Ch.267School Trip (6)

I immediately went to the enhancement device and called for Pinocchio.

“Come out!! Pinocchio!!”

I shouted while striking a pose like a summoner.

“Master!! You’ve obtained enhancement materials again!!”

Pinocchio said with sparkling eyes.

“Geez… try making that expression to your grandfather sometime.”

I felt a pang of sympathy for Grandpa Geppetto.

“Why are you bringing up Grandpa?! Seriously!!”

Pinocchio shouted loudly.

“Anyway, sit down on that enhancement device over there.”

I said to Pinocchio.

“Okey-dokey.”

Pinocchio immediately took a seat.

“Alright!!! Here we go!!”

I was eager to process this sword fragment or whatever it was quickly. Every time I held this damn sword, it brought back terrible memories. They weren’t even my own memories, but they felt so real that I was becoming depressed.

Ding-!

I inserted the central part of the sword blade into the enhancement device’s input slot.

Fwooooosh-!!

Shortly after, light emanated from Pinocchio’s body.

“Ohhhhhhh…!!”

Pinocchio immediately reacted.

Fwooosh-!!

Ding-!

‘Pinocchio Sword Enhancement: Path of the Holy Sword Unlocked’

‘Pinocchio Sword’s base attack power increases by 10.’

Along with the stat increase, a strange sub-quest-like notification appeared. ‘Path of the Holy Sword’…

‘Your makeshift weapon is gradually taking the form of a holy sword. Even legendary blades were once just hunks of scrap metal.’

It seemed like if I inserted materials for a holy sword, Pinocchio would fully awaken.

Wanting to test the transformed sword, I immediately called Pinocchio.

“Pinocchio!! Transform into a sword!”

I called out to Pinocchio.

“Yes sir!”

Pinocchio’s body immediately transformed into a sword.

Fwooosh-!

Light flowed from the sword blade that wasn’t there before.

“Whoa… this is quite…”

I exclaimed in admiration. The mysteriously ethereal light made it look like a genuine holy sword.

And so, today’s farming yielded some decent results.

———-

The next day.

I woke up at 5 AM.

“You’re up early.”

Kana, who was quietly meditating, said to me. This aspect of her really made her seem like someone from a samurai family.

“Yeah. I need to get up early to write.”

Even during a school trip, readers won’t wait. I needed to schedule some chapters in advance for the trip.

“You’re quite diligent.”

Kana said.

“Well… it’s my dream after all.”

I replied.

In my previous world, I earned enough money to live on through web novels, but I never achieved great success. So there was a feeling of wanting to fulfill that unfulfilled desire.

“Hmm… dreams, huh. You could make a decent living as a kendo athlete. You have that level of talent.”

Kana said.

“I want to excel as both a kendo athlete and a novelist. I’m greedy, you know.”

I continued writing with a smile.

That’s right. My life has always been all about ambition. Achieving goals was the only thing that gave me dopamine. I wanted to defeat stronger opponents, write better novels. I also wanted to sleep with incredibly beautiful women. That goal was half-accomplished.

“It’s not bad for a man to have ambition. That’s what defines a man’s capacity.”

Kana said, then leaned her back against mine. She continued her meditation in that position.

Feeling Kana’s warmth, I continued writing. Since it was a slightly modified autobiographical story, writing wasn’t particularly difficult. I didn’t need to worry about plot development.

Ding-!

Just then, a comment notification arrived.

‘This is the epitome of an otaku’s delusion lol’

Well… it seems like a delusion but it’s actually true.

‘I wish you’d stop with cringey expressions like “kyeeek” or “bang bang lol.” They’re not funny and break immersion’

Sorry… but those are actually my verbal habits in real life.

Before I knew it, Kana had rested her chin on my shoulder and was staring at the screen.

“That’s humans for you. Not all comments are nice.”

Kana said.

“Yeah. But the important thing is that they’re commenting.”

I replied.

“Bad comments are better than no comments. That’s the mindset a writer needs to have.”

I said seriously.

Thanks to my experience points, I skipped the aspiring writer phase here, but in my original world, I went through a tough period as an amateur. Back then, I prayed for even negative comments.

“So writers are all attention-seekers too.”

Kana said.

“Of course attention is the best!! If you don’t care about attention, you might as well write in a diary.”

I said decisively.

“Haha. I suppose so.”

Kana then began to enjoy leaning against my back. It seemed meditation was already forgotten.

