Chapter 211: A Heartwarming Day
“After everything that’s happened, it feels like we’ve finally settled down, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
There are still many matters that need to be addressed, but it can be said that the stage for the Commander (Eve) to make judgments or express requests has passed.
From now on, we can leave everything to Ringo, and she will manage things as she sees fit. The strategic AI installed for governance on-site is also developing smoothly, and authority will likely be delegated to it in the future. This means Ringo’s processing capacity will become even more abundant.
“Alright, today we’re going to the beach for some sea bathing and a barbecue! And then, we’ll camp out too!!”
“Camping, you say?”
“Yes! Sometimes it’s nice to spend a night outdoors, don’t you think?”
At the Commander’s (Ma’am) words, Ringo quickly searched her library.
What is camping? Why does she want to do it? What makes it enjoyable? Could any problems arise from it?
After 0.03 seconds of contemplation, Ringo nodded.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
◇◇◇◇
The fortress, The Tree, stood tall in the rocky coastal area, continuously expanding day by day.
Essentially, additional defensive mechanisms were being installed to protect the Commander (Eve) who lived inside.
These included surrounding fences, defensive turrets, and catapults for aerial forces.
In addition to these, there was a facility built alongside them.
An artificial beach.
Occasionally, the Commander felt like swimming, so Ringo had painstakingly designed the facility to allow safe enjoyment of the sea.
The foundation was reinforced with concrete, and multiple fences and nets were installed to prevent unintended species from entering. The interior was covered in sand, large enough for several people to swim and play comfortably. The seawater itself circulated directly with the open ocean, allowing for waves and tides.
It was designed to be all-weather, featuring a transparent crystal ceiling that could be retracted. However, due to concerns about UV damage to the skin and eyes, the ceiling was usually deployed. The sides were not covered, allowing natural breezes to circulate freely.
Inside the beach and around its perimeter, underwater drones and aerial drones regularly patrolled to check for any abnormalities.
The beach was stocked with harmless seaweed, fish, and other small creatures, establishing a semi-independent ecosystem. These were managed by the drones, ensuring that no unintended species were mixed in, that there were no significant fluctuations in population, and that bacteria or viruses were not proliferating, nor toxins being produced. Thorough checks were conducted to ensure that the Commander (Eve) would not be harmed while using the beach—a sort of biotope.
“Ahh… Just floating here, doing nothing, makes me forget everything.”
Eve floated on her back, her bottom snugly fitted into a float. To prevent her from drifting away, a Communicator Android controlled by Ringo firmly grasped the edge of the float and swam vertically. It was quite deep in that area.
“…Big Sister.”
“Oh, Olive.”
As Eve floated, she was bumped by Olive, who was also in a float, splashing around as she moved.
Olive was shy and usually stayed behind her sisters, but in situations like this, she often found herself sticking close to Eve. She had a surprisingly cheeky personality.
“Don’t you want to go play?”
“No, I can’t keep up.”
In Eve’s line of sight, Utsugi and Erika were frolicking about. They were playing a game of tag underwater.
With fins on their feet, they showcased their impressive body control, swimming and jumping out of the water like dolphins or penguins.
By the way, there wasn’t much difference in physical abilities among the Five Sisters as humanoid machines (Androids). If Utsugi and Erika could do it, so could Olive.
“Well, I think those two are the only ones who actively do things like that.”
Eve turned her gaze toward the sandy beach. There, Akane and Ichigo were busy constructing something out of sand.
It seemed they were practicing creating sand art, something they had read about in some materials. Several failed attempts had already been left on the beach.
“Don’t you want to go over there?”
“Um… I’m in the mood for this right now.”
“Oh, is that so?”
As Eve pondered, she thought about the Five Sisters: Akane, Ichigo, Utsugi, Erika, and Olive. Each of them seemed to have their own hobbies or were often seen playing during their free time. They enjoyed entertainment as entertainment, often immersing themselves in things they loved.
However, she felt that she rarely saw Ringo engaging in such activities.
Still…
(Ringo’s abilities are just too high. She probably masters any hobby in an instant. Moreover, it’s all just in simulations.)
With Ringo at the helm, most tasks would be accomplished effortlessly. Conversely, the Five Sisters’ engagement in hobbies depended on their hardware’s capabilities. Their standalone simulation abilities weren’t that high, and the only way to confirm if something was possible was to actually try it out.
Eve smiled wryly at Olive, who was leaning in closer with a seemingly happy expression, and gently patted her head.
The Communicator Androids were equipped with nerves that responded to being petted. Many animals have a function that allows them to feel pleasure when petted. One could imagine this was modeled after that, but why was such a function installed in machines?
Well, neither Eve nor Ringo designed it. It was a template that had been preserved from the beginning. No answers would come from pondering it, nor was there anyone to provide them.
As she continued to stroke Olive, who was squinting her eyes in pleasure, Eve let her thoughts drift aimlessly.
◇◇◇◇
It was barbecue time.
The barbecue set was being meticulously managed by Ringo. Inside the large grill, charcoal was prepared, and a massive chunk of meat was sizzling away. The meat resembled a pig, a livestock discovered in the Afrasia United Kingdom. Eve referred to it simply as “pig.”
Ringo operated several Communicator Androids to handle the cooking.
“Big Sister. The meat is ready. Please enjoy it.”
“Thank you. I’ll take some.”
Akane gently placed a piece of meat she had grilled herself onto Eve’s plate using tongs. Of course, Ringo had thoroughly checked the cooking level, ensuring it was perfect. Thus, there were no objections.
Once Eve took a bite, Akane also began to serve herself.
“It’s delicious.”
“…”
Akane nodded while chewing. She had a hearty appetite. Recently, she seemed to be getting into cooking, enjoying the act of creating various dishes with her own hands.
Meanwhile, Utsugi and Erika were busy making yakisoba. With headbands on, they skillfully mixed and cooked it with spatulas. They looked surprisingly adept.
Additionally, fish and shellfish caught nearby were being grilled, along with vegetables like onions and corn that they had cultivated. It resembled an ideal barbecue one might have in a backyard.
The dishes served daily were delicious, but outdoor cooking like this felt especially tasty.
The extraordinary atmosphere likely heightened the flavors. Who knows?
It was evening. They had started swimming after lunch, so they were somewhat fatigued. Naturally, their stomachs were growling. As Eve received a serving of yakisoba in a cheap transparent plastic container from Erika, she made a wish.
May this fluffy, happy life continue forever.
And why was the yakisoba served in such a container? What, a stylistic choice? It made no sense.