Yuuki eventually escaped the combined restraint operation of Hood and Amagi before making his way toward the Royal Navy's central tower rising proudly above the calm sea of the Void World.
The structure radiated elegance.
White marble.
Golden trim.
Towering stained-glass windows glowing softly beneath the moonlight.
Even the atmosphere around the tower itself carried the refined dignity expected from the Royal Navy.
Yuuki quietly walked through the grand entrance halls while distant echoes of laughter and conversation drifted through the corridors. Shipgirls moved naturally throughout the restored Void World settlement now, no longer trapped within endless silence thanks to his arrival.
Then suddenly—
"Commander!"
Yuuki barely had time to react before multiple small bodies crashed directly into him from every direction.
"Wah—!"
Instantly—
Dogpile.
Complete and total destroyer ambush.
Yuuki disappeared beneath a mountain of energetic little destroyers from both the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood.
"Commander here!"
"Attention!"
"Carry me!"
"Headpats!"
Tiny hands tugged at his sleeves while excited voices overlapped endlessly around him.
Kisaragi clung onto one arm while Mikazuki and Minazuki immediately fought for shoulder space. Mutsuki proudly climbed onto his back while Uzuki happily hugged his waist.
Meanwhile, the Iron Blood little destroyers showed absolutely no mercy either.
Z18 latched onto him proudly.
Z19 demanded attention immediately.
Z20 somehow climbed onto his shoulders.
And Z21 looked completely satisfied helping maintain the pileup.
Yuuki stared upward toward the ceiling in surrender.
"…I have become prey."
Not far away, several Royal Navy B-class destroyers watched the scene with mixed reactions.
Beagle sighed fondly.
"My, they really adore Commander already."
Bulldog sighs calmly.
"It was inevitable."
Nearby, Foote crossed her arms while pretending to look annoyed.
"Hmph…"
Yet despite the irritation on her face—
Her eyes kept drifting toward the pile of destroyers surrounding Yuuki.
Spence meanwhile hesitated nervously behind her.
"…Should we join too?"
Foote immediately looked away.
"No."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…Maybe later."
Meanwhile Yuuki was actively being overwhelmed.
"Commander soft!"
"Warm!"
"Attention!"
"Carry us!"
Yuuki weakly raised one hand from beneath the destroyer pile.
"…Ladies…"
None of them listened.
Then finally—
Yuuki sighed dramatically before beginning to gently pat every destroyer within reach.
Instantly—
The hallway filled with tiny happy noises.
"There we go."
"Headpats acquired!"
"Victory!"
The synchronized warmth flowing through the Wisdom Cube network pulsed softly around them while the little destroyers happily crowded around him without restraint.
Unlike before—
They no longer felt distant from him.
Now they could feel his heart directly.
Its warmth.
Its kindness.
Its affection toward them.
And for many of the smaller destroyers who longed deeply for attention and affection—
That warmth became irresistible.
Yuuki eventually managed to sit down against one of the hallway walls while still buried beneath destroyers.
"…You girls formed an alliance or something?"
Mutsuki proudly raised one hand.
"Destroyer friendship alliance!"
"That sounds dangerously powerful."
"It is!"
Z18 nodded seriously afterward.
"We decided Commander belongs to all destroyers too."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
The little destroyers immediately began nodding proudly.
"Correct!"
"Destroyer rights!"
"Attention tax!"
Yuuki stared into the distance.
"…This fleet is becoming impossible to manage."
Then softly—
He noticed two destroyers still standing slightly apart.
Spence looked nervous while Foote pretended not to care despite clearly watching him constantly.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward before gently waving toward them.
"You two can come over too, you know."
Spence immediately froze.
Foote instantly looked away.
"Hmph."
"We're not little kids."
Meanwhile, beside Yuuki—
Mutsuki immediately pointed dramatically.
"Tsundere detected!"
"Wha—?!"
Foote turned bright red instantly while the other destroyers burst into laughter.
Yuuki quietly laughed too while surrounded by the small destroyers clinging onto him happily beneath the warm lights of the Royal Navy tower.
And honestly—
For someone who once thought he preferred being alone—
He was starting to realize these chaotic moments felt unexpectedly comforting too.
Before Yuuki could properly recover from the destroyer ambush, two more familiar voices echoed through the hallway.
"Hey! Get off the Commander already!"
"Honestly, girls…"
Ranger and Raleigh finally arrived at the scene looking both amused and exasperated at the mountain of destroyers surrounding him.
The little destroyers immediately panicked dramatically.
"Grumpy teacher Langley and Teacher Ranger are here!"
"Retreat!"
"Run away!"
Within seconds, the entire destroyer alliance scattered throughout the hallways while laughing loudly.
"Who are you calling grumpy?!" Langley shouted from the distance.
Yuuki barely managed to stand afterward while fixing his now-disastrous uniform.
"…I survived."
Ranger softly laughed while helping brush some dust from his shoulder and Raleigh helped him get up.
"They really adore you."
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"I noticed."
Then nearby—
Several Eagle Union shipgirls quietly approached afterward while the Royal Navy girls continued chatting nearby.
Unlike the earlier chaos with the destroyers, the Eagle Union girls carried a much calmer warmth around them now. The synchronization between their hearts and Yuuki's had left many of them visibly flustered, especially after directly feeling the sincerity and affection inside his heart.
Pensacola was the first to speak.
"If you're tired, Commander, you should get some rest."
Her expression softened gently afterward.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Then warmly—
"If you ever need help, don't be shy about asking us."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Thanks, Pensacola."
Then teasingly—
"But I'm starting to notice everyone treating me like I'm one overworked hospital patient."
"You practically are," Omaha answered immediately.
The light cruiser stepped closer while studying his face carefully.
"Seriously…"
She crossed her arms afterward.
"Have you eaten properly?"
Yuuki immediately looked away.
"…Maybe."
"That means no."
Richmond sighed dramatically nearby.
"Commander, did you actually do anything normal while you disappeared for so long?"
Yuuki blinked.
"Normal?"
"Yeah."
Richmond pointed at him.
"Not fighting. Not rescuing people. Not emotionally synchronizing with fleets."
Then proudly—
"You should bring me along next time if you're doing something interesting."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"I'll consider it."
Salt Lake City meanwhile looked significantly more interested in one specific topic.
"So…"
She leaned forward slightly.
"Can we join the party now?"
Yuuki blinked.
"…There's a party?"
"There's always a party somewhere if enough Eagle Union girls gather together," Downes answered proudly.
The destroyer immediately grinned afterward.
"And now everyone's back together again!"
Then excitedly—
"So when are we taking off next?"
Yuuki weakly rubbed his forehead.
"You girls really do run entirely on momentum."
"Correct."
McCall meanwhile quietly approached holding a popsicle.
"We all get along pretty well around here now, don't you think?"
Then gently—
"Want one?"
Yuuki stared at the offered popsicle.
Then toward McCall.
Then back at the popsicle.
"…I feel emotionally manipulated."
"It's working though," Richmond answered immediately.
Yuuki eventually accepted it anyway while the girls softly laughed around him.
Nearby, Langley finally approached properly after glaring one last time at the fleeing destroyers from earlier.
"Commander."
Yuuki smiled faintly toward her.
"Langley."
The usually strict carrier quietly adjusted her glasses while looking at him carefully.
Then more softly than usual—
"…You caused quite the disturbance."
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"I feel like I keep hearing that tonight."
"Because it's true."
Yet despite the stern words—
Her expression carried none of the coldness from before.
Only concern.
The synchronized connection had stripped away the emotional barriers between them all.
Now they could feel him directly.
His exhaustion.
His sincerity.
His constant concern for everyone around him.
And honestly—
That warmth made it difficult for any of them to remain emotionally distant anymore.
Yuuki noticed the faint redness on several of their faces afterward and immediately understood why.
The Eagle Union girls themselves noticed it too.
Pensacola quietly looked away.
Richmond coughed awkwardly.
McCall suddenly became extremely interested in her popsicle.
Meanwhile Downes just laughed shamelessly.
"Heh…"
Then teasingly—
"You really are dangerous, Commander."
Yuuki pointed at himself in disbelief.
"How am I the dangerous one here?"
"Because now we can feel your heart directly," Salt Lake City answered calmly.
Then softly—
"And honestly…"
A faint blush crossed her cheeks.
"…it's unfairly warm."
The surrounding Eagle Union girls quietly nodded in agreement afterward.
Yuuki suddenly felt very attacked emotionally.
The recent emotional synchronization clearly affected everyone differently.
Some became more open.
Some became shy.
Some simply avoided direct eye contact entirely because feeling Yuuki's genuine warmth firsthand made it significantly harder to maintain emotional distance.
Yuuki noticed it immediately.
But he chose not to push.
He simply smiled gently at them instead.
Allowing them to sort out their own hearts naturally.
