Chapter 12: [12] Row, Row, Row Your Boat
The sun beat down on Pierre’s back, his shirt sticking to his skin with sweat. Seven hours of rowing had turned his arms to lead.
"Are we there yet?" Pierre asked for what must have been the tenth time in an hour.
Raven lounged at the bow of the small boat, her half-red, half-white hair whipping around her face in the sea breeze. She’d stripped down to her royal blue bra hours ago, claiming the heat was unbearable. Her black pants rode low on her hips, secured by a red sash that fluttered occasionally when the wind picked up.
"Another hour, maybe two." She squinted at the horizon. "Depends how much strength you’ve got left in those noodle arms."
"My arms aren’t noodles," Pierre grunted, pulling harder on the oars to prove his point. His recent attribute boosts from the pirates had helped, but seven hours of continuous rowing would tax anyone. "And if you’re so concerned about our speed, you could take a turn."
Raven stretched like a cat, arms reaching overhead, back arching. "Mmm... nah. I’m navigating."
"You’ve been ’navigating’ for hours by staring at the same spot on the horizon."
"And keeping us on course." She tapped her temple. "Navigation is mental work."
Pierre rolled his eyes and kept rowing. His Endurance stat was the only reason he hadn’t collapsed yet.
That and the massive strength difference between this world and Earth. The average chore boy here would be considered as athletic as a semi-pro athlete back home.
"What’s waiting for us in Hotaru Town anyway?" he asked, trying to distract himself from the pain.
he playful smirk on Raven’s face vanished. Her shoulders squared almost imperceptibly, and the light in her eyes dimmed. "I told you," she said, her tone suddenly flat. "I need to pick something up."