第１７２１堀：心配な部下たち (Part1)
Chapter 1721: Worried Subordinates
Side: Lyusi
Things have taken a turn for the frantic.
Well, Master Yuki and his circle are always embroiled in something, but this time feels different—as if every possible complication has been compressed into a single, overwhelming moment.
"Um, Master Yuki? I know you're busy, but Lady Rurua specifically asked me to make sure you don't overexert yourself..."
I understand the gravity of the situation; a remote village is on the verge of vanishing, after all. But the sheer intensity radiating from him—the mountain of work he is tackling—compels me to speak up out of pure concern.
"Oh, it’s fine. I’m not about to collapse. Besides, neither you, nor Prof, nor Orelia and the others feel the need to actually physically stop me yet, right?"
"I suppose... you're still alright for now."
"Yes. There seems to be a margin of safety left. Though there is no denying the staggering volume of work."
"You look fine to me as well, but..."
"Just like Lyusi-chan says~, you do look awfully busy~."
"By any metric, you are swamped."
When put that way, it’s true—it hasn't reached the point where we need to stage an intervention. I can see why Lady Rurua and the other wives can only offer wry smiles. Despite the obvious overwork, he is processing everything with terrifying precision, staying perfectly on schedule. His complexion remains healthy, so a "doctor's order" to rest is out of the question. Prof and the others understand the technical side of the work better than I do, and since he isn't making a single mistake, they have no grounds to force him to stop either.
"Well, we're all in this together. Especially since I've asked you to stay by my side even though Yayui has her hands full with the ship and the training."
"No, the fishermen have been quite well-behaved lately."
Ah, she’s right about that. Anyone who witnessed Yayui’s... transformation... wouldn't dream of crossing her. Thanks to that, they actually pay attention during Orelia and Hobis’s lectures. And, of course, during my classes on basic first aid. I wasn't originally supposed to be part of the instructional team, but after Yayui pointed out the risks of injuries at sea, Master Yuki asked me to step in as a teacher. Apparently, I have a knack for it; both Master Yuki and Lady Rurua have encouraged me, saying that teaching others is the best way to deepen one's own understanding. Considering the unique challenges of providing medical care in the cramped, unstable environment of a ship, it has certainly been an educational experience for me as well.
"Now then, let's treat this as a break in the middle of our busy day. We'll head to the port town and discuss what Seraria mentioned earlier."
"Understood."
I wanted to ask how exactly this counts as a "break," but I suppose for Master Yuki, it is. Then again, before I came to serve him, "holidays" didn't really exist in the village. Working every day was simply the way of the world. There were times when rain or winter forced us to stop, but if there was work to be done, we did it to keep ourselves fed. Looking back, though, we worked without breaks but often chatted and moved at a leisurely pace. Perhaps Master Yuki’s way is more efficient... No, wait, I shouldn't be comparing our old labor conditions to his. This is about his well-being.
Lost in these thoughts, I followed him as we walked toward the port town at a relaxed pace.
"Oh, it rained yesterday, didn't it? The sea is surprisingly heavy today."
"Heavy?" Orelia asked, tilting her head. I didn't understand the term either.
"Ah, right, that’s a bit of jargon. I mean the sea is rough. Look."
Following his gaze, I looked out at the water. Great, white-capped waves were surging, and the distant surface had turned a dark, turbid hue. It was a far cry from the serene, translucent blue we usually saw.
"Ah... on a day like this, it's best to keep the boats in," Yayui remarked, staring at the waves with a knowing look. She didn't seem rattled at all.
"Um, Miss Yayui... does this happen often?"
"Often? Maybe not 'often,' but it’s certainly not rare," she replied after a moment's thought.
I was still reeling from the sight of the ocean's fury when Master Yuki added, "Exactly. Orelia and the others focus on indoor lectures and don't teach much about the sea itself, so they probably don't think about it. Besides, everyone knows the sea is dangerous if you're careless, so they don't tend to get too close."
"What happens if a ship~ goes out~?"
"Well... oh, look. There’s a warship and its scout vessel out in the offing."
I shifted my gaze to the horizon. I could see the silhouette of a massive vessel and a tiny speck of a boat beside it. They were bobbing... no, they were plunging up and down violently!
"...Master Yuki. That ship in the distance... isn't that the aircraft carrier?" Prof asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Yeah, that’s the carrier Lilishe."
She looked as though she couldn't believe her eyes, but it was indeed the carrier. That gargantuan iron fortress, a vessel that seemed as unshakeable as a mountain, was being tossed about like a fallen leaf in a storm.
"Wait, is that alright?! Isn't it dangerous?!" I blurted out, stunned. If left like that, the ship might be damaged. If it were rendered useless, the repair costs would be astronomical, not to mention the gaping hole it would leave in our defenses. I spoke up because I thought it was a disaster waiting to happen.
"No, they're out there for safety."
"Pardon?" We all tilted our heads in unison, completely lost.
"Think of it as a mix of evacuation and training. Just imagine the damage if that massive ship stayed in the harbor, caught a swell, and slammed into the pier."
The realization hit us all at once. If that colossal mass of iron were to collide with the docks, the destructive force would be catastrophic.
"That's why they've moved it out to open water. Besides, while it's rough, it's not a true gale yet."
"This... isn't considered bad?"
"Nah. In a real storm, the waves can exceed seven meters. Today, they're barely four at the highest. Usually, they wouldn't even need to move to the offing for this... Dressa, you there?"
Master Yuki suddenly initiated contact with Dressa. I wondered why for a moment, then remembered—she was currently stationed at the naval port in this very town.