Volume 4 Chapter 45 Junk Ship
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
If I do not hurry, I will hit the large or even super-large Junk Ships coming straight at us. To avoid them, I must start the Boiler and use the Craft Engine, but the Engine Department chief is too slow.
I must go to the Engine Department and make that shut-in Elf Mage work faster!
I ran down five steps from the bridge and jumped onto the floor, which was at the same level as the outer deck.
”Ow, damn it!”
I pushed myself too hard. For the next stairs, I jumped onto the railing and slid down. If I go toward the front of the ship from here, I will find the warehouse for the dynamite and fixed-wing drone units. One more floor down. I went down the same way, finally reaching the level of the Engine Department where the Boilers are kept.
The hallway was lit by flickering Poor Man’s Lamps. I went into the First Boiler room at the start of the corridor.
”Second Lieutenant, good morning.”
Kai stopped what she was doing—putting coal into the fire chamber—to salute me. I felt relieved.
”Increase the Alternator output as fast as possible. We are in trouble.”
”Understood. I will do it right away.”
She saluted me again, but I would prefer if she just went back to work. I did not go back into the hallway, instead opening the door to the Second Boiler room, where the shut-in Elf Mage was poking coal held in fire tongs with a Fireball she made herself. The Fireball was weak; I felt relieved that Kai was there earlier.
”What are you doing?”
The shut-in Elf Mage got angry, but I ignored her, picked up some coal with a shovel, and threw it into the fire chamber.
”One might think of a more… elegant way. Do not interfere.”
I acted as if I had not heard that, aiming my own Fireball at the furnace. If I make the temperature too high, the bottom of the pot will melt, so I kept the color at a dull yellow.
”The blower is not working.”
”Surely that can wait until the fire is started.”
What an idiot. I was the one who designed the basic plans for this machine, but I cannot find the switch for the blower that puts air into the furnace. I am sure I checked it before. Where was it again?
”We are in a hurry, so could you please turn on the blower switch?”
I tried to sound polite, holding back the urge to scream.
Then, the Elf Mage—a middle-aged man—finally stood up, still holding the fire tongs, and pulled a cord on the wall. With a low sound, air was pushed into the furnace, and I cast a larger Fireball directly into the opening.
”Good work.”
Going back to the bridge, I found the Captain, Fredys the Deck crew foreman, and Roland, the bridge squad leader, already there.
”It will take another five minutes to get the Craft Engine working.”
As I said that, I looked straight ahead; the fleet of Junk Ships looked even larger than before. I feel they are already within a kilometer.
”I wonder what happened here. This fleet is too big for just a trading group, is it not?”
I could see the movements of the people on the deck of the lead ship to some degree. Fredys the foreman, who had been pressed against the window, turned back to me.
”Something is strange.”
”Indeed. Are they planning to attack?”
Roland even said something as worrying as that. Wait, are we going to have a battle?
”Chief Larry, come here.”
I was called by my kid who was flying the scout drone. I grabbed her wrist to see what she saw, and as usual, she had climbed to the highest altitude to look at the whole formation.
Because of the thin mist, the land was visible. About five kilometers ahead, a large peninsula blocked our path. To be exact, it was a peninsula where a sandbar had reached an island offshore, and there was a large Lagoon in the center that opened toward us. Looking at the wake, the fleet seemed to have come from there.
My kid reported that smoke was rising from several places around that Lagoon. Indeed, it was hard to see through the mist, but once she pointed it out, I could see gray smoke going up.
The distance was far. No matter how you looked at it, that was too much smoke for just cooking. Did those Junk Ship people attack them?
”Chief Larry, prepare the fixed-wing drone for a suicide attack.”
From the air, two of the lead Junk Ships were heading toward the right side of the “Izumo,” which was letting out black smoke, while the rest of the fleet began turning to the left. Are they trying to surround us?
I answered the Captain with “Understood. I will do it right away,” pulled away from my kid, and went back down the stairs.
For now, I took five sticks of dynamite and five suicide-purpose fixed-wing drone units and went back to the bridge. On the way, I could hear the high-pitched sound of the Steam turbine starting.
When I got back, Katarina had also arrived at the bridge, so I asked her to set up the fixed-wing drone units while I grabbed the wrist of my kid who was flying the scout unit again. Her view was following one of the two large Junk Ships that were trying to get close to our right side. Is that not a bit fast?
