Blair Naval Academy

Time passed quickly. Before he knew it, the final days of December had arrived. Months had flown by, and the peaceful daily life that followed gave Ian the chance to regain his composure.

‘If I want to become an admiral, I need to study naval warfare more deeply.’

He knew it wasn’t something he could achieve just by wanting it. Aware of his limited knowledge, Ian keenly felt the need to learn. So he considered his next path after graduation: enrolling in the Naval Academy.

‘Let’s study. The battleship isn’t fully repaired yet anyway.’

Four months had already passed, and the battleship still wasn’t ready. More precisely, the technical mastery hadn’t been fully achieved. He had heard it would take at least another year. That meant Ian had about a year to spare.

‘Fortunately, they said I could take a special short-term course.’

There was a special short-term program allowed under exceptional circumstances, and it was a one-year course. Of course, a lot of documentation was required. He had submitted Admiral Nudelria’s letter of recommendation and also had to prove his current rank as Mustaq. Additionally, all the achievements he had made during the war had to be submitted.

With that, Ian was granted admission to the Naval Academy.

‘Blair Naval Academy. Count Nudelria also graduated from there decades ago.’

With a long history, it was a traditional naval academy and a major source of naval officers. Ian would undergo a one-year intensive program there. While his post-graduation path was now set, Armin had chosen a different road.

‘A ship designer, huh. I knew he liked warships, but I never imagined he had that dream.’

He remembered giving Armin a tour of the Mythos battleship before it went into repairs. Armin had wandered around in a frenzy, touching and examining everything. Ian realized then how much Armin truly loved ships.

Still, it felt a bit lonely now, having to attend classes alone without Armin.

‘He asked me to one day captain a ship he designed, didn’t he?’

Ian had said he would, but who knew what he’d be doing by then? He also recalled briefly telling Armin about the concept of aircraft carriers.

Armin had looked confused, as it wasn’t what he was expecting. But he eventually agreed and said he would study it since the idea was intriguing.

‘Warships are important, but preparing for the age of the skies—aircraft carriers and planes—will be crucial too.’

Come to think of it, maybe now was the time to start pushing for aircraft development. Considering the future capabilities of fighter planes, it was absolutely necessary. For that, a proper aircraft manufacturing company would be essential.

Naturally, given the fighter planes used in the last war, there had to be some aircraft manufacturers.

‘I’ve got some spare money. Maybe I should visit one and invest?’

Though not a fortune, Ian did have a decent amount saved up. Some of it had been saved from earlier, and he had received a special bonus of 500,000 grang after the war ended. In the past, it might have been taken away, but his fame had grown so much that he received it in full.

‘It’s not a lot, but it should be enough to make a worthwhile investment.’

Besides, with the pension-like income from his medals, he was ready to invest all his savings. So, with various plans in mind, the year came to an end. As World Era 1908 began, Ian was once again summoned to a New Year’s party before attending his graduation ceremony.

After various events, March arrived, and Ian officially entered Blair Naval Academy. He found himself thinking how unpredictable the future could be. Once, he had considered leaving the country with his family—but now, he was attending a military university.

As expected, his enrollment drew much attention. Moreover, he was treated with special respect—not as a prince, but as a war hero.

And since his rank lay between Colonel and Brigadier General, unless someone was the academy president, he outranked even the professors. No one dared speak or act rudely toward him. His fame alone ensured that.

It made Ian realize just how quickly his status had changed.

One day in May.

“In the last war against the Doicheun Empire, what our Polia Kingdom navy realized was that without overwhelming battleships, a fleet is powerless.”

Ian was now attending a class with dozens of others. The topic being discussed was a strong endorsement of battleship supremacy, drawn from the lessons of the war against the Doicheun Empire.

They believed that the biggest reason for losing the naval battle near the homeland wasn’t just the Empire’s scale but the defeat in battleship-vs-battleship combat. The prevailing opinion was that if the battleships held their ground, even overwhelming numbers could be withstood.

“What we must understand is that battleships will only grow larger in tonnage over time. Their main guns will also increase in size and number.”

The professor’s eyes were full of conviction. And he wasn’t wrong. Even the Polia Kingdom was now drafting plans for new, larger battleships. Ian had heard they were developing a class with even greater displacement.

Naturally, the Doicheun Empire was also rumored to be developing a new type of battleship to recover their lost naval strength. How did they know this? Because this was the Naval Academy—occasional foreign intelligence was shared.

Of course, only general information was revealed—never classified details. The purpose was simply awareness and education. During one such class, the professor turned his gaze toward Ian.

“Prince Ian, what are your thoughts on my statement?”

As the professor addressed him, Ian thought, Here we go again. Occasionally, questions like this were directed at him. Because of his wartime experience, professors often wanted him to share insights with the young cadets.

‘The problem is… I don’t believe in battleship supremacy.’

It might sound strange, especially since he owned a battleship. But Ian, envisioning the future, believed it was time to steer the navy’s leadership away from outdated thinking. He stood and spoke.

“I understand the importance of battleships. In a way, they are the strategic weapons of each nation. Indeed, naval dominance will shift depending on how many battleships each country possesses.”

The professor looked pleased by Ian’s answer. But then Ian continued—and the professor’s expression froze.

