Act One: The Unknowable Reef (2/2)

Hey guys! Listen to this!

Professor and the goddess lady said they found a way to convert enemy carcasses from void to reality lickety-split!

Wow! So what's that mean?

It means we can finally eat the void monsters!

Oh man, that's gonna suck for you, Master! I didn't even eat monster meat back on the Mysterious Island!

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There you are, Master! Oh, you look tired. Is something wrong?

D-did you get groggy from one of the Nemo Marine's surprisingly strong drinks, like I did!?

Thank you for being so understanding, Master. I'll be more careful about what I drink in the future. At any rate...

That sounds like a great way to stay fit in an enclosed space like a submarine. I'd love to join you, but first...

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Captain Nemo just made an important discovery, and he's called an emergency briefing on the bridge. Come on!

Hey there, Acting Commander. Thanks for playing with the Marines. I know they can be a little rambunctious sometimes.

Anyway, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?

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So the catfish is already out of the bag, huh? I'll have to tighten up the ship's security protocol when I get a chance.

Still, the situation is better than I expected. A lot better.

See, we're not just going to eat or burn up the monster carcasses we collected as they are.

I know Van Gogh said we could eat them as-is, but it turns out she can only do that because of her unique Spirit Origin.

When Professor took a look at a sample of Van Gogh's blood, she found it could convert void beingsthat is, imaginary beingsinto real ones.

After further research, she managed to extract all sorts of useful real materials from void enemy carcasses.

It's kind of amazing, really. We now have renewable sources of organic matter, minerals, magical energy, and safe-to-eat cuts of meat, so our resource problem is solved.

This kind of practical experiment has never even been attempted in the history of void-related magecraft, let alone succeeded to this degree. So yes, that's the good news.

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I see you're not too happy about this, either.

Osakabehime and Scáthach-Skadi were pretty stubborn about not wanting to try it or make you eat it, either.

We've, um, certainly hunted monsters for food in past Singularities, but these are an especially unusual case.

I mean, these creatures live in a sea that drives us mad if we just look at it. I don't think we can blame anyone for being, well, hesitant.

Which is why I decided to do...this.

Hello, everyone.

Oh, it's you! I think we met briefly back at the launch ceremony?

That's right. This is Nemo Baker. While she of course specializes in baking bread, she's also proficient at cooking in general.

Thanks to the new magical energy we have to spare, I was able to convert part of Scáthach-Skadi's magecraft workshop into a kitchen.

So with Baker working her magic, even monster meat will be more appetizing than rations. At least, I think so.

Captain, can't you take this more seriously? Delicious food is one of the great joys of life on a ship, right?

Don't worry, everyone. I'll do my best to make a yummy meal out of whatever ingredients I have to work with.

It's not every day you get to go on a cruise, after all, so the more good memories you make, the better☆

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So yes, that's the good news.

Now, the bad news. I'm afraid there's actually two things to share here.

First, we now know for sure that we can't currently emerge back into Reality Space.

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Actually, we wouldn't be able to emerge right now even if the ship were perfectly fine, since the Void Space we're in now has no concept of depth.

Well, specifically, this Void Space is SO deep that it rejects any measurement of depth. The sense of depth we have here now is illusory.

As a result, the Nautilus cannot emerge from this place any more than it can dive deeper.

Basically, the spells the Paper Moon uses to employ the necessary concepts for emergence are unusable right now.

Any attempt to move up or down either simply won't work, or they'll cause the coordinate axes to freak out and make us crash into a rocky shoal, so we have to be cautious.

The hallmark of submarine warfare is its third dimension, but here it's restricted to a two-dimensional plane akin to traditional maritime warfare.

So when we encounter enemies, we won't be able to dive down and sneak underneath them or anything like that.

...All right, now that you're caught up on the first piece of bad news, you're ready to hear the second.

Remember those giant enemies Van Gogh mentioned? Well, Sonarhime just picked one up.

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Oh yes, she's fine. She's used to being a living torpedo now, and she's sounding more like a seasoned scout every time.

You certainly know a lot of interesting people, don't you, Fujimaru?

