Referring to three days as "72 hours" was indeed a small psychological trick on Yamato's part.
Saying "three days" feels long, but "72 hours" sounds shorter—this is a subconscious difference caused by the way humans perceive time units.
Clearly, the red-haired girl had seen right through Yamato's little ploy.
However, she didn't pursue the matter. Instead, she gazed into the misty distance above the sea, deep in thought.
"…This is going to be tough."
But Yamato, ever the tireless warhorse and trouble-seeker, shifted uncomfortably and declared with determination,
"Milady, I'm willing to lead an assault on that island right now. Even if we don't win, we'll at least uncover the extent of their power. Once the main army arrives, they'll be crushed underfoot!"
The red-haired girl let out a soft laugh and shook her head.
"Truly, ignorance breeds fearlessness. With a temperament like yours, how have you even survived this long?"
That stung. Yamato, born from the arrogance of being the "world's strongest battleship," couldn't stand being belittled.
Her neck stiffened.
"I volunteer as the vanguard! I'll fight to the death without regret!"
The red-haired girl sighed. She neither agreed nor refused, but instead asked an unrelated question.
"Do you know about No. 307—Barbarossa?"
Abyssal flagships were numbered by order of their emergence. The Barbarossa that had been defeated by Hikaru and his fleet was designated No. 307.
Compared to Yamato, Barbarossa was far rarer. Yamato hesitated.
"You mean that Barbarossa?"
The red-haired girl smiled faintly.
"She joined forces with No. 5147 Bismarck and No. 5147 Tirpitz to ambush that same island's shipgirl—Tirpitz. They fought from high tide to low, and all three were slain."
She glanced sidelong at Yamato, her expression unreadable.
"By Tirpitz. Alone."
Yamato's face was full of disbelief.
"Th—that's impossible. Barbarossa may have been crazy, but she was powerful! And she had both Bismarck and Tirpitz with her!"
She frowned, then cautiously asked,
"Milady, could it have been some kind of dirty trick on the enemy's part?"
"I wish it had been," the red-haired girl muttered, running her fingers through her long hair and tossing it back.
"But no. Until further orders, do not initiate combat."
Yamato blinked.
"What if they attack us first?"
"Then retreat to Base 544. Unit No. 71—X.Fliegerkorps—will cover your withdrawal."
To humans, X.Fliegerkorps were known as Airfield Princesses. Alongside Fortress Princesses, they were the unbreakable guardians of Abyssal strongholds. So far, no human force had ever breached a base defended by X.Fliegerkorps.
One Abyssal base was equivalent to an entire army corps.
Yamato was reluctant. Even among Abyssals, there were internal rivalries. She belonged to the "Japanese faction," while the X.Fliegerkorps belonged to the "German faction." The two groups were inherently incompatible.
And Base 544 was controlled by the German faction. For her to tuck tail and flee there for shelter… she'd be mocked endlessly. Better to go down in a blaze of glory than suffer that humiliation.
She made up her mind then and there:
Even if the enemy came knocking, even if she were outmatched—she would never seek help from Base 544.
She couldn't afford that disgrace.
As for the red-haired girl's orders… well, as humans say: "Once the general is out in the field, the emperor's commands may not be followed."
If she needed an excuse, she'd just make one up—say she'd been pinned down by enemy shipgirls and couldn't escape.
The red-haired girl either didn't notice Yamato's scheming, or simply didn't care.
This so-called "million-strong army" that Yamato commanded—was really just the result of the red-haired girl notifying a few terrifying shipgirls.
Earlier, massive sea monsters formed from seawater—colossal giants, hydras, and sea serpents that blotted out the sky and loomed over thousands of meters—had stood from the ocean depths.
That power… she was certain it belonged to that Tirpitz.
Humans called her the "Queen of the North Sea," the "Peerless Demon," and the "Strongest in the World."
The red-haired girl could feel it—undeniably.
This was a clear message.
A show of force.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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