第１９１０堀：船をどう使おうか？ (Part2)
"To continue the explanation, you might wonder why Jessica and the others, who aren't in the navy, are involved. It's not that they don't use ships; depending on how they're used, they can function on land as well."
" 'Huh?' "
We couldn't comprehend what was being said. Ships? They're called ships because they're used on the sea.
"Well, your confusion is understandable. That's precisely why we've asked Narjia to join us."
"That's right~! I'll explain properly, so please listen first~."
And so, we began to listen to Narjia's explanation about the ships they planned to produce.
"First, the concept. What is the objective?"
Surprisingly, the explanation started off quite reasonably. It seemed they wouldn't resort to the absurd act of suddenly transporting us to the sea to show us the finished product.
"Primarily, to enhance our naval strength. Well, it's also to ensure we can resupply if we lose them. However, the aircraft carriers and destroyers currently in operation are based on Earth technology, and replicating them is quite difficult."
That was true. Replication was difficult, and their power was, to put it mildly, abnormal. That's precisely why we were using them.
"Therefore, with the new ships, we intend not only to replicate the vessels currently in operation as much as possible but also to prepare ships based on new concepts."
Ships with new concepts...
"A concrete example of this is the land battleship, which can also be used on land, as Yuki-san mentioned earlier, or an amphibious battleship."
" '...' "
We understood the meaning of the words, but we had no idea how to respond.
Yuki seemed to understand this as well, rubbing his brow before speaking.
"I'm not joking. We're seriously considering it."
"Yes, that's correct. Now, regarding the design, here it is."
As Narjia said this, a three-view drawing appeared on the monitor before us. It was...
"Why is it box-shaped? Shouldn't a ship have a triangular shape, like for the sea?" Fiora asked.
Indeed, the drawing showed a trapezoidal shape. For rivers, a box-like type is convenient, but for the ocean with its waves, we had heard that a reverse-triangular shape was necessary to minimize the impact of waves and prevent capsizing.
We were sure we had asked a perfectly reasonable question...
"That's exactly right! You've studied very well, Fiora-sama. However, can you understand that such a shape would be a hindrance when going onto land?"
It seemed Narjia had flipped a switch. Her eyes were shining.
"That means there's no support, right?"
"Precisely. Well, there are also issues of strength, but it's precisely because it's water, the sea, that such a massive structure can move."
Indeed, it's hard to imagine such a colossal object floating on water normally. Especially if it's made of iron.
"However, I've come up with a way to solve that."
"And what is that?"
Well, if she hadn't thought of that, she couldn't possibly have created something like a land battleship. So, what was this method...?
"The magic barrier was the hint. Originally, it was something akin to armor to prevent or mitigate damage when we fought."
Certainly, magic barriers were originally intended for that purpose.
"We've now managed to deploy this on a large scale for the ships we currently use, centered around aircraft carriers. You're aware of this, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's how they gained the strength to withstand even the ships' artillery fire."
"Fiora-san is correct. And the purpose was to prevent damage not only from attacks but also from unexpected accidents, collisions with reefs, or obstacles on the sea."
That's right. The idea was that if we could deploy a magic barrier to protect the ships, it would be incredibly convenient. And since the deployment of magic barriers was already an established technology, we heard it became possible to cover the ships by applying it. Before we knew it, it was done, and I was once again struck by how insane the engineers and researchers of Weed were.
But, putting that aside, Stasia reacted to the story this time.
"So, you used that magic barrier? For example, by directing it towards the ground?"
"Yes. Correct! Stasia-san might have a talent for research!"
"Ah, no. Please continue the explanation."
Stasia sensed danger and quickly urged her to continue. Well, otherwise, it could easily turn into a discussion about technological development. If we said the wrong thing, it might be realized too easily, so it's best to stay quiet. For now, the fact that Narjia was talking so excitedly meant that it was likely achievable...
Well, in anime, ships and vehicles often transform into robots, so it's not particularly strange for them to move on land, right? It's fantasy, so it should be fine, right?