Chapter 162: Departure of the Black Cedar Warship
「Is this truly a ship…?」
Pirate Drake stood frozen on the pier in the port of Pervert, finally managing to utter those words.
The imposing black ship, which seemed to glide into the harbor, was something I had seen only in blueprints. But witnessing its actual size made his knees tremble with awe.
This was the latest warship, painstakingly constructed with the full might of our shipyards. We had dismantled the massive Castilian warship, the Galleon, which we had captured, and reassembled it into a modern vessel equipped with cannons along its sides.
Reinforced with armor made from the resilient and lightweight Black cedar wood, this warship surpassed the original Galleon in size. Its angular hull resembled a floating fortress on the open sea.
I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride at the completion of such a colossal warship.
Of course, credit was due to Castilian shipbuilding prowess.
In an era where galleys, cogs, and at best, carracks were commonplace, creating a Galleon capable of navigating the tempestuous oceans all the way to the southern tip of the Afri continent was a remarkable feat.
The Britannian and Castilian naval clash had sparked an era of technological innovation, birthing new ships one after another across the Eura continent.
Indeed, it seemed that progress often marched hand in hand with warfare. And so, I’d like to believe that our Silesien Navy emerged victorious in this technological race.
Drake, once hailed as the Pirate King of the North Sea, had been away from the frontlines for six years. It was only natural that a generational gap existed.
As he sat hunched on the pier, his proud black beard now faded with age, Drake stared intently at the Black cedar warship. Could we resurrect this seasoned old pirate and reinstate him as our fleet admiral?
「Hey, King General.」
「What is it, Drake?」
Drake, leaning on his staff, spoke while gazing up at the immense black vessel in a daze.
「During the six years I was imprisoned, what in the world happened…?」
「Well, hold on. It’s too early to be astonished. We’re about to test the cannons.」
As I waved my hand, the Black cedar warship’s battery of fifty cannons came into view. The silver barrels gleamed as they emerged from two rows of gunports, and they began bombarding a small uninhabited island beyond the harbor.
One after another, scorching-hot shells struck the island, raising plumes of dust.
「Yikes!」
Even seasoned pirates recoiled in fear at the sight of these cannons for the first time.
Even though I knew what to expect, witnessing so many gunports erupt in thunderous roars still sent shivers down my spine.
「But it’s not over yet, next comes the broadside from the main guns.」
At the bow of the ship, only two specially oversized gun barrels were mounted. Their length extended to four meters, and their total weight reached five tons.
The Magic Armstrong cannons—powered by wind magic, they could fire enormous iron projectiles infused with tornadoes—were capable of extreme long-range attacks.
However, their intense recoil meant they couldn’t be used casually. Even for the formidable warship of a harsh fantasy world, equipping just two of these cannons was the limit.
With a sharp crack that sliced through the air, the black iron spheres flew with pinpoint accuracy, piercing through the uninhabited island and creating massive water columns.
And when the smoke cleared, nothing remained.
「Such tremendous power…」
「Ordinary cannons are for naval battles. The Magic Armstrong cannons have considerable range, making them suitable not only for sea combat but also for assaulting land targets.」
In this era, naval bombardment of land targets was unheard of in tactical thinking.
Attacks the enemy hadn’t anticipated tended to be highly effective.
「King General, that black hull is made of non-flammable material, right?」
「That’s right, Drake. It’s even harder than steel. With a ship like this, perhaps even a single vessel could defeat the invincible armada.」
「You won’t lose but you also can’t win with just one ship…」
「Oh? Tell me more.」
「Truly, I was astonished—utterly flabbergasted. I’ll admit it honestly. If we unleash this against the invincible armada, it’ll surely make waves. We absolutely won’t lose. But that’s all.」
「You’ve got a keen eye, Drake.」
Drake seems to possess a keen strategic eye.
Entrusting the operation of this ship to the seasoned pirate is essential.
「Don’t underestimate me… Even in my old age, this Drake is an expert! As you said, it’s all about numbers. From Castilian fleet’s perspective, there’s no need to recklessly collide with this behemoth. If the enemy fleet disperses, even the mightiest warship won’t stand a chance.」
「So, we either gather sufficient numbers for a fleet battle or find reasons to prevent the enemy from dispersing… Is that right?」
As I spoke, Drake’s cloudy left eye sparkled.
In his eyes, the clash between the Black cedar warship and the invincible armada played out vividly. He was likely searching for winning strategies.
「Exactly. To put it differently, as long as we create advantageous conditions, we will have a chance to win. King General, you’ve shown me what you promised. Now it’s Drake’s turn. The Silesien fleet, I’ll take over as the admiral!」
I grasped Drake’s hand, lifting him up from his crouched position.
Unlike moments ago when he seemed unsteady, even with a prosthetic leg, the old pirate stood firmly on the harbor pier.
