Ch.249Final Exams and Pirates (5)

“Then let’s move out right away!!”

Kirtan shouted.

“Yeah!! Let’s take them down while we have the chance!!”

The other pirates cheered in unison. They had been quite bothered by the Black Burn guys who kept chasing them.

“Now, let’s…”

Just as Kirtan was about to assign positions…

BOOM-! BOOM-!!

Cannon fire came from the distance.

“Activate barrier!!”

Thanks to the barrier being activated on Kirtan’s ship, they somehow managed to avoid taking damage from the bombardment.

“Damn it!! Those Black Burn bastards!!”

Ten black ships surrounded Kirtan’s vessel from all directions.

As expected, the pursuit had caught up to them.

“Let’s finish them quickly…”

Before Kirtan could complete his order, the navigator shouted.

“We can’t!! If we do that, they’ll steal the treasure!! And if the Black Burn guys escape, we’ll be forced into another grueling war of attrition!”

The navigator made a sensible point.

“W-well…”

Kirtan seemed to hesitate.

“Don’t worry and leave this to us, Captain!! Hurry and go down to the surface with Mr. Shota!”

The navigator shouted.

“Everyone… make sure you survive!!”

Kirtan shouted as he grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go, Shota!!”

Kirtan looked determined.

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

I shouted loudly as I immediately boarded the dimensional gate.

Whooooosh-!!

Kirtan and I headed toward a natural cave in the mountains.

———

There were already footprints at the entrance of the natural cave. The Black Burn guys had already entered.

“Let’s hurry.”

Kirtan said.

“Yeah.”

I nodded. Being a swordsman, I could sense presences from inside the cave.

It was a sticky killing intent. A different kind of bloodlust from the Black Burn pirates was rippling inside. There would likely be quite a few dangerous elements within.

However, my task was simple.

*grip*

I held Kirtan’s hand tightly. No matter what, I was determined to protect Kirtan.

———

The inside of the cave was filled with stone Buddha statues. Given the situation, the Buddha’s benevolent smile looked rather frightening.

Clang-! Swoosh-! Clang-!!

And from deeper inside, the sounds of fighting could be heard.

“Let’s go.”

Kirtan immediately drew his sword.

“Yeah. We should.”

I nodded and followed behind Kirtan.

“Arghhhh!! What are these things?!”

“Fight back!!”

“Shit!”

The Black Burn pirates seemed to be struggling against unexpected opponents.

“Grrrr…!”

“Grrrrrr…..!”

They were undead. No. Wait, the world setting suddenly changed.

Skeletal, mummified corpses wielding weapons were pushing back the Black Burn guys.

“Living mummies…”

I muttered.

Japan also had mummy customs. Monks who secluded themselves in caves to meditate before death. In dry caves, the monks would meet their end while meditating. And those mummies, preserved rather than decayed, were often found in various old temples.

Those fucking Japanese mummies were now moving around alive.

Clang-! Clang-! Claaang-!

But… the Black Burn guys, despite their overwhelming equipment, were being pushed back.

“They really suck at fighting!!”

I couldn’t help but criticize.

“Well, that’s inevitable. The Black Burn pirates recruit anyone as long as their limbs are intact. That’s how they maintain their numbers. Individual combat ability is terrible.”

Kirtan explained.

“Anyway! Is their captain not among them?”

I asked.

“No. Seems like he threw his subordinates in and rushed ahead.”

Kirtan said.

“Good! Let’s leave these guys and head deeper inside!”

I suggested.

“Okay!”

Kirtan and I headed deeper into the cave.

“Grrrr!!”

“Grrrrrr…!”

Mummies were everywhere. And the Black Burn pirates were continuing their desperate struggle.

“Reminds me of a movie I saw as a kid.”

I muttered to myself.

But the flesh-eating beetles were scarier than the mummies. Ever since then, I’d scream whenever I saw beetles. Eventually, my father slapped me, and that cured my beetle phobia. Anyway.

“Grrrrrr!!”

A mummy charged at me.

SWOOSH-!!!

I simply drew Tomato and swung it. The mummy in front was cut in half and scattered.

Crumble-!!

Afterward, the mummy’s body quickly turned to ashes and dispersed.

‘Must be Tomato’s power.’

It lived up to its alias as the demon-slaying sword. It seemed to deal additional damage not only to monsters from the other world but also to ghosts and yokai.

——–

Kirtan and I ran through the cave toward its deepest part.

Though it had a maze-like structure, the Black Burn pirates served as excellent guides.

The advance team of Black Burn guys had stepped on traps and died, showing us where not to go.

And wherever fighting was happening was the path forward. With all the commotion, there was no worry about getting lost.

Finally, we reached the innermost chamber.

In the center of the deepest part was a sword in its scabbard. It clearly wasn’t an ordinary Japanese sword. A suspicious demonic energy was emanating from it.

In front of it stood a mummy wearing samurai armor. The mummy was guarding the sword.

“Hahaha!! Finally found it!! The Soul Eater!!”

