第１９１６堀：拠点を守るメンバーたちは (Part1)
"It seems like things are quite chaotic on another continent as well," Fiora remarked.
"Indeed," I replied, echoing her sentiment. We had just heard from Yuki about the impending locust plague and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. While I wouldn't wish hardship on anyone, the current turmoil on the New Continent was far more pressing than any potential issues elsewhere.
"Still, it's a relief that the troop deployment will be minimal," Fiora added. "It would be quite a burden if we had to send forces from here." Fiora, who assisted Tori at the Southern Fortress, understood the constant demand for manpower on the New Continent. Initially, I had also assumed we would be expected to contribute troops. We were already stretching our resources thin, pulling every available person from Weed. I hadn't expected our existing forces to be sufficient.
"That's because Weed is only responsible for gathering and transporting supplies," Yuki explained. "The local response is up to the respective countries. It's only natural."
"Exactly," Tori chimed in. "Relying entirely on another country to solve your own problems shows a distinct lack of honor. At worst, it could be seen as subjugation or even annexation."
They were both right. This was, fundamentally, another country's problem. Even with a request for aid, it was unlikely they would cede leadership to us. Ranks was a neighboring country, and Zuraburu was a territory that had already become our vassal. If Weed were to take the lead in such a situation, it would be a complete loss of face for those nations.
"The only concern is whether there will be any interference," Fiora mused.
"Interference with what? Stealing supplies?" Yuki questioned. "Do you really think that would happen?"
"It depends on the time and circumstances," Tori replied. "If you expose supplies to starving people, it's only natural that they would attack to survive."
Indeed, faced with a locust plague and a desperate lack of food, it was easy to imagine people attacking any visible food source. However...
"We plan to provide aid before it reaches that point," I stated. "And it would be a welcome development for the countries involved. Any interference would suggest a deeper, more complex issue."
"Ah, so it could be the work of those who wish to humiliate Zuraburu and Ranks," Yuki surmised.
"Precisely," Tori agreed. "However, it won't be easy to succeed in such an attack. Deryu will be accompanying Zuraburu, and Ranks, having a long-standing relationship with us, will undoubtedly be fully prepared. We can anticipate potential interference, but the parties involved, Zuraburu and Ranks, will be even more vigilant. Disrupting their efforts will be quite difficult."
"And then there's the matter of building warships," Fiora added.
"Ah, yes, that," Yuki recalled. "We've heard from Dressa and others that it's about time we had facilities for building and maintaining warships. Now that the fishing port in Glass Port Town is complete, it seems like a good opportunity, doesn't it? I don't know about the budget, though..."
"Indeed," Tori said. "Even if not on that scale, the ability to build ships capable of sailing the seas is significant. As for the budget, well, you can imagine. However, Weed is fortunate in its treasury. We don't have to worry about poverty, which is a relief."
It was true. While Eris and Ratz, who managed the public finances and supplies, had their hands full, Weed's inherent ability to acquire resources through DP meant there were no underlying financial issues. Nevertheless, the expenditure would undoubtedly be substantial.
"Also, I believe we all heard the discussion about the land battleships. What are your thoughts?" I asked. "We were all so stunned at first that we didn't really get to discuss it."
When Yuki, Narljia, and Firia had explained the concept with beaming smiles, we could only nod in agreement, overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. I suspected Tori and Fiora felt the same.
"Ah, yes. I understand completely," Yuki said with a wry smile.
"The idea of a ship on land is hard to grasp," Fiora admitted. "They mentioned it was like a large tub, but the scale..."
"Exactly," I agreed. "The intended size is around 200 meters. If it were smaller, perhaps..."
"It's astonishing, isn't it?" Yuki exclaimed. "I thought they would break it down into smaller components. Fishing boats are only about 10 to 20 meters, right? And then suddenly, 200 meters."
"They claim they've already completed experiments with scale models, so there shouldn't be any issues," Tori relayed, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
A heavy silence fell upon us. It was difficult to completely trust their assurances, especially considering Narljia's creations often involved explosions.
"Well, if Yuki and Seraria, who understand this, have given their approval, then the land battleship must be quite useful," Yuki reasoned.
"Indeed. A battleship that can operate on land is essentially a mobile fortress," Tori added.
"Yes. If realized, it would literally be a moving base," I said. "Even with a surge of monsters, simply dispatching it would provide a sense of security. The concept itself is truly remarkable."
I hadn't considered the idea of a mobile base before. But the ability to relocate an entire base without abandoning our supplies or structures was revolutionary. Furthermore, it could serve as a platform for launching attacks. While I doubted it would be that seamless, the prospect of engaging the enemy on our own terms, at a strategic distance, was incredibly appealing. It was, in essence, the ideal base.
"If it works out, we might not even need to establish bases like the ones Tori and I are stationed at," Fiora mused.
"That's right. We could simply bring the base with us," Tori agreed.
"It would be incredibly convenient. Relocating the base would be simple," Fiora added.
Indeed, there would be no need to construct new bases. We could simply deploy the land battleship to the desired location.
"Well, our discussion has gotten quite lively, but it seems we're all in agreement that the land battleship should be built," I said, seeking confirmation.
"Yes. It's convenient," Yuki affirmed. "Although, the concept is a bit outlandish."
"That's undeniable," Tori agreed. "Even Yuki's expression was strained when she explained it. It must be an unexpected development."
"The original purpose was to establish facilities for the production and maintenance of naval warships. I doubt they anticipated it becoming a production site for colossal, land-based weaponry," I remarked. Yuki herself probably never imagined building land battleships. However, having given her approval, she must have at least considered such possibilities.
"But what about the personnel for the shipyard?" Yuki inquired. "It's a military weapons development, so security must be strict, and there will be guards, right?"