He appeared revitalized, as if transformed.
Drake’s salt-and-pepper hair swayed in the sea breeze. Perhaps he was trying to reclaim the strength of his prime.
In his wrinkled hand, hope of victory had taken hold, and the fighting spirit returned.
Despite his battle-worn body and the ravages of age, Drake was the man once hailed as the Pirate King of the North Sea.
「Count on me, Admiral Drake. We’ll provide whatever is necessary for victory. As soon as the remaining Silesien ships join us here in Pervert’s harbor, we’ll engage Castilia in battle.」
Drake should ideally take it slow and focus on rehabilitation, but there’s no time for such luxuries.
The invincible armada that has already decimated the Britannian Navy has penetrated into Grace Bay, closing in on the capital city of Londo.
There’s no room for delay. Immediate action is necessary to halt the enemy’s advance.
For Drake, the only option is to regain combat instincts through practical experience.
※※※
In the harbor of Pervert, the Silesien fleet has assembled.
Admiral Jean arrives with a carrack and four koggs, along with more than enough gun emplacements on ten small galleys. Additionally, six hundred reasonably capable crew members have been recruited in this emergency.
「General, it’s been a while!」
「Admiral Jean, your efforts in supplying provisions to the Sway Peninsula were commendable.」
Admiral Jean, with his beer belly and a mop of unruly black hair, is a seasoned sailor. Aside from his aversion to naval combat, he’s a competent man.
In collaboration with Mayor Douglas Zonbart of the autonomous city of Aslo, Jean resolved the food crisis on the Sway Peninsula, which had been abandoned by the Germania Empire. He also recruited ships and crew to fill the shortages.
On our side, we’ve brought five hundred volunteers from the Marine Corps. After many soldiers became useless due to seasickness during a previous voyage, this time we focused on reinforcements from Silesien fishing villages.
Philip Kayak, our chosen marine commander, hails from the fishing village of Galley. With his sun-kissed wheat-colored skin and weathered reddish-brown hair, he’s a robust young man. His proficiency with guns and cannons, along with his familiarity with ships, makes him a valuable asset.
The harbor is teeming with over a thousand Silesien naval soldiers.
This newly formed Silesien Navy will undoubtedly revolve around them.
「Admiral Drake as Fleet Admiral, Admiral Jean as Chief of Staff, and Philip as Marine Corps Commodore.」
Now that the Silesien fleet has officially launched, let’s assign the roles properly.
While the title of Fleet Admiral has bestowed upon me the nominal rank of Naval Marshal, in practice, the wartime command of the fleet will be entrusted to the seasoned pirate, Admiral Drake. Admiral Jean will handle peacetime command, and Captain* Philip will oversee the marine corps and combat training.
TN: The commodore earlier was written in engrish. Now he’s demoted to captain again.
Creating a new fleet is no small task; the shortage of personnel persists no matter how many we recruit. Fortunately, both the crew, including Admiral Jean, and the volunteer soldiers come from humble backgrounds. This made it easier to appoint the pirate-turned-commander Drake without encountering objections.
Our goal is to expand the navy by absorbing even pirate forces into our ranks. The absence of noisy knights or nobility is a blessing in this endeavor.
「My lord, are knights truly that bothersome?」
「Well, Louise is an exception.」
Louise teases me because I often find knights tiresome. She shrugs her shoulders and smiles.
「No, it’s probably not different. We kingdom knights are already old souls, and we’re not particularly useful at sea.」
Louise’s self-deprecating remark prompts me to offer some comforting words. But before I can, Are, who seems perpetually engaged in playful banter with Louise, interjects with pride, spreading his dragon wings.
「I grew up on an island, and I can fly, so I’m useful even on the open sea! You’d do well to leave the useless female knight behind in the harbor.」
「I’m perfectly capable of protecting my lord. What I said earlier was just modesty!」
Sigh, another argument.
Louise has become oddly childish lately. Are, on the other hand, revels in challenging her. He’s taken on the carefree demeanor he had when we first met during our adventurer days.
While I’m glad Louise has reverted to her former self, I hope she doesn’t get too carried away for now.
The marines and sailors are gathering, a sight to behold.
Even I, too, possess a certain dignity.
「General, as always, the area around you is splendid. It’s enviable.」
「Admiral Jean, spare me the sarcasm. They are my bodyguards.」
With seven wives, perhaps it’s not surprising that they call me ‘splendid’. But at the very least, I haven’t laid a hand on Are or Louise.
「I apologize, but I thought we might allow the crew some rest in the harbor.」
「Admiral Jean, there’s no time for leisurely arrangements. In any case, we need you to transport us to Britannia’s Grand Isle, Grace Bay.」
「Of course, there’s no objection. I’m prepared for general’s rough treatment.」
「My apologies, Admiral. We appreciate your efforts during the journey.」
Already, the Castilian navy has occupied Grace Bay.
