In order to conduct a full-scale investigation of the <Demon Forest>, it was necessary to prepare a forward base.
This had less to do with supporting <Paraiso> personnel than with supporting the adventurers affiliated with Northend City.
They could learn, on site, the operational policies for acting inside the <Demon Forest>, but because specialists called adventurers already existed, the judgment was that it would be more efficient to learn from them.
Besides, if <The Tree> conducted the investigation, it would inevitably become a mass-operation strategy, with the potential to exert a tremendous impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
For that reason, it was necessary to commit a small number of elite personnel.
Also, Northend City exists by virtue of adventurers bringing back various resources from the <Demon Forest>. By encouraging that economic activity, they could also develop the city itself—this was <Ringo>’s assessment.
Buying valuable samples from adventurers was not a bad proposition, either.
Since it would also create employment for the locals, they were planning to promote that as well.
There may or may not be an inside story that this happened because Commander Eve showed interest in adventurers and started saying things like, “So there’s an Adventurers’ Guild, is there?”
At this rate, <The Tree> might end up becoming the syndicate boss of the Adventurers’ Guild.
That aside.
<Paraiso> built a gateway to the <Demon Forest>.
They would build a runway on the outskirts of Northend City and turn it into a logistics hub.
From there, they would improve the road leading to the city, and then to the <Demon Forest>.
Multi-Legged Heavy Equipment roughly leveled the ground, and tracked and multi-wheeled heavy equipment built a flat road. Taking roughly fifty hours, they connected the air base, Northend City, and the candidate site for the forward base.
From there, multi-wheeled transport vehicles hauled materials all at once and constructed a simple outpost.
They developed the lot and built a defensive perimeter using iron fencing and barbed wire.
They installed a massive roof inside the grounds, and further attached capsule-type lodging facilities.
They set up a prefab building that would serve as a general store, and another that would serve as a cafeteria, completing the base.
By completing all preparations in the short span of five days, they left the adventurers heading to the <Demon Forest> dumbstruck.
With this, there likely wouldn’t be anyone left who would take lightly the words that <Paraiso> would conduct an investigation of the <Demon Forest>.
“It’s seriously a whole town now...”
“Incredible, there’s even shops!”
An adventurer who, as usual, headed to the <Demon Forest> on foot was first moved by how easy it was to walk on the paved road, then cheered at the fact that there was a gate at the forward base, and finally froze when they saw the general store.
“Hey, is that a cafeteria...?”
“They’re serving food?”
It was a takeout style, but the forward base also had a place to eat. Even if it rained, there was a massive roof, so it was made so they could eat without worrying about it.
The lodging facilities were capsule-sized, but they stacked private rooms, a build that could ensure a certain degree of privacy. Because it was prefab construction, it was also appealing that they could expand it as much as they wanted, depending on demand.
“I heard that <Paraiso> was gonna stick their hands into the <Demon Forest>, but... this is the real thing...”
“I heard some party became their guide and all...”
The management of this base was to be handled by several automatic machines, but in order to interact with the users, they were also using Android Communicators.
Either <Ringo>’s rejection response had settled down to some extent, or it was for the sake of diversity, but they had introduced multiple races using random genes.
It might be a problem that, because it was random, it became mul-ti-ple rac-es.
Commander Eve had muttered “Furry fans’ big day” with a grim expression, but it was a trivial matter.
Also, once things settled down, they were also planning to employ locals.
“Commander Ma’am. Base preparation is largely complete. The guide party is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.”
“Good. There’s no issue with the Android Communicator backup posture, right?”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. We will always attach multi-legged units and have them maintain the directional communications network. If we could use a wide-area communications antenna, we could increase our flexibility a bit more, but.”
“Radio waves seemed to draw that Wyvern in, so... until we can implement various countermeasures, we can’t widen the range.”
At <Ringo>’s complaint, she gave a wry smile.
Well, if you think in terms of efficiency, expanding rapidly without worrying about anything was not wrong.
However, Commander Eve issued the policy that there was no need to recklessly expand their sphere of influence.
