---

Bianca Clendor.

She is a sailor to the bone.

Born aboard a ship in the midst of a voyage, she has spent more than half of her life at sea.

Her maternal family, the ‘Arhan’ clan, possesses Clendor’s largest fleet.

As a result, she has more knowledge about ships than anyone else.

Navigational skills, ship management, naval architecture, fleet operations, artillery, and more—she was equipped with all knowledge related to the construction and operation of ships.

“……”

Thus, she could recognize at once.

The battleship brought by Edgar, known as the ‘Dreadnought,’ far surpassed her own battleship.

There was no need to compare lengths and heights; she knew they would be utterly defeated.

“…we’re all going to die.”

It felt like instinct.

Like the fear a deer feels when it sees a lion.

Edgar’s Dreadnought felt like an unavoidable disaster.

It was like witnessing hundreds of meters of waves crashing down.

The five turrets of her flagship, all aimed directly at her, overwhelmed her.

“W-will we…really… I… I am Captain Bianca of the Clendor-class battleship…”

However, Bianca desperately suppressed her instinctual terror.

With so many crew members depending on her now.

It would be a problem to show weakness.

Finally, Edgar smiled and responded to Bianca’s words.

“I heard about the training in advance. Our side will serve as escort ships to protect the rescue vessels, while Captain Bianca will take on the role of a pirate ship. I will do my best during the training.”

“……”

“I will do my best during the training.”

To Bianca’s ears, that sounded like a threat.

It felt like a declaration that he would smash her fleet to pieces.

“……”

Thus, Bianca nodded with a stiffened face.

Originally, she had planned to mock Edgar with a relaxed expression, but the moment she laid eyes on the Dreadnought, her mind went blank.

She could only think about how she needed to cancel this training immediately.

This was especially true since she had signed a document stating that no responsibility would be taken for any accidents during the training process.

‘That signature… has turned into poison instead.’

The document stating that they would not be held responsible for any accidents during the training.

In reality, that document was little more than a cunning trick to evade responsibility on Clendor’s side.

It was obvious that her fleet would annihilate the Empire’s fleet during the training.

‘To think they could construct such a battleship…’

But it turned out to be completely the opposite.

There was a reason why the princess had signed that document without any protest.

“Listen up, everyone.”

Thus, as soon as Bianca entered the captain’s room, she gathered all the key officers.

She began giving the best orders to counter Edgar’s battleship.

“Our main objective is ‘survival.'”

“……”

Survival.

The moment that word left Bianca’s lips, the officers lowered their heads.

Being seasoned sailors, they had already realized that Edgar’s battleship was an outrageous monster.

They shared the same opinion as her.

“But that… is only a discussion for when my plans fail. If my plan succeeds, we can sink that monstrous battleship.”

However, even so, Bianca had an obligation to inspire her crew’s fighting spirit.

As the captain and admiral of the Clendor battleship, she was responsible for leading her men.

Therefore, looking into the fearful eyes of her subordinates, she continued speaking.

“Yes. I know well. It seems impossible. But no matter how massive the battleship, if it takes on water, it will eventually sink. All it takes is for a single shot to hit it.”

“……”

“Thus, I will target the lower hull. We will fire dozens of reinforced shells all at once, aiming to flood it. After all, a ship is a ship, and when water comes in, it will sink.”

Bianca said this as she looked around at her crew.

Slowly, their eyes were starting to return.

Her comments—that a ship is just a ship—had dispelled their fears.

“Furthermore, the opposing ship, given its size, will be inferior in maneuverability compared to ours. This means we have the advantage in tactics.”

Everyone nodded.

An odd-shaped battleship without an anchor or oars.

They had no idea how that battleship could move, but a ship that couldn’t catch the wind shouldn’t be able to maneuver faster than theirs.

Finally, Bianca, with a resolved expression, declared.

“So, do not be afraid! Even if they have built a superior battleship compared to ours, we possess tactics accumulated over hundreds of years! You, who have shared in the history of victories, are the finest sailors here! It is because of you that Clendor has risen to be the king of the seas! As long as you are here, Clendor will retain its place as the strongest, and that will not change in the future!”

“Waaahhh!!”

Immediately, the atmosphere flipped.

The sailors, inspired by her speech, shouted the names of Clendor and Bianca.

“Set sail!”

And so, with a booming voice, Bianca gave the order to set sail.

Approaching Edgar’s Dreadnought, which was already anchored near the rescue ship, they moved at a speed of seven knots.

– Kwang!

But at that moment.