In a state of full concentration, I could produce one chapter in 30 minutes. After productive morning writing, I finally welcomed my regular morning routine.

———–

We still had to go to school, but the class was already excited about the upcoming trip. Classes weren’t proceeding normally.

“It’s because they’re country kids. They probably haven’t been outside Emoshita much.”

Kana laughed dismissively.

Just then, Kana’s friends hugged her tightly.

“Kana, you left that nice city and came to this rural place just for one guy? You’re such a romantic!!”

“Kana is secretly quite girlish, you know?”

Kana’s friends hugged her like a doll and stroked her.

“S-stop it!!”

Kana’s authoritative attitude crumbled immediately. Yep. Girls cuddling each other is nice to see too.

“I’m looking forward to it, Shota.”

Eri took my hand firmly at that moment.

“Yeah, me too.”

I’d been on school trips in my original world too, but obviously never with girlfriends. In a way, something truly youthful was happening to me.

“We’ll have other chances to travel together.”

Just then, Tina hugged me from behind.

“This winter break, we’re all going to my homeland, the Never Dreaming Kingdom.”

Tina said.

“Y-yeah…”

I nodded. Honestly… it sounded like an insane country. I was actually curious about how peculiar it might be.

“This will be my first overseas trip!”

Umi exclaimed.

“Mine too.”

Taiga also showed a strangely warm smile.

At that moment, Tina whispered something into everyone’s ears.

“Our country’s specialty… definitely… get pregnant… mothers…”

What’s that? Tell me too. I feel left out.

Anyway, my girlfriends’ expressions turned serious at Tina’s words.

“We absolutely must go to the Never Dreaming Kingdom.”

Suddenly, Eri spoke in a serious tone.

“Um… s-sure.”

They seemed enticed by something, but when I asked, my girlfriends just gave me mysterious looks and wouldn’t answer.

——-

Time passed and the day of the field trip arrived. I packed some clothes and necessities.

My girlfriends were busy holding a fashion show, carefully selecting their outfits. Umi showed her talent as a student fashion model, helping coordinate outfits and lending clothes to the others.

“You look pretty in anything, why worry?”

I said with a smile.

“It’s our first school trip with a boyfriend! We have to put in effort!”

Umi exclaimed.

“Okay. I’ve packed my bags too.”

Kirtan was mysteriously packed as well.

“No, Kirtan. You can’t come with us.”

You’re not even a student.

“Huh? I’m just ‘coincidentally’ taking my ship for a trip to Kyoto. My ship’s main cannons are always on standby. Aliens might invade at any time. I’m protecting Earth’s airspace for free.”

Kirtan said.

“You just want to hang out with me if you get the chance, right?”

I hit the nail on the head.

“Mmm.”

Kirtan answered in a cute tone.

“Alright. When we have free time… I’ll call you.”

I said.

“Shota!! I love you!”

Kirtan immediately threw herself at me.

Oh, speaking of Kirtan… what happened to her subordinates? I heard they were being treated as VIPs at Kunami Corporation and doing quite well. Well, they were the main contributors to creating the Kunacon, a gaming console that surpassed Earth’s technology. Madoka told me that.

‘Those guys… they might be able to quit being pirates.’

I thought to myself. I wanted to ask Kirtan, but I deliberately didn’t.

——–

At that time.

“Are you dissatisfied with our company’s treatment? I was hoping we could work together for a long time.”

Kujo asked the aliens.

“No, sir. I’ve never lived more luxuriously than this. I’m grateful for your generosity.”

The navigator shook his head and replied respectfully.

“We’ve left behind all the Earth currency we received and the data containing Kunacon technology. Our role here is finished.”

“Our captain is calling us back. Even in death, we are our captain’s crew, members of the Kirtan ship. We’re returning to space.”

The navigator said.

“I see. Loyalty, is it? Your captain is blessed.”

Kujo smiled slightly.

Afterward, Kujo shook hands with each alien.

“It was a pleasure working with you.”

Kujo coolly bid farewell to the aliens.

The crew of Kirtan’s pirate band immediately responded to the Kirtan ship’s call.

“Hey!! Everyone!! Our next destination is Kyoto, Japan!!! It was the longest-serving capital in Japanese history!! We’ll look for treasure while we’re at it… and protect my boyfriend!! If any suspicious aliens approach, turn them into cosmic dust!!”

Kirtan shouted loudly from the ship’s deck.

“Yeahhhhh!!!!”

And so, Kirtan’s pirate band was fully reunited.