“But, there’s the trap that we don’t know how long the age of battleships will last.”

“What do you mean? You don’t know how long the age of battleships will last?”

Battleships had been the centerpiece of naval warfare for the past hundred-plus years. While in the past wooden ships were the norm, the concept remained largely the same. A battleship—larger, sturdier, and armed with cannons capable of destroying enemy vessels—was inevitably the core of naval power.

“The world is rapidly advancing and changing. Not only at sea, but also on land and in the skies, waves of new military weapon development are sweeping through. On land, machine guns have been developed and deployed, capable of killing large numbers of troops. In the skies, fighter planes have been created, introducing a new kind of battlefield. I believe they’ll become a major force in the future.”

“Ahem, we’re well aware of how effectively machine guns were used in the last war. But to say fighter planes will become powerful weapons? Isn’t that a bit too optimistic? What can they do besides reconnaissance?”

The professor rebutted sharply, clearly offended. But Ian thought such thinking needed to change. He didn’t even understand why he was trying so hard to explain all this. He could’ve just listened to the lecture quietly, but here he was, talking about the direction of future battlefields.

‘Is this because I invested all my money into an aircraft company?’

“The development of fighter planes is moving very quickly. Just a decade ago, who would’ve imagined that people could freely fly through the skies? And yet, here we are. At this rate, battleships may one day have to flee from aircraft.”

“What nonsense! Battleships, run away?!”

The professor raised his voice in disbelief. The cadets, meanwhile, could only watch nervously. Many of them had already accepted battleship supremacy and were inclined to side with the professor.

Ian wondered if persuading someone so reactive was even possible. Still, if there was even a slight chance, he had to try.

“What do you think would happen if bombs were dropped from the sky? And not just as it is now—but by planes flying several times faster, dropping much larger bombs?”

“That’s what anti-aircraft batteries are for. You think they’re just decoration?”

“Of course anti-aircraft guns can shoot down planes. But what if there are dozens, even hundreds of them? More ships would be destroyed than planes would be shot down.”

“Fighter planes can’t go far from land. And could they even carry such heavy bombs?”

Ian shook his head at the professor’s challenging tone and replied.

“There’s no need for them to be based on land. Just bring along a ship with a large enough deck. If planes take off and land there, wouldn’t that solve it? And if they’re getting faster, that means they have stronger engines—so they should be able to carry bigger bombs too, right?”

Hearing this, the professor was momentarily at a loss for words. Even if it was all hypothetical, there was something uncomfortably convincing about the idea. But that feeling quickly faded. He was, after all, a battleship supremacist, and firmly believed battleships were a nation’s key military strength.

“Ha ha ha! Thank you for your insights, Prince. That kind of scenario is certainly possible. But there’s a flaw in your argument.”

“A flaw? What would that be?”

“Everything you said is correct. The world is changing, and rapidly at that. Many new weapons will be developed, and war itself may change drastically. But even then, battleships will remain vital weapons. As you said, other technologies may advance, but battleships will evolve just as much in response.”

The professor looked quite satisfied as he delivered that conclusion. Ian, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. Sure, battleships would evolve to be bigger and stronger—but even that had limits. Still, he chose not to argue further. It was clear from the professor’s demeanor that he wasn’t open to persuasion.

‘This must be the mindset of those shaping the world as it is now.’

In time, things would change. Those who stubbornly clung to the past would eventually be silenced by the results. Ian couldn’t help but wonder how many cadets who’d just heard this exchange would actually agree with him.

“You might be right.”

When Ian responded with those words, the professor finally relaxed. His expression showed the pride he took in his beliefs. At least, for a brief moment, a real debate had taken place—something that didn’t happen often.

‘I lost my temper more than usual today.’

He’d stepped up because he couldn’t stand seeing a flawed future being taught to cadets. One way or another, he figured he’d drawn some unwanted attention today. Still, there wouldn’t be any real consequences.

Ding-ding-ding—

Just then, the bell rang to signal the end of class. The professor glanced at the clock, nodded, and said:

“Well then, I’ll see you next time.”

As he left the room, the classroom soon filled with murmuring. Everyone was discussing the debate. Most wore doubtful expressions about Ian’s argument against battleship supremacy. Amidst the chatter, someone quietly approached Ian.

“Excuse me, Prince Ian.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I just wanted to say—I completely agree with what you said earlier.”

“Is that so? Thanks for saying so.”

Ian turned to look at the cadet with some surprise. He had a sharp jawline and orange-tinged hair. For someone to agree with him—it meant he was someone who thought differently.

“Like you said, Prince Ian, I believe that whoever dominates the skies will dominate the world.”

“Really? So you’re interested in aircraft?”

“Yes. Once this year’s course ends, I’m planning to transfer to the newly established Air Force Academy.”

“That’s a good idea. The air force has a promising future. Work hard when you get there.”

“Thank you! I’ll do my best!”

Watching the cadet’s bright expression, Ian had a hunch—this one might become a top pilot someday. Of course, he hadn’t seen the cadet’s skills yet, but anyone with such conviction was bound to go far.

‘Switching from naval studies to the air force—how unique.’

It probably had something to do with the Air Force Academy being newly established that year. Still, Ian was relieved—at least one person agreed with him.