Then from another hallway—
Several Iron Blood light cruisers approached together.
Karlsruhe walked confidently at the front while Köln sighed beside her. Königsberg meanwhile carried her usual teasing smile while Leipzig quietly hid behind her sisters nervously.
Königsberg immediately grinned.
"So, sisters…"
Her crimson eyes drifted toward Yuuki knowingly.
"Should we finally tell him our feelings properly?"
Köln immediately sighed.
"Perhaps another time."
Then calmly—
"He already survived enough confessions for one evening."
Karlsruhe softly laughed afterward.
"Heh…"
Then she looked toward Yuuki more warmly.
"Still…"
A faint blush crossed her cheeks.
"…his heart really is absurdly warm."
Behind them, Leipzig quietly hid further behind Karlsruhe while peeking shyly toward Yuuki every few seconds.
Yuuki smiled gently toward them.
"You girls don't need to rush anything."
Königsberg immediately smirked.
"My, how gentlemanly."
Nearby, several Sakura Empire cruisers quietly observed the growing crowd around Yuuki from a more comfortable distance.
Unlike some of the others, they had only known him briefly.
Far too briefly to fully understand the strange emotions now blooming within their hearts after the synchronization.
And yet—
The warmth flowing through the connection made him impossible to ignore.
It was calming.
Safe.
Gentle in a way most commanders never were.
Furutaka was the first to finally approach him properly.
"You really have it rough, Commander."
Yuuki immediately sighed dramatically.
"Thank you for acknowledging my suffering."
Furutaka softly laughed afterward.
"You brought it upon yourself a little."
"That somehow hurts more because it's true."
Kako stood nearby with her arms crossed while quietly studying him for several moments.
Then calmly—
"It seems you may eventually earn my respect after all."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Eventually?"
Kako smirked faintly.
"You still have a long way to go."
Then more softly—
"But your heart is genuine."
The synchronized connection quietly pulsed between them afterward.
"And that matters more than strength."
Yuuki smiled faintly toward her.
"I'll take that as progress."
"It is."
Meanwhile Kinugasa immediately stepped closer afterward with visible concern on her face.
"Did you rest properly, Commander?"
Yuuki instantly sensed another lecture approaching.
"Uh…"
Kinugasa narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Health comes first."
Then gently—
"You really don't look very rested."
Yuuki weakly pointed around himself.
"I got emotionally assaulted by multiple fleets today."
"That is not an excuse."
"That absolutely feels like one."
Kinugasa sighed softly afterward before smiling faintly.
"Please take better care of yourself."
The concern in her voice felt natural.
Honest.
Not obligation.
And that sincerity quietly warmed Yuuki's chest again.
Then—
Nagara suddenly leaned closer with a playful smile.
"So…"
Yuuki immediately sensed danger.
"What kind of girl do you like, Commander?"
Yuuki blinked.
"…That came out of nowhere."
Nagara giggled softly.
"Hehe~"
Then teasingly—
"Well?"
Yuuki looked around carefully afterward.
Far too many girls nearby suddenly pretended not to listen.
Which meant—
Every single one of them was listening.
Yuuki immediately realized this was a trap.
"A dangerous question."
"Answering honestly is important," Nagara replied shamelessly.
Yuuki weakly sighed afterward before scratching his cheek.
"Well…"
His gaze drifted briefly across the surrounding shipgirls.
Toward their smiles.
Their warmth.
Their sincerity.
Then softly—
"I guess…"
The connection between their hearts quietly pulsed.
"…kind girls."
The surrounding cruisers visibly paused afterward.
Then Nagara smiled more gently this time.
"My…"
Furutaka quietly laughed.
"That answer suits you."
Kako looked away slightly afterward.
"…Simple."
Yet a faint redness still appeared on her face.
Kinugasa meanwhile smiled warmly.
"That really does sound like Commander."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Well, I mean…"
Then honestly—
"After everything you girls went through…"
His expression softened.
"…seeing all of you smile feels more important to me than anything else."
The Sakura cruisers quietly fell silent afterward.
Because through the synchronized connection—
They could feel he truly meant every word.
No lies.
No manipulation.
No hidden desires.
Only genuine warmth.
And honestly—
That sincerity itself was exactly what made Yuuki so dangerously difficult to ignore.
Comforting.
Safe.
Reliable.
The kind of warmth shipgirls instinctively longed for.
Then suddenly—
"It appears they overwhelmed you."
"Aah!"
Yuuki nearly jumped out of his skin.
He immediately turned toward the source of the voice.
"…Shiranui!"
The Sakura Empire destroyer quietly stared at him with her usual blank expression.
"…Boo."
Yuuki held his chest dramatically.
"You absolutely did that on purpose."
"…Perhaps."
Shiranui calmly stepped closer afterward while watching the hallway where the destroyers fled earlier.
"They became unusually energetic after synchronizing with you."
Yuuki weakly sighed.
"Is everyone going to become this affectionate now?"
"Yes."
"…That answer came too quickly."
Shiranui quietly tilted her head.
"Your warmth is addictive."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
Then more softly—
"…You really all feel it that strongly?"
The usually emotionless destroyer slowly nodded.
"We spent years trapped within darkness."
Then quietly—
"And suddenly someone appeared who genuinely cared whether we smiled or cried."
Her red eyes calmly met his afterward.
"Of course everyone became attached."
Yuuki quietly fell silent hearing that.
Then Shiranui's blank expression softened ever so slightly.
"…Though personally."
Yuuki immediately sensed danger again.
"I find your startled reactions amusing."
Yuuki stared at her in disbelief.
"You absolutely enjoy scaring me."
"…Perhaps."
Somewhere down the hallway, the destroyers immediately shouted again.
"Commander bullied by spooky rabbit!"
"I HEARD THAT."
Yuuki eventually recovered from Shiranui's surprise attack before narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the floating purple flames surrounding her rigging.
"Seriously though…"
He pointed toward the eerie ghostly fires drifting around her.
"How exactly are your riggings floating like that?"
Shiranui stared at him blankly for several seconds.
Then—
"…Ghost power."
Purple flames flickered dramatically around her.
"…Booo…"
She slowly raised both hands.
"I am a spooky ghost…"
Then in the exact same monotone voice—
"…I will haunt you…"
Yuuki immediately sighed.
"I am absolutely haunted."
"…Good."
Shiranui looked oddly satisfied with that answer.
Before Yuuki could continue questioning her supernatural nonsense, another warm voice echoed through the hallway.
"Oh, young'un…"
Nevada approached alongside Oklahoma with relaxed smiles on their faces.
"…You came to visit again."
Yuuki immediately smiled faintly toward the two battleships.
"Nevada. Oklahoma."
Nevada softly laughed afterward while crossing her arms proudly.
"Never expected ya to become such a ridiculous source of warmth."
Yuuki scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true."
Oklahoma meanwhile looked extremely amused while studying him carefully.
Then with absolutely no mercy—
"So Commander…"
Yuuki immediately sensed danger again.
"…How many confessions did you get today?"
Yuuki looked away dramatically.
"…A lot."
Oklahoma immediately burst into laughter.
"Pffft—"
Nevada quietly shook her head with amusement.
"Boy really walked into the fleet and accidentally conquered everyone's hearts."
"I DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE."
"That somehow makes it worse," Shiranui answered calmly.
Oklahoma grinned mischievously afterward.
"Well then…"
She gently leaned closer toward him.
"I guess sis and I will save ours for later."
Yuuki visibly froze.
"…Wait."
Nevada immediately laughed loudly at his expression.
"Haha! Relax, young'un."
Yuuki weakly pointed at them.
"You can't casually say things like that anymore."
Oklahoma looked completely unapologetic.
"Why not?"
"Because literally every girl who says that lately ends up actually confessing."
"…Fair point."
Yuuki sighed helplessly afterward before gently patting Oklahoma's head.
"Thanks though."
Then more softly—
"It's not like I'm disappearing forever."
The warmth flowing quietly through the connected Wisdom Cube network pulsed gently around them afterward.
Nevada smiled warmly.
"We know."
Oklahoma nodded afterward.
"That's why nobody's rushing you too hard."
Then teasingly—
"Mostly."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes.
"That word worries me."
"It should."
Shiranui nodded calmly.
Yuuki immediately pointed accusingly at her.
"You are enjoying this situation far too much."
"…Perhaps."
Nevada laughed again while lightly patting Yuuki's shoulder.
"Go on then, young'un."
Her expression softened slightly afterward.
"Her Majesty's probably been waitin' awhile."
Yuuki immediately groaned softly.
"…Right."
Then quietly to himself—
"Time to face Elizabeth."
Somewhere deep within the Royal Navy Hall.
Yuuki could already feel an overwhelmingly regal presence waiting for him.
Yuuki finally stepped into the grand central hall of the Royal Navy tower.
