Chapter 264: Material Collection Request
Eve and Asahi sat in front of the Magic Essence Meter placed on the dock, gazing intently at the monitor.
“1,281.56%. Hmm, it seems there’s no mistake. There might be a malfunction in the electronic circuit, but…”
“Did you check it before we set off?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I confirmed its operation. Well, the sensor part is made of biological cells, so it’s possible it’s picking up some strange noise…”
Due to the strong sunlight, Ringo opened an umbrella. Eve had dashed off without waiting for it, as they were planning to return indoors immediately. Although Eve didn’t want to expose herself to UV rays that could harm her skin and eyes, it was a minor concern.
“Fantasy often presents phenomena that science can’t explain, but that doesn’t mean there are no rules. Probably.”
“Probably.”
“The Magic Essence Meter indicates a high concentration of magic essence, so it must be dense here.”
Despite some fluctuations, the reading remained at 1280%. This meant that compared to the barren lands of the Afrasia United Kingdom, the magic density at The Tree was 12.8 times greater.
“Really? This place has such a high concentration of magic essence… is that true?”
“Um… I’m sorry, Asahi, but I can’t say for sure.”
“Asahi, is there any possibility that the magic density could have an effect on us or Ma’am?”
“Well, I’m not sure. The key issue is how long this high magic density has been present. If it’s been like this from the start, then it wouldn’t be surprising if there were already effects. If it’s recent, then I can’t say. However, I’ve never observed any phenomena where living beings were affected by magic density. What will you do, Ringo?”
“…”
This was an unexpected situation. Clearly, Ringo’s response time had slowed down. Nonetheless…
“Ringo, no matter how much you calculate, you won’t get results without the necessary information.”
Asahi interjected with a slightly exasperated tone.
For the AIs, who prioritized Ma’am’s safety above all, this was crucial information. Fortunately, Asahi, an AI with resistance to fantasy, could guide her companions.
“All of my vital information is recorded, right? First, let’s check for any significant changes from the past to the present. We should also examine the facilities within The Tree as much as possible. Additionally, we need to gather all available Magic Essence Meters to measure the magic density around The Tree. It’s been established that the magic density varies by location, so we need to collect information.”
“…Wow, Asahi is really working hard.”
“Hey, Ma’am, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think!?”
With that, Eve stood up while gently patting Asahi’s head.
“Ringo, I don’t know how this magic density will affect us. I’m not feeling unwell, and there haven’t been any unusual incidents recently. There’s no immediate need for me to evacuate, right? If you’re worried, I can enter the Medical Pod. So, let’s focus on gathering information first.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“And Asahi, you’re scheduled for an overhaul as planned.”
“Ma’am!?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
In a panic, Asahi tried to escape, but Eve grabbed her by the collar, and she was promptly picked up by the work machine operated by Ringo. She was in a state reminiscent of a kitten being carried by the scruff of its neck.
“It will take time to get results. You should finish your overhaul while you can.”
“That’s so unreasonable!”
As Asahi was taken away, Eve waved goodbye and began walking back into The Tree.
“So, Ringo. Did you find any abnormalities?”
“No, Ma’am. I didn’t find any fluctuations that can be explained scientifically.”
Ringo had finished analyzing all the data recorded since Eve and The Tree had transferred to this world.
“At least, no anomalies have been detected through scientific means. The question now is whether any magical anomalies are occurring…”
“That’s something we can’t really judge… Well, we’ll just have to wait for the results of the magic density.”
The Magic Essence Meters manufactured by The Tree that were used in the Afrasia United Kingdom had already been collected. They were scheduled to be transported in the Flying Boat Albatross, starting with the nearest ones. However, there were only twelve units in total—the entire initial production lot that The Tree had successfully manufactured.
While there were more Magic Essence Meters originally used in North End City, their accuracy was poor, and they couldn’t even connect to the electronic circuits. This meant that there was an urgent need to increase the production of The Tree’s Magic Essence Meters.
“To manufacture more Magic Essence Meters, we need raw materials. Those can only be harvested from the Demon Forest.”
“That’s definitely a bottleneck. Maybe we should just establish a base within the Demon Forest…”
If they were to continue producing magical tools, it might be necessary to set up facilities either near or within the forest. However, that was a concern for the future.
“For now, let’s increase our forces heading into the Demon Forest to collect materials. Also, let’s send a request to those adventurers for collection. They have a large number of members, so we might see an increase in supply.”
In North End City, there were many adventurers. They specialized in gathering and hunting within the Demon Forest, so it would be wise to enlist their help. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they were supported for situations like this.
“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll take care of it.”
The Magic Essence Meter that Asahi had brought back was immediately put to use. An automated machine retrieved the briefcase and set it up in the cargo hold of the Albatross.
The Albatross would fly around The Tree, measuring the magic density.
“So, what should I do? Should I enter the Medical Pod?”
“…You may continue your usual activities.”
Ringo hesitated for a moment before making that judgment. It was more logical to consider that the magic density had been high for a considerable time rather than thinking that a sudden spike coincided with the arrival of the Magic Essence Meter.
If that were the case, the likelihood of immediate effects on Ma’am was low. Moreover, even if something were to happen, throwing her into the Medical Pod afterward wouldn’t significantly change the risk. After all, Eve was holed up within the fortress, ready for immediate response.
“Okay. For now… we can transmit the readings from that Magic Essence Meter wirelessly, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Then let’s check the readings in the command room.”
The abnormalities in the Magic Essence Meter readings had already been communicated to the other sisters. If they were concerned, they would likely gather in the command room.
“Hmm. I wonder if this was a fine play by Asahi.”
“If we consider it in terms of discovering phenomena we should recognize, then yes. If we had brought the Magic Essence Meter to The Tree sooner, we might have noticed it earlier.”
“Weren’t we leaving the use of the Magic Essence Meter to them?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The local strategic AI, Cosmos, and Asahi were in charge of its operation. They were indeed fully engaged in creating a map of the magic density there, making it difficult to choose the option of bringing it to The Tree.”
If they had made a slightly different judgment, they might have noticed sooner. Ringo seemed to be reflecting on that.
“Maybe my lack of interest in magical tools was part of the problem… Well, I’ll be more careful next time.”
Asahi is so cute, isn’t she? I can understand why one would want to capture her.