第８０６堀：空母の必要性、そして空への憧れ (Part2)
Thanks to that, Steve and his crew, who had been enjoying a bit of downtime after wrapping up their surveillance of the Seasiph Kingdom, were suddenly hit with an emergency mission.
"My time off—! My precious time off—!" they’d wailed, but it was for the peace of Weed, and for the peace of our allies.
I knew they’d get their break eventually; for now, they’d just have to grit their teeth and bear it.
"I understand the situation. But how are they supposed to judge how to operate an aircraft carrier or identify where it’s damaged? Steve and the others are amateurs... wait, don't tell me."
"Hmm, could it be? Are you having them learn it through skills?"
As expected of Eris and Ratz. They’d deduced the answer in an instant.
"I’m just stuffing the knowledge into Steve and the others via skills for the time being."
"We wouldn't be able to move it otherwise. If they tried to train and ended up breaking something, the damage would be catastrophic. It couldn't be helped this time."
Though, to be fair, Steve and his crew had spent nearly an hour writhing in agony as that massive influx of knowledge was forced into their minds.
But now, I had a squad of elite goblins and elite orcs capable of operating an aircraft carrier.
At this rate, they were becoming so capable of doing everything that I felt like they were going to turn into solid snakes.
"Do you think we should learn it too?"
"Well, if you can, it’s better to learn. There’s always a chance Steve’s group might be wiped out, and knowledge and experience are things that will never betray you."
"You really do have a way of framing everything, don't you?"
How you perceive the world depends entirely on your perspective.
What one person calls a failure, another might see as a step toward success.
"But Yuki, are you really okay with a warship as a reward?"
"Eris is right. Usually, you’d be demanding something else, wouldn't you?"
"If I had a choice, I’d choose, but as I said, Luna handed it over on her own initiative. And it came fully stocked, too. The loss would be far greater if I complained and she decided to take the carrier—and its contents—away."
I could have complained all I wanted, but losing the carrier would be the real disaster.
I kept my mouth shut, choosing not to voice my grievances to Luna.
And no, it definitely wasn't because I was terrified of being scolded by my wives.
"Well, that’s true, but this carrier is just a tool to investigate the mana depletion in Aulito, isn't it? It’s more of a necessary expense than a reward. Are you really fine with that being your payment?"
"There might be romanticized fighter jets on board, too. In that sense, I’m willing to accept it as a reward."
That’s right. Carrier-based aircraft means fighter jets!
Fighter jets—the ultimate romance for a man.
I’ve always wanted to fly one!
This is the one thing I’m willing to give Luna credit for. Well done!
I can’t wait to hear Steve’s report.
Is it an F-2? An F-18? Or maybe they’re packing F-22s?
Maybe they even have an A-10.
Man, I’m excited.
"…Fighter jets are a 'romance,' huh? But don't think for a second that I’ll let you fly one."
"Exactly. We cannot allow you to pilot a plane, Yuki."
"Obviously. Fighter jets are completely out of the question."
My wives immediately cut down my dreams with cold, hard logic.
"Eh? Why?"
I genuinely didn't understand what they were getting at.
The plane, the fighter jet, was right there, existing alongside the open sky that I was free to roam.
Doesn't that mean I’m supposed to fly it?
Yet, they insisted I couldn't.
"What do you mean 'why'? You flying a fighter jet means you’re heading to the front lines, doesn't it? That’s absolutely out of the question."
"Exactly. We won't allow it. Besides, a single minor accident is usually fatal in an aircraft."
"Even if you are a doppelganger, the impact would be unimaginable. You might even die of shock. So, no."
It was a reasonable answer, but still—that’s no reason to abandon my dream of the skies.
However, I am an adult.
I am a respectable parent with children, and a sensible member of society.
And that is precisely why…
"I see. …Fine. I’ll just stick to reading the reports and looking at the hardware."
I swallowed my tears of blood and resigned myself.
"…Is it really that important to you?"
"It’s been one of my dreams."
A fighter jet of one’s own.
Isn't that the longing of anyone who looks up at the vast sky? Isn't that a dream everyone shares?
"With that said, I’m heading to the carrier right now!!"
If I can't fly it, I’ll just have to get up close and personal!
And with that, I took off at a sprint.
The conversation was over anyway.
Besides, who knows? Maybe some trouble will pop up, and I’ll be forced into an emergency takeoff!
"He really loves them that much, doesn't he…"
"Hmm. Maybe we should have let him fly just a little bit?"
Nice follow-up, Eris and Ratz.
Go ahead and convince Seraria and the others for me.
I’m going to go check out those carrier-based aircraft.
Humans have always longed for the sky.
We’re just a bunch of fools, after all!