Chapter 114 – Luxury Liner (1)

“This! I’ve always wanted to try this at least once!”

“It is dangerous, milady!”

“Eh—, it feels really good though!”

“The princess is so innocent.”

“No, seriously, that’s just stupid, right?”

“…Totally, but isn’t it fine?”

Right now, I’m aboard the luxury liner Olympic. This ship is the sister ship of the Titanic.
In that case, there’s only one thing to do.

So, after waiting until we reached the open sea and the ship picked up speed, I spread both arms wide at the very front of the ship, doing that pose.

My partner should have been Kouryuu-sensei, who is calling me stupid, but he refused, so instead it’s the giant Wan-san. The difference in our builds is so huge that I look like an accessory next to him, which is a little disappointing.

Even though I’m narrating all this in my head, I have to do at least this much or I won’t feel any better. And what I realized by standing here is that it’s more purely scary than refreshing.
On such a narrow bow, if a strong crosswind comes, I’ll be swept away in an instant.

What’s more, since the ship itself is cutting through the sea at high speed, I actually feel like I’ll be pushed backward instead. Even just making it to the bow was a real struggle with this child-sized body.

Later I heard that the speed was 21 knots, about 40 kilometers per hour. Keeping up that same speed the whole way, the ship would reach Southampton, a port in western England, from New York in about six days.

As for the room, acting like a nouveau riche, I booked the most expensive First-Class Deluxe Suite (there are ones with and without baths, so of course I chose one with a bath).
But the fare was even more expensive than an airship. Still, the room itself was practically a royal bedchamber.

That’s only natural, because before the First World War, when the ship first went into service, mere rich people weren’t even allowed to book rooms due to the customs and manners of aristocratic society.

Because of that influence, it wasn’t even considered proper etiquette to have one’s attendants stay in the neighboring room.
And since there are many servants who have no particular duties while on board, aside from rooms for myself and Kouryuu-sensei, only Second-Class cabins were booked for the rest.

Even so, the minimum number of guards and Shizu accompany me except at bedtime. I also arranged with the shipping company and the captain to get special permission for guards to accompany and be stationed nearby.

Most of the servants and guards, however, were put on what was practically a vacation assignment.

By the way, there was one thing that only I felt a little disappointed about: the cabins of the Olympic were different in one respect from those of the Titanic.

It seems the Titanic had two even higher-grade deluxe suites, and apparently, one of those was the room used by the heroine in the most successful film based on the Titanic.

Also, on this ship, the First-Class cabins have the promenade deck on the outside, so unless you go out there, it’s hard to see the sea directly. That’s a bit disappointing.

As for those going to Europe, it’s just me and Kouryuu-sensei, plus Shizu, old man Yagami and Wan-san, then our attendants and guards—that’s all.

Tokita, Sebastian, and the others returned to Japan earlier by the Pacific route. Since they had already boarded the transcontinental railroad before my departure, by now they should be somewhere over the North Pacific.

Our plan is to return slowly to Japan via Europe, under the pretense that Kouryuu-sensei is going to congratulate Dr. Fleming.

Since Kouryuu-sensei missed out on the Nobel Prize, and traveling to Europe wasn’t part of the original plan, it’s set to be a relatively leisurely trip.

If things go well, I might be able to meet Tatsuya-onii-sama, who is studying abroad in Germany, so I also sent him a telegram.

And just as I said “if things go well,” this trip to Europe is being treated as a sudden development. With the stock market crash in America, business has come to a halt, so we’re using the freed-up schedule for sightseeing.

Well, you could also call it a kind of alibi-making.

Even so, boarding this ship was absolutely the right choice.

 

“Ahh, that was satisfying. Thanks, Wan-san.”

 

“Not at all. To think a luxury liner could be enjoyed in such a way—I am, as always, deeply impressed.”

 

“Wan, don’t be impressed. So, Princess, what exactly are you doing on this ship?”

 

Old man Yagami’s gaze is a bit stern, as if to say he still hasn’t heard an answer. Maybe more than as a guard, he simply wants to ask what kind of nonsense I’m up to.

“A ship is just a means of transport. It’s not the Titanic—if something happened, that would be the real problem.”

“Hmm. So there really isn’t anything? No secret meetings with important people, or transporting something in the cargo hold?”

“Ah—right. Since this is such a sudden trip, I never really explained the details, did I?”

