"Again," Yuuki spoke while staring directly at Konigsberg, "do not cover my eyes during teleportation."
Konigsberg immediately pouted dramatically.
"Aww… you're no fun, Herr Kommandant."
"You say that like blinding the person controlling space-time travel is a harmless prank."
Karlsruhe burst into laughter immediately.
Koln sighed while rubbing her forehead lightly.
"She truly lacks survival instincts sometimes…"
Konigsberg proudly crossed her arms.
"That's what makes life exciting."
"That's what gives people heart attacks," Yuuki answered instantly.
Konigsberg only grinned wider.
Honestly—
the Iron Blood girls really carried a different kind of energy compared to the others.
Less emotional than the Sakura girls.
Less chaotic than the Eagle Union girls.
But somehow sharper.
More teasing.
More direct.
Yuuki activated the teleportation again afterward.
Light spread beneath their feet.
The island distorted around them before the scenery shifted completely once more.
Moments later—
the four of them appeared in another quiet section of the void world.
Unlike the endless sea from before, this area felt calmer in a different way.
Ruined metallic structures floated in the distance while cold mist drifted across the still waters beneath them.
And nearby—
five familiar Iron Blood girls immediately turned toward the sudden light.
The girls recovered earlier from the vault.
Z18.
Z19.
Z20.
Z21.
And Leipzig.
For a second—
nobody moved.
Then—
"Koln?!"
"Konigsberg?!"
"Karlsruhe?!"
Leipzig immediately ran toward the three cruisers the moment she saw them properly.
"Big sis Koln!"
Her voice shook badly from emotion.
"Big sis Konigsberg!"
"Big sis Karlsruhe!"
The petite light cruiser nearly crashed into them while hugging them tightly all at once.
Despite wearing the darker militaristic uniform of Iron Blood, Leipzig herself looked nothing like someone meant for war.
She looked small.
Fragile.
More like an anxious schoolgirl than a combat ship. Karlsruhe immediately hugged Leipzig carefully.
"There there…"
Leipzig visibly trembled while tears formed in her eyes.
"I thought… everyone was gone…"
Koln gently patted her head afterward.
"We're here now."
Nearby—
Konigsberg meanwhile got completely swarmed by the younger destroyers.
"My little sharks!"
She laughed brightly while hugging Z18 and Z19 tightly.
The two destroyers openly cried against her without even trying to hide it anymore.
Ten years.
Ten whole years without seeing their older sisters.
Z18, despite her energetic personality and sharp little shark-like teeth, looked heartbreakingly young while crying quietly against Konigsberg.
Z19 clung tightly onto her older sister too, her usual energetic tomboyish attitude completely gone for the moment.
Even Z20 and Z21, who looked slightly older and more mature than the others, visibly relaxed after seeing familiar faces again. They joined Konigsberg in the embrace.
Yuuki quietly watched the scene.
Then slowly—
"…The hell."
The Iron Blood girls looked toward him briefly.
"These really are just children…"
The realization hit harder the more factions he encountered.
The Sakura destroyers.
The Royal Navy destroyers.
The Eagle Union kids.
And now Iron Blood too.
Different uniforms.
Different personalities.
Different nations.
But still children.
Children sent into war.
Nearby, Koln quietly looked toward the younger girls before speaking softly.
"Herr Kommandant…"
Yuuki looked toward her.
"…I think the Sirens targeted the school."
Yuuki froze slightly.
"What?"
Koln's expression darkened.
"It has been ten years, so I cannot know for certain…"
She glanced toward Leipzig crying quietly against Karlsruhe.
"But considering how many younger destroyers and school-aged girls were gathered together…"
Her hands tightened slightly.
"…They were probably attacked while gathered at the academy. Or perhaps the dormitories."
Silence followed afterward.
Even Konigsberg stopped smiling.
Yuuki slowly looked around at the younger girls again.
Z18.
Z19.
Spence earlier.
Crescent.
Cygnet.
The Mutsuki-class destroyers.
All of them.
Koln quietly lowered her gaze.
"How cruel…"
Her voice carried genuine anger now.
"Targeting children…"
Yuuki clenched his fists slightly afterward.
The Sirens did not simply destroy fleets.
They destroyed homes.
Schools.
Families.
And then left the survivors trapped in an endless void for ten years afterward.
Nearby, Leipzig quietly held onto Karlsruhe tighter while Fishy floated protectively around her.
And honestly—
the more Yuuki learned about what happened that day—
the more determined he became to drag every last survivor back from this nightmare.
"Herr Kommandant…?"
Yuuki turned slightly after hearing the timid voice.
Leipzig stood there quietly while nervously holding onto the edge of Karlsruhe's sleeve.
Even Fishy floated close beside her protectively.
"…Kommandant," Leipzig spoke softly, "I'm Leipzig."
Her voice sounded hesitant, almost like she expected to disappoint him somehow.
"I used to black out frequently while alive because of malnutrition…"
Koln sighed softly from nearby.
"She barely ate properly…"
Leipzig immediately shrank slightly in embarrassment.
"But…" she quickly continued, trying to sound determined despite her nervousness, "I'll still do my best to complete any tasks assigned to me."
Yuuki looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then—
"Once you're revived…"
Leipzig blinked slightly.
"I'm making sure you never skip meals again."
Leipzig froze.
Yuuki crossed his arms casually afterward.
"Even if I personally have to sit in front of you during every meal."
"Eeepp!"
Leipzig instantly turned bright red.
Karlsruhe softly laughed while Konigsberg grinned knowingly nearby.
Koln looked deeply satisfied already.
"See?" Konigsberg smirked. "Herr Kommandant already figured out your weakness."
Leipzig looked completely flustered now.
"I-I don't skip meals on purpose…"
"Your body apparently disagrees," Yuuki answered immediately.
Fishy floated beside Leipzig afterward while gently nudging her shoulder.
Yuuki honestly found the tiny mechanical shark kind of adorable.
Then—
another destroyer immediately stepped forward proudly.
"Nice to meet you, Herr Kommandant!"
Z18 saluted energetically despite still having slightly red eyes from crying earlier.
"I'm Z18 Hans Lüdemann!"
Then she grinned brightly.
"I'm the girl whose smile reaches everyone's hearts~!"
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"Well…"
Z18 blinked.
"Your smile reached mine already, little one."
Z18 immediately brightened completely.
"Ehee~"
Konigsberg proudly patted her head afterward.
"See? Told you your smile works."
Then Z19 stepped forward more formally.
"Z19 Hermann Künne, reporting for duty, Kommandant."
Compared to Z18's cheerful energy, Z19 felt more disciplined despite still carrying youthful tomboyish energy.
Yuuki nodded toward her.
"Nice to meet you too."
Then—
Z21 stepped forward proudly with surprising confidence.
"I am Z21, Wilhelm Heidkamp!"
She straightened herself dramatically afterward.
"Flagship destroyer during the Battles of Narvik!"
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"…That's a pretty serious introduction."
Z21 crossed her arms proudly.
"Well, since you worked so hard to find me…"
Then she looked toward him with a small smile.
"I suppose I'll allow you to bring me home."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"How generous of you."
Nearby, Z20 casually stepped forward afterward.
"Z20 Karl Galster, reporting in."
Compared to the others, Z20 carried herself with more mature confidence and a slightly trendy attitude.
Then she looked around quietly at the reunited Iron Blood girls.
"…Honestly…"
Her expression softened slightly.
"I didn't think we'd ever see everyone again."
Silence followed briefly afterward.
Yuuki quietly looked at all of them.
The children.
The tired survivors.
The girls trapped here for ten years.
Then he smiled faintly afterward.
"Well…"
Everyone looked toward him again.
"You're not alone anymore."
"Not everyone…"
The Iron Blood girls slowly looked toward Yuuki again.
"So far," he continued quietly, "Nimi is the only confirmed living Iron Blood shipgirl I've found."
The younger destroyers visibly stiffened slightly hearing that.
Yuuki's expression softened afterward.
"But I'm still searching."
Then more firmly—
"And honestly? I'd rather find more of your comrades alive than trapped here."
Leipzig quietly lowered her gaze.
Z18 and Z19 also became quieter.
Yuuki looked around at all of them afterward.
"You girls might technically be dead right now…"
A brief pause followed.
"But I will revive you again someday."
The younger destroyers blinked slightly.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I still want to see the full strength of Iron Blood properly."
That immediately lifted the atmosphere slightly again.
Z21 proudly crossed her arms.
"Hah. Naturally."
Z20 smirked lightly.
"Now that sounds more like proper confidence."
Even Koln smiled faintly afterward.
Yuuki looked around once more before speaking again.
"For now though…"
Everyone focused on him.
"Let's get all of you somewhere safe."
Leipzig blinked slightly.
"…Safe?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Somewhere with actual land."
The younger destroyers immediately reacted.
"Land?!"
Leipzig looked genuinely shocked.
