I Reincarnated as the Captain of a Battleship in a Robot Anime, but at This Rate, I’m Going to Be Assassinated – Chapter 41

Chapter 41: I Want the Ability to Make a Romance Suddenly Bloom for a Man Whose Dating History Is as Empty as His Age
  For example, if there were a ritual in this future world to send off the war dead, and Shougo realized that the method wasn’t much different from reality, he would feel a little relieved, and at the same time, though it might be disrespectful, he would also be moved by a certain kind of solemnity.
  Indeed, whether it was unique to this military or not, in battles involving mobile weapons and spaceships where the recovery of bodies was rare, the act of seeing off the war dead was performed through what was called a memorial gun salute.
  
  Doing that with the battered Mirandora could be considered a form of courtesy.
  In this battle, the Mirandora had two casualties. On the other hand, the Earth forces had suffered well over a hundred casualties. Moreover, they were defenseless.
  Whether it was a consolation or an excuse, it was the Mirandora crew who had ultimately brought about such a situation, and the act carried a strong meaning of taking responsibility for it.
  
  After his bath, Shougo, changed back into his uniform, led his subordinates, took the Mirandora out of the fortress base, and fired a memorial salute with the damaged main gun.
  The beam particles vanished into the void. Honestly, he didn’t know if that would bring solace to the souls of the war dead.
  Even if the ritual was impressive, he thought it was a sight one never got used to.
  However, he didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it. Shougo had to hurry back to the base with the Mirandora and give further instructions for repairs, and above all, a coordination meeting was about to begin with Lopes’s unit and the Earth forces, who had finally joined them.
  This was the most time-consuming task, but it was necessary in terms of consolidating their position.
  
  “I feel like all we’ve been doing is fighting and attending meetings.”
  
  There was still time before the meeting in question. Shougo was in the captain’s seat of the Mirandora, looking over the accumulated reports. In the end, these were also tasks that had to be dealt with through paperwork.
  He had been able to relax in the bath, but now he was getting sleepy.
  However, the meeting was about to start, and it was an important one, so he couldn’t afford to sleep.
  He finally understood now that there was no way he, in his position as captain, or rather, as someone who had started to act like a leader of the rebellion, could have any proper rest.
  
  “But I think you’re doing something amazing. I think you should be proud of yourself.”
  
  As if it had become normal for her to be there, Yuri was by Shougo’s side, like a secretary.
  Honestly, he didn’t mind. It might be rude to say, considering she was in her thirties, but she was still beautiful. There weren’t many who would dislike being shown affection.
  He probably wouldn’t have even been able to approach her in his previous life, before possessing Jowain, and Jowain himself probably wouldn’t have imagined such a future.
  
  ‘I defied my boss, started a rebellion, and now a beautiful woman is in love with me? What an interesting story.’
  
  It could be said that it was convenient, but now was the time to take full advantage of that convenience. Momentum was important.
  It probably wasn’t a lie to say that luck was on his side.
  
  “Proud, huh…… If it’s about taking responsibility, I’ll do it as much as I can. No, I have to, but it’ll take some time before I can be proud of my actions. In the first place, I can’t be confident until I succeed in the rebellion.”
  “Is that so? I believe that Jowain-sama is doing the right thing.”
  
  Saying that, Yuri brewed him some black tea. Again, there were no real tea leaves, so she used instant tea bags, but she seemed to be the type who could still add a special touch. Perhaps because they had a little more time this time, she had gathered some usable ingredients from the mess hall and made milk tea with the instant tea bags. Moreover, it had a good flavor and a strong aroma. Did she mix in something like cinnamon?
  Unfortunately, Shougo wasn’t familiar with this sort of thing. He just knew it smelled good and tasted good. It was a vague impression, but still, the thought that a beautiful woman had brewed it for him made him smile unconsciously.
  
  “Justice. Justice, huh…… Whatever the reason, I feel like I’m going to h*ll for using children.”
  
  Moreover, the reason was that they were originally the protagonist and the heroine. And the boss’s daughter. What he was doing was undoubtedly wicked.
  The fact that his goal was to beat up a runaway superior who gave cruel orders, a commander whose intentions were unclear, and a doctor whose intentions were also unclear, made it all the more ridiculous.
  But, as a matter of fact, he had to stop them, and his position as Jowain wouldn’t allow him to escape from that. Obey or rebel.
  And Jowain, who had become Shougo, had chosen to rebel.
  Because that was the option with the lowest probability of death. That was the only reason.
  
  “But I have to stop those guys no matter what. I want to see this through without regrets, even if I have to grieve. Honestly, I’m sorry that it’s led to using you all.”
  “No, it’s because you rose up. I think you saved our lives.”
  
  Yuri’s gaze as she spoke was passionate.
  Certainly, he was their lifesaver. But if this anime hadn’t been canceled, how would they have been treated? Franny, in particular, held such a high position. He didn’t think she would just d*e and be done with it, but he didn’t really know.
  
  “But still, fighting is scary……”
  “Haha, I’m sorry. It’s like, I’m making you do unreasonable things.”
  
  Especially the assault on the fortress and Phoenix was close to suicidal.
  They wouldn’t be here now if they hadn’t done it, but it must have been stressful for those caught up in it.
  
  “But I’ve also managed to survive this far. It’s scary, but I’ve gotten used to it. At least, if I’m by your side, the fear…… fades.”
  “I’m happy to hear you say that.”
  