At my slightly apologetic voice and expression, old man Yagami shoots me a look that says, “Finally realized that, did you?”

For someone who doesn’t look the part, he sure is way too serious about his work.

“There really isn’t anything. No secrets. Since this was so sudden, there’s no way some fool would have had time to plot against me or cause trouble, right? From what Shizu and the others investigated, there weren’t any suspicious people among the passengers either. That’s why I’ve been saying from the start—you can all take turns and relax if you like.”

At those words, Shizu quietly bows to the two of them.
Since Shizu knows a lot, I had her handle all sorts of arrangements beforehand.

Then, at my words, old man Yagami finally loosened his expression.

“Very well, then I’ll take the chance to stretch my wings for a while. Wan, I’ll leave things to you today.”

“Not just today, I can handle it all the time if needed.”

“No, Wan-san, taking breaks is part of your job too, remember?”

“Your consideration is most appreciated. Then, for today, I shall take charge of guarding you.”

Hearing that, old man Yagami waves his hand lightly and disappears off somewhere.

Since Yagami, the head of the guards, and Wan-san are allowed into the First-Class area, they won’t get bored on this ship.

“Well then, let’s go too. First, let’s fill our stomachs. Let’s all eat together!”

“Yes, milady.”

“I would be honored to join you.”

“Mm, let’s go get food.”

Inside the ship, the two of them are also dressed in a manner befitting nobility, so even if we don’t quite look like parent and child, we probably appear to be a respectable entourage.
Of course, nothing has been overlooked when it comes to Kouryuu-sensei either.

And ever since boarding this ship, I’ve been a little excited myself.
All the more so because my stay in New York had been depressing. When I managed to get a ticket for this ship, I was so happy I practically jumped for joy.

The Olympic is the eldest of the three sisters, and while the second sister, the Titanic, is the more luxurious one, this liner is still more than luxurious enough, and most of the interior is the same as the Titanic’s.

There’s discrimination in that most of the passenger areas and facilities are meant for First-Class, but considering the price, it’s only natural.

And if you think about the era in which it was built, it was ahead of its time in many ways.

At about 270 meters in length, it’s just a little longer than the Yamato, but with a slim width of 28 meters. Inside, it’s like a ten-story moving resort hotel.

To help passengers avoid lack of exercise, it has a tennis room (the old-fashioned indoor sport kind) and a gym, which other luxury liners of the era also had. But in the lower decks, it even has an indoor swimming pool. There’s also another pool outdoors, installed on the deck near the stern.

And next to the indoor pool there’s a Turkish bath, but it’s the kind where hot air is sealed in a closed room for a dry bath—basically a large sauna. It’s absolutely not the shady sort of thing that existed in the postwar Showa era.

For killing time, there’s plenty as well: starting with a vast smoking room for the gentlemen, then a game room with billiard tables and card games, a lounge for chatting, a library, and of course a spacious main lounge.

Naturally, the lounge is large, since it serves as the prime social gathering place for the upper classes.
It’s big enough that one could dance if they wanted, but since it’s laid out with luxurious carpets, it’s simply a place for relaxing in comfort.

From something I recalled in memories of my previous life, I had thought it was a ballroom, and that there were even rentals for dresses and other outfits for people who wanted to dance there—but apparently that wasn’t the case.

Also, even the orchestra that became famous in the Titanic’s legend was only a small ensemble set up in the First-Class dining hall, so a dance party would have been impossible anyway.

As for unusual rooms, there’s a writing room and a barbershop. There are also services to make adjustments to your own clothes.
And of course, there’s an onboard shop. 

In addition, there are facilities for handling mail and luggage—probably because the upper classes always tended to bring so much baggage.

Just going around to those places is enough to make you feel like you’re on a little adventure.

And of course, the greatest enjoyment of any voyage is the food, but First-Class dining isn’t limited to just one restaurant.
Besides the huge main dining hall that spans the full width of the ship, there’s another one located in a spot with a fine view, and even a veranda café facing outside.

The deck space on top is wide and open, so passengers can enjoy sunbathing, which Westerners love so much.

By the way, the First-Class deluxe suite with a bath that we booked is located toward the front of the ship (the upper decks are mostly First-Class areas).
Meanwhile, the main dining hall is around the middle of the ship on the fifth deck from the top, and the other restaurants are further toward the stern. 

The various facilities are scattered throughout the ship like that.

Even so, compared with the Second- and Third-Class cabins down below or at the very front or back of the ship, it’s no problem at all.

