Gasi

Several hundred rocket arrows that were fired toward just one ship sunk into the sea in vain. It made Percival aghast and his shoulders slumped down.

The reality wasn't so lenient that he could believe it.

Although perhaps from the outset it was already unreasonable to ask anyone to anticipate Urraca's genius ship handling in advance.

「Load for second shot! Prepare to fire!」

Domitory barely managed to pull himself together from the shock and bypassed the dumbfounded Percival to give the order even knowing that he was overstepping his authority.

While their attention was diverted by La Mancha, the rest of the Majorca Kingdom's fleet had been approaching to right in front of them.

「Dead on! FIREEEEEEEE-!」

Majorca Kingdom's fleet sailed diagonally beside the Answerer Kingdom's fleet that was at the other side of the smokescreen and unleashed the fiendish jaw of the flame.

The distance was around 25 meters. That distance was just barely within the range of the flamethrower.

It was a point-blank range where they could see each other's face. Urraca showered Answerer Kingdom's fleet with the flame that was like a dragon's breath.

「Don't falter! Fire back!」

Domitory continued to give order calmly.

It was fortunate that the flagship was located at he forefront.

Because the entry angle was slightly shifting diagonally, the flagship that Domitory was captaining managed to get away from the evil clutches of the flamethrower.

The rocket arrows that were fired from the flagship all hit Majorca Kingdom's battleship and a crimson flower bloomed.

「Take that!」

Domitory was satisfied that they could finally land a blow in retaliation, but──.

「Quick! Extinguish the fire quickly!」

「I-it's hopeless! Jump to the sea!」

「The cutter! Lower the cutter!」

The fate of the fleet following behind the flagship was tragic.

Around half of the fleet was in flame. There was even a ship that had completely turned into a giant pillar of fire among them.

There was no hope remaining for them.

「What? Why the hell-! Why won't it died out?」

The flame of flamethrower was mainly using naphtha and resin as its main ingredient. The fire couldn't be extinguished with water. They would have to use special fire extinguisher for it.

That meant, there was no method available in this world to save the ships that were on fire.

Even the ships that were fortunate and only got hit with little fire couldn't avoid the fate of wholly getting reduced to ash in the end.

The tragic state of the fleet that was going to engrave its glory in the history of the continent not long ago turned Domitory speechless.

「The enemy fleet is turning round!」

Majorca Kingdom fleet that had finished spewing flame was changing course once more to head toward the other side of the smokescreen.

Looking closer, Majorca Kingdom's fleet also wasn't unharmed by any means. Nearly twenty percent of their ships were damaged in some way.

There must also be some of their ships that had already sunken into the sea.

Certainly they were defeated in regard to the degree of damage inflicted, but they still hadn't lost this battle.

「Don't let them get away! The ships that can still fight are to continue attacking no matter what!」

The retreating Majorca Kingdom's fleet was exposing their defenseless back. The ships that were bravely counterattacking even while going up in flame succeeded in damaging some more of the enemy ships.

But, even their brave fighting had to stop there.

「──As expected from Urraca-dono. She is super first class whether as a spear or as a bait.」

Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet began charging from diagonally behind them as though they had been waiting exactly for this timing.

They mercilessly unleashed the flame of despair toward the surviving and unharmed ships of Answerer Kingdom that were focusing on Majorca Kingdom's fleet.

.

「...Impossible, this is impossible...」

Even the slightly remaining ray of hope had abruptly burned up in fire. Domitory could only stare at that sight in lamentation.

Thinking back now, their side also had the choice to change course to rally themselves when Majorca Kingdom's fleet was attempting to escape.

It didn't seem likely that the enemy would be able to keep producing that smokescreen. The possibility was high that they could only do it this once, so taking the choice of rallying back should be good enough.

For him to only notice that at this point, it seemed that even Domitory who thought himself as composed was actually also in confusion when faced with the unexpected defeat.

Although he was an excellent ship captain, he wasn't an excellent fleet commander. This was Domitory's limit.

「──How many ships are remaining at our side?」

「Sir!」

The tense voice of Percival who was preciously in a daze made Domitory straightened his back and answered in a snap.

