Chapter 2 – Introduction of The Inside of The Ship
With a total of 152 students on board, Queen’s Watch departed.
As expected from a big ship, this luxurious cruise that runs in the sea at about 15 knots (27.78 km/h), is pretty stable. The rolling motion of a cruise ship is controlled by a fin stabilizer, after all, so the ship will not shake significantly unless it was hit by storms.
We, who were divided by class and gathered in a group, are waiting for the instructions of Marina-sensei.
Well, I can’t blame her, because this is the first time she leads a student orientation camp… So, it would be impossible to tell this teacher, who has ‘beginner’ marks stamped on her, not to be nervous.
Marina-sensei, whose face was blue, was shaking and swaying on the ship, even though it should be stable. Even with her body that is about to collapse now supported by the students, as soon as the ship shakes, she seems to be about to fly into space. And in front of such a sensei, a girl came.
“Well then everyone, please pay attention here.”
It was a staff wearing black trousers, white shirt and waistcoat. With her blonde short hair fluttering in the air, she smiled.
“I am the staff who will be working as an exclusive staff member of class A during the three-day cruise trip, 『A』. Everyone does not have to call me any other names. Just like a card drawn at a casino, please feel free to call me with that name, as if it is just a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.”
Bowing deeply, she pointed to the destination with her hands that were covered in white gloves.
“As Marina-sama explained earlier, first of all, I would like to introduce you to the inside of Queen’s Watch. After that, we will hand out the mini console to be attached to everyone’s magic devices. That mini console will also become the key to everyone’s cabins, so please be careful not to lose it.”
Apparently, we’re supposed to go around the wide ship in turns with other classes. As we passed E class which seems to be the class before us, we followed A down into the ship.
“There are 4 to 14 decks in Queen’s Watch. The deck plan will be distributed through the mini console later, so please refer to the event plan etc. form there.”
“”…””
Hearing that, I and Tsukiori looked at each other.
“… Hiiro-kun, what is a deck?”
“… I think she is talking about Yu-Gi-Oh. I can at least comprehend that. It’s not Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon cards, it’s definitely Yu-Gi-Oh1.”
“This is why commoners are!!”
Ojou, who covered her mouth with a flashy fan, then proudly said.
“A deck is of course the deck (of a ship)! Since the deck is a place that acts as a stable floor on the ship, most equipment we can use is placed on the deck. That’s why it is called a deck plan… in other words, an introduction will be needed!”
“I see! As expected of Ojou!”
“Ohohoho! When it comes to my level, it is natural to know this much!”
“… Isn’t Hiiro-kun too gentle to this girl?”
Excuse me, I just felt sympathy for a tragic heroine.
While having such an exchange, we are taken by A-san to tour the deck. While referring to the deck plan on the large window opened by A-san, we parade through the vast interior of the ship.
Frighteningly, this cruise even has an elevator on board.
By the way, each deck is named after a jewel to make it easier to remember. For example, the deck where there are bars and nightclubs is called the Diamond deck.
The top deck, which is the Tanzanite deck, has an outdoor jacuzzi and mini golf. Below that, there is Benitoite deck, where there is a pool, changing rooms, saunas, public baths, theater rooms, and a fitness center.
On the Sapphire deck, which is in the middle, there is a pool jacuzzi on the balcony, outdoor restaurant 『Light Attendant』, and an ice cream bar and a cafe called 『Sweet Rendezvous』 where you can eat bread and light meals.
My eyes!! My eyes are spinning!
I am sure of this, I don’t think I’ll be able to fully enjoy all these facilities in three days.
At any rate, deck 8 to 12 are guest rooms, all of which are suites, and even the inside of those suites are far different from normal suites. To the point I don’t understand the meaning of Grand Family Suite Room anymore.
When I looked at the information about the room from the pamphlet, it was so luxurious that I wondered if this was really on the ship (There is even a maid service dedicated to the room, like it was natural).
Normally, the rank of the room the students can stay in and the facilities we can use are determined by our score, but… since this time it is a group action, there is nothing they can do about that. After all, this time, we will be sleeping in the same room as a group.
Let me tell you, the thing called Yuri… would be more godly if there were an event CG where the girls slept in the same bed and were wrapped by the morning sun when they woke up….
Of course, I don’t have any intention to stay in the same room as Tsukiori and Ojou. The guys are always being thrown out of the room every year, so it seems that they provided another room for them. And I intend to stay there.
While thinking about such things, the deck plan introduction was almost finished, and finally we were taken to the bottom of the ship, where a rugged engine room was placed. It was a space where equipment of unknown purpose is lined up in a narrow space.
And when I was wondering why we were brought to such a place…. A-san smiled and pointed at a big door.
“This is the heart of this Queen’s Watch… a constructor magic device, the 『Queen’s Eye Pillar』 is placed there.”
Out of nowhere, a woman armed with a magic device appears. Emotionless, the girls then opened the large circular door with two people– and at that moment, a huge amount of magic power oozed from there.
Without hesitation, I and Tsukiori pulled out our magic devices. And looking at our reaction, Ojou holds her magic device in panic.
“Please rest assured. It is just a whirlpool of magic power. It is perfectly controlled by various devices and will not explode unless the safety mechanism outside the engine room is removed.”
“… Explode?”
Leaving aside the muttering Tsukiori, A-san brought the students through the big door.
Inside, there was a vast space, which is very strange, as it was different from that cramped space in the bottom of the ship.
In the center of the spacious white space, there was a huge cylinder that kept spinning slowly while emitting a pale light. A complex and mysterious conductor is drawn on the cylinder, and a large pupil-like console is attached there.