That said, there are no elevators, so to head for the central part of the ship, we go down the super-gorgeous grand staircase.

There are actually two such staircases, one toward the front and one toward the back, and both are finished with the kind of splendor you’d expect from a palace. The ceiling has a round dome-shaped skylight made entirely of glass.

Considering the era, it’s fair to call it more luxurious than a high-class hotel.

And the First-Class–only restaurant, the lavish and extravagant “À la Carte,” also lives up fully to expectations.

And the moment we entered, every eye turned toward us.

Just like in America, a flashy furisode draws plenty of attention, even on a kid. It was worth the effort of having Shizu help me change into my “battle outfit” furisode.

And the people with me—Kouryuu-sensei, Shizu, and Wan-san—stand out plenty as well.
The two men are large even from a Westerner’s perspective, and Kouryuu-sensei, with his strong features for a Japanese, looks almost un-Japanese in a tuxedo.

Wan-san, on the other hand, has a distinctly East Asian face, but his sheer size makes him a physical monster.
Even in a suit, the muscles underneath show off their presence in bulk. Dressed like this, he looks almost like a professional athlete.

Shizu isn’t in her usual maid attire, but in a formal dress suited for the occasion, complete with perfect makeup.
She shines enough to turn heads—if anything, since she normally wears little to no makeup, her unexpected beauty startled even me a bit.

And so, the four of us, with the other servants handling all the necessary arrangements and procedures, are smoothly guided by the restaurant boy to a prime table.

Even if we’re people of color from a small Eastern country, as long as we appear as wealthy aristocrats with vast fortunes, no one dares treat us lightly. Besides, the captain and the others had been discreetly tipped from the start.

It’s probably—no, almost certainly—the case that some sort of message has also been passed along from the American upper class.

So without worrying about how others might see us, the four of us dine in elegance.

“Wan-san, you mentioned your clan before, but are you actually the one who leads it?”

It wasn’t just his appearance in a suit—his flawless manners at the table and elsewhere made me ask without thinking.

Wan-san raised one eyebrow and calmly replied,

“I am nothing more than a country bumpkin from the plains.”

“If you were really a bumpkin, I doubt you’d be so well-versed in Western etiquette, though?”

“You’ve got me there. As you suspect, I do come from a fairly prominent family back home. But whenever I step outside my homeland, I feel just how small and insignificant I am. By contrast, Princess, you face anyone with dignity and resolve. That makes me, Wan Paijin, admire you all the more.”

He broke into a broad smile as he said that.
And seeing that smile reminded me—oh right, this man was a game character.

He was one of those people with a “Big Dipper”–style name who appeared in mafia-related storylines on the continent. But the fact that he has nothing to do with the mafia here makes me wonder about a lot of things.

Still, he’s someone I click with somehow, so talking with him is genuinely enjoyable.

“Don’t say that—you must have someone special back home, right? Actually, wait, you’re married, aren’t you?”

“You’ve got me again. In fact, I have a son and daughter, both younger than the Princess. Someday, I hope to present them to you.”

“Eh—really? How old are they? I want to see—no, I mean, I want to meet them!”

“Hey, Reiko, don’t say such selfish things to an employee. It’ll sound like an order.”

“Ah, sorry, Wan-san.”

“Not at all. Just hearing your words will be enough to bring joy to my children.”

And so, our meal continued in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

At the Ootori estate, there usually aren’t many people to talk to over meals, so aside from school lunches, chances like this are rare.
On this trip, I’ve always had someone to talk and laugh with during meals, and I’m glad it’s been with people I’m comfortable with.

We spent dinner pleasantly, but afterward, a little incident occurred in the upper lounge.

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Olympic:
Sister ship of the Titanic. The only one of the three sisters that did not sink.
The eldest of the glamorous trio, built with luxury prioritized over speed.

Said to be more of a forerunner to modern cruise ships than just a passenger liner.
Amazingly, during WWI it even turned the tables on a U-boat.

Entered service: June 14, 1911 – Retired: 1935
Gross tonnage: 45,324 tons
Length: 269.0 m
Beam: 28.2 m
Speed: 21 knots

Since I have a certain attachment to the Titanic, I ended up writing a bit too much.
The Olympic was a lucky ship, but there’s just something about the tragic luxury liner that captivates people.
I couldn’t find any records of the operating schedule, so the dates are made up.