Gasi

Part 16The sky had cleared up brightly. It was as though the storm last night was just a lie.

It was a bad wind for Horntbeck fleet that wanted to take the upwind.

「So they noticed just as expected.」

Urraca nodded happily when the lookout discovered Horntbeck fleet showing up from beyond the horizon.

It would be a killjoy if they were simply allowed to reach the destination without any incident.

Even so there was no changing the fact that this was the last defense line. She felt like she could see the bitter face that Odysseus was making right now.

If he was able to discover this fleet earlier, he would have a lot more options to attack, like launching night attack, performing small scale hit and run to harass the fleet, launching a strong assault that only targeted the transport ships, etc.

But now he could only gamble everything in a single decisive battle.

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「I'll teach you that even a proud lone wolf won't be able to win against a pack of hunting dogs.」

It was just as Urraca imagined, Odysseus wasn't hiding his bitter expression.

And yet he didn't feel even the slightest despair toward the situation. Rather his fighting spirit was heightened further.

Odysseus had never experienced defeat since he was entrusted with a fleet of Horntbeck Kingdom navy.

The only time he ever felt something that was close to a sense of defeat was when Urraca managed to narrowly get away from his encirclement.

──Most of all, now that everyone believed that the combined fleet of Sanjuan-Majorca was the strongest in the continent, being able to challenge that strongest was a man's dream.

「Approach them with the single line formation! Starboard easy.」

「Starboard easy, sir!」

Odysseus closed the distance with Urraca's fleet. At the same time he was aiming to assault the transport ships if things went well.

Of course Urraca also immediately saw through Odysseus's aim and moved to block his path.

Odysseus reacted to that and he also changed his path. He didn't give up trying to circle behind the enemy.

Naturally it became a competition of both fleets displaying their skill in fleet maneuver to the limit.

「──I see, you're certainly a genius!」

Even Odysseus was forced that Urraca possessed genius level of skill in commanding a fleet.

No matter how much he tried to shake her off, Urraca would read the wind and moved her fleet accurately to doggedly hound his fleet. She didn't show any opening that Odysseus could take advantage of.

The fleets had crossed path several times within the range that was barely outside the reach of rocket arrow. Each side was changing their intention while squirming to occupy the advantageous attack position.

It was like two snakes were trying to bit at the other's tail.

「But, it's sad. Genius is genius because nobody can imitate them.」

When around a hour had passed, even though Urraca's La Mancha could keep up with Odysseus, the ships behind it was noticeably getting left behind. Especially the Sanjuan Kingdom fleet that wasn't the direct subordinate of Urraca. It was really hard for their ships to coordinate with Urraca.

It wasn't so bad when it came to Urraca's comrades who had constantly accompanied her in her voyage, but it was impossible for the Sanjuan Kingdom fleet to be able to keep up with Urraca's transcendent maneuver after only accompanying her for a brief time.

「Now then, it's just a bit more.」

With just a bit more, he would be able to drive a wedge between Majorcan Kingdom fleet and Sanjuan Kingdom fleet.

Horntbeck Kingdom fleet was going to emerge as the victor of this maneuvering battle.

Although both fleet hadn't exchanged any attack, in reality this was a war of nerves where both sides had devoted all the skills in their possession.

「Match the trim! Accelerate!」

La Mancha swiftly accelerated so that the opponent couldn't drive a wedge into their side.

It showed that Urraca's La Mancha had purposefully slowed down until now in order to match the balance of the fleet.

「I know you'll do that. You will rely on your own skill at the very end. You're that kind of person.」

Odysseus had predicted Urraca's response.

「Deploy the right wing! Left wing, Hard starboard!」

「Sir!」

The fleet that should act as the arrowhead to drive the wedge into the enemy formation changed shape to cut off Urraca's path of escape.

It would be the end for the combined fleet if they lost their commander Urraca.

He wasn't underestimating Admiral Jose by any means, but that man wasn't the type of live battle commander.

If the maneuver battle grew to their disadvantage, Urraca would take the lead in order to break the deadlock. Majorca Kingdom fleet had cut through every difficult situation until now by doing that.

Odysseus's prediction was splendidly right on the money. At the very least Odysseus himself believed that.

「──Prepare to fire the rocket arrows! Don't let your guard down! Our opponent is the Tormenta Negra!」

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「They're not bad despite being the enemy.」

Urraca's honest feeling came out without any anxiety or contempt to the enemy.

