Chapter 134: Voice

“What was that?”

The sound was different from a shell or torpedo striking the hull.

Before I could identify it, Captain Yurick’s voice came over the radio.

“Major General Willard! I don’t know where you went, but evacuate immediately. After that torpedo hit, this ship won’t remain afloat for long.”

“The breach is sealed. Continue the breakthrough.”

“…What?”

“The ship is no longer flooding. Concentrate on your duty.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Emma arrived a moment later and looked at the metal covering the hole.

“What happened here?”

“I sealed the breach with magic. It should hold.”

“You can do that?”

“I’ve used magic on much larger structures before.”

“When you put it that way… I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“We should still go outside,” I said. “It’ll be safer for us in the air. If one of our ships survives, we can return to it. Otherwise, I’ll carry you to Wa.”

Flying all the way to Wa while carrying Emma would be difficult, but it was better than sinking with the fleet.

“I feel terrible leaving everyone,” she said, “but I understand.”

We reached the hatch leading to the deck.

“Hold on tightly. We’ll leave the ship quickly.”

I pulled Emma into my arms.

“O-Okay.”

“Why are you blushing now?”

“Don’t point it out! Just hold me properly.”

“Understood.”

The enemy line was now extremely close, and many of our ships had already been sunk.

I opened the hatch, reduced our weight with gravity magic, and flew upward as soon as we passed beyond the anti-magic barrier.

Below us, the Lunoa fleet charged directly into the enemy formation.

Ships exchanged fire at close range, and some collided as our fleet tried to force open a path.

Both battleships continued forward despite repeated hits.

Then Emma pointed toward the horizon.

“Noah… what’s that?”

A large fleet was approaching from the direction of the Orline Empire.

Before I could identify it, a magically amplified voice carried over the sea.

“This is the fleet of the Orline Empire. We can’t overlook hostilities taking place in the waters surrounding our empire. Cease fire immediately. Any further attack will be treated as a declaration of war against the Orline Empire. We’ll now deploy our anti-magic barriers and won’t repeat this message. We hope our next action won’t have to be opening fire.”

The approaching ships belonged to the Orline Empire.