Chapter 55: The Presence of a New Type of Monster
The Walker Prototype 1 (WP1) firmly anchored itself to the ground by driving piles from its six legs. It then skillfully operated its work arms to utilize a drilling machine for geological surveys, inserting samplers into the earth.
Currently, three WP1 units were conducting geological surveys for the construction site of a fortress. While a deep vertical shaft was necessary for the planned underground structures, the simple drilling equipment mounted on the WP1 was sufficient for the temporary warehouses, makeshift airfields, and road construction. Out of the three WP1 units, two were engaged in drilling while one assisted with sample collection. The collected samples were currently piled on the coast, but they were scheduled to be transported to the construction ship as soon as the pier was connected.
The black earth, nearly devoid of vegetation, was animated by the movements of the silver Walker, which scurried about, its arms busily working. From a distance, the sight was somewhat comical.
However, up close, the massive machine, standing about 4 meters tall and over 10 meters in both width and length, would evoke a primal fear. Its movements were oddly smooth and biological. Currently powered by a gas turbine engine, it was noisy, but once it transitioned to a microwave power transmission system, it would become eerily silent, further enhancing its monstrous appearance.
“So, you have something concerning?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
After watching the WP1 work diligently for a while, she recalled to check in with RINGO.
“We’re conducting drilling surveys, and we’ve confirmed the presence of tunnel-like structures ranging from a few centimeters to several dozen centimeters in diameter, crisscrossing the strata. These structures do not appear to be the result of natural phenomena, so we believe some form of life is involved.”
“…Within the lava rock?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’ll confirm this, but it’s not fragile, is it?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s standard lava rock. While there are areas with pumice-like structures, rock is still rock.”
“…What now? Another bizarre creature, perhaps?”
“Unknown. However, the likelihood is high.”
What should be done about this? After receiving the report from RINGO, she pondered. Honestly, RINGO wouldn’t bother reporting something trivial like a wild animal. This meant that RINGO was also uncertain about the situation. However, the fact that it was merely a report indicated that it wasn’t a major issue yet. She could simply observe without further thought.
“Something tells me that leaving this alone might not be a good idea…”
“Yes, Ma’am. I believe some form of action is necessary. However, since this is unprecedented, we are at a loss.”
“Well, it’s understandable that even RINGO would struggle with this.”
RINGO was indeed an exceptionally capable AI, but it lacked experience. Moreover, it originated from a sci-fi game. It was only natural that it wouldn’t know how to handle something that smelled of the absurd (fantasy). Even she, with more experience from stories and games, found it hard to imagine the situation.
“There are numerous tunnels within the solidified lava rock that don’t seem to be the result of natural weathering. Their diameters vary. So, how do we approach this?”
After voicing her thoughts, she considered that identifying the cause—likely a monster—was the only way forward.
“For instance, what kind of creatures might dig such tunnels?”
“Yes, Ma’am. If we consider underground-dwelling creatures, larger ones could include moles or certain rodents. Smaller ones might be ants or various insects, or perhaps arthropods and worms. There are also various types of microorganisms, but those are too small to be relevant.”
“Hmm. Simply put, could it be animals like moles or rodents?”
“Yes, Ma’am. However, if they are mammals, they would require a food source such as plants, fungi, insects, or other organisms like worms.”
“Oh, right. Food is important.”
Food was indeed crucial. However, they had yet to investigate the underground ecosystem.
“Currently, we have not confirmed the presence of any biological ecosystem within the lava layers. The samples from our preliminary survey showed no biological traces.”
“I see… That means it’s unlikely to be a normal creature. If that’s the case… perhaps it’s a being that relies on magic, outside the bounds of scientific understanding.”
“If that’s the case, we are at a complete loss. We have no foundational knowledge, so we can’t even begin to imagine.”
“Well, yes,” she replied. Multiplying zero by anything still results in zero. To move zero, one must add something positive.
“I suppose we’ll have to gather information in Port Town of Terek. The lava layers extend throughout the Afrasia United Kingdom, so similar findings might exist.”
Thus, RINGO was tasked with discreetly gathering information in Port Town of Terek. Asking locals was the best way to learn about the area.
After several days of inquiries, the results came in.
“Ma’am, we have gathered information regarding the monsters lurking underground.”
“…Monsters?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Monsters. She was taken aback, as she had only encountered the Rain Croin as a creature referred to as a monster until now.
“Alright, I understand. Please continue.”
“Yes, Ma’am. The name of the monster is the Worm. Due to the lack of advanced studies, biological classifications are unreliable. It is a violent creature that lives underground and occasionally surfaces. The smaller ones are about the size of a fingertip, while larger ones are said to stretch taller than mountains in legends. When encountered, the best course of action is to flee without doing anything. There have been instances of attacks from below, and in those cases, it is advised to give up.”
“Worm… huh…”
Worm. The term typically refers to a long, slender creature like an earthworm. While the nuances might differ between languages, RINGO’s translation was likely accurate.
“So, this Worm monster is digging through the lava layers?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The likelihood is high. From what I’ve gathered, it seems they have a defined habitat. They are not found everywhere. Therefore, there is a possibility that Worms inhabit the area currently under investigation.”
That was information she did not want to hear. Should they now search for a location without Worms? However, the pier offshore was still under construction. Abandoning it would be a waste.
“Is extermination possible? Or even coexistence?”
“That remains unclear. Most of the information is merely hearsay. In that regard, there seem to be very few sightings around Port Town of Terek or Iron Town, as well as along the roads. We may have drawn the short straw.”
“Don’t say ‘short straw’!”
Had they unlucky enough to land in the habitat of the Worm? Or was the entire coastline part of its territory? Either way, further investigation was necessary.
“However, I’ve heard equal accounts of swords being either able to slice through them or being repelled. It seems more reasonable to consider that there are individual differences in hardness rather than information being contradictory.”
If RINGO had analyzed it that way, then it was likely true. This suggested that the chances of encountering an individual with absurd defensive capabilities like the Rain Croin were somewhat low.
“Nevertheless, we can’t afford to be unprepared. We should select several sampling locations and dispatch WP1. …Perhaps we should create a specialized unit for investigation.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Since this involves surveying cavity distributions, we should equip it with devices capable of sonic exploration. However, this may provoke the Worms or other creatures.”
“Hmm. We’ll have to factor in some sacrifices. Let’s form a team to handle this. Build the necessary number of units in two-man cells and include a mothership based on the Alpha-class.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I will begin construction.”