The enemy slipped between Majorca Kingdom fleet and Sanjuan Kingdom fleet. In addition their right wing was half encircling Majorca Kingdom fleet.

With the current wind direction, the ship couldn't change direction to the opposite side from the right wing.

It was a tactic of dividing the enemy and then crushing them one by one with half encirclement.

It was the perfect fleet maneuver that made her wanted to write it down into the strategy textbook. Urraca honestly admitted that she was unable to prevent that with the current capability of her combined fleet.

「Even so, you're greatly mistaken if you think I haven't foreseen this.」

This battle was a battlefield that existed only for Urraca──a world only for her that even Baldr couldn't possibly imitate.

「Transfer the right of command to Admiral Jose!」

「Ma'am!」

「Port 20 degree, accelerate!」

「Ma'am!」

「Now, Odysseus, I invite you to the unknown world from here on.」

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Odysseus was astonished in the inside by La Mancha's acceleration.

It was the fastest possible speed. Most likely it was an acceleration that nobody else could possibly imitate.

「Just what's with that mast's toughness...」

What produced the speed of La Mancha was undoubtedly its conspicuously large mast and the multiple sails that were attached to it.

If that many sails were opened, normally the mast wouldn't be able to endure the wind's propulsive power and it should snap.

However he couldn't just watch in admiration.

「First ship, second ship, prepare to fire the rocket arrows! Alter the estimated range by 30 meters!」

No matter how godly Urraca's ship handling was, it was still within the realm of Odysseus's prediction.

If the ship was within his predicted firing range, it was meaningless how splendid the opponent's ship handling skill was.

──He won.

Before the rocket arrows were fired, Odysseus's eyes sawy the thick white smoke that was rising from La Mancha along with a thunderous sound.

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「Fore mast top sail a back!」

「Ma'am!」

「Mizzen spanker whole in!」

「Ma'am!」

「Starboard volley! FIREEEEEEEEEE!」

La Mancha kept its angle horizontal even while making a sharp turn. For cannon balls were fired from it.

Their initial velocity was 80 meter/second. They were so slow that even human's naked eye could perceive them, but they changed the history of sea battle right at this moment.

The kinetic energy that was bestowed to the 40 kilogram iron ball was something unprecedented for this era. It easily smashed through the ship's side that was made from oak wood. A lot of seawater flooded in.

To repeat, originally cannon was a weapon with low accuracy.

However it was different only when it came to La Mancha. Its crews were able to hit a small boat that was several hundred meters away with composed expressions.

A large ship for sailing through the open sea was simply a nice target for them.

「Tacking!」

「Tacking! Ma'am!」

While the cannons at the starboard side were preparing for the next volley, La Mancha was turning around to pint the cannons at its port side.

Odysseus noticed their intention too late.

「All ships accelerate! Fire the rocket arrows as soon as we enter the range!」

The rocket arrow's advantage was having longer effective range than the flamethrower that Urraca and the others hand, and yet they had lost that advantage at this moment. Now the only way to survival was to close the distance.

──They got us!

It was truly a blunder. Even though his side had obtained the new weapon that was rocket arrow, he failed to consider the possibility of the enemy getting new weapon too.

Even so──Urraca's La Mancha was too far ahead from the rest of the fleet. The fact that this was a good chance to attack her hadn't changed.

Horntbeck fleet instantly changed formation to two lines formation and took a course that would bring them to sandwich La Mancha from left and right.

「Left attack ready, fire!」

「Sir!」

The moment the cannons fired, La Mancha made use of even the recoil and veered with rapid braking.

Several of Horntbeck's ships got hit by the cannon balls. Their speed dropped rapidly and they were left behind from the formation.

However La Mancha's speed was falling drastically after changing direction so abruptly.

A ship's speed would fall if the ship changed direction drastically from its original direction. No matter how godly the skill the captain and the crews had, it was still impossible to change the law of physics.

「Match the trim! Capture Tormenta Negra!」

「──It's too bad. You run out of time.」

Before they realized it, the combined fleet that was led by Admiral Jose was moving to cross in front of Horntbeck Kingdom fleet in a single line formation.

In this positioning, it looked like Horntbeck Kingdom fleet that was advancing in great speed was intentionally exposing their defenseless flank.

The only ones who were able to accurately know what this meant were only Urraca, Jose, and Masaharu.

『To think that I'll be able to witness Crossing the T at other world...』

It was a tactic that was impossible to do in the era of sailing ship where the boarding tactic and collision tactic were the main. It was impossible to even conceive the idea.

