Editing Sorcery Hacker:Volume4 Phase03 (section)

===Part 4===

Basengul Strait, Deepwind Ocean.

While it was known as a strait, it was in fact well more than 20 thousand esoule<ref>Approximately 240 kilometers.</ref> from one side to the other.

Still, this was the shortest sea route between the two continents.

All trade ships and sightseeing ships had to be evacuated to the nearest naval port.



To make way for a massive military force.



The Philosommelier Personal Empire’s armada had already been deployed and seemed to cover the sea.

While airships were convenient, not even they could cross from one continent to another without refueling. That was why the fleet carrying the emperor and his entourage had approached the Static Continent enough for the airship to reach the capital.

That had been a show of force for the Philosommelier Personal Empire’s military.

Some military expansionists had insisted on the fleet being armed with live ammunition, but those expansionists had likely gone entirely pale now.

They never imagined that ammunition would actually be used.

(This is not looking good.)

That Collaborative Continent armada was being viewed through binoculars by the commander of a Selected Kingdom naval ship that had been rushed out from a Static Continent naval port. Of the sailing ship and steamships, there had been some collisions between the supply ships and small patrol boats which had been able to get moving the fastest, but there had been no other major issues.

The commander in question was 20th Prince Cascade.

A man of around 30, he had no interest in the squabbling over succession. He had long since made clear his intentions to stay out of it and hoped to remain on friendly terms with whoever became the next king. That was why he had not participated in the Precession Festival at the capital and was instead viewing a military exercise at this regional naval port.

The ranks of a hierarchical society were the key to swift action in an emergency.

In this situation, the ranking officer in this region of sea had complete control of the navy.

(We’re looking at a major war. Honestly, this isn’t a job for the one-day knight leader position the bored regional knights give to a dancer or bard.)

“Um, ahem. Remember your training.”

The prince who suddenly found himself a young admiral restlessly adjusted his grip on his binoculars and muttered to himself. He would really have preferred to be surrounded by guards, but a royal had to keep up appearances.

Of course, no one knew his actual skill level.

The sailors on the same ship had no choice but to rely on the words of the ranking officer.

“Who cares about their precious high-speed ships. Our large sorcery cannons are more powerful than theirs. If we aim carefully and lay out an accurate barrage, we can strike them down and end the battle before it truly begins. Once our victory is assured, we can leave alive, so just remember your training!”

But before they could take aim with their superior firing range, something exploded.

Behind them.

The supply ships and repair ships in the rear of the fleet were under attack.

The ships loaded with supplies and the ships capable of repairing the warships were specifically targeted and eliminated. The Static Continent side suddenly lost the option of a lengthy battle.

And having the rear of their fleet attacked meant the entire fleet was in range of the enemy.

“How? We have the superior firing range, so we should have been the first to attack!!”

“Above, admiral!!”

The sailor who gave that report was eliminated along with the lookout platform at the top of the mast.

A sound of beating air came from overhead.

“Th-they don’t just have ships!? They have large vouivres in the sky and krakens underwater!? Eek!!”

“It’s not just the warship specs. Do they just have that many more types of pieces to place on the game board!?”