“Commander Ma’am. Since significant changes have been clearly confirmed in <Demon Forest>, I will report.”
“Go ahead, <Ringo>.”
Since it was an observational report on <Demon Forest>, the six senior AIs excluding Asahi and Commander Eve gathered in the cafeteria.
Asahi seemed to be doing something in Telek Port City.
“Since Akane is performing the information analysis, may I have Akane deliver the report?”
“Of course. Akane, go ahead.”
“Got it.”
Akane, who had taken up position beside Commander Sis-ter Eve, operated the remote-projected images and displayed the analysis results.
“First, what we have been able to confirm over roughly the past month is that the wyverns’ activity ranges above <Demon Forest> around the United Kingdom of Aphrasia are changing.”
From the video analysis, it had become clear that the patrol airspace of multiple wyverns was changing day by day.
“It is inferred that because the territory of the wyvern we defeated recently has become a blank zone, adjacent wyverns are attempting to advance.”
“I see...... Well, if they’re that big, their territories would be proportionally large too. And their movement speed is fast.”
According to the estimate, these shifts in territory of wyverns or other large flying organisms would continue for at least several months. The effect this would have on the ground was unknown, but it would not be accurate to say there would be no effect at all.
“And then, what has changed conspicuously over the past few days is the Fairy Circle that appeared in the blank zone of the territories.”
“Fairy Circle?”
What Akane displayed was a circular blank area that had suddenly appeared inside the forest. Multiple of them could be confirmed.
“This circular blank area forms in about two weeks. We confirmed other forest regions as well, and every case where we found some was near the boundaries between the territories of wyverns or other large flying organisms.”
“So that means this happened because it turned into a blank territory zone?”
At Eve’s words, Akane nodded and displayed another image.
“I enlarged the image and processed it digitally. Commander Sis-ter, are you okay with bugs?”
“B-Bugs? ......Um, probably?”
After confirming that response, the rough display switched to a clear one.
What was shown was a green-based caterpillar. With brown as an accent, it seemed to blend neatly into the forest.
“......Wait. Isn’t it huge?”
“Yes. By calculation, total length is approximately 6 meters. This insect is causing the Fairy Circle by feeding damage as it eats the forest’s trees.”
Feeding damage by a super-giant caterpillar. Certainly, if it was six meters long, it could probably swallow even thick trunks without difficulty.
“And this is the form after the caterpillar pupates. A butterfly-like threat-creature about ten meters in length.”
This time, it was footage of a gigantic butterfly flapping as it flew above the forest. Since it had been shot from a satellite, there was no reference for scale and it was hard to judge, but it was unquestionably large.
“It is considered to be prey within the territories of large flying organisms. If it is outside those territories, it reaches adulthood in under a month. This individual is one that pupated in the blank zone. Since it is believed it will take several months before wyverns advance into this area, there is a possibility this threat-creature will breed explosively.”
The radius of a Fairy Circle caused by the feeding damage of a single caterpillar was about one hundred meters. With a body that massive, it would have few natural enemies.
No one knew how many eggs a single adult would lay, but if it was like an ordinary butterfly, it would lay several hundred at once.
If that happened with no natural enemies present, the entire surrounding area might become bald hills in an instant.
“Hmm...... Is this the first step toward ecological collapse?”
“I don’t know. It is also possible that the visible increase in this threat-creature could increase the wyverns’ rate of advance. If that happens, they might hunt them out and it could return to normal. With more prey, it is also possible wyverns will reproduce. There is not enough data to predict.”
Right now, <The Tree> was planning to investigate <Demon Forest> with Northend City, the northernmost city of the United Kingdom of Aphrasia, as its base.
If this would affect that investigation team, they would have to take some kind of measure.
“We are in a posture where we can immediately deploy aerial support. To avoid entering the alert range of large flying organisms, it is necessary to fly at low altitude. We also plan to deploy support weapons powered by ducted fans.”
Because it had been determined that wyverns could detect electromagnetic waves, they could not carelessly emit radar waves. They should also avoid microwave power beaming toward the skies above <Demon Forest>.
Therefore, all dispatched flight machines to <Demon Forest> used chemical-reaction power.
Internal-combustion machinery, or fuel cells.
Fuel cells had the problem of shortening range, but they were excellent in quietness.
They also had to be careful about stimulation by sound.
“And, ground exploration machines are also being designed and manufactured by the on-site Cosmos.”
What Akane displayed was a multi-legged machine about two meters in total length. A grotesque machine equipped with four legs for movement and two manipulator arms.
There was no part corresponding to a head; legs extended from the underside of a small torso, and arms extended from the upper side.
It seemed specialized for traversing unimproved forest terrain, and the footage showed it skillfully using its four legs and two arms as it slid smoothly between the trees.
“......Won’t it get mistaken for ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) a new kind of monster? Is that okay?”
“It will not approach adventurers’ activity zones. If there is a need to cooperate with adventurers, we plan to use Android Communicators as before. This is premised on multiple units forming a team and exploring the deep areas.”
The armament of this four-leg two-arm machine was a multi-stage electromagnetic cannon (Coilgun) and a metal mace. Gunpowder-type firearms were not used because they were loud. Bladed weapons like axes were considered, but in the end, blunt weapons were chosen for maintainability and ease of handling.
“That said, with manipulators, it will also be easy to change weapons in the future. Also, we will load a control AI onto <Backpacker>, and all of these machines are premised on being remotely operated. By externalizing the control section, we are making them smaller and lighter.”
The premise was to operate multiple child units centered on <Backpacker>.
<Backpacker> would advance while making a path, and the child units would conduct surrounding exploration and secure safety.
By the way, the <Backpacker> being referred to here was a heavily armed type based on the one operating in Northend City.
Along with that, its total length had also been extended by about one meter, and its appearance had become more aggressive.
“And then, in the sense of simply increasing manpower—or rather, not crushing their livelihood—we also plan to support the local adventurers.”
Many adventurers affiliated with Northend City brought resources back from <Demon Forest>.
<The Tree> was proceeding with the exploration project carefully so as not to threaten their living foundation.
There was also, in a secondary sense, the purpose of collecting the adventurers’ knowledge and experience.
“At a certain depth, we will dispatch a combination of <Backpacker> and Android Communicators and maintain a simple base. We will use it as a base camp, and support logistics of supplies and personnel between camp sites via <Backpacker>. We are also considering opening a material purchasing office.”
They would identify optimal locations from the adventurers’ activity histories and establish forward positions.
They were going to open them as base camps and extend exploration time and distance.
“It’s like an exploration strategy game, and it’s fun.”
And that was how Eve understood it.
Even so, once base camps were established, the adventurers’ activity range would expand dramatically.
There had not been zero concepts like this before. However, it had been impossible because it was difficult to secure the personnel and equipment to maintain those bases, and because there were limits to transporting supplies.
In fact, when they brought this plan to the Adventurers’ Guild, they had shown reluctance.
It might be possible temporarily, but it could not be maintained.
However, by understanding the equipment called <Backpacker>, and above all the high athletic performance of the Android Communicators (from their perspective, the excellence of <Paraiso> personnel), they were becoming enthusiastic about establishing base camps.
They had even started selecting permanent staff, apparently.
“Will magic research make progress too, I wonder?”