The “Izumo” is one of those, but the ships I am used to have sails that fill with wind. These Junk Ships, however, have folding, bellows-like sails; when fully opened, they become hard like planks, allowing them to change the angle of the sails.
So that is how it is. Even with a crosswind, they are moving faster than I expected.
Damn it, I should have started the third Boiler, too.
The fixed-wing drone went down.
I could see the men running across the deck. Because the sails are different, the rope work is different, too.
The soldiers were starting their preparations, holding up many crossbows and ladders that looked very long. I guessed that they planned to stop us with crossbow fire, then climb the ladders to get on our ship for close fighting.
That was not all. A large crossbow loaded with a three-meter iron bolt was visible on the front deck, and on the back deck, a cylinder about thirty centimeters wide and nearly a meter long had been brought out, with long bamboo sticks tied to it.
There was a fuse on the cylinder. Is that a huge skyrocket?
The iron bolt might go through our hull. But the rocket is probably just black powder. It might make a dent, but it is likely nothing more than a way to scare us.
”Artillery Department, send your Mages to the artificial shishi-odoshi (deer scare) on the front and back.”
An Artillerist ran toward the speaking tube to give the orders.
”Half-speed ahead, full power to the right engine.”
At the Captain’s command, the ship began to move with the Craft Engine, and a small shake hit the bridge. It seems they plan to turn to the left, pass in front of the large and super-large Junk Ships, and escape into the open sea.
I told the drone pilot to go to the sky above the lead Junk Ship that was turning toward the left side.
On the way, we passed over the “Izumo.” Seawater was spinning from the nozzles on the front right side, and the ship was turning sharply.
Will we make it in time? The Junk Ships are faster than I thought.
I lowered the altitude of the fixed-wing drone a bit and turned from the front to the back of the lead ship. The weapons were the same as the ship before. A large crossbow at the front, and soldiers with crossbows, ladders already set up. And on the back deck, preparations for the skyrocket were going well.
The fixed-wing drone continued toward the super-large ship. This one did not have a very high front, but the back deck was wide and stepped, rising perhaps five stories from the water surface.
The ship looked to be over a hundred meters long. It was huge. The first thing that caught my eye was a figure—a man who looked like a government official—standing on a raised platform at the front, with two spear-holding warriors standing guard behind him. Also, lightly armored soldiers holding flags and gongs stood to his left and right.
”Is that the commander? We’re going to greet him. Lower your altitude.”
”Are you sure? It’s okay, we can figure it out, right?”
The young girl flying the drone said that, but she was clearly ready, lowering the altitude and going around, approaching the front of the super-large ship at a low altitude of about one meter from the sea surface. As part of her training, I taught her that there are only two choices when approaching a ship: dive at it from over a hundred meters above, or pull up sharply from right at the water surface. Besides Katarina, I thought the flight squad kids were all quiet ones, but it turns out I have a girl like this, too.
However, when we turned around, one of the warriors stationed on the sides of the super-large ship might have noticed us.
As the fixed-wing drone got close to the dangerously large front, it began to climb quickly. Standing on the platform at the front was a man in an outfit like something out of a comic book—like Kongming. Behind him was a long-haired man without a helmet, putting an arrow to his bow.
”Climb, immediately!”
I shouted the order by instinct, not by telepathy, but with my own voice. The pilot followed my instruction and did a sharp climb, but suddenly the field of vision shook.
”Are you okay?”
”I think it just hit us.”
As if to prove her words, the flying became steady right away.
”The flying was rough, and I am low on Mana. I am sorry, but I am going to get the fixed-wing drone.”
The pilot told me. I wanted to see a bit more of the super-large ship, but it could not be helped. When I looked up, Chief Tatyana and Maria from the Artillery Department had arrived at the bridge.
”Start the third Boiler.”
The Captain’s orders rang out. The “Izumo” had begun to pick up speed, but the Junk Ships were faster than I had expected. It was me who had made a mistake.
Moreover, I could hear their gongs ringing constantly. Were they changing the fleet’s formation based on our movements?
I thought of that Kongming-like person. He was standing there, looking over at us, hiding his mouth with a fan made of bird feathers, wearing a strange headpiece with strings attached. With his proud face, he really thought he was a military strategist.
I immediately gave the order to launch the next fixed-wing drone for reconnaissance.
