第１９３９堀：懸念の答え (Part2)
That is something other nations could never hope to replicate.
To attempt the same would require a staggering number of people, and once you factor in the sheer manpower needed for agriculture, the balance would likely tip into the red.
Even if one were to consider using agricultural machinery outside of Weed, the infrastructure simply isn't there to support it.
"But, I digress. Regarding the relationship between the military and civilians here, setting aside the agricultural aspect, there’s the fact that they are all connected by the shipbuilding industry."
"You’re right. When it comes to the shipyard, it feels less like a military installation and more like a workplace."
"Exactly. So, there isn't that suffocating military rigidity. That said, it is a gathering of master craftsmen, so..."
As Yuki-sama was speaking, from the direction of the shipyard...
*BOOM!*
A thunderous sound echoed through the air.
It sounded like something of immense weight had collapsed.
Then, the sound of shouting reached our ears.
An accident!?
Everyone immediately broke into a run.
"Have you contacted Narjia-san?"
"I’m trying, but there’s no response. What about Prol and Agil!?"
"Nothing here either. Comet-sama, Firia-sama, and Zargis-sama are all unreachable as well."
Total radio silence.
This... this is looking incredibly grim.
Thinking this, I pushed my speed to the limit, moving as if I were in the heat of battle.
For an ordinary person without ability, a collision at this speed would be fatal.
But for those caught in an accident, every second is a matter of life and death.
There is no reason to hold back.
"Is everyone alright!? Report the situation!"
I shouted as I dove into the entrance of the shipyard building.
However, this shipyard is a massive structure.
The chances of grasping the full scope from the entrance are slim; I would have to push deeper into the facility.
How typical—its sheer size has become our greatest obstacle.
I scanned the area, hoping to find someone who could guide us or explain what happened... when suddenly—
*Rumble, rumble...*
A massive shape flickered in the corner of my vision.
It was truly colossal, beyond words...
It was as if a mountain itself had begun to stir.
"Ugh!? You’ve got to be kidding me, it’s actually moving!? There wasn't a single word of warning! Orelia, any contact?"
"I am still attempting to reach them, but there is no response. Perhaps..."
"Ahaha~, everyone. I’m sure they’re just so absorbed in gathering data inside that they’ve lost track of everything else~."
"If they answered, they’d have to stop what they’re doing, and they likely believe that for the sake of safety, they need to focus all their efforts on the operation..."
...Orelia and the others are likely right.
Those little rascals...
Or perhaps, it’s precisely because their minds are so sharp that this happened.
To think they had already...
"So they actually finished it. I thought it was just the exterior, but they’ve truly exceeded my expectations."
"No~, didn't you have some idea, Yuki-san? Anyway, what are you going to do about that thing? Are we stopping it?"
"No, that’s impossible. Trying to stop it clumsily could trigger an actual accident. There should be a command center of some sort—where is it? Given the size, it ought to be near the ceiling so they can see from above..."
With that, Yuki-sama looked up toward the rafters, searching for the command post.
Fortunately, while the shipyard floor was cluttered, the upper levels were clear, and the structure was quickly identified.
"There it is. You can see them pressed against the glass, checking the readings."
"Indeed."
Looking closely, I could see Agil and Firia plastered against the window, staring intently at the land battleship.
They hadn't noticed us at all.
"...If I fly up there recklessly, it might cause another accident. We’ll move according to the walkways within the shipyard."
Yuki-sama surely wants to fly straight to them, but he chooses to follow the rules for the sake of safety within the facility.
Indeed, if Agil and the others were startled and the land battleship suffered a mishap, it would turn into a genuine disaster.
Prepare yourselves, you researchers.
Well, even in the real world, there are such things as prototypes before the finished product, so I suppose you could call it that.
...Though, usually, there’s a mountain of paperwork and applications required to operate a prototype!