Published: January 17, 2026
I led everyone inside the ship. On the deck, there was a bridge with a captain’s seat, but I decided to save that for last.
“First, let’s start with the lowest level, the first floor. If we consider the deck as ground level, then this is three levels below deck. There’s a large wooden keel running along the bottom center of the ship—essentially the ship’s backbone. On top of that, we arranged rocks to act as ballast. Additionally, seawater is contained inside the ship’s walls to adjust the ship’s center of gravity when it encounters waves.”
“Seawater inside the ship’s walls? Is that safe?” Panamera asked with concern, and I nodded in response.
“Yes, we’ve taken precautions to prevent leaks, but since it hasn’t been used in operation yet, we can’t be certain. The idea is that the center of gravity will shift in response to the rocking, helping to stabilize the ship’s roll.”
As I answered questions, I continued explaining in detail.
“The second floor serves as the living quarters. There are bedrooms for the crew and visitors, as well as a dining area. Due to certain reasons, the kitchen is on the third floor.”
“Hm, no bathroom?”
“A bathroom is difficult. We installed a filtration system to convert seawater into fresh water, but it doesn’t produce enough fresh water to use freely. That’s definitely something we need to think about.”
“You could collect rainwater and boil it,” someone suggested.
“Oh, that’s a good idea. We’ll consider that as well.”
We exchanged such small talk as we made our way back up to the deck.
“So, since the warehouse and materials are managed on the third floor, loading and unloading from the ship should be relatively easy. Now then, let’s move on to the bridge.”
Leading everyone, I moved toward the two-story bridge built on the deck. It was designed to offer a high vantage point for long-distance views while being spacious and comfortable.
Rosso placed his hand on the steering wheel, which hadn’t even been tested yet, and let out a voice of awe as he looked out from the bridge.
“...Truly astonishing. I didn’t expect such a ship to be completed in just half a day.”
While Rosso looked around the interior, Panamera chuckled and shook her head.
“Viscount Van’s magic never ceases to amaze. Also, this material is so durable it’s hard to believe it was originally wood. It doesn’t deteriorate and will probably be among the finest materials available for ships.”
After saying that, Panamera glanced at Tran and the others. Tran’s group looked more fearful than wary, while Dee sighed in frustration.
“...This is the first time I’ve seen a ship like this. But if ships like this start to determine the outcomes of battles, swords may become unnecessary.”
Hearing Dee’s disappointed words, I smiled wryly and shook my head.
“No, no. Close combat with weapons will still be essential. Battles won’t always be decided by ballistae. When ships fight, boarding the enemy vessel is likely, too.”
I explained this to Dee, who then puffed out his chest and laughed.
“Oh, is that so? Then I shall continue honing my swordsmanship as before! Wahahaha!”
Simple and straightforward. Well, knowing Dee, he might even try cutting through ships, so it’s no problem to encourage his training.
As we laughed and chatted, Tran approached with his subordinates.
“...Viscount Van.”
“Yes?”
I turned around when I heard my name called. I noticed Dee was smiling but had his hand on his sword’s hilt, and Kamushin quietly stood just behind me—our protection was solid.
Feeling reassured, I faced Tran fully. He looked down at me with a serious expression.
“...Seeing this construction, I can tell you’ve thoroughly studied our ship. But really, this was all done in a single day? No, it wasn’t here last night... so, half a day to build this ship?”
He said it, but his face plainly showed disbelief. Well, that’s natural. The more familiar someone is with ships, the harder it is to believe.