In Another World As A Battleship

Chapter 13

Warmth.

That's the first thing I notice.

Not the cold bite of the ocean, nor the metallic chill of steel plating.

It's warmth. And it's pressing against my back, wrapping me like a cocoon.

My eyes flutter open slowly, squinting against the bright sunlight that streams through a window.

Window?

I blink, disoriented, trying to remember where I am.

Wooden ceiling. Plastered walls. A small room with two beds and—

The inn.

Right.

Balsealis. The town.

I fell asleep.

Which is... surprising? I guess. For me.

The realization hits me like a physical blow, and I sit up abruptly. The blanket falls away.

I slept? This body... this thing I call the Mental Model needs sleep?

I press a hand to my chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath.

"It's... beating?"

All the biological processes I'd assumed were just cosmetic are actually functioning. Unbelievable.

"You're awake."

I jump slightly, turning toward the other bed.

Ellania is sitting by the window, already dressed. Her silver hair catches the morning light. She looks like she's been awake for a while, judging by the way she's positioned—relaxed but alert.

"How long was I...?"

"About eight hours," she says, turning to face me. "You fell asleep almost immediately last night."

Eight hours.

I've been conscious continuously for nearly a year, and suddenly my body just... shut down for eight hours.

"Did you sleep?" I ask.

"Some." Her expression softens slightly. "You talk in your sleep."

My face heats.

"I do?"

"Nothing coherent. Just... murmurs. You seemed peaceful, though."

I look down at my hands, flexing my fingers. The uniform is still slightly damp from yesterday, clinging uncomfortably. My hair is a mess—one of the ribbons came loose during the night.

But I feel... rested.

Whatever this body is, it's not just a shell. It's fully functional. Complete and impossibly human.

The thought is both comforting and terrifying.

"We should get breakfast," Ellania says, standing. "The innkeeper mentioned the morning meal is included."

Breakfast.

Food.

Right.

Another thing I haven't tested since... ever.

***

Morning sunlight pours through the windows, illuminating tables full of people eating, talking, laughing.

The smell hits me immediately—fresh bread, eggs, something savory and rich that makes my stomach do something strange.

Is that hunger?