Act Three: Rallying Cry from the Calmest Region (1/6)

Oh, hello, Acting Commander. Are you here to see the patient? Or are you feeling under the weather yourself?

Understood. I'm sure both she and her other visitor will be thrilled to see you.

Aww, that's very sweet, but I'm sure you're here first and foremost for the patient. Go on in. She already has another visitor.

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Oh! Master! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!

It's okay, really. Go on, settle down before you spill your drink.

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It's what Van Gogh wanted. I'm more of a tea person myself, but I can go for the occasional cup of joe, too.

(Sniff) I don't deserve this delicious drink... Ehehe, you'd probably all be better off if I were dead...

No more of that. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I'm trying, but...it's hard...

I know. It's okay. Just take it one step at a time. Look, your hands aren't shaking as bad as before.

(Huff, huff, huff...) Okay, I'm calmer now.

I really am sorry, Master...

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Oh... Thank you, ehehe. Mr. Nemo was kind enough to say the same, and I'm trying to believe it myself...

But I still shouldn't have...gone crazy like that after we were rescued... I'm so sorry. It's a bad habit of mine...

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...You're so compassionate, Master... Ehehe, you're going to make me cry...

Ahem... Okay, I really have calmed down now. You're still going to fire me, aren't you?

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Oh? This is the first I'm hearing about this. What kind of formation did you have in mind?

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Oh! I-I can move! I'll go wherever I have to find out what's going to happen to me!

Well, we are just about to reach the next area... Okay, Van Gogh, let's head to the bridge.

O-okay...Nemo... Ehehe...

I see... So you're going to have Van Gogh serve as an advisor?

That's right. While she does have an innate compatibility with Void Space, combat skills aren't exactly her specialty.

So bearing that in mind, as well as everything we still don't know about her Noble Phantasm, we thought frontline combat may not be the best use of her abilities.

In contrast, her quick thinking under pressure has saved our lives twice now.

I-i-it's nothing special, really... Ehehe... I just get nervous about different things than most people...

That's exactly the quality our leadership team needs, especially given how unpredictable our situation remains.

Ahem. So, in addition to Van Gogh's new position, I've decided to make several changes to our strategy and lineup for this third area.

First, I'm going to take our reconnaissance abilities even further.

I want to find and sink every last enemy in this area, and to do that, I'm going to need help from Osakabehime, Raikou, and you, Lambdaryllis.

True, with my Leviathans and my Authority, it would be trivial for me to send them on completely silent recon missions.

But you do understand that I would have to go out into the Void Sea myself to command them?

I suppose if you REALLY insist, Master, I could at least consider it.

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...Oh, fine. Just make sure you show me the proper gratitude. I expect obsequious thanks.

When you take a service for granted, it begins to degrade over time, you know.

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Very good. As for the data they collect, I trust I can just hand it all off to you, Head Scout?

Head Scout!? Is that my pet name now or something!? Come on, can't you at least lend me one of your penguins!? I'm onegai-ing you here!

First, they're Leviathans. Second, since personal loans weren't part of my contract, it'll cost you three times the standard rate. Can you pay that?

Relax. Your throw jump is fairly entertaining to watch, so don't worry about changing your style to match me.

Is EVERYONE on this ship a heartless oni!?

I'm sorry to ask so much of you, Osakabehime. If nothing else, I'll make sure you have all the resources we can spare.

Okay, okay, I'll do it already! Besides, this is nothing compared to the day-before-deadline crunch!

Hehe. With our reconnaissance capabilities expanding, I expect more of us will be working outside the ship, so I would like to take this time to share a useful tip.

Some of you may have already noticed, but it seems that Craft Essences which employ void-related magecraft confer void-compatibility to their user.

While I cannot promise they will let you perform strenuous activities in Void Space for long periods of time, especially since this compatibility is not embedded into your clothing, it should still be enough to let you fight or work on the ship outside for short periods.

So do try to remember to use an appropriate Craft Essence when using a combat shadow for battle in the Void Sea.

