“Data analysis complete. May I report?”
“Yes, please do.”
Akane, standing before Eve seated in the command seat, began her report. While AI could share data instantaneously via data communication, the still-flesh-and-blood Eve needed explanations through words and visuals.
Although bio-modification was possible, Eve hadn’t felt the need for it yet, so she remained as she was.
＜Ringo＞ wasn’t actively recommending it either, which was another reason.
“First, an accurate assessment of our forces.”
Currently, as land combat units, they had prepared humanoid-sized bipedal machines, quadrupedal attack machines, Quadruped Tanks, six-legged Multi-legged Tanks, Ground Carriers, and Land Battleships.
Units like multi-wheeled vehicles and tracked vehicles could also be produced, but they hadn’t been deployed to Prawa Theocracy yet.
“Against ordinary human nations, Quadruped Tanks are sufficient. However, against high-performance units like the Theocracy’s Warrior Monks, they are somewhat lacking. It is necessary to deploy the Main Multi-legged Tanks.”
Against even the High Priest class of the Theocracy, deploying the Main Multi-legged Tanks would be sufficient. Quadruped Tanks could handle them, but the attrition rate would increase, making it ultimately inefficient.
“＜Iris＞ has accumulated ample combat experience. We have determined that deploying the Main Multi-legged Tanks will allow for sufficient suppression.”
“I see. It’s more than expected, but still within the realm of possibility, I suppose.”
“＜Ringo＞’s scenario can handle it. ＜Iris＞ is proposing a re-invasion in one week as planned.”
In one week, all lost forces could be recovered.
The main Multi-legged Tanks were already prepared, so it was just a matter of rebuilding the Quadruped Tanks and the Land Battleship ＜Jötunn＞.
As for Jötunn, it couldn’t be built at the Theocracy’s base, so it would have to be transported from Fortress Two (Black Iron).
“The force reconstruction plan is registered. Production of Quadruped Tanks has already completed 8% of the prescribed number.”
“Oh. Thank you, ＜Iris＞. Resource production is also going smoothly. It seems we can recover the war expenses sufficiently. It was more abundant than I thought.”
＜Iris＞ presented a projected graph of force recovery and the state of resource production within the Theocracy.
The results of the survey of the lode’s reserves and the production volume of several lodes where mining had begun.
“Regarding the Theocracy, the balance between consumed resources and produced resources is expected to turn positive in a few weeks. We are already covering all production equipment-related needs with resources produced within the Theocracy.”
“Yes, yes. Transportation costs are terrible, after all.”
Transporting automated machines produced at another base incurred a very heavy cost. It wasn’t just a simple matter of needing fuel to transport them. Large transport ships, self-propelled machines needed for land transport. If you lay railway tracks, the maintenance costs are high. More than anything, it takes time. Consumed resources can be replenished by mining, but the time used cannot be recovered.
“The necessary production bases, including backups, have been completed for the time being. For the time being, production resources will be allocated to Fortress construction. We will continue to produce invasion forces as well.”
After capturing the Holy Capital, they would proceed to subdue the northern part of the Theocracy. Incidentally, it would be necessary to negotiate with the unit called the Chimyera Clan.
However, to do that, it was essential to eliminate the Holy Capital’s forces first.
“From here, it’s my turn~”
Erika stood up from her seat with a twirl. Akane nodded and returned to her seat.
“We didn’t include aerial forces in the initial attack~. I did some measurements, and it seems we can handle those Bishop class units if we deploy aerial forces~.”
Bombers flying at speeds of 900 km/h or more, supersonic fighters. The determination was that they could attack unilaterally without being detected if these were deployed.
“If we combine them with the Aerial Carrier (Gigantia) Squad~. If we can deploy two squads, we might be able to suppress the Archbishop as well~.”
The Gigantia Squad. An aerial fortress consisting of one Aerial Carrier (Gigantia) and four Aerial Escort Ships (Titan). It was predicted that by combining the numerous cannons of the Gigantia and Titan with the strike power of the launching Aeroplanes, they could defeat even that Archbishop.
