Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The First Dreadnought (2)
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June 1902, Elbing, East Prussia, German Empire (present-day Elbląg, Poland).
"The day we've all been waiting for has finally arrived!"
Wilhelm II waved to the crowds welcoming the imperial family from inside the carriage as he said this.
Today was the launch ceremony for the German Empire's new battleship, which had been shrouded in secrecy.
And it was the day the world's first Dreadnought would be born.
That was why the imperial family and Germany's most prominent figures had all come to Elbing for the event.
Elbing was home to the shipyard of Schichau-Werke, the company tasked with building the Dreadnought.
Thanks to that, every street in Elbing today was packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of the imperial procession.
Watching the scene, I recalled the day I first arrived in Germany.
'That day was packed with crowds like this too.'
Of course, I didn't remember much.
I'd lost consciousness right away after taking a bullet from an assassin, without even a moment to breathe.
"Hans, you've been quiet for a while now. Aren't you excited?"
"Well, I am excited, but my head's getting complicated at the same time."
I answered Prince Joachim, who was sitting next to me.
Maybe it was because the birth of the Dreadnought meant so many changes in the world that I'd have to worry about.
"By the way, Prince Joachim, who's smashing the champagne bottle today?"
"Champagne? Hmm, probably Mother?"
Joachim tilted his head at my question.
For those wondering why I'd suddenly brought up champagne—let this nosy Hans Choi explain: it was one of the venerable Western traditions.
You see it all the time in movies and dramas, right?
The moment when they smash a bottle against the ship's hull at the launch.
Originally, it came from an 18th-century custom where priests offered wine to bless safe voyages at launch ceremonies.
Nowadays, it's evolved into smashing a bottle of wine or champagne against the ship.
Usually, a woman handles the honors, called the ship's sponsor or matron of honor.
Typically, it's the wife or daughter of the highest-ranking person present.
That's why Joachim figured it would be his mother, Empress Augusta, the highest-ranking woman at the ceremony.
"Hmph. I wanted to do it."
"Ha! You, Luise? As if. No way... Ow!"
Princess Viktoria Luise kicked her brother's shin in anger at his mocking words.
It was an everyday sight we saw multiple times a day.
But if siblings didn't bicker and bite at each other, were they even siblings?
That's how brothers and sisters grow up—by squabbling, as if it's instinct encoded in their genes from birth.
The other princes, being older, just saw Luise as a cute little sister.
Only Joachim and I tussled and teased her like that.
"What? I'm nine years old now too, you know?"
Luise huffed, blowing air out of her nose as she glared at her pained brother.
I shook my head and muttered at the sight.
"Princess, nine is still a kid."
Even by Korean standards, that's eleven, fourth grade in elementary school.
Compared to Joachim or me, she was definitely a little one.
"Hans, you're the same age as me!"
"But my birthday's earlier."
Princess Viktoria Luise was born in September 1892, while I was January 1892 (estimated).
So I was a full ten, older than Luise.
Plus, my mental age was way higher.
'Though sometimes, without thinking, my hand reaches for sweets I didn't even like that much.'
Next thing I know, it's already in my mouth and I'm chewing away.
A kid's instincts are scary. Truly.
"Children, get ready to step out of the carriage soon."
As Princess Viktoria Luise puffed her cheeks at my words, Empress Augusta spoke up.
I glanced out the window and saw a massive steel fortress slowly coming into view in the distance.
"Welcome, Your Majesty!"
As soon as we arrived at the launch site, Admiral Tirpitz—whom I hadn't seen since Victoria Dowager Empress's funeral—spread his arms wide in welcome.
His face was blooming with smiles; he clearly loved the new battleship.
"How have you been, Admiral Tirpitz?"
"Ah, Hans! Or should I say Baron now? Anyway, good to see you. Look at that! The future of our German Imperial Navy!"
Admiral Tirpitz pointed dramatically at the enormous gray battleship.
Its majestic, imposing form drew gasps not just from the imperial family, but from me too.
No man hates something big and grand, after all.
'At least all the concepts I suggested made it in.'
Thick armor plating that looked ready for counter-fire defense at a glance.
Four twin 12-inch main turrets.
Even superimposed turrets for efficient placement and reduced displacement.
If I had to describe it, it was like the Nassau-class—the German Empire's original first Dreadnought—but with the turret layout of the U.S.'s first Dreadnought, the South Carolina-class.
Though the overall ship design differed quite a bit from both.
"Impressive. A truly magnificent battleship."
As I stared at it lost in thought, who else but potbelly himself—Wilhelm II—spoke up in an emotional voice.
If the Kaiser had been even a bit more sentimental, he might've teared up right there.
"Well done, Admiral Tirpitz."
"No, Your Majesty. Without your decisive judgment, how could this ship have ever seen the light of day?"
The admiral lavished flattery on Wilhelm II, who patted his shoulder with a satisfied grin.
"Your Imperial Majesty."
At that moment, a man I'd never seen before approached with a group of uniformed officers and bowed.
Tirpitz frowned at the sight of them, but Wilhelm II smiled and greeted them.