A thunderous roar pierced through the air like a cannon blast.

At the same time, a projectile shot by Edgar fell right in front of the battleship, sending a massive spray of water into the air.

The shockwave was so powerful it nearly toppled the battleship.

“……”

Thus, every sailor of Clendor appeared dazed.

The power far exceeded their imagination.

Just the mere impact of a projectile falling right in front of them nearly toppled their battleship.

The weight of the shell alone was 385 kg, compounded by enhancement magic.

If they had hit head-on, they wouldn’t even have bones left after the barrier was gone.

“W-where on earth…?”

But that wasn’t all.

The range itself was incomprehensibly beyond common sense.

They hadn’t even approached the opposing ship properly, and yet projectiles were flying from so far away.

A maximum range of 15 km was unimaginable by the standards of an era like this.

Their own flagship’s maximum range was just 3 km, after all.

“Execute evasive maneuvers! Zigzag to reduce the enemy’s accuracy!”

Amid panic, Bianca issued another command.

Her crew, recovering from the shock, began to drop anchor and use wind magic to reach maximum speed.

They zigzagged at the flagship’s maximum speed of 11 knots.

– Kwang!

Thanks to their zigzagging movements, they narrowly evaded the enemy’s projectiles.

Each time a shell fell nearby, a chilling sensation washed over them, yet still, the battleship moved toward the enemy.

‘They are deliberately…toying with us…’

Bianca instinctively sensed it.

The enemy ship was intentionally avoiding hitting them.

After all, when more than five shells barely missed from such a distance, it could only be considered deliberate.

“I understand what you all are thinking! But being lax against an enemy is the easiest mistake to make! Close in!”

Bianca fought back her tears and encouraged her crew.

Although she had lived her life with pride in naval warfare, she had never felt such humiliation and fear as today.

It felt like everything she had worked for her entire life was being denied.

“Enemy ship! Close in!”

Yet, as she persevered through this humiliation, they soon reached the enemy’s position.

Bianca directed her ship’s side toward the enemy and ordered them to fire.

Dozens of shells, reinforced by various enhancements, were aimed at the lower hull of the Dreadnought.

Everyone watched the scene with expectant eyes.

– Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

But the shells they fired were absurdly stopped.

Without any mana shields, they bounced off the Dreadnought’s ironclad hull.

It felt like shooting a BB pellet against a rock.

“……”

Witnessing this sight, the sailors lost their fighting spirit.

They stood there dumbfounded, looking up at the Dreadnought without even attempting to load the next shell.

– Whooosh!

And then, at that moment.

A horn resounded magnificently.

The sailors, who had been stupefied looking at the Dreadnought, flinched and took a step back.

– Koogugugu…

And now, that enormous ship began to move.

It was approaching them, all its turrets aimed directly at Bianca.

“H-how… retreat!”

Bianca immediately ordered a retreat.

Being Clendor’s admiral, now was not the time to be proud.

Having confirmed the overwhelming gap that left no room for hope, it was far more important to survive that insane monster battleship and successfully conclude this training.

“The enemy ship is far heavier than ours! It cannot catch up with us in maneuverability!”

Thus, Bianca encouraged her crew to reach maximum speed.

Although their wind mage had drained much of their mana from earlier evasive maneuvers, there was no choice but to escape, even if they collapsed afterward.

– Whoosh…

But then, the unbelievable happened.

Edgar’s battleship, without anchor or oars, was tailing their flagship at an incredibly high speed.

Moreover, it was so fast that even at maximum speed, they were easily being caught up.

Bianca’s legs went weak as she sat down in shock.

“……huh.”

The Dreadnought had effortlessly closed in beside her flagship.

Bianca stared blankly at the majestic form of the Dreadnought.

As all turrets turned toward her flagship, she instinctively realized that her life was about to end here.

She also knew that Clendor’s glory was coming to an end.

Regardless of what kind of fleet she commanded, it would be annihilated by that one battleship.

– Koogugugu…

And just like that, Edgar’s Dreadnought, positioned right beside them, began to distance itself slightly.

It was merely creating a safe distance.

– Kwang!!!

And then, it fired its cannon.

With a thunderous roar that shook the heavens and earth, a 385 kg shell pierced through Clendor’s battleship’s shield.

Despite being a 21-fold reinforced barrier, it could not withstand the destructive power of the Dreadnought.

In an instant, the shield shattered like paper, breaking even the last mana shield.

“Ahhh…”

– Krrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Clendor’s prized battleship sank beneath the waves.

 

---