「Including this ship, there are four ships that managed to avoid burning up!」

「We can't expect to make a recovery in this situation huh...」

Answerer Kingdom's fleet that was the greatest force on Marmara Sea until just now was already reduced to ten percent of their original number.

Even with the rocket arrows in their possession, it was clear in anyone's eyes that it would be impossible for them to influence the development of the sea battle from here on.

「My deepest apologies. This is because of this lowly officer's misjudgment.」

「No, I lost myself due to the enemy's surprise attack. This is because of my unbecoming lack of wisdom as a military man.」

「Lord admiral...」

Why did the enemy have to be that Tormenta Negra and the Demon of Lepanto.

Even though this man had the discernment of someone who should stand at the top of Answerer Kingdom's navy without a doubt if only had could accumulate an adequate amount of experience.

Domitory cursed the misfortune of Percival that forced him to face enemies that were too unreasonable for him.

This man's personaly might not be suited for the frontline. However he was undoubtedly skilled in picturing the future of Answerer Kingdom's navy.

「An unfortunate man isn't suited to be a military man. This just means that I'm a man who can only reach this far.」

But Percival didn't intend to end just like this without being able to do anything.

He would land a blow as payback at the very least.

To do that, he had to ask the remaining for ships to accompany him to hell even though it made him felt regretful.

「Sorry but can you entrust your life to someone like me?」

「We are honored to be able to fight under lord admiral's command!」

It was difficult to maintain the will of fight even when the situation was despairing.

It could be said that Percival had taken off a veneer off himself as a commander through this battle.

Domitory secretly thought that it would be extremely a waste to let him died here.

「Hard starboard! Use our burning ally as shield and give a hell of a scare to Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet!」

「...Those fools!」

Federigo gritted his teeth because he couldn't do anything except watching the Answerer Kingdom's fleet that Percival commanded getting annihilated.

Fortunately Trystovy Dukedom's fleet that was ordered to follow behind was located at diagonally behind so they got out unscathed.

However it didn't mean that the danger had gone past.

Rather now their vanguard Answerer Kingdom's fleet had been annihilated and in addition maritime guild's fleet that was commanded by Admiral Barbarino was hot on their heels from behind.

At this rate Trystovy Kingdom's fleet would be surrounded from three directions and annihilated. All their ships would be sunk with not a single one remaining.

「Although it seems they are also not unscathed...」

As expected the flamethrower's range was too short.

Although they managed to close the distance using a clever trick like smokescreen, the number of ships that got counterattacked and sunk also wasn't few.

The rocket arrows also wouldn't miss when fired from a point blank-range where they could even see each other's face.

Only those with irrational ship handling skill like Urraca could dodge at this close distance.

Even so the damage of Majorca Kingdom and Sanjuan Kingdom was only more than twenty percent. It wouldn't even reach thirty percent even in his highest estimation.

The threat posed by the remaining ships was more than enough for Federigo.

「It's also painful that we can't run away obediently at this situation.」

For the dukedom that couldn't continue the war without Answerer Kingdom's assistance, they couldn't possibly abandon their allied army from Answerer Kingdom and ran away alone.

Rather there was a need for them to be Answerer Kingdom's shield to show their sincerity.

Federigo wasn't amused by that as a proud admiral of the dukedom, but he also properly understood that politically it was necessary.

While Federigo was thinking that, he saw Percival leading the surviving ships to attack Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet.

It looked like Percival was skillfully using the wreckage of his destroyed fleet as shield, but what he was doing was a suicide.

After all number meant everything in war. Not to mention Answerer Kingdom was inferior to the enemy when it came to sailor's skill.

「──We also can't possibly abandon them.」

At the very least he should raise an accomplishment of making effort to save them.

Besides he didn't hate an ally who was attempting such reckless challenge. They were ally that he found intolerable, but he could at least recognize that brave fighting spirit.

「OPEN ALL THE SAILLLLLL! Fire the rocket arrows in order as soon as the enemy are within the range, we are interrupting them!」

The dukedom's fleet opened all the sails that they could and sped up, but there was a shadow that was gradually sneaking up to their back.