An alien wearing a black coat was shouting in triumph.

“You… Black Burn!!! Cutting in line for our treasure!! Where’s your business ethics?! Huh?!”

Kirtan immediately got angry.

“Ah… you’ve come, Kirtan.”

Black Burn turned his head.

“This isn’t just a simple treasure. Whoever wields this sword… becomes the overlord of the universe. It’s a treasure of that value.”

Black Burn said with a smile.

“What nonsense…”

Kirtan tilted his head in confusion.

“Hah. You really didn’t know.”

Black Burn smirked.

“That sword… is an artifact created by the ancient Georgians.”

Black Burn explained.

“What…”

Kirtan’s eyes widened.

Georgians? The race that created the star-breaker? Shit. Wasn’t that supposed to be a one-time setting?

“It’s a weapon that absorbs the souls of slain humans to grow stronger, the essence of psycho-engineering. Some technicians of the Georgian race apparently sought asylum in a place called Japan on Earth… and their legacy remains.”

Black Burn looked at Kirtan with eyes full of desire.

“Kirtan. Your ideal type was definitely a strong man, right? I’ll obtain this weapon and become the king of the universe!! I won’t even fear the likes of Pink Beard!! And marry me!!”

Black Burn shouted.

“I… already have a boyfriend.”

At that moment, Kirtan scratched her horns and said.

“…What?”

Black Burn’s expression froze.

Kirtan silently embraced me tightly.

“You, who are you?!”

Black Burn shouted loudly.

“Sorry. That’s how it is. The woman you’ve been crushing on… she’s mine.”

I said, deliberately kissing Kirtan to show off.

“You bastard!!!!”

Black Burn cursed at me in a thunderous tone, then immediately ran to one spot.

“The Soul Eater’s first meal will be you!!”

Black Burn approached the samurai-shaped mummy.

The mummy blocked Black Burn’s path.

“Hah!! Are you trying to protect the sword?! Move aside!! You undead creature!!”

Black Burn shouted.

“I’m not protecting the sword. I’m protecting you from the sword.”

The mummy replied in an eerie tone.

“Fuck off!!”

Black Burn immediately swung his sword and cut down the mummy.

“Ah… the demon our ancestors… protected with their lives… has been unleashed…!”

The mummy muttered in a resentful tone. Soon, the mummy’s body turned to ashes and scattered.

“Soul Eater!! Accept your new master!!!”

Black Burn immediately drew the Japanese sword.

Shiiiiink-!!

As he drew the sword, an immense demonic energy flowed from it.

“Aah… it was a long sleep…”

A voice came from the sword.

Typical of cursed or demonic swords: they can talk despite being swords.

Well… it’s like an ego sword in fantasy stories. When a sword talks, it just seems more impressive.

“Feed me souls… and become stronger.”

The sword muttered.

“Ah… yes. I need to become stronger…”

Black Burn muttered as if entranced.

That’s when it happened.

“Captain!!! You’ve recovered the treasure!! Let’s get out of here!!”

“Hurry!! Our ships are being shot down one by one by Kirtan’s ship!!”

Black Burn’s subordinates came running.

“Hey!! Shit!! Run away!!”

Even though they were enemies, I couldn’t help but interfere.

But it was too late.

SWOOSH-!!

Black Burn swung the sword with incredible speed.

“AAAAARGH?!!”

As Black Burn’s subordinates’ bodies were cut, souls were extracted from their corpses and absorbed into the sword.

“Ah… I can feel it… the power…!”

Black Burn muttered as he held up the sword.

“Shit!! He’s clearly lost his mind!”

I shouted loudly.

“Kirtan… you… you are mine… you’re mine!!!!”

Black Burn immediately swung the sword.

Before I could react, I stood in front of Kirtan to shield her.

CLAAANG-!!

The swords clashed at tremendous speed.

SCREEEECH-!!

I sensed that I had blocked it, but Tomato’s blade began to be shaved away at an alarming rate.

“Shit…..!”

The sword Black Burn wielded seemed to have its own consciousness. The blade moved like teeth, trying to devour Tomato.

Tap-!

Judging it dangerous to keep the swords locked, I immediately created distance.

“HYAAAAH!!”

Black Burn swung the sword once more.

BOOOOOM-!!

The sword cut through the cave wall with tremendous force.

“The, the cave is collapsing!! Shota!!”

Kirtan immediately called for the emergency escape portal from the spaceship.

As light enveloped us, Kirtan and I were transported to the surface near the cave.

From the collapsing cave debris, Black Burn broke through.

That’s when it happened.

Roll-!

The withered skull of the samurai who had just been beheaded tapped at my feet. Wait, was this mummy still alive?

“You’re wrong… young warrior!! You must do something about this! That thing must not be unleashed!!”

The skull clattered as it spoke.

“Yeah… I know.”

It was clearly not normal.

And… it looked strong enough. If I defeated this guy, I would become stronger too. I smiled and gripped my sword.