The birth of Shipgirls.
This seemed like a very curious subject.
In the past, Jack had never considered how Shipgirls came into this world.
What role did the Mind Cube play in it?
Guiding a civilization of only steel and firepower towards the concept of magic, the Mind Cube, in some sense, might also be an existence similar to him.
An invader from beyond.
"If you, Ibuki, were born in the research lab, then who were involved in the blueprints and construction?"
"It seems Akashi and Master were involved, but I'm not entirely clear on the specifics."
"Did you follow the construction of Azuma later?"
"Hmm... no."
Ibuki lowered her head, feeling guilty for not being able to answer Jack's question.
Jack gently pinched the demon horns on the girl's head. The guilt disappeared, replaced by shyness.
"It seems I'll have to go back to the Sakura Empire Port and ask Akashi..."
In the game's background setting, Akashi's position was somewhat special.
She was one of the few repair-type Shipgirls in the game, and also an existence similar to a researcher.
More importantly, she was also the proprietress of the game's paid mall.
Jack still remembered that when he married Akashi, she had said that the items in the shop were joint marital property.
Now that the topic of Shipgirl birth came up, another question followed.
Jack's fingers ran through Shoukaku's hair, shifting the target of his inquiry.
"Shoukaku, regarding the stages I led you to conquer before, or perhaps they have another name, in what form do those places exist?"
"Stages? That sounds like something from a virtual game. Commander, can you describe it in more detail?"
"Roughly speaking, it's like a passage to other worlds, or something similar."
"Oh, yes, Commander, you're talking about Singularities, aren't you?"
Shoukaku nodded immediately, then recounted the plot background setting that Jack had missed in the game.
...
More than ten minutes later.
Shoukaku's background setting report was complete.
Jack also re-recalled and connected the text content of the Azure Lane game.
Humans existed in that world, but they weren't mainstream.
The two sides only had a relationship of providing supplies and protection. Except for the Commander, the human world and the Shipgirl world basically existed as two dimensions that did not interfere with each other.
The mainstream of the world was the war between Shipgirls and Sirens.
And at some unknown point, places called "Singularities" began to appear around the world.
Through Singularities, one would go to scenes from a certain point in history, or some special spaces that did not exist in the Overworld.
To date, Shipgirls, apart from knowing that they might be another parallel world, did not know as much about them as the Sirens.
Occasionally, strange Shipgirls or Sirens would emerge from the Singularities.
Engaging them in battle was also a mission in Azure Lane.
During the process, some "enemies" would defect or historically sealed Shipgirls would be salvaged, including Helena META and others who claimed to be members of the Ash faction and joined the port.
However, the META Shipgirls who had "seen through" fate formed their own faction, becoming riddle-speakers, neither befriending nor antagonizing anyone, but simply licking their wounds in solitude somewhere in the port.
...
"So, let me summarize."
"For Azure Lane, you are merely engaging in self-defense, resisting the Sirens and META Shipgirls, who are outsiders to this world."
"For the Sirens, they are carrying out some unspeakable secret activities, but very little information can be gathered."
"For the META Shipgirls, having their parallel worlds destroyed, they remain mostly neutral, but at the same time, there are some active individuals carrying out plans similar to the Sirens, but with completely different alignments."
"Is that right?"
Shoukaku nodded, then added,
"I've met Helena META and chatted with her a few times. From what she said, it seems the world endings of every META Shipgirl were caused by the same person."
"The same person... From your tone, it's not the Sirens, is it?"
"That's right! On the contrary, the Sirens and the other side also seem to be enemies."
"Classic 'enemy and I share the same origin,' 'turning enemies into friends,' 'third-party void boss.' So, the name Siren Commander sounds quite interesting, don't you think, Shoukaku?"
Shoukaku's expression froze, her small face bitter.
"Commander... that joke isn't funny. The Sirens aren't easy to talk to, please don't have such dangerous thoughts!"
To this, Jack merely smiled.
He, this "Outer God," would eventually invade the Azure Lane World.
He had even subdued the Minecraft World's massive Netherite Colossus, so there was no reason to let the Sirens, these white-haired beautiful girls who fit his preferences, remain outside.
At this point, the temperature had already dropped somewhat.
So Jack patted their heads, stood up, and walked to the center of the field.
"Actually, I've also learned a few sword techniques from the ladies of other worlds. Seeing how much fun you're having practicing, how about I join you?"
"Alright! Commander, who do you want to spar with?"
Mikasa straightened her military saber, a sly smile appearing on her face: "But... Commander, you'll have to think carefully before deciding who to choose~"
"Oh? Are you trying to stir up trouble?"
Jack walked in front of her and lifted Mikasa's chin.
"Sure enough... The war between Taihou and Akagi was intentionally provoked by you, wasn't it?"
Mikasa met his gaze without showing any weakness.
"Ara, Commander already has us six Shipgirls, and these past few days, he's barely said a word without mentioning those two. Could it be that Commander actually prefers 'passionate' girls like Taihou and Akagi over us?"
"You're wrong about that, Mikasa."
Jack leaned close to her ear and gently blew a breath.
"—I already know that Mikasa is very passionate. After all, I've felt it in all three places. Indeed... it's very warm and hot~"
"Gulp!"
Mikasa pushed Jack away, retreated a few steps, and bit her lower lip, her face flushed with embarrassment.
That teasing remark reminded her of Jack coming in through the back door yesterday.
He had said it was a private reward, but then this person carried her into the living room, showed her off in front of her sisters, and made her look so foolish.
"Haha! Everyone gets a chance, old rules, let's draw lots."
Jack stroked Mikasa's head and stopped teasing her.
He looked at the others; Takao, Atago, and Zuikaku had also walked over.
Four lots, and three of them each drew one.
"Ara, I'm second~" Atago said with a smile, cupping her face.
"Too bad, I drew third."
Zuikaku expressed that while she was a little disappointed not to be first, it was still good to be able to see Jack's sword skills in advance.
Takao, on the other hand, held up the lot in her hand.
"I'm first."
"Then Mikasa is fourth."
Jack tucked the lot into the gap of Mikasa's front armor.
Mikasa glared at him.
Jack didn't care and pinched her face.
"Stop it, you're making me lose my authority in front of the juniors!"
"What's the big deal? Last night, your mouth was practically splitting to your ears, weren't you happy?"
"I was... Hmph! You idiot Commander, I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Mikasa pouted and ran to the spectator stands.
Jack, meanwhile, watched her retreating figure with a slight smile.
The taste of this classical beauty from the Meiji era was indeed good, very smooth, he liked it very much!
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