Published: January 17, 2026
The Fleetwood, a large ship that could be called the partner of Tran, the fleet commander of the Fifth Fleet of the Maritime Nation Fiesta Kingdom.
It was a magnificent warship worthy of that title.
Its enormous size almost reached one hundred meters in length. The massive mast visible from the deck resembled a great tree. And just like the ship’s exterior, silver metal plates covered it.
“Wow! Is it all silver?”
When I asked, Tran tapped the surface of the mast and spoke.
“No, the inside is made of wood. Even though it’s the fleet’s main force, if we used silver and Mithril for everything, we wouldn’t be able to build many ships.”
“Oh, I see. But it’s still amazing to use such rare metals. Is it to improve durability?”
At that question, Tran’s expression tightened slightly. He paused for a moment, as if considering whether to answer, but soon relaxed again.
“Well, I can’t go into details, but thanks to this metal, we can sail without being attacked by large demonic beasts. That’s why all our ships are covered with metal plates.”
“To ensure safe navigation?”
“Haha, that’s a military secret, so I can’t tell you.”
Tran smiled showing his teeth and said that. I pouted in disappointment.
“I see… Well then, please show me the other parts of the ship. There’s so much I don’t know; it’s really interesting.”
After I said that, Tran laughed cheerfully and patted his own chest.
“Leave it to me! No one beats me when it comes to boasting about ships! Wahahaha!”
Tran said cheerfully and showed me around inside the ship.
After touring the ship, we finally had a meal served in the onboard dining hall.
“T-This! It’s delicious!”
Til shouted with sparkling eyes after eating a type of sashimi made from freshly caught fish, prepared in a unique way.
“Indeed, this dish is so elaborate it’s hard to believe we’re on a ship. I wonder what these little popping things are?”
“It’s delicious, right? Maybe it’s because the fish is so fresh?”
Both Arte and I agreed with Til’s impression. The sashimi was whitefish served with an oil-based sauce. There was something popping like sea grapes and crispy tempura bits. There were also sliced fruits and vegetables, unexpectedly complementing the sashimi’s flavor perfectly.
“The head chef really put his heart into this. Usually, we don’t use so many seasonings, fruits, or vegetables, but since we can procure them easily now, we went all out.”
Tran, who was sitting with us, proudly explained the dishes. Apparently, it was one of their special meals.
While eating the other dishes lined up one by one, I noticed two burly crew members standing at the back of the dining hall.
“Are there professional cooks onboard?”
“Not exactly. There are five deck crew members who can cook, and among them, two serve as the head chef and sous chef, also managing the inventory.”
Hearing that, I recalled the crew members I’d seen during the ship tour.
There were about fifty crew members, all men aged from their teens to thirties. All were sun-tanned and strong. Perhaps there was a rule that women couldn’t become crew members.
It might be discriminatory, but I couldn’t imagine those two black muscular men—who looked like bodybuilders—were the ones who prepared this cuisine.
After all, the food was at a level that would not be out of place in the royal castle. It was not the hearty fare of rough seamen but a splendid meal with delicate and complex flavors. Surely, there must be an elderly chef with a white beard working behind the scenes.
“I thought it would be hard to make various dishes on a ship, but living onboard seems quite comfortable.”
“No, no, you do get tired of eating fish every day. Until now, our trips lasted about two weeks at most and then we’d return to the country, so I really felt how tough it is to endure a voyage lasting over a month.”
“In that case, next time you return to the Fiesta Kingdom, you’ll have to buy lots of fruits and vegetables. Oh, I know! If you want, I can send you some of my favorite ingredients. There are many kinds of meat too; I can dry some for you to take back!”