After that, I told them what I had seen from the sky:
That they were ready with crossbows and ladders, so they would likely try a boarding action. That there was a large crossbow at the front capable of firing iron bolts nearly three meters long. And that they had something like a skyrocket prepared on the back deck.
”What do you mean by ‘skyrocket’?”
”That idea does not have enough proof. If you mix powdered saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, it burns very hot; that force makes it fly through the air and go ‘bang’ when it bursts.”
How do you explain that to someone who has never seen one?
”Is it something like dynamite?”
”It does not have that much power.”
At that answer, the Captain and the others listening lowered their shoulders. Just then, a whistling sound came toward us.
”This is it.”
Looking at the direction, it came from the large ship in front of the super-large one. The giant skyrocket hit the surface of the sea about a dozen meters away, making a popping sound and leaving behind white bubbles.
”Pathetic.”
I heard someone say that, but it would not be a laughing matter if it hit a person.
”That makes clear their plan to attack. We are fighting back. Use the suicide fixed-wing drone units to sink that big one.”
The Captain gave the order to sink the super-large Junk Ship.
The distance to the super-large ship was five hundred meters; the large ship in front of it was three hundred.
Huh?
Did the super-large ship slow down, or did it change course? I am not entirely sure, but I felt like the distance between the super-large ship and the one in front of it was much shorter a moment ago.
”The six ships in the rear are turning to the northwest.”
The lookout tower calls down, a warning in my ear.
”It cannot be… are those six ships behind us going around to cut off the ‘Izumo’?” They were actually planning to attack?
The Junk Ships are fast, I will give them that, but by now all three of our boilers are roaring. We are running at full speed.
”Katarina, let me handle it.”
Katarina was in the middle of putting together the third fixed-wing drone meant for self-destruction, but she stopped at the Captain’s order, reaching for the remote-control helmet.
”No, sir. I shall do it.”
Katarina insisted on taking the lead.
”Those ships use thicker plating than your average sailboat. I saw a vertical seam near the front earlier. I believe that is the weak point to sink them in one strike.”
I meant it as advice, but Katarina seemed a bit confused. Did I say that poorly?
”Larry, you handle it.”
Following the order, I connected the fixed-wing drone again and put on the helmet. Just then, another high-pitched whistle cut through the air, followed by a splash and an explosion against the ship’s hull. The whole ship shook.
”Right. Going out.”
With that, I released the self-destruction fixed-wing drone.
As the craft pulled away from the ship, I immediately climbed to the limit to look at the battlefield from above. The huge ship seemed to be turning its course to the northwest, clearly trying to put some distance between itself and the ‘Izumo.’ The six ships in the rear, just as the lookout reported, were turning northwest to cut us off.
They were getting closer to the leading Junk Ship, but there was still a large gap before they could drop ladders for boarding.
Determined to get a better look at the huge ship before we sank it, I dove, dropping altitude quickly. Once I had gained enough speed, I flew straight over it from front to back. It had five sails. There were soldiers on board, but no heavy ballistae or artillery visible, and that man who looked like a strategist was still standing at the front.
The back deck rose in four separate levels. And there, on the balcony of the second floor, was something truly strange. Giraffes and zebras. I did not see any elephants.
The animals were in an enclosure, and beyond the fence, I saw children. That was not all—on the level below, women and children were busy doing laundry.
I turned around and approached from the side, flying even lower—just below the height of the main mast. Sure enough, women and children were washing clothes on the lower deck. Some of the women were beating cloth against the wooden planks with babies tied to their backs.
Further out, past the animal pens, more children were cutting straw, likely for feed. One of them must have noticed the fixed-wing drone, because she stood up and stared blankly in my direction.
Is she Japanese?
She had black hair cut in a short bob, and while her face was dirty with dirt, I could see the pink color on her cheeks.
Our eyes met. Or rather, I met her gaze through the eyes of the Goblin camera mounted on the fixed-wing drone. A throbbing headache hit me.
”Larry, what are you doing? Sink them already!”
Another blast shook the ship.
”A rocket firework hit us.”
What a ridiculous thing to say. Even as I thought it, the pain in my head got worse, and my vision began to narrow.
”Captain, there are children on board.”
I managed to say the words. I avoided mentioning the headache; I did not want it to sound like an excuse.
”If we sink that ship, their spirit will surely break. That is an order.”
I understand the logic. But I have a feeling the opposite is true. If we sink that ship, the chance of them going all-out to finish off the ‘Izumo’ increases a lot.