"But… we searched everywhere…"
Her voice carried disbelief.
"There's nothing in this world except sea…"
Yuuki smiled slightly afterward.
"There is now."
The girls blinked.
"It's recent."
Then Yuuki extended his hands slightly.
"Alright. Hold onto me."
Immediately—
Karlsruhe gently held onto one of his arms first.
The younger destroyers quickly gathered around afterward.
Z18 grabbed onto his sleeve enthusiastically.
Z19 and Z21 carefully held onto his coat.
Leipzig nervously held onto part of his jacket while Fishy floated anxiously nearby too.
Koln calmly took his other arm.
Then—
Konigsberg immediately jumped onto his back.
Yuuki sighed instantly.
"…Do you have to?"
Konigsberg proudly hugged him from behind.
"Can't lose to Hornet."
Yuuki immediately looked exhausted.
"You girls are competing over piggyback rights now?"
"Yes."
"That was way too fast of an answer."
Konigsberg grinned mischievously.
"Hornet keeps clinging to you constantly, so naturally I must preserve Iron Blood pride."
Koln sighed softly.
"You absolutely do not."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"…Fine."
Then he pointed slightly upward.
"Just hold on properly."
Konigsberg immediately rested comfortably against his back.
"Jawohl~"
Yuuki honestly had no energy left to argue anymore.
So instead—
he activated the teleportation again.
Light spread beneath their feet.
The endless calm sea distorted around them one more time.
And moments later—
the Iron Blood girls vanished together with him toward the only land existing within the endless void world.
================
Light faded once more.
The Iron Blood girls slowly opened their eyes—
only to freeze immediately afterward.
Real land stretched beneath their feet.
Grass.
Trees.
Wind.
The distant sound of waves against shorelines.
And above all—
life.
Konigsberg slowly stepped down from Yuuki's back much to his relief.
"…So this is the island we're living right now, little sharks."
Karlsruhe smiled softly while helping guide the younger destroyers forward.
"It's beautiful… and it's home. Better than"
Koln meanwhile gently guided Leipzig carefully beside her.
The younger girls reacted almost instantly afterward.
"Waaahhh! There's so many trees!"
"FRUITS!"
Z18 and Z19 immediately ran toward the nearest fruit trees while the others quickly followed behind them.
Even Z21 looked visibly excited despite trying to act mature about it.
Yuuki quietly watched them with a faint smile.
Technically—
they no longer needed food.
No hunger.
No thirst.
No exhaustion.
But after spending ten years trapped in empty seas—
simple things like fruit and grass still mattered emotionally.
The younger destroyers immediately started grabbing fruits from nearby branches.
"Sweet!"
"This one's good!"
"Try this one!"
Fishy floated nearby while Leipzig quietly watched the others.
Koln calmly picked one of the fruits from a nearby branch afterward before holding it out toward Leipzig.
"Eat."
Leipzig blinked slightly.
"…Eh?"
Koln sighed softly.
"You're dead already."
Leipzig immediately looked embarrassed.
"So you have absolutely no reason left to skip meals."
Konigsberg immediately laughed loudly nearby.
"Hahaha! Direct attack!"
Leipzig turned bright red instantly.
"I-I wasn't trying to—"
Koln gently pushed the fruit closer toward her anyway.
"Eat."
Karlsruhe smiled softly afterward.
"She worried us constantly back then too."
Leipzig looked completely cornered now.
Then quietly—
"…Okay…"
She finally took the fruit carefully.
Fishy floated happily beside her afterward.
Yuuki crossed his arms while watching the scene quietly.
Honestly—
it really did feel less like commanding warships and more like taking care of displaced children sometimes.
Then Z18 suddenly ran back toward him holding several fruits proudly.
"Herr Kommandant!"
Yuuki blinked.
The energetic destroyer held them upward proudly.
"We picked extra!"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"For me?"
Z18 nodded quickly.
"Family shares food."
That simple sentence unexpectedly hit harder than it should have.
Yuuki quietly accepted one of the fruits afterward.
"…Thanks."
Z19 smiled slightly nearby.
"It feels more alive here…"
Z20 looked around the island afterward while the wind brushed through her aqua hair.
"Honestly…"
Her expression softened.
"I never thought we'd stand on land again."
Nearby, Leipzig quietly ate the fruit Koln handed her while the older cruiser calmly watched over her like an overprotective older sister.
And for the first time in ten years—
The Iron Blood girls no longer stood alone on endless empty seas.
For a moment, Yuuki quietly watched them laugh and eat fruits beneath the trees.
The Iron Blood girls no longer stood alone on endless empty seas.
Yuuki quietly looked at them one more time before speaking again.
"So, can you three guide everyone to the pagoda tower for me?"
Konigsberg tilted her head slightly. "Eh? You're leaving already?"
Karlsruhe looked surprised too. "Where are you going now?"
Yuuki sighed softly while rubbing the back of his neck.
"I still have four more girls to pick up."
That immediately caught their attention.
"Four?" Koln asked.
Yuuki nodded.
"Conte di Cavour and Trento from the Sardegna Empire. Le Mars from the Vichya Dominion. And Forbin from the Iris Libre."
The younger destroyers blinked curiously after hearing unfamiliar faction names.
"Their cubes were recovered together with yours," Yuuki explained.
"Ah…" Koln slowly nodded afterward.
Konigsberg crossed her arms dramatically. "You're seriously rebuilding every faction one by one."
Yuuki shrugged casually. "Someone has to."
Then he pointed toward the distant pagoda tower standing proudly on the island.
"Show everyone around for me first."
He sighed immediately afterward.
"And honestly, I should leave before somebody else decides to ram directly into me again."
The younger destroyers looked confused.
"Ram?" Z18 asked.
Yuuki stared blankly into the distance for a moment.
"Long story."
Z19 and Z20 immediately looked disappointed afterward.
"Eh? Herr Kommandant, you're not coming with us?"
Yuuki smiled faintly toward them.
"I still have people waiting for me, little ones."
Z18 puffed her cheeks slightly. "We're not THAT little…"
Konigsberg immediately laughed. "You absolutely are."
Yuuki looked toward the three cruisers again.
"Koln. Konigsberg. Karlsruhe."
The three immediately straightened slightly.
"Guide them for me and feed Leipzig as much fruit as possible."
"Eeep!" Leipzig squealed.
Koln nodded firmly. "Leave it to us, Herr Kommandant."
Yuuki smiled slightly afterward before activating the teleportation once more.
Light spread around him before his body disappeared from the island entirely.
Moments later, Yuuki reappeared in another distant section of the void world.
This place felt quieter.
Colder somehow.
Unlike the scattered destroyers and wandering survivors from before, the atmosphere here carried heavier dignity. More discipline. More maturity.
The moment he fully materialized—
"Halt!"
Steel flashed instantly.
Yuuki turned slightly only to find a woman already pointing a sword directly toward him.
Tall.
Elegant.
Serious.
She carried herself like an experienced military officer rather than a lost survivor.
"That's one way to greet the one who spoke to you before."
The woman blinked once.
Recognition slowly appeared in her yellow eyes.
"…Ah."
Her sword lowered afterward.
"You are the Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
Then she calmly sheathed the blade.
"I heard your voice earlier."
She lowered her head slightly afterward.
"My apologies."
Yuuki shook his head lightly.
"No worries."
Then he quietly observed her for a moment.
Honestly, this was the first Sardegna Empire shipgirl he had properly met.
"First Italian shipgirl I've seen," Yuuki admitted casually.
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"Italian?"
Yuuki nodded.
"In my world, Sardegna Empire is basically Italy."
"…Ah."
She quietly accepted the explanation before straightening herself properly again.
"I witnessed the rise of the Imperial Fleet…"
Her expression darkened slightly afterward.
"And I witnessed its gradual decay into weakness and irrelevance."
"As I too was among the fallen."
There was no anger in her voice.
Only regret.
Then she looked directly toward Yuuki.
"Commander…"
Her tone carried the weight of somebody who had seen far too many failures already.
"I pray that you, as leader of your own fleet…"
A brief silence followed.
"…Never repeat the tragedies of the past that claim the lives of the young in the fleet.."
Yuuki quietly listened without interrupting.
"I am the dreadnought Conte di Cavour," she introduced herself properly.
The mature battleship calmly placed a hand over her chest.
"There is still much I could do for your fleet."
Then her expression weakened slightly afterward.
"…If only I were still alive to do so."
Yuuki looked at her quietly for a moment before answering calmly.
"We'll fix that part eventually."
Conte di Cavour blinked slightly.
Yuuki crossed his arms afterward.
"You're not staying dead forever if I can help it."
For the first time since he arrived, the stern Sardegna battleship's expression softened slightly.
"Thank you…" Conte di Cavour spoke quietly.
Then she let out a small breath.
"I admit… this existence is quite troublesome."
Yuuki listened quietly.
"Being dead," she continued softly, "unable to serve anyone. Unable to protect anything."