A big cylinder that runs through from the ceiling to the floor. Its thickness and size is also extraordinary.
Overwhelmed, we could only just look up at the pillar.
“This 『Queen’s Eye Pillar』 is precisely the engine of Queen’s Watch. It is the source of the energy used to drive this ship, and also the source of the magic barrier that has never been broken… It is also the center of magic power that is the keystone of the interception system.”
In a voice that reverberated from the ceiling to the walls and floor, A-san whispered.
“Normally, this place would be locked tightly, but before, there was an accident where a person from a certain organization sneaked in. And that person died from an explosion inside there.”
Then, in front of the students that were starting to make a fuss after hearing that story, A-san politely bowed her head.
“Thus, I humbly request to everyone. Please do not approach this engine room. And if you accidentally approach this engine room, please don’t release your magic power even once.”
“What happens if we release our magic power?”
Ojou, who was hiding behind me and Tsukiori looked up at the cylinder while seemingly afraid.
To that question, A-san giggled.
“Magic power will cause an electrical reaction and cause a chain explosion. Fortunately, since the interior of this room is covered with multiple anti-magic barriers, the explosion will not sink the ship and the 『Queen’s Eye Pillar』 will not be destroyed. However, the person who poured magic power inside this room will be destroyed by the explosion.”
Although she said it profoundly, this thing actually won’t explode (spoilers). This scene also happens in the game, but in the end, the event ended with that being a scam.
The developer probably wanted to give the players a sense of crisis, but if the MC actually saw the explosion, it means that the MC herself will also explode, after all. And there is no way they will make the MC explode. In short, seeing is believing.
But this threat seems to be pretty effective, as the face of my classmates became pale while trying to rush to the top to avoid the engine room.
Thanks to that, I am now finally back under the sun. By the way, Marina-sensei, whose power seems to be left from her body after hearing the explanation of the engine room, was princess carried by A-san (A X Mari, pretty good…) and returned.
“W-well then, I will distribute the room key! P-please come to pick up the mini console in order from group one!”
Before long, the turn of group five arrived. As a matter of course, we received a mini console, led by Ojou who went on her way. And it seems our luggage has already been carried into our room.
And since we had some spare time, we headed to the cabin and–
“You, get out!!”
In seconds, I was banished from the room.
As planned (grin).
After packing up my luggage in the corridor, I decided to go to the men’s room with excitement.
But, as I walked a few steps, the door of another cabin opened and Rei appeared from inside, as if she had been waiting for me all the time.
“Onii-sama, did you perhaps get kicked out of your room…?”
Imouto-sama yo, did you perhaps wait for me to be kicked out of my room…?
“If Onii-sama does not mind,”
Then, Rei, who tucked her hair behind her ears and cast her eyes downward, began to talk.
“Why don’t you come to our room… Ano… the other member of my group is also someone who is very easy to talk to… if we explain the situation to her properly, I think there will be no problem…”
“No, wait, there are only three beds, right?”
“It is a twin bed… So, I think it will be okay…”
What’s so interesting about a boy and a girl waking up in the same bad oi!! (Strong will)
“But, isn’t it strange for a girl and a boy who are of marriageable age sleeping together on the same bed? (clear headed)”
“What are you being conscious of even though we are brother and sister (peerless).”
…. (Weakened)
Hearing that, I can only silently retreat, until– I hit something.
There, I saw Tsukiori, who was tightly squeezing my shoulder.
“Sorry Rei, but Hiiro-kun is in the same group as me. If Hiiro-kun goes to another room, I will go with him.”
As if ignoring Tsukiori, Rei smiled and gently took my hand.
“This is my first trip with Onii-sama, so please give up. No, you should give up here. Because just for this day, I learned to play UNO from Snow.”
“No. Go play your UNO alone.”
Playing UNO alone… That’s just a punishment…
Although they are quarreling, for some reason, they don’t feel unfriendly. Or rather, it seems the distance between these two are getting shorter… I’m honestly happy with it, but why…?
“Then, shall the three of us stay together?”
“It cannot be helped.”
Eh?
The two, who would normally be in conflict, synchronized their breath and sandwiching me from both sides.
“Then, let’s talk to Sensei about the situation and ask her to prepare a room for us.”
“Un, that’s a good idea.”
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I, who was being tightly sandwiched like a cattle mutilation, arrived at one answer in bewilderment.
That is, these two are having a united front against Snow?!
Although I managed to notice it, it was already too late. Being dragged by the two with a despaired expression, I whispered in a thin voice, saying “Help me… help me…”, and that voice reached the God of Yuri.
“A-are~?! Hiiro, what are you doing?!”
Lapis, who came from the front, stuffed her body between the two. And as a space was created, I got out of their grasp at once.
“Ophelia-san has been looking for you since a while ago, you know~?! Maybe it’s okay for you to return to your room~?!”
Lapis-san!! Lapis-san!! (Audience standing, and I am crying)
“Okayy, thank you!! (Dash)”
I clung to the door of our cabin and knocked on the door repeatedly.
“Mou! What’s the problem with you, knocking since a whi– Hii?!”
“Please let me stay (Kneeling on the ground).”
I bowed my head in a beautiful posture.
“Please let me stay (threatening).”
“A-alright! R-raise your head! It cannot be helped!”
Just like that, I obtained the right to stay in the room by Ojou, who was pushed by the momentum.
『From now on, we will hold a joint recreational event from A to E class at the first port. Please gather at the diamond deck as soon as you confirmed your cabin.』
And then, the announcement of the first event reverberated throughout the ship.