This tactic was also called as Tougou Turn because the tactic was known to be used by Tougou Heihachirou, the commander in chief of the imperial navy's Rengo fleet in the Russo-Japanese War.

There was also the theory that this tactic was brought to fleet battle to settle the dispute because it would be troubling if Baltic fleet was allowed to escape to Vladivostok.

In this tactic, the fleet crossed in front of the enemy fleet to exert pressure on them with the firepower at one side of the ships getting focused to the head of the enemy. Like that the battle was continued while maintaining the numerical superiority──.

What was terrifying here was that Masaharu never spoke of anything about this tactic to anyone.

Urraca thought up of it by herself and told it to Jose. It was a flash of inspiration by someone who was truly loved by the god of the sea.

「──No good! Hard port!」

「Sir!」

Odysseus was late by an instant to detect the danger.

It couldn't be helped. Even just noticing it was already the proof of his intelligence.

「Target the leading ship. Then next is the second ship, begin firing!」

Although their accuracy couldn't be expected to be as good as the snipers of La Mancha, number was power.

With a single order from Admiral Jose, nearly 80 cannon shells were focused on Odysseus's flagship and the second ship that were sailing at the forefront.

Luckily Odyssus already turned direction before the volley started.

Odysseus just barely managed to escape outside the range of bombardment. In exchange the second ship and third ship became the victims of the cannon shells.

「To all ships, dodge at will!」

They would only become nice targets if the ships were lined up in orderly formation.

The hit rate of the cannon shells dropped drastically when the ships began dispersing and dodging by their own initiative.

Even so four more ships were sunk. Horntbeck Kingdom fleet that was already inferior in number since the start had lost seven ships in total when all of them converged back.

──Should we retreat?

The appearance of the new weapon had shocked Odysseus so much that he even felt that it couldn't be helped if he retreated.

However if he retreated from here without any battle gain, the position of Horntbeck Kingdom and his lord Eustachius would be put in danger.

Answerer Kingdom and the church would stop sending aid, and his country would be forced to surrender unconditionally to the countries of Trystovy alliance.

If someone was asked to take responsibility for the war, the only who could do that would be Eustachius who was in control of the national policy.

「All ships, prepare for tacking!」

「Sir!」

However, they hadn't lost all means to win.

He would give his all as long as there was a chance for victory. The tradition of the navy of 'unavoidable battle when discovering enemy' had also taken root deeply in Horntbeck.

「──Ahead from here, the sea current will turn rough near the land. Even Tormenta Negra shouldn't be able to see through the sea current of a sea that she has never sailed before.」

Yes, this place was the backyard of Horntbeck.

This wasn't a place where they could allow outsider to throw their weight around as they pleased.

「We will make use of the tide's turning point and challenge them into maneuvering battle once more! All ships, don't get left behind!」

「Sir!」

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「It's unexpected that they still haven't given up even after that.」

Admiral Jose was about to let go of his tension thinking that they had won.

The range of the cannon was more than twice of the rocket arrow in the enemy's possession.

The rocket arrow was superior when it came to instantaneous suppression with firepower, but range would be the most important factor in sea battle from here on.

And then how many cannons could be crammed into a single ship would greatly affect a country's ability to control the sea.

The possibility was high that galleon class ship would also be born in this world. And then it might evolve to frigate ship and then steam battleship.

Most likely Odysseus had also realized that this was a turning point of history.

That was why it was strange how he could still maintain his fighting spirit like this.

「That's cute. Then let's have some more fun.」

On the other hand, Urraca understood what Odysseus was thinking like the back of her own hand.

He still hadn't given up on winning.

The movement of his ship eloquently told her that not all of his chances of victory had been closed.

「Right attack ready!」

「Ma'am!」

La Mancha advanced once more to give a blow at the nose of Horntbeck Kingdom fleet. It was then,

「Starboard easy! Match the trim!」

「Sir!」

The sea current that had been flowing from east to west until now suddenly changed into from east to south.

Horntbeck Kingdom fleet rapidly approached La Mancha as though they had been waiting for that.

「No good! All ships full speed!」

It was a magnificent fleet maneuver that made even Admiral Jose went pale.

This place was the enemy territory. Jose was made to painfully realize that the geography advantage lied with the enemy.

At this rate the enemy ships would close the distance before they could finish preparing to fire.

The cannon's range was more than double of rocket arrow, but its firing angle was narrow and it was difficult to aim until the ship was in position to fire.