Her yellow eyes drifted toward the endless calm sea surrounding them.
"Alone in this realm with nothing to explore. Nothing to accomplish. Nothing to do except wait."
There was no self-pity in her voice.
Only exhaustion.
Yuuki crossed his arms calmly afterward.
"Don't worry about it."
Conte looked toward him again.
"You're not the only one waiting for resurrection anymore."
That made her pause slightly.
Then—
"Ah, so you already met the Commander, Conte."
Another voice approached calmly from behind.
Yuuki turned slightly.
A beautiful silver-haired Sardegna cruiser walked toward them gracefully with a warm smile.
Compared to Conte di Cavour's stern military presence, this newcomer felt much gentler.
More approachable.
"Trento," Conte acknowledged quietly.
The cruiser smiled warmly before giving Yuuki a proper greeting.
"I am the nameship of the Trento-class."
Then she laughed softly afterward.
"Although if you count the days since launch, my sister Trieste technically has a longer service history than I do."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"That sounds oddly specific."
Trento smiled sheepishly.
"I had a little accident during my launch ceremony…"
Conte sighed softly from nearby.
"A rather famous one."
Trento laughed awkwardly before continuing.
"Even so, I still served proudly as part of the Sardegna fleet."
Then she gently bowed toward Yuuki.
"I am Trento, first heavy cruiser of the Sardegna Empire."
Her expression softened warmly afterward.
"I'll support everyone in my own special way, Commander, so please look forward to it."
Yuuki quietly observed her for a moment.
Unlike the colder military elegance of Conte di Cavour, Trento carried a much softer atmosphere.
Kind.
Supportive.
The type who comforted others before herself.
Then Trento's smile weakened slightly afterward.
"Just like Conte…"
She looked around the empty void quietly.
"I apologize that our first meeting with you happens in a place like this."
Her voice carried genuine regret.
"Unable to assist you properly. Unable to fight beside anyone."
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"You girls really need to stop apologizing for being dead."
Both Sardegna shipgirls blinked slightly.
Yuuki sighed softly afterward.
"You didn't choose this."
The two women quietly listened.
"So stop acting like surviving ten years in this place is somehow a personal failure."
Conte di Cavour slowly looked at him again.
Trento quietly smiled afterward.
"…You truly are different from the old commanders."
Yuuki scratched his cheek lightly.
"I just think blaming yourselves for dying in a Siren attack is ridiculous."
Conte actually let out a small amused breath at that.
Then Trento suddenly smiled warmly again.
"Well…"
She gently placed a hand over her chest.
"It is comforting hearing somebody say that."
Yuuki nodded lightly afterward.
"Still… meeting the Sardegna girls might actually help me practice my Italian again."
Both Conte di Cavour and Trento blinked slightly.
"Ah…" Trento looked surprised. "You speak our language?"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Naturally."
Then he smoothly switched languages.
"Although I might be a little rusty."
The two Sardegna shipgirls immediately stared at him in surprise as fluent Italian left his mouth naturally without hesitation.
"Rusty?" Trento repeated in disbelief before answering him in Italian as well. "That sounded completely fluent."
Even Conte di Cavour looked genuinely impressed now.
"You learned it properly."
Yuuki shrugged lightly afterward before returning to normal conversation.
"Most Italians became extinct in my world."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Trento's smile weakened slightly.
"…Extinct?"
Yuuki nodded quietly.
"Only a small number survived."
Then he looked toward the endless sea around them.
"The language became rare after that."
Conte di Cavour's expression darkened.
"I see…"
Her voice became quieter afterward.
"So our people suffered such a fate in your world."
Yuuki slowly nodded again.
"They suffered the most during the beginning."
Memories surfaced briefly in his mind.
The first Tiberium meteor impact.
Italy.
The beginning of everything.
"The first major Tiberium meteor impact landed in Italy," Yuuki explained quietly.
"Tiberium?" Conte asked.
"Alien mineral that came from space. Slamming on earth before it began poisoning it. Absorbing minerals in exchange of poisonous and valuable green crystals."
"At first, nobody understood how dangerous it really was."
Then his tone became heavier.
"But once the spread began…"
He paused briefly.
"The entire country slowly being poisoned and eventually turned into a battlefield."
Trento quietly lowered her gaze.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"The contamination spread faster every year."
"Wars followed afterward due to claim the crystals."
"Evacuations."
"Economic collapse."
"Mass casualties."
"Marks the First Tiberium War."
Conte di Cavour silently listened without interrupting.
"By the Third Tiberium War," Yuuki continued quietly, "most of Italy had already become a red zone."
Areas completely overtaken by Tiberium.
Uninhabitable.
Dead.
Then finally—
"The Liquid Tiberium explosion finished what was left."
Silence followed afterward.
Even the calm sea around them suddenly felt colder.
Trento slowly held onto her own arm slightly.
"…Our homeland disappeared in your world."
Yuuki nodded quietly.
"Yeah. I don't know about this world but, all factions fell under siren control."
Conte di Cavour closed her eyes briefly afterward.
No anger.
No panic.
Just mourning.
Then after several seconds—
she slowly opened her eyes again.
"…Then I am glad at least our language survived within somebody."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
Conte looked toward him calmly.
"Even if only through memory."
Trento smiled softly afterward despite the sadness still lingering in her expression.
"Then perhaps Sardegna is not completely gone from your world after all."
Yuuki quietly smiled faintly.
"Maybe not."
Then Trento looked curious again afterward.
"So… how many languages do you actually know, Commander?"
Yuuki scratched his cheek lightly.
"...Enough to accidentally start diplomatic incidents," Yuuki answered dryly. "Once I meet the other two, I can probably converse with them too."
Trento blinked curiously. "Ah, you can speak the languages of Iris Libre and the Vichya Dominion as well?"
Yuuki nodded.
"They're basically the same language."
Conte tilted her head slightly.
"And that would be?"
"French."
That visibly surprised both Sardegna girls.
"What are their countries called in your world?" Trento asked curiously.
"France," Yuuki answered casually. "Though during one point in history, they were split apart."
He pointed slightly while explaining.
"Free France and Axis-aligned France."
Then he shrugged lightly.
"But at the end of the day, still France."
Conte di Cavour slowly nodded in understanding.
"And you speak their language fluently too?"
Yuuki nodded again.
"Pretty fluently."
That actually made Trento laugh softly.
"You truly are an unusual Commander."
Even Conte smiled faintly afterward.
"Speaking several major European languages while commanding a futuristic military faction…" she murmured. "You sound more like a diplomat than a soldier."
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"No, diplomats usually cause fewer explosions."
That earned another small laugh from Trento.
Then Yuuki glanced slightly toward the distance.
"Speaking of them…"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"They should be around here somewhere…"
Before long—
"Ah! Conte and Trento!"
A cheerful voice suddenly approached from nearby.
Yuuki turned slightly as two girls walked toward them together.
One carried herself with the elegance of a young knight.
The other had a more energetic, tomboyish atmosphere.
"Forbin," Conte acknowledged calmly. "Come meet the Commander."
The blonde destroyer blinked slightly afterward before immediately straightening herself.
"Commander?"
Then she bowed properly.
"I am Forbin, a squire of Iris Libre."
Compared to the other girls, Forbin carried herself with obvious knightly discipline despite her youthful appearance.
"I may not yet compare to the great knights and veterans of Iris Libre…"
Then she looked toward him earnestly.
"But I humbly ask for your guidance."
Yuuki quietly observed her.
Elegant blonde hair.
Knightly posture.
A ceremonial uniform styled almost like a royal squire.
Honestly, she looked more like a young knight apprentice than a destroyer.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"You already sound more disciplined than half the people I know."
Forbin blinked slightly before smiling happily.
"Thank you, Commander!"
Beside her, the darker-skinned destroyer casually stepped forward afterward.
"Eh? Right, introductions."
She scratched the back of her head slightly before grinning.
"I'm Le Mars. L'Adroit-class destroyer."
Compared to Forbin's polished knightly demeanor, Le Mars felt much more straightforward and relaxed.
"A pleasure meeting you, Commander."
Then her expression softened slightly afterward.
"For various reasons, I ended up stuck in this world for ten years too."
Yuuki quietly listened.
"But after returning to service," Le Mars continued proudly, "I managed to make up for some of that lost time."
Her hand rested lightly near the rapier at her side.
"So I'd like another chance to keep fighting properly again."
Yuuki nodded calmly afterward.
"You'll get one."
That immediately made both French destroyers pause slightly.
Yuuki crossed his arms casually.
"Same as everyone else."
Then he pointed lightly toward the endless sea around them.
"I didn't come all the way here just to leave people dead forever."
Forbin's expression softened warmly afterward.
Le Mars grinned slightly.
"Hah. You really do sound like a Commander."
Conte di Cavour quietly looked toward Yuuki again afterward.
Then softly—
"You carry hope unusually well for someone from such a ruined world."