The room radiated pure royalty.
Massive chandeliers illuminated the elegant chamber while polished marble floors reflected the soft golden lights surrounding the hall. Royal banners hung proudly between towering pillars while countless Royal Navy shipgirls gathered throughout the room.
And at the center—
Sat Queen Elizabeth herself.
Warspite stood loyally beside her while Valiant rested nearby looking thoroughly entertained already.
The moment Yuuki entered—
Every gaze immediately turned toward him.
Yuuki casually raised one hand.
"Yo everyone."
Elizabeth immediately pointed her royal staff directly at him.
"Servant!"
Her crimson eyes narrowed dramatically.
"It appears your barbaric manner of speaking remains completely unchanged!"
Yuuki grinned shamelessly.
"Hi to you too, Elly."
The entire hall froze.
Elizabeth visibly twitched.
"…Elly?"
The royal aura around her nearly exploded instantly.
"WHERE IS HOOD?!"
She stood dramatically afterward while pointing her staff accusingly toward the heavens.
"She clearly failed your refinement lessons!"
Yuuki laughed helplessly.
"She's currently busy refining someone else who desperately needs it."
Then proudly—
"So you're stuck with me."
Elizabeth visibly looked betrayed by reality itself.
"…Unacceptable."
Valiant meanwhile burst into laughter nearby.
"Haha…"
She crossed her arms smugly afterward.
"Well sister, it appears we are permanently stuck with this uncivilized one."
Warspite quietly sighed beside them.
"At this point, Your Majesty should simply accept it."
Elizabeth immediately huffed proudly.
"I refuse."
Meanwhile Yuuki already wandered off greeting the others naturally.
"Oh, hey Sussex."
Sussex immediately straightened slightly upon seeing him approach.
"Lord Commander."
Unlike before, however—
There was no longer wariness inside her expression.
Only quiet warmth.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"You're not still suspicious of me anymore?"
Sussex slowly shook her head.
"No."
Then softly—
"I have sensed your heart directly now."
The synchronized connection between them quietly pulsed.
"And I have nothing left to fear."
Her expression softened afterward.
"You truly are a man beyond my expectations."
Immediately beside her—
Shropshire grinned mischievously.
"That's sister's way of saying she likes you."
"Shropshire!"
Sussex instantly turned red.
"Scary."
Shropshire immediately hid behind Yuuki afterward while laughing.
Yuuki burst into laughter as well.
"You girls really don't hold back anymore now that the sync happened."
"No point hiding feelings from someone who can literally feel them," Shropshire answered proudly.
Then Yuuki noticed another familiar Royal Navy battlecruiser nearby.
"Yo, Repulse."
Repulse immediately brightened.
"Hello, Lord Commander!"
Yuuki smiled warmly toward her.
"You saw Anis through the connection too, huh?"
Repulse nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah!"
Then excitedly—
"She seems really fun."
A grin appeared on her face afterward.
"I can't wait to become friends with her once I'm revived."
"She'd absolutely love your energy."
Nearby, Kent and Suffolk immediately approached as well.
"Kent. Suffolk."
The two Royal Navy girls greeted him cheerfully.
Yuuki's expression softened slightly afterward.
"Please take care of Ade and Soda for me."
The moment their names appeared, both girls immediately nodded seriously.
"Righto!" Kent answered brightly.
"Leave it to us, Commander!" Suffolk added warmly.
Both shipgirls had already seen fragments of the two maids' hearts through the synchronized network.
Their kindness.
Their pain.
Their sincerity.
And honestly—
The Royal Navy girls already adored them before even meeting them properly.
Then from the center of the hall—
Elizabeth crossed her arms proudly.
"So…"
Her royal gaze narrowed toward Yuuki.
"You acquired two additional servants for the Royal Maid Corps?"
Yuuki grinned faintly.
"Yeah."
Then more warmly—
"Two beautiful maids."
The thought of Ade and Soda naturally brought a softer expression to his face.
"They should be able to stand beside even the first-class maids like Belfast someday."
The Royal Navy girls immediately exchanged interested looks afterward.
Meanwhile Elizabeth huffed dramatically from her throne.
"Hmph."
Then quietly—
"Well…"
Her expression softened just slightly.
"…if Belfast herself approves of them, then perhaps they possess some merit after all."
Warspite immediately noticed the subtle softness hidden beneath Elizabeth's royal attitude.
And quietly smiled to herself.
Because despite all her dramatic behavior—
Elizabeth was already beginning to accept Yuuki's growing fleet as family too.
Yuuki continued walking through the grand Royal Navy hall while more shipgirls naturally gathered around him.
The atmosphere no longer felt distant anymore.
Awkwardness still lingered here and there due to the synchronized emotional connection, but most of the Royal Navy girls had already begun relaxing around him naturally.
Not far away, Southampton quietly spoke with several familiar destroyers while carrying a noticeably softer expression than before.
Comet.
Crescent.
Cygnet.
The C-class girls had practically attached themselves back onto Southampton again after reconnecting through the Wisdom Cube network.
Southampton looked genuinely relieved having her former little companions around her once more.
Meanwhile—
Crescent puffed her cheeks while glaring suspiciously at Yuuki from afar.
Yuuki blinked.
"…Why am I being judged?"
Crescent crossed her arms dramatically.
"Hmph."
Then quietly—
"You're too popular."
Cygnet immediately panicked beside her.
"C-Crescent…"
Comet softly laughed nervously.
Meanwhile Yuuki looked completely betrayed.
"I don't even know how to defend myself against that accusation."
"Good," Crescent answered immediately.
Foxhound and Leander approached afterward with much gentler expressions.
"Commander."
Foxhound smiled warmly.
"It's good seeing you again."
Leander nodded softly beside her.
"The fleet feels significantly livelier after your arrival."
Yuuki smiled faintly toward them.
"Well…"
Then teasingly—
"I accidentally started a fleet-wide emotional synchronization incident."
"That explanation somehow sounds absurdly normal now," Leander sighed quietly.
Nearby, another familiar voice spoke up afterward.
"Commander."
Yuuki turned toward Hermes.
The light carrier carried her usual calm elegance while holding a deck of cards carefully within one hand.
"Commander! How versed are you in Yu-Gi-Oh?"
Yuuki immediately blinked.
"…Wait."
He pointed dramatically at Hermes.
"Yu-Gi-Oh exists in this world too?"
Hermes smiled proudly while holding her deck carefully.
"Of course."
Then confidently—
"And I am quite skilled."
Yuuki immediately grinned afterward.
"Oh, then this is serious."
Several Royal Navy girls looked completely confused while watching the two suddenly become intensely competitive.
Hermes elegantly adjusted her gloves.
"Please choose your deck wisely, Commander."
Then proudly—
"I shall be using my Dark Magician deck."
The moment she said that—
Yuuki's duelist instincts awakened immediately.
"Oh?"
He slowly cracked his fingers.
"Then this Void World just became very dangerous."
The peaceful island around them lightly shimmered afterward.
Because inside the Wisdom Cube Void World—
Thoughts could become reality.
Yuuki snapped his fingers lightly.
Instantly—
A complete Dark Magician deck materialized directly in Hermes' hands.
Hermes' eyes widened slightly.
"My…"
Yuuki grinned shamelessly.
"I can generate any deck I want here."
Then another deck suddenly appeared within his own hand.
Hermes immediately narrowed her eyes competitively.
"Then I officially challenge you to a duel!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls quietly gathered around afterward while looking thoroughly entertained despite not understanding what was happening.
Elizabeth crossed her arms.
"What exactly are they doing?"
Warspite sighed softly.
"Apparently declaring war through cards."
Hood quietly observed from nearby with elegant amusement.
"My kind sir appears unusually confident."
Hermes meanwhile looked genuinely excited.
It had been over ten years since she last played a proper duel.
Ten years since the world fell apart.
Ten years since card games became meaningless compared to survival.
And now—
For the first time in forever—
She could simply enjoy herself again.
The Void World responded to their intentions afterward.
A small holographic duel arena materialized directly atop one of the tables while glowing life point counters appeared beside them.
The Royal Navy girls immediately looked amazed.
"Oh my…"
"That's fancy."
"Commander can generate games too?"
Yuuki and Hermes sat opposite one another while placing their decks down dramatically.
Then together—
"DUEL!"
The coin toss spun through the air.
Yuuki won.
"I'll go first."
Both players drew five cards.
Hermes smiled confidently afterward.
"Set your defenses properly, Commander."
Then proudly—
"You are about to witness the skill of a true duelist."
Yuuki looked down toward his opening hand.
Then—
A dangerous grin slowly appeared on his face.
Hermes immediately narrowed her eyes.
"…That expression worries me."
Yuuki placed down his first card.
"I activate Graceful Charity."
Several cards materialized holographically before him.
"Draw three cards…"
Then calmly—
"…and discard two."
