第１９３４堀：ここで必要になるのはなんでしょう？ (Part1)
Chapter 1934: What is needed here?
Side: Aslin
"Wow, this is starting to feel like a historical drama, isn't it?"
As I voiced my honest impression after reading the report on the timeline analysis that Big Brother and the others were working on, Firia-chan, who was reading it alongside me, nodded in agreement.
"Indeed it is. It carries the scent of a major incident. Hivia, you think so too, don't you?"
As I prompted Hivia-chan for her thoughts...
"Well, I am technically in the middle of surveying the southern forest, you know?"
Hivia-chan and the others were on the other side of the monitor, with the forest stretching out in the background.
It was an environment different from the canyons or the valley floors.
While it was a completely different world from the wasteland, it bore a strange resemblance to the Ohe Forest.
It made me wonder if the monsters had actually migrated north from this very environment.
Well, there are other forests, of course.
"Still, it’s quite fascinating. Even from my perspective as someone who devours manga and novels, I agree with Aslin—it feels like a historical drama or some grand epic. Though, in reality, things like that rarely happen."
"Well, if things like in manga and novels happened every time, the world would have faced crisis after crisis."
"It’s a rule not to say that out loud. But if Weed is involved, in a sense, it *is* a world crisis. If someone were to anger Big Brother and break his restraint, honestly, turning an entire continent into charcoal would be easy."
Yeah, just as Firia-chan said, if Big Brother stopped holding back or being considerate, I truly believe he could do whatever he wanted to an entire continent.
But it would take something extreme to make that kind, gentle Big Brother resort to such measures.
If anything, I’d almost want someone to explain the situation that would lead to that.
"Yeah. I agree with that. Big Brother could certainly do that much. But setting that aside, the point is to look at this report, right?"
"Ah, right. We were discussing whether there might be some connection to us..."
"When it comes to 1,000 years ago, there are no traces left in the areas we’re surveying. Isn't that right, Hivia?"
"That’s true. No ruins, no... oh, I see. Aslin, you’re saying we should be more conscious about how we search, aren't you?"
"Yeah. But we’ve been searching from the start, right? Yet, we haven't found a single person who left Ohe for the wasteland. It’s strange, isn't it?"
That’s right. The wasteland is an uncharted territory, but according to the King of Ohe, there were people who headed out into the wasteland in search of a new world.
It’s impossible that this was just a misunderstanding.
"Hmm?"
Firia-chan tilted her head at that.
"What’s wrong? Did something catch your attention?"
"Indeed. We heard from the King of Ohe that they sought a new world in the wasteland. That means the information exists, right? Wouldn't it be important to investigate that first?"
"Ah!"
We both gasped at that realization.
It’s true; we only heard that they went out into the wasteland.
But we should be able to find out what kind of people they were, how many there were, and when they left.
"Since the King of Ohe remembers it, it probably wasn't 1,000 years ago, but finding traces of those people is still vital."
"Yeah. If those people are still out there, it would provide a guideline for the future. But we also have the survey of the southern edge to deal with..."
Starting a manhunt now would be a complete shift in our current objectives.
Our primary focus remains on why the monsters are migrating north.
"True, and Firia and the others need to build the land battleship as well."
"Ah—are you really building it? A hover truck?"
"Something bigger than that. I’m aiming for a Big-something."
"Does that mean you’re building a Mobile-something too!?"
"I’d like to build one someday, but the land battleship comes first. It’s convenient to have."
"Well, yeah. That thing is a mobile fortress. It’s like a giant camper van; if you have one of those, your transportation is covered, and your home is safe. It would be easy to drive through the wasteland, too."
"Hmm-hmm!?"
For some reason, Firia-chan reacted to Hivia-chan’s words.
Oh, wait, I know the Big-something part is true, but it felt like she reacted to something else.
"That’s right. The wasteland of the new continent... it’s perfect for running a land battleship. We’ve cleared a large plot of land near the development base, but when it comes to a place where we can gather data in a near-combat environment on a large scale..."
"Ah, the wasteland is perfect. Especially since no one is there right now."
"Oh, I see!"
It’s true; land battleships are huge, so we were struggling to find a place for test runs or practical application.
The wasteland is the perfect fit for that.
And then, an idea struck me.
"Hey, Firia-chan."
"What is it?"
"Could you use that land battleship not just for data collection, but as a base to search for the monster hordes, and perhaps even find traces of the people who left for the wasteland?"
"We could. As I said, the land battleship can be used as a camp, a base, and even a defensive fortress. If we can deploy it, surveying the wasteland would be much easier. Though... I wonder if we can finish it in time?"
That’s the real issue.
"Firia-chan, how much longer until the land battleship is done?"
"Hmm... right now, not just me, but Narjia-sama, Ager-sama, Comet-sama, Taizo-san, and even Zargis are helping. The engine and internal structure are done. However, the exterior and the armor are too large, so we haven't been able to make them yet."
"That’s to be expected. It’s a land battleship, and it’s the size of a small fort, right? You can’t just whip that up. But it’s impressive that the engine and such are already finished..."
Yeah, it’s amazing that all that’s left is the exterior and armor.
But because of that exterior, it’s impossible to tell how much time it will take.
"Should we ask Big Brother?"
"Big Brother?"
"Yeah. If we deploy it as a mobile base in the wasteland, we can ensure the safety of the survey team, and if the people who left for the wasteland are still alive, there’s a high chance of making contact. Besides, we’d be gathering operational data for the land battleship, all without worrying about the eyes of other countries."
"That’s a big advantage."
"Indeed. Countries are being cautious about advancing into the wasteland. Plus, there’s the locust plague in the countries near Ranks under Gartz’s umbrella and in the regions controlled by Zuraburu, so they can’t move easily."
Ah, I forgot about the locust plague.