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The very concept of a mobile aerial battleship is already quite advanced and detached from the current civilization of humankind on the ground, but I can say this for certain.

“Is it true that there’s a 500-year technological gap between the outside of this airship and inside?”

“What did you say?”

“Kuk… the things those Belselphia folks say have stuck in my mouth…!”

I said it without thinking.

“But honestly, isn’t it true? This place is like a miniature Belselphia. It’s the only place that’s completely detached from human civilization. Is that really allowed?”

“Isn’t a good thing a good thing?”

“Lucius, why do you look so happy?”

“After enjoying the cultural facilities of Belselphia, I felt a bit disappointed wishing to go back, but now I can enjoy them here again, so isn’t that great?”

Lucius had a point.

Humans have a hard time forgetting pleasures they’ve experienced, and Belselphia had indeed introduced them to new cultures.

For me, the things I knew indirectly through the Demon World or Ancient Civilization didn’t cause me any culture shock; it just felt new, but it was naturally different for the others.

“There are things we enjoyed in Belselphia and things we couldn’t enjoy during our rest there. Here, we can at least be comfortable, so that’s good.”

“That’s true. At the very least… it’s crazy that every room has a washing facility.”

Thanks to Celcius’s blessing, just a slight twist of the faucet would bring hot water pouring down from above.

There was even a surprisingly large bathhouse inside this ship, though it was just one.

“It’s perfect to take a bath.”

“Are you going to bathe?”

“Is it a problem to go in with the undead?”

“…Are you asking me?”

“There’s only one bath. According to the records, it’s marked as a mixed bath, right?”

“…Mixed bath?”

“Yep.”

It could fit about ten people if they squished in.

But the bathhouse is located in the most scenic area of this mobile fortress, and if one were to soak in the hot water while enjoying the view, it would surely be paradise.

“You wouldn’t have two bathhouses in a place like this. …Of course, it’s a bit absurd to have a separate swimming pool, but it’s not that large, so.”

What they called a swimming pool was just a glass-walled area on the bottom floor filled with water to allow a view down below.

While it was quite long and deep enough for swimming and playing in the water, I wondered why they had made the bottom out of glass.

This was probably my thought, but since they could not place an actual swimming pool indoors, they surely created a special facility on the lowest level and called it a swimming pool.

They must have gone out of their way to enable swimming.

‘These clever kids.’

They knew my hobby so well that they managed to fit in a swimming pool somehow.

It truly is Celcius.

“You’ve never swum before, have you?”

“Well, not yet.”

“Then I’ll have to teach you. Ah, wait. You might hate swimming, so maybe that’s a bad idea?”

“Um, Master?”

“What is it?”

“Would it be okay if I try it myself first?”

“Oh, self-learning?”

“Yes.”

Lucius, uncharacteristically confident, declared that he wanted to try swimming by himself.

“Why?”

“I want to learn by myself. I feel like I rely too much on the hero’s power or your teachings.”

“Hmm, that’s a good mindset, but….”

“I’ll ask for your help if I really can’t do it.”

“Really? Alright. It’s not urgent anyway.”

Although we were still in the sea, once we moved away from it towards the distant Sky Island, there would be hardly any chance of falling into the water.

“Survival swimming exists, so there are people who learn it on their own, so give it your best shot.”

“I will, Master.”

“A man who swims well is truly attractive. You can legally show off your body while swimming. …Of course, that goes for the ladies too.”

Currently.

After learning about the existence of the swimming pool, our party first headed down to the pool, where three women entered the changing room, leaving only me and Lucius outside.

“Be careful. From what I see, they seem to be coming out in swimsuits.”

“I’ve already seen them in swimsuits once.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yeah. There was a swimming pool in Belselphia too. I went with Francis to check it out.”

“Oh… I see?”

While I was purifying the surrounding sea solo, it seemed various events occurred among the party members inside Belselphia.

“What happened?”

“We went to the swimming pool, rode some rides, visited the library, had meals together, and… um…”

“They did everything, huh. Hmm…”

If I had watched Lucius’s activities for a week, I would surely have been able to see him happily on dates with the other party members.

But I wasn’t interested.

During that time, I was busy purifying the sea with Celcius and sharing old stories.

“You really got a lot of time in Belselphia with the kids, right? Want to tell me about it?”

