Ch 3 Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm
Belfast's presence alone was enough to make the ocean feel less endless. Her calm gaze and graceful movements made me feel… safe.
"Milady," she said, her tone gentle but firm, "we must head toward the nearest Royal Navy base. Remaining adrift here would be unwise."
I nodded, still not entirely used to being called milady. "Right… but how? I don't even know how to sail."
> Host, navigation mode engaged. Follow Belfast's lead to the Royal Base.
The system's voice echoed in my mind again, and I sighed. "Guess I'm not getting a break, huh?"
"Do not worry," Belfast said with a small smile. "I shall handle the course. Please, focus on adjusting to your rigging."
I looked down again — the metallic structures gliding smoothly on the water beside me, almost like wings. I took a slow breath and followed her.
The ocean shimmered in the early dawn light as we sailed side by side. The distant horizon finally revealed a shape — a massive floating fortress crowned with flags and turrets.
"That's… the Royal Navy base," Belfast announced.
My heart thumped faster as we approached. I could see familiar faces on the docks — Illustrious, Javelin, Laffey, and even Enterprise from the Eagle Union.
They all looked so real. So alive.
"B-Belfast!" Illustrious called, waving elegantly. Her eyes landed on me, soft and warm. "And who might this be?"
Belfast smiled. "A new shipgirl who… appeared under unusual circumstances."
The others gathered around me, curious.
"Whoa, your outfit's cute!" Javelin chirped.
Laffey yawned, rubbing her eyes. "She looks… sleepy. I like her already."
Enterprise studied me quietly, her expression unreadable.
"I…" I hesitated, unsure what to say. "I'm… Unicorn. HMS Unicorn."
Illustrious' eyes widened slightly. "Unicorn? But… you're already here."
A soft gasp came from behind me. Another figure stepped forward — a mirror image of myself, except younger, shyer, clutching a small stuffed unicorn plush.
"U-Unicorn…?" I whispered.
The little shipgirl blinked. "Huh…? But… I'm Unicorn…"
The air went silent for a moment.
> System Notice: Identity conflict detected. Recalibrating designation.
New designation: HMS Unicorn-Prime.
Everyone stared as glowing text briefly appeared before me, then vanished.
Illustrious tilted her head. "How strange… but it seems the Royal Navy has gained another sister."
Enterprise finally spoke. "If the system recognizes her, then she's real. Let's see what she can do."
---
That was how my training days began.
Belfast personally oversaw my drills — from rigging control to energy focus. Every day, I practiced shooting targets, boosting speed, and summoning the protective fairy aura that Unicorn was known for.
At first, I could barely stay balanced on the water. But after a few days… something clicked.
> Skill unlocked: Fairy's Blessing Lv. 2
Skill unlocked: Rapid Shield Deployment
"Excellent progress, milady," Belfast said, clapping softly. "At this rate, you'll surpass even the original Unicorn's support capabilities."
I laughed nervously. "Let's… not go that far."
But that night, as the sun sank and the sea glowed orange, a system alert rang in my head.
> [Warning!]
[Unknown Siren energy signature detected near the base.]
I froze. "Belfast… we've got trouble."
She immediately turned toward the horizon. "So soon? All shipgirls — prepare for sortie!"
The alarm echoed across the base. Shipgirls rushed to their stations as waves began to rise. The calm sea transformed into chaos.
I clutched my staff tightly, heart racing.
> Host, this is your first real battle. Objective: Defend the Royal Navy base.
As the Sirens emerged from the dark water, their red eyes glowing like embers, I took a deep breath.
"I may not be the original Unicorn…" I whispered, raising my staff, "but I'll protect everyone — no matter what."
And with that, I charged forward into the storm.
---
End of Chapter 3