Fletcher shrank her neck like a kitten, cheeks flushed red, eyes half-closed as she stole a glance at Hikaru, stammering, "E-even if I can't remember everything clearly from before… but… but, Commander, you did promise to help me raise all our little sisters…"
Hikaru was speechless. Girl, if you're going to lie, at least do it with conviction. That twitchy gaze, that guilty expression, you've already exposed yourself.
"You liar! Commander, don't believe her!" Glowworm puffed up her cheeks and called out Fletcher without hesitation.
Fletcher immediately covered her face in embarrassment, cheeks red enough to drip blood. "I-I remembered wrong…"
What could Hikaru even say to that? All he could do was smile helplessly.
At that moment, a change appeared in the mental game interface he could now access.
[Main Quest: Materialize the Naval Base – Phase 1]
Progress: Fuel 100/10000, Ammo 0/10000, Steel 100/10000, Aluminum 0/10000
Complete Phase 1 to unlock the next function of the Naval Base.
It seemed that some of the resources from earlier had been absorbed as energy. In other words, summoning the four-star destroyer Fletcher had consumed 30 units of each basic resource.
Back when he summoned Glowworm on the so-called "Miracle Construction Day," Hikaru had guessed that some of the resources had converted into energy, powering the phone and unlocking the Naval Base interface in his mind. Later, he reasoned that maybe the phone itself was a kind of special "resource" like magical steel—resonating with the construction to become part of the same energy flow. That explanation made more sense.
For now, he set that mystery aside and focused on his other new reward.
Instant Repair x1.
Shipgirls took time to repair themselves after battle. The higher their level or thicker their armor, the longer the repair time. Now, Hikaru sensed he had a one-time-use energy that could instantly finish any shipgirl's repairs.
It wasn't super useful right now—Glowworm, even if heavily damaged, could fully recover in a couple hours—but hey, it was free. No complaints.
He gave Fletcher some basic warnings—especially a firm reminder not to mention anything about coming from another world. While there were reports of otherworldly beings (some believed the abyssal Special Forces came from alternate dimensions), exposing that fact would definitely bring a ton of trouble.
Once things were clear, Hikaru brought Fletcher over to meet Elizabeth.
Elizabeth gave Hikaru a weird look. "You really are something. I'm starting to believe you really were a top commander who got lost from your old base. Fletcher's even stronger than Glowworm, isn't she?"
Fletcher's actual level was 110. But in this world, most believed the maximum shipgirl level was 100. If her true level got out, it would definitely draw unwanted attention.
So Hikaru played it down. "She's max level. Stronger than Glowworm, sure, but not by a huge margin."
Glowworm pouted and huffed. If her sorties hadn't been reduced after someone new and stronger came along, she wouldn't be falling behind Fletcher. At least, not in level!
Elizabeth frowned slightly. "Don't tell me your Fletcher is that Fletcher—the Star-Killer."
Hikaru waved both hands frantically. "No, no, not at all. Just a strong destroyer, that's all."
In the original game, Fletcher was a four-star ship after remodeling. Her skill scaled with the number of Fletcher-class destroyers in the player's index, increasing nearly all her stats by one for each sister. Hikaru had only unlocked about a dozen sisters—not enough to make her a Star-Killer.
That said… if someone really gave Fletcher all her nearly 200 sisters in this world…
Hikaru shook his head and shoved that fantasy aside.
"I haven't restocked Fletcher's supplies. Want to come with me to Yuji's place?"
Elizabeth shivered, remembering how Yuji had looked earlier. "Better not. I'll go. You might set him off again if he sees you."
Yuji might've calmed down after his failed attempts to build Fletcher. But if he saw Hikaru again with two top-tier destroyers? No telling how he'd react.
…
Back at the local base, Elizabeth approached the secretary ship—a heavy cruiser named Takao.
"Where's your commander?" she asked.
Takao looked weary. "Two construction failures."
Failures were brutal. If the energy couldn't connect with the steel's memory, all the resources just vanished into nothing.
"You should talk to him. Tell him to cool off."
"He's not listening to anyone right now. Let him burn out a few more attempts—at least he's using cheap destroyer formulas."
Elizabeth could only sigh for Yuji and changed the topic to buying resources.
To resupply a destroyer took very little—well within the authority of the secretary ship. Takao nodded and went to fetch what they needed.
"Wait," Elizabeth added suddenly, remembering Fletcher's ill-fitting clothes. "Do you have any new outfits? Give me a set too."
This island, surrounded by the Black Sea, had no local inhabitants—everyone had evacuated long ago. You couldn't even find a clothing store here.
Takao blinked, then straightened up and puffed out her chest proudly. "I heard about it from Braine. You mean Fletcher, right? A destroyer can't fit into my clothes."
As a heavy cruiser, Takao had a mature figure—especially in the chest department—and she had every reason to be proud.
Elizabeth recalled Fletcher's proportions, rubbed her nose awkwardly. "Actually, she can."
Takao was silent for a moment. "No wonder my commander looked so bewitched. Fine, I'll go grab it."
…
Refueling Fletcher only took 15 fuel and 25 ammo.
Elizabeth took Fletcher to a wind-sheltered cave to change, making Hikaru swear not to peek.
What kind of guy do you think I am?!
When Fletcher emerged in a sleek combat outfit, she looked even more striking. She carefully folded the old mismatched outfit and stowed it in Hikaru's backpack.
She also tried to carry the pack for him—Hikaru flatly refused, which made her mumble and pout the whole way. Fletcher was clearly used to looking after others.
Before setting out again, Elizabeth checked one last time. "You're sure you want to keep going?"
Hikaru nodded. "It probably won't take a full hundred fights, but yeah—I'm sure."
"Well, I am your supervising teacher, so I'm obligated to come along. But since we're doing this on break, you owe me a proper feast when we get back. Got it?"
Hikaru was more diplomatic. "We could go on our own, you know."
"No way," Elizabeth gasped, acting shocked. "It's my duty to protect my students!"