High above the clouds stood a quiet mountain village.
At first glance, it appeared peaceful.
Simple homes.
Stone pathways.
Small gardens.
The distant sound of wind chimes dancing in the breeze.
A place untouched by war.
Untouched by suffering.
Yet the truth was far crueler.
This was not a village.
It was a prison.
A prison disguised as paradise.
The people trapped here could eat.
Sleep.
Talk.
Laugh.
Live.
Yet no matter how far they walked, they could never leave.
Beyond the village lay only fog.
Endless fog.
A white wall that stretched forever.
Those who entered never returned.
Those who tried to escape always found themselves back where they started.
And so the prisoners remained.
Waiting.
For days.
Weeks.
Months.
Perhaps longer.
Even time itself felt distorted here.
Beneath a lone tree overlooking the village sat a woman quietly playing a flute.
The melody was beautiful.
Yet sorrowful.
Every note carried loneliness.
Longing.
Hope that refused to die.
The silver-haired woman slowly lowered the instrument.
"Shoukaku-nee?"
A familiar voice approached.
"I brought you something to eat."
Shoukaku turned.
Her silver hair flowed down to her waist, swaying gently in the mountain breeze.
Her blue eyes softened immediately.
"Thank you, Zuikaku."
The younger carrier sat beside her.
For a few moments neither spoke.
The flute rested across Shoukaku's lap.
The mountain wind filled the silence.
Eventually Zuikaku spoke.
Her voice quieter than usual.
"Shoukaku-nee..."
The older sister already knew what was coming.
"How long have we been here?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
Zuikaku looked toward the fog surrounding the village.
"Weeks?"
Another pause.
"Months?"
Her hands tightened slightly around the food basket.
"We can't leave."
"The fog always brings us back."
Her golden brownish eyes lowered.
"How much longer do we have to stay trapped here?"
Shoukaku closed her eyes.
The question had no answer.
Not one she could give.
"I don't know."
The admission hurt.
Because she truly didn't know.
Days blurred together.
Sometimes months felt like hours.
Sometimes a single day felt endless.
Nothing here followed reason.
Nothing followed reality.
Then Zuikaku looked toward her sister.
A spark of hope appeared.
Small.
Fragile.
Yet still there.
"Do you think it's true?"
Shoukaku looked up.
"Mm?"
Zuikaku hesitated.
"Today."
"The voice said today."
The older carrier immediately understood.
The voice.
Two days ago.
The voice that somehow reached this prison.
The voice that shouldn't have been able to reach them at all.
Yet did.
The voice that felt warm.
Real.
Alive.
Zuikaku tilted her head.
"Is today really the day we're finally free?"
Silence followed.
Then Shoukaku smiled.
A genuine smile.
Small.
But real.
"If what Shikikan-sama said is true..."
The title left her lips naturally.
Without hesitation.
Without embarrassment.
Zuikaku immediately noticed.
Her eyes widened.
"Already calling him Shikikan?"
Shoukaku's cheeks gained the faintest hint of color.
Yet she didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The answer came surprisingly quickly.
The crane carrier looked toward the sky.
Toward somewhere beyond the prison.
Beyond the fog.
Beyond this false world.
"The voice was warm."
Her fingers gently tightened around her flute.
"Comforting."
Another pause.
"Convincing."
The smile returned.
"My heart told me he was sincere."
Zuikaku stared.
Shoukaku wasn't someone who trusted easily.
Yet she sounded completely certain.
"He promised to come."
The silver-haired carrier closed her eyes.
"And for some reason..."
Her hand rested over her chest.
"I believe him."
The younger carrier looked away.
Toward the village.
Toward the people trapped here with them.
Toward the endless fog.
"For months..."
Zuikaku spoke softly.
"It felt like time was passing too quickly."
A strange expression crossed her face.
"But these last two days..."
She laughed quietly.
"...felt longer than all the others."
Shoukaku nodded.
Because she understood exactly what Zuikaku meant.
For the first time since arriving here—
They were waiting for something.
For someone.
For hope.
And hope had a strange way of slowing time.
Far beyond the fog.
Far beyond their prison.
Far beyond the mountain.
A fleet was already preparing to move.
Neither sister knew it.
But the man whose voice had reached them was already coming.
And this time—
The promise would be kept.
"Yo! You two."
Two familiar figures approached the crane sisters.
Both wore the same onsen-style attire as everyone else trapped within the village.
Both had long since accepted that this strange place offered no escape.
At least—
Until recently.
"Hiryuu..."
Zuikaku greeted.
The white-haired carrier scratched the back of her head.
A grin appeared despite the circumstances.
Beside her, Souryuu adjusted her glasses.
"Shoukaku."
The dark blue-haired carrier nodded politely.
The four carriers gathered beneath the tree.
For a brief moment nobody spoke.
The mountain wind drifted through the branches overhead.
Then Hiryuu broke the silence.
"So."
She folded her arms.
"Today's finally the day, huh?"
Zuikaku looked toward her.
"The day we're free?"
Hiryuu shrugged.
"Hopefully."
The rabbit-eared carrier sat down nearby.
"I mean, everyone's acting like it is."
Souryuu nodded.
"People have been preparing since sunrise."
The bespectacled carrier looked toward the village below.
The village was enormous.
Far too large for its population.
Rows of houses stood empty.
Entire streets saw no footsteps.
A marketplace built for hundreds remained silent.
Yet despite its size—
Only sixteen people lived here.
Sixteen prisoners.
Sixteen souls trapped within the fog.
For the first time in months—
There was movement.
Excitement.
Expectation.
All sixteen were awake.
Talking.
Smiling.
Gathering supplies.
Watching the fog.
Waiting.
Everyone was waiting.
Zuikaku looked surprised.
"Everyone trusts the voice that much?"
Hiryuu laughed.
"What choice do we have?"
A blunt answer.
But an honest one.
The carrier leaned back against the tree.
"Any hope is still hope."
Her grin faded slightly.
"Honestly?"
A pause.
"I figured we'd never get out of here."
Nobody disagreed.
Because they had all thought the same thing.
Weeks became months.
Months became...
Something else.
Time barely had meaning anymore.
The village remained unchanged.
The fog remained unchanged.
Nothing ever happened.
Until two days ago.
Souryuu adjusted her glasses again.
A habit she had developed whenever she was thinking.
"I thought the voice was joking."
The carrier looked toward Shoukaku.
"Or perhaps another trick."
Another pause.
"But if we can finally leave..."
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Everyone understood.
The thought alone felt unreal.
Then Hiryuu pointed toward Shoukaku.
"Plus."
The white-haired carrier smirked.
"We haven't heard a single voice in months."
"Then suddenly one starts talking to Shoukaku."
Zuikaku immediately nodded.
"And everybody just springs into action."
The rabbit-eared carrier laughed.
"Exactly!"
Souryuu couldn't help smiling.
"It was strange."
The carrier looked toward the village.
"There are only sixteen of us here."
"Yet after hearing that voice, it felt like the entire village came alive."
"People who barely spoke to one another started talking."
"Those who had given up started making plans."
"Even the atmosphere changed."
Her gaze returned to Shoukaku.
"And all because of a voice."
The silver-haired carrier remained quiet.
Her fingers rested upon the flute in her lap.
The others noticed.
"You're smiling again."
Zuikaku pointed accusingly.
Shoukaku immediately blinked.
"Am I?"