「M-maritime guild's fleet is following!」

「That shitty geezer Bartolomeo! He should have just gone back on land quietly!」

The two rivals had been at war with each other many times over the control of Marmara Sea since the civil war began. They understood what each other was going to do like the back of their own hand.

Sometimes when two people had fought each other with their life on the line for so long, they would understand each other's personality even more than a mere family member. Right now Federigo and Barbarino were exactly in such relationship.

Barbarino had been aware in advance that Federigo wouldn't abandon Percival.

The maritime guild's fleet was entrusted with taking care of the dukedom's fleet so that they wouldn't be able to do any unneeded interference.

「Sorry Federigo. At least you should consider yourself lucky that you're going to die in the hand of your longtime archenemy.」

The annihilation of Answerer Kingdom's fleet was already just a matter of time.

After that they would only need to gang up on the dukedom's fleet from three directions.

Even with the rocket arrows in their possession, they wouldn't be able to deal with moving targets that came from three directions. Rather the rocket arrow's accuracy was low if the enemy wasn't really close.

「It's unfortunate but it's already too late even if you want to run away.」

The smokescreen finally got blown away by the wind and the field of vision was starting to clear up.

Over there Majorca Kingdom's fleet that had temporarily retreated had finished rallying up and already came to subdue them without anyone noticing.

With the maritime guild's fleet hot on their heels, the dukedom's fleet would still get surrounded no matter where they changed direction to.

If there was a chance for them to escape, it was only at the moment when Majorca Kingdom's fleet retreated behind the smokescreen.

「──Bring it on. It's the long-cherished dream of a sailor to face this kind of adversity.」

He was aware of the disadvantage he was in.

But no matter how small the hope that was remaining to them was, Federigo didn't intend to yield to despair as long as there was a possibility there. That was exactly the spirit of seaman who had rowed their ship to the far away vast sea through the extremely dangerous unknown territory.

The rocket arrows that were fired from the gap of the burning ships hit a ship of Sanjuan Kingdom.

The sailors who saw the enemy ship's speed dropping with a jerk and water rushing inside it burst out into a cheer.

The fact that they managed to land a blow when they were resolved to death like now was big.

──As I thought, I'm not wrong.

Percival was forced to taste defeat due to the smokescreen and ship handling skill that was out of this world, but his thinking that the sea battle would be dominated by weapon's range wasn't wrong by any means.

If both sides clashed head=on, then perhaps the situation would be the reverse of the current situation.

At the same time Percival also understood that there was no way an enemy that was at disadvantage would take them head on without preparing any trick.

The enemy also had their own calculation. It would be the rarer case for the enemy to move just as he predicted.

Even though his instructor in the military academy should have taught him that, Percival only understood its meaning for real for the first time today.

「...If only I could realize that just a bit quicker...」

Thinking back right now, when Majorca Kingdom secured the upwind position, there was also a choice for him to change the course of his fleet to target the maritime guild's fleet.

But his fervor from participating in a historical sea battle and the humiliation from feeling a sense of complete defeat as a sailor in ship handling skill after Urraca showed him up the other day didn't allow him to pick that choice.

Perhaps the result would change if he followed Domitory's advice quicker and fired all his rocket arrows toward the smokescreen.

「Majorca Kingdom's fleet is approaching.」

「Umu.」

So this is it──He didn't say that out loud.

He would simply show a battle that wouldn't be shameful as a marine of Answerer Kingdom till the very end.

If possible he wanted to make La Mancha that was sailing at the forefront of Majorca Kingdom's fleet to accompany him together to hell.

「Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet is turning around.」

「It seems they are planning to pincer us.」

Percival nodded wordlessly at Domitory's comment.

They were just barely able to continue fighting by using the burning ships of their allies as shield, but it seemed the enemy was intending to turn around and pincer them from left and right.

Unfortunately there was no effective strategy to deal with this.

──It was finally time.

「Port!」

「Port, sir!」

Answerer Kingdom's fleet turned the ship's rudder toward Majorca Kingdom's fleet. Percival wanted to settle things with Urraca at the very least.