“I wonder if they can withstand ballistic missiles~.”
If a heavy object falling from directly above at a speed approaching Mach 10 could hit before being detected, maybe. Even if it didn’t hit directly, a corresponding effect could be expected if it landed nearby.
“Thank you, Erika. Does that mean we can eliminate all the Warrior Monks in the next invasion?”
“That’s right~. Of course, if we properly deploy our forces, that is!”
It also meant that limited force deployments like this time wouldn’t work.
However, they had gathered enough information. Now, all that was left was to grind them down.
“What I’m concerned about~ is that we couldn’t confirm the Pope, and the Chimyera Clan didn’t appear either~.”
“…If strength and rank are linked, then the Pope’s strength is an uncertain factor, huh? But, is the Pope determined solely by strength?”
In the previous invasion, the Holy Capital had been in a rather critical state. The AI’s consensus was that it was unlikely there were still forces being held back in that state. The Chimyera Clan hadn’t appeared either, but since their command and control system seemed fundamentally different, that was understandable.
“Unknown, Ma’am. However, since it is a structure where one rises through military power, we predict that there is a high possibility that the top is not military power but brains, and that there is a division of roles.”
Prawa Theocracy, at least at the present time, was in the category of countries that were succeeding in national management. If the top was determined solely by brute force (magical power?), there was no way they could maintain such a successful social system, was their view.
It was not impossible that the Pope happened to be extremely intelligent and powerful, though.
“Well, there’s no way to confirm it other than to clash with them next time. Okay, I understand the next invasion. Do a good job.”
“Leave it to me~”
Tactical AIs, with Erika as their core, controlled all the automated machines on-site. They were mainly installed in the Gigantia and would participate from there.
“And then, Onee-sama! The Holy Capital’s Magic Barrier, isn’t it!”
The last thing to confirm was the barrier stretched across the walls and the sky. It was assumed that its source was the giant Magic Stone installed in the center of the Holy Capital.
“Regarding the size of the Magic Stone, it seems to be at least one size larger than the ＜Wyvern＞ or ＜Rain Croin＞! In terms of volume, it seems to be about twice as large!”
The one recovered from inside the Wyvern and ＜Rain Croin＞’s Magic Stone. The measurement results indicated that it was considerably larger than those.
“Well, that Mountain Boar, might have a Magic Stone of about that size!”
The Mountain Boar was a giant boar observed in the Forest Country (Lebresta). Its size was about the same as a Wyvern, but its volume and mass were estimated to be ten times greater.
Certainly, with such a massive body, it wouldn’t be surprising to have a giant Magic Stone inside.
“Well, you can’t guess where the Magic Stone came from! The important thing is the mechanism of barrier generation!”
A considerable number of the intruding bots had been destroyed by the Warrior Monks, and the real-time data coming in was decreasing. However, they had been able to obtain high-precision information thanks to the large number of bots deployed temporarily.
“From that Magic Stone, something like cables were stretched towards the walls through the pedestal! It doesn’t seem to be metal, so it was quite difficult to detect!”
Apparently, there was something like an earthenware pipe buried in the ground to run the mysterious cables, and they had been able to detect it. It extended radially from the Magic Stone in almost equal intervals in six directions, reaching the walls.
“We were able to dig up and confirm a part of it, but it’s probably the blood vessel of some creature!”
“…Blood vessel?”
“Yes, Onee-sama! Of course, blood wasn’t flowing through it! But it was clearly a tube made of living cells, so it must be a blood vessel!”
Apparently, tubes made of living cells connected to the Magic Stone were buried in the ground, stretching to the walls. They hadn’t been able to confirm what was beyond that, but it was likely that they were also stretched inside the walls.
“….What, so, you’re saying that a Magic Stone and blood vessels taken from some Monster are buried throughout the entire city?”
“Yes, Onee-sama!”
Making Magic Tools from materials derived from Monsters is a staple in otherworld fantasies, isn’t it?
It’s a staple, but you know. I thought after writing it, for some reason it’s a little grotesque. Why is that?