Chapter 34: Awakening

Mikasa's affirmative answer made Qin Ge overjoyed at this moment; he finally, without realizing it, found a thread of connection between the shipgirls of this world and the battleships of another world here with Mikasa.

"What is awakening? I noticed the materials never mentioned it," Qin Ge asked, somewhat doubtful.

"Awakening is a very mysterious thing," Mikasa explained seriously. "On the whole Blue Star, there are not many shipgirls who have reached level 100 proficiency and full breakthrough, but truly awakened shipgirls are very few. Having level 100 proficiency and full breakthrough is merely a prerequisite; afterward, various opportunities are needed before one can awaken the memories of their former battleship selves."

Such memories are completely different from those imparted by the Wisdom Cube earlier; they are the most real and direct memories, as if we do not belong to this world, as if our mission in this world is being manipulated by others.

"I have only just touched the edge of awakening; relying on the memories that flash in my mind, I have carved out that battleship model, and I believe that is the true original form of us shipgirls."

"I see," Qin Ge nodded. He had thought Mikasa had already awakened, but he didn't expect she had only stepped onto the threshold of awakening. "Then which shipgirls in this world have awakened?"

"Not sure," Mikasa said. "The Sakura Empire's Chang Men shows signs of awakening, the White Eagle's Enterprise also shows signs, including the Iron Blood's Bismarck, the Royal's War-aversion, the Iris's Lisailiu, the Vichy Tribunal's Rang Ba'er, the Northern Union's Soviet Alliance, the Sardinian Empire's Weineituo Witolio, and Donghuang's Yixian." Mikasa continued, "Of course, not this Yixian from our academy, but the Yixian who is the commander of the shipgirl department at the Donghuang Naval Headquarters."

"So, most of the shipgirls suspected of having awakened are leaders of the major factions?" Qin Ge asked.

"That's right. Perhaps because the leader's position requires bearing more responsibility, awakening happens faster for them. And people like me, who have only just begun to awaken after reaching full proficiency, are also quite a few in the key units of the major factions or in the Commander Academy." Mikasa smiled as she explained.

Qin Ge nodded. It seems that to understand awakening, he must wait until his own shipgirl reaches level 100 proficiency and full breakthrough. Otherwise, rashly revealing his identity to Mikasa—though she wouldn't treat him badly—could lead to the information leaking outside, in which case this person from another world might be captured and used as a specimen or experimental subject.

By then, not only would he be unable to return home, but he might even lose his life. Qin Ge involuntarily shook his head slightly, then calmed his excited heart, and never brought up the matter of awakening again.

Seeing Qin Ge no longer ask about awakening, Mikasa placed the model he had given her on the central white low table, then acted as a guide for the three of them. She led Qin Ge, Banrenma, and Nengdai to observe some of this world's unique warship models in her collection room, explaining the characteristics of each warship.

Qin Ge, Banrenma, and Nengdai listened very attentively. Although these were not real battleships, as Mikasa, a senior battleship, she often used shipgirl examples when explaining, allowing Qin Ge and his shipgirls to intuitively grasp the points, so after this tour they gained considerable insight and knowledge.

This also gave Qin Ge a more complete understanding of this world's battleship shipgirls. Previously, influenced by modern naval strategy, he had always thought the era of big guns and big ships was over, and that the current era belonged to aircraft carriers.

But Mikasa's words told him that battleships were not obsolete; in terms of pinpoint firepower strikes and fire support, battleships still far surpassed other warships.

Just as submarine shipgirls of this era remain a regular troop type, in Qin Ge's era submarines had become the ultimate trump card in the hands of major powers!

Perhaps he should set aside the pride of that era, then calm down and study this era properly to see what sparks might exist between shipgirls and naval warfare. Thinking this, Qin Ge listened to Mikasa's explanation even more attentively.

Time flew by as they studied and listened attentively; when they realized, it was already almost lunchtime.

Mikasa hurriedly apologized to Qin Ge and the others, saying, "Sorry, I didn't realize that as soon as I mention models or warships I get into the zone; I've been talking this long, making you stand here with me for so long, and we still haven't cooked. I'm really sorry—why don't you sit at the outside table and have some tea for a while while I go prepare our meal."

"Senior Mikasa, you're really putting us to trouble; listening to your explanations has given us great gains, deepening our understanding of warships and shipgirls. Actually, whether we cook or not doesn't matter; this time happens to be when the cafeteria serves meals, so why don't we all go eat at Senior Yixian's place?"

Qin Ge immediately smiled and said to Mikasa, "As our relationship grows closer, you also told me not to call you Instructor, as that sounds distant; just call you senior like Nengdai and the others do." He naturally agreed to the suggestion, so now he also calls Mikasa senior alongside Nengdai and the others.

"You mustn't do that," Mikasa said. "I already told you I would make you the special naval curry from the port where I once stayed, and I've prepared the ingredients. Besides, you've come as guests to my home, bringing gifts that I've all accepted; if I, as the host, didn't entertain you, that would indeed be rude. If that happened, I wouldn't dare invite you to my home again."

Hearing Mikasa's words, Qin Ge could not keep refusing; he nodded and agreed to her request. He, Banrenma, and Nengdai sat together at the living room table drinking tea and chatting, while Mikasa went to the kitchen to prepare naval curry for them.

Time passed second by second; just as Qin Ge was discussing with his two shipgirls the formulation of future training and tactics, a knocking sound came from the door.

Since Mikasa was in the kitchen preparing naval curry for them at that moment, Banrenma stood up, ran to the door to open it, and Nengdai and Qin Ge turned their heads toward that direction.

When Banrenma opened the door, a woman dressed in a white dress, with her white hair braided, appeared at the doorway……

When the Banrenma opened the House Door, a woman wearing a white dress and with white braids appeared at the doorway……