41 You really are so annoying

My morning and early afternoon were spent on Shanks ship. I mopped up all of the paint that had been spilled on the floor in every room and the dock, but there were a few rooms that were locked, and those seemed to be the places I was looking for.

Because the day before, while I was making all of this mess, I was already thinking of a plan to check out the red hair pirate ship in its entirety, and now I not only have a reason to do so, but I also have a little guide that I can use.

"Hey, why are you working like a snail? Do you want to mop until night?" Uta asked as she walked in front of me while putting her hands behind her back.

"Shouldn't you be happy? In the end, you managed to make me do all these troublesome things."

Uta seemed to get a kick out of seeing me get irritated, as she would then laugh and say things like, "You are absolutely right, but over time I got bored, you know. Maybe if you get some other punishment, like jumping in the sea or licking my shoes, it will be more interesting."

My forehead twitched a few times as I thought to myself. 'This little bitch, if only she knew that I let her win, she definitely wouldn't be this happy.'

This time I got really irritated because this girl was really annoying when I gave her a minor convenience. Still, after I remembered the reason I came here in the first place, I started to feel my heart rate slow down, and my frustration dissipated again.

As I leaned back the mop I was holding, I made a suggestion, "What do you say we play one more game right now?"

Uta abruptly stopped walking and turned around, looking at me with a slight grin indicating that she had regained her confidence. In the meantime, I worked up an even greater level of excitement because I couldn't wait to crush this girl's spirit and undermine her self-assurance once more.

"What game do you propose? But remember, I won't let you cheat and fool me!"

I pointed to the frontmost edge of the deck and explained, "You see, along this deck, we will have a race from here to the other end."

"Racing, huh? Well, if you lose, you have to lick my shoe while simultaneously apologizing for everything mean you've ever done to me. What do you think about that?"

After hearing Uta make fun of me, I didn't feel any rage because, at this moment, all I cared about was achieving my objective before I could make this girl regret it in the future. So, I just gave her a friendly smile and extended my hand.

"Fine, I'll agree to that, but if you lose, you'll have to show me the treasure room on this pirate ship and Shanks' private room."

Uta's brows furrowed ever-so-slightly in suspicion, particularly when she caught sight of me giving off an air of sudden self-assurance. Nevertheless, she eventually took my hand and agreed because of her intense desire to exact revenge on me and win.

Following that, we positioned ourselves next to one another. But before we did so, Uta said, "alright, I will count down, ok."

Seeing this girl take things so seriously makes me want to laugh, but I just have to keep my composure and nod my head as Uta begins her countdown:

"1... 2... 3... GO!"

*swoosh

When I saw that Uta was already running even before her countdown, I thought, 'tsk this girl, she's trying to play tricks with me,' but instead of getting angry, I just smiled and started chasing after her.

*swoosh

We were both running with all of our muscles, with Uta being the one who was currently in the lead. Nonetheless, my progress could be seen when I was almost caught up with her. Even so, Uta could still outperform me when she tried to run while blocking my path.

It didn't take five seconds, and we were already in the middle of our track when we ran on a slightly creaky wooden deck. Our shadows could also be seen darting around in an attempt to keep up with us until, finally, an unexpected event took place when Uta, who was running in front of me, slipped.

*bam

When I ran past Uta, she yelled, "argh... wait... wait, I'm asking for a rematch," but without her knowing it, my feet jumped a little in the place where she slipped earlier, and in the end, because I didn't give damn, I kept going.

*panting

"hah... hah... yosh, I won, fyuuh, that was really a taxing short run..." I said when I finally made it to the finish line at the end of the deck. Meanwhile, Uta, who was still in pain, was still sitting on the floor while massaging her feet.

*sighs

When I approached Uta, my eyebrows raised slightly because I had just seen her feet turning red at the ankles. I had not anticipated that because the slip had caused Uta's legs to sprain, and I then looked at the slightly wet wooden floor, which was the source of the problem.

I said to myself with a wry smile, 'it seems like I went too far, but somehow I feel satisfied,' Yet, I then held out my hand while saying:

"Here, get up first, and don't sit there for long. You have a bet to pay."

"Can't you see I'm in pain, you heartless bastard? After all, the race just now doesn't count."

Uta could only let out a cold snort to express her frustration, but she then took my hand and slowly stood up. When she tried to take a step, she immediately groaned in pain and lost her balance, but luckily I was there to quickly support her.

"Let me go. I can walk by myself… I'm sure that this is all your fault," Uta said as she turned her face away, but I knelt down and gave Uta my back before proposing:

"Come on up, we don't have much time, but you must take me to the treasure room and Shanks' room today."

Uta was quiet and seemed to be considering something. I could feel her doubt mingled with her current irritation. But, in the end, she took a deep breath before beginning to climb on my back.

"You really are so annoying."