"It's been a while, Ambassador Lascelles. Doing well?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to your gracious hospitality, I've been quite comfortable."
"Ha ha, glad to hear it!"
The name Lascelles clicked for me then.
Sir Frank Lascelles, the British ambassador to Germany—and quite friendly with Wilhelm II, from what I knew.
Even though Anglo-German relations had soured during his tenure due to Germany's naval buildup and expansion policies.
'Those guys behind him must be Royal Navy attachés.'
I eyed the men in typical naval officer uniforms and thought to myself.
The British government had apparently sent a horde of naval observers to scout our new battleship.
Makes sense—Britain, wary of Germany's naval growth, couldn't ignore our new battleship.
"What do you think, Ambassador? Our new battleship, the future of the German Navy."
"She's grand and beautiful. A splendid ship, Your Majesty."
The ambassador gave a curt compliment to Wilhelm II's boast.
Of course, his real interest wasn't the looks—it was the performance.
He desperately wanted to know if this German battleship, packed with every new tech and concept imaginable, posed a threat to Britain.
The British naval attachés, unlike the smiling but wary ambassador, smirked faintly, clearly unimpressed with our ship.
'Not surprising. This is before Tsushima's lessons have sunk in.'
I could already see their future.
When the truth hits, they'll be shocked beyond belief—maybe start drafting resignations first.
"Have you decided on a name for the battleship?"
"Of course. After much deliberation, I chose the perfect name for her noble, majestic form. You'll hear it at the launch—look forward to it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ambassador Lascelles bowed to Wilhelm II again and headed to his seat with the attachés.
We imperial family members, including Wilhelm II and myself, moved to the VIP seats at the center.
Bam-ba-bam~ Ppa-ba-bam~
Soon after, the ceremony began, and the military band struck up the German Empire's national anthem.
Every German present stood and sang along.
Including me.
"Heil dir im Siegerkranz, Herrscher des Vaterlands! Heil, Kaiser, dir!"
"Heil to thee in victor's crown, Ruler of the fatherland! Hail, Kaiser, to thee!"
A venerable tune used from Prussia's days until the Empire's fall.
But despite the badass title, the melody was straight from Britain's "God Save the King."
Just different lyrics.
"Waaaaah!"
Clap clap clap clap clap!
As the anthem ended, cheers and applause erupted.
They continued until Wilhelm II took the podium.
"Proud citizens of the German Empire, and friends of Germany from around the world."
Wilhelm II began his speech with those words.
The Kaiser's oratory was a bit frivolous, forcing gravitas, but decent enough.
Nothing compared to the manic rants of that future mustachioed Führer, if he even appears.
"First, I sincerely congratulate the launch of our Empire's latest battleship, guardian of our seas. Today, Germany etches another great feat into history, just as our ancestors did."
Wilhelm II's gaze turned to the new battleship.
His eyes held deep affection, like he was gazing at a beloved woman.
'Who'd think they're dating.'
I muttered inwardly and refocused on the speech.
"I offer profound respect to the sons of our Imperial Navy and the shipbuilders of Schichau-Werke who toiled day and night for this great ship. The sea is Germany's future, her frontline..."
The Kaiser's speech droned on.
Mostly emphasizing how amazing this battleship was, over and over.
"Finally, I shall announce the name of our new battleship."
Oh, the moment of truth.
I already knew it from beforehand, of course.
Wilhelm II composed himself with an emotional expression, then raised his head to the crowd.
"SMS Friedrich der Große!"
Germans gasped in awe, then nodded as if it were only natural.
Friedrich the Great—the most revered monarch in Prussia and Germany.
That was the name of the Empire's first Dreadnought.
"Long live Deutschland! Long live Kaiser Wilhelm!"
Clap clap clap clap clap!
A shout from the crowd triggered another thunderous applause, ending the Kaiser's speech.
As the noise died down and people sat, Wilhelm II took Empress Augusta's hand and stepped forward from the VIP seats.
Empress Augusta proudly held up the champagne bottle for all to see, then swung it hard against the bow of Friedrich der Große.
Crash!
The bottle shattered with a sharp sound.
It was so refreshing, it chased away even the summer heat for a moment.
'Good thing the classic 'bottle doesn't break' fiasco didn't happen.'
Smashing the bottle on the bow is a blessing for good luck.
If it doesn't break, it's a bad omen.
Just sailors' superstition, but better safe than sorry.
"We now commence the launch."
At the announcer's words after the ceremony, everyone backed away from the ship.
To avoid the inevitable splash.
Shipwrights scrambled out from under the hull after removing the supports, and soon the massive gray steel fortress began sliding toward the sea.
Splashhhh!
"Ooooh!"
Friedrich der Große raised a huge spray and floated safely into the water.
It was such a spectacle that even Ambassador Lascelles and the smug British attachés couldn't help but gasp.
But they didn't know yet.
The era of true big-gun battleships—the Dreadnought era—had arrived.
Author's Note
The name of the first Dreadnought, which many of you were curious about, has been decided as Potato King.
By the way, tomorrow marks the switch to paid serialization, so expect a double update!