Cannon wasn't something that could be fired easily just because the enemy was already within range.

「Mizzen spanker whole in!」

「Ma'am!」

「Starboard side ready!」

「Fire!」

The cannon shells that were fired from La Mancha hit and one more ship sank.

However in exchange to that sacrifice, Odysseus finally succeeded in catching Urraca within his firing range.

「All ships, prepare to fire all at once!」

If rocket arrows were fired until there was no gap at all to escape, even Urraca wouldn't be able to dodge it using her godly skill.

「Fore top sail a back!」

「Ma'am!」

「Open and change the jive!」

「Ma'am!」

「Hard starboard! Fore spanker whole in!」

「Ma'am!」

「Port side ready!」

「FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」

La Mancha turned abruptly and showed its port side. Then its cannons fired again.

With the distance between both forces had been closed, two ships got hit by the cannon shells on their side and got seriously damaged.

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「All ships ready!」

「FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」

The number of rocket arrows that were fired simultaneously from Horntbeck side instantly crossed a thousand.

A rain of red flame was pouring on La Mancha within the dazzling flashes.

It was truly an area suppression. A storm of rocket arrows that didn't show anywhere to escape to.

But──.

「Port twenty degree! All spankers whole in!」

「Ma'am!」

Urraca didn't hesitate.

Even if it looked like an area suppression that left no place to escape to, actually there were gaps in between although they were really small. They were gaps that were made due to the two ships that had gotten sunk just now being unable to fire their rocket arrows.

She would dodge this attack and fired the cannons once more to create an opening.

By doing that, Jose's fleet would be able to make it in time. After that they would be free to choose whether to chase after Horntbeck or letting them escaped.

The problem was whether she would be able to escape this attack right now or not.

「Fore top sail a back!」

「Ma'am!」

La Mancha glided smoothly to the position where it seemed there would be a gap in the bombardment.

However rocket arrow from the start wasn't a weapon with high precision.

Several rocket arrows veered off from its original trajectory and accidentally approach La Mancha.

「Hard Starboard!」

「Ma'am!」

「N-no good! It will hit!」

Three rocket arrows were in a collision course with La Mancha. Then two of them just barely missed the ship.

Being able to protect La Mancha to this degree from the area suppression of more than a thousand rocket arrows were already too astonishing.

However for there was one attack that couldn't be dodged was already like the work of fate.

「All hands, brace for impact!」

Even while yelling that, Urraca held her head high and continued to stand imposingly while glaring to the sea.

Urraca too still hadn't given up on winning.

Was it impossible to dodge that rocket arrow? If it was impossible, where should she allow it to hit so that La Mancha wouldn't be destroyed?

There should be something that she could do.

It was then, *pon*, her head was gently patted. Urraca reflexively looked behind her.

There the impudent face of Baldr──Sanai grinning fearlessly entered her eyes. Her heart spontaneously skipped a beat.

『No worries, I wouldst wreck it up.』

Actually Sanai had taken quiet a liking to Urraca.

「IT'S HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! So lovely! Embrace me Baldr!」

「Just what are you talking about nya.」

Satsuki was exasperated. But Urraca paid her no mind at all. She was only barely able to suppress her feeling of wanting to hug Baldr and be pampered by him right now.

Baldr stood like a withered great tree that was towering toward the sky. Urraca recalled once more the moment when she fell in love with Baldr for the first time.

Hmph!』

Sanai threw the spear he was holding with all his strength.

The spear accelerated with King's Gate power. It accurately hit the tip of the rocket arrow and a crimson flower bloomed brilliantly in the sky.

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「S-such thing? Is that really possible...」

For Odysseus, what happened was really unreasonable.

Urraca's talent, the cannon's appearance, there were so many unreasonable things coming out, but now he felt like he was being shown the most unreasonable thing of them all today.

Even though he almost succeeded in landing a blow that would allow him to recover from this hopeless situation, a human SAM (anti air missile) suddenly came out and turned all his effort in vain. It couldn't be helped that he was feeling like this.

「Enemy fleet approaching!」

The fleet that was led by Jose was finally going to catch Horntbeck Kingdom fleet within its firing range.

La Mancha was also turning around. That ship looked like it hadn't lost its will to fight.

His side should also still have the chance to sink down Urraca's La Mancha.

However his ships had been reduced further and he allowed Admiral Jose to gain the initiative. It was already impossible to make a comeback at this point.