"Aye."
Hiryuu nodded.
"You've been doing that for two days."
Souryuu adjusted her glasses.
"More than usual."
The older crane's cheeks gained the faintest hint of color.
The others immediately noticed.
Zuikaku's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Hiryuu pointed.
"Oh."
Souryuu looked amused.
"Oh."
Shoukaku sighed.
"I dislike all of you."
That only made them laugh harder.
Eventually Hiryuu calmed down.
Though the grin remained.
"Still."
The carrier looked toward the endless fog surrounding the village.
"I hope he's real."
The laughter faded.
The mood became quieter.
More thoughtful.
Souryuu nodded.
"Aye."
Zuikaku looked toward the sky.
"I hope he's coming."
Then all three looked toward Shoukaku.
The silver-haired carrier remained silent for several moments.
Then she smiled.
Not uncertain.
Not hopeful.
Certain.
"My heart tells me he is."
The answer surprised them.
Because Shoukaku was not someone who spoke so confidently without reason.
The older crane slowly stood.
Flute still in hand.
The mountain wind stirred her silver hair.
"He promised."
The words were simple.
Yet carried absolute trust.
"And for some reason..."
A small smile appeared.
"I believe him."
The others exchanged looks.
Then smiled as well.
Because whether it was logic.
Whether it was instinct.
Whether it was desperation.
They all wanted to believe too.
"Oh, everyone's here..."
A familiar voice called out from the path leading toward the tree.
The four carriers turned.
Pennsylvania was approaching alongside Arizona.
The two Eagle Union battleships carried the same simple village clothing as everyone else, long since worn from months of use.
Not that they had much choice.
Nothing new ever appeared in this place.
Nothing changed.
Nothing moved forward.
Until recently.
"Sis Penn!"
Zuikaku immediately waved.
"Ari-chan is here too!"
Arizona smiled softly.
Her gentle expression hadn't changed despite everything.
Though the faint exhaustion in her eyes remained.
Not physical exhaustion.
The exhaustion of waiting.
Of uncertainty.
Of wondering whether anyone would ever find them.
Pennsylvania sat down nearby.
The battleship glanced around the group.
Then smirked.
"Heh."
The others looked at her.
"What?"
Hiryuu asked.
Pennsylvania pointed directly at the crane sisters.
"You two have been smiling for the past two days."
Zuikaku immediately looked away.
Shoukaku coughed politely.
Arizona giggled.
The reaction alone was answer enough.
"Of course."
Pennsylvania folded her arms.
"It's not every day we get told we're finally getting out of here."
The words drew quiet nods from everyone.
Because despite all their caution.
Despite all their doubts.
The thought had rooted itself firmly inside their hearts.
Freedom.
The possibility alone was enough.
Arizona sat beside Pennsylvania.
Her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Then she smiled.
A warm.
Gentle smile.
"For some reason..."
The battleship looked toward the fog surrounding the village.
"I've been really happy these last two days."
Nobody laughed.
Nobody teased her.
Because they felt exactly the same.
Even Hiryuu.
Even Souryuu.
Even Pennsylvania.
The mood throughout the village had completely changed.
People were talking again.
Laughing again.
Planning again.
For months they had simply existed.
Now they were living.
Because for the first time—
There was a future worth thinking about.
Pennsylvania looked toward the distant fog.
Then shook her head.
"You know what's funny?"
The group looked toward her.
"I don't even know what this commander's face looks like."
A few chuckles followed.
"Same."
Hiryuu laughed.
"All we've heard is a voice."
Souryuu nodded.
"A surprisingly persuasive voice."
Zuikaku grinned.
"A warm voice."
Arizona smiled.
"A kind voice."
Then everyone looked toward Shoukaku.
The silver-haired carrier immediately realized she was being cornered.
Again.
"What?"
Pennsylvania smirked.
"You probably know him best."
"I spoke to him once."
"Longer than any of us."
"That doesn't count."
"It absolutely counts."
The battleship looked entirely unconvinced.
The others immediately agreed.
Even Arizona.
To Shoukaku's growing embarrassment.
Finally Hiryuu laughed.
"Well."
The rabbit-eared carrier stretched.
"If he's willing to rescue sixteen complete strangers from whatever this place is..."
Her grin softened.
"I think I'd like to meet him."
The others nodded.
One by one.
Quietly.
Because that feeling had spread throughout the village.
Trust.
Not blind trust.
Not desperate trust.
Something stranger.
The certainty that the voice belonged to someone who genuinely intended to keep his promise.
The mountain wind drifted through the tree branches once more.
The fog remained.
The prison remained.
Yet somehow—
It no longer felt endless.
Before anyone could continue the conversation, two more figures approached from the village path.
"Ah, you won't mind if we join you, dear Elders."
A gentle voice called out.
Shoukaku immediately sighed.
Not this again.
Centaur arrived first, carrying a small basket in her hands.
Beside her walked Albion.
The two Royal Navy light carriers were among the sixteen prisoners trapped within the village.
Like everyone else, they had spent months waiting for something to change.
"Centaur."
Zuikaku greeted.
The blonde carrier smiled brightly.
"Good morning, Elder Zuikaku."
A vein appeared on Zuikaku's forehead.
"Stop."
Centaur blinked.
"Hm?"
"With."
Another twitch.
"The elder thing."
Shoukaku immediately nodded.
"Aye."
The silver-haired crane rubbed her forehead.
"We're not that old."
Centaur tilted her head innocently.
"But you are my Elders."
"That isn't helping."
The carrier looked genuinely confused.
Albion immediately sighed.
"That's my sister."
The silver-haired Royal carrier moved beside Centaur.
"She's kind."
A pause.
"Respectful."
Another pause.
"Far too respectful."
Centaur puffed her cheeks slightly.
"I am merely showing proper etiquette."
"You're making them feel ancient."
The blonde elf immediately looked horrified.
"I would never!"
That only made everyone laugh.
Even Shoukaku.
The mood beneath the tree grew lighter.
A welcome change from the endless monotony of the village.
Eventually Centaur sat beside the others.
Her eyes wandered toward the surrounding fog.
Then back toward the group.
A hopeful smile appeared.
"Everyone seems happier today."
Nobody disagreed.
The difference was obvious.
Two days ago the village had been quiet.
Silent.
Resigned.
Today felt different.
Alive.
Albion nodded.
"Aye."
The Royal carrier glanced toward the village.
All sixteen residents had felt the change.
"For the first time in months, people are talking about the future again."
"Making plans."
"Thinking about what they'll do once they're free."
Hiryuu chuckled.
"As if we're all expecting guests."
That earned several smiles.
Because in a way—
They were.
Centaur folded her hands in her lap.
A thoughtful expression appearing.
"Do you truly believe he will come?"
The question silenced the group.
Not because they hadn't considered it.
But because everyone had.
Repeatedly.
The carrier looked toward Shoukaku.
The same way everyone else eventually did.
Because somehow—
The silver-haired crane had become the center of their hope.
Shoukaku remained quiet for a few moments.
The flute rested against her shoulder.
The mountain wind brushed through her hair.
Then she smiled.
The same confident smile she had worn for two days.
"Aye."
The answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
Centaur blinked.
"That certain?"
"Aye."
The older crane nodded.
"He sounded like someone who keeps his promises."
Albion smiled softly.
"Then I hope you're right."
Zuikaku crossed her arms.