Hermes immediately recognized the move.
"Ah…"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"The Graceful Charity setup."
Then suspiciously—
"What exactly are you planning?"
Yuuki simply smiled.
He discarded two cards calmly afterward.
Then immediately—
"I activate Pot of Greed."
Several Royal Navy girls blinked.
Elizabeth tilted her head.
"…What does that pot even do?"
Yuuki and Hermes answered instantly together.
"IT ALLOWS ME TO DRAW TWO CARDS."
The entire hall jumped slightly from the synchronized response.
Warspite quietly sighed.
"They rehearsed that."
Yuuki drew two more cards afterward.
Hermes waited patiently.
She had a strong opening hand herself.
Dark Magician.
Magician Navigation.
Support spells.
A solid setup.
Then—
Yuuki casually activated another card.
"I play Graceful Charity again."
Hermes' eyes widened.
"…Excuse me?"
"Draw three. Discard two."
Yuuki calmly cycled through his deck again while discarding seemingly random cards.
The Royal Navy girls watched with growing confusion.
Elizabeth pointed dramatically.
"He's just drawing cards!"
"That is somehow his entire strategy," Hermes answered suspiciously.
Yuuki finally looked toward his hand afterward.
Then slowly—
He smiled.
Hermes immediately sensed danger.
"…Commander."
Yuuki quietly revealed the cards within his hand one by one.
"The Forbidden One's right arm."
"The Forbidden One's left arm."
"The Forbidden One's right leg."
"The Forbidden One's left leg."
Hermes' eyes widened in horror.
"…No way."
Then finally—
Yuuki revealed the last card dramatically.
"EXODIA…"
Golden energy erupted around the hologram table duel arena.
"…THE FORBIDDEN ONE."
The complete form of Exodia materialized on Yuuki's side of the hologram table arena in overwhelming golden light.
The entire Royal Navy hall went silent.
Hermes stared in complete disbelief.
"…First turn?!"
Yuuki pointed dramatically.
"When all five pieces of Exodia are assembled in my hand…"
Then proudly—
"…I win automatically."
Hermes immediately collapsed onto the table dramatically.
"…I waited ten years for this duel…"
Then slowly—
"…and got obliterated before my first turn."
The surrounding Royal Navy girls burst into laughter afterward while Yuuki leaned back victoriously.
"Never underestimate ancient bullshit decks."
Elizabeth looked utterly horrified.
"That was not a duel."
"That," Yuuki corrected proudly, "was destiny."
Hermes stared at him blankly afterward.
"…I want a rematch."
"Denied."
"Commander."
"No."
"Commander."
"Hermes, you are literally running Dark Magician."
"And you used Exodia!"
"Exactly."
Hood quietly covered her mouth while laughing elegantly nearby.
"My kind sir…"
Then softly—
"You truly are terrifying in unexpected ways."
===================
Hermes genuinely looked moments away from emotional collapse.
"…First turn Exodia…"
She stared blankly at the duel arena while the Royal Navy girls continued laughing around her.
"I waited ten years…"
Then dramatically—
"…TEN YEARS…"
Yuuki immediately felt guilty afterward.
"Okay, okay."
He raised both hands defensively.
"Let's have a rematch."
Hermes immediately looked up.
"…Really?"
Yuuki grinned.
"Yeah."
Then proudly—
"This time I'll use an actual deck instead of committing crimes against dueling."
Hermes instantly regained her competitive smile afterward.
"Excellent."
The duel arena reset itself while the surrounding Royal Navy girls gathered even closer now that they somewhat understood the concept.
At least partially.
Elizabeth still looked deeply offended by Exodia's existence.
"That thing should be illegal."
"It absolutely should," Hermes agreed immediately.
Then both duelists drew their opening hands again.
This time—
The duel became real.
No instant-win nonsense.
No first-turn disasters.
Actual strategy.
Turns passed while holographic monsters materialized around the table arena beautifully. Dark Magician appeared behind Hermes in swirling purple energy while Yuuki countered with powerful synchro monsters generated from his own deck.
The Royal Navy girls slowly became invested despite themselves.
"Oh!"
"That attack was strong!"
"Wait, can he survive this turn?"
Even Warspite quietly leaned closer during one of the later turns.
Hermes meanwhile looked happier than she had in years.
Focused.
Competitive.
Alive.
Every card she played carried excitement behind it while Yuuki responded just as seriously across the table.
For a little while—
The war disappeared.
The suffering disappeared.
And Hermes became simply a duelist again.
Then finally—
Several turns later—
Hermes slammed down her final card dramatically.
"I activate Dark Magic Attack!"
A massive magical explosion erupted across the holographic field while Yuuki's remaining defenses shattered completely.
Then—
"Dark Magician!"
Her ace monster raised its staff triumphantly.
"Direct attack!"
The magical blast struck directly.
Yuuki's life points hit zero.
The duel arena flashed brightly.
"WINNER: HERMES."
For several seconds—
Silence.
Then—
"I WON!"
Hermes immediately stood up with pure joy written across her face.
"I ACTUALLY WON!"
Yuuki laughed helplessly afterward while leaning back in defeat.
"Well played."
Hermes looked genuinely radiant afterward.
Not elegant.
Not reserved.
Just openly happy.
And honestly—
Seeing that expression made the loss completely worth it.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls applauded while Elizabeth dramatically pointed her staff toward Hermes.
"Well done!"
Then immediately afterward—
"Though I still understand absolutely nothing."
Warspite quietly sighed.
"At least Your Majesty tried."
Hermes meanwhile looked toward Yuuki warmly.
"Thank you, Commander."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"Hm?"
Her smile softened.
"For giving me this moment again."
The duel arena slowly faded around them while holographic cards dissolved into light.
"I almost forgot what it felt like…"
Then quietly—
"…to simply enjoy something again."
Yuuki's expression softened deeply afterward.
Then with a grin—
"Careful."
Hermes tilted her head.
"If you keep smiling like that, people are gonna think you like me too."
Hermes immediately froze.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls instantly focused on her.
Hermes turned completely red.
"…C-Commander."
Yuuki burst into laughter immediately.
"Oh no. I broke the duelist."
Even Elizabeth smirked knowingly from her throne.
Meanwhile somewhere nearby—
Hood quietly smiled to herself.
Because once again—
Yuuki had unknowingly healed another wounded heart without even realizing it.
==================
Yuuki leaned back in his chair afterward with a dangerous grin.
"Well then…"
He shuffled his deck dramatically.
"Best two out of three?"
Hermes immediately straightened with renewed determination.
"I am ready!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls cheered lightly while gathering even closer around the duel table now fully invested in the absurdity unfolding before them.
Yuuki's grin somehow became even worse afterward.
"Good."
Then ominously—
"Because this time…"
He slowly placed his deck onto the table.
"…I'm using an actually absurd deck."
Hermes immediately narrowed her eyes.
"That statement concerns me deeply."
The duel arena activated once more.
"DUEL!"
This time Hermes won the coin toss.
"I'll go first!"
Cards flew into her hand while holographic energy surged around the arena.
Hermes immediately played aggressively.
"I summon Dark Magician Girl in attack mode!"
A magical circle erupted behind her while the cheerful spellcaster appeared dramatically.
"Then I set two cards face-down and end my turn."
Hermes smiled confidently afterward.
A solid opening.
Balanced offense and defense.
Then—
She saw Yuuki grinning.
And immediately regretted everything.
"…Commander."
Yuuki slowly drew his card.
"My turn."
The moment he looked at his hand—
Pure chaos began.
"I activate Monster Reborn."
Then immediately—
"I discard Exodia's Left Arm."
Hermes blinked.
"…Why would you discard Exodia pieces?"
Yuuki simply kept comboing.
"I activate Card Destruction."
More cards flew.
Then another spell.
Then another.
Then another.
The Royal Navy girls completely lost track after the fifth combo.
"What is happening?!"
"I have no idea!"
"Is this legal?!"
Warspite quietly stared at the duel table in concern.
"…I don't think even he knows anymore."
Meanwhile Yuuki continued chaining absurd combinations together endlessly.
Exodia pieces entered the graveyard.
Returned to hand.
Got sacrificed.
Got resummoned.
Vanished again.
Cards kept activating one after another while the duel arena nearly overloaded from processing the nonsense unfolding before it.
Hermes' life points suddenly increased.
"Wait…"
She blinked.
"Why did my LP go from 8000 to 10000?!"
"Don't worry about it."
"That answer is horrifying!"
Yuuki continued comboing relentlessly.
Then suddenly—
He stopped.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Yuuki slowly raised one card dramatically.
"I sacrifice almost all of my life points."
The entire hall froze.
"…Excuse me?"
His life point counter rapidly dropped.
The entire room stared in horror.
"Commander only has 100 LP left!"
"HE'S INSANE."
