第１６１０堀：現在の港町について (Part2)
"I, too, was taken by my parents to eat ocean fish with my older sister once, but... to be perfectly honest, I couldn't say it was all that delicious. It was salted, after all. I never understood why adults enjoyed eating such things. Now, I suppose I can see how the intense saltiness would make for a decent snack with alcohol. And since coming to Weed, I’ve learned that fresh fish is truly exquisite, so I can understand the appeal now."
"Indeed. When I went to Ex in the interior and was served fish, I honestly thought they were trying to pick a fight. Looking back, I suppose it was the best hospitality Noble could muster, but still."
"Ah, so that’s what happened."
It is true—even if King Noble didn't know the proper taste of ocean fish, to someone like Dressa, it must have felt like the ultimate insult. To be served a dish that should have been delicious, only for it to be prepared so poorly, would naturally lead one to believe the other party was mocking their nation. In that sense, the misunderstanding was quite profound. Not that it excuses Ex for the mistakes that led to its ruin, of course.
"But, putting that aside, we came to see the naval port, didn't we?"
"Ah, yes. Though, even if someone were to explain what kind of facilities are here, I’m not sure I’d be able to make heads or tails of it."
"Well, even if they explained the specialized tools and equipment, you’d only have a vague understanding at best. But isn't that the kind of information you were looking for?"
"Having it would be better than not, I suppose, but I doubt I could transcribe the correct details from memory. My superiors are mostly concerned with whether things are running smoothly."
"Ah, that side of things. As a naval port, and as a town, you mean?"
"Exactly. Well, without asking in detail, it might just be a facade, but that doesn't need to be settled today. After all, it’s only been three days since we set out for this port town."
"That’s true."
Indeed, while we call this an inspection, it isn't as if we’ve been ordered to be overly rigorous. It is merely a matter of seeing if things have taken shape and ensuring no one is pushing themselves too hard. For the current Weed, and for the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, the most important thing is that Yuki-sama is not overexerting himself. We have no intention of building a port town, but everyone is well aware that Yuki-sama’s burden has been increasing lately. That is why Seraria and the other wives, as well as the leaders of each nation, are so concerned.
"So, what is the verdict? Regarding the naval port entrusted to you and the others?"
"Well, there are no problems here at all. Unlike the other side, we don't have to accommodate civilians. We are soldiers, after all. As you can see, even an aircraft carrier, which wasn't originally scheduled, is able to dock here. It’s practically complete."
"Oh, that’s surprisingly quick."
I had expected them to struggle more with the preparations...
"Ah, that’s only natural. We had discussions with Yuki about how to handle the design. It sounds recent, but it was quite a while ago."
"Quite a while ago?"
"Yes. Specifically, back when Luna first placed an aircraft carrier in Weed."
"It’s been that long?"
"Indeed. The military vessels of this world and those from Earth are worlds apart, in more ways than one."
"That... I suppose that is true."
From performance to size and operational methods, they are truly different in every conceivable way.
"That’s why, even though it was floating in the sea of Weed’s dungeon, it was impossible to bring it alongside a pier. So, I—as the person in charge and fleet commander—sat down with Yuki, and we decided on the standard, the 'default' for a naval port."
"Standard, default? You mean, like the settings for text or configurations—the things that are taken for granted?"
"Exactly. If it were a town, it would develop its own characteristics based on the environment and its growth, but a naval port doesn't fundamentally need such things. Well, I suppose it means it’s easier to target the vital points when attacked, but if the enemy has pushed that far in, it’s already a lost cause anyway."
"I see. That’s what you mean. And you tweaked that a bit?"
"Precisely. So, the only real effort involved was the verification process. That’s about it."
In other words, the town aside, the naval port is functioning perfectly. It is a stark reminder of how seriously Yuki-sama is pursuing the Dark Guild members who possess the cores. A port is not a simple thing, after all. Well, building a town is difficult enough, so it stands to reason that building a port would be as well. It’s truly mysterious how they manage construction under the sea in reality, isn't it?