  That aside, being called “your excellency” was a little embarrassing.
  He was initially happy about the passionate gaze, but when it was directed at him so often, he became restless.
  Because neither Shougo nor Jowain had ever been in a relationship. They had no experience.
  
  ‘……Isn’t the distance, a bit close!?’
  
  He hadn’t noticed because he was absorbed in the conversation, but Yuri had casually sat down next to Shougo.
  
  ‘Th-this is bad. I have no idea how to handle an assertive woman. Jowain, Jowain’s knowledge, isn’t there anything? A high-ranking military officer must have gone to those kinds of establishments, isn’t there anything!?’
  
  There was nothing.
  
  ‘This guy is useless too! Both of us have zero experience! This isn’t a matter of brainstorming!’
  “What’s wrong?”
  
  Being asked that with an upward glance made his heart skip a beat.
  Shougo didn’t know how to proceed from here. As if making an excuse, he recalled a cynical story in his mind about how men and women who get close in emergencies don’t last long, but he also realized that it wasn’t an answer at all.
  What he was looking for now was the correct way to react to this situation, not the outcome that would follow.
  Should he take her hand, put his arm around her, or what?
  The idea of using work as an excuse, a common tactic for adults, had already vanished from his mind at this point.
  
  ‘Of course I’m happy. She’s beautiful. And she has big b*easts. No, I’m an idiot. That’s not it, is it?’
  
  He naturally had the desires of a vulgar man.
  But he also had the reason to control them. That’s why he was troubled. If he were a seasoned playboy, he would have handled it smoothly, but unfortunately, he wasn’t.
  He couldn’t decide whether it was right or wrong to do it.
  So, he thought about unnecessary things, going back and forth without reaching a conclusion.
  He hadn’t yet realized that this was the most embarrassing thing he could do to her.
  It wasn’t the right time yet. It wasn’t the right moment. He just had to say that firmly. Yuri, as a woman, had the intelligence to understand that.
  But this man didn’t have that kind of composure right now.
  
  “Am I bothering you after all?”
  “N-no, it’s not that. It’s just……”
  
  Even if he looked around restlessly, there was no one here to help him.
  And Shougo gave up. He decided that he had no choice but to be honest.
  
  “Well, it’s embarrassing to say, but I’ve never been in a relationship in my life. So, I don’t know.”
  
  He was quick to decide to fight, but it was pathetic that it took him so much agonizing to finally decide on this.
  On the other hand, Yuri was stunned by his sudden confession, and then she burst out laughing. However, her cheeks were red, and her expression was quite complex. It wasn’t sadness or anything like that, but rather a mixture of embarrassment and amusement, making her unsure what kind of face to make.
  
  “You’re honest. Me too. I’ve been doing this kind of work all along.”
  “You’re joking. You must have had a lot of offers, right?”
  “I wonder. I think I did have some invitations. But, look, as you can see, I’ve lived my life for my work. Maybe I unconsciously refused them, or maybe I was making excuses to myself somewhere. But when I thought I might d*e back then, I thought, ah, I should have prioritized my own happiness a little more.”
  “And that led to me? Then it’s just a temporary thing caused by an outburst of emotion. I’m, well, just like this.”
  
  Actually, their ages shouldn’t be that different, but unfortunately, he was currently in the body of Jowain, a middle-aged man.
  In other words, there was an age gap. It would have been better if he were in his original body.
  And to be honest, he had a plain face. He had stopped the hairstyle that didn’t suit him and was now mostly letting it flow naturally, but the unrefined look remained.
  That’s why he unconsciously made such excuses.
  
  “I intend to look at a person’s character. You have a childish side, and you’re also restless. To be honest, it seems like you’re forcing yourself to cope with the current situation.”
  ‘How should I put it, she’s a maid after all. Should I say she’s sharp, or that she’s observant?’
  
  Was this due to her profession?
  Perhaps she had seen through his confusion earlier.
  
  “But still, you stood up and acted for everyone’s sake. That’s wonderful. Whether it’s the result of chance or coincidence, it’s because you stood up that I’m here now. I won’t deny that.”
  “You’re stubborn.”
  
  Those words might have been salvation for Shougo.
  He felt somewhat cheerful.
  Shougo stood up. Yuri, who had been snuggling up to him, looked a little reluctant to part, but she didn’t say anything.
  
  “……It’s work. I appreciate your feelings. But there’s still work to be done. But when that’s over, we can talk again.”
  “Yes.”
  “I’m a boring man. The fact that I’m here like this is just a miracle born from chance and recklessness. But I’m glad I met you because of it. I’ve also experienced being liked by a woman. So, let’s wait until things have calmed down.”
  “Won’t you kiss me?”
  “Like I said, I’ve never been in a relationship with a woman. In other words, I’ve never had a proper romance. So, enjoying that is also part of the thrill, right? I’m in love, so I kiss. Somehow, I think it’s still too early for that in my mind. Am I being cowardly?”
  “Very much so.”
  “We’re space pirates, after all.”
  
  He thought he had said something clever. But when he said it, he didn’t understand what it meant and burst out laughing. Yuri did the same. They both blushed and laughed together. It continued for a while.
  And then, there was a knock.
  It seemed that it was really time for work.
  
  “I’ll be right there. See you later.”
  “Have a good day.”
  
  Being seen off by a woman like that, he never thought the day would come.
  Shougo thought that maybe he should have kissed her after all, but since he had acted cool, he couldn’t do it.
  Well, it was time for work.
  Shougo opened the door and moved forward. Because the next battle was about to begin.