Undoubtedly it was Admiral Jose of Sanjuan Kingdom who accomplished an important role in this battle, but as expected if he was asked who he recognized as a powerful enemy as a sailor then he would answer Urraca.

The feeling of defeat from allowing her to escape easily even though their ships both received the same wind had left a strong mark in Percival's heart even now.

「Target the lead enemy ship!」

「Targeting the lead enemy ship, sir!」

She was terrifyingly fast as usual. It even felt like her ship was gliding above the sea.

Although La Mancha was in advantage due to securing the upwind position, its speed was clearly outstripping the rest of the ships.

That was also why it was easy to target that ship, but Urraca had that demonic ship handling skill.

No matter how accurate they tried to aim, they couldn't wipe the worry that their attack would be dodged.

「Tell the third and fourth ships to spread their aim to the left and right of the target.」

「Sir!」

That way would be inefficient but there was no other choice.

If they rained down rocket arrows at the direction Urraca dodged beforehand──.

「Unfortunately I have guessed what you are thinking there.」

Urraca grinned fearlessly.

Until now Urraca had never stopped putting her ship at the lead even knowing how much it put a target on her back.

For Urraca being targeted by the enemy was only natural from the start.

That was why she never stopped being careful even while charging forward alone.

「How upfront. Too upfront rather. Doesn't the navy of a strong country have the experience of fighting strong opponent? I heard that Horntbeck is a tough opponent even though they are a small country though.」

If they still thought that Urraca would simply charge forward without any plan even after getting the scheme using smoke screen used toward them just now, then the enemy had too much vanity.

Unfortunately Urraca didn't intend to die in battle until she gave birth to Baldr's children.

「M-Majorca Kingdom's fleet is changing course!」

「What did you say-?」

La Mancha that looked like it was charging straigth ahead drastically changed course to the right.

There was no time at all to think of the reason before the wind's direction suddenly changed. The wind changed to exactly the opposite direction for Answerer Kingdom's fleet that was sailing slightly to the west following the wind until now.

「No good! Hard port!」

「Hard port, sir!」

The sail received wind right from the front and got pushed in reverse. It turned the ship's driving force to zero. This was called hitting the sail aback. When this happened, the ship lost its driving force and it ended up effectively unable to move.

A cold chill that made him shivered ran through Percival's back.

「That damned witch...so you know this is going to happen!」

The ship that was forcefully turning its rudder was tilting greatly. In this state it was completely impossible for the sailors to aim with rocket arrow.

Urraca had finished changing corse quicker than Answerer Kingdom's fleet and immediately closed the distance between both fleets.

Percival's aim to attack the enemy one-sidedly from outside the enemy's range had been crushed.

「Hurry! If we don't hurry...」

The ship would enter the range of the flamethrower faster than they could return the ship to the right position.

If that happened the fleet would be scorched by flame before they could fire their rocket arrows and they would be annihilated.

Percival prayed while waiting for his ship to finish changing course.

「You still can't catch the wind huh. You won't catch up with me like that.」

「N-no good...!」

They didn't make it in time.

Just what needed to be done to be able to grasp the wind and handle the ship that magnificently?

Urraca was superior than him both as a commander and as a sailor with no room for him to say any objection at all. Percival was forced to accept that fact.

「Shit-!」

He didn't want to lose.

He didn't fear dying, but there was nothing more frustrating than having things ended in his defeat without him being able to give any payback to Urraca.

If god really existed, if he could be given one more chance to take revenge to that witch, he would give away even his soul or his life after death.

「──Tskk!」

Urraca clicked her tongue when there was just a little bit more until Percival's flagship entered the range of flamethrower and she made La Mancha changed course once more.

The fleet of Majorca Kingdom behind her also changed direction together and took distance from Answerer Kingdom's fleet.

Percival's eyes widened in astonishment wondering what had just happened. Then he caught sight of Trystovy Dukedom's fleet charging forward like a raging wave.

「It's a great mistake if you think that you are the only one who can read the wind of this Marmara Sea!」

Perhaps Urraca was also familiar with Marmara Sea, but Federigo had the confidence that he was her senior in this sea territory.

