Episode 57: Search for the Worm
Ultrasonic subterranean exploration.
The Prototype 2 multi-legged heavy machinery (Walker), specialized in surveying underground cavities, was gradually expanding its search area.
WP2 retained its basic design but swapped out its survey equipment for armaments. It was linked to the Alpha-class destroyer stationed offshore, constantly analyzing the subterranean data.
Its armaments consisted of a single multi-barrel machine gun and a single grenade launcher. Furthermore, one of its two work arms was equipped with a self-defense mace, enabling blunt force attacks.
Employing carbon nanotube artificial muscles and a titanium alloy skeleton, it was a masterpiece designed to enhance striking power and improve impact resistance. The original steel-based skeleton was calculated to self-destruct upon delivering a blunt force attack, necessitating the creation of a completely new one.
“After all, it needs to be able to handle close combat!”
This was the weapon equipped at the Commander’s whim. One could only imagine Ringo’s struggles. Incidentally, the development of a pile bunker weapon was also currently under instruction.
“As expected, numerous cavities are being detected. There are traces within at least a 1km radius. The 3rd Squad, which is deployed further out, has a lower detection frequency, but they have discovered cavities even 2km away in a straight line.”
“Hmm… But there aren’t any around Telek Port Town or Iron Town, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The area around Iron Town was surveyed from the air, so smaller cavities might have been missed. However, Telek Port Town was surveyed at night by WP2, so the data is accurate.”
In other words, the various cavities, large and small, existing underground at this planned fortress construction site were likely unique to this land. The survey area was being expanded sequentially, but the 3rd Squad’s findings indicated that the detection frequency decreased with distance.
This meant that the activity range of the creature presumed to be the sandworm was limited.
“However, we still haven’t found the worm itself.”
“That’s what worries me…”
Nearly one square kilometer had been explored, but unfortunately, no reactions resembling the worm itself had been detected. If the worms in this land were extinct, that would be ideal, but the inability to investigate their ecology was a problem.
After all, the opponent was a creature that effortlessly bored holes through lava rock. It would be unacceptable for the fortress’s underground structure to be similarly riddled with holes.
“We cannot construct large structures until we have established some countermeasures.”
“That’s right. Even if we bury intrusion prevention barriers, we need to verify what materials and structures are effective.”
Burying iron plates would be meaningless if they could be pierced. The same went for concrete. It was necessary to determine the principle by which they were excavating underground.
“It’s also a problem that the locals have absolutely no information.”
Information gathering had continued since then, but no useful information had been added. Few people traveled in the first place, and if, for example, a caravan was attacked by worms, it seemed they would be annihilated, and the information would be lost.
In the first place, it was impossible to know whether they were attacked by worms, bandits, or suffered an accident. It was only weeks after the scheduled arrival date that they were finally declared missing. Traveling by foot or carriage, a 1-2 week delay in the journey was common.
“Hmm… As uncertain information, worms are almost non-existent in areas with a lot of greenery…”
However, as a rule of thumb, worms did not seem to inhabit lands with dense trees. Usually, towns were built adjacent to springs or forests, so worms inevitably did not appear in the surrounding area.
Roads also basically ran connecting water sources, so they were thought to be outside the worms’ habitat.
“Ma’am. In this Afrasia United Kingdom, the terrain with lakes, springs, and forests scattered throughout may have been formed by worms.”
“…Hmm?”
“While still under investigation, for example, comparing the geology of the forest in Iron Town and its surroundings reveals an inexplicable discontinuity. While it is entirely possible that this is simply due to the original land characteristics or the action of groundwater, it is also conceivable that the bedrock riddled with holes by worms has weathered.”
This was a possibility that emerged during the ongoing investigation. When worms riddled lava rock with holes, the thin areas would eventually collapse due to wind and rain. Rainwater would accumulate, groundwater veins would flow in, and lakes and springs would form. Alternatively, plants would grow in the moist sandy soil, and eventually soil would form.
Of course, this was only a hypothesis. However, since there were quite a few sightings of the worms themselves, they were not considered to be a sudden mutation of a magical beast, but rather to be integrated into the ecosystem of this land. And, the results of the current survey of the fortress construction site.
“This land has also been heavily ravaged. And some of it is undergoing weathering, and there are terrains that have collapsed into sand. There were also plants, moss, and insects living there, so we can judge that the ecosystem is developing.”
“I see. I thought it was a barren land full of lava, but it also spreads in that way.”
One might call it the mystery of life. However, even if we understand a part of the mechanism, the ecology of the crucial worm has not been clarified.
“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, for the time being, we will have to continue the investigation. Resource surveys are also being conducted in parallel, and iron and other promising elements have been found to some extent, regardless of the content.
Above all, the discovery of limestone, although it needs to be dug deep, is significant. There is a possibility that concrete can be procured locally.
“We will conduct geological surveys and subterranean exploration while attempting to lure the worms.”
“That’s right. I’ll leave that to you.”
◇◇◇◇
It slowly awoke, stirred by the vibrations transmitted from the surface.
Something was intruding on its territory.
A long-awaited prey. Its body felt heavy from not having eaten for a while, but if it waited in its usual spot, it would be able to get a meal.
Although not with clear thought, it was not just instinct, but it recognized the surroundings, grasped the situation, and thought for itself, and it began to act. As it had done before, it would wait in the same place this time. If it hid there, the prey would come with a high probability.
And if it stayed there, it could reliably obtain sustenance, even if it was not very agile.
Moving its mouth and wriggling its body, it began to move slowly. Although it did not 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 could eat well, perhaps it could escape from this territory with almost no prey.
It only needed to grow enough to withstand long-distance travel. Just a little more, if it could take in more sustenance.
◇◇◇◇
“Ringo. I have detected a faint vibration.”
“Acknowledged. Continue monitoring. If analyzed chronologically, the position, depth, and direction of movement can be calculated. Connection to the analysis domain?”
“Yes. Link is normal. Transfer bandwidth is being expanded sequentially. Analysis complete. Plotting coordinates.”
“O.K., All green. I will operate the Prototype 2 multi-legged heavy machinery (Walker). Commencing division of 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’s movement speed has stabilized. Average speed of 3.5km/h. Displaying predicted movement location. Hereafter, referred to as P1.”
“P1 confirmed. Sinkhole No. 43.”
“This is the location where there were traces of some mammal nesting. Is it predatory behavior?”
“Unknown. It is necessary to continue observation. Install seismographs around the area and conduct precise observation.”