At any rate, in Reality Space measurements, this giant enemy she discovered looks to be over eighty meters long.

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Yeah. In fact, it's vastly larger than the original Nautilusprobably twice as big, if the amount of wastewater it's putting out is anything to go by.

So yes, it's hugeeasily big enough to qualify as a bona fide enemy ship. Of course, you may have seen even larger enemies over the course of your travels.

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Well, that does tell me a lot about the trials you've faced to come this far.

At any rate, we should expect giant enemies like this one to bombard us with Noble Phantasm-level attacks, like the kind we saw before.

And given the route we're taking, facing those things in close-quarters combat is inevitable.

Do you think you can handle them, Master?

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I agree. Which is why I think we should consider sending out the acting vice commander, too.

So you want me to defend everyone in the close combat team against the enemy like before?

That's right. If you can hold your ground in close with the enemy, they shouldn't be able to target the ship, either.

That said, Servant combat is Fujimaru's domain.

So I'll leave the team formation, and the timing for sending everyone out, up to you.

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All right, Marines, get them out of there! Reel in their lifelines, on the double!

Nghhh... Wait! The reel's jammed!

Now!?

This is Yang "Sonar" Guifei calling in from on site! We're dangling like fish on hooks out here!

I'm hearing a lot more creatures headed our way from two-seven-five! Sounds like reinforcements! Get us outta heeere!

I'm trying, Master! But I'm afraid I really can't hold out much longer!

No way! This thing'll send us flying who knows where if we try swimming away!

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There is one thing I can suggest, Master.

If we cut the combat team loose and use my Noble Phantasm, those of us on the Nautilus may make it out of here alive.

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All right. I can see how serious you are about bringing everyone back. The way things are going, we need to keep that option as a last resort.

We have approximately seventy seconds until enemy reinforcements arrive! Come on, Master! All of you! Think!

Ghhh...! I can't...hold out much longer!

Iyaaaaaa! We're doooooomed! I knew I should've just stayed in my room like a good hiko!

Ehehehe... Heh... So much for my new life... Still, I'm glad I got to meet all of you...before I disappear...

Nooo! Don't give up yet!

Juuust kidding. Heh. This isn't over just yet. Just a little Van Goghk for you... Ehehe...

Whoa, you sound really confident! Are you stronger than you look? Do you have some kind of secret plan to save us!?

Could you all close your eyes?

Huh?

I'm going to release my Noble Phantasm...and even I don't know what'll happen once I do...

It's a picture I painted when I was going through a really hard time, and I AM a Foreigner after all...

But, I am sure that if I release it...ehehe, we'll make it out of this alive!

Go for it!

By all means!

Do it, Van Gogh!

Now what!?

Computer room here! All of our instruments just went haywire!

Whatever this is, it shouldn't be possible! Even in Void Space! I can only theorize someone activated a Noble Phantasm on par with a Reality Marble!

Somebody on the combat team used a Noble Phantasm we've never seen before!?

Oh, wait, hang on. What's this now? Uh-huh, uh-huh. Hmm? Yes...

Our instruments are back online, and... Uh-huh... It looks like things are...okay there now?

I can confirm that the combat team is back in the safe zone. Master, Captain, if you're going to fire the Noble Phantasm, now's your chance.

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So you're choosing to take the fight to the enemy here, huh. Very brave, Acting Commander.

Attention, all hands! Prepare to deploy a Noble Phantasm attack!

Of course, the ship won't be able to endure the recoil in its current state, so divert all the energy we can spare to an Anti-Impact spell!

Our target is the enemy ship at zero-six-five! The aftershocks should also drive off the reinforcements!

Give it everything you've got! If we can't break through the enemy in one shot, we'll all be sunk for sure!

I ALWAYS give it everything I've got! Hey, computer room! You're sure you can keep the engine intact, right!?

Nope, I can't. But I'll do my best to make sure it at least doesn't come apart entirely. Will that and a dance be enough, scary Engine Room Lady?

Hell no it won't! You mess this up, and I'll be makin' you dance on top of whatever's left of our Magical Reactors!

Oh no, this is terrible! Professor's gonna end up as seafood barbecue!