Yuuki slammed the card down dramatically afterward.
"DESCEND!"
Golden divine flames erupted across the duel arena.
"THE WINGED DRAGON OF RA!"
A massive divine dragon emerged behind Yuuki's side of the hologram arena.
Hermes widened her eyes completely.
"…AN EGYPTIAN GOD CARD?!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately panicked.
"THAT THING LOOKS ILLEGAL."
Elizabeth pointed dramatically.
"WHY IS THE SUN DRAGON SCREAMING."
Yuuki however was not finished.
Not even close.
"I tribute summon again!"
Another massive shockwave exploded across the arena.
"OBELISK THE TORMENTOR!"
A gigantic blue divine titan materialized beside Ra while the duel arena visibly started glitching from excessive god-level nonsense.
Hermes stared blankly.
"…There's another one."
Yuuki raised another card.
"WAIT, THERE'S MORE....."
The hall collectively screamed as he combo another summon.
"SLIFER THE SKY DRAGON!"
Red lightning exploded across the skies of the small table arena while the third Egyptian God descended above it.
Three divine monsters now towered behind Yuuki simultaneously.
The Royal Navy girls completely lost composure.
"THAT CANNOT BE FAIR."
"HERMES RUN."
"THE COMMANDER HAS BECOME A FINAL BOSS."
Even Hood quietly stared in disbelief.
"…My kind sir…"
Then softly—
"What exactly is wrong with your deck building philosophy?"
Yuuki pointed dramatically while divine lightning exploded behind him.
"OVERKILL IS THE ONLY KILL."
Hermes was completely stunned.
"…You summoned all three Egyptian Gods…"
Then weakly—
"…in one turn."
Yuuki's combo sequence still continued afterward.
Cards returned from the graveyard.
Exodia pieces reassembled themselves one by one back into his hand.
Hermes slowly realized the horrifying truth.
"…No."
Yuuki grinned like a madman.
"…No no no."
Then dramatically—
"EXODIA…"
All five forbidden pieces assembled again.
"…THE FORBIDDEN ONE!"
Golden light exploded across the entire duel arena while the Egyptian Gods roared behind Yuuki simultaneously.
Hermes' life points instantly detonated from 11000 to zero in a single overwhelming blast.
The duel arena completely shut down afterward from excessive nonsense.
Silence filled the hall.
Complete silence.
Then finally—
Warspite quietly spoke.
"…That was the most illegal thing I have ever witnessed."
Hermes stared blankly at Yuuki.
"…Commander."
Yuuki proudly crossed his arms while the holographic remains of the Egyptian Gods on the table arena slowly faded.
"Yes?"
Hermes continued staring at him blankly.
"…What exactly is wrong with you?"
Yuuki shamelessly grinned afterward.
"I literally warned you this was a dumb deck."
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha—"
But strangely—
The entire hall remained completely silent.
Not because they disliked it.
But because nobody fully comprehended what they had just witnessed.
The Royal Navy girls stared toward the destroyed hologram duel arena on the table in stunned disbelief.
They did not understand the rules.
They did not understand the combos.
They barely understood the purpose of the game itself.
Yet even they could tell one terrifying truth—
Yuuki had somehow summoned three gigantic divine monsters…
Then annihilated Hermes with an ancient forbidden being…
All in a single turn.
Elizabeth slowly pointed her staff toward him.
"…That looked profoundly illegal."
Warspite quietly nodded.
"I believe Commander weaponized mathematics."
Hermes meanwhile still looked spiritually defeated.
"…I give up."
She leaned back dramatically afterward.
"Back in my days…"
Her voice sounded hollow.
"…we just summoned one monster, set defense cards, and politely ended our turn."
Yuuki immediately laughed again.
"Well…"
Then proudly—
"I did come from years into the future."
Hermes weakly pointed at the duel arena ruins.
"That was not the future."
"That was a war crime."
Yuuki looked completely unapologetic.
"Modern card duels are determined in one turn now."
Then casually—
"It mostly depends on how many illegal combos you memorize."
Hermes covered part of her face.
"…The game evolved incorrectly."
"Correct."
Then suddenly—
Hermes' eyes reignited with determination.
"That settles it."
Yuuki blinked.
"Hm?"
Hermes pointed dramatically toward him.
"Commander."
Her expression became serious.
"You will teach me the ways of future dueling."
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately laughed softly seeing her competitive spirit return again.
Yuuki grinned afterward.
"Sure."
Then teasingly—
"But don't blame me once you start combo summoning eldritch horrors too."
Hermes narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"That sounds concerning."
"It should."
Then Hermes softly sighed afterward before smiling faintly.
"…Still."
She looked toward the destroyed duel arena again.
"Next time…"
Her expression turned almost nostalgic.
"…let us simply have an old-fashioned duel."
Yuuki tilted his head.
Hermes gently smiled.
"Summon monster."
"Attack."
"Defend."
"End turn."
Yuuki immediately laughed warmly.
"…Yeah."
Then more softly—
"That honestly sounds pretty relaxing."
And strangely enough—
Despite all the absurd chaos, divine dragons, illegal combos, and first-turn annihilation—
The Royal Navy hall felt warmer than it had in years.
Because for a little while—
The shipgirls were no longer soldiers waiting endlessly within darkness.
They were simply girls laughing together again.
Then politely—
"Would it trouble you if I challenged you to another card duel once I am revived?"
Yuuki immediately narrowed his eyes.
"…Hermes."
Hermes smiled knowingly.
Yuuki pointed dramatically afterward.
"I already warned you."
Then proudly—
"Be prepared to have your life points sent directly to the Shadow Realm again."
Several nearby Royal Navy girls immediately burst into laughter.
Hermes herself softly covered her mouth while smiling.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"Such confidence."
Yuuki crossed his arms proudly.
"You underestimate my ability to topdeck miracles."
"That sounds dangerously familiar," Warspite muttered quietly nearby.
Hermes gently shuffled her cards afterward while her eyes softened warmly toward him.
"Then I shall look forward to our rematch greatly, Commander."
Yuuki grinned.
"Deal."
Then from somewhere nearby—
Crescent pointed dramatically again.
"See?! He's flirting through card games now!"
"I AM NOT."
Foxhound quietly laughed while Leander softly shook her head.
Meanwhile Elizabeth sat atop her throne watching the increasingly chaotic Royal Navy hall unfold around Yuuki.
Shipgirls laughing.
Destroyers running around him.
Cruisers speaking warmly with him.
Even the usually distant girls naturally gravitating toward him.
And through the synchronized connection—
Elizabeth herself could feel it too.
The warmth inside his heart.
The sincerity.
The absence of selfishness.
For the first time in a very long while—
The Royal Navy truly felt alive again.
"Kind sir…"
Hood gracefully sat beside Yuuki afterward while placing an elegant tea set atop the nearby table.
"…do allow the young lady to win occasionally."
Yuuki immediately looked offended.
"But I did."
Hood slowly raised one eyebrow.
"You obliterated her first duel through forbidden ancient nonsense."
"That was educational."
"It was psychological warfare."
Yuuki grinned shamelessly while accepting the teacup Hood prepared for him.
"Still…"
He relaxed slightly afterward.
"…it pushed her to improve beyond the old-school duel style."
Then warmly—
"And we both had fun."
Hood softly smiled while pouring tea with perfect elegance.
"That much is certainly true."
Then suddenly—
Another small figure abruptly sat directly beside Yuuki.
Both he and Hood visibly blinked.
Because Queen Elizabeth herself had somehow joined them at the small table.
The royal girl immediately crossed her arms defensively.
"I-I am only sitting here momentarily because I happen to enjoy the atmosphere!"
Then quickly—
"Do not misunderstand!"
Yuuki slowly looked toward Hood.
Hood quietly looked back at him.
Then together—
They simply shrugged.
Elizabeth immediately puffed her cheeks.
"H-Hmph!"
Then proudly—
"You have been slightly exceeding expectations in your duties lately."
Yuuki immediately sensed incoming nonsense.
"And thus…"
Elizabeth dramatically pointed her royal staff toward him.
"I shall make an exception and promote you!"
Yuuki blinked.
"…Promote me?"
"To Captain of the Royal Guard!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately looked surprised.
Warspite herself quietly blinked.
Yuuki pointed toward her instantly.
"Isn't Captain technically Warspite?"
Elizabeth immediately flustered.
"N-Not that captain!"
Then more stubbornly—
"My personal captain!"
Hood softly covered her mouth while smiling.
"My…"
Then gently toward Yuuki—
"That is Her Majesty's way of expressing her affection for you, kind sir."
Elizabeth immediately exploded red.
"A QUEEN DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM!"
Yuuki grinned afterward.
"Then can I apply for the position of consort instead of captain?"
The entire table froze.
Elizabeth's brain visibly crashed.
"…Co…"
Her face turned entirely scarlet.