Federigo had forcefully wedged himself between Percival and Urraca.

The wind in Marmara Sea at this period often shifted.

Federigo who was born and raised in this sea knew that the best. No, there was one more person who knew that.

「Oi oi, that's cold of you Federigo.」

Admiral Barbarino who was commanding maritime guild's fleet was hot on the heel of the dukedom's fleet that didn't even glance at them to save Answerer Kingdom's fleet. He sighed in displeasure.

It seemed he was really offended because Federigo ignored him even though he was his longtime archenemy.

「Keep chasing their back! I don't care even if we crash on them! The glorious name of maritime guild's fleet will cry if we fall behind them!」

Even so their distance with the dukedom's fleet was slowly opening up because Barbarino's fleet was late at catching the wind at the beginning.

As expected the enemy still wouldn't be able to get away from them even with that, but unexpectedly a sailor's pride could be easily wounded when they lost in speed against other ship.

「Pathetic. I can't show my face to Urraca-dono like this.」

He failed in holding back the dukedom's fleet at this important moment.

Barbarino bit his lips till blood trickled out seeing La Mancha had to change course so they wouldn't get surrounded by the dukedom's fleet.

.

「There is a signal from the flagship of dukedom's fleet!」

The watcher who climbed up on the bell tower yelled loudly.

「Decipher it.」

Percival barely suppressed the shaking in his voice and replied.

He thought that it was over already for him.

Percival was ashamed that he had clearly given up in the battle just now.

It would feel too painful and regretful for him if his life ended in defeat against Urraca like this without anything worth boasting about.

He wanted to challenge Urraca once more in a ready state. Percival couldn't help but wish for that despite knowing that it was impossible.

「We will, accomplish our duty from now. Please accomplish your duty too.」

「Is he telling us to also charge forward?」

Percival tilted his head because he couldn't grasp Federigo's intention.

Certainly his fleet had been annihilated to become a mere shadow of its former glory. It might be presumptuous for him if he still wanted to assume the leadership of the joint fleet even at this juncture. However he didn't have the slightest intention to act as the subordinate of the dukedom even now.

「No, that's not what they mean.」

Domitory's expression was gloomy when he said that.

It was clear that he was tormented by a feeling of powerlessness and humiliation. But he was also trembling. It seemed that he was harboring another deep emotion that was greater than those emotions.

A veteran like Domitory was getting this shaken.

「What in the world do you──?」

「PS!」

The watcher yelled once more. His shoulders was also shaking as though he was going to tear up emotionally.

「Dying for my country is my long-cherished desire. My friend, your time to die hasn't yet come.」

Marmara Sea was the garden of the dukedom.

Federigo had no intention of giving up this turf to anybody else.

To be raised in this sea, living in this sea, and dying in this sea should be a privilege that was only allowed for them alone.

Percival had another sea that he should protect, he had a sea somewhere else where he should die.

Federigo was saying that.

「Is he telling us to abandon our ally?」

Percival was ashamed of his lack of wisdom that made him disdained the dukedom's fleet as an outdated second class navy that couldn't be relied on.

And yet they were still calling him as friend despite that. His body was scorched by a burning feeling that made tears flooded out from his eyes.

He wouldn't regret it even if he died here if it was together with them.

Just when Percival was about to harden his resolve like that.

「We have the duty to not let them die in vain.」

Domitory hid his expression and whispered his words.

「What do you mean in vain?」

「Even if we fight to the death here, we will only be able to take down several of their ships to accompany us to hell together at best. If we are annihilated here, our compatriots back home will become the prey of that Tormenta Negra in the future. She isn't an opponent that can be understood unless one has already faced her directly!」

「Muu...」

Certainly, it was impossible to tell others to imagine the ship handling skill of that Urraca beforehand.

Sailor was fundamentally a creature that relied on their first-hand experience. They couldn't gauge their opponent other than using their own measure.

As expected he didn't think that the deployment and improvement of rocket arrow would regress after this, but the possibility was high that Answerer Kingdom would feel threatened by Majorca and Sanjuan Kingdom for more than necessary if their expedition fleet got annihilated.