Yuuki stared at the calm sea for a moment before answering quietly.
"My world survives because people refused to give up."
Then he looked back toward the girls again.
"So I don't plan on giving up on any of you either."
Then, without warning—
Yuuki smoothly switched languages again.
This time—
French.
Perfectly fluent French.
Forbin immediately froze.
Le Mars blinked repeatedly in complete surprise.
Even Conte and Trento looked impressed despite not fully understanding the conversation anymore.
"Wait…" Le Mars stared at him. "You actually speak Vichya?"
Yuuki answered casually in the same language.
"Fairly fluently."
Forbin looked genuinely stunned now.
"Commander… your pronunciation is perfect…"
Yuuki shrugged lightly afterward.
"My teachers were strict. As one of the High Commanders of GDI, we must know a lot of language. Guess all that strictness paid off."
Le Mars suddenly laughed loudly.
"Hah! You weren't kidding earlier about causing diplomatic incidents."
Then she crossed her arms while grinning.
"You just casually swap languages mid-conversation like it's nothing."
Yuuki switched back briefly.
"It's useful during negotiations."
Then immediately back into French again.
"Also useful for confusing people."
Le Mars burst out laughing again.
Forbin meanwhile looked increasingly amazed.
"It has been ten years since I last heard proper Vichya… With me and Le Mans all the time, we started to think Vichya or Iris Libre language is extinct."
Her voice softened noticeably afterward.
"Hearing it again feels nostalgic…"
Yuuki's expression softened slightly.
Then gently—
"Bienvenue à la maison."
Welcome home.
Forbin visibly froze afterward.
Le Mars' grin weakened into something quieter.
For ten years—
they wandered endless dead seas hearing nothing except silence.
No homeland.
No familiar voices.
No language from home.
And now suddenly—
someone stood before them speaking naturally like the world they lost still existed somewhere.
Forbin quietly lowered her gaze for a moment.
"…Merci, Commandant."
Le Mars rubbed the back of her neck afterward while laughing more quietly.
"Man… hearing somebody speak like that again really hits differently."
Conte di Cavour quietly observed the two French destroyers.
Then she softly spoke toward Yuuki.
"You truly understand the value of preserving culture."
Yuuki shrugged lightly.
"When entire countries disappear, language becomes one of the last things left."
Silence followed briefly afterward.
Then Le Mars suddenly grinned again.
"So…"
She pointed at him dramatically.
"You can speak Italian AND French."
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah."
Forbin tilted her head curiously.
"How many languages do you actually know, Commander?"
Yuuki looked genuinely thoughtful for a moment.
"…Enough that I accidentally answered three people in different languages during one meeting once."
Le Mars immediately laughed again.
"That sounds like a disaster."
"It was."
Trento smiled softly nearby.
"You really are unlike any Commander we have ever met."
Then her expression softened further.
"Even our old commandant was still… a very traditional military commander."
Conte di Cavour quietly nodded in agreement.
"But even so," she added calmly, "he still protected our cubes until the end."
Yuuki slowly nodded afterward.
"Yeah."
His voice became quieter.
"I owe him a lot for that."
Whatever flaws the old commander had—
he still preserved them.
Protected them.
Made sure they were not erased completely.
Yuuki sighed softly afterward before pointing lightly toward the four girls in front of him.
"That usually means trouble follows me now that you four got added to my growing collection of problems."
Le Mars immediately pointed back at him while laughing.
"See? THAT sentence translates perfectly across all nations."
Even Forbin covered a small laugh behind her hand.
Trento smiled warmly too.
"You speak like a tired father already."
Yuuki immediately looked offended.
"I am not old enough for that role."
Conte calmly looked around at the growing group afterward.
"Still…"
Her tone softened.
"You have gathered quite a diverse fleet already."
Yuuki crossed his arms casually.
"Well, other than the four major factions…"
Then he pointed toward Forbin and Le Mars.
"You two are my first Vichya Dominion and Iris Libre shipgirls."
That made Yuuki pause slightly afterward.
"Wait…"
He looked between them curiously.
"Aren't your factions supposed to dislike each other?"
Forbin and Le Mars exchanged glances first.
Then surprisingly—
both laughed softly.
"We did once," Forbin admitted.
Le Mars nodded afterward.
"But things changed later in Azur Lane."
Then she crossed her arms casually.
"Iris Libre and Vichya eventually fought under the same banner again."
Forbin smiled gently.
"Our governments and politics caused the division."
Then she looked toward Le Mars.
"But not us."
Le Mars nodded in agreement.
"We still speak the same language. Share the same homeland. Same people."
Then she shrugged lightly.
"And honestly? The other shipgirls welcomed us anyway."
Yuuki quietly listened.
"I see…"
Then he smiled faintly afterward.
"Good."
He honestly preferred that answer.
After everything these girls already lost—
watching them divided forever over politics would have been depressing.
Then Yuuki looked toward Conte and Trento again.
"Now I finally have Sardegna shipgirls too."
Trento smiled softly.
"We are honored to be the first."
Yuuki nodded lightly.
"First Sardegna girls besides Yat Sen anyway."
That immediately caught their attention.
Conte tilted her head slightly.
"Ah… then you have already encountered the Dragon Empery."
Yuuki nodded.
"Only Yat Sen so far."
Then he looked toward the endless void quietly.
"Still a lot more people left to find."
Forbin softly smiled afterward.
"But now fewer are alone."
That simple sentence made the atmosphere quiet again for a moment.
Yuuki slowly looked around at the four girls before him.
Sardegna Empire.
Vichya Dominion.
Iris Libre.
Different nations.
Different histories.
Different tragedies.
And yet now—
all standing together inside the same empty world waiting for another chance at life.
Yuuki quietly smiled faintly afterward.
"Alright then."
The girls looked toward him again.
"Let's get you all out of this depressing ocean too."
That immediately caught their attention.
"There's an island now," Yuuki explained.
Conte di Cavour blinked slightly.
"…An island?"
Yuuki nodded calmly.
"Real land. Trees. Fruits. Shelter."
Trento looked genuinely surprised now.
"There is land in this world?"
"There is because I made one."
That answer made both Sardegna shipgirls stare at him quietly for a moment.
Then Trento softly laughed.
"You really are an unusual Commander."
Yuuki shrugged casually.
"I hear that a lot."
Le Mars crossed her arms afterward while grinning.
"So you just casually create islands now?"
"Technically speaking, it's more like spatial reconstruction using connected cube authority and—"
Le Mars immediately raised both hands.
"Commander, you lost me already."
Forbin quietly smiled nearby.
"I believe she simply means it sounds miraculous."
"Yeah," Le Mars agreed. "That."
Yuuki sighed lightly.
"Anyway…"
Then he extended his hands slightly toward them.
"Come on. Hold onto me."
The girls moved immediately afterward.
Trento gently held onto one of his arms first while smiling warmly.
Forbin politely took the other.
Then—
Le Mars casually grabbed onto the upper part of his coat near his shoulder.
Conte di Cavour calmly held the opposite side with dignified composure.
Yuuki blinked slightly afterward.
"…I have other places available to hold onto, you know."
Le Mars grinned shamelessly.
"We're comfortable this way."
Trento softly laughed afterward.
"You are surprisingly warm, Commander."
Forbin immediately looked embarrassed hearing that sentence aloud.
Conte simply closed her eyes calmly.
"This arrangement is efficient enough."
Yuuki looked deeply unconvinced.
"I'm starting to think shipgirls are just naturally bold."
Le Mars smirked immediately.
"You only realizing that now?"
Yuuki honestly could not even deny it anymore.
The Royal Navy girls openly clung to him.
The Sakura girls practically melted from ear rubs.
Hornet weaponized affection constantly.
Konigsberg climbed onto his back five minutes after meeting him again.
And now these four looked perfectly comfortable holding onto him like this.
"…Yeah," Yuuki muttered. "Definitely bold."
Then he activated the teleportation again.
Light spread beneath their feet.
The endless sea distorted around them before vanishing completely.
And moments later—
the Sardegna Empire, Iris Libre, and Vichya Dominion girls disappeared together with him toward the growing island sanctuary within the void world.
===================
The moment the light faded—
the four girls froze.
Real land stretched before them beneath a warm sky.
Trees swayed gently in the wind. Fruits hung from branches nearby. Grass covered the earth beneath their feet while distant waves quietly brushed against the shore.
And far away—
the pagoda tower stood proudly at the center of the island.
For several seconds—
none of them spoke.
After ten years trapped within endless calm seas and empty skies—
the sight of actual land felt almost unreal.
Le Mars slowly stepped forward first before crouching slightly and touching the grass beneath her fingers.
"…It's real."
Her voice sounded quieter than before.
Forbin looked around with wide green eyes.
"There are… trees…"
Trento softly covered part of her mouth while staring toward the island.
"…An actual island…"
Even Conte di Cavour's composed expression visibly weakened for a brief moment.