Even if he retreated, Urraca surely wouldn't allow it quietly.

His decision to ride the sea current to charge forward had backfired to himself. He wasn't able to withdraw anymore.

The enemy would catch up with him and even more of his ships would be sunk. If he was unlucky he would lose most of his ships.

Right now he was unable to face Urraca and Jose head on with his inferior number.

There was also the choice of fighting to the end while taking down as many enemies as possible with them, but it would be pointless if they couldn't stop the landing operation itself.

「──Sorry Eustachius. This is as far as I can go.」

Odysseus's vice commander was looking at him in disbelief and bewilderment hearing his words.

「I'll persevere till death if there is a chance of victory no matter how small, but my dignity won't allow to let my fellow countrymen to die in vain for a hopeless battle. Raise the white flag.」

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The white flag was flapping at Odysseus's flagship.

Urraca immediately gave the order.

「Halt the bombardment!」

「Ma'am!」

「Keep aiming the cannons at them. Midship.」

「Ma'am!」

「Anchor let go, prepare the fastening rope!」

La Mancha rapidly decelerated and came alongside Odysseus's flagship that was raising the white flag.

The opponent that had been in a fierce battle with them just now was on this ship.

「We're already here, so let's go take a look at this guy's face.」

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Part 17The man was younger and bigger than he expected.

That was the honest impression that Odysseus held when he saw Baldr for the first time.

Urraca was puffing up her chest with a smug face as though it was herself who was being admired. She looked even more adorable like that.

「It's an honor to be in your presence, your majesty Baldr.」

「You sir have fought splendidly. Your resolution even when in the verge of defeat is also worthy of admiration. His highness Eustachius is blessed with a very capable retainer.」

「Those words are wasted on this humble self.」

He felt happy that the hero of this era was holding him in high regard, but he was the loser here. He couldn't possibly accept the praise honestly.

「We shall confiscate all the relics of the church. Are you going to cooperate with that?」

「By your will.」

Odysseus handed the rocket arrows that were still remaining in quite the amount to Baldr. This was effectively the disarmament of Horntbeck Kingdom fleet.

「──With all due respect, I have a request to make to your majesty.」

Odysseus kneeled on one knee and bowed his head earnestly.

「For our country, his majesty the king and his highness who is serving as the regent are indispensable existences. I beg your majesty to only give the punishment to this worthless retainer.」

「There is no need.」

「Hah?」

Odysseus unconsciously asked back with his plain self when he heard those unbelievable words.

「I'm not planning to rule over the continent like Answerer Kingdom. That means, I also have no intention of ruling over Horntbeck Kingdom. If your country will respect the rule of my country and our allies, then one day your fleet shall be able to freely sail through the whole continent too.」

Odysseus could feel that Baldr's words contained no lie.

Even if he searched through this whole continent, there would be no sea force that would be able to oppose the fleet that was equipped with those mass produced cannons.

He thought that being able to freely sail all the seas was just a childish fantasy, but now such dream was just one step away from being realized.

Perhaps this King Baldr would unexpectedly get along well with Eustachius. Especially with the way they didn't separate dream from reality.

「This is just me talking to myself but──it's also possible for our allied country to make use of our country's medical institution. Please convey that to his highness Eustachius.」

「I shall definitely──eh?」

Was it alright for him to do something like that.

Baldr was going to let Odysseus went free along with his fleet.

Odysseus turned speechless when he realized that.

That wasn't something to be done with a force that they had just been in battle not long ago. Just what in the world was making Baldr to be this generous?

「I think you already know, but we are going to enter a land battle after this. Right now we have no time to seize your fleet here sir.」

Now that the rocket arrows had been confiscated, Horntbeck Kingdom fleet would be helpless in front of Baldr and Satsuki, the two King's Gate owners if they got into close-range combat.

And then when it came to sea battle, there was no commander who could win against Urraca.

This decision was only possible because of Baldr's absolute confidence.

If they wanted to betray his trust then they were free to try.

Baldr was telling Odysseus so.

(Before fighting──we should at least try meeting his majesty Baldr once. Though it's pointless to realize that only now.)

They absolutely couldn't turn Baldr into enemy, so that Horntbeck Kingdom wouldn't be excluded from the new order that would come in the future of this continent.

「I hope that his highness Eustachius will also be present the next time we meet.」

「This one will definitely meet the expectation of your majesty.」

Or rather, there was no other choice than that!

There is absolutely none! Odysseus raised such voiceless scream at the inside.