"He'll come."
The younger crane's confidence surprised even herself.
Yet she meant every word.
Souryuu adjusted her glasses.
"Hm."
Hiryuu grinned.
"Look at that."
The rabbit-eared carrier pointed.
"Now you're doing it too."
"Doing what?"
"The smiling thing."
Zuikaku immediately froze.
Everyone noticed.
Then everyone laughed.
Again.
For a few precious moments—
The prison didn't feel like a prison.
The fog didn't seem so oppressive.
The waiting didn't seem so endless.
"Ah, the children are here."
A warm, amused voice drifted toward the group.
Several of the carriers turned.
More figures were approaching from the village.
Unlike before, however, these newcomers carried an entirely different atmosphere.
One of them smiled gently as she approached.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Motherly.
As though she were looking upon a gathering of children rather than fellow prisoners.
"Mother."
Pennsylvania immediately greeted.
Friedrich der Große smiled.
"My children."
The Iron Blood battleship settled beneath the tree with surprising elegance despite the simple clothing everyone wore within the village.
Months of imprisonment had done little to diminish her presence.
If anything—
It merely made her seem more approachable.
Pennsylvania chuckled.
"Centaur makes us feel old."
She gestured toward the Royal carrier.
"And now the old make us feel young."
That earned laughter from several people.
Even Friedrich covered her mouth politely.
Arizona couldn't help giggling.
"Pff..."
The gentle battleship shook her head.
"Centaur really does insist on calling everyone older than her an Elder."
Centaur immediately straightened.
"It is proper etiquette."
"You're twenty seconds away from calling Friedrich 'Great Elder.'"
Hiryuu pointed out.
Centaur looked thoughtful.
That reaction alone terrified everyone.
"Please don't."
Albion immediately intervened.
The group laughed again.
Then another voice joined the conversation.
A voice carrying significantly less warmth.
"For imprisoning a demon here..."
A red-haired woman folded her arms.
"This place is remarkably unsettling."
Several heads turned.
Hindenburg stood nearby.
Her crimson eyes scanned the village.
The empty streets.
The silent houses.
The endless fog.
Her expression remained unimpressed.
Zuikaku sighed.
"There she goes again."
Pennsylvania chuckled.
"Hindenburg."
The Iron Blood cruiser looked toward them.
"What?"
"You are not a demon."
The response came from Friedrich.
Calm.
Patient.
Motherly.
The same tone she had used countless times before.
Hindenburg stared at her.
Then folded her arms tighter.
"Mother."
Her answer was immediate.
"I am a demon."
Friedrich sighed.
The others prepared themselves.
They had heard this conversation before.
Many times.
"A terrifying one."
Hindenburg continued proudly.
"A dangerous one."
"An unstoppable one."
"One who shall eventually meet the contract binder and finalize our sacred contract."
Silence.
Friedrich closed her eyes.
"Yes."
A pause.
"Yes, dear."
Another pause.
"You are a demon."
The answer was delivered with the patience of someone who had long ago accepted reality.
At least her version of reality.
Then another voice suddenly appeared.
Far louder.
Far more dramatic.
"Demon?!"
Several people winced.
Because they already knew who it was.
A pink-haired battleship practically burst into the gathering.
"Witch!"
She dramatically pointed toward herself.
"They imprisoned a witch here!"
Mecklenburg struck a pose.
Nobody knew why.
Nobody ever knew why.
The pose changed nothing.
Yet she committed fully to it.
"When I escape this accursed prison—"
The pose became even more dramatic.
"—I shall unleash vengeance upon those who dared imprison me!"
Several people looked away.
Second-hand embarrassment was a powerful force.
Mecklenburg wasn't finished.
"Then!"
Another pose.
"I shall seek the great wizard!"
Silence.
"The one with the flying broomsticks!"
Even Hindenburg looked confused.
"What wizard?"
"The Commander."
Several people immediately nodded.
They knew exactly who she was talking about.
"What?"
Mecklenburg blinked.
"The wizard."
"Mecklenburg."
Zuikaku rubbed her forehead.
"You're talking about the Commander."
"The Commander Wizard."
"He's not a wizard."
"He flies around on broomsticks."
"Those are devices, he told us two days ago."
"Wizard aircraft."
"That explains nothing."
"It explains everything."
Friedrich pinched the bridge of her nose.
Pennsylvania looked toward Arizona.
Arizona was already trying not to laugh.
Failing.
Badly.
Finally Zuikaku sighed.
A long.
Exhausted sigh.
"We have a self-proclaimed demon."
She pointed toward Hindenburg.
Then toward Mecklenburg.
"And a self-proclaimed witch."
Another sigh.
"Why are these two our fellow prisoners?"
Hiryuu immediately answered.
"To keep things interesting."
"That's somehow worse."
The rabbit-eared carrier laughed.
The others joined in shortly afterward.
Even Friedrich smiled.
Even Hindenburg looked mildly amused.
Even Mecklenburg seemed pleased.
"It seems that everyone is in a good mood today." Friedrich spoke.
Yes, its the day the commander promised us."
"Hmm?" Shoukaku tilted her head.
"Where are the Nikkes?"
"Those girls?" Souryuu asked.
Before anyone could answer, a familiar voice called out from the village path.
"Hey, everyone... sorry!" Emma waved apologetically as she approached. "We had trouble dragging Eunhwa out."
"Don't blame me!" Eunhwa snapped immediately.
Beside her, Vesti visibly flinched.
A moment later, her eyes began to water.
"Hey, you just made Vesti cry again."
Emma sighed.
"Can't help it if she's a crybaby."
"Oh, shut it, you sourpuss," Emma teased.
"Sourpuss?!"
Several shipgirls exchanged amused glances.
Emma merely shrugged.
"Keep that attitude up, and they might just leave you here."
"What?!"
Eunhwa immediately looked toward the gathered shipgirls.
Then she clicked her tongue.
As much as she hated admitting it, Emma wasn't wrong.
These were shipgirls.
Beings far stronger than ordinary humans—and stronger than Nikkes as well.
Eunhwa still remembered getting punched by Hindenburg after mouthing off one too many times when they first met.
The memory alone made her jaw tighten.
She had learned a valuable lesson that day.
Especially toward the Iron Blood. To many shipgirls, they were the true successors and conquerors of the seas—living warships whose power had reshaped history. Nikkes, in comparison, were often dismissed as mass-produced artificial soldiers, cheap replacements created to fill a role that shipgirls had once dominated.
The most disastrous incident had involved Hindenburg.
It had begun when Eunhwa, frustrated by the constant failures of the Commanders and the inability of many shipgirls to achieve meaningful victories during the last war, started openly dismissing them. What began as criticism quickly turned into insults. She mocked failed Commanders, belittled shipgirls who had given up hope, and questioned the worth of those who had accomplished nothing despite their reputations.
The remarks angered many of the prisoners.
Most chose to ignore her.
Some argued back.
Others simply walked away.
Eunhwa seemed to take particular pleasure in provoking them. She mocked their defeats, ridiculed their imprisonment, and dismissed their accomplishments as meaningless. Not even their former commander was spared from her scorn, as she openly questioned his decisions and belittled the loyalty many of them still held for him.
Hindenburg did not.
The Iron Blood cruiser had tolerated the complaints at first, but when Eunhwa began insulting the gathered shipgirls as little more than failures and burdens—and continued mocking even the late commander they respected—Hindenburg's patience finally snapped.
