Zuikaku looked up at the three who had suddenly appeared, her eyes locking on the girl who had just spoken.
The girl had a face so exquisite one could not look away, a bewitching smile, sapphire-blue eyes, slender brows, delicate lips, long curling lashes, a white off-shoulder dress, her whole figure seeming to shine with silver light.
She was breathtaking, beautiful, intoxicating.
"Who are you people?" Zuikaku managed to ask.
Illustrious raised her right index finger to her lips. "Shh, lovely lady, don't speak. Let me turn you over and treat your wounds."
Illustrious gently touched Zuikaku's soft, fragrant body; even the careful motion made the grievously injured girl cry out in pain.
"Agh! That hurts! You still haven't answered me—why are you helping me?" Zuikaku asked in bewilderment.
Illustrious leaned in until her face was only a finger's breadth from Zuikaku's; one tiny slip and their lips would meet.
Zuikaku had never been this close to another girl except her sister, and the intimacy brought a soft blush to her cheeks. W-wait, I'm not into yuri! She's just a girl—why am I blushing? It's not like she can eat me or anything.
Why help you? Because I want you as my Ship Girl, of course! But she couldn't say that aloud; letting Zuikaku sense an ulterior motive would drop her approval rating.
"I'm Illustrious, a perfectly ordinary passing Ship Girl and Admiral. This is my Secretary Ship, Azuma."
"Hello!" Azuma greeted Zuikaku.
"And this other passer-by is a cadet Admiral named Sun Xiaoqiang."
"It's Chen Xiaoqiang!" Chen Xiaoqiang snapped, furious at the misnomer.
"Huh? Sun Xiaoqiang, why are you changing names again?"
"I've always been Sun Xiaoqiang—ah, no, I mean Chen Xiaoqiang! You're the one getting it wrong." Chen Xiaoqiang was dizzy from Illustrious's confusion.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry! Chen Xiaoqiang, right? Got it this time!" Illustrious thought, Whatever, he's just background noise.
Her real focus was her ship-recruitment plan, so she turned back to Zuikaku.
"Why help you? Need you ask? A beauty like you in distress—who could stand by and watch?" Illustrious praised her without batting an eye.
"Sweet talker. You Admirals only ever want to 'fish' new ships." Battle-hardened Zuikaku had heard every line and rolled her eyes in disdain.
"No, I mean every word. If you doubt me, place your hand on my sincere heart and feel for yourself."
Illustrious took Zuikaku's delicate hand and pressed it to her chest. See for yourself, she seemed to say.
Zuikaku stared at the large, pale, perky breasts—and, as if possessed, she squeezed. Her fingers sank deep; the softness felt amazing.
"Ngh~!" Dammit, girl, I said heart, not boobs! Illustrious nearly coughed blood, but endured it for the sake of recruitment.
She thought Zuikaku would stop at a quick grope, but the girl grew frenzied. Illustrious flushed; a damp heat gathered below. N-no, I can't let this continue!
"S-so, do you feel my burning, honest heart now?" Illustrious's voice quavered.
The call snapped Zuikaku back to reality; she yanked her hand away. "A-hem! I… I suppose I believe you for now. I'm Zuikaku, a Free Ship Girl."
"Phew! Glad you sensed it." Her sacrifice of dignity hadn't been wasted—yet, as Zuikaku's hand left, Illustrious felt a pang of loneliness.
Shake it off, focus on business. She opened her rigging space and produced a lustrous golden crystal, floating it before Zuikaku's chest with her power.
"This is a Gold-Class azure crystal. Its gentle Ship Qi will heal every wound. It may sting a bit—bear with it."
The Gold-Class azure crystal hovered, and Illustrious channeled her strength to awaken its mild Ship Qi.
Boom! A flash of Ship Qi burst forth and slowly poured into Zuikaku. At first the injured areas itched as if ants were crawling, but not unpleasantly.
"It's so itchy, and stings a little as it goes in," Zuikaku reported, watching the crystal shrink as the Qi flowed into her.
"Perfectly normal; it means the wounds are knitting," Illustrious explained patiently.
Before their eyes the injuries closed. Not only healed, Zuikaku felt the gentle Qi strengthen her—only a bit, but undeniably.
When the crystal vanished Illustrious stopped, wincing inwardly. A hundred of those could promote a Gold-Plated Ship Girl to Epic rank. Seeing Zuikaku fully restored, she consoled herself: nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"All done—your wounds are gone. Try standing."
Zuikaku rose slowly, inhaling deeply. "Amazing! I feel better than ever—injuries gone and even a little stronger."
She fixed Illustrious with a stare that nearly made the healer choke: "Got any more? Toss me a few dozen."
A few dozen and I could break through to Epic and rescue my sister!
Illustrious's eye twitched. "Dream on. That was my last one. Its power to heal you instantly shows how precious it is."
Gold-Class azure crystals were luxuries for the elite; this country girl had the nerve to demand dozens.
"Hmph, stingy." Zuikaku didn't believe the "last one" claim and turned away in a huff.
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