The United Kingdom of Britannia, however, finds itself with a knife at its throat.
Letters requesting aid from the United Kingdom of Britannia arrive urgently, like arrows. Having already committed to providing swift assistance, we cannot break our promise.
Ideally, we would have struck the heavily laden transport fleet of soldiers before they entered Grace Bay. Unfortunately, our fleet couldn’t assemble in time.
However, we’ve received information that the seven generals leading Castilia’s landing force in Grace Bay plan a grand parade as a show of force against Britannia. It’s the perfect opportunity for a naval assault.
We’ve dispatched spies to various locations, but communication at sea is unreliable, and information remains tangled. The current position of Castilia’s invincible armada is unclear. We don’t know if they’ll engage when we attack.
Nevertheless, the enemy that has docked in Grace Harbor cannot disperse.
There are enemies aplenty, both at sea and on land.
For testing the power of the Magic Armstrong Cannon, which cost our clan three hundred and seventy gold coins, they’re just the right adversaries.
「Shall we proceed?」
Upon my statement, Admiral Drake, who had been gazing intently not at the ships but at the harbor of Pervert, raised his voice.
「Wait. We don’t need five hundred marines. Leave a hundred, no, two hundred here in this harbor.」
「Drake, it’s true that we have a surplus of marines, but there’s a chance we could capture enemy ships, so it might be wise to have extra…」
「Listen. That kind of thinking is frivolous, King General. Our opponent is the invincible armada of the entire world. If we’re going to keep soldiers idle, it should be for defense.」
「Hmm, harbor defense, huh? I hadn’t considered that.」
「King General, I hate to say it, but this harbor has weak defenses. According to the battle reports, Plymouth, Portland, and Dover have all been attacked one after another by the invincible armada. So, don’t you think it’s our turn for this harbor to be targeted?」
「That’s… true, I suppose that possibility exists.」
Drake’s observation made me shudder. I had been so focused on launching attacks that I hadn’t considered the possibility of being attacked.
This harbor also housed shipyards where the Black Cedar warships were constructed. It would be disastrous if this place were assaulted and destroyed, and even worse if the enemy seized our shipbuilding materials and technology.
「We’re planning to attack Grace Bay, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the enemy admiral had the same idea.」
「Indeed, there’s merit in that. Kaara!」
Lyle-sensei was absent now. I realized I needed to step up, but I had fallen into self-centered thinking.
In response to my call, Kaara emerged from the shadows.
「Nation’s father, here.」
「Kaara. What’s the likelihood of the invincible armada attacking Pervert Harbor?」
Kaara’s face brightened at being asked for her opinion. She delicately touched her pale cheek with slender fingers, contemplating carefully before speaking.
「Unfortunately, I’m not that familiar with Castilia’s royal court, so I don’t know who commands the invincible armada. However, from the enemy admiral’s perspective, there are two ways to counter the threat posed by the Silesie Navy, which aims to strike from behind. One is to reinforce the defenses at Grace Harbor…」
「Go on.」
「Another option is to thoroughly destroy this harbor. Castilia knows that Pervert Harbor serves as the Silesie fleet’s base.」
「Indeed, it’s likely that information has reached Castilia from the sailors we released after capturing their ships.」
Kaara nodded in agreement.
Both Admiral Drake’s experience and Kaara’s situational analysis suggest that the enemy might employ such tactics.
「Very well, let’s leave two hundred marines here. Commodore Philip, Commander of the Marine Corps, I apologize for the urgency, but please borrow the Black Cedar warship’s cannons designated for construction and set up temporary defenses. Focus on guarding critical facilities like the shipyard. Phillip, coordinate with the city guards.」
「Understood.」
Even with a small number of soldiers, coastal artillery would make it difficult for the enemy to approach.
While Phillip energetically reorganized the marine units, Admiral Jean, who had been idly standing by, approached me with a concerned expression.
「General, are you sure it’s safe to reduce the ship’s crew?」
「Admiral Jean, rest assured. This battle won’t devolve into hand-to-hand combat. If necessary, I’ll personally defend.」
I reassured him with a smile, patting Admiral Jean’s broad back lightly. Despite his bear-like build, this man became remarkably timid when faced with battle. It’s a flaw, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
Drake, the admiral of naval warfare, truly lives up to his reputation. Pointing out potential dangers I hadn’t considered—perhaps I’ve stumbled upon a valuable find.
「Understood… Then let’s set sail immediately for Grace Bay.」
With renewed determination, Admiral Jean efficiently relayed orders to the crew. The warships, laden with sailors, soldiers, and supplies, glided out of the harbor.
We were aboard the Black Cedar warship, embarking on a perilous mission to rescue the imperiled ‘King’ Arthur.
To Grace Harbor we go.