What started as a heated argument quickly escalated into a confrontation.
Then Hindenburg punched her.
The strike had not been intended to kill. In Hindenburg's mind, it had merely been a lesson. Unfortunately, Hindenburg was a Decisive-class shipgirl whose combat capabilities far exceeded those of ordinary shipgirls. The difference in strength was overwhelming. A Decisive ship existed in an entirely different league—easily capable of overpowering multiple standard shipgirls, let alone an ordinary human mind trapped within a mental construct.
The impact shattered the illusion surrounding Eunhwa, sending cracks through her mind prison and nearly causing a complete collapse of the dreamscape.
Had Friedrich der Große not intervened immediately and restrained Hindenburg, the consequences could have been catastrophic. The damage to Eunhwa's psyche might have become irreversible, leaving her trapped within the ruins of her own mental world—or worse. Even now, the memory of that encounter remained vivid, serving as a harsh reminder that many of the prisoners gathered in the village were not merely eccentric women, but beings possessing enough power to level fleets and reshape battlefields.
When Emma brought Eunhwa and Vesti over, none of the shipgirls dismissed them.
The incident from months ago had long since been brushed aside as nothing more than a terrible first impression.
Time had a way of softening old grudges.
Especially when everyone was trapped in the same prison.
Since then, Eunhwa had largely stopped badmouthing the others.
Partly because she had matured.
Mostly because she had learned exactly how outnumbered she was.
Picking a fight with sixteen shipgirls at once was not a battle she intended to repeat.
"Ah, I'm glad you've decided to join us."
Friedrich smiled warmly.
The Iron Blood battleship's motherly demeanor immediately put Emma at ease.
Emma smiled back.
"I must admit, I'm still amazed by how tall you are, Miss Friedrich."
Friedrich laughed softly.
"Just call me Mother, dear."
"It's still a little strange, though..."
Emma scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Before Friedrich could respond, her golden eyes shifted elsewhere.
"Eunhwa?"
The Nikke immediately stiffened.
Everyone looked toward her.
Eunhwa scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Then sighed.
"...Hey, Mom."
Silence.
Then—
Several shipgirls immediately burst into giggles.
Even Arizona covered her mouth.
Pennsylvania nearly laughed aloud.
Friedrich simply smiled.
A genuinely pleased smile.
"My, my."
The battleship looked delighted.
"It seems Eunhwa has changed."
"Tsk..."
Eunhwa immediately looked away.
The tips of her ears turning red.
Emma folded her arms.
"She's not the prick she used to be."
"Emma."
Eunhwa immediately groaned.
"What?"
The Nikke smirked.
"You were."
"Emma."
The warning became sharper.
Before the argument could continue, another voice joined in.
"Hm."
Hindenburg crossed her arms.
Her crimson eyes studied Eunhwa.
"Are you well?"
The question surprised several people.
Including Eunhwa.
"...Yeah."
The answer came after a brief pause.
"Good."
That was all Hindenburg said.
As though the matter was settled.
Emma, however, wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.
The Nikke immediately pointed between them.
"To think you once punched her."
Several people winced at the memory.
Even now it remained infamous within the village.
Hindenburg looked entirely unrepentant.
"She needed it."
"That's true."
Vesti nodded unexpectedly.
Everyone turned toward the timid Nikke.
Vesti immediately shrank under the attention.
But she still continued.
"That was the reality check Eunhwa needed."
"Vesti."
Eunhwa stared in disbelief.
The shy girl flinched.
Then hid behind Emma.
But she didn't take it back.
Which somehow made it even worse.
Emma immediately grinned.
"See?"
"Even Vesti agrees."
"Traitor."
"I'm not a traitor."
"You absolutely are."
The two Nikkes continued bickering.
Meanwhile Friedrich watched the exchange with quiet amusement.
The same was true for Pennsylvania.
Arizona.
Shoukaku.
Even Hindenburg.
Months ago, this gathering would have been impossible.
Arguments.
Distrust.
Factional disputes.
Everyone had carried their own baggage.
Now?
Now they sat beneath the same tree.
Laughing together.
Waiting together.
Hoping together.
And for perhaps the first time since arriving in this prison—
They looked less like strangers.
And more like a family waiting to go home.
"What? It's true."
Vesti looked genuinely confused by Eunhwa's reaction.
"You're not as grumpy as you used to be."
The shy Nikke fidgeted with her fingers.
"You're more approachable now."
A small smile appeared.
"Like you were once when..."
Then she froze.
The smile faded.
"...Well."
Vesti lowered her gaze.
"Since Rapi, of course."
The moment Rapi's name was mentioned—
Eunhwa fell silent.
The atmosphere around the group shifted slightly.
Several shipgirls noticed immediately.
Friedrich's golden eyes softened.
The Iron Blood battleship spoke gently.
"I am sure she had her reasons, child."
Eunhwa didn't respond.
Friedrich continued.
"You told me the story once."
A warm smile appeared.
"Why not tell the others?"
The battleship folded her hands in her lap.
"It may ease your heart."
Silence lingered for several moments.
Then Eunhwa sighed.
A long.
Tired sigh.
"She did have her reasons."
The answer came quietly.
"But..."
Her eyes lowered.
"It's not easy for me to accept."
The others listened.
None interrupted.
"I spent years hating her. Ten years to be exact."
A bitter laugh escaped her.
"Yet all these months trapped in here gave me time to think."
Another pause.
"When I look back..."
The Nikke rubbed the back of her neck.
"I always treated her as a fellow Nikke."
"A squadmate."
"A friend."
Her voice softened.
"And I never realized what she was going through."
That immediately caught the attention of the shipgirls.
Shoukaku tilted her head.
"Rapi?"
The crane carrier looked surprised.
"You never told us about her."
Eunhwa groaned.
"If Vesti hadn't brought her up just now, I wouldn't have."
That earned a small giggle from Arizona.
Even Hiryuu looked curious.
Eventually Eunhwa relented.
"Fine."
She crossed her arms.
"Rapi was once a member of Absolute. Member of our squad."
Emma nodded.
Vesti nodded.
The three of them knew the story well.
"It was me."
"Emma."
"Vesti."
"And Rapi."
The Nikke's expression became distant.
Remembering.
"Despite being a relatively new squad, Absolute rose through the ranks quickly."
"Pushing harder than anyone."
"Winning operation after operation."
Her voice carried unmistakable pride.
"We became Elysion's finest."
Emma smiled slightly.
Vesti nodded proudly.
Even now, they remembered those days.
Then Eunhwa laughed quietly.
A sad laugh.
"I was particularly fond of Rapi."
That admission surprised nobody.
Not Emma.
Not Vesti.
Not even Friedrich.
Eunhwa continued.
"I used to call her my perfect partner."
A small smile appeared.
"With Rapi beside me, I genuinely believed surface reclamation was only a matter of time."
The others listened quietly.
For the first time, they were hearing a side of Eunhwa few ever saw.
Not the strict leader.
Not the sharp-tongued officer.
Just someone remembering an old friend.
"Rapi transferred into Absolute because she wanted to."
The smile slowly faded.
"And because of someone she admired."
The Nikke's gaze drifted toward the fog.
"Red Hood."
Several shipgirls exchanged glances.
The name meant little to them.
But the weight behind it was obvious.
"Rapi admired her."
"More than anyone."
