Chapter 127: Enemy Ship

When we reached the deck, the relaxed atmosphere of the voyage had vanished. Sailors hurried to their stations with tense expressions.

“Major General Willard! Your Highness!”

One of them saluted us.

“What happened?”

“An unidentified vessel has been sighted ahead. The light cruiser conducting forward reconnaissance reported visual contact.”

“So it’s begun.”

A message came through the ship’s communication system.

“Report from the forward screening vessel! Target bearing confirmed. Distance approximately twelve thousand and closing!”

The crew called for the captain, but Captain Fall Yurick was already on the bridge directing the ship.

I looked toward the horizon and found a tiny black point above the sea.

A ship.

It was the first enemy vessel I had ever seen.

Captain Yurick joined us and raised his binoculars.

“Considering its course, position, and speed, it can’t be a merchant vessel. There’s no doubt that it’s an enemy ship. We can see only one at present, but there are almost certainly more behind it.”

“I agree.”

I was no sailor, but I understood merchant shipping through my business. That vessel wasn’t moving like a merchant ship.

The fleet was ordered to battle stations.

Captain Yurick turned to us.

“Your Highness, Major General, please go to the bridge. It’s dangerous to remain on deck.”

“No. Prepare a radio. I’ll conduct aerial reconnaissance.”

I looked at Emma.

“Please go to the bridge, Your Highness.”

Neither side yet knew the other’s complete formation. Learning the enemy’s numbers and deployment would be invaluable.

“What are you saying? That’s too dangerous!” Emma protested.

“I’m the best person for the task. No one else can reach the same altitude.”

“You’re a commander and my deputy.”

“On the Western Front, I infiltrated the enemy general headquarters alone and obtained the information needed for our attack. I’m making this decision based on that experience.”

“I don’t want to send you into danger.”

“Refusing a manageable mission because it carries some danger would create a greater risk. We could send someone else, but the magic aerial soldiers aboard the fleet were drawn from sailors who already have important duties. Removing them from those posts before we reorganise would be poor judgement.”

Emma studied me.

“Very well. You don’t seem to be volunteering because you want to be hurt.”

General Newsbeck sometimes worried about that as well, but I didn’t seek danger for its own sake. I simply went where I could contribute most.

“Come back alive,” Emma said.

“I promise.”

A sailor brought the radio Captain Yurick had ordered.

“Thank you.”

I secured it to my equipment, activated flight magic, and rose above the deck.

Then I used earth magic to manipulate gravity and shot high into the sky.