The veteran battleship slowly looked toward the horizon silently.
Ten years.
Ten years wandering empty oceans with nowhere to go.
No ports.
No missions.
No civilization.
No purpose except waiting endlessly for a resurrection that never came.
They never felt hunger.
Never felt thirst.
Never truly grew tired.
But that only made the emptiness worse.
There was nothing to do.
Nothing to discover.
Nothing that changed.
Only endless water and silence.
The void was originally meant to be temporary.
A waiting room before resurrection.
Not a prison lasting an entire decade.
Le Mars slowly stood again afterward while laughing softly in disbelief.
"We spent years sailing around searching for land…"
Then she looked toward Yuuki.
"And you actually made one."
Yuuki scratched his cheek lightly.
"Well… technically the cubes and the system did most of the work."
Forbin quietly shook her head.
"Even so…"
Her voice softened.
"You still gave everyone hope again."
Trento slowly walked toward one of the fruit trees nearby afterward.
Then gently—
she touched the bark quietly like she was making sure it truly existed.
"…I almost forgot what forests smelled like."
That sentence alone made the atmosphere unexpectedly heavy.
Conte di Cavour quietly closed her eyes for a moment afterward.
"…Ten years…"
Her voice remained calm, but quieter now.
"We truly wandered this sea for ten entire years."
Yuuki looked toward them silently.
Then softly—
"You don't have to wander anymore."
That made all four girls slowly look toward him again.
Le Mars smiled first.
"…Yeah."
Forbin gently nodded afterward.
"We finally arrived somewhere."
Trento turned toward Yuuki with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Commander."
Even Conte di Cavour lowered her head respectfully afterward.
"You have our gratitude."
Yuuki smiled faintly before pointing toward the distant pagoda tower.
"Come on."
The girls followed his gaze.
"There's a lot more people waiting there already."
Le Mars blinked slightly.
"…Other factions too?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Sakura Empire. Royal Navy. Eagle Union. Iron Blood."
Then he smirked lightly.
"You four are about to realize this island became extremely chaotic very quickly."
Le Mars immediately grinned.
"Sounds lively."
Honestly—
after ten years of silence—
lively sounded perfect.
"You can eat the fruits here," Yuuki explained while gesturing toward the nearby trees. "Even if you don't feel hunger anymore, you can still enjoy eating."
Le Mars immediately grabbed one from a branch nearby.
"Well then, don't mind if I do."
Trento softly laughed before picking one as well while Forbin carefully admired the island around her.
Then—
"Ara, Shikikan-sama…"
Yuuki turned slightly afterward.
"Amagi."
The elegant fox woman approached slowly beneath the trees.
And the moment the younger Sakura destroyers saw him—
"Commander!"
The little girls immediately crowded around him again like ducklings chasing their parent.
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"Oh? You five aren't worried about me eating you anymore?"
The destroyers shook their heads quickly.
"No!"
"Amagi-neechan said she'll protect us if you try!"
Yuuki glanced toward Amagi afterward before smirking lightly.
"Oh?"
Then casually—
"Maybe I should eat her instead."
"No!"
The younger destroyers immediately crowded protectively around Amagi.
"We'll protect Amagi-neechan!"
Amagi instantly turned bright red afterward.
"A-Ara…"
Le Mars immediately burst out laughing nearby.
Even Conte di Cavour quietly smiled slightly.
Yuuki laughed afterward before patting the younger destroyers gently on their heads.
"Pff… relax. I'm kidding."
Then he gestured toward the newly arrived girls.
"So these are your other big sisters."
The younger Sakura destroyers quickly bowed politely afterward.
"Please take care of us!"
"Be nice now," Amagi gently reminded them.
The little destroyers nodded obediently.
Forbin quietly approached afterward while looking toward Amagi respectfully.
"Miss Amagi…"
Amagi turned toward her calmly.
"It seems the Commander truly found you."
Amagi smiled softly.
"Yes."
Then her eyes drifted toward Yuuki briefly.
"He also saved Akagi and Kaga."
Conte di Cavour visibly looked impressed afterward.
"He managed to tame those two foxes?"
Yuuki immediately looked tired.
"I would not use the word tame."
Amagi softly covered her mouth while laughing.
"Ufufu…"
Le Mars crossed her arms.
"Honestly, if you can survive those two, you can survive anything."
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"I'm beginning to think every faction has dangerous women."
"That is correct," Conte answered calmly.
Yuuki looked betrayed.
"Why did you answer that so quickly?"
Even Trento laughed softly afterward.
Yuuki pointed toward the pagoda tower in the distance afterward.
"Anyway, save the conversations for inside."
The girls followed his gaze.
"You can stay in whichever faction rooms you feel comfortable with for now."
Then he added casually,
"Currently only the first floor is available, but the rooms are massive."
Amagi nodded slightly afterward.
"Yat Sen is staying with us currently."
That immediately caught Conte's attention.
"Then perhaps we should temporarily stay with the Iron Blood girls instead," she suggested calmly. "We are more familiar with them."
Yuuki nodded lightly.
"That works."
Then Forbin raised her hand slightly afterward.
"Commander…"
"Hm?"
"May we explore the island first before entering the tower?"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Sure."
Then he gestured outward toward the island.
"Go explore."
Immediately afterward—
the younger Sakura destroyers resumed running around while playing tag through the trees.
Le Mars grabbed several fruits enthusiastically while Trento quietly sampled one herself.
Forbin slowly wandered nearby while admiring the scenery.
Conte di Cavour quietly observed the island itself with thoughtful eyes.
Eventually—
only Yuuki and Amagi remained standing quietly together beneath the trees.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Yuuki looked toward her again.
"Yes?"
Amagi's ears twitched slightly.
"Mou…"
Then quietly—
"You said you wanted to eat me…"
Yuuki blinked once.
"Is that really that bad?"
Amagi softly smiled afterward while her cheeks remained faintly red.
"The younger girls interpreted it literally."
Then her golden eyes looked toward him more knowingly.
"But among us Sakura adults…"
A pause followed.
"It means something quite different."
Yuuki immediately understood afterward.
"…Oh."
Amagi softly laughed at his delayed realization.
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck lightly.
"Sorry if that made you uncomfortable."
"Ufufu…"
Amagi slowly shook her head.
"Not at all."
Then she stepped slightly closer.
"If anything…"
Her tails swayed gently behind her.
"It makes me happy that you acknowledge me as your little fox."
Yuuki stared at her for a moment before sighing softly.
"You're a sly one."
Amagi smiled beautifully afterward.
"I'll take my chances."
Then her gaze drifted toward the distant tower where more and more rescued girls gathered together.
"A great many girls adore you now."
Yuuki already looked tired hearing that sentence.
Amagi softly covered her mouth while laughing.
"Lady Hood is quite forward already. Calling herself your lady."
Yuuki immediately rubbed his forehead.
"She really leaned hard into that role."
Amagi continued calmly afterward.
"Her Majesty Elizabeth calls you her servant. Lady Valiant calls you her attendant. Warspite refers to herself as your knight."
Then her smile deepened slightly.
"Even Hornet and Konigsberg cling onto you constantly."
Yuuki sighed heavily afterward.
"Akagi and Kaga started latching onto me too."
Then he pointed toward his own ears helplessly.
"Atago and Takao basically demand ear rubs daily now."
Amagi laughed softly.
"Ufufu… and do not forget Fusou and Yamashiro."
Yuuki immediately looked betrayed.
"Those two barely met me."
Amagi slowly shook her head afterward.
"That is exactly why you must understand their intentions carefully."
Then her golden eyes softened slightly.
"Some girls stay close because of comfort."
"Some because they admire you."
"And some because they are already trying to secure a place beside you."
Yuuki crossed his arms afterward.
"I treat everyone equally."
Then more seriously—
"Adoration does not automatically give someone special treatment."
Amagi nodded gently.
"We know."
Then she stepped slightly closer.
"But some feelings go beyond simple admiration."
Yuuki quietly listened.
"Eventually," Amagi continued softly, "their feelings will become clearer."
Then teasingly—
"Unless Shikikan-sama is truly dense."
Yuuki immediately protested.
"Hey, I'm not dense."
Then he sighed again.
"I just don't want to hurt anybody's feelings."
His expression softened slightly afterward.
"And honestly… I can already tell with some of them."
Amagi tilted her head slightly.
"Such as?"
Yuuki quietly listed them.
"Yorktown."
"Enterprise."
"Illustrious."
"Belfast."
"Vestal."
Amagi immediately smiled knowingly afterward.
"For Belfast to willingly become your personal maid…"
Then she softly laughed.
"That alone says quite a lot."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"She never offered herself to the previous commander."
That made Yuuki pause briefly.
Then Amagi looked toward him calmly.
"You truly possess a dangerous attraction, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki looked unconvinced.
"I really don't."
Amagi smiled teasingly afterward.
