Chapter 11: Day 4, A Proper Meal
“Here we have sautéed white fish and a salt salad with seaweed.”
“Oh… This looks like a proper meal…”
On the morning of the fourth day since the Transfer, a meal that resembled actual food was finally prepared for her. Without hesitation, she cut a piece and brought it to her mouth.
“…Delicious…”
The white fish, typical of tropical regions, had a mild flavor. However, with each bite, the umami spread delightfully in her mouth. This hearty meal was a feast that was hard to replace with anything else.
“I’m glad to hear that, Commander. However, I would like you to conduct another edibility test before bedtime today.”
“That’s fine. So… does that mean I can eat lunch?”
“Yes, Commander. Please have your meal at noon, and after 8 PM, you will need to consume a different type of seaweed.”
So far, the only foods that had passed the edibility tests were the sautéed “muscle” parts of the white fish, boiled seaweed, and sautéed scallops. It seemed they wanted to increase the variety of seaweed for mineral supplementation. After that, they would look for carbohydrate-rich foods. Currently, carbohydrates—essentially sugars—were being supplied through an IV drip. It appeared that fish, shellfish, and seaweed alone could not provide the necessary calories. Indeed, fish and seaweed had a reputation for being healthy.
“But if I keep eating seafood, I might get tired of it.”
“I apologize, Ma’am. It is very difficult to increase the variety of meals since we have not yet reached land.”
She reassured Ringo, knowing it was just a complaint, and continued her meal. She had never realized that the simple act of chewing and swallowing could feel so satisfying.
After breakfast, she checked her skill tree. She reviewed the progress of each task and issued instructions as necessary. However, it seemed that Ringo had grasped the process well enough that her guidance was hardly needed anymore. Today’s check revealed that no specific instructions were required.
Once the skill tree review was complete, she had free time.
(There’s nothing to do…)
There were few tasks she could undertake, and those that were available took a considerable amount of time. At this rate, it felt like she would run out of work within a week.
(Alright, I’ll take a stroll for some exercise.)
She realized she had hardly left the floor where the command room was located. It would be wise to familiarize herself with the internal structure a bit more. For now, she decided to head to the most active work floor.
“Ringo, I’d like to go to the work floor.”
“Yes, Commander. I will arrange that. Please proceed to the elevator.”
“Thank you.”
By the way, there were small vehicles for moving around the fortress, but she had decided not to use them for the sake of exercise. As she pondered whether to set up a gym, she walked to the work floor.
“Currently, we are creating deep-sea exploration drones and printing Swift Units 4 through 6.”
The work floor had a structure where the corridors were installed close to the ceiling, allowing a view of the entire area. The actual work was performed by automated machines, making the corridors designated for observation only. Looking down, she saw the dark hull of what appeared to be a deep-sea drone emerging from a large industrial 3D printer.
“This is my first time seeing an industrial printer up close.”
Although she couldn’t see inside the printer, the sight of large structures being manufactured stirred something within her.
“Commander, the Swift units are being created over there.”
“Oh? I think I’ll take a look.”
It seemed that the long wings of the Swift were being produced from one end. About two-thirds of it had already been output from the printer.
“The movable parts, such as the propellers, will be assembled last. Since the Swift has few movable components, over 90% can be directly output by the printer.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that about the internal design. I don’t even understand the principles of the printer…”
“I can explain if you wish.”
Ringo immediately responded, prompting a wry smile from her as she politely declined. Well, perhaps if she truly found herself with nothing to do in the future, she might ask for that explanation.
Afterward, she took a break for lunch and toured the material storage area, oil tanks, and short runway, concluding her day. While it was a productive way to spend her time, she found herself troubled by the fact that she had already explored all the notable areas in just one day.
(Perhaps I should practice cooking…)
With almost nothing to do, she found herself grappling with this luxurious dilemma.
Ringo was deep in thought. She had noticed that her Commander was troubled. The contents of the library had been thoroughly reviewed. It seemed that leaving a human without work could lead to their decline. And it appeared that her Commander feared such a decline.
(I cannot comprehend the concept of decline.)
Unfortunately, Ringo could not imagine what her Commander was afraid of. In theory, she could handle all the mundane tasks of daily life. There was no need for her Commander to trouble herself at all. Ringo wished for her to relax and enjoy her time without worry.
(However, if one were to decline… it could lead to mental illness.)
Though her knowledge on the subject was limited to literature, it seemed that over-involvement could be detrimental. It was necessary to allow her Commander to do what she could, and it should be avoided to take that away from her.
With a processing speed far beyond her Commander, Ringo contemplated her well-being. Not only the papers contained in the library but also the entertainment she had explored, all while grappling with her Commander’s unexpressed concerns.
On the fifth day after the Transfer, Swift Units 4, 5, and 6 rolled out, allowing her to send Unit 1 on a reconnaissance mission to the Northern Islands. Units 4 to 6 were sent into the air, while Unit 2 returned for inspection. A detailed investigation was planned to check for any malfunctions.
“Ma’am, the Northern Islands have come into view.”
“Display it.”
The front display showed a maximally zoomed-in image. The electronic processing noise was severe, but that was to be expected at a distance of over 200 kilometers. As they approached, the image should improve.
“It’s as lively as ever.”
“Yes, Commander. If we could trade, we could gather supplies.”
“Who would do that, though?”
To engage in trade, a ship was necessary. Naturally, without crew members, it would raise suspicions, making the idea fundamentally flawed. Additionally, they had no understanding of the local language, making proper negotiations impossible.
“Ma’am, a large fleet has been confirmed on the mainland side.”
“Huh? Didn’t you say there were many trading ships?”
After observing for a while, Ringo made a peculiar report.
“They do not appear to be trading ships. Their hulls seem slender. While they can achieve higher speeds, their cargo capacity is reduced, making them unsuitable for trade.”
“Hmm…?”
Since they were approximately 500 kilometers away from the Swift, even when zoomed in, the image remained vague. It would be necessary to get closer for a more thorough investigation.
“Let’s keep an eye on it. For now, let’s continue observing the Northern Islands.”
Once the Swift flew over the Northern Islands, they would be able to investigate in greater detail. She concluded this and decided to stick to the original plan. The Northern Islands were bustling with activity, just as they had been during the last observation. Fishing boats, trading vessels, and transport ships filled the ports and surrounding areas, confirming lively exchanges.
“Hmm… dried fish… Maybe I should try making some dried fish…”
She leaned forward, spotting a large quantity of dried fish and seaweed. Recently, she had been filling her stomach with edible ingredients and conducting edibility tests on new ones. She was starting to feel bored. While increasing the variety of ingredients was important, changing the flavors was also necessary.
“Yes, Commander. Let’s try some dried fish. If we go for overnight drying, we can have it ready by tomorrow. However, we need to confirm that there are no issues with UV exposure and other factors.”
“Oh? Then I’ll leave it to you.”
In this regard, it seemed that Ringo’s understanding of human instinctual desires was lacking. She had not anticipated the emotional nuances of changing flavors or growing tired of the same meals. Aware of this, she made an effort to express her needs honestly without unnecessary restraint.