“Big Sister, the wired sensor network is running smoothly!”
“Looks {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} that way. We’ve built up a decent operating record around Northend City too, and it seems to be functioning properly here in the Prava Divine Kingdom as well.”
Ever since they had learned that some of the monsters living in the <Demon Forest> reacted sensitively to electromagnetic waves, <The Tree> had continued searching for ways around the problem.
For the time being, they had settled on one of two approaches: either use ultra-directional electromagnetic waves, or rely on wired connections with cables laid throughout the area—preferably shielded lines that leaked as little electromagnetic radiation as possible, or optical fiber.
“Commander Ma’am. Integrated analysis of the sensor data has confirmed the movement of a large biological population inside the <Demon Forest>. Caution is advised.”
“...Oh? A mass migration. Not on the level of that old <Death March>, I assume?”
“That’s right! It looks more like a territorial shift than anything else! There seem to be clashes breaking out all over the place between animals and monsters!”
The sensors installed across the region were now gathering high-quality data. Analyzing it had begun to reveal the distribution of the monsters and animals living inside the forest.
One especially big breakthrough was that real-time acoustic analysis now made it possible to track individual creatures.
Inside the forest, they had built small forward sites on the assumption that they were disposable. Those sites were reinforced with measures like wire fencing, supplied with electricity through wired lines, and fitted with local processors that handled analysis on-site.
Eliminating the problem of transmission lag had dramatically improved the precision of the information that ultimately reached them.
“It still looks like the equipment takes a beating whenever there’s a large monster around, though...”
“It does! But right now we’re expanding the surveillance network partly so we can gather exactly that kind of information, so it’s fine! We’re also getting metal-response readings, so I think we’ll find some promising mineral veins before long! And once we do, the resources we gain should more than make up for the losses!”
Large boar- and bear-type monsters, along with highly aggressive deer-like monsters, were shifting their territories. As a result, parts of the sensor network that had already been built were getting destroyed, and some of the processing outposts were being crushed.
Still, even the fact that those things were being destroyed could be processed as useful information.
And if something got destroyed, they could always build another one.
Compared to the old days, when they had been perpetually starved for resources, <The Tree>’s finances were in much better shape now.
“All in all, I’d say it’s going well. It’s slower than we expected, sure, but it’s not like things have stopped. That’s good enough, isn’t it?”
“You honor us, Commander Ma’am.”
At first, the plan had been to pour in automated machines and force a road through all at once.
But the risk of drawing threat organisms out from the deeper parts of the <Demon Forest> had led them to change course. Instead, they had adopted a policy of steadily developing the forest from the outer edge inward.
“It really was lucky we got information from the Chimiya Family. If we’d stayed ignorant, we might’ve rammed land battleships straight in...”
The information they had received from the Chimiya Family included accounts of forward frontier settlements in the past being trampled flat by gigantic monsters after pushing too far ahead.
Worse, they said the monsters would come surging in only after a settlement had built up a certain level of strength, as if timing the attack deliberately, with a threat organism like their ringleader charging in among them.
It was only a hypothesis, but the Chimiya Family suspected that gathering in one place in sufficient numbers caused some kind of reaction—Asahi’s theory was that the magic response simply grew too large and stimulated something.
“Our machine groups don’t have anything to do with magic, but they do kick out a whole lot of electromagnetic waves. So there’s every chance they could trigger a similar reaction!”
In fact, the flying machines they had sent overhead had been attacked by swarms of monsters.
It was easy enough to imagine the same thing happening on the ground.
“And since we switched the automated machines over to rechargeable types, their operating time is pretty tight now~”
“Yeah, and we have to use shield-equipped models to deal with electromagnetic leakage, so it’s a whole different ball game.”
Every automated machine they had deployed on-site was a new model equipped with anti-leakage countermeasures. Charging facilities now had to be built alongside the development effort as well, so compared to the days when they had relied on microwave power supply, the pace of progress had slowed considerably.
“We are accumulating operational experience. Optimization will follow in time.”
“And because it’s wired, we can gather denser information, and provide support the same way. Pros and cons, I guess.”
Eve nodded at the reports from her sisters.
They had lost speed, yes. But there was no question that the quality had improved in return.
“Even so, being able to work together with the Chimiya Family has been a huge help. If it had just been us, I think it would’ve taken even longer.”
“Yes, Commander Ma’am. I agree. Development of the <Demon Forest> might have halted entirely until we came up with an effective method of attack.”
“They really are incredibly strong!”
And when it came to escort strength, the work of the Chimiya Family on the front lines had been especially conspicuous.
They moved together with the automated machines and drove back the monsters that attacked.
Well, from their side too, the automated machines that handled rear support flawlessly had to be reassuring allies.
“We really do need to bring that in somehow...”
“Definitely...”
Eve murmured it from the heart.
That did not, of course, mean she wanted to welcome the Chimiya Family into <The Tree> as members.
What she meant was that she wanted to reproduce the Chimiya Family’s fantasy-like technology of magic within <The Tree>.
◇◇◇◇
“...Lord Neun. Once again, I thank you for your cooperation.”
At the start of the regular meeting, Turanta, supreme patriarch of the Chimiya Family, bowed his head as he spoke.
“What brings this on all of a sudden, Lord Turanta?”
The one who replied was <Neun>, <Paraiso>’s representative—a doll-machine communicator serving as the liaison with the Chimiya Family.
“Thanks to you, we have finally gained a path toward fulfilling our long-cherished wish. The Pope and the archbishops sought strength beyond our country, but to be honest, I never expected much from that. ...And yet, in the end, we gained you of <Paraiso> as our friends.”
“Hm. Well... yes. We, too, are interested in the Holy Land you seek. It was fortunate that our goals aligned.”
Fortunately, the goals of <Paraiso> and the Chimiya Family were aligned.
The Prava Divine Kingdom’s long-cherished wish was to reach the Holy Land. <Paraiso> sought the ruins of the fortress called <Trout Nursery>, which lay there.
And according to the Chimiya Family’s interpretation, once they arrived, they would be freed. The scripture said nothing about what came after reaching the Holy Land, and there were no instructions from Prava’s Law-God Bork beyond that point.
Once they fulfilled their long-cherished wish of reaching the Holy Land, they would return to being ordinary people.
That, at least, was their doctrine.
Which meant they had no intention of obstructing <Paraiso>’s goal of investigating <Trout Nursery>. There was no conflict between the Chimiya Family and <Paraiso>, and so they had been able to establish a cooperative relationship.
“That said, it will still take time. I have no intention of spending years on it, but neither is it something we can reach in a matter of months.”
“I understand. Even so, to us, this is an astonishing pace of development.”
At Neun’s reply, Supreme Patriarch Turanta nodded deeply.
Slowly, but surely, they were moving forward. He could feel it.
That made it unmistakably different from the days when they had done nothing but repeat the same advances and retreats over and over.
“However, if you intend to continue clearing the road at this speed, then I would ask that you hear us out on one point.”
“...Understood. I’m listening.”
Did he have some concern about the current situation?
Turanta straightened his posture and began to speak.
“You will have to choose the location yourselves, but it would be best to construct a defensive stronghold. The information passed down to us says that if you go too deep, you will come under attack from a great many monsters. That is something our scout parties observed again and again.”
According to Turanta—
the deeper one went into the <Demon Forest>, the stronger the monsters that appeared became.
Their numbers increased as well.
And if those signs were ignored, then sooner or later one would be swallowed by a vast host of monsters.
“Most likely, before the situation becomes critical, you must halt your advance and put your formation in order. And if possible, it would be best for that stronghold to possess a barrier like the one in the Holy Capital.”