"You are kind."
"Reliable."
"And…"
Her ears twitched slightly.
"You smell good."
Yuuki immediately looked confused.
"…I'm sorry, what?"
Amagi laughed softly again.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Then her tone became gentler.
"Sakura girls possess animal traits."
She slowly held onto his arm afterward.
"We can smell things ordinary humans cannot."
Yuuki blinked repeatedly now.
Amagi's tails slowly swayed behind her.
"When we discover the scent of somebody who could become a potential mate…"
Her golden eyes looked directly into his.
"We become attached to it."
Yuuki slowly processed that information.
"Oh…"
Amagi nodded softly.
"Now you understand why Takao, Atago, Fusou, Yamashiro, Hiyou, and Junyou naturally stay close to you."
Then she softly rested against his arm slightly.
"Your scent is likely one they deeply enjoy."
Yuuki looked increasingly alarmed now.
"This suddenly sounds dangerous."
Amagi only laughed softly.
"One day…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Their attachment may grow beyond your scent alone."
Then more quietly—
"Like mine."
Yuuki froze briefly.
Amagi gently held his arm afterward while smiling warmly.
"Both among the living… and here…"
Then she looked back toward him again.
"So naturally…"
"I will take my chance too."
Yuuki immediately looked increasingly concerned again.
"The least you could do is ease into this slowly."
Amagi laughed softly once more.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Then teasingly—
"The very least you could do is put a ring on my finger first."
Yuuki immediately looked exhausted again.
"You really ARE a fox."
Amagi smiled proudly.
"I thought Akagi and Kaga already warned you."
Then her tails swayed gently behind her once more.
"Foxes are very quick when securing prey."
Her smile became slightly more mischievous afterward.
"We become very attached to the scent and taste of the one we love."
Yuuki immediately stared at her.
"…I'm starting to fear for my life."
Amagi softly laughed against his arm.
"Ufufu…"
Then gently—
"You should."
Before Yuuki could even answer—
"Commander!"
The small Sakura destroyers suddenly rushed back toward him again before immediately latching onto him from every direction possible.
Mutsuki hugged his waist.
Kisaragi clung onto one of his arms.
Uzuki attached herself behind him.
Minazuki proudly held onto his coat.
And Mikazuki quietly leaned against his side while looking half-asleep already.
Yuuki blinked slightly at the sudden ambush.
"…You five move fast."
Mutsuki grinned brightly.
"Commander is warm!"
Kisaragi nodded quickly.
"And comfy!"
Amagi softly covered her mouth while laughing nearby.
"See?"
Yuuki immediately looked suspicious.
"See what?"
Amagi's golden eyes smiled knowingly.
"Even the children like your scent."
Yuuki immediately looked defeated.
"This smell thing is becoming increasingly concerning."
The little destroyers meanwhile had already started purring softly again after Yuuki instinctively rubbed their ears.
Tiny happy noises immediately escaped the girls.
"Mmm…"
"Warm…"
"Commander good…"
Yuuki froze briefly afterward.
Then slowly—
he looked toward Amagi.
"…Why are they purring."
Amagi looked completely unsurprised.
"Because you are rubbing their ears correctly."
Yuuki blinked.
"There's a correct way?"
Amagi nodded calmly.
"Very much so."
Then her tails swayed slightly again.
"Sakura ears are sensitive."
Yuuki immediately removed his hands slightly.
"I suddenly feel like I've violated several cultural laws."
Amagi laughed softly.
"Not at all."
Then teasingly—
"In fact, you already know many of our sweet spots naturally."
Yuuki stared at her in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, WHAT."
The little destroyers continued happily melting against him anyway.
Mikazuki even leaned further into his hand while half-asleep.
"Comfy…"
Amagi smiled beautifully while watching the scene.
"Do you truly think ordinary people can make Sakura girls react this way?"
Yuuki immediately looked horrified now.
"This somehow became worse."
Amagi only laughed more softly.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Then she slowly stepped closer again.
"You instinctively know how to comfort us."
Her voice softened afterward.
"You make us feel safe."
Then her eyes drifted toward the younger destroyers happily clinging onto him.
"Even the children recognize it."
Yuuki looked down at the pile of tiny fox and animal-eared destroyers currently refusing to let him go.
Then he slowly sighed.
"…Yeah."
A pause followed.
"I'm genuinely beginning to fear for my life."
Amagi smiled warmly.
"Too late for that now."
Then softly—
"You already became precious to far too many girls."
Amagi's tails swayed slowly behind her.
"So naturally…"
Then she smiled beautifully toward him.
"I am claiming you."
"Quite bold, Lady Amagi."
A refined voice suddenly entered the conversation.
Yuuki slowly turned his head—
only to immediately spot Hood approaching gracefully nearby with a smile far too elegant to feel safe.
Amagi smiled calmly back at her.
"I am merely staking my claim as well, Lady Hood."
Then her golden eyes narrowed slightly with playful confidence.
"You may disguise your own feelings beneath etiquette and ethics lessons…"
Hood's smile sharpened beautifully.
"And you may disguise yours behind soft smiles and fluffy tails, sly fox."
"Ladies…" Yuuki immediately tried intervening. The children ran away and hide behind a tree as they sense the lightning class between the two legendary ladies.
Amagi looked completely unfazed.
"Shikikan-sama is my potential mate."
Hood immediately responded elegantly.
"And I am his lady."
Then she gracefully placed a hand over her chest.
"It is perfectly natural for a lady to remain beside her gentleman."
Yuuki looked increasingly exhausted already.
"Ladies…"
Amagi softly laughed.
"You act cute and elegant, Lady Hood…"
Then teasingly—
"But you are every bit as possessive as Akagi."
Hood's smile twitched slightly.
"And you are every bit as dangerous as your younger sisters."
"Ladies…"
The air between them grew strangely intense despite both women still smiling politely.
Yuuki finally sighed heavily before reaching upward simultaneously—
and patting both of them gently on the head.
Instantly—
both women froze.
Then melted almost immediately afterward.
Hood quietly exhaled.
"…Sigh…"
Her dangerous aura completely vanished beneath the headpat.
"This… is acceptable."
Beside her, Amagi's tails puffed slightly while her ears twitched.
"Hai…"
She leaned faintly into the touch afterward.
"We cannot resist the warmth."
Yuuki blinked slightly at how effective this technique apparently was.
Amagi sighed softly afterward.
"We also do not wish for Shikikan-sama to think poorly of us."
Hood nodded calmly beside her.
"Indeed."
Then after a brief silence—
Hood looked toward Amagi again.
"…Truce?"
Amagi smiled warmly.
"Yes."
Then more gently—
"Permanently."
Hood softly smiled back afterward.
"Very well."
Then both women simultaneously looked toward Yuuki again.
"We shall simply remain close to him together."
Yuuki immediately sensed danger again.
Amagi gently held onto one of his arms.
"Besides…"
Hood elegantly took the other side.
"We are both technically his ethics teachers."
Yuuki stared blankly ahead while trapped between a refined Royal Navy battlecruiser and an ancient fox strategist.
Then quietly—
"…Please have mercy on me."
Both women laughed softly afterward instead of answering.
The younger destroyers immediately joined the scene afterward.
Mutsuki hugged Yuuki's waist again.
Kisaragi clung onto Amagi happily.
Uzuki and Minazuki crowded around Hood while Mikazuki quietly leaned sleepily against everyone at once somehow.
The elegant Royal Navy lady and the graceful fox strategist both softened instantly seeing the children gather around them.
For a brief moment—
the atmosphere genuinely felt peaceful.
Warm.
Like a family already beginning to form around him.
And somehow—
that thought visibly crossed both women's minds too.
Amagi's expression softened almost dreamily while gently patting the younger destroyers.
Hood smiled elegantly beside her while watching Yuuki surrounded by children and shipgirls alike.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki himself looked like a man slowly realizing he had walked directly into a carefully prepared ambush.
A trap laid by a sly fox strategist and an impossibly refined Royal Navy lady.
And somehow—
both women had already established a ceasefire purely to secure him cooperatively.
"…This is terrifying," Yuuki muttered quietly.
Amagi softly laughed.
"You say that while allowing everyone to cling onto you willingly."
"That is because pushing children away would make me feel evil."
Hood smiled knowingly.
"And that kindness is exactly why girls gather around you so naturally."
Yuuki immediately looked more concerned instead of reassured.
Then, Conte di Cavour, Trento, Le Mars and Forbin approached him.
"Commander!"
"Let's explore our rooms!"
"Come with us!"
Yuuki sighed softly afterward before smiling faintly.
"Sure."
Then he looked toward Hood and Amagi.
"Shall we?"
Hood elegantly nodded.
"Yes."
Amagi smiled warmly too.
"The Eagle Union and Royal Navy girls already prepared a welcoming gathering for everyone."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"That fast?"
Hood looked entirely unsurprised.