"…Consort?!"
She immediately stood halfway up while pointing shakily at him.
"H-How dare you suggest such scandalous things?!"
Yuuki immediately began losing the battle against laughter.
Elizabeth meanwhile continued malfunctioning dramatically.
"H-How could you even properly serve as consort if you are not constantly by my side?!"
Then suddenly quieter—
"…I-I would become lonely otherwise…"
The entire nearby area went silent.
Then Hood smiled knowingly.
"Ah…"
She elegantly sipped her tea afterward.
"So that is what Her Majesty truly meant."
Elizabeth immediately realized what she accidentally admitted.
"…!"
With full royal panic activated—
She instantly stood up afterward.
"T-That is enough!"
Then while rapidly retreating—
"Remember this properly!"
She pointed dramatically toward Yuuki.
"You are now my consort!"
Several Royal Navy girls immediately gasped dramatically nearby.
Elizabeth turned even redder.
"I-I mean—!"
Too late.
The damage was done.
Then stubbornly—
"Come visit me once you arrive here!"
Yuuki grinned helplessly afterward.
"Sure thing, Elly."
Elizabeth instantly pointed at him again.
"Y-You…"
Then completely flustered—
"D-Do not forget!"
And with that—
The tiny queen fled the scene at maximum royal speed.
Yuuki quietly watched her disappear before laughing softly.
"…That girl really is cute."
"Yes."
Hood gently held onto his arm afterward while leaning comfortably beside him.
Yuuki softly patted her head.
Then quietly—
"You girls are all honestly way too lovable."
Hood's elegant expression softened deeply afterward.
And through the connection between their hearts—
Yuuki could clearly feel her happiness at hearing those words.
Not long after Elizabeth's dramatic retreat, Warspite quietly approached Yuuki while he continued enjoying tea beside Hood near the seaside gardens of the island.
"My lord."
Yuuki looked up toward the legendary battleship.
"Will you join me for a duel?"
Yuuki blinked.
"You know how to play cards too?"
Warspite stared at him silently.
"…Not that kind of duel."
Then calmly—
"A sword duel."
Yuuki immediately laughed softly.
"Ah."
Then standing up—
"Sure."
Hood smiled knowingly while elegantly sipping her tea.
"Please try not to destroy too much of the island, kind sir."
"No promises."
Soon afterward—
The two stood atop the calm sea beneath the endless skies of the Void World.
Moonlight reflected beautifully across the water while distant shipgirls gathered along the shoreline to watch. The sea itself remained perfectly still beneath their feet while Yuuki casually skated across the surface.
Similar like the real world.
Warspite still looked faintly impressed by that.
"You truly move like a shipgirl already."
Yuuki lightly rolled one shoulder afterward while grabbing a practice blade from Warspite.
"Still getting used to it honestly rather than flying for a while."
Warspite unsheathed her own sword elegantly.
Unlike Hood's noble grace—
Warspite carried the presence of a hardened knight.
Steady.
Disciplined.
Reliable.
Then quietly—
"My lord…"
Her eyes drifted briefly toward Hood watching from the shore with calm elegance.
"…what made you accept Hood so easily?"
Yuuki blinked slightly before glancing toward the battlecruiser himself.
Hood smiled warmly back at him from the distance.
"Well…"
Yuuki softly smiled.
"She's an elegant lady."
Then toward Warspite—
"Aren't you one too?"
Warspite visibly paused afterward.
"…I am not very elegant."
Her grip on her sword tightened slightly.
"I apologize for not being like Hood or the other ladies…"
Then quickly—
"No…"
A faint blush crossed her face.
"…I am not referring to my body."
Yuuki quietly looked at her for several moments afterward.
Then gently—
"You don't need to explain."
Warspite blinked.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward while raising his blade.
"You're my lady knight."
Then warmly—
"Hood is my elegant lady."
Warspite's eyes widened slightly afterward.
The synchronized connection between their hearts quietly pulsed again.
And for a moment—
She could clearly feel he genuinely meant it.
No mockery.
No pity.
Only acceptance.
Then suddenly—
Clang.
Their swords met atop the calm sea.
The duel began.
Yet unlike true battle—
There was no killing intent between them.
Only movement.
Steel lightly clashed beneath the moonlight while water splashed gently around their feet. Warspite's strikes carried disciplined precision while Yuuki answered calmly without pressing too aggressively.
It felt less like combat—
And more like conversation through blades.
Warspite spoke again while their swords crossed.
"How do I properly say this…"
Another clash echoed softly across the sea.
"I am considered one of the older girls."
Yuuki parried lightly.
"And?"
Warspite looked away briefly.
"…Yet my body remains like this."
Yuuki immediately understood.
"It may be unbecoming for one my age to compete with younger girls…"
Then more quietly—
"…but I still wished to become attractive to you."
Their swords slowed slightly afterward.
"What exactly is a lady supposed to do in such circumstances…?"
Yuuki softly exhaled.
Then gently—
"You're already attractive to me."
Warspite froze slightly.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I can read your heart too, remember?"
The warmth flowing between them quietly pulsed once more.
Warspite's face reddened afterward despite her composed expression.
Then suddenly—
She huffed proudly while raising her blade again.
"Well enough of that."
A fierce smile appeared on her face.
"I am Warspite."
The sea lightly trembled beneath her spiritual pressure.
"The one who spites war itself."
Then confidently—
"Whosoever attempts to take the Commander away from me shall first face my cannons."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Hood said something pretty similar."
Warspite smirked.
"Then perhaps the Royal Navy ladies simply share excellent judgment."
Their swords clashed again afterward beneath the moonlit skies.
Then more softly—
"Still…"
Warspite's expression relaxed slightly.
"Now that we are connected to your heart…"
The pressure surrounding her eased.
"…we no longer need to desperately compete for your attention anymore."
Yuuki quietly listened while the calm sea stretched endlessly around them.
Warspite smiled faintly.
"And honestly…"
Their blades gently locked together one final time.
"…it is pleasant simply spending time with you like this."
For the first time in a very long while—
The legendary battleship looked less like a feared veteran of countless wars…
And more like simply a woman enjoying a peaceful evening beside someone she trusted deeply.
Their blades clashed one final time beneath the moonlit skies.
Steel rang softly across the calm sea before both Yuuki and Warspite naturally stepped back at the same moment.
Neither pressed further.
Neither desired victory.
Because from the very beginning—
Neither truly wished to hurt the other even slightly.
The sea gradually settled around them afterward while the surrounding shipgirls softly applauded from the shoreline.
Warspite lowered her sword first before smiling faintly.
"That was an enjoyable duel, my lord."
Yuuki laughed softly while resting his blade over one shoulder.
"Felt more like a duel to settle your heart."
Warspite quietly looked toward him afterward.
Then gently—
"Yes."
The synchronized connection between them quietly pulsed once more.
And for the first time in a very long while—
Warspite no longer felt insecure standing beside the others.
Yuuki had already accepted her exactly as she was.
No comparisons.
No judgment.
Only warmth.
The two calmly glided back across the sea together afterward toward the waiting shipgirls watching from shore.
The moment they arrived—
Another challenge immediately appeared.
Valiant stepped forward proudly while elegantly spinning one of her fencing swords.
"Commander."
Yuuki immediately sensed trouble again.
"Fancy the art of fencing?"
Yuuki shrugged lightly.
"Not much different from sword fighting or samurai combat styles."
Then casually—
"So yeah. I'm pretty decent."
Valiant visibly brightened.
"My…"
Then proudly—
"A man with multiple talents."
Without warning—
She tossed one of the fencing swords directly toward him.
Yuuki effortlessly caught it.
Almost instantly—
Elizabeth puffed her cheeks dramatically nearby.
"Hey!"
She pointed accusingly at Valiant.
"You are dueling my consort without permission!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately froze.
Yuuki visibly facepalmed.
"Elizabeth…"
Valiant meanwhile stared at the tiny queen flatly.
"Honestly…"
She crossed her arms afterward.
"Isn't Elizabeth becoming somewhat spoiled lately?"
Warspite quietly looked away.
Valiant continued mercilessly.
"And you all completely enable her behavior."
Then dramatically—
"I truly should have been the one in charge instead."
Yuuki immediately grinned afterward.
"Honestly?"
Valiant looked toward him proudly.
"Hm?"
"You're more or less the same."
Silence.
Valiant froze completely.
"…Huh?"
Her eye twitched slightly.
"I…"
Then dramatically—
"…WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
Yuuki laughed while casually gliding back onto the sea.
"I know exactly what I said."
Valiant immediately followed him onto the water while pointing her blade directly at him.
"Then you shall retract those outrageous words immediately!"
Her fencing stance shifted elegantly afterward.
"On guard!"
The duel began instantly.
