss over parking one spaceship.”

Kirtan clicked her tongue.

Woooooosh-!

We immediately arrived on the ship’s deck.

Various alien species were busily moving around the ship, working diligently. It was always a strange sight to behold.

“Captain. You’ve arrived.”

The first mate, who looked like a giant cactus, addressed Kirtan. I was familiar with this one. He was a notable member of Kirtan’s pirate crew.

“Ah. Mr. Shota. Nice to see you.”

The navigator also greeted me casually. Being Kirtan’s future husband, everyone in the pirate crew treated me warmly.

‘Well… if I didn’t have power, they would have ignored me.’

But I had proven my strength in that fierce battle with Rahitan. The underworld types fundamentally respected power. Thanks to that, I had secured a certain position.

“Now!! Transport us to the coordinates where the treasure is!!”

Kirtan shouted loudly.

“Understood. Generating dimensional gateway.”

The cactus diligently manipulated the terminal with his round hands.

Fwooooosh-!

With that, we were teleported to the designated coordinates.

——–

When we opened our eyes, we found ourselves in a tranquil countryside. It was a rural area with lush green scenery all around and a single bus stop. Yes, imagine the scenery from “When the Cicadas Cry.”

“I thought the center of Emoshita where I live was rural… but this is another level.”

I muttered.

The faint smell of manure was a bonus.

“These are the coordinates. We should search around here.”

Kirtan was already scanning the surroundings with excited eyes.

“Alright! Let’s start digging the ground!!”

Kirtan enthusiastically exclaimed.

“Wait. We can’t just do it recklessly.”

I stopped her.

“What are we going to find by just digging randomly? Let’s gather information from the locals first.”

I suggested.

It was common information available even at the local library. Locals might know something.

Just then.

“Oh my! A young couple? How lovely.”

A kind-looking elderly woman waved at us.

“Even though autumn is coming, it’s still hot! You’ll get heatstroke! Come to my tea shop and have a drink!”

The woman displayed incredible hospitality, trying to lead us to a nearby tea shop.

“Old hag. We don’t have time for—”

Kirtan, burning with enthusiasm, tried to refuse.

“I can tell just by looking. You two are perfect for each other. A match made in heaven!! Reminds me of my youth.”

However, the old woman immediately said the one thing Kirtan would love to hear.

“Eheheheh. Yes❤”

At the mention of being a perfect match, Kirtan immediately transformed into the epitome of femininity.

“Let’s chat at the tea shop for a bit.”

I put my arm around Kirtan’s waist.

“Well, taking a break… wouldn’t be so bad.”

Kirtan followed me, clinging tightly.

Anyway, we decided to ask for information at the tea shop first.

Since we were already on this treasure hunt, I thought we might as well take it seriously.