True, we have a lot more combat options available to us now.

As such, in addition to Van Gogh, I'd also like Yang Guifei to stay on the Nautilus from now on, since sonar is critical to our operations here.

Mash, while our defensive Bounded Fields are a lot stronger now, I'd still like you to remain stationed on the Nautilus as our last line of defense.

Aye, aye, Captain! Whatever you say! (Wink)

Yes sir, Captain! I'll do my very best!

(I see. So he's decided it would be best for me and Yang Guifei to be near Van Gogh and Master in the event of a worst-case scenario!)

Raikou, you're the core of our offensive strategy, so that's where I'd like you to stay. I know it won't be easy, especially since you're also on the recon team, so if we can help in any way, let us know.

Oh yes, of course. Then I do have one question.

What should I do were my hand to slip, causing me to accidently sink a certain indecently dressed penguin?

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A joke, of course. Isn't that right, Van Gogh?

Uh... E-ehehe...

Ugh, of all the hellholes to get stuck in. All right, if I have to go out there to run recon, maybe I'll do that right now. We are almost there, right?

Computer room here. We literally just entered the third region of the ocean.

All right, team, this is it. Good luck out there!

Oh, Ma-chan? Would it be okay if I tried a Sonarhime here before heading outside the ship?

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Hmm, I don't hear anything out there myself. Do you just want to make extra sure?

Well, I do have to go out there with a lifeline and all, so... All right, let's see what this third area is all about!

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...Uh, Ma-chan? Captain?

I've got really bad news, and incredibly bad news. Do you care which one you get first? No? Okay.

First off, the waters outside this ship are absolutely teeming with small enemies.

Second, about two hundred meters ahead of us...

...there's an enemy ship roughly three times the size of the Nautilus!!!

Uh-oh! All those small enemies just sent out a ping simultaneously!

And now they're all swarming our way! We're already under attack!

Well that's a hell of a way to roll out the welcome mat! Engine, full reverse! All hands, prepare for battle!

Oh! It sounds like the battle is over!

I still can't hear anything from the giant ship you mentioned, though. Are you sure it's out there, Batty?

I'm sure! I've been scanning the area every ten seconds, and it's definitely there! The other scouts' data backs me up, too!

You just can't pick it up 'cause it's not making any sound! If you don't believe me, why don't you go outside and see for yourself!

Oh man, it's still there. It's almost like it's just staring at us... Wait. Hm? Did it just move?

Ack! I heard it! It sounds like an underwater thunderstorm! It really does seem absolutely huge! But...it sounds like it's actually moving away from us?

...Hey, yeah, you're right. It looks like it's coming about and heading the other way...

Does this mean we're safe?

...Gaaah! I take it back! It just let out a thunderous roar! It's vaporizing everything in a straight line. It must be using a beam!

Are you serious!?

Yes, but it's moving away from us...

...Uh-oh! Everyone, hang on to something tight!

Bwaaaaaah!

Calm down! It's just the aftershock from a far-off landmass being destroyed! But if this is just the aftershock...!

Right you are, Captain. That beam was at least as powerful as an A-rank Noble Phantasm. I don't think we could've survived a direct hit from that, even with our new armor.

Ooh, my poor eardrums... Still, at least it's over now. It sounds like the enemy ship is continuing to move away from us.

I'm sorry, Lady Yu-Yu... That must've been so loud for you-you... Ehehe... Another Van Goghk for you...

Anyway...I think that might've been a warning...

As in, a warning shot? So that was the enemy's way of telling us not to come any farther...?

If you're right, that would mean the enemy ship is...intelligent...

Professor, Scáthach-Skadi, we'll need to discuss later.

For now, Fujimaru... It looks like the enemy wants us to stop here.

What do you think? Shall we live out the rest of our lives here getting by on whatever we can fish from the Void Sea?

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Right on. Then we'll just have to fight our way out of here!

Don't worry. Everyone here is still just as ready to fight as ever. All you have to do is give the order!