”Captain, the rocket firework… it hit a weak spot. It is cracked, and coal is spilling out.”
It seemed the outside plating of the coal bunkers had taken the hit, creating a crack. It had not been repaired in a long time, it seemed.
”Captain, please, let me change the target to the ship directly in front of us.”
I grit my teeth against the headache and begged.
”Enough. The target is the super-sized ship.”
The request was denied, and at the same time, someone shouted, “Incoming arrows!”
My head was hurting. My field of vision had narrowed so much I could not even see the huge ship anymore. I turned by instinct, and the large ship getting close to the ‘Izumo’ came into view.
Suddenly, memories of my past life came back. My workplace, my university, my high school, middle school—I remembered a childhood friend who looked just like that girl. Another violent pain.
Henrietta-san, who had not visited Larry’s place in ages and was currently living off her daughter.
While my focus was elsewhere, the fixed-wing drone hit the surface of the water.
I do not want to waste it. The dynamite.
The large ship was right in front of me.
I heard an explosion nearby, and then my consciousness went black.
When I woke up, Katarina was holding my arm, keeping me steady. I still had the helmet on. It seemed I had not been out for long.
”Thank you.”
I thanked Katarina and pulled myself up, getting back my composure. The headache was gone, but my legs were still shaking.
I managed to take off the remote-control helmet and took a deep breath.
What was that just now? Was it because I saw that girl who looked Japanese that my past memories came back all at once?
”What happened?”
I squeezed Katarina’s hand and asked for a status update by telepathy.
”Using the Professor’s fixed-wing drone, the front of the closest ship has been badly damaged. I believe it will sink soon, but…”
That did not sound like good news.
”Finally, an iron arrow launched from that ship went through the craft engine on the front right side.”
”What happened?”
”It was destroyed.”
That part of the ship was now completely dead.
With the leading ship blown up, the six ships in the rear had changed course, apparently chasing the huge ship that had begun to move away from the ‘Izumo.’
”So, that means we are safe?”
”Well…”
She sounded unsure.
It was too much trouble to wait, so I read Katarina’s mind. The report from the operator of the fixed-wing drone scouting above was that there was a fleet of over fifty mid-sized dhows heading north from the south. The front ships were rounding the peninsula and headed straight for us. She could not confirm if the fleet belonged to the Amazoness, but there was no doubt in my mind. Right now, the ‘Izumo’ was using the craft engine to sail straight toward that coming group.
—
Summary:
The protagonist rushes to the engine room to overcome a subordinate’s lethargy and power the ship for evasion. Upon returning to the bridge, a coordinated attack by a large fleet of Junk Ships begins. Aerial reconnaissance reveals a complex enemy formation and the use of primitive rocket weaponry.
The crew of the Izumo engages in a naval skirmish where Larry uses a remote-controlled drone to strike a massive enemy vessel. Larry experiences a traumatic flashback upon seeing a young girl on the deck of the target ship, temporarily losing consciousness. Although the leading enemy ship is crippled, a larger, more threatening fleet is spotted on the horizon, leaving the Izumo’s safety in doubt.
—
Trivia:
1 The protagonist originally designed the engine’s basic schematics.
2 The Junk Ships use a bellows-style folding sail system rather than traditional billowing sails.
3 The enemy ships are utilizing iron bolts and rocket fireworks as primary siege weapons.
4 The super-large Junk Ship features a command platform and a figurehead mimicking a historical military strategist.
1 The Izumo relies on coal-powered propulsion, making the integrity of the ship’s coal bunkers critical to its speed and survival.
2 The massive enemy ship is surprisingly domestic in nature, carrying livestock and civilians in addition to soldiers.
3 Larry’s ability to operate the drone and receive feedback is physiologically linked to his own nervous system, explaining the intense headaches and memory flashbacks.
4 The presence of a larger fleet consisting of over fifty dhows introduces a significant tactical threat beyond the initial skirmish.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Elf Mage – Elf mage and shut-in engineer who stands watch in the engine department, managing the ship’s boilers. They are highly reclusive, irritable, and fiercely resistant to any orders coming from the Torpedo Department.
• Mage – Elf mage and shut-in engineer who stands watch in the engine department, managing the ship’s boilers. They are highly reclusive, irritable, and fiercely resistant to any orders coming from the Torpedo Department.