Eunhwa spoke softly.
"She wanted to become her successor."
"To carry on her mission."
"To become a Goddess of Victory."
The title hung in the air.
Powerful.
Idealistic.
Hopeful.
"She believed Absolute would be the comrades she'd walk beside."
The same way Red Hood once fought beside Goddess.
Then the smile vanished completely.
The memory darkened.
"Everything changed during a mission."
The group became quiet.
"A mission involving five Tyrant-class Raptures."
Several of the shipgirls frowned.
Even they could tell that wasn't a simple operation.
Eunhwa nodded.
"It should have been a victory."
Another pause.
"But one of Rapi's attacks..."
Her voice lowered.
"Accidentally killed a human."
Silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The village suddenly felt much quieter.
Eunhwa continued.
"She was horrified."
"Not because the person died."
The Nikke clenched her fists.
"But because all she felt was annoyance."
The group stared.
"Annoyance that she'd have to write the report."
The realization had shaken Rapi far more than the accident itself.
"It broke something inside her."
The words came slowly.
Carefully.
"She realized she wasn't becoming Red Hood."
"She wasn't becoming a Goddess of Victory."
"She wasn't following in anyone's footsteps."
A bitter smile appeared.
"She thought she had been pretending."
"Playing hero."
"Using Absolute as props in some fantasy."
Emma lowered her gaze.
Vesti did the same.
The wound still hurt.
Even after all this time.
"The shame consumed her."
Eunhwa looked toward the sky.
"And eventually..."
Her voice became almost a whisper.
"She resigned."
No warning.
No discussion.
No argument.
Just gone.
The memory still stung.
"She left quietly."
"Left abruptly."
"Left all of us behind."
For the first time, genuine pain crossed Eunhwa's face.
Not anger.
Not bitterness.
Heartbreak.
"It shocked the squad."
A humorless laugh escaped her.
"And in my case..."
She closed her eyes.
"It felt like betrayal."
Silence followed.
No one rushed to answer.
No one rushed to judge.
Because for the first time—
They understood.
Not why Eunhwa had been angry.
But why she had been hurt.
Eunhwa remained silent for a moment.
The others waited.
No one interrupted her.
No one rushed her.
Eventually, she spoke again.
"She had a crisis."
The Nikke stared toward the fog surrounding the village.
"A crisis about her powers."
"A crisis about Red Hood."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"But back then..."
A bitter smile appeared.
"I only cared about what she could do for us, disguising it as concern for her as a friend."
The honesty surprised several of the listeners.
"I never stopped to understand what she was going through."
Another pause.
"I had months in here to think about it."
Her voice softened.
"Years since we last saw each other."
The smile vanished.
"Then the surface fell when the Raptures and Sirens joined forces. The Ark shut us down. Nikkes on the surface were abandoned. We lost our abilities, our weapons, our power—reduced to no more than ordinary humans."
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"I kind of hated the humans of the Ark. Leaving us like this. To think we used to protect them."
Emma lowered her gaze.
Vesti did the same.
Painful memories.
All of them.
"We weren't reclaiming the surface anymore."
"We weren't heroes."
"We weren't Elysion's finest."
A humorless laugh escaped her.
"We were running."
The words tasted bitter.
"Running and surviving."
"Knowing we couldn't even fight back."
Silence followed.
Because everyone beneath the tree understood that feeling.
Defeat.
Loss.
Helplessness.
Eunhwa looked down at her hands.
"There were times..."
The confession came quietly.
"When I blamed Rapi."
Nobody reacted.
Nobody judged.
They simply listened.
"If she hadn't left..."
A pause.
"If she had stayed..."
Another pause.
"Maybe things would've been different."
The words lingered.
Then Eunhwa shook her head.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
More certain than before.
"That's just an excuse."
The Nikke folded her arms.
"Getting punched by Hindenburg helped me realize that."
Several people glanced toward the Iron Blood cruiser.
Hindenburg merely shrugged.
"I still believe it was educational."
That earned a few chuckles.
Even Eunhwa smirked slightly.
Then her expression became serious again.
"All this time..."
She looked toward Emma and Vesti.
Then toward the distant village.
Then toward the fog.
"Rapi was carrying us."
The admission felt heavy.
Painful.
But necessary.
"We talked about Absolute."
"We talked about teamwork."
"We talked about being Elysion's strongest."
A bitter laugh escaped her.
"But looking back..."
The Nikke closed her eyes.
"Rapi was the one carrying the burden."
"The one carrying the expectations."
"The one carrying the dream."
Her voice lowered.
"And we remained the same."
No one spoke.
Not even Emma.
Because she knew Eunhwa wasn't entirely wrong.
The squad had depended on Rapi far more than any of them had wanted to admit.
Eunhwa looked toward the sky.
"It's been ten years."
The words felt distant.
As if she were speaking to herself.
"Ten years since she left."
Her jaw tightened.
And for the first time, genuine fear appeared.
Not anger.
Not resentment.
Fear.
"I don't know if Rapi survived."
The group grew quiet.
"I don't know if she's still fighting."
"I don't know if she was captured."
Her voice almost broke.
A rare thing for Eunhwa.
"I don't know anything."
The Nikke clenched her fists.
Then finally whispered the fear she had carried for years.
"I'd hate it if she became corrupted."
Silence followed.
A heavy silence.
Because everyone understood what corruption meant.
Loss.
The loss of oneself.
The loss of hope.
The loss of everything that made someone who they were.
Friedrich's expression softened.
The Iron Blood battleship gently placed a hand upon Eunhwa's shoulder.
A simple gesture.
Warm.
Comforting.
Motherly.
"You still care about her."
Eunhwa immediately looked away.
"Tch."
The response fooled nobody.
Not Emma.
Not Vesti.
Not Friedrich.
Not anyone sitting beneath the tree.
Because for all the anger.
For all the resentment.
For all the years of blaming her—
The truth had finally become obvious.
Eunhwa had never stopped caring about Rapi.
Friedrich gently squeezed her shoulder.
The gesture lingered.
Comforting.
Patient.
Motherly.
"Should you two meet again..."
The battleship's voice was soft.
"Have you ever thought about what you would say?"
Silence followed.
Eunhwa didn't answer immediately.
For once, even she seemed uncertain.
Her eyes drifted toward the fog.
Toward memories ten years old.
Then toward Emma.
Then Vesti.
The two members of Absolute waited quietly.
No teasing.
No interruptions.
Just listening.
Eventually, Eunhwa sighed.
A tired sigh.
"I don't know."
The answer was honest.
Painfully honest.
"I can't keep dwelling on the past anymore."
Her voice was quieter now.
Less defensive.
Less angry.
"Ten years on the run."
Another pause.
"Months trapped in this place."
The Nikke shook her head.
"I'm tired."
Emma immediately raised a hand.
"And one punch to the face."
Several shipgirls laughed.
Even Arizona covered her mouth.
Hindenburg looked entirely unapologetic.
"It was educational."
"See?"
Emma pointed.
"She's still proud of it."
Hindenburg crossed her arms.
"I stand by my teaching methods."
That earned another round of laughter.
Even Eunhwa smirked.
Briefly.
Then her expression softened.
The anger that had defined so much of her life no longer seemed as sharp.
No longer seemed worth carrying.
"I think..."
She hesitated.
Searching for the right words.
Then finally found them.
"I can finally accept it."