For the time being, they would prioritize developing the United Kingdom of Aphrasia’s territory, and would not expand. <Ringo> had already accepted that, but for a superintelligence whose premise was expansion of influence, it was probably a frustrating choice.
◇◇◇◇
The next day, a transport truck carrying the guide adventurer party departed Northend City.
They planned to run trucks regularly from Northend City to the base just before the <Demon Forest>. Including making that known, this time they would be picking up and dropping off this adventurer party.
“Why’s this thing even running? I don’t get it!”
“And it’s so fast!”
“And from next time on, they’ll let us ride this too, right? Incredible...”
Since it would be a waste to run it empty, they had loaded supplies to be used at the base. They had the adventurer party ride in the remaining space, but it was far more comfortable than the shared horse-drawn wagons they normally used, and there was less shaking, too.
If this transport truck were put into full operation, there was no doubt it would reduce the adventurers’ burden.
And then, more resources and materials would be brought in.
“Sulfareas, this helps a ton! Seriously—are you really going to keep this going all the time?”
To that question, Alpha Sulfareas=Cosmos nodded.
“As long as the existence called adventurers remains, we intend to provide assistance to you.”
“Hyu! That’s generous!”
The party’s leader, a dagger and shortbow user, Reidas.
The attacker, a short spear and hand-axe user, Nadira.
And the gatherer, Graver.
These three were the adventurer party appointed as guides for the <Paraiso> advance team.
Their evaluation was: bold but cautious, excellent teamwork, and a rising star with high expectations.
Judging from their words and actions so far, the guildmaster’s decision to appoint them likely wasn’t wrong.
“But still—why do you folks want to go into the <Demon Forest> anyway?”
“Hey, Graver. You don’t have to ask stuff like that!”
“No, Nadira, hold on, hold on. I’m not taking Graver’s side or anything, but if I can, I’d like to hear it too. Sulfareas, what’s the deal? Well, of course, if you don’t want to talk about it, don’t worry about it.”
Asked, Alpha Sulfareas nodded, as if to say hmm.
“To put it simply. We have an interest in the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° environment called the <Demon Forest>. The wide variety of monsters, and the various resources that can be taken from them. It seems there are many convenient things as well, and our intent is to confirm those in person.”
“...I see? We’ve been tasked as guides, so—should we introduce monsters to you?”
Alpha Sulfareas flicked those distinctive beast ears and turned their gaze upward.
“Right. I want you to tell us what you know—its value as a material, and that monster’s ecology, behavior, and diet. Also, how to move through the <Demon Forest> itself. We, <Paraiso>, know nothing about that forest. We also do not wish to stimulate the monsters unnecessarily.”
Alpha Sulfareas had been selected for this advance team on the grounds that, among the Android Communicators assigned to Strategic AI <Cosmos>, they were the race most suited to covert action.
That race was based on a forest hunter: the black panther.
Different from Commander Ma’am’s race in some ways, it leaned more beastlike. Besides the ears and tail, its hands and feet also displayed beastperson traits. It also possessed whiskers as sensory organs, and its ability to detect surrounding presences was far higher than an ordinary person’s.
Its sex was female, and according to <Ringo>, females were more useful as a species base, or something. Whether that was true or not, I didn’t know. Eve didn’t pursue it, either.
If it were truly completely random, male types should also be selected, but unless given special instructions, <Ringo> was selecting female types.
“I’m sorry, but for a while, I would like you to stay with us. It may end up causing you trouble.”
“No, no, we’re getting paid properly! We’ll stick with you as much as we can! Right, Reidas!”
“Don’t you say that. But yeah, that’s how it is. Sulfareas, I don’t think you’re the type to make unreasonable demands, and for us, we can earn safely, so it’s nothing but good things!”
Only a few days had passed since they met face-to-face, but they already understood Alpha Sulfareas’s—by extension, <Paraiso>’s—nature quite well.
Extremely rational, and despite being conquerors, they did not take an overbearing attitude.
At least, so long as you did not oppose them, they were a very good ruler.
