Three Ship Girls slid toward Illustrious and Atago. These three Ship Girls were Atago's three squad members.
"Wow! Are you the Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl, Illustrious? Hello! I'm Vicious, an Iron Blood Destroyer. You know what? I'm your loyal fan! Can you please sign something for me?" Vicious wrapped her arms around Illustrious.
"Speak properly if you have something to say, and don't suddenly hug me." Illustrious shook the pendant hanging from her thigh, but she couldn't shake Vicious off.
"I can let go, but sign for me first." Vicious clung tightly to Illustrious's thigh and said.
"Fine, fine, fine! I'll sign it for you, alright?" Illustrious said helplessly.
Vicious immediately let go of Illustrious and took out a poster of Illustrious from her rigging space. "Please! Please sign here, thank you!"
"Mhm! Here, okay." Illustrious wrote in the designated spot as Vicious requested.
After signing her name, Vicious immediately hugged it to her chest, fearing someone would snatch it. "Great, I got Illustrious's signature. I can go back to the Atlantic Military Police and show off to my colleagues then."
"Senior! Hello! I am Essex of the Eagle Union. If there's an opportunity, please have a match with me." Essex extended her hand, looking at Illustrious with intense fighting spirit.
Essex was a Five-Star Epic Ship Girl and greatly admired Legendary Ship Girls. Every time she saw a Legendary Ship Girl, she would request a battle, not to be a masochist, but to accumulate combat experience.
Fighting against the strong allows one to accumulate combat experience, which can increase the Ship Qi of the Epic Core. Once the Ship Qi is sufficiently full, one can attempt to break through to become a Legendary Ship Girl.
"Sure, no problem! I won't go easy on you when the time comes!" Seeing such a proactive junior, Illustrious was very willing to fight Essex.
"That's for the best. I don't want Senior to go easy on me; otherwise, it would be an insult to me," Essex said with a look of determination.
Illustrious started laughing; this Essex really had quite the personality! Not long after she started laughing, a Ship Girl suddenly rushed in front of Illustrious and said with a look of defiance, "Even though we're both Aircraft Carriers, why! Why are your breasts so big?"
"You are...!" Looking at the pink-haired loli before her, Illustrious asked in confusion.
"I am the Eagle Union Aircraft Carrier Saratoga. You haven't answered my question yet." In Saratoga's eyes, Illustrious's chest was practically the public enemy of flat-chested women.
"Uh! That? I don't know either; I was born this way." For a moment, Illustrious didn't know how to answer. After the Wisdom Cube transforms into a Ship Girl, her body remains fixed, so she didn't know why her breasts were so large.
"I don't believe it. You must have used some method to get them this big! Are you using breast enhancement products? If so, tell me the product name. Sharing is caring, after all!" Saratoga walked up to Illustrious, hugging her and burying her head in Illustrious's chest as she pressed for an answer.
Illustrious said honestly, "I really didn't use any special method. Also, please don't rub your head against my chest."
Feeling the softness of Illustrious's chest, Saratoga looked indignant. "You beast! Not only are they big, but they're also so soft. I'm the only flat-chested one; this is so unfair."
Saratoga buried her head even harder into Illustrious's chest.
Finally, after feeling a strange sensation, Illustrious immediately picked Saratoga up by the collar. "Stop being so unreasonable. If you keep this up, I'll throw you to the Abyssal as food."
Being dangled in mid-air, Saratoga struggled constantly. "Ah! You big cow, let me go quickly, or I'll report you for child abuse!"
"You only admit you're a child at times like this!" Vicious mocked.
Atago shouted sternly at Vicious, "Enough, don't make things difficult for our savior. Apologize to Illustrious right now!"
Seeing Atago's stern expression, Saratoga immediately quieted down and said to Illustrious somewhat reluctantly, "I'm sorry!"
"It's alright. But Saratoga, don't do that next time, or I'll really get angry!" Seeing Saratoga apologize, Illustrious set her down and patted her head. But seeing Saratoga's expression grow increasingly dark, she stopped patting.
Atago bowed to Illustrious. "My apologies! My team member has caused you trouble."
Illustrious smiled and said, "It's fine, it's fine. By the way, where are you all headed now?"
Illustrious planned to pester Atago relentlessly; unless she succeeded in her pursuit, she would keep following Atago.
"We plan to go to Free Iris to carry out a mission," Atago said casually.