• Elf – A reclusive, middle-aged mage who lives as a shut-in aboard the ship, where he tends to the boilers. He uses his own conjured fireballs to generate heat for the vessel and maintains a keen interest in studying the properties of asphalt as a potential fuel source.
• Kai – An ash-covered, square-jawed 20-year-old Dwarf Mage with translucent white hands, peerless strength, and unstable mana. A mind-reading combat mentor with a hidden past, she delivers engine coal under Larry and assists with Artillery repairs. Joining Earnest’s party, she teases the protagonist, sparks a romantic betting pool, and eagerly seeks attention from a reluctant Rhein.
• Al – Alberto (Al), a massive red‑haired man recently wed to Mary, lives near the Dish Basin. He’s a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and rally elders as a villager and leader.
• Captain – The middle-aged commanding officer of the Izumo is outwardly calm, experienced, and disengaged, holding traditional beliefs about sea creatures. Beneath this facade, he is a ruthless, pragmatic leader focused on vessel survival. While he rarely reprimands his men, he will execute deserters and readily prioritizes tactical objectives over the safety of his subordinates and civilians.
• Fredys – Izumo’s female deck foreman and section chief is a forceful, pragmatic Inland Sea expert who backs the need for an exit strategy. From the bridge, she monitors fleets, manages logistics, captives, and discipline. She runs betting pools, interprets Turku, works closely with Roland, acts refined around Francis, fiercely defends subordinates like Kenze, and is rumored to be a shotacon.
• Roland – Quiet, golden-blonde dwarf heir to the Canaria throne and Queen Cecile’s brother. Mistaken for a girl in formal wear, this beautiful bridge crew chief and squad leader directs helm operations, assists with captives, and observes threatening enemy movements. The former Tsukushi captain carries a dagger, shares quarters with Fredys, and rescues his comrades Bebel and Katarina.
• Larry – Weary and sarcastic, this 16-year-old former reincarnation is a demoted Second Lieutenant, Izumo chief engineer, and Fee Grand Principality founder. Donning a mage robe and coilguns, the pragmatic Mana user reads minds, drains mana, and handles drones despite past-life trauma. Cynical of Maria and the Captain, he mediates crew drama but is often physically restrained for refusing orders.
• Izumo – The iron-hulled ship serving as the primary vessel for the protagonist and his crew.
• Katarina – A tall, voluptuous 30-year-old Izumo flight squad leader, Chief Researcher in a sailor uniform, and captive of the narrator. This volatile, telepathic Mage pilots drones under Larry, maintaining military decorum despite an intense, possessive desire to kill him to save him from suffering. While protective of her crew, she pressures Rhein and is the protagonist’s jealous, abusive mistress.
• Ho – Ho is the family name of Oliver, a 17-year-old deck crew member and comrade of the protagonist. As a member of the military unit that defended Garao Village, the young man was ultimately murdered during a night watch, slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Mana – A non-commissioned officer and liaison who previously had their mana drained by Larry.
• Tatyana – This sailor-suit-wearing, 31-year-old divorced mother of two from Viscount Bizan is a disciplined Magic Academy Assistant Professor and Artillery Department Chief commanding the Izumo from the bridge. A principled former 101st Golems Battalion member set for promotion to the Torpedo Department, Larry’s superior remains loyal to her Captain and shares an intimate bond with roommate Katarina.
• Maria – Strikingly beautiful, six-month-pregnant Universal Church bridge mage and Suez crew member who handles her Captain’s dirty work with sadistic precision. Thomas’s widow and daughter of Ifens and Therese, she possesses gorilla strength, lethal combat skills, and massive mana rivaling a Major. Adept in coilguns and interrogation, she uses Princess Nikaure’s memories for intel and holds a grudge against Larry, on whom she exerts significant physical and magical demands.
• Mar – A battle‑hardened veteran, clad in worn armor, uses door panels as shields and captures enemy crossbows; Larry’s comrade who teases him about his sister‑in‑law’s pampering, known as Martin to his companion Edmond.
• Henrietta – Larry’s acquaintance and late wife was a muscular, massive-busted, perverted mage, rare-named orphan, and Royal Magic Academy researcher. After Bizan’s military academy, she guarded the protagonist at the East Palace before being assassinated by the former Principal. Her consciousness now resides with and parasitizes her daughter’s body, recognized by former slave Pamela by scent.
• Poi – A Dwarf welder and former carriage maker who applied his knowledge of mechanical stress to ship construction.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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