"Once shipgirls finally reunite after ten years of isolation, celebrations become inevitable."
Then—
Hood's eyes slowly drifted toward Conte di Cavour nearby.
The Royal battlecruiser smiled beautifully.
"Oh my…"
Conte visibly stiffened immediately.
"Conte."
"Yes… Lady Hood?"
"Please attend Her Majesty's tea party this time instead of escaping halfway through again."
Her tone remained elegant.
Warm.
Refined.
And absolutely carried the message that refusal was not an option.
Conte di Cavour immediately straightened herself.
"Yes, Lady Hood."
Yuuki quietly stared at the Sardegna battleship afterward.
"…You fear her too?"
Conte answered instantly.
"Everyone fears Lady Hood when she enters lecture mode. Not even the Iron Blood dare to go against her."
Hood smiled proudly afterward.
"As they should."
Yuuki sighed quietly.
"Yep. Definitely terrifying."
==================
Inside the pagoda tower, the atmosphere had completely changed from the empty silence the void world once carried.
Now—
it was alive.
Voices echoed across the massive halls. Laughter traveled between rooms. Girls from different factions moved around together while introducing themselves, reuniting with old comrades, and exploring the place that had suddenly become their home after ten years of emptiness.
The smell of cooking filled the air strongly the moment Yuuki and the others entered the Iron Blood section.
Several shipgirls had already taken over the kitchens entirely.
Apparently, after discovering the island produced effectively unlimited ingredients and resources, the girls immediately decided to enjoy themselves properly while waiting for eventual resurrection.
If they had to spend more time in this world—
they would at least live properly while doing so.
"Tono!"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out before Yamashiro practically launched herself toward Yuuki at full speed.
Yuuki immediately caught her out of pure reflex.
"Whoa—"
Yamashiro happily wrapped herself around him while grinning brightly.
"Ehee~ Tono finally came back!"
Nearby, Fusou immediately bowed apologetically.
"Yamashiro! Please behave yourself…"
Then she sighed softly.
"I apologize for my sister again, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki smiled faintly before gently patting Fusou's head too.
"Don't worry about it."
Fusou immediately softened beneath the headpat.
"Ehee…"
Nearby, Junyou suddenly appeared next.
"Yuuki-chan!"
Then she immediately hugged him too without hesitation.
Yuuki laughed softly afterward.
"How's my wonderful friend doing?"
Junyou smiled happily while clinging onto him.
"I missed you."
Yuuki's expression softened slightly.
"I missed you too."
"Yo, Shiki!"
Hiyou casually approached next while crossing her arms with a grin.
"Looks like this place got way more crowded now."
Yuuki glanced around the massive hall afterward.
Honestly—
she was right.
The once-empty pagoda now felt more like a massive dormitory overflowing with life.
Destroyers ran through the halls.
Submarines gathered around snacks and fruits.
Royal Navy girls hosted tea tables.
Eagle Union girls loudly laughed together.
Iron Blood girls organized rooms efficiently.
The Sakura Empire girls somehow already established a comfortable living atmosphere around the tower.
And now the Sardegna, Iris Libre, and Vichya girls had joined too.
Yat Sen quietly approached afterward while observing the growing crowd calmly.
"The island feels lively now."
Her voice carried quiet warmth.
Yuuki nodded softly.
"Yeah…"
Then his eyes drifted across the room.
Girls reunited with old allies they thought they would never see again.
Destroyers introduced themselves to other factions.
Submarines awkwardly socialized outside endless lonely oceans.
Older shipgirls guided younger ones around the tower.
And for the first time in ten years—
none of them looked lonely anymore.
Even the newer arrivals slowly relaxed as the atmosphere welcomed them naturally.
Conte di Cavour quietly spoke with Hood and Queen Elizabeth.
Trento already helped carry dishes alongside Fusou.
Le Mars somehow started competing with Eagle Union girls over who could eat more fruit.
Forbin politely assisted the younger destroyers.
Meanwhile, Hornet loudly argued with Konigsberg over who had more "claim" over Yuuki while Ranger sighed in the background like a tired teacher.
Yuuki watched the scene quietly for a moment.
Then softly—
"…Yeah."
A faint smile finally appeared again.
"This place finally feels alive."
The lively hall slowly quieted down after Yuuki tapped his glass lightly for attention.
Girls from every faction gradually turned toward him.
Royal Navy.
Sakura Empire.
Eagle Union.
Iron Blood.
Sardegna Empire.
Iris Libre.
Vichya Dominion.
Even the younger destroyers stopped running around long enough to listen.
Yuuki looked across all of them quietly for a moment before finally speaking.
"You girls might be dead…"
The atmosphere softened immediately.
"But that doesn't mean it's over."
Silence filled the room afterward.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"I know ten years in this place wasn't easy."
His eyes drifted across the gathered shipgirls.
"You wandered endless oceans with nowhere to go."
"No missions."
"No home."
"No certainty that anybody would ever find you."
Several girls quietly lowered their eyes afterward.
Then Yuuki smiled faintly.
"But now we finally have somewhere we can call home."
That made many of them look around the pagoda tower again.
The warm lights.
The laughter.
The food.
The people.
Life.
Yuuki crossed his arms calmly afterward.
"Still…"
Then more firmly—
"Don't get too comfortable staying dead."
That immediately earned several surprised looks.
"Because I fully intend to bring every single one of you back."
The room grew quieter again.
Yuuki's voice remained steady.
"So wait a little longer."
"I'll recover more cubes."
"Find more survivors."
Then his expression softened slightly.
"But honestly…"
"I still hope more of your comrades are alive out there instead of trapped here."
That statement hit deeply among the older shipgirls.
Especially those still missing sisters and friends.
Then Yuuki pointed upward slightly.
"Your new home is called the Citadel."
That immediately caught their attention.
"The Citadel?" Forbin repeated softly.
Yuuki nodded.
"This tower is only the beginning."
Then a faint grin appeared on his face.
"Once the Citadel is fully completed…"
He glanced around the room.
"You girls are going to realize just how absurdly massive your future home actually is."
Several girls visibly looked excited now.
"Also…"
Yuuki added casually.
"You'll eventually have Nikkes among your ranks too."
That immediately caused confusion.
"Nikkes?" multiple girls repeated.
Yuuki nodded.
"Artificial soldiers."
Then he corrected himself.
"No… honestly calling them soldiers alone feels wrong."
His expression softened slightly.
"They're girls like you."
That made the room quieter again.
"Gun specialists."
"Not nearly as overwhelming as shipgirls on the sea…"
Then he smirked slightly.
"But on land?"
"They're terrifyingly versatile. They fight the same way shipgirls dominate naval combat."
Then Yuuki gestured toward the Nikkes nearby.
"They'll eventually become your comrades too."
That visibly eased the atmosphere among many shipgirls.
Then Yuuki raised his glass slightly afterward.
"And finally…"
He looked across every recovered shipgirl in the hall.
Royal Navy girls.
Sakura foxes.
Eagle Union veterans.
Iron Blood survivors.
Young destroyers.
Lost submarines.
Girls who spent ten years forgotten by the world.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"To all recovered shipgirls…"
Then proudly—
"Welcome to the Global Defense Initiative."
A brief pause followed.
Then naturally—
"The most powerful, advanced, and badass faction on this planet."
Several girls immediately laughed.
Others clapped.
Some looked confused.
Hood meanwhile sighed elegantly from nearby.
"My…"
Then with perfect refinement—
"You truly could have omitted the 'badass' portion."
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"No."
Hood looked deeply unsurprised.
"Belfast said the exact same thing when I brought Enterprise, Vestal and Unicorn."
"Sure she did," Amagi softly laughed nearby.
Then her tails swayed slightly.
"But her master never listens."
"Hey…"
That immediately earned several amused laughs throughout the hall.
Then Yuuki remembered something before speaking again.
"By the way…"
He glanced around the gathered shipgirls.
"I already recovered Eldridge, Nimi, Wales, Sandy, and Avrora too."
That immediately caused several reactions around the room.
"We are aware, Shikikan-sama," Amagi answered gently.
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"…You are?"
Amagi nodded softly.
"It is difficult to explain properly…"
Then Hood continued calmly beside her.
"But from this world…"
Her blue eyes drifted slightly.
"It feels as though we witnessed everything ourselves."
Yuuki looked confused now.
"Witnessed?"
Several shipgirls nodded afterward.
"Your adventures."
"The battles."
"The rescues."
"The places you traveled."
"We saw them like scenes from a film."
Yuuki stared at them quietly now.
Then Valiant softly added,
"It felt as though we were standing beside you the entire time."
The atmosphere became quieter afterward.
Yuuki slowly processed that information.
"So…"
Then he looked around the room.
"You girls have basically been watching my everyday life?"
Hiyou casually nodded.
"Pretty much, Shiki. Except the part you're in your room."
"That is horrifying."
Several girls laughed softly afterward.
Yat Sen meanwhile spoke more thoughtfully.