"What mission? Tell me!" Illustrious whispered softly into Atago's ear.
A puff of warm air constantly brushed against her ear, creating a tingling sensation. Atago immediately moved away from Illustrious. "I can't say; it's confidential!"
"Don't be so stingy! Tell me!" Illustrious nudged Atago's body with her elbow.
"Captain, don't tell her! Let's go quickly! Ignore this Cow Monster." Saratoga pulled at Atago's clothes and walked forward.
Hearing the words 'Cow Monster,' Illustrious's face instantly darkened. "Cow Monster? Don't give me random nicknames. I have a name; it's Illustrious."
"Illustrious! We still have a mission to perform. Let's meet again if fate allows!" Atago waved to Illustrious and led her team members toward Free Iris.
Looking at Illustrious, Atago felt afraid. She always felt like Illustrious was a Big Bad Wolf, as if she might pin her down at any moment, which was why she was so eager to get away.
"Goodbye! Atago." Watching Atago walk away, Illustrious smiled on the surface, but her heart was filled with joy: 'Atago! My cute Little Lamb! You cannot escape the palm of my hand. You are mine; I will definitely win you over.'
"main body ship — Activate!"
Countless glowing transparent cubes emerged from Illustrious's body. The cubes condensed into the shape of a glowing Aircraft Carrier on the sea's surface. The light faded, and an Aircraft Carrier appeared on the sea.
With a light leap, Illustrious flew into the air and toward the Aircraft Carrier. When she reached the deck, she stopped.
From her rigging space, Illustrious took out a white Western-style table and chair. Sitting on the chair, she waved her right hand, and snacks and black tea appeared on the table.
Elegantly picking up the black tea, she looked in the direction Atago had left and controlled the Aircraft Carrier to give chase.
For an hour, Illustrious followed Atago the whole way.
Atago and the others were currently sailing at a speed of thirty knots on Essex's main body ship. Atago's team member, Saratoga, inadvertently discovered Illustrious's Aircraft Carrier.
Seeing Illustrious following them, she immediately shouted to everyone, "This is bad! I found that Illustrious is following us."
"What? You saw Illustrious? Let me see! It's true! Could it be she thinks I'm cute and wants to pursue me? Oh, stop it! What should I do!" Vicious blushed, looking embarrassed.
Saratoga looked at Vicious with a face full of disdain. "You should take a good look at yourself in a mirror. With that appearance of yours, why would anyone take an interest in you?"
"What do you mean! Are you trying to say I'm ugly? I'm not ugly at all. And unlike a certain someone, I'm not a flat chest. I have an A-cup, which is much more than you have." Vicious puffed out her chest proudly.
"Fl... Flat chest!" After comparing her chest with Vicious's, Saratoga found that she was indeed smaller than Vicious. She immediately knelt on the ground, completely dejected. "I've brought shame to Aircraft Carriers."
Seeing Saratoga's defeat, Vicious looked smug. But before she could be smug for long, Essex sent her plummeting into the abyss.
Essex said kindly with a blank expression, "Vicious! What you said isn't accurate. Your cup size is an A-minus, not an A-cup."
Hearing Essex reveal her true cup size, Vicious was about to snap back that Essex's chest wasn't big either, but when she saw Essex's majestic peaks, she was instantly left without an argument. Finally, she knelt on the ground alongside Saratoga, completely dejected. "Dammit! There's no comparison. As expected, this is what an Aircraft Carrier should be like."
"Why is Illustrious chasing us?" Atago was puzzled. Surely Illustrious hadn't really taken a liking to her, right? But they had only just met for the first time! "Could Illustrious have some hidden motives? For example, has she already joined the Deep Sea Cult? Saving us just now was actually to gain our trust, and then by following us, she'll find Princess Fiona's location with the goal of killing her."
"Aren't you overthinking things again? I don't think Illustrious looks like the kind of Ship Girl who would join the Deep Sea Cult." Essex felt that Atago was worrying groundlessly again. However, she didn't blame Atago; after all, people in high positions are always suspicious! Once they encounter something, they always feel that things aren't that simple and that there must be some conspiracy.
Essex felt that being so suspicious was exhausting. She solved problems in a straightforward manner. For instance, if an Abyssal Warship suddenly appeared in front of her, she would draw her sword and slash it without a second thought.
