Chapter 71

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71. A New Era

"Now that she's asleep, there shouldn't be any problems."

Gently closing the door to the infirmary, the Commander lowered his voice and spoke to the few shipgirls outside. He waved his hand, signaling them to leave the area and not disturb her rest.

"But I'm a bit surprised."

Looking at Enterprise, who obediently followed behind, the Commander smiled.

"I thought you would have rushed in, but you actually stayed quiet."

"Even I know when to be appropriate."

Don't treat me like a hooligan.

Enterprise wrinkled her nose at the Commander and huffed.

"Considering she's new and has only been here for less than two days, I think I can be a bit more lenient. While maintaining proper conduct in the base is fundamental, this kind of comfort doesn't really count, so let's just let it go."

Once the novelty wears off, the guilt will follow. After all, it was a six-hour ordeal, and even a shipgirl with superior physical abilities would have issues.

And she hasn't slept for two days, which is already quite challenging for a newcomer.

"Ah... As a senior, I feel a bit guilty for putting the new girl through so much." No. 001 pushed up her glasses and smiled awkwardly.

"Especially since she's now the only secretary ship. Starting tomorrow, she'll take over and be fully involved in combat preparations. Thinking about the heavy responsibilities she'll bear, I feel a bit apologetic. I can't bear to disturb her further."

"Agreed."

Haihu, standing at the back, sighed softly.

"I'll continue to help her until she gets used to her work."

"Though she's still a bit green, there's no doubt she can become the Commander's right-hand ship. She has ambition, a good impression of the Commander, and a healthy mindset. She's the right fit."

"I think the second point is unnecessary, right?" The Commander rubbed his cheek awkwardly, smiling bitterly. "Actually, all shipgirls have that. A fledgling always develops a good impression of the first thing they see. But eventually, you'll all soar in the vast sky. The world is wide, and I'm the one limiting you."

"Right now, it's just because of me that you haven't experienced the wider world. When that day comes, I might find it hard to accept, but you'll have new perspectives. At that time, I can only wish you well."

His thin face showed a slightly awkward expression, but his usual smile remained unchanged, and his spirit was as resilient as ever. The Commander walked ahead, speaking gently.

"…Is that so? We'll see about that."

Watching the Commander's back illuminated by the sunlight, Enterprise muttered and continued to follow behind him.

Seeing her small hand shadow overlap with the Commander's, she smiled secretly. Then, she put on a serious expression, took a few steps forward, and walked beside the Commander.

"But let her sleep for now, and everyone prepare for the handover."

Since it's decided, we need to show some resolve.

The Commander didn't dwell on the issue and quickly moved to the next topic.

"Speaking of which, with a new era, I think it's time for me to make some changes, right?" He rubbed his chin and looked at the shipgirls around him, somewhat tentatively.

"Should I do a large-scale construction tomorrow to celebrate? I feel like my next build will definitely be Yamato. Really, with your help, I believe I can become a qualified Commander. So, let's take a small break, and tomorrow, let's bet on our future—"

"Sorry, rejected."

Essex, in her white uniform, shrugged.

"As long as we're here, Commander, you won't be doing any large-scale constructions."

"Hey, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? Think about it, large-scale constructions are for your benefit too. New companions, new family members, how great is that?"

"Balancing the feelings of the current shipgirls is already a hassle, and with the tradition of new girls running away, if you continue with large-scale constructions, it might disrupt the balance… Sorry, but let's just drop it. Anyway, I'm just from the technical department and won't be in charge tomorrow."

No. 001 shrugged indifferently, indicating she had no say.

"From the perspective of internal affairs and logistics, we don't recommend you do any constructions right now. There are too many consecutive plans, so please restrain yourself a bit."

Haihu also looked at her Commander with a rare expression of disdain. This person was good in every way, except for his inability to control himself. Despite the current difficulties, he still insisted on doing things that would lead to trouble. If not for the group keeping an eye on him, he would have probably starved to death from over-construction by now.

"Ah? Is that so, then let's leave it at that."

The Commander laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

The building where the infirmary was located wasn't large. Soon, they walked out of the building and began to enjoy this relatively beautiful time.

Looking at the bright world outside, the Commander shaded his eyes with his hand and squinted, observing the vibrant world, taking a deep breath. A fresh scent mixed with the slightly salty sea breeze blew across his face, as if cleansing his thoughts.

At such a moment, one is more inclined to think about the future.

"…So, how about giving it a try?"

"Rejected."

"Just one, no more, the minimum."

"Whatever you say, Commander, it's still rejected."

"But didn't you say you would listen to the Commander? Why is it like this now!"

"Unless you dismantle us, the answer will always be rejected."

"Don't be so extreme, let's discuss it further…"

Watching the Commander pleading with Haihu and Essex, Enterprise stood in the shadow of the porch, mimicking the Commander's gesture of shading her eyes, looking at the azure sky.

A few white seagulls flew in the sky, and at the horizon, there were a few white cirrus clouds. In the brilliant sunlight, everything seemed to be enveloped in a shimmering golden glow, giving a refreshing and appealing feel.

No, perhaps it wasn't the environment that changed, but the mindset.

Leaning against the wall and closing her eyes, she listened to the joy brought by the gentle breeze. A sense of relief gradually spread across Enterprise's lips.

'Enterprise, you need to work hard!'

Watching the Commander's back ahead, Enterprise's smile grew even wider.

"Commander!"

"Huh? What's wrong, Enterprise? Hey, wait! Don't just pounce on me!"

"Ah! What a disaster! Where's the doctor? Damn, the Commander is bleeding all over the ground!"

"Quick, find the Peace Ark! The Commander can't hold on much longer!"

"This, this isn't what I wanted!"

"I choose death!"

Caught off guard by Enterprise's sudden attack from behind, the Commander lost his balance and fell to the ground. The base, which had just recovered from a six-hour celebration, was once again thrown into chaos due to an assassination attempt on the Commander.

Congratulations, congratulations.

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