Chapter 881: Chapter 875 The Wish of the Constitution
The Constitution is an old ship. It was a wooden frigate built during the early years of the United States to protect Arican rchants at sea and fight against pirates, under orders from the then U.S. Governnt. Its na was personally given by the first U.S. President, George Washington, to commorate the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1789.
In 1797, the Constitution was completed in Boston. Its construction required timber from 1,500 trees, stretching from Maine to Georgia, and its cannons were cast in Rhode Island.
Because the materials for its construction ca from various parts of the United States at the ti, and its purpose was to safeguard Arica’s mariti interests, the Constitution ca to be seen as a symbol of the nation’s resilience, courage, and freedom.
Since its commissioning in 1797, the Constitution has served for two centuries. To this day, it remains an active-duty ship of the United States Navy, though its role has long since stopped being military and now focuses on educating the public about naval history.
During the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom, the Constitution participated in over 40 battles, repeatedly triumphing in one-on-one engagents. It beca a symbol of naval perseverance and victory, affectionately earning the nickna “Old Ironsides.”
After being decommissioned in 1828, the U.S. Governnt initially planned to dismantle the ship. However, the poem “Old Ironsides” by Oliver Wendell Hols saved it from destruction, ensuring its preservation to this day.
As an old ship, globally, only the British HMS Victory can claim to have a longer service history than her.
Initially, Old Ironsides remained docked in Boston as a kind of museum, serving as an exhibition to represent the spirit of the United States Navy. However, during a recovery mission by Enterprise and Lexington to retrieve their companions in Arica, they brought Old Ironsides back with them.
A soldier who has served for two centuries and defied death—a symbol of the U.S. Navy’s spirit—naturally beca a Ship-girl upon being summoned by Chen Yu. In fact, her power surpasses even Missouri and Warspite.
But in the end, the Constitution is rely an old wooden sailing warship with 44 muzzle-loading cannons. Despite being called Old Ironsides, her hull is actually made from oak, not iron.
So, when she overheard Arizona ntioning discussions about modernization, the Constitution showed little interest. She understood that even if all Ship-girls could undergo modernization, such a thing had no relevance to her.
Because no matter how advanced modern technology becos, there’s no feasible way to transform a 200-year-old wooden sailing warship into a modern naval vessel.
This wasn’t just a matter of rebuilding from scratch—it was a fundantal technological gap. Modern science hasn’t yet developed the ans to turn wooden warships into modern steel giants. After all, the sheer vibrations from a steam turbine alone would be enough to shatter a wooden ship like this.
And that’s why, after being summoned by Chen Yu, the Constitution spent most of her ti imrsed in the Mage Tower’s library rather than interacting with the other Ship-girls.
For the Constitution, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to get along with these younger Ship-girls. But whenever she was around them, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of envy and inferiority, sensing she didn’t quite belong.
Still, when it ca to modernization, the Constitution secretly longed for it. She was simply too aware that it was impossible, and thus feigned indifference.
Quietly sipping her coffee and listening to the younger Ship-girls chat about their pasts, the Constitution couldn’t help but envy them.
She envied the fact that they had wielded all their strength in those grand, epic battles. She envied that they, as warships, could et a soldier’s destiny and fall on the battlefield—unlike her, who was relegated to a life of being a museum piece anchored in a port.
Perhaps it would’ve been better if I had been dismantled back then, the Constitution mused montarily. She finished her coffee, set her cup down, and, after thanking Arizona behind the bar, planned to head back to the Mage Tower’s library. Only there, imrsed in the sea of books, could the Constitution find a modicum of peace.
An old relic should content itself with being an old relic. War… it’s long behind now.
The Constitution shook her head wistfully. Though her expression revealed little, Missouri, who had been quietly observing her as she left the small bar, sensed the burden carried by the old Ship-girl.
Watching the Constitution walk away, Missouri finally said to Enterprise, who was beside her, “It seems our senior has truly lost her spirit.”
Though Enterprise was only a demigod and often claid to be nothing more than the lingering will of the real Enterprise, Missouri always felt there was more to her than she let on. Her strength, for one, was unusual. While the other Ship-girls might not have picked up on the Constitution’s mood, Missouri was certain Enterprise had noticed.
Yet, in response to Missouri’s comnt, Enterprise simply glanced at her, downed her drink in one gulp, and stood to leave.
As she passed Missouri, she left behind only a single sentence: “Old doesn’t an useless.”
With that, Enterprise walked out of the bar.
Instead of returning to her room, Enterprise strolled out of the dormitory and made her way to the dock at the Minato Ward.
The waters before the dock were calm, with only soft waves lapping against the shore. The breeze lifted a strand of Enterprise’s hair, gradually soothing her inner thoughts.
Enterprise liked the sea. She missed the days of freedom she once enjoyed, sailing the vast ocean. Whenever she gazed at the sea, her heart found a rare calm; her worries and thoughts seed to ebb away with the tides.
So it wasn’t uncommon for Enterprise to visit the dock to watch the waves. Though this spot only encompassed a small sea bounded by three small islands, it was enough for her.
Usually, Enterprise found herself alone when she ca to the port to watch the sea, but today, she saw the Constitution there.
“Constitution, senior,” Enterprise called out, seemingly influenced by the habit of the Japanese Ship-girls as she addressed her as “senior.”
“Oh, it’s Enterprise. Are you here to watch the sea too?” The Constitution turned briefly to look at Enterprise with a small smile before directing her gaze back to the waters. “The ocean is truly beautiful! As ships, how could we not love the sea? If only it were possible, I would so dearly love to sail its waves once more!”
Enterprise understood the aning behind Constitution’s words. Though the U.S. Navy had worked tirelessly to preserve the ship’s original appearance back when she was still a vessel, the reality was that she was already over two centuries old. Even after multiple restorations, the ship had grown so decrepit that braving the ocean’s winds and waves had beco a near impossibility.
By the ti Chen Yu had summoned her, the Constitution had already spent a century idling within port.
“Why not go speak to the commander? The one who created us surely has a way to help you sail the seas once more,” Enterprise asked, confusion evident in her voice as she looked at the Constitution.
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