But when Atago saw an Abyssal Warship, she would think it was a conspiracy. Why would an Abyssal Warship be here for no reason? This must be a trap set by the Abyssals. There must be a group of Abyssals lying in ambush nearby, aiming to make her fall for it so they could better eliminate her.
To this end, Atago would use long-range shelling to test the Abyssal Warship. If the Abyssal Warship chased after her, she would slay it. If it didn't chase, then it was definitely a trap. At that point, Atago would choose to retreat without hesitation.
"Perhaps! But I think it's better to be a bit cautious," Atago said with a somewhat grave expression.
"Then let me go ask her!" Saratoga said, raising her small hand.
"Mhm! Alright! Then go ask Illustrious why she's following us." Atago agreed to Saratoga's suggestion.
Having received permission, Saratoga manifested three pairs of Purple Light Wings. With a whoosh, she flew into the sky and dashed toward Illustrious's Aircraft Carrier.
After arriving above Illustrious's Aircraft Carrier, she landed immediately. After talking with Illustrious for a while, Saratoga flew back to Atago's side.
"How did the questioning go?" Atago asked hurriedly.
Saratoga said with a look of displeasure, "I'm so annoyed. That Illustrious is being so arrogant. I asked her why she was following us, and she said she wasn't. She said the ocean is vast and boundless, and it's her freedom to go wherever she wants; no one has the right to control her."
Atago didn't want someone tailing them from behind. "That really is a hassle. Call Illustrious over; I have something to say to her."
"Alright, I'll call her over right away." Saratoga flew back once more, and in no time, she brought Illustrious over.
Seeing her beloved Atago again, Illustrious grabbed Atago's hand, her face beaming with smiles. "Atago, I heard from Saratoga that you have something to say to me. What is it? Could it be a confession of love? If so, then say it out loud! There's no need to be shy; I'll listen carefully to every single word."
"Who... who's confessing? What kind of nonsense are you talking about!" Atago's face instantly flushed red.
Upon hearing Illustrious mention Atago's confession, the other Ship Girls began to gossip.
"What a shock! So the Captain called Illustrious over because she likes her? And it's for a confession of love?" Saratoga looked shocked, feeling as though she had become a matchmaker.
"No way, Illustrious is mine! Ah, no, Illustrious belongs to everyone. The Captain can't just snatch her away for herself," Vicious muttered unhappily.
"You've all misunderstood. Atago looks like a calculating person on the surface, but she's actually a girl who gets embarrassed very easily. In my opinion, I don't think Atago has the courage to confess," Essex analyzed carefully.
Seeing Atago blushing, Illustrious couldn't help but reach out her right hand to lift Atago's chin, leaning in close. "You're so cute when you're shy! Since you're too embarrassed to say it, let's express our feelings with a kiss!"
Illustrious's cherry lips slowly approached Atago. Watching Illustrious get closer and closer, Atago's heart raced, her face turning even redder. Finally, as if resigning to fate, she closed her eyes and waited for Illustrious's kiss.
Seeing the two about to kiss, the spectating Ship Girls were stunned. They stared intently at the pair, afraid to miss a single second.
"They're almost touching! Ah! I'm so excited! Haa haa!" Vicious was thrilled; she loved watching scenes like this. Although she was envious and jealous that Atago could kiss Illustrious, if Atago truly loved Illustrious, she would give them her blessing, because Atago was the Captain she respected most.
Saratoga found it very interesting, as it was her first time seeing two women about to kiss. "Oh! That's amazing! I heard that if two girls kiss, it's called yuri. Are Illustrious and Atago the 'yuri' from human legends?"
"Not suitable for children, don't look!" Essex said, covering the eyes of the two with her hands.
Once the scene was blocked, Vicious and Saratoga looked dissatisfied.
"Don't block Vicious! Vicious was just getting to the critical moment!"
"Exactly! You're only covering us, but you aren't covering yourself, Essex! I protest! This is just like the saying: 'The magistrates are allowed to set fires, while the commoners are forbidden even to light lamps'!"
Essex ignored their complaints and continued to cover their eyes while watching Illustrious and Atago. She thought to herself, 'It would be a good thing if Atago could be with Illustrious. After all, the Captain doesn't have much time left. Sigh! I hope Illustrious can make Atago happy during this time!'
Just as their lips were about to touch, Illustrious stopped and quickly pulled away. Placing her right hand on her chin, she said with a playful look, "Oh my! I was just joking with you. Seeing how expectant you looked, you didn't really think I was going to kiss you, did you?"
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!