Vol 1 Epilogue (1/2)
Epilogue
Part 1
Shrouded in twilight, the Naval District Office echoed with the Admiral's pleased tone
”The Third Okinoshi+ma Operation has ended with the complete destruction of the enearrisons in the surrounding area While we took severe dae, no shi+ps were sunk”
The Admiral placed the report he had just read out loud onto the desk
”An excellent battle report Don't you think so?”
”Indeed, it's quite worth celebrating”
Having poured a cup of tea for the Adht carrier Houshou broke into a heartfelt smile as she responded
”Me in the Okinoshi+ma Waters has now been disabled We have secured the safety of not simply the homeland, but also of the entirety of the Nansei/Southwestern Islands Of course, this doesn't rule out the possibility of a new enemy offensive; even so, supply convoys and other maritime traffic will now be able to sail unimpeded everywhere from the homeland to the Nansei Island Waters, up to the Western Seas we are now preparing to assail”
”Those two children of the 5thCarDiv see”
Houshou sht on the front lines or served as the Secretary shi+p - her istics and food services In the past, however, she had once been in charge of the training of Shoukaku and the other main fleet carriers
”It'd be quite wonderful if Shoukaku could come around to a new point of view from all this”
”She'll be fine, with how her younger sister is Both of them will be definitely be able to separate from their fates and find their own luck - and for me, that's perfect”
”And that's why you insist on using the Zuikaku's power as 'The Lucky Carrier'?”
”That alone is not enough to defeat the Abyssals We do not know their source, nor do we know the circumstances or place of their birth Even if we secure the Western Seas and enter an extended can, it may be that we are unable to hold out, as in the past For that purpose, I hope to keep my trump cards in hand”
”That's not what Zuikaku would hope for”
”That's fine I have no plans to fight a war in which I ao Even so, we must make preparations for circumstance and happenstance”
The Ad sun in the distance
”Not only that, our opponents are not simply the Abyssals”
Houshou nodded quietly in affirmation to what the Admiral had left unspoken
Perhaps because the ain
”Ah, I'll make sure that she doesn't hate me too much After all, I do have to one day confirm with my own eyes what color her panties are Shoukaku wears one of those sensual lace ones, so could it be that your's are--ahhhhho!”
The Admiral's hands stretched towards her hakarabbed his hand before he could reach
”You'll get punished for this kind of thing, Admiral”
””
”Even if you are deliberately trying to annoy the to those children Well, although it's not completely forbidden”
The Adht irritation, she seeently as if in affirmation
”The war has not ended yet We must do e can to silently protect themwe must win, after all, but we must also rescue the hearts of those children”
”That aside, I heard that a shi+pgirl wanted to talk to me face to face?”
The Admiral's voice became serious with his inquiry Houshou replied with a pained expression:
”I heard about this froher-ups have had a lot of opinions about what they want to do once she enters battle-ready status--though fortunately I've been able to stave them off thus far--and it's for that reason that I want to hear what she wants The other shi+pgirls are currently off to welcome Zuikaku and company, so you are the only one who has heard this
”Let her in Her life is my responsibility”
”Understood”
Houshou left the office As if to replace her, a new shi+pgirl entered
She was a slender girl, with thick dark hair Clad in a specially made red-on-white dress, her hair bound with a cherry blosso--the flag of ”That War” associated with the commitment to decisive battle Perhaps it was because she was now in the Naval District, but she had not yet equipped the heavy outfit that had been depicted on the report
”Welcoh this is a little sudden, I'd like you to answer my question”