Answerer Kingdom's fleet wouldn't be defeated by any means depending on the way they fought. It was only Percival who knew that they had enough chance of victory against this opponent.

He understood that there was a need for someone to bring back information to their country.

「Even so is it really okay for us to abandon them and run away because of that? Captain, aren't you ashamed as a marine, as a sailor from that?」

「──The dukedom's fleet could abandon us and run away, and yet they came here to save us. If it's to reward their pride, then I will do just as they asked.」

「Guu...」

That's right.

Federigo was trying to use himself as shield in order to allow Percival and his fleet to escape.

If Percival chose to fight for his own self-satisfaction, he would only waste their sacrifice.

But if he ran away from here, Percival's evaluation would definitely go down the toilet.

He would fall from being the rising star that everyone expected to achieve great thing in the future into a shameful loser and coward who abandoned his ally to run away.

A life that was even more painful than death would be waiting for him.

「There will be a chance for revenge as long as we live.」

Domitory's words became the final nail on the coffin.

Even if he got despised as a coward, even if he lost his position as a fleet admiral, he wouldn't feel satisfied unless he taught those guys a lesson one day.

He also had to tell Federigo in that world one day that his death wasn't in vain at all.

「──We will turn around when the dukedom's fleet clash with the maritime guild's fleet at the rear and fire all at once.」

「Leave it to us.」

Domitory silently sobbed seeing Percival making such decision despite his pride.

It was because he could imagine the hellish future that awaited Percival from here.

That was why──he swore he would bring him to get away from here with the best ship handling he could display.

That should be the only duty that Domitory ought to accomplish.

.

「Glory to your sacrifice」

It seemed that Percival had realized his intention.

Federigo snorted.

Even if they were going to lose anyway, they could stil choose the way they lost.

Even if it couldn't be helped that they lost this time, they had to win the next battle at all cost.

Percival was a smug bastard that he couldn't stomach, but his talent was worth of his trust.

Federigo had recognized Percival to be someone who could turn this defeat into his nourishment and got back on his feet.

「──Then guess I'll accomplish my duty.」

Fighting a terrifying enemy at sea and died at sea was the honor of a man of sea.

「Begin firing!」

A rain of rocket arrows rained down on Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet that was trying to charge forward a bit later from Majorca Kingdom's fleet.

「Wait, this is too sudden!」

Jose of all people reflexively let out such words due to the enemy's attack that was faster than he expected.

Certainly it was understandable for them to concentrate their attack on Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet because Majorca Kingdom's fleet was turning around temporarily right now.

However Jose thought that the dukedom's fleet would make a thorough preparation first before hitting Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet in order to make doubly sure because their number was inferior right now.

But presently the dukedom's fleet was firing their rocket arrows when Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet was only barely within the effective range. The accuracy of that attack wasn't good at all. The situation of the dukedom's fleet would only get worse if they failed to deal a blow to Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet here.

「──Hard starboard!」

Although the fleet immediately changed course, several unfortunate ships got hit by the rocket arrows. But the table wouldn't be overturned just from that much. Above all else──.

「Don't underestimate me, Federigo!」

Because the attack was concentrated on Sanjuan Kingdom, the maritime guild's fleet weaved their way through that opening and they finally sank their teeth at the rear of the dukedom's fleet.

Barbarino was burning with rage that made him seething.

In a sense, this battle should also be the arena where the dukedom's fleet and the maritime guild's fleet would settle everything between them.

Currently it felt like Barbarino had been told by his long time archenemy that the like of him could just be postponed for later. It greatly wounded Barbarino's pride.

「The wind's direction is bad. Don't use the flamethrower for now.」

「However that's...」

The flamethrower had a lot of factors limiting it, like the wind's direction and distance. Compared to that, the rocket arrow was far more versatile.

Even though they couldn't use flamethrower here, the other side could use their rocket arrow.

「Hmph, if they can only fire from left and right then we just need to attack from front and rear.」

Barbarino spat those words out. He ordered his subordinate with a chilling gaze.

