Chapter 130: Gambler’s Blood
To the west of Silesie lies the expanse of the Siren Sea.
It seems like the Atlantic Ocean is called the Siren Sea in our world.
Well, names matter little, but when one speaks of ‘sirens’, they conjure images of mythical sea creatures—upper bodies human, lower bodies avian—luring sailors astray with their haunting melodies, leading them to shipwrecks and peril.
Indeed, that’s how treacherous the open seas are.
Perhaps it is the realm of harsh fantasy, where such monsters truly exist. Regardless, danger clings to the waves.
Now, the dominion over this already perilous Siren Sea has ignited a naval conflict. The United Kingdom of Britannia, ruling the northwestern archipelagic nation, clashes with the Castilia Kingdom, a peninsula state to the southwest.
For certain, Siren Sea trade routes yield immense profits, but they come at a cost. The struggle for influence is understandable, yet the sea, already fraught with peril, may become even more treacherous. Truly, this is a vexing matter.
Amidst battles against Fist Slave Emperor Dyson and unsettling movements among southern regional nobles, our burdens multiply.
However, the Siren Sea is our very doorstep—a sea we cannot leave untended.
An urgent council convenes in Lyle-sensei’s chamber within the royal castle. Her eloquence flows, met with interjections from Kaara, as is our customary pattern. Yet lately, Sherry and the esteemed Prime Minister Nicola, Lyle-sensei’s very own father, have increasingly joined the discourse. If Sherry were alone in her dissent, it would be no issue. But Prime Minister Nicola, leader of the prime minister’s faction, backed her up.
The Prime Ministerial faction, often bound by ancient customs, intriguingly aligns with Sherry, who wields innovative economic theories.
No, I don’t find it funny because Lyle-sensei is in trouble because of it. The logical mind would deem it impossible for Sherry and Prime Minister Nicola to unite—a pairing that counters Lyle-sensei’s prudent domestic policies.
Humans are mysterious creatures and politics is something that cannot be divided by logic alone.
It looks like an old grandfather angry at the parent for giving the grandchildren allowance without permission but we’re talking about the national treasury’s budget here.
Prime Minister Nicola dotes upon young Sherry, cradling her upon his knee, while facing off against Lyle-sensei.
To Lyle-sensei, the Prime Minister is akin to a father, and Sherry, a cherished pupil. Thus, the alliance resembles that of a grandfather and granddaughter, making matters most vexing.
Moreover, Sherry excels at persuasion. The stern Prime Minister, who reveres tradition, appears wholly ensnared. Indeed, he nods to anything Sherry asks him to.
A most disconcerting development.
「In light of this, we have connected the mines, timber mills, and forges acquired within the union of lords territory to create a new production line. Given how populous the Lanct Duchy is and that we secured land through the Sawatari Company, we have ensured a steady supply of saltpeter.」
In her logistics plan, Sherry boasts of her acquisitions.
Lyle-sensei, with an air of resignation, brushes back her unruly chestnut hair.
「Without such extravagance, we could have expanded our production lines further into the Ye Mountains.」
「Extravagance, you say? No, it is preemptive investment. Lanct’s superior technology and craftsmanship surpass Silesie’s. We have already achieved the production of a thousand matchlock rifles. Cannon prototypes are also progressing.」
「Sherry, listen well. Stability is paramount in weaponry. Hasty craftsmanship by unseasoned artisans will yield flawed guns and cannons. No matter how many they are, if you can’t use them in battle, they’re worthless.」
「I agree, no one can do it well the first time. With Lanct’s skilled artisans gaining experience, quality shall improve. The Tsurube River’s trade system harbors boundless potential. Are we really going to forsake this opportunity just because of short term efficiency?」
Sherry has indeed matured.
Facing Lyle-sensei, she now retorts with confidence. As for which path holds truth, I cannot say, but let us weave a convenient resolution.
「Sherry, deliver those thousand matchlock rifles to General Mainz. He has wielded salvaged firearms from battlefields, so even if they bear defects, he can make good use of them. Given that Lanct Duchy now assembles volunteer troops, our need for firearms remains paramount.」
「Yes, oniisama… I mean, master!」
I stroke Sherry’s silver hair, and Lyle-sensei sighs.
「Not only the Prime Minister but also Takeru-dono—both spoils Sherry excessively.」
「Regent Lyle, surely you, too, dote upon her.」
「Enough! We are not discussing such matters now.」
「Being a wife grants certain privileges. Even if I’m not one, I still deserve to be spoiled!」
Sherry persists.
Lyle-sensei, perhaps weakened by my influence, grapples with this situation.
Likely, it is partly my doing. After all, I transformed Lyle-sensei into a woman, and thus, her resolve may have softened.
「Very well, Sherry, let us conclude our logistics discussion. Behave yourself for now, and later, you will be rewarded.」
「Mmm…」
I pressed my hand against Sherry’s small lips to stop her from talking, and Lyle-sensei and I moved on to a more pressing matter.
While Sherry possesses her insights, Lyle-sensei, unlike her, must consider diplomacy and warfare—hence his busyness.
