Chapter 284: Iris Did Her Best
“We are aiming for the depths of the Demon Forest. I believe our goals align in that they will at least pave the way to your Holy Land.”
“…Indeed, that is the goal of our Chimiya family. Many have come before us, exchanging such words and attempting to forge alliances, yet none have ever fulfilled those promises.”
The representative of the Chimiya family spoke with a heavy tone. In less than two hundred years as a nation, numerous spies had infiltrated their ranks, attempting to sway the Chimiya family.
However…
“Supplies have run dry, no people are sent, yet you demand our military to be dispatched. We do not trust outsiders. We do not place our faith in them. We will never offer anything from ourselves.”
“What we seek from you is simply to move forward. To open the path. While we could manage it alone, your cooperation would expedite our progress.”
“…You have demonstrated your power. Our nation is now under your control…”
It seemed they had gathered such information to a certain extent. Of course, Iris was also collecting as much information as possible. The Chimiya family had temporarily halted their expansion due to a shortage of supplies. Naturally, this was a consequence of The Tree’s invasion.
However, it appeared that their efforts to maintain the expansion and the path had also reached their limits.
“Our invasion was a response to your declaration of war. In answer to a plea for help from our friends, we decided to invade the Prava Divine Nation.”
“…I see. So, it was indeed a hasty decision on our part.”
The Pope had decided on the expedition. While there was sufficient land within the country, the population was lacking. Even if they aimed to increase food production, the output had reached its limits. Yet, a vast amount of food was necessary for the development of the Demon Forest. Additionally, they needed to equip themselves with weapons. The metal technology of the Prava Divine Nation was not particularly advanced. Thus, they sought these resources from foreign lands. Understanding that their military strength was quite formidable and judging that they had a good chance of success, the Pope resolved to venture out.
“We will prepare all necessary supplies. I do not expect you to trust us immediately. However, we are ready to provide assistance to the best of our ability when requested.”
“…We shall heed your words. We too wish to avoid conflict with you. A battle against you, who have brought down our Archbishop, would be an unbearable hardship for us.”
“Our perspectives align. We have confirmed that we will not engage in conflict for now.”
With that, Ichihatsu—Iris and Ureberia shook hands. There were many decisions yet to be made. However, a full-scale clash between the Chimiya family and The Tree had been averted.
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“They hardly seem like fellow countrymen.”
“Yes, Ma’am. We were unable to communicate with the monk soldiers at all.”
While occupying villages and towns, they had repeatedly sought dialogue using their precious Communicator Androids. Yet, the monk soldiers, priests, and the High Priest had all been unresponsive. It was unclear what ideologies drove them or how they communicated, but they never responded to any calls for surrender, regardless of the circumstances. Dialogue was impossible. The units of The Tree were deemed enemies and met with constant resistance.
“A strange nation indeed. However, the unity of their people… or rather, the cohesion among the monk soldiers is extraordinary. Truly, it was fortunate that we managed to crush them at this stage.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It can be said that we were lucky to strike at them early on.”
“Older Sister, this is an incredible threat! The Prava Divine Nation is merely a phenomenon of a single state on one continent. Their technological level is minimal, their civilization is primitive, and yet their magical capabilities are sharp! Despite that, we are struggling against their military power with our current Asahi units! If we do not grasp the situation on this planet soon, it may be too late!”
Asahi, who had been returned to The Tree to assist with data analysis, shouted beside Eve.
“Even on the Northern Continent, we have barely completed our investigations in the southern regions! The eastern and western sides remain unexplored. It is time to send out a proper investigation team!”
“Indeed. With the communication routes secured, we can also prepare a dispatch unit.”
“Yes, Ma’am. We have a backlog of satellite photos, but there are many areas that remain unanalysable. We must urgently investigate the existence of any civilizations that may pose a threat.”
◇◇◇◇
After concluding the initial negotiations, Ichihatsu—Iris immediately set about establishing a base camp. Multi-legged walkers rushed in from the rear, carrying supplies. In no time, they were assembled, and an impromptu storage area emerged.
What was brought in were containers filled with a large quantity of food supplies.
Bags of wheat, biscuits, and other grains.
Smoked and salted meats.
Processed preserved foods resembling calorie bars.
Packaged water and alcohol.
Rock salt and refined salt.
Honey, sugar, and syrups.
All of these were handed over to the Chimiya family as a first-time service. Future supplies would be exchanged for valuable goods. They primarily anticipated materials from monsters, but ores would likely be accepted as well.
Additionally, as product samples, they included fabrics and threads. The fabrics and threads appeared to be made from plant fibers similar to hemp, and the Chimiya family showed considerable interest in the high-quality products from The Tree, including cellulose thread, nylon thread, and the newly produced cotton.
That said, in terms of strength and beauty, it seemed that threads produced by monsters already existed, so they were not overly surprised. Upon checking some of the exchange targets, they appeared to be something akin to silk.
According to Asahi, there were no particularly unique points in the chemical structure, and the strength was adequate. However, it seemed that some kind of monster was producing them in large quantities, which they were harvesting.
Lastly, there were metal products. These were received with great joy. Not only were they strong and hard, but they also possessed a certain flexibility, making them highly valued for weaponry. While food was undoubtedly important, it could be obtained to some extent through hunting and gathering, so there was a greater desire for weapons.
For now, it seemed that setting up a simple refining plant and forging facilities would be well-received.
Currently, the Chimiya family had reportedly retreated to a shallow area of the forest. They lacked the supplies to venture deeper. In the depths, monster attacks occurred frequently, making food production and gathering exceedingly difficult. They needed to produce these resources in the shallow areas of the forest or outside. However, if they maintained a base in the depths, they would be burdened with defense and the transportation of supplies. Without external support, even maintaining the base would be challenging.
Originally, it seemed they had planned to temporarily retreat only during this war, leaving behind only a maintenance crew in the depths, and to re-enter once supplies stabilized. However, The Tree’s invasion had thrown all of that into disarray.
Until now, the Prava Divine Nation had been located in the borderlands, and even as they expanded their territory, they had not faced significant conflicts. However, decades ago, they had come into contact with the borders of another nation, causing their expansion to stagnate.
The Chimiya family had wished to slowly build their base after penetrating as far into the Demon Forest as they could, rather than forcing their military strength outward. However, the Pope’s desire for rapid expansion had sparked the beginning of a large-scale invasion by the Divine Nation.
Upon confirming this information, Duke Amagio Silverhead sighed and muttered, “Diplomatic ineptitude, indeed…”
In any case, the provision of supplies had set a good foundation for the relationship with the Chimiya family. Now, they simply needed to build a cooperative relationship while enhancing mutual benefits.
Iris-chan is a hardworking and good girl. The real issue lies in the fact that she has acquired the body of Ichihatsu-chan. There’s no stopping the skinship now!