The confession surprised even herself.
Emma blinked.
Vesti stared.
Friedrich simply smiled.
Eunhwa looked down at her hands.
"Rapi owed us an explanation."
A pause.
"At least back then, that's what I thought."
Another pause.
"But..."
The Nikke laughed quietly.
A small.
Self-deprecating laugh.
"We owe her an apology too."
The group remained silent.
Allowing her to continue.
"I spent years blaming her."
"I blamed her for leaving."
"I blamed her for Absolute falling apart."
"I blamed her for our failures."
Her jaw tightened.
Then relaxed.
"But none of that was fair."
The admission felt liberating.
As though a weight she had carried for a decade was finally beginning to lift.
"I called her my perfect partner."
A faint smile appeared.
"Yet I never noticed she was struggling."
Emma lowered her gaze.
Vesti did the same.
Because they hadn't noticed either.
Not until it was too late.
Eunhwa looked toward the sky.
"If we meet again..."
Her voice softened.
"I don't think I'll ask why she left."
The others listened.
"I think..."
A small smile appeared.
The first genuine one she had shown all morning.
"I'll just ask how she's been."
Silence.
Then Friedrich smiled.
A warm.
Proud smile.
"There is the friend she deserved."
Eunhwa immediately groaned.
"Oh, come on."
The others laughed.
Even Hindenburg.
Even Mecklenburg.
Even the normally reserved Souryuu.
For the first time in years—
The thought of meeting Rapi again no longer filled Eunhwa with anger.
Only hope.
And perhaps—
A chance to finally start over.
"Hey! Everyone's meeting without us!"
A familiar voice called out from the path.
Several heads turned.
Two more Nikkes were approaching.
"Velvet."
Emma smiled.
"And Privaty."
The pair joined the gathering beneath the tree.
Friedrich immediately noticed Velvet's attire and sighed.
A very long sigh.
"Velvet..."
The Iron Blood battleship pinched the bridge of her nose.
"How many times must I tell you to dress properly?"
"Oh, come on, Mom."
Velvet waved dismissively.
"It's not like I can magically change clothes in this place."
The pink-haired Nikke grinned.
"Besides, I'm sure our new commander would love it."
Several people immediately looked away.
Others coughed.
Friedrich simply closed her eyes.
"That is not the point."
Then she opened one eye.
"And please do not let Hood see you dressed like that."
Velvet immediately froze.
"Oh."
A nervous smile appeared.
"The mom of the Royal Navy?"
"The one you mentioned when talking about the new commander?"
Friedrich nodded.
"Aye."
Velvet visibly paled.
"Is she really that scary?"
"Yes."
The answer came instantly.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
Just one word.
"Yes."
Even Pennsylvania nodded.
Arizona nodded too.
Shoukaku looked amused.
Friedrich folded her arms.
"Hood is very strict when it comes to proper conduct and attire. She is the Royal Instructor, after all. Even Iron Blood holds a healthy respect for her."
A pause.
"And she is not particularly fond of rude behavior."
Her gaze drifted toward Eunhwa.
"Frankly, I am grateful Eunhwa changed before she is rescued."
Eunhwa immediately frowned.
"...Why?"
Friedrich smiled.
"Because you might receive more than a punch."
Silence.
Eunhwa suddenly decided meeting Hood might not be a pleasant experience.
At all.
Meanwhile Shoukaku giggled softly.
"That applies to you too, Privaty."
The blue-haired Nikke blinked.
"What?"
The crane carrier smiled.
"Tone down your tsundere tendencies."
Hiryuu immediately nodded.
"We already have enough tsunderes."
"Hey!"
Privaty immediately crossed her arms.
"It's not like I want to be one!"
The response only made everyone laugh harder.
Even Friedrich smiled.
Privaty groaned.
Then quickly changed the subject.
"So."
The Nikke looked around.
"This new commander."
Several people became attentive.
"We can't talk to him."
"But you shipgirls can."
Privaty tilted her head.
"What kind of person is he?"
The question lingered.
For a moment nobody answered.
Then Zuikaku spoke.
"We don't know."
That surprised Privaty.
The younger crane shrugged.
"His voice was warm."
"Aye."
Shoukaku nodded.
"Trustworthy."
Souryuu adjusted her glasses.
"We know as little as you do."
The bespectacled carrier looked toward the fog.
"But somehow..."
A faint smile appeared.
"He filled us with hope."
The others nodded.
The feeling was difficult to explain.
"Two days."
Hiryuu laughed softly.
"Only two days."
Yet somehow—
The waiting felt longer.
Not shorter.
Longer.
Because now they were anticipating something.
Someone.
Souryuu looked thoughtful.
"He reminds me of our old commander."
The mood shifted.
Several people looked toward her.
The carrier's smile softened.
"The one we used to serve."
A pause.
"He died helping everyone escape a burning base."
The group grew quiet.
Emma blinked.
"You never told us that."
Souryuu shrugged.
"It wasn't something we spoke about often."
Shoukaku smiled sadly.
"He was respected."
"Very respected."
Another pause.
"Yet somehow..."
The silver-haired crane looked toward the distant fog.
"This new commander carries the same feeling."
The others nodded.
Not the same person.
Not the same voice.
Yet something felt familiar.
Pennsylvania folded her arms.
"Plus, he's not from Azur Lane."
The battleship looked thoughtful.
"Not from any faction we know."
"Global Defense Initiative..."
She tasted the name.
"Wonder what kind of faction that is."
Nobody had an answer.
Meanwhile Velvet sighed dramatically.
"I kind of miss Ade, Soda, and Cocoa."
The Maid squad member looked toward the sky.
"Think we'll see them again?"
Several people smiled.
"I hope so."
Arizona answered softly.
Privaty nodded.
"I miss the café."
The confession surprised everyone.
The blue-haired Nikke immediately looked away.
"It made me feel normal."
A pause.
"Not like some government-owned Nikke."
Her voice lowered.
"And honestly..."
Another pause.
"I regret fighting for people who abandoned us."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Emma looked toward her.
Then grinned.
"But you're still wearing the uniform."
Privaty immediately pointed at herself.
"It's not like I want to!"
The response was instant.
The group burst into laughter.
"If we get accepted into this new faction..."
Privaty crossed her arms.
"I'm requesting a new uniform immediately."
Vesti nodded enthusiastically.
"And a proper outfit for Velvet."
"Hey!"
Velvet looked offended.
"My outfit is perfectly fine."
"No."
Several voices answered at once.
Even Friedrich.
Even Hindenburg.
Even Mecklenburg.
The pink-haired Nikke looked betrayed.
Then Arizona spoke.
Her gentle voice immediately calming the group.
"I don't know what kind of faction the Global Defense Initiative is."
The laughter faded.
The battleship looked toward the fog.
Toward the world beyond their prison.
Toward the future.
"But..."
A small smile appeared.
"It's the only faction that came looking for us."
Silence followed.
Not a sad silence.
A hopeful one.
Because no matter who the commander was.
No matter what the Global Defense Initiative turned out to be.
One thing remained true.
They came.
And for people forgotten by the world—
That meant everything.
"Will we really be free?"
The question escaped quietly from Centaur.
The group fell silent.
No one laughed.
No one dismissed it.
Because every single person beneath the tree had asked themselves the same question.
Shoukaku gently placed a hand over her heart.
The silver-haired carrier looked toward the distant fog.