Unlike Warspite's knightly combat style—
Valiant's movements focused entirely on speed and precision. Her blade thrust rapidly through the air with refined fencing techniques while Yuuki smoothly deflected every strike calmly.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
Valiant's eyes widened slightly afterward.
Because no matter how many angles she attacked from—
Yuuki blocked every single one effortlessly.
His guard never broke once.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls watched with growing surprise.
Valiant herself prided herself heavily on her fencing ability.
Yet against Yuuki—
She could not penetrate his defenses even once.
Yuuki casually parried another thrust afterward.
"You're fast."
Valiant immediately huffed.
"You sound entirely too relaxed!"
Yuuki grinned.
"That's because I'm having fun."
Valiant flushed slightly afterward before attacking even faster.
Yet once again—
Yuuki smoothly redirected every strike without difficulty.
Eventually—
Valiant finally stepped back while breathing slightly harder than before.
Her cheeks carried visible redness now.
"Y-You…"
She pointed accusingly at him.
"…You are significantly better than I expected…"
Yuuki lightly spun the fencing blade afterward before returning it to her handle-first.
"Thanks."
Valiant quickly snatched it back while looking away stubbornly.
"F-Fine then…"
Then quietly—
"…I simply shall not hold back next time."
Yuuki immediately laughed.
"You were holding back?"
"Obviously!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately looked unconvinced.
Valiant instantly turned red again.
"…D-Do not look at me like that!"
Meanwhile nearby—
Elizabeth proudly crossed her arms while nodding.
"My consort truly is talented."
Yuuki immediately sighed.
"You are absolutely never letting that title go now, huh?"
"Never," Elizabeth answered instantly.
And somehow—
The laughter echoing across the Royal Navy shoreline beneath the moonlit Void World felt far warmer than any victory ever could.
Their blades clashed repeatedly across the moonlit sea while the surrounding Royal Navy girls watched with growing amusement.
Valiant's fencing style remained elegant and refined.
Fast thrusts.
Sharp footwork.
Precise attacks.
And yet—
Yuuki calmly defended against every single strike while smoothly countering her openings one after another.
Then finally—
Clang.
Valiant's blade was redirected aside.
In one clean motion—
Yuuki's fencing sword stopped directly beneath her neck.
The sea became quiet.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I win."
Valiant immediately froze.
"…H-Hold on!"
She instantly jumped backward afterward while pointing accusingly at him.
"Fencing is a sophisticated real-world exercise!"
Then rapidly—
"You must account for environmental factors, emotional conditions, moonlight reflections, sea humidity, and other important variables!"
The surrounding shipgirls stared at her silently.
Valiant immediately doubled down.
"T-That last match was clearly a fluke!"
Then dramatically—
"It does not count!"
She pointed her sword again.
"Cancelled!"
Yuuki slowly blinked.
"…You really are spoiled."
Valiant instantly sputtered.
"W-What did you say?!"
Yuuki merely raised his blade again.
"On guard then."
Valiant visibly twitched.
Then immediately rushed him again.
Clang.
Another loss.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each duel ended exactly the same way.
Yuuki calmly dismantled her offense before placing his blade at a decisive position every single time.
If this had been an actual fencing tournament—
Valiant would have already lost an absurd number of points.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls struggled harder and harder not to laugh openly.
Even Warspite quietly looked away at one point.
Elizabeth herself eventually covered her mouth while failing to hide her amusement.
Meanwhile Valiant gradually lost all noble composure entirely.
"How?!"
Another clash.
"How are you blocking that?!"
Another loss.
"That one should have landed!"
Another loss.
"This is clearly biased somehow!"
Yuuki laughed helplessly while redirecting another attack.
"You sound exactly like a salty gamer right now."
"I AM NOT SALTY."
Then immediately afterward—
"I merely refuse to acknowledge fraudulent victories!"
Yuuki pointed his blade toward her again.
"That sounds pretty salty."
Valiant visibly puffed her cheeks afterward.
Honestly—
At this point she wanted to challenge him in something else entirely.
Chess perhaps.
A proper intellectual game.
Yet—
The memory of Yuuki casually destroying Hermes through first-turn Exodia earlier still haunted the Royal Navy girls collectively.
Valiant quietly remembered the horrifying words:
"DRAW TWO CARDS."
Her confidence immediately weakened.
"…No."
She muttered quietly to herself.
"I refuse to duel that monster in board games."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Did you just call me a monster?"
"Yes."
Valiant answered instantly.
"You weaponized ancient forbidden card combinations against poor Hermes."
Hermes herself dramatically nodded from nearby.
"I still have trauma."
Yuuki burst into laughter while Valiant huffed dramatically again.
Then more quietly—
Despite all her complaining…
Despite all the losses…
A small smile still slowly appeared on Valiant's face afterward.
Because honestly—
She had not enjoyed herself this much in a very long time.
After nearly twenty consecutive losses—
Even the Royal Navy girls began looking genuinely shocked.
Not just them.
Shipgirls from multiple factions quietly watched the endless fencing defeats unfold across the moonlit sea with growing disbelief.
Because despite her spoiled personality—
Valiant truly was one of the finest fencers within the Royal Navy.
Fast.
Talented.
Highly trained.
Yet Yuuki continued defeating her effortlessly over and over again.
Eventually—
Valiant finally lowered her blade while huffing dramatically.
"As your superior…"
She pointed accusingly at him.
"…you should demonstrate proper consideration toward your superior officer!"
Yuuki immediately sensed incoming nonsense again.
Valiant's face slowly reddened afterward.
"I mean…"
Then much quieter—
"…s-shouldn't you let me win at least once?"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately looked away to hide their amusement.
Valiant meanwhile continued spiraling.
"I have lost so many times now that I can barely maintain confidence in my fencing anymore…"
Then suddenly she raised her sword dramatically again.
"A-Anyway!"
She pointed directly at Yuuki.
"Lose to me!"
Yuuki blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"Just once!"
Then rapidly—
"It can even be intentional!"
The tiny noble immediately puffed her cheeks afterward.
"This is an order! Understood?!"
The sea became quiet for several moments afterward.
Then—
Yuuki chuckled softly.
His eyes slowly drifted toward Hood standing among the others nearby.
Hood merely smiled knowingly before giving him the faintest nod.
Yuuki softly sighed afterward.
"…Understood, Lady Valiant."
Valiant immediately brightened.
Then quickly—
"I-I mean obviously."
The duel resumed afterward beneath the moonlit skies.
Clang.
Clang.
Their blades moved once more across the sea.
Valiant attacked aggressively while Yuuki calmly defended as usual.
Then finally—
Valiant saw an opening.
A genuine one.
The surrounding shipgirls noticed it immediately too.
Yuuki could have deflected.
Could have countered.
Could have won instantly again.
But instead—
He intentionally let the strike pass through his guard.
Thrust.
Valiant's fencing blade struck directly toward his heart region.
Several shipgirls immediately gasped.
Yet—
The blade never pierced skin.
The nanomachine combat suit beneath Yuuki's clothes hardened instantly upon impact, stopping the strike harmlessly before it could injure him.
Still—
Valiant's eyes widened in horror.
Because if not for the suit—
"…You?!"
She immediately stumbled backward afterward.
"Are you alright?!"
Yuuki lightly rubbed the impact point afterward before smiling reassuringly.
"Yeah."
Then softly—
"It's fine."
Valiant stared at him silently.
Then quietly—
"…I won?"
Yuuki lowered his sword afterward.
"I guess you win."
Valiant blinked repeatedly.
"I…"
Then suddenly—
"I WON AGAINST YOU!"
Her entire face lit up immediately.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls burst into laughter while Valiant quickly regained her noble posture again.
"Ehem…"
She proudly adjusted her stance.
"Well naturally."
Then smugly—
"I am among the finest fencers in the Royal Navy after all."
Yuuki laughed softly afterward while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yes…"
Then teasingly—
"Yes, Lady Valiant."
He bowed slightly afterward.
"You won."
Valiant visibly looked extremely pleased hearing that.
"…Congratulations."
The tiny noble immediately turned bright red again afterward.
"T-Thank you…"
Then more quietly—
"…for letting me keep my dignity."
Yuuki blinked slightly.
Valiant looked away awkwardly.
"I could feel it through the connection…"
Then softly—
"…you intentionally gave me that opening."
The synchronized warmth between them quietly pulsed again.
Yuuki simply smiled faintly.
"Well…"
Then honestly—
"A knight should protect a lady's confidence sometimes too."
Valiant immediately froze afterward.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls collectively softened at those words.
And somewhere nearby—
Hood quietly smiled to herself once more.
Because Yuuki truly possessed an absurdly unfair ability to make shipgirls fall even harder for him without even noticing what he was doing.
Valiant proudly raised her fencing blade afterward while trying desperately to recover her noble composure.
"A heroic battle commanded elegantly…"
She flipped her hair dramatically.