「I don't care, just ram them from behind. Let's have fun at the end with a boarding action like the good old days.」

He wouldn't let the enemy ignore him no matter what.

Because there had been too much that happened between the two of them, Barbarino's fighting spirit exploded and he laughed with his canine bared.

「Maritime guild's fleet is charging!」

「All ships turn around! Hard port! Mizzen spanker whole in-!」

「Sir!」

The four ships of Answerer Kingdom's fleet changed course simultaneously. At that moment Jose finally realized Federigo's intention after it was too late.

「Damn it!」

His fleet had already changed direction. It would take time for them to chase after Answerer Kingdom's fleet once more. Most of all there was no way Federigo would allow them to do that.

「Your opponent is this me!」

The dukedom's fleet slipped in to cover for Answerer Kingdom's fleet.

「What a blunder...they got us.」

Jose realized that he had missed the chance to pursue and bit his lips hard.

On the other hand, the transition of the battle situation was extremely upsetting for Barbarino.

Even though he was entrusted with the responsibility of holding Federigo in check, he didn't make it in time at the crucial moment and his worthy rival Federigo also ignored him.

On the whole, the victory of Majorca Kingdom, Sanjuan Kingdom, and maritime guild's joint fleet was set in stone, but for Barbarino this only felt like defeat.

At the very least he wanted to be the one dealing the finishing blow with his own hand.

It was only natural for Barbarino to think like that.

But it was troublesome because both Federigo and Percival had accurately calculated Barbarino's reaction that was only common for a sailor.

「Signal the sixth ship. From now I'll leave them with the command of half the fleet to face maritime guild's fleet.」

「Sir.」

「Second ship until fifth ship, follow me. Sorry Barbarino. Go play with the guys behind me.」

Federigo easily abandoned the rear of his formation that the maritime guild had caught.

Or rather, the dukedom's fleet had to face the fleets of three countries by themselves.

To be honest they didn't have enough manpower to go any further than that.

「After all I need to hold back that Tormenta Negra after this.」

Federigo too had witnessed the miraculous ship handling that Urraca showed before this.

She was an opponent that put a terrifyingly huge pressure and tension on him even though he only needed to buy time against her.

「FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!」

The maritime guild's fleet had put too much momentum to chase after the dukedom's fleet that they couldn't move to intercept Answerer Kingdom's fleet that was reversing direction.

Maritime guild's fleet that was attacking the rear of the dukedom's fleet like a pack of orca got fully hit by the attack of Answerer Kingdom's fleet that was riding the wind.

「Shit! Don't let them get away!」

「It's no good! They have sped up too much! While we are turning around they will already...」

No matter what kind of vehicle it was, the radius of their rotation would become bigger the faster they were moving.

It would take too much time for them to turn around from now to chase after Answerer Kingdom's fleet. The adjutant was telling Barbarino that.

If there was any justification that could be made for Admiral Barbarino here, it was that their plan from the start was to surround the dukedom's fleet from three directions and annihilated them.

They couldn't anticipate that the dukedom's fleet would commit suicide tactically in order to allow mere four ships of a defeated fleet to escape.

Besides, the ship's speed would fall if they turned around.

A considerable distance would have been opened by the time they managed to speed up again.

「No other choice! We'll beat up the enemy before our eyes with all our strength!」

He kept getting deceived until the very end.

It was regretful but Barbarino wasn't so narrow-minded that he would feel lingering attachment for something that had been decided.

Right now he could only praise Federigo as a worthy enemy and crushed him with all his strength.

.

「──It's over.」

Domitory watched a conspicuously large flame scorching the sky at the other side of the horizon. He squeezed out that mutter from his throat.

「This isn't over at all. I'll not let it be over!」

Percival furiously raged with tears flooding out from his eyes.

「This isn't over. This is the beginning. We are only beginning. In order to defeat that sworn enemy and sing the sing of victory for our sworn friend once more!」

In order to do that, he would face any difficulty.

Domitory was convinced that in the near future Percival would brush away the adversity awaiting him in Answerer Kingdom's navy and climbed up the rank further.

