The Divine Throne of Shipgirls

"I have no regrets about what I did!" Kazeharu roared. "I don't need to explain myself to anyone!"

Cumberland snapped a few photos and said coldly, "So this is your justification for threatening innocent shipgirls with the lives of their Commanders, forcing them to go on suicide missions? I once saw a lecherous thug kidnap a new Commander and try to coerce her shipgirls into... that... by using his life as leverage. Torn between duty and despair, one of them lost her mind and rampaged through a whole town before falling to the Abyss. You, in my eyes, are no different from that thug—disgusting!"

"What do you think we're doing here? Going on a picnic? Putting on some weepy comedy show?" Kazeharu glared at Cumberland like he wanted to skin her alive. "We're fighting a goddamn war! WAR, you understand? Sacrifices must be made! No one gets to hide!"

Hikaru raised both hands. "Enough shouting. I'm not here to debate right and wrong with you. You can argue your case all you like in a military tribunal. For now, calm down, surrender, and come with me."

Kazeharu bared his teeth in a predatory grin. "You think some Mid-Captain can just walk in and arrest me? Like hell I'll let myself get dragged away like that. You wanna try? Be my guest!"

Just as tensions peaked and a clash seemed inevitable, a dark blur shot across the ocean like a cannon shell. The resulting impact hurled up a wall of seawater a hundred meters tall before crashing violently onto the shore.

The beach absorbed the force like the Earth taking a meteor strike—exploding into a massive crater, shrouded in clouds of flying sand.

When the sand finally settled, two ragged figures emerged from the pit: Josephine and Wakayama.

Thanks to Lady Lexington's protective barrier, Hikaru and his group had arrived in perfect condition—hair untouched. Wakayama wasn't so lucky. His travel method was basically rocket-propelled madness, and his hair now looked like a chicken's nest. His military cap, had vanished somewhere along the way.

Still, at least he made it in time. Gasping for breath with his hands on his knees, Wakayama finally straightened up and said, "Kazeharu, buddy. I came to talk. Please don't be so stubborn. It's not shameful to cooperate with the MPs."

Kazeharu's expression eased a little at the sight of Wakayama—but then he scowled. "You too? You're here to arrest me too?!"

Wakayama gave a pained smile. "I just didn't want you to do anything reckless. Arresting you would be like betraying my own teacher. I couldn't live with myself."

Kazeharu jabbed a finger at Hikaru. "They send some greenhorn Mid-Captain who hasn't even grown a full beard yet to arrest me? This is the best the shipgirl headquarters can manage?"

Cumberland, still hiding behind Hikaru, gathered her courage and peeked out. "You're not being arrested by a person. You're being arrested for breaking the law!"

"The law is a tool for the ruling class! And I am the ruling class, damn it!" Kazeharu slapped his chest. "You want to arrest me? Fine. Just answer me one thing. Was I wrong?!"

Hikaru fired back, "What do you think? Were you crystal clear, or beyond redemption?"

"I led a submarine ambush that failed miserably and got people killed. I take full responsibility—chop my head off if you must. But don't tell me I forced shipgirls to die. I'll say it again: WAR REQUIRES SACRIFICE. Why the hell should your shipgirls be exempt? Because you oppose me? Fine! Go join the Abyssals and fight us from their side! Coward!"

Cumberland snapped, "Arata already lost his submarine shipgirl because of you. You pushed him to the edge! Do you even know what it feels like to lose a shipgirl?!"

Kazeharu's eyes widened, and his voice exploded like thunder.

"No one understands the pain of losing a shipgirl better than I do!!"

His shout rocked the island, sending shockwaves rippling across the ocean. Waves over ten meters tall burst from the sea in every direction.

Wakayama, stumbling through the tremors like it was an earthquake, reached Hikaru's side. "How about we take a step back? Talk this out properly? Kazeharu has made great contributions. He's served for decades and lost eleven shipgirls—five of them were wedding-bound. His sacrifices are real. His service is undeniable."

Hikaru was silent, deep in thought.

The truth of the matter was clear. There was no smear job here. No false charges. Everything that happened had a cause, and Kazeharu had crossed the line.

[End of Chapter]

[50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]

[[email protected]/BellAshelia]

[Thanks for your support!]