In the northern forest zone of the Forest Kingdom of Levresta, across an entire region that included part of the national territory, the butterfly monster Big Moth was breeding in huge numbers.
The monster’s name was found in documents of the Adventurers’ Guild in Northend City.
There were records of extermination on several occasions in the past.
Big Moth is omnivorous.
Especially as a larva, it apparently eats almost anything without discrimination, except soil and stone.
Once it becomes an adult, it eats the forest’s trees—most likely with a preference for False-Green Treants. However, there are also records of other monsters and animals, or humans, becoming its prey.
“I believe Levresta is responding to this monster. Trade in East Gate City will likely become more active as well.”
“That’s good, but will they be able to pay?”
“For the time being, precious metals and gemstones. But if this continues, it is expected those will run out sooner rather than later. We should send an envoy delegation early and investigate their trade goods.”
“If we were to send reinforcements, what would we demand as compensation, I wonder?”
If this was left alone and it reached the worst outcome—
The neighboring country would become a nest of monsters, and a massive number of refugees would occur.
If that happened, there were ways to deal with it, but considering the long-term relationship, it would be better if the neighboring country continued to exist for a long time while maintaining good relations.
Dealing with a fallen country was a hassle.
“Government bonds—plainly put, debt. Or cession of part of their territory. Alternatively, there is also the option of a leased territory. We do not intend to import things that are of no use at ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) all, so it would be good if they can prepare something on their side.”
<Ringo>, taking Commander Eve’s intentions into account, was considering aid to Levresta as the direction.
However, at the present time, because no return could be expected for that expenditure, <The Tree> was unable to intervene on a grand scale.
If nothing else, if some kind of ore vein could be found within Levresta, they could send forces in under the name of occupation, but—
No, it would become a true occupation, so from Levresta’s perspective it would be unbearable.
“Let’s exterminate Big Moth once around Northend City. If we learn its weaknesses and durability and so on, we might be able to convey that as information.”
“Right. Right... Mmm, it’s difficult. In a game you’d get an event-clear reward and all that, but here it doesn’t work that way...”
And so, for the moment, they decided to use air power to exterminate the butterfly monster Big Moth.
*****
“Visual on an adult. Total length 12.3m. Wingspan 14.8m. Body length is approximately 6m. A handy size.”
“Mmm, it’s huge.”
On the monitor, Big Moth was shown drifting lightly as if dancing on the wind as it flew above the forest. According to <Ringo>’s analysis, no flight method that could not be scientifically explained had been observed.
In other words, Big Moth was flying according to aerodynamics with that enormous body.
“While we are not performing precise measurement, Big Moth’s weight is assumed to be much lighter than it looks. Because its density is low, it likely floats more easily.”
If it was light, that meant it was fragile, weak. But Big Moth did not look weak.
“The structure supporting that enormous body is considered to be reinforced in a magic-fantasy way. If it performed those movements at that size, parts should be rupturing everywhere.”
“So it’s a monster there too, after all. Body reinforcement—or rather, structural reinforcement is being applied.”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. No other magic-fantasy phenomena have been observed. There is also no sign of abnormal acceleration. In addition, once it lands, it may be difficult for it to take off again, and it appears to remain in the air even at night.”
Big Moth was moving by riding the wind. It did flap, but if it descended into the forest, the trees got in the way and it seemed unable to flap properly.
Apparently, they had confirmed it coming down to the ground in open places such as inside Fairy Circles.
“No other individuals within visual range. Commencing attack.”
The attack craft was a tilt-rotor aircraft for ground targets or low-speed flight targets. It could keep its flight speed low, and could conduct attacks by hovering as needed.
An explosive-propelled multi-barrel machine gun mounted under the nose sprayed 7mm machine-gun rounds.
If an ordinary animal took a hail of fire like that, it would likely be minced without being able to resist at all, but—
“The machine-gun rounds are ricocheting. They are being repelled by the epidermis.”
“A-as expected of fantasy...”
Its overall shape was rounded, and the position of its large wings themselves was angled relative to the attack craft.
There was likely also the issue of the rounds’ entry angle, and the bullets were all sliding along the epidermis, with no damage being dealt.
“If it can charge in unfazed even while being shot by a machine gun, depending on how you look at it, isn’t it stronger than our attack craft...?”
“That depends on what attack means it possesses, but. If we consider only defense, it is sturdier than the aircraft we operate.”
The target Big Moth seemed to have noticed it was being shot, and with a heavy flap of its enormous wings, it set its course toward the attack craft.
It apparently did not have an effective long-range attack means.
That was good news.
“Only close-range means, I suppose. With that body, just getting rammed would scatter us into pieces, though.”
“Because it relies on aerodynamics, its actions are also easy to predict. If it is a single individual, we will not struggle.”
Even so, the fact that it did not so much as tremble even when hit directly by 7mm machine-gun rounds at relatively close range was a pure threat.
At the very least, it meant that with infantry-class portable weapons, it would be difficult to land an effective hit.
“Switching attack weapon to grenades.”
If machine-gun rounds would not work, the next test was large-caliber rounds.
They would use the 60mm grenade launcher mounted coaxially with the machine gun.
The warhead was a High-Explosive Shell (HE). Its purpose was to inflict damage via fragments scattered by the explosion.
“Attack has commenced.”
The fired High-Explosive Shell (HE) exploded in close proximity to Big Moth via a Proximity Fuse.
Metal fragments scattered.
“Does not appear to be an effective hit. Simply put, the epidermis hardness is likely exceeding the fragments’ striking force.”
“Mmm... In the end it’s an anti-personnel weapon, huh. Do we need to land a more powerful gun directly on it?”
If one thought about it carefully, even machine-gun rounds that hit directly were being repelled.
Even if it was close proximity, that fragments blown by the same explosive could not deal damage was only natural.
Still, there did seem to be an effect where the explosion’s pressure made its course unstable.
“It can be used as suppressive fire to keep it from approaching. It will not reach a kill, however.”
Even though High-Explosive Shells (HE) were detonating in direct hits or close proximity one after another, no notable damage could be confirmed.
“Well, then it’s the railgun, I suppose.”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Conducting direct fire with the railgun. Ammunition type: Armor-Piercing Round. Capacitor charge start. Complete. Fire.”
A short-barreled railgun mounted on the side of the attack craft. From it, a shell was launched at a muzzle velocity of 4,000m/s.
“It penetrated. I recognize it as an effective attack.”
The fired shell punched straight through Big Moth from the front.
From the impact, Big Moth’s body burst apart. Wings and legs were blown off, and its body—torn to pieces—spun as it scattered through the sky.
“Ooh... Splatter.”
“Shall I perform video processing?”
“No, not to that extent.”
At the very least, with an Armor-Piercing Round at a muzzle velocity of 4,000m/s, it was determined to be overkill.
If it was shattered to this extent, it would not be usable as a material.
Also, the crucial magic stone could not be recovered like this.
“Shall we continue extermination, a few more?”
“Yeah. I want to recover it as materials, and we need to think of an attack method that’s just right. Next time, so it doesn’t burst apart.”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am.”
