第１８７３堀：具体的な調査内容について (Part1)
Chapter 1873: Regarding Specific Investigation Details
Side: Yuki
"Now then, I shall once again explain the current situation in the southern part of the New Continent and our upcoming investigation schedule."
With those words, Chaea bows, and our eyes meet. Or, more accurately, she is looking into the camera lens.
"Yuki-sama, Quar-sama, Eris-sama, Ratz-sama, is the audio and video reaching you clearly?"
"Yeah, no issues on this end."
"Yes. Everything is clear here as well."
"It’s fine. Ratz can hear you too, right?"
"Yes~ I’m watching along with Eris, so there’s no problem at all~"
It seems Eris and Ratz are sitting together to listen in. Well, we need to provide additional support in terms of supplies and funding when necessary, and it’s essential to confirm that nothing is going to waste.
"Then, first, I will explain the current status of the investigation in the southern New Continent. Please look at page three of the materials you have on hand."
Following her instruction, I look at the documents provided beforehand. It’s a standard meeting brief, created on a computer—nothing particularly surprising for a Weed meeting these days. But the fact that Chaea created this from scratch is what’s truly impressive. Her adaptability is off the charts. She doesn't just use the computer for reports; she uses it for internet research and even enjoys electronic games.
But setting that aside, the document shows a photograph of the entire southern continent, with a line-art diagram beside it. This is...
"This photograph was taken by Luna-sama from satellite orbit. And beside it, I have prepared a line-art map of the southern region based on that image."
Ah, I see. As expected. We do our best to capture aerial footage with drones, but we can't cover everything. Having Luna’s imagery is a massive advantage. Currently, most of our drones are deployed along the defense line to monitor for monster stampedes. We simply don't have enough personnel to manage them if we were to send them out for general surveying across such a vast area.
This has been a point of frustration. We could just take footage and fill in the map, but that doesn't mean the area is "investigated," and we risk provoking monsters unnecessarily. If there are flying monsters, we have to be ready to intercept them. While we can manage the defense preparations at the Southern Fortress, we can't risk a situation where a survey unit is caught too far out to retreat in time. That’s why we haven't pushed the drone surveys further.
As I ponder this, the explanation continues.
"On the next page, you will see the current investigation range marked in red, and the defense line in blue."
I turn the page as instructed, and the map now features red and blue lines overlaid on the line art. Naturally, the investigation range is larger than the defense line. This "defense line" isn't a wall that can't be breached, but rather a perimeter where we initiate interception; the final line is about ten kilometers beyond the fortress. Our ability to deploy high-mobility units centered around vehicles is what makes this strategy viable. It puts a heavy burden on the soldiers, though—and the survey teams as well. The time required for a retreat in an emergency is always a looming concern.
The explanation proceeds.
"Now, as you can see from the investigation range and the defense line, our current reach is limited to a radius of about 400 kilometers from the forest where the Ohe Kingdom is located. Well, even that is a vast area, but..."
Indeed, as Chaea says, we are still only covering a 400-kilometer radius. The Japanese archipelago is about 3,000 kilometers long; we’ve covered roughly one-tenth of that. It sounds small, but unlike an island nation, this is 400 kilometers of solid land. There are few rivers, and there are plateaus to contend with. With only about 1,000 personnel, there is no way to finish surveying such a distance quickly. The red line on the map doesn't even cover a tenth of the south. It makes you wonder just how much land is actually left...
"For an area this vast, we lack the personnel, supplies, and infrastructure to maintain a defense line. It is the consensus of Aslin-sama, Firia-sama, and Hivia-sama that we should not expand our survey range randomly, but rather proceed with a defined strategy."
I fully agree with that assessment. We simply don't have the people or equipment to survey the entire region. Well, equipment can be managed, but it’s useless without people to operate it. That is precisely why I approved the plan submitted by Aslin and Firia. Having it explained in such detail makes it even more convincing.
"Now, as for our future schedule: due to the recent slowdown in our survey, we have various tasks—monitoring the monster stampede in the south, investigating its cause, and identifying local resources. We have determined that the investigation into the stampede and its origins is a priority, as it directly impacts our future defense budget. Therefore, we have concluded that we will maintain the current survey range while dispatching a single unit to push the investigation forward from one specific point."
As she says this, a yellow line appears on the map on the large monitor, extending straight downward from the center. Unlike the survey and defense lines, it is just a single path, not an enclosure.
"This is the location we discussed in the previous plan: the interior of the cliff. From what we have confirmed, this cliff is a massive formation exceeding 1,000 kilometers in length, with a current maximum width of 600 meters. Much like the plateaus, it is possible that a unique environment has formed at the base of the cliff, so we have designated it as a target for investigation."
Yes, that is reasonable. The problem had been how to set a goal for our southward expansion.
"In parallel, we will attempt to open a route to the sea, either to the east or west. If we can establish access to the New Continent from the ocean, we can secure marine resources. Furthermore, if we can establish a maritime route to the north, we will be able to reach the northern countries much faster than by traveling overland."
That, too, is correct. I have asked Dressa to fly drones to scout for a maritime route to the New Continent. I’ve heard the progress reports, but with storms and the need to retreat to higher altitudes, we haven't made much headway. If anything, it just reinforces how vast the ocean really is. Regardless, securing a coastline would allow us to deploy Weed’s navy. That would be a significant advantage, so I definitely want to see this move forward.