Chapter 14: Academic Overachiever Z23

"Hmm…"

Lin Lan slowly opened his eyes to see a high brown ceiling and a golden Iron Blood-style chandelier.

He vaguely remembered the previous night's banquet, where he talked a lot with his ship girls and was forced to drink quite a bit of Iron Blood black beer.

Of course, the destroyer and submarine chibis had bubbly orange juice.

The Iron Blood sausages and pork knuckle dishes were just as famous, and Lin Lan ate until he was almost bursting.

The bed he was lying on was the largest piece of furniture in his spacious room.

Apart from the large bed, the room was furnished with exquisite furniture and everyday items, indicating the thoughtful arrangement by whoever set up the room.

A mild headache and dryness reminded Lin Lan that he might have drunk a bit too much the night before.

Rubbing his eyes and sitting up, he noticed his clothes had been changed to a clean white tank top and pajamas.

Just as he was about to get out of bed, he saw a little girl sleeping at the edge of his bed.

With short brown hair and an Iron Cross hairpin, and a deep blue beret tied with a bow, she wore the signature off-shoulder Iron Blood uniform.

Lin Lan's gaze softened. This little girl held a special place in his heart.

After a moment's thought, he mischievously got out of bed, threw on his commander's jacket from the bedside cabinet, and slowly approached the sleeping loli.

Like the Big Bad Wolf sneaking up on Little Red Riding Hood.

Just as the Big Bad Wolf was about to make its move, Little Red… no, Little Blue Hat seemed to sense something and sleepily lifted her head.

"Good morning, my Nimitz teacher!"

"Eek?!"

Lin Lan reached out and lifted the slender girl from behind, pulling her into his arms.

Yes, she was one of the initial ships players start with, known alongside Javelin, Laffey, and Ayanami as part of the "Four Goddesses"—Z23, the little teacher.

(Z23)

Z23, making cute noises, seemed dazed and did not immediately realize she was being carried.

When she finally understood Lin Lan's surprise attack, she quickly became both embarrassed and angry, shouting:

"Commander! You're being too much—quick, let me down!"

Laughing, Lin Lan released his grip, and the little girl fell onto the soft bed.

She quickly adjusted her blue beret before sitting on the bed, pouting and looking at Lin Lan with her blue-purple eyes still glistening with tears.

"Commander, how come after all these years, you're still so irresponsible?"

Seeing the cute little girl in front of him, Lin Lan stifled a laugh, crouched down to her level, and gently smoothed out Z23's slightly messy brown hair.

"If I were too serious, I wouldn't be your commander."

Z23 didn't refuse Lin Lan's help with her hair; she just pouted and glared at him.

"Alright, alright, Nimi, don't be mad. I'm sorry, okay?"

Lin Lan gently patted the little girl's hat and leaned in to give her a kiss on the forehead.

Z23's eyes widened in surprise, and she stared blankly at her forehead, as if short-circuited.

After a few seconds, the grumpy little teacher finally sighed in resignation and accepted the reality.

"Ugh, Commander, you really don't show any remorse…"

Z23 was serious and diligent, the most hardworking and earnest of the Iron Blood destroyers, and even capable of teaching other destroyers with ease.

She was also the ship girl who had spent the most time with Lin Lan in the entire port area.

Not just the Iron Blood ship girls, but among all factions, she was the one who had been with Lin Lan the longest.

When Lin Lan first started playing, Z23 was his very first ship, truly a pioneer in the port.

Even though other members of the Four Royal Families joined the port early on, Z23 was undoubtedly the most helpful shipgirl to Lin Lan—his first secretary ship.

Z23 was nicknamed "Nimi-sensei" by players because her Japanese pronunciation of "2" and "3" together sounds like "Nimi." 

The official manga translation team used this name, so players got used to it.

While Lin Lan was washing up, he saw Z23 making Iron Blood mint tea for him and asked:

"Nimi, when did you arrive? You didn't spend the whole night here, did you?"

Placing the teapot on the table and watching the mint leaves float in the cup, Z23 answered while blowing on the hot tea:

"Isn't it my duty to take care of the Commander? As today's secretary, I also need to prevent anyone from taking advantage of you while you're drunk."

Hearing this, Lin Lan, who was rinsing his mouth after brushing his teeth, nearly choked.

Thinking it over, it was indeed possible!

Not to mention Roon, who is a black-hearted yandere, other Iron Blood ship girls aren't exactly harmless either, each having their own quirks.

He remembered that many ship girls had looked at him with extreme longing when he was being toasted last night.

Without Nimi, his first secretary ship, guarding him, he might have been thoroughly taken advantage of last night.

After finishing his wash, Lin Lan enjoyed the mint tea that Z23 had brewed herself.

The warm, light yellow tea immediately filled his mouth with a refreshing minty flavor, clearing away the aftereffects of his hangover.

After finishing the tea, Lin Lan set the cup down and stopped Z23 from refilling it.

Nimi had stayed up all night, so making tea for him would be too much.

Pulling back the curtains, Lin Lan saw that the sky outside was already dimly lit, indicating it was around seven in the morning.

"By the way, didn't Bismarck mention yesterday that I have a lot of work to do?"

Lin Lan looked at the numerous production-type transport ships docked in the port and asked.

"Commander, although your feigned diligence is reassuring, you should rest for now. Lady Bismarck has instructed us that you don't need to do any work at the moment."

Z23 said, taking out a copper pocket watch from her pocket, checking the time, and then said to Lin Lan, "Commander, let's go have breakfast."

It was best to listen to the considerate top student. Although Lin Lan had just woken up and didn't feel very hungry, he remembered that Iron Blood breakfasts were famously hearty and decided to try it.

The two pushed open the door and left the room, only to find that the dormitory corridor was completely empty.

Seeing Lin Lan's surprised expression, Z23 explained:

"At this time, the other companions have probably already started their training and studies."

Lin Lan understood; Iron Blood ship girls were known for their rigor and discipline.

Even the playful Iron Blood destroyers and submarine cuties followed a regular routine.

Some Iron Blood ship girls were time management masters, using every minute efficiently.

As for lazy Iron Blood ship girls, Lin Lan thought for a while and remembered there was indeed one.

The battlecruiser Lützow of the Iron Blood High Seas Fleet was quite lazy in his impression.

Thinking of this, Lin Lan sighed. It seemed he didn't have to worry about becoming lazy here in Iron Blood.

If he were in the Royal Navy, he might have become lazy under the perfect Royal maid squad's care.

The two arrived at the dormitory elevator and went up to the second floor of the fortress.

As soon as they exited the elevator, Lin Lan saw many girls on this floor. Several destroyer chibis were chatting away and didn't notice him and Z23's arrival.

The first person to spot them and come to greet them was the last person Lin Lan expected.

With light pink short hair and two red streaks, she had a perfect, full figure and a very cute doll-like face.

The moment Lin Lan saw her, he took a step back, not for any other reason but because she was the ship girl who gave him the most psychological trauma in Iron Blood.

The yandere heavy cruiser, Roon.