"It may have something to do with your connection to the Wisdom Cubes."
Yuuki crossed his arms while thinking.
"Being connected to all of you…"
Then more quietly—
"Even across this void world… but how come the live shipgirls didn't know anything? Is it affecting only deceased ones?"
Amagi nodded gently.
"Just how Wisdom Cubes truly function remains mysterious."
Then she looked toward him warmly.
"But somehow…"
"We are all connected to you now."
Yuuki slowly looked around the room afterward.
Every girl here.
Every recovered cube.
Every rescued shipgirl.
Somehow—
all linked to him through the strange system binding this world together.
Then Hood softly added,
"Everyone here except the newly arrived girls already knows the stories of your world."
Yuuki blinked.
"…The Tiberium Wars?"
Several girls nodded quietly.
"The moment you explained it to others…"
"It somehow reached us too."
"Like memories flowing through the connection."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead slightly now.
"So THAT'S how all of you already know about Tiberium."
Amagi nodded softly.
"Forgive us."
Then she smiled faintly.
"It simply happened naturally."
Yuuki sighed softly afterward.
"This cube technology becomes more terrifying the more I learn about it."
Conte di Cavour slowly folded her arms thoughtfully.
"To be connected mentally across dimensions…"
Then quietly—
"That level of technology borders on divinity."
Valiant nodded slightly nearby.
"And yet somehow…"
Her eyes drifted toward Yuuki.
"The connection centers around him."
That statement made several girls quietly glance toward Yuuki afterward.
Yuuki immediately looked uncomfortable.
"…Please don't make me sound like some chosen one."
Hornet immediately grinned from nearby.
"Too late, handsome."
Konigsberg laughed too.
"You literally built land in the afterlife."
Le Mars pointed dramatically afterward.
"And formed a multinational ghost fleet."
"Plus," Amagi softly added, "you are emotionally supporting dozens of warship girls while resisting their advances."
Hood calmly sipped her tea.
"That alone may qualify as supernatural."
Yuuki looked genuinely betrayed now.
"I am being bullied by my own fleet."
Yuuki sighed softly before casually dropping another revelation onto the room.
"Honestly, reviving you girls became even more necessary now."
Several shipgirls looked toward him curiously.
"Why?" Kinugasa asked.
Yuuki pointed lightly toward his own head.
"Because apparently you girls can observe my life while dead…"
Then he crossed his arms.
"And I can basically read all of you whenever I directly touch your cubes."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"…You can WHAT?" several older shipgirls immediately reacted at once.
Yuuki blinked slightly at their sudden reactions.
"Read you?"
That only made things worse.
The older shipgirls immediately stiffened.
Several visibly blushed.
Others looked completely caught off guard.
Even Hood paused mid-tea sip.
Amagi's ears twitched sharply.
Queen Elizabeth immediately turned red.
Yuuki meanwhile looked increasingly confused by the escalating panic.
"Wait, why are all of you reacting like this?"
"Ara…" Amagi softly covered part of her face while smiling knowingly. "So Shikikan-sama truly knows quite a lot about us now."
Yuuki immediately waved his hands slightly.
"Not everything. Just important ones."
Then more seriously—
"Only information necessary for understanding your situation."
That explanation somehow did not help at all.
Hood slowly lowered her teacup afterward before elegantly smiling toward him.
"…So kind sir has already seen through me."
Yuuki looked deeply concerned hearing her use that tone.
Then Hood smiled beautifully.
"That simply means we must watch over you even more closely now."
Yuuki immediately sensed danger again.
Amagi gently held his arm afterward while smiling teasingly.
"Ara… openly reading me like a book…"
Then her tails swayed slowly behind her.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly with amusement.
"Aren't you going to take responsibility for that?"
Yuuki immediately looked betrayed.
"How did this somehow become MY fault?"
"Hahaha!" Hornet loudly laughed nearby before throwing an arm around him again.
"Too late now, handsome!"
Then she grinned proudly.
"He already read me too, and I don't mind."
Then she pointed at herself dramatically.
"I'm already his gal anyway!"
Yuuki rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"Please stop declaring things publicly."
Nearby, Yat Sen softly smiled while resting her chin against her hand.
"Ah…"
Her voice carried quiet teasing.
"So the Commander has already seen the thoughts of a broken woman like me."
Yuuki immediately pointed at her.
"You are NOT broken."
Yat Sen's expression softened slightly afterward.
Then teasingly—
"Would you still be willing to take me with you after seeing everything?"
Yuuki immediately realized every older shipgirl in the room was now staring directly at him.
"This is a trap."
Queen Elizabeth suddenly stood up dramatically afterward while blushing fiercely.
"You…"
She pointed accusingly toward Yuuki.
"Who gave you permission to read your queen like that?!"
Yuuki immediately defended himself.
"I didn't exactly do it intentionally!"
Elizabeth turned even redder.
"You… you…"
Then dramatically—
"You must take responsibility for reading your queen!"
The room immediately erupted into reactions afterward.
Valiant looked scandalized.
Warspite quietly covered her face.
Hornet nearly fell over laughing.
Konigsberg outright collapsed onto the table dramatically.
Even Conte failed to maintain composure entirely as she quietly coughed into her hand to hide amusement.
Yuuki himself looked completely exhausted now.
"Ah man…"
Then he pointed helplessly toward the girls.
"Why does everything somehow become romantic with all of you?"
Amagi smiled knowingly.
"Because feelings become difficult to hide when somebody already understands your heart."
Hood elegantly nodded beside her.
"And because most of the girls here already treasure you deeply."
Yuuki looked genuinely doomed now.
"I walked into a fleet-sized emotional minefield."
Fusou and Yamashiro quietly blushed alongside the others.
Because unlike before—
Yuuki now understood them far more deeply than ordinary introductions allowed.
Their fears.
Their regrets.
Their loneliness during those ten empty years.
And just as importantly—
their feelings.
Which meant Yuuki currently stood in an extremely dangerous situation surrounded by emotionally attached shipgirls from multiple nations.
Then suddenly—
his body began glowing faintly.
Yuuki immediately looked relieved.
"Saved by the glow."
Apparently his body in the real world was beginning to wake up again.
Unfortunately—
Amagi immediately held onto his arm tighter.
"That will not happen for another few seconds, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki looked horrified.
"My kind sir…"
Hood smiled beautifully beside him.
"Are you attempting to escape your lady again?"
"I am attempting to survive."
That immediately caused several girls to laugh softly.
Then Hood's expression softened slightly afterward.
"All jokes aside…"
The atmosphere gradually became gentler.
"We truly owe you a great debt."
Amagi nodded quietly beside her.
"You saved us."
"You gathered us together again."
"You gave us a home after ten years of wandering."
Then her golden eyes softened warmly.
"We can now peacefully await resurrection."
Several girls quietly nodded afterward.
"We shall leave the opportunities in the living world to the others first."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"…Opportunities?"
Amagi stared at him for several seconds.
Then sighed softly.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Her tails swayed slowly behind her.
"For a high commander, you are occasionally very dense."
The other girls immediately nodded in agreement.
Yuuki looked completely confused.
"What did I do now?"
Before anybody answered—
Fusou and Yamashiro suddenly hugged him gently from behind together.
Yuuki blinked in surprise.
Then softly—
"For rescuing Kinugasa and the others…"
The two sisters simultaneously kissed his cheeks gently.
Yuuki froze immediately.
Then Hornet immediately jumped in next.
"For rescuing Teach Langley!"
She shamelessly kissed his other cheek while grinning proudly afterward.
Valiant elegantly stepped forward next while trying very hard to maintain royal dignity.
"A reward for my attendant…"
Then slightly softer—
"For rescuing the children of the Royal Navy."
She kissed his forehead quickly afterward before immediately turning red and walking away with pride barely intact.
Then Konigsberg suddenly leaned directly into his side afterward.
"And this one…"
She smiled mischievously.
"For rescuing my little sharks and Leipzig."
Then she kissed his cheek too before grinning toward the embarrassed cruiser nearby.
"Trust me, Leipzig wanted to do it too."
Leipzig immediately turned bright red.
"E-Eeep?! N-No I didn't!"
Konigsberg looked entirely unconvinced.
Yuuki himself meanwhile looked spiritually defeated.
Then his glow intensified further.
"Please…"
He looked toward the ceiling desperately.
"Take me away from this place."
The girls immediately burst into laughter afterward.
And before another shipgirl could claim a "reward" too—
Yuuki finally disappeared in a flash of light.
Silence lingered briefly afterward.
Then Hornet laughed first.
"Hahaha! Handsome looked completely overwhelmed."
Amagi softly covered her mouth while smiling beautifully.
"For such a capable commander…"
Her ears twitched slightly.
"His reactions are unexpectedly adorable."
Hood calmly sipped her tea afterward.
"Yes."
Then with elegant amusement—
"Quite dangerously adorable."