The same fog that had imprisoned them for months.
Perhaps longer.
"He promised us."
Her voice was soft.
Yet certain.
"We spent months waiting."
"Years surviving."
The flute rested across her lap.
"To think that we may finally be able to embrace freedom again..."
A small smile appeared.
"He spoke to us."
The others listened.
"He found us."
"And he promised."
For some reason—
That was enough.
Emma quietly glanced toward Eunhwa.
The squad leader had remained unusually silent.
"Eunhwa...?"
The Nikke folded her arms.
Then looked toward the sky.
"Once I'm free..."
The group immediately focused.
The answer came without hesitation.
"I'm going to look for Rapi."
No anger.
No resentment.
No bitterness.
Just determination.
"She's out there somewhere."
Emma smiled.
Vesti nodded.
Neither looked surprised.
Meanwhile Velvet immediately raised her hand.
"You're not the only one."
The pink-haired Nikke grinned.
"I'm going to find Ade, Soda, and Cocoa."
A softer smile appeared.
"I want to know they're okay."
Several people nodded.
They understood that feeling.
The desire to see familiar faces again.
To know someone survived.
Then Velvet looked toward Privaty.
"What about you?"
The maid leaned forward.
"Want to go back to the Ark?"
The answer came instantly.
"Heck no."
Everyone blinked.
Privaty crossed her arms.
Absolutely serious.
"If you still have openings in the Maid For You squad..."
She cleared her throat.
"...Would you consider my application?"
Silence.
Then every eye slowly turned toward her.
Velvet stared.
Emma stared.
Vesti stared.
Even Friedrich looked surprised.
"A government officer..."
Hiryuu grinned.
"...wants to become a maid?"
Privaty immediately pointed at her.
"Don't make it weird!"
"You're literally applying to become a servant."
"That's not the same thing!"
"It is exactly the same thing."
"It is not!"
The group burst into laughter.
Even Arizona couldn't hold it in.
Privaty groaned.
Then looked away.
A faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
After a moment, her voice became quieter.
"It just..."
The group listened.
"It felt nice."
The admission surprised several people.
"The café."
"The customers."
"Ade."
"Soda."
"Cocoa."
A small smile appeared.
"For the first time in a long while..."
She looked down.
"It felt like I had friends."
The teasing immediately stopped.
Because they understood.
Even Eunhwa.
Even Hindenburg.
Even Friedrich.
Then Velvet grinned mischievously.
"You mean our future master?"
The blush immediately deepened.
"V-Velvet!"
The maid laughed.
"What?"
"I was talking about the commander."
"Exactly."
Velvet nodded.
"Our future master."
Privaty's face somehow became even redder.
Several shipgirls immediately began giggling.
Even Shoukaku covered her mouth.
"Oh my..."
Arizona smiled.
The battleship looked genuinely entertained.
"I don't even know what he looks like!"
Privaty protested.
"Yet."
Velvet immediately added.
"YET."
That only made things worse.
The blue-haired Nikke buried her face in her hands.
The others laughed.
For the first time in a long while—
The conversation wasn't about survival.
Or captivity.
Or fear.
It was about the future.
The lives they wanted to live once they escaped.
The people they wanted to meet again.
The places they wanted to return to.
The dreams they wanted to chase.
And perhaps that was why nobody noticed it immediately.
The fog surrounding the village.
The endless prison that had remained unchanged for months.
For the briefest moment—
It seemed just a little thinner than before.
"What about you, Shoukaku-nee?"
Zuikaku looked toward her older sister.
The silver-haired carrier smiled softly.
"Well..."
Her fingers brushed against the flute resting across her lap.
"I wouldn't mind fighting for the faction that freed me."
The answer came naturally.
Without hesitation.
Then her smile became gentler.
"As long as you're with me."
Zuikaku immediately grinned.
"Always."
Shoukaku nodded.
Then looked toward the distant fog.
"I miss everyone."
A pause.
"Even Houshou-kaasama."
The mention of the Sakura matriarch immediately drew smiles from several shipgirls.
"Houshou-kaasama..."
Hiryuu laughed softly.
"Yeah."
The rabbit-eared carrier leaned back against the tree.
"I miss her too."
A nostalgic smile appeared.
"She always made us feel like we actually had a mother."
"Aye."
Souryuu adjusted her glasses.
The normally composed carrier smiled faintly.
"She looked after everyone equally."
"Whether they wanted it or not."
That earned a few chuckles.
Meanwhile, Souryuu seemed to fall into thought.
"Hm..."
The bespectacled carrier tapped her chin.
"I wonder if the Commander already has a secretary."
Several heads turned.
"Oh?"
Pennsylvania smirked.
Souryuu adjusted her glasses again.
"If not, I wouldn't mind applying."
The statement was delivered with complete seriousness.
Hiryuu immediately laughed.
"You've already started planning your career."
"It is called being prepared."
"You're already preparing paperwork."
"Naturally."
The group laughed.
Then a dramatically raised hand appeared.
"The wizard promised me flying broomsticks!"
Everyone already knew where this was going.
Mecklenburg stood proudly.
One hand on her hip.
The other pointed dramatically toward the heavens.
"I shall pester him until he gives me one!"
Several people sighed.
The battleship ignored them.
"I can finally pursue my dream of becoming a witch!"
The declaration echoed through the gathering.
Hindenburg folded her arms.
"As expected."
The red-haired cruiser nodded solemnly.
"The witch requires her broom."
"Precisely."
Mecklenburg pointed toward her.
"Someone understands."
Hindenburg then added.
"And he is also my contractor."
Silence.
Several people immediately looked at her.
The cruiser remained completely serious.
"A demon requires a contractor."
Pennsylvania pinched the bridge of her nose.
Arizona looked away to hide her smile.
Eunhwa watched the exchange for several moments.
Then finally shook her head.
"They're amusing."
The statement surprised everyone.
Mostly because it came from Eunhwa.
The Nikke glanced toward Friedrich.
"I'll admit it."
Another glance toward Hindenburg and Mecklenburg.
"They're entertaining."
Hindenburg looked oddly pleased.
Mecklenburg took it as a compliment.
Which somehow made it worse.
Friedrich sighed.
A long.
Patient.
Motherly sigh.
"Yes."
The Iron Blood battleship looked toward the two Priority ships.
One self-proclaimed demon.
One self-proclaimed witch.
Both impossible.
Both troublesome.
Both beloved.
A warm smile appeared nonetheless.
"They are among Iron Blood's greatest powers."
Her golden eyes softened.
"But they are still Iron Blood's children."
The two battleships immediately looked proud.
As though they had just received praise from their mother.
Which, in a way, they had.
The sight drew laughter from everyone gathered beneath the tree.
For a little while longer—
The prison didn't feel quite so lonely.
And the future didn't feel quite so far away.
===============
Meanwhile, aboard the Daedalus, the atmosphere inside the command room was completely different.
The laughter.
The teasing.
The anticipation.
All of it had faded.
The operation was about to begin.
Within the command room, Shipgirls and Nikkes stood at their stations, performing final checks.
Weapons were inspected.
Ammunition counts verified.
Communications tested.
Armor systems synchronized.
This was no dungeon.
No training exercise.
No simulated operation.
Sixteen prisoners were waiting.
And today, they were coming home.
One by one, the members of the rescue force gathered within the command room.
Every single one of them now stood at Level 21.