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I'm just a bit flustered, and I am in the mood for a speech. Would you mind?

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All right, everyone! Win or lose, it all comes down to this!

Well said, Captain! That's what being a sailor's all about!

Start up the Triton Engine! All sections, final safety checks! Go!

We've already got the enemy square in our sights, of course!

Copy that. Distance to target and attack pattern analysis complete. Unfolding magical energy barrier!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about, Engines One and Two! Keep 'em revved right up to the redline.

Hmm. Would anyone mind if I made custard pudding for today's snack?

Not at all!

All right, here goes! Whoever dares threaten the peaceful seas is going to have to answer to Captain Nemo!

Great Ram Nautilus!!!

Oh gosh, I still can't believe we made it back alive! I don't think I really understood I'd gotten myself into before!

I'm happy...I was useful... Ehehe.

I wonder what happened back there? I think I saw something, but... Ghh, my brain. All I can remember is seeing something horrible...

Me too. I'm not sure why, but...when I try to recall what happened, my head just...hurts...

This is how you react after we all managed to make it back alive from a fearsome battle!? Yikes, warfare has changed a lot since my time.

Yang Guifei is right. This is the best possible result we could have hoped for, seeing as we didn't suffer a single casualty.

That said, this victory did come at a cost.

The ship's frame is only just holding together, the pressure hull is in tatters, and it almost cost us our lives to stop that rainbow-colored leak.

Luckily, we were able to hold it back thanks to the Nemo Series and Scáthach-Skadi, but honestly, I'm not entirely sure how we're still alive.

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We lost because we didn't plan well enough. Also, we underestimated our enemy, and were way too careless about securing an escape.

We might've succeeded at removing the giant enemy blocking our way, but only at the cost of the Nautilus being as stuck as a beached whale.

To get moving again, we'll need to collect everything we can from the area and put it all toward fixing the ship.

And since the next areas are only going to get bigger, we'll need to really focus on resource collection.

First, we'll use what parts we have to get the Nautilus ready to sail the Void Sea again. We need to focus on silent running and storage space for our extra resources.

At the same time, we'll also need to expand our options for Void Sea warfare. Once we have more magical energy, we can, and should, bring in more Servants to help us.

That said, it's now clear that attacking those giant enemies with Servants in close combat is a fool's errand, and we shouldn't bother trying to do so any longer.

So it's going to be absolutely essential that we find a new supply of torpedoes somewhere.

I'm afraid we can no longer afford to accommodate passengers. You're now all a part of this ship's crew, and I'm going to work you accordingly! Be ready!

But I don't wanna wooork!

That is no way to treat a goddess... But, very well. I have plenty of skill and experience helping mortals, so I will do what I must.

In particular, I'm guessing the two Foreigners will be key to making our way out of this Void Sea, so I'll be counting on you more than ever.

Of course! Unskilled though I may be, I'm happy to help any way I can!

Um, ehehe, I'd like to help too, but I don't know if I can...

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Uh-uh. I was so caught up in the moment that...I never understood exactly how I was using my Noble Phantasm, or what its effects were...

I'm sorry. I really am useless. Ehehe... The only thing I'm good for...is eating monsters and, um, expelling them as magical energy...

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Oh! How about my blood, instead? You can have as much of that as you like if it'll help! Ehehe...

Van Gogh, for the time being, your job will be to help the resource acquisition team, and to cooperate with Professor and Nurse's tests.

We should have enough blood from you for now, but if we do need more, we'll be sure to ask.

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I-I got a job! And praise!

This is amazing! Ehehe, I promise I'll do my best!

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Heh... Ehehe... I got a job... Steady work... Income... This is so cool... I'm going to do my very best... Ehehe...

Goghie.

Aah! L-Lady Yang Guifei? A-are you hugging me from behind?

It's so great how well you're fitting in here! It really gets you motivated, doesn't it? I know it is for me!

I look forward to working together!

Y-yes... I do too, Lady Yang Guifei...

Good luck remembering how to use your Noble Phantasm properly! I'm rooting for you!

...Why did that painting make that happen?

What is a Foreigner, anyway?

What...am I...?