Chapter 63

"I'm already exhausted, somehow..."

"Things just keep happening when you're with Shiki-ccho—never gets boring~"

"Today's special. Normally it's much more peaceful."

I got off the train with Chacha-san and took the elevator up to ground level. The place we stepped out into was a pure-white room. The ceiling was high; judging from the interior, it was probably a tower. When I went outside and looked back, a pure-white tower like a lighthouse stood there.

I turned my gaze forward.

"So this is 'Jolly Roger'?"

Port town 'Jolly Roger'. Seagulls flew overhead, and the salt breeze stroked my cheeks.

A river ran through the town, small boats moving along it. The image was close to Venice. A beautiful place. Yet—

"...Must be my imagination. I keep hearing tons of gunshots."

"That's this town's BGM."

As a gun maniac that thrilled me. As a coward it terrified me.

(The Space Girls living here are unusual too...)

The ones on Space Stations acted all cutesy—very much the "girly" type. But the ones here looked tough, more adult. Lots had tattoos, and most appeared over twenty. They felt less like Space 'Girls' and more like Space 'Women'.

"This way."

Chacha-san led me down a narrow alley between buildings.

(I wonder what kind of house it'll be? I'm excited~!)

I prefer a simple exterior—leaves room for my own customizations.

The important part is lot size. Even if the house itself is hideous, as long as there's land I can remodel or expand all I want.

Chacha-san has a good eye; I'm sure she's picked something great. Can't stop my heart racing.

"Almost there~"

We emerged into an area plastered with 'For Sale' signs on empty plots. Not a soul in sight.

(Right. I asked for somewhere quiet...)

Chacha-san passed through that district of vacant lots, then through a scrap yard beyond it.

Beyond that lay only the pier and the sea. She walked the pier and stopped in front of a 'giant object'.

No way. No way, right? This can't be the destination.

"This is the house I want to recommend to Shiki-ccho."

"...Let me confirm: this is a 'house'?"

"Of course."

"Looks to me like—a warship!?"

What waited there was a mid-sized ship, and an armed mid-sized battleship at that. Big enough to hold a whole squad.

"Well~, someone once asked me to build a missile ship, but that client got banned for breaking the rules. Left me with a single lonely missile ship. Expensive to scrap, so I was wondering what to do. Then Shiki-ccho said she wanted a house..."

"So you decided to foist this on her?"

"Exactly!"

I stared from the pier again and again. But no matter how I looked, it was only a battleship.

"I don't want it! I want a house, a house!"

"It'll work as a house. Bridge, workshop, hangar, warehouse, mess hall, bedrooms—fully equipped! Want a window in your bedroom? I'll put one in. You've got a workshop, and since it's a battleship the security is top-notch. This berth is a great hidden spot, nice and quiet. Price is just a million! You can test-fire toward the sea! Where else will you find a house with conditions this amazing?"

Ugh... she's perfectly matched every one of my demands...!

The facilities alone are top-tier, but still!

"Plus, Shiki-ccho, you like missile ships, right?"

"Well... I like building plastic models of them..."

"Living inside a battleship is a military nerd's dream! You can customize it however you like."

"Customize it... me?"

"Of course. Add original reciprocating engines, mount satellite cannons, install antennas that reach the ends of the earth—it's all up to Shiki-ccho."

Chacha-san operated an electromagnetic screen and flicked the contract toward me. The screen was packed with contract details, the signature line left blank.

"A contract..."

"Right. Write Shiki-ccho's name there and it's a done deal."

While I hesitated, Chacha-san leaned close to my ear and whispered,

"...What would you like for the main gun? Wave-motion? Particle? Realistic solid shells are fine too. We'll want torpedoes for ship-to-ship combat, and high-angle anti-air guns. Being able to customize your own battleship—doesn't that send shivers down your spine?"

"...(sweat)"

"...There's a hangar, so you can store fighters too. Launching from a battleship—so romantic~, right? The hangar opens right up, and the deck rises to meet it. That presentation is pure fire~"

"......(sweat)(sweat)"

"...Miss this chance and you'll never get a battleship at terms this insane. Even ten million wouldn't do it. Yep."

The devil's whisper... pinpointing every otaku pressure point.

(I want a house... but a battleship... sleeping on a battleship... that's—)

The best...!

(Wait, wait! Is that really okay, me! Be girly! Find a cute little house!! How much grief have I suffered for having "different" hobbies! A high-school girl living on a battleship is not normal even in this world! It's bad! —All right! I'll refuse!!)

I signed the contract—

"Thanks for your business~♪"

Anyone who could refuse that wouldn't be friendless... I'm such an idiot.

---

The sun set.

I lay on my back on the deck, gazing up at the night sky.

"...In the end, maybe it was a good purchase."

It's quiet, no need to socialize with neighbors. I can shoot toward the horizon and test-fire all I like.

They installed windows in the parts not submerged, so no sense of being trapped. Warehouse and hangar are plenty big. It's a game, so no seasickness.

"Suu... haa... Oh no. I'm actually starting to like it."

That's bad~. A normal girl should dream of a cute little house. A high-school girl who likes a battleship is wrong. Being satisfied with a warship as a house is wrong~.

A high-school girl sprawled on a battleship agonizing over torpedo guidance systems—who would ever fall for that? I'll never get married at this rate.

"Hey!"

A woman's voice came from the pier.

No one else should be here; she's definitely calling me.

"Hey!"

Oh no. Maybe the pier supervisor? Chacha-san said she'd handle that...

"Yes? What is it..."

I looked down at the pier from the ship.

Standing there was a Space Girl with white hair in a ponytail and a thick coat. Petite, yet giving off a grown-up vibe. A cigarette dangled from her lips. I—I don't know her...

"Found you, 'Shiki'."

She smiled when she saw me, then—

"Eh!?"

—performed a perfect dogeza.

"Please! Help me with my work!!"

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