"…now this is the sort of flawless victory befitting someone of my caliber."
Yuuki immediately failed holding back his laughter.
"Pff—"
Valiant instantly pointed accusingly at him.
"D-Do not laugh!"
Her face turned bright red again while she quickly looked away in embarrassment.
Yuuki still chuckled softly while allowing her to help pull him back onto his feet from the sea surface.
Then—
The moment he crouched slightly on one knee afterward—
Valiant suddenly rested the tip of her fencing sword lightly against his shoulder.
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately became silent.
Valiant proudly lifted her chin afterward.
"Well done!"
Her voice carried full noble authority.
"You have earned recognition as the most trustworthy spear within my arsenal!"
Yuuki immediately sensed incoming disaster again.
"And thus…"
Valiant dramatically pointed toward herself.
"To reward your continued loyalty…"
Then proudly—
"I shall graciously permit you to remain by my side and bask in my magnificence!"
The surrounding Royal Navy girls immediately struggled not to laugh.
Then—
Valiant declared the finishing blow proudly.
"You are now my consort!"
Silence.
Yuuki slowly closed his eyes.
"…Why is everyone promoting me into royalty tonight?"
Immediately—
"HEY!"
Elizabeth puffed her cheeks furiously from the shoreline.
"Only I can declare him consort!"
Warspite quietly sighed while holding her forehead.
"Your Majesty…"
Valiant smugly crossed her arms afterward.
"Too late, sister."
Valiant grinned triumphantly.
"We clearly must share one consort now."
Elizabeth turned entirely red.
"T-THAT IS NOT HOW THIS WORKS!"
Yuuki weakly raised one hand.
"Can I maybe get consulted in these political developments?"
"No," both royal girls answered instantly.
Warspite quietly looked toward Hood nearby.
"…Should we intervene?"
Hood calmly sipped her tea.
"No."
Then softly—
"I am curious how much further this escalates."
Yuuki looked utterly betrayed.
Meanwhile Valiant proudly grabbed his hand afterward before pulling him back toward the shoreline like she had successfully conquered a kingdom.
"Come, Consort."
Yuuki immediately sighed dramatically.
"…I feel like my authority keeps decreasing the more girls confess."
"Correct," Shiranui answered instantly from somewhere nearby.
"Why are you always suddenly behind me?!"
===============
Yuuki eventually spent the rest of the evening walking throughout the Void World alongside the shipgirls.
The atmosphere felt peaceful.
Comfortable.
Alive.
For the first time since arriving in this strange world, Yuuki could truly feel a sense of home slowly forming around him.
He spoke with Amagi beneath the Sakura trees while her tails swayed gently behind her.
He discussed the real world with Hood over tea.
He explained the progress of rebuilding the resurrection machine to Warspite, Valiant, and the others.
The shipgirls listened carefully as he described the home island.
The massive Citadel currently under construction.
The factories.
The defensive systems.
The future city where shipgirls and Nikkes could finally live freely without fear of humanity exploiting or controlling them again.
And honestly—
Seeing the hope quietly appear inside their eyes made all the exhaustion worth it.
Especially when he described one important detail.
"You girls won't just return as weapons."
Yuuki smiled softly afterward.
"You'll return home."
That single sentence alone nearly shattered the emotional stability of half the fleet.
Because for years—
Most of them stopped believing they could ever truly have a home again.
Eventually, after speaking with countless shipgirls throughout the night—
Yuuki finally noticed something strange.
Hornet sat slumped dramatically against one of the garden benches looking utterly defeated.
Like her soul had left her body entirely.
Meanwhile directly in front of her—
Sat Hood and Amagi.
Together.
Yuuki immediately understood.
"…Oh no."
Hornet slowly raised one hand weakly toward him.
"Handsome…"
Her voice sounded spiritually exhausted.
"…they're bullying poor Hornet…"
Yuuki walked over while trying not to laugh.
"What happened here?"
Hornet immediately pointed dramatically at the two elegant women.
"Lecture."
Then dramatically—
"Refinement lecture."
Hood elegantly sipped her tea.
"We merely corrected several concerning habits."
Amagi smiled beautifully.
"She possesses wonderful energy."
Then gently—
"But absolutely no restraint whatsoever."
Hornet looked betrayed.
"I HAVE RESTRAINT."
The three women immediately stared at her silently.
Hornet slowly looked away.
"…Some restraint."
Yuuki finally lost the battle against laughter.
"Hahaha—"
Hornet instantly grabbed his sleeve dramatically.
"Please help your gal!"
Then desperately—
"She's being spiritually dismantled over here!"
Hood calmly adjusted her gloves afterward.
"My kind sir."
Then elegantly—
"We are simply ensuring Lady Hornet does not accidentally terrify the future fleet."
Amagi nodded softly.
"She attempted to jump onto you six separate times tonight."
Hornet immediately defended herself.
"Affection attacks are important!"
"Not in public," Hood answered instantly.
Hornet looked toward Yuuki like a betrayed puppy afterward.
"…Handsome."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I kinda agree with them."
Hornet immediately gasped dramatically.
"Et tu, handsome?!"
Amagi softly laughed while Hood smiled knowingly.
Then Hornet finally sighed dramatically before leaning backward across the bench.
"…This is oppression."
Yuuki sat beside her afterward while softly patting her head.
"You'll survive."
Hornet pouted.
"…Barely."
Yet despite all the complaining—
Yuuki could still feel her happiness clearly through their synchronized hearts.
Because beneath all the teasing and lectures—
Hornet genuinely loved this.
The warmth.
The companionship.
The feeling of belonging somewhere again.
And honestly—
So did Yuuki.
Yuuki gently patted Hornet's head a few more times while the energetic carrier continued dramatically recovering from the combined "refinement session" delivered by Hood and Amagi.
Then suddenly—
A faint glow began surrounding his body.
The atmosphere around the Void World shifted immediately.
Several shipgirls quietly looked toward him.
Because they all understood what it meant.
His real body was beginning to wake up.
Hood's expression softened first.
"…Do you truly have to leave already, kind sir?"
Amagi's tails lowered slightly beside him.
"Do you have to, Shikikan-sama?"
Yuuki quietly looked toward the countless girls gathered around him throughout the moonlit island.
Royal Navy.
Sakura Empire.
Iron Blood.
Eagle Union.
The fleet that slowly stopped feeling like strangers.
Then softly—
"Yes."
His smile remained gentle afterward.
"There are still things I need to do."
Then more firmly—
"People to rescue."
The reminder immediately shifted the mood slightly.
Because despite the peace within the Void World—
Reality outside remained cruel.
Dangerous.
Koln stepped forward quietly afterward.
Her usually calm eyes carried visible worry now.
"Please…"
Then softly in German—
"Please save Frau Eugen…"
Her voice weakened slightly.
"…Frau Hipper and Frau Javelin as well, Herr Kommandant."
The mention of the captured Iron Blood girls immediately quieted several nearby shipgirls.
Yuuki's expression softened deeply afterward.
He gently placed one hand atop Koln's head.
"I will."
Then more firmly—
"I promise."
Koln quietly lowered her gaze afterward while relief mixed with worry inside her heart.
Nearby, the destroyers looked visibly upset now that Yuuki was leaving again.
Several small hands grabbed onto his sleeves.
Others quietly stood close beside him.
None of them wanted the warmth to disappear yet.
Yuuki smiled helplessly at the sight.
Then Hood softly spoke again.
"…Kind sir."
Yuuki looked toward her.
Her elegant expression remained composed—
But through the synchronized connection—
He could clearly feel the loneliness hidden beneath it.
Amagi quietly smiled beside her afterward.
"We understand."
Then softly—
"But somehow…"
Her tails gently wrapped around herself.
"…we no longer feel as alone anymore."
The connection between all their hearts quietly pulsed across the entire Void World.
"As though you remain beside us the entire time."
Hood nodded softly afterward.
"Yes."
Her crimson eyes gently met his.
"Knowing the man we cherish continues standing with us…"
Then warmly—
"…is strangely comforting."
Yuuki quietly smiled afterward.
"Yeah."
Then honestly—
"Connected hearts really are something incredible."
The glow around his body intensified further afterward.
The Void World winds gently stirred around the gathered shipgirls while moonlight reflected softly across the endless sea and grassy plains surrounding them.
Yuuki slowly looked across all of them one last time.
The girls he would someday bring back.
The girls waiting for him.
The girls who now trusted him with their hearts completely.
Then he grinned warmly.
"See you girls later."
Several voices immediately answered him together.
"Come back safely!"
"We'll be waiting!"
"Don't overwork yourself!"
"Save everyone!"
Hornet dramatically pointed at him one last time.
"And remember your gal!"
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Impossible to forget you."
Then finally—
The light completely engulfed him.
And Yuuki disappeared from the Void World beneath the countless hopeful eyes watching him leave.