The results of the previous day's battles were obvious.
Movements were sharper.
Reactions faster.
Confidence higher.
Even their presence felt different.
Rapi stood near the front of the formation.
Unlike before, crimson energy flowed around her body.
Red Hood Mode.
Fully stabilized.
No pain.
No side effects.
No danger.
Only power.
Neon immediately looked impressed.
Again.
Anis had long since stopped questioning it.
Meanwhile, Yuuki completed the final systems check on his armor.
The War Machine Mark V.
Larger.
Heavier.
Far more heavily armed than previous versions.
Weapon systems illuminated one after another across the HUD.
Everything operational.
Everything ready.
The commander turned toward the assembled force.
"Is everyone ready?"
The answer came immediately.
A chorus of nods.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
This was why they were here.
Eleven Shipgirls.
Five Nikkes.
And somewhere deep within the Mother Whale—
Nayuta's original body.
The true objective.
The operation briefing appeared once more across the command room's holographic display.
Priority One.
Locate Nayuta.
Yuu stepped forward.
Beside her stood the Nayuta clone.
Both now equipped with their respective systems—Yuu in her Mark 49 Rescue Armor, and the Nayuta clone in the Echo Suit Mark II.
Their role remained unchanged.
Once inside the Mother Whale, they would separate from the main force.
Nayuta's original body was believed to be isolated from the other prisoners.
Not out of cruelty.
But necessity.
The Raptures needed her mind intact.
Her knowledge.
Her memories.
Her information.
Everything she knew was too valuable.
Which meant she would likely be heavily guarded.
Yuu looked toward the clone.
"We find her first."
The clone nodded.
"Acknowledged."
The second objective appeared.
Rescue all prisoners.
No exceptions.
No one left behind.
Outside the Mother Whale, the larger battle fleet was already preparing for engagement.
Yorktown would command the Daedalus.
Akagi and Kaga would oversee air superiority operations while coordinating bombardment strikes from the Zeus carriers.
Enterprise and Illustrious would deploy Harbinger gunships once the escort battleships were neutralized.
Unicorn and Houshou would manage Orca bombardment support from both the Daedalus and the Zeus carriers.
Avrora and Prince of Wales would command the Kodiak battleships. Sandy would operate the Daedalus weapon systems, while Eldridge would control the four massive Zeus cannons—each powerful enough to decimate hundreds of Raptures.
The battle outside would create the opening.
The battle inside would determine success.
Yuuki enlarged the internal assault roster.
The boarding force.
The people entering the Mother Whale itself.
Belfast.
Atago.
Takao.
Maya.
Choukai.
Vestal.
Akashi.
Eugen.
Hipper.
Nimi.
Laffey.
Javelin.
Then the Nikkes.
Rapi.
Neon.
Anis.
Ade.
Soda.
Cocoa.
Mary.
Pepper.
And finally—
Bulin.
Purin.
Kurin.
The last three immediately saluted.
With varying degrees of professionalism.
Mostly varying.
As for Kaguya, she would accompany the ground team. Among all of them, she possessed the most overwhelming and destructive firepower, capable of turning even the toughest internal defenses into rubble within moments. Her presence would not only provide unmatched offensive support but also serve as a critical breakthrough asset once they were inside the Mother Whale's heavily fortified interior.
Yuuki glanced toward her, arms crossed. "You understand what that means, right? Once you're inside, you'll be our spearhead."
Kaguya gave a small, confident smile. "Aye, I do comprehend full well. I shall rend asunder all that bars our path, clear the way afore thee, and suffer none to be left behind amidst the foe."
"Exactly," Yuuki nodded. "But don't overextend. This isn't just about destruction. We need precision too."
She tilted her head slightly, amused. "Dost thou fear I shall exceed mine bounds?"
"I've seen what you can do," he replied honestly. "And I need you focused, not reckless."
Kaguya chuckled softly. "Be at ease, good Commander. I shall temper mine might, lest I bring the very walls crashing upon us all."
"That's not exactly reassuring."
"It ought to be," she replied, her eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. "For should matters turn dire…"
She stepped closer, her voice lowering.
"I shall ensure that naught stands betwixt us and those we seek to save."
Yuuki met her gaze for a moment, then gave a firm nod.
"That's why you're coming with us."
Kaguya straightened, her expression sharpening into something far more resolute.
"In such an endeavor, where swiftness and might may well decide our fate…"
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"I am, without doubt, the most fitting choice."
The commander looked over the assembled team.
This wasn't merely a strike force.
It was a rescue team.
A recovery team.
A family coming for its own.
Neon adjusted her weapon.
A grin already spreading across her face.
"So..."
The blonde Nikke looked toward the holographic Mother Whale.
"We're really going inside that thing."
"Looks that way."
Anis answered.
Rapi checked her rifle.
"Stay focused."
The squad immediately nodded.
Even Neon.
For once.
Yuuki activated the final operation display.
The Mother Whale appeared above the command room.
Massive.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
Its four escort battleships maintaining formation around it.
The giant mechanical whale continued moving toward the interception zone.
Completely unaware.
Completely unprepared.
The commander looked toward his team.
Then toward the enormous enemy vessel.
Finally—
He smiled.
"Let's go bring them home."
And within the command room—
The rescue force prepared to deploy.
However, Yuuki suddenly smirked.
It was subtle.
But unmistakable.
The kind of expression that meant something dangerous was about to happen.
His girls immediately recognized it.
That look.
That calm, confident smile that always appeared right before he did something completely insane.
Or completely brilliant.
Or both.
A faint ripple of anticipation spread through the group.
Even Rapi narrowed her eyes slightly.
Anis leaned closer to Neon.
"Uh oh."
Neon grinned.
"He's cooking something."
Yuuki didn't keep them waiting.
"Illy... get ready. We're using the Nanoswarm Protocol."
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
Illustrious' eyes widened.
Not in fear.
In excitement.
A soft, almost delighted smile formed on her lips as she straightened slightly.
"Understood, Lord Commander."
Her voice carried a hint of anticipation she didn't even try to hide.
Around her, reactions spread like wildfire.
Takao's posture stiffened.
Atago's eyes gleamed with interest.
Enterprise's gaze sharpened instantly.
Yorktown inhaled slowly, already calculating.
Belfast paused mid-motion, her usual composure slipping just slightly.
Akashi's ears perked straight up.
"Nya...!"
Even the Bulin sisters froze.
Then—
"Bulin?!"
"Purin?!"
"Kurin?!"
All three stared at Yuuki like they had just been told a legend was about to come true.
Because they had.
Every single one of them remembered.
That day.
The day Yuuki activated the Nanoswarm Protocol.
The sky had changed.
The battlefield had changed.
Everything had changed.
And what followed—
None of them had ever truly been able to explain.
Only witness.
Only survive.
Only remember.
A quiet tension settled over the group.
Even those who hadn't seen it before could feel it.
Something big was coming.
Something beyond normal tactics.
Beyond conventional warfare.
Beyond anything they had prepared for.
Anis swallowed.
"...Okay, now I'm curious."
Neon leaned forward.
"Same."
Rapi didn't speak.
But her grip on her weapon tightened slightly.
Yuuki didn't elaborate.
He didn't need to.
Because everyone who knew—
Already understood.
The Nanoswarm Protocol was only the beginning.
And what came after—
The thing that turned entire battlefields into something else entirely.
The Steel Dragon Protocol.