Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 77

The Day of Disaster (7) – The Navy’s Problem

Northbell-sama, the navy’s commander, stormed in. 

Zackhart-sama was rather indifferent to him and said, “I’m busy right now so leave it for later.”

“Busy, you said…Explain!”

“You’re so noisy. Roa, you guys explain. It’s your punishment for putting my daughter in danger. I’m going out with my daughter! I’ll leave it to you!”

After saying that, he quickly left the room with Rufa on his shoulder.

“Daughter? That old man has a daughter that young? And what’s with that disgusting grin? Is he really old man Zackhart?” 

I felt you, Northbell-sama. To be honest I was also a bit suspicious that Zackhart-sama might have been replaced with his evil twin or something like that. 

In any case, with Beylues-san still in the room, we explained everything to Northbell-sama. 

“So, the old man liked that girl named Rufa, who was then kidnapped by some idiot from the underworld, so the old man got angry and is trying to destroy the underworld?” 

“…That’s right. It’s more or less like that.”

After hearing our story, Northbell-sama put his hand on his forehead and sighed.

“That old man must have gone senile! We spent so much time suppressing the underworld, and now he’s forcing his way through!? The hard work we’ve put in all this time will be going down the drain!” 

“Um, what kind of plans did you have for the underworld?” I asked.

“It’s true that there are many thugs in the underworld, but there are also people who have no choice but to turn to the underworld because of their circumstances. We plan to bring those people into the Navy and train them to become our soldiers. Only when only villains are left in the underworld that we will clean them up all at once but damn it! My plan to secure some soldiers was destroyed by that old man!”

“Is our navy really lacking that much personnel?” Wickharlt asked curiously. 

“This is why you knights are…You really don’t know? The navy and all sailors who are working in the sea are all risking their lives while working. We are different from you people who can relax on the land.”

I didn’t think he meant any harm, but the way Nothbell-sama was putting it annoyed the usually calm Wickharlt. Probably also annoyed, Lapilia-sama joined our conversation. 

“Oh my, you must not know that we’re also risking our lives fighting Gorber and the Empire. Well, the great navy whose missions are just escorting merchants or patrolling the sea must not understand our struggle.” 

“You’re the warrior princess of the 10th Division, aren’t you? What you’re dealing with are humans, while we’re facing the heaven. Don’t put us together, idiot.” 

“What did you just say!? ” Lapilia-sama stood up, irritated.

These two were really incompatible. 

“I’ll graciously tell you, stupid warrior princess. Do you know that there is a disease that can kill you just by being on a ship even though the sea is calm?”

“Wha..” Lapilia-sama was about to retort, but Northbell-sama’s expression was so serious that she was at a loss for words.

“Anyone who knows the sea knows about this disease. Being at sea for a long time makes your body go crazy. That’s why people who are familiar with the sea hate it and don’t want to join the Navy. I saw my comrades dying because of that disease every single day. Do the great knights understand how that feels?”

After hearing that, I couldn’t help but blurt out, “You’re talking about scurvy, right? That disease will disappear soon.”

After I said that, Northbell-sama grabbed my collar. 

Wickharlt immediately drew his sword and pointed it at Northbell-sama, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

“Young man, don’t say nonsense,” Northbell-sama said threateningly. 

“If you don’t let him go, I’ll cut you.”

Northbell-sama ignored Wickharlt’s words and kept glaring at me. 

“Wait, wait! I’m not saying nonsense. Haven’t you heard about canned food!?” I hurriedly said.

“Canned food? Oh, that new food preservation method?”

“The canned food will make scurvy disappear!”

After I said that, Northbell-sama tilted his head, released my collar, and sat down in his chair, saying, “Explain.”

“Hey! Apologize to Roa first!” said Lapiria-sama.

Northbell-sama ignored her and while still glaring at me he said, “ I’ll listen to your explanation first.”

I clear my throat and look at Northbell-sama.

“Do you eat vegetables on a long voyage?”

“No. They rot too quickly.”

“Did you also eat food that has already gone bad?”

“An important skill for the navy is to have a strong stomach.”

“As expected. Scurvy is a disease that’s caused by not eating vegetables for a certain period of time. Plus, you even eat rotten food sometimes. Regardless of scurvy, that’s also not good for your body.”

“But there’s no way people died from not eating any vegetables.”

“Let me ask you then, can sailors also get scurvy when they are on the land?”

“..I don’t know but… I’ve never heard of a sailor getting scurvy while on the land.”

“Right? People regularly eat vegetables and fruit while on the land after all.”

“Leaving aside whether vegetables are the cause, what does canned food have to do with that?”

“Haven’t you heard what canned food is?”

“No, well, I’ve never asked. I’ve only heard from the old man that it was a way to preserve food so our country could export it. I’ve also never seen the real thing.”

“Huh? You never saw the real thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Lapilia-sama. Did you bring some canned food?”

“I’ve brought some jam.”

“Can you give it to me?”

“Eh~are you going to feed this guy? Sigh…. Okay. I’ll bring it to you so wait a bit.”

Lapilia-sama soon brought us her jam. She had already opened it. She must have enjoyed it with some tea before.

“So this is canned food? So what’s with this thing?”

“Well, this one has jam in it, but you can also store vegetables. If you keep it sealed, the vegetables should last for more than six months.”

“Six months!? Vegetables won’t rot for six whole months?!”

“That’s right. So, do you understand why I said scurvy will be gone soon? If the sailors brought canned foods with them, they’ll be able to consume vegetables regularly even on a long voyage.”

“But we still didn’t know if scurvy is actually caused by vegetables.”

“Goddess! You’re so annoying. Roa said before that no sailors have ever gotten scurvy on the land, so you can just bring these canned foods on your next voyage for a test! Or what, are you so scared to eat these canned foods just because you’ve never seen them before?” (Lapilia)

“What did you say!?”

Lapilia-sama sure didn’t miss the chance to annoy Northbell-sama. Though I was thankful that she brought the jam here, I was hoping she could be a little quieter.

“Tch, but what the kid says has a point… I’ll try it, and if this thing actually cures scurvy… then I’ll apologize and will even do anything you want!”

“You said it yourself! I’ll definitely remember it!”

“Oi, war princess! I’m talking to him, not you, so why are you the one acting so arrogant!?”

Well, regardless if these two would ever get along or not, if scurvy disappeared, more people might join the Navy.

While watching the exchange between Lapilia-sama and Northbell-sama, I thought about how nice it would be if our country had more navy.