Chapter 57: Search for the Worm
Subterranean exploration via ultrasound.
Multi-legged Heavy Machine (Walker) Prototype 2, specialized for surveying underground cavities, is gradually expanding its search area.
WP2 retains its basic design but has swapped out its equipment for survey instruments and weaponry. It’s linked to the Alpha-Class Destroyer stationed offshore, constantly analyzing subterranean data.
Its armament consists of a multi-barrel machine gun and a grenade launcher. Moreover, one of its two work arms is equipped with a hard, self-defense mace, enabling blunt attacks.
Employing carbon nanotube artificial muscles and a titanium alloy skeleton, it’s a masterpiece that enhances striking power and improves impact resistance. The original steel-based skeleton was calculated to self-destruct upon delivering blunt attacks, necessitating a completely new build.
“After all, it needs to be able to handle close combat!”
This weapon was equipped at the behest of Commander (Mum). ＜Ringo＞’s struggles were palpable.
Incidentally, the development of a pile bunker weapon has also been ordered.
“We’re still detecting numerous cavities. There are traces within at least a 1km radius. The 3rd Squad, which we’ve sent ahead, is detecting them less frequently, but they’ve found cavities even 2km straight ahead.”
“Hmm… But there aren’t any around Telek Port City or Iron Town, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The area around Iron Town was surveyed from the air, so we may have missed smaller ones, but Telek Port City was surveyed at night by WP2, so it’s accurate.”
In other words, the various cavities, large and small, existing underground at this planned fortress construction site are likely unique to this land. The survey area is being expanded sequentially, but the 3rd Squad’s results show that the detection frequency decreases the further away they get.
This means that the activity range of this creature, presumed to be a Worm, is limited.
“However, we still haven’t found the Worm itself.”
“That’s what worries me…”
We’ve almost finished exploring a square kilometer, but unfortunately, we haven’t found any reactions that seem to be the Worm itself. If the Worms in this area are extinct, that would be ideal, but not being able to investigate their ecology is a problem.
After all, we’re dealing with a creature that effortlessly bores through Lava Rock. We can’t allow it to bore holes in the fortress’s underground structure as well.
“We can’t construct large structures until we’ve established some countermeasures.”
“That’s right. Even if we bury intrusion prevention barriers, we can’t verify what materials or structures would be effective.”
Burying iron plates is pointless if they can be bored through. The same goes for concrete. We need to determine the principle by which they’re digging underground.
“It’s also a problem that the locals have no information at all.”
We’ve been continuing information gathering since then, but no useful information has surfaced. Few people travel in the first place, and if, for example, a caravan was attacked by Worms, they would likely be wiped out, and the information would be lost.
In the first place, it’s impossible to know if they were attacked by Worms, bandits, or if it was an accident. It’s only after several weeks past the expected arrival date that they’re finally declared missing. Traveling by foot or carriage, a 1-2 week delay in the journey is common.
“Hmm… As uncertain information, Worms are almost never found in areas with a lot of greenery…”
However, as a rule of thumb, Worms don’t seem to inhabit lands densely populated with trees. Usually, towns are built adjacent to springs or forests, so Worms inevitably don’t appear around them.
Roads also basically run while connecting water sources, so they’re thought to be outside the Worms’ habitat.
“Ma’am. The Afrasia United Kingdom, with its scattered lakes, springs, and forests, may have had its terrain formed by Worms.”
“…Hmm?”
“It’s still under investigation, but for example, comparing the geology around the forest in Iron Town to the forest itself, there’s an inexplicable discontinuity. There’s a good chance it’s simply the original land characteristics or the work of groundwater, but it’s also possible that the Worms riddled the bedrock with holes, which then weathered.”
This is a possibility that has emerged during the ongoing investigation. When Worms riddle Lava Rock with holes, the thin parts eventually collapse due to wind and rain. Rainwater accumulates, underground water veins flow in, and lakes and springs are formed. Or, plants grow in damp sandy soil, and eventually soil is created.
Of course, this is just a hypothesis. However, there are quite a few sightings of the Worms themselves, so they don’t seem to be a sudden, mutated monster, but rather integrated into the ecosystem of this land. And the results of the current fortress construction site survey.
“This land has also been heavily ravaged. And some of it has been weathered, and we can confirm terrain that has become sandy and collapsed. There were also plants, moss, and insects living there, so we can judge that the ecosystem is developing.”
“I see. I thought it was barren land full of lava, but it can spread like that, huh?”
You could call it the mystery of life. However, even if we understand a part of the mechanism, the crucial ecology of the Worm remains unknown.
“If we could somehow lure them to the surface, we could capture or defeat them.”
“I wonder if they still live in this land in the first place?”
“Unknown.”
Well, we’ll have to continue the investigation for a while. We’re also conducting resource surveys in parallel, and we’re finding a fair amount of iron and other promising elements, regardless of the content.
Above all, it’s significant that we found limestone, although we need to dig deep. There’s a possibility that we can procure concrete locally.
“We will conduct geological surveys and subterranean exploration while trying to lure the Worms.”
“I see. I’ll leave that to you.”
◇◇◇◇
It slowly awoke to the vibrations transmitted from the surface.
Something is intruding on its territory.
It’s been a while since its last prey. Its body feels heavy because it hasn’t eaten for a while, but if it lies in wait at its usual spot, it should be able to get a meal.
Although it’s not a clear thought, it’s not just instinct; it’s aware of its surroundings, grasping the situation, and thinking for itself, and it began to act. Just as it has done until now, it will wait at the same place this time. If it hides there, the prey will come with a high probability.
And if it stays there, it can reliably obtain sustenance, even if it’s not very agile.
It moved its mouth, wriggled its body, and began to move slowly. Although it doesn’t have an accurate sense of time, it felt like it had been a long time, and it chewed on the foreign object that had entered its mouth, filtering out the thin food as it moved forward.
If it can eat well, perhaps it can escape from this territory with almost no prey.
It only needs to grow enough to withstand long-distance travel. Just a little more, if it can take in more sustenance.
◇◇◇◇
“＜Ringo＞. I’ve detected faint vibrations.”
“Understood. Continue monitoring. If we analyze it chronologically, we can calculate the position, depth, and direction of movement. Connection to the analysis domain?”
“Yes. Link normal. Transfer bandwidth, expanding sequentially. Analysis complete (hit). Plotting coordinates.”
“O.K., All green.. I will operate the Multi-legged Heavy Machine (Walker) Prototype 2. Start dividing the communication bandwidth. Complete. Link normal. Ichigo, confirmation.”
“Confirmed. You have control.”
“I have control. Moving silently to directly above the target.”
“Definition of vector calculation function completed. Parameter adjustment completed. Displaying the overlay of the predicted course.”
“Roger.. Tracking target. Estimated to reach directly above in 165 seconds.”
“Target, movement speed stabilized. Average speed 3.5km/h. Outputting predicted movement location. Hereafter, referred to as P1.”
“P1 confirmed. Sinkhole 43.”
“This is the place where there were traces of some kind of mammal nesting. Is it predatory behavior?”
“Unknown. It is necessary to continue observation. Install seismometers around the area and conduct precise observation.”