「All hands on deck!」

「Sir!」

「Show our respect to the brave fight of our sworn friends. Attention!」

「Aye sir!!」

.

Federigo's suicidal action would be told to the future generation with pro and contra surrounding it.

The elites of the dukedom navy were annihilated and made it difficult to rebuild.

In that respect, there was opinion that Federigo should be criticized as an admiral who crushed the future of the dukedom navy.

But, the evaluation of the future generation for Federigo wasn't bad to such degree. Rather many people talked of him as a tragic admiral who fought hard under a despairing situation.

Certainly it would be best to preserve the fleet for the sake of the dukedom's navy's future.

However that action would only be meaningful if the dukedom continued to exist.

A marine who luckily survived wrote Federigo's last words.

「Finishing the war when we still have enough strength left to fight is just shameful. We need to rampage flashily to keep the honor of the dukedom's navy.」

Federigo didn't have the choice of surrendering and living as a navy officer under the new kingdom.

Admiral Barbarino who was standing on the opposite side was also the same.

Sacrificing oneself for his home country that he had devoted half of his life for.

Even if the dukedom was a failed country that was soaked in blood, Federigo believed that he had the duty to show the splendor of the dukedom's navy to the future generation.

Of course he also had the calculation that it would make it easier for the dukedom to draw out assistance from Answerer Kingdom if he died gloriously to save his allied fleet.

Dying when it was time to die. Federigo weighed his own aesthetic and his country's destiny on the scale and obtained a splendid place to die──.

.

「That idiot-! He dared to make light of our long rivalry...!」

Not everyone thought positively of Federigo's magnificent death.

Especially Admiral Barbarino who had been his archenemy for many years and thought of him as his rival. His disappointment was great.

Even though he was in high spirit thinking that they would settle everything between them in this battle, Federigo brought over their battle with him to the other side where Barbarino wouldn't be able to reach him anymore.

Even though the war should have ended with victory for his side, the old general was despondent because he felt despondent for losing the battle.

It was a similar feeling of heartbreak from being dumped by a lover that he was yearning for.

「Things really doesn't go as we want it isn't it, Admiral Barbarino.」

「I say...Admiral Jose. I have showed you something unsightly.」

「No no, I understand very well how you are feeling. I too wish that I can give my complain to Admiral Federigo.」

Jose also felt regretful for allowing that admiral of Answerer Kingdom to bring back the lesson from this battle to his home country.

It looked like they had obtained an overwhelming victory, but actually they suffered the loss of nearly thirty percent of their fleet.

This time they were only able to win by chance due to Jose's smokescreen and Urraca's skill. The true state of affairs were that they were walking over thin ice to grasp this victory.

Besides, he wanted to annihilate the navy of Answerer Kingdom more than the dukedom's navy that would naturally fall into their hand anyway if the dukedom was defeated.

「──That guy too must be satisfied if he know that Admiral Jose said that.」

「People who run toward their death doesn't need to think any further about their life in the future. That's why they always push the difficult task to the living. Don't you think that's unreasonable?」

Jose seemed to seriously think that he had just gotten a troublesome task pushed onto him. Barbarino reflexively smiled wryly seeing that.

From Barbarino's eyes, Jose was still young. From now on he would have to keep accepting troublesome tasks one after another, and yet it would be troubling if he already talked like an old man at his age.

「Unfortunately you are still lacking experience Admiral Jose. You will need to at least go through three times the amount of unreasonable experience like just now before you become as old as me.」

「Please spare me from that. I don't have any intention of continuing to stay in the military until that age.」

「To be unable to retire even then is the biggest example of such unreasonable matter. Give it up.」

「Good grief, now I finally understand the reason why there are so many military personnel seeking for a place to die.」

Jose and Barbarino shrugged together and laughed.

「Looks like the day is getting cold. Want some rum?」

Jose took the alcohol container on his waist and handed a cup to Barbarino.

「I'm grateful. After all this is the only thing that the dead can't possibly taste over there!」

「Then let's toast for our survival and being able to drink rum like this.」

「Let's toast for my bitter enemyfriend who has died and cannot drink alcohol anymore.」