“More than that.”

“Huh…?”

Did Lucius just… cut me off?

“Master, aren’t you going to pick out a swimsuit?”

“My swimsuit?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you planning to swim?”

“I was planning to swim, I guess.”

Though I had never done it in this body, I had been doing strength training regularly, so I should be fine.

“I’ll just quietly go in after they change.”

“I don’t think you’d care too much about that, though?”

“I can be like that. It’s a bit weird to swim with someone with a hole in their chest.”

Though I say it like that, it’s not like I’m completely hollow.

I just filled the hole with a mass crafted from mana.

“It’ll be a hassle if water gets in my body for no reason, right? Even swimming will only be about submerging my body this much.”

“If you’re teaching me, right?”

“I won’t be going all in. Just to about my waist? That should be perfect.”

If the water touches my solar plexus, it could become contaminated.

Though it wouldn’t actually be a problem, the thought still felt weird.

Swimming where a corpse has bathed?

Only a mad necrophile would do such a thing.

“If I’m going to wear a swimsuit… oh, I have one.”

I have a swimsuit that wouldn’t be a big problem for me to wear.

“I’ll wear it later and show you. Is that alright?”

“Got it. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Look forward to what. …But why are they taking so long to come out? They’re not even making swimsuits, you know? Hey, you girls—”

“We’re coming out.”

Creak.

The door opened, and Rosmas, Droniel, and Yan came out in order.

“Um…”

Something feels…

“…are you all too blessed by the Crescent Moon Goddess?”

All three had red faces and looked embarrassed.

While it made sense for Rosmas and Droniel, even Yan, whom you’d think wouldn’t be bothered by such things, was!

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Yeah. It’s the sea, right? We’re just setting the mood.”

Rosmas confidently placed her hands on her hips and nodded.

I almost wanted to throw a cardigan over them, but looking at the X-crossed scraps of cloth, I couldn’t help but feel she might be slowly converting to the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess.

Of course, when it comes to lasciviousness, Droniel was the biggest, but Yan, who wasn’t about to be covered and looked the same as when in battle, was even more risqué.

‘Things weren’t like this 500 years ago.’

Ahh.

Belselphia must have become corrupted over 500 years.

They must have spent all their time submerged in the sea, only thinking of strange things, creating swimsuits like these.

“The world has really improved. Things like this exist now.”

“What was it like during your time, Master?”

“Me? 500 years ago? Ha.”

Back then…

“In my time, we just went in naked.”

“…….”

Lucius’s posture became slightly awkward.

As expected.

‘Even he is just a man.’

If those three had fallen 500 years ago, I’m sure I could’ve imagined how they’d swim.

“Before we move on to the next location, let’s have a quick chat, so sit on the bench.”

I pointed to a bench affixed to the wall at the entrance of the pool.

Lucius immediately sat down, and the three women exchanged glances before sitting together opposite him.

“Though you’ve already used some facilities in Belselphia, the ones here will be distinctly different from those on the ground. So, I’ll explain some points to be cautious about when using these facilities….”

I released a deep sigh inwardly as the three women didn’t even seem to be listening to me.

‘If you’re so worried about Lucius, one of you should sit on either side and one on top.’

That’s how it was when I was young.

Thinking back, the three girls next to me also had one on the left, one on the right, and another right in front, always trying to cling to me.

The one in front always did turn out to be the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.

‘I miss it.’

I suddenly recalled the time we all went swimming together.

That four-way joy was unforgettable.

“Master?”

“……Now that I think about it, there doesn’t seem to be anything especially cautionary. As we move through each facility, I’ll explain everything, so let’s start with the most important thing.”

I pointed up.

“What should we name this?”

Only then did the party’s eyes turn towards me.

“We can’t keep calling it the All-Weather Mobile Fortress forever. We can’t refer to the manufacturer as ‘Mercedes Industries’ either. If you have any special name in mind, please share.”

“A special name?”

“Yeah. A name that fits this ship.”

We need a name for this fortress or the ship, something for this flying Kraken.

“If you have any good ideas, let me know. If not….”

I’ll go with this.

“If you can’t think of one, it’ll be ‘Gung Gungi Mk.2,’ shortened to ‘Pink Two.’”

 

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