novelzi Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 38
Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 38
Chapter 38: Exploring the Ghost Ship
"...A ghost ship?"
"Yes, Akane called it that. It’s an old, abandoned ship drifting at sea. Ringo told us about it, and we all watched the footage together," Ichigo explained.
"Ringo?"
When the Commander turned around, Ringo nodded.
"I deemed it harmless and thought it could be used as educational material," Ringo replied.@@ander was slightly bothered by the lack of prior notice, but it seemed the report was part of the educational package intended for her. Judging by Ichigo’s attitude, it seemed more like “storytelling” than an actual report.
"And then we thought... since it’s there, we might as well go aboard! I mean, I really want to go, and, um, I was hoping you’d come too... together with everyone..."
Ichigo fidgeted, stealing glances at the Commander.
Seeing Ichigo’s timid but hopeful demeanor, the Commander stood up with a decisive nod. Who could possibly deny such a heartfelt plea? The answer was clear: no one!
"That sounds like a lot of fun, Ichigo! Ringo, get everything ready!"
"Yes, ma’am, Commander. I’ve prepared Alpha-Class Destroyer No. 8, designated Hotel, for this mission," Ringo responded.
"Hotel, huh? That’s luxurious," the Commander said with a smirk.
"We’ve also prepared accommodations for your stay. Leave everything to me," Ringo reassured her.
For the record, the Commander had never stayed in a hotel or even gone on a proper trip. But with Ringo’s knowledge, she could fake her way through anything. Bantering lightly with Ringo, the Commander began walking toward the outer docks. Ichigo followed closely, looking delighted. The Commander, feeling generous, took Ichigo’s hand in hers.
This gesture inevitably led to the others wanting the same, resulting in a chaotic chain of hand-holding. But as far as Ringo was concerned, as long as the Commander was happy, it was worth it. Naturally, Ringo joined in as well.
"When we arrive, we’ll deploy reconnaissance drones first. While aerial scans have provided some data, we haven’t examined everything," Ringo explained.
"Good thinking. It’d be troublesome if there were survivors who turned hostile..."
"Indeed, ma’am. Additionally, quarantine procedures will be necessary, so we’ll need some extra time before boarding," Ringo added.
Since their arrival in this world, Ringo had been continuously monitoring the Commander’s health. So far, no significant issues had arisen. Her immune system functioned exceptionally well—seemingly far superior to any human Ringo had knowledge of. This robustness extended to her sisters, who were genetically cultivated from her. Still, caution was essential.
"Rotting corpses present a high risk of infection, so please avoid them at all costs," Ringo warned.
"Sister, when can we board that ship?"
"Hmm, probably in about an hour. We’ll use a cutter to get aboard. I didn’t expect Akane to be so eager, though..."
"I’ve read up on ghost ships. I’m fully prepared!" Akane declared enthusiastically.
"I doubt reading about ghost ships will help much..."
Too excited to hear her sister’s sarcasm, Akane stared intently at the wreck, her excitement palpable. Commander Eve sighed, ruffled Akane’s hair, and continued walking.
Meanwhile, Ringo had sent drones to survey the ship’s interior. It appeared to be a military vessel with intact watertight compartments. They navigated carefully to avoid causing further damage. No survivors had been detected so far.
After descending into the hold, the Commander watched as humanoid communicators released the cutter. Walking through narrow corridors and up steep stairs, she eventually reached the bridge. There, Ringo sat in the navigator’s chair, while Ichigo gripped the wheel with serious determination. Olive was absent.
"Ringo, where’s Olive?"
"She’s inspecting the protective suits in the hold, ma’am."
"Impressive," the Commander said with a nod.
She moved closer to the window, looking down at the bow where Utsugi, Erika, and Akane were chatting animatedly. These three were remarkably lively and free-spirited. Even Akane, who fancied herself a literary type, was bursting with energy.
Ichigo, on the other hand, was diligently fulfilling her role as helmsman. Despite being told she could leave it to Ringo, she insisted on completing her task herself—a testament to her dedication.
Olive’s attention to detail in inspecting equipment was probably more about personal interest than duty. She had shown significant curiosity toward the joint-assist mechanisms.
"Ichigo, let’s start preparing to board soon. Can you transfer control to Ringo?"
"Yes, Commander Sister. Ringo, transferring helm control to you."
"Control assumed. All systems normal. The Hotel is now under remote operation," Ringo confirmed.
Ichigo exhaled, visibly relieved. Commander Eve approached her, gently patting her head.
"Great job, Ichigo. You saw it through to the end."
"Thank you, Commander Sister! Hehe..."
After giving Ichigo a thorough head-pat, the Commander ignored Ringo’s envious gaze and headed for the deck. There would be time to appease Ringo later—she fully intended to give her a proper hug.
"Let’s gather everyone and head to the hold. Suit up and board the cutter. Follow Ringo’s instructions carefully."
"Yes, Sister!" the sisters chorused.