「Sensei, must we truly engage in war with the Castilia Kingdom?」
「That will be dependent on our level of involvement in the conflict between the United Kingdom of Britania and Castilia Kingdom, but that aside, Castilia views us as enemies.」
「Perhaps it is better to take preemptive action. Castilia, though a naval power, also shares land borders with rebellious southern regional noble territories within Silesie.」
Indeed, there is a possibility that the regional nobles and Castilia might conspire, launching a joint attack by sea and land.
If we can align with the United Kingdom of Britania’s navy, it is best to act swiftly.
「However, we possess only two warships.」
「Right.」
Lyle-sensei smiled wryly. Castilia’s invincible fleet boasts thirty-four royal carracks. When armed merchant vessels within the country are added, their total approaches two hundred.
In a Silesie-only confrontation, their naval force is basically hundred times greater than ours.
That won’t even be called a war.
「Moreover, our ships are cog-type, correct? They lack cannons.」
Having never seen one in person, I cannot say for certain.
With a length of thirty meters and a total weight of one hundred tons, they should suffice for regular use. However, whether they can serve as warships remains uncertain.
「While they may accommodate cannons, they would likely only fit bronze cannons along the bow. Takeru-dono contends that true naval artillery should not line the deck but rather be arrayed along the ship’s sides.」
「Sensei, you have an excellent memory. Castilia’s invincible fleet also employs sixty-meter-long carracks. To truly wield cannons, we would need even larger vessels—perhaps galleons. In any case, size matters.」
My knowledge of ships is limited, having only played games.
Regardless, if we intend to line cannons along the ship’s sides, we require sizable vessels. Perhaps galleons, yes. At the very least, galleon-sized ships are necessary for a cannon-armed naval force.
「Ships bigger than the naval force of Castilia? Sounds like a dream.」
「Well, there is no point in discussing it now. When the grand naval battle begins, let us send our two cogs alongside the United Kingdom of Britania’s navy. And perhaps Kaara can unleash a Meteor Strike upon the enemy vessels.」
In the end, we resolved to do what we can now.
In this world devoid of cannon warfare, naval battles equate to clashes between advanced mages. For now, we must learn from such examples.
We, too, harbor mages.
Not only the prodigious sorceress Kaara, but Prime Minister Nicola is an advance mage too.
Yet, in Prime Minister Nicola’s case, his specialty lies in Dispel Magic—a rather unassuming spell.
Still, it serves well to counter attacks from enemy mages. Perhaps there is merit in intervening in other nations’ wars, even if it seems futile or injudicious.
Truth be told, I wish we could capture enemy ships to bolster our naval strength, but that seems unlikely.
Castilia outnumber the Britannian naval forces three to two, and Britannia’s fleet is a haphazard assembly. There is no way to win.
Oddly enough, I’m having trouble thinking why do they even want to fight?
Perhaps it is because the United Kingdom of Britania, an island nation, relies on its oceanic routes for survival.
Just as they once battled the expanding Germania Empire on the open seas, if Castilia strikes, they have no choice but to fight.
Naval warfare is costly, and whether victorious or defeated, territorial gains remain elusive. Yet sometimes, even in seemingly futile wars, one must fight to safeguard their homeland.
As someone from a maritime nation who has experienced defeat, I understand the desperate resolve to survive. Such poignant sacrifices exist in war.
「Well then, that’s it for now.」
「Mmm…」
Why does my hand holding Sherry feel warm? She’s sucking on my finger like a baby.
Lyle-sensei warns against spoiling, but Sherry’s still a child.
※※※
「Say, Sherry. Do you think it’s possible to build a large ship equipped with cannons?」
I heaved Sherry up in my arms, carrying her with a gentle bounce. She sucked on my fingers like a baby, then shifted to nibbling on my neck.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was a vampire, but since it was a child’s playful act, I didn’t mind. Sherry’s way of clinging to me was a bit peculiar.
「With the shipbuilding technology of the Duchy of Transylvania, it’s worth a shot. They also manufacture cannons, so why not transport the materials down the Rhine River and construct it in the port city of the duchy?」
「I see. Have you secured the necessary acquisitions for that?」
「I wouldn’t say it’s a done deal, but it’s possible. I had already anticipated the possibility that you might ask this, oniisama. However… there’s the matter of cost-effectiveness. Building new ships can be quite expensive, and if we’re going beyond the size of a carrack, we won’t know if we’ll end up with a seaworthy vessel until we actually try it. If you ask me if it’s worth taking the risk to build a new type of ship, I’d say we lack sufficient data.」
「Remember what we talked about earlier? Sensei said it was inefficient.」
「There will always be setbacks when venturing into uncharted territory, but that’s precisely why we must never give up on our endeavors. When faced with uncharted domains, when everyone is frozen with fear, it is those who take the first step who reap the greatest rewards.」
Sherry wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. Her small body trembled slightly.
Sherry understood what Lyle-sensei was saying perfectly well. She was also afraid of failure. But even so, it was this girl who would take that first step into the perilous waters.
Gambler’s blood, I suppose.
Lately, I’ve always been on the defensive side because I now have a family but I somehow felt like embracing Sherry’s blood.
「Gather the necessary materials. We can’t say for sure if it’ll be useful in the current situation, but I’ll smooth things over with sensei.」
「Yes, as you command, oniisama!」
A landlocked nation fighting a seafaring power won’t be an easy feat.
There’s still much adventure ahead.
After all, I am the Hero of Silesie.