Episode 186: Do Slimes Count as Snacks?
The investigation into the Fairy Circle created by the caterpillar monster concluded that Fairy Circles are likely Mana Hotspots.
If a Hotspot is defined as a location with a higher Mana Density than its surroundings, and that condition persists for a relatively long period, then the investigated Fairy Circle fits the description perfectly.
Since slimes were confirmed to be born there, it’s safe to say it’s a Hotspot.
However, it’s unclear whether this applies to all Fairy Circles or just this one.
Further investigation is needed.
“Still, a Hotspot, huh…? All we know is that the Mana Density is high, slimes are born, Medicinal Herbs grow, and Monsters tend to gather.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Whether the Fairy Circle became a Hotspot, or it became a Fairy Circle because it was a Hotspot, is difficult to determine at this time.”
Is the caterpillar monster using some kind of ability to create a Hotspot?
Or is the butterfly monster finding Hotspots and laying its eggs there?
To investigate this, we’d need to find Hotspots that aren’t Fairy Circles and observe whether the butterfly monster comes to them.
“Hmph. It’s an interesting topic, but I’m not sure if it’s a necessary investigation… We can try it once we can mass-produce Maso Meters.”
“Yes, Ma’am. For now, let’s be happy that we found a Hotspot that’s easy to investigate. We’ll send in ground forces and fence it off as a research area.”
Eve decided to fence off an area of about 500m around the Fairy Circle for Hotspot research and issued instructions to the Local Strategic AI, ＜Cosmos＞.
＜Cosmos＞, upon receiving the instructions, immediately began preparing to transport ground forces by loading Multi-legged Tanks into transport aircraft.
“The fence should be completed in a few days. After that, we’ll confirm that there are no dangerous wild animals or Threat Creatures and build research facilities.”
“Hotspots can disappear in a short period, right? Are there any signs? We can’t just leave a Maso Meter there all the time, can we?”
“Yes, Ma’am. For the time being, we’ll have a Maso Meter Drone patrol about once a day. The straight-line distance from the forward base is about 12km, so it’s entirely feasible. We plan to have it fly over a certain area, so there’s a possibility of discovering Mana anomalies such as Hotspots along the route.”
It would take humans at least two days, possibly three, to travel this distance on foot. There are no paved roads, and the terrain is hilly forest. Naturally, there are no landmarks, so whether they could reach the location is unknown, a gamble.
And since they can reach it from the air, ignoring all that, ＜The Tree’s＞ air power is ridiculously unfair.
“So far, there have been no encounters with any Threat Creatures in the skies above the Demon Forest. The Wyverns are also more than 500km away, up to the confirmed Territory of other individuals. For the time being, ＜The Tree＞ will maintain Airspace Control.”
To be precise, at least the butterfly monster has been confirmed.
However, even so, it’s only about half the size of the air combat vehicles operated by ＜The Tree＞, and as far as she could tell, its flight speed is also very slow.
Alternatively, there might be giant birds like the Roc, a classic fantasy creature, living somewhere, but Asahi (she) predicted that they wouldn’t be in this area, which was recently right next to the Wyvern’s Territory.
If the Wyvern is at the top of the ecosystem, then giant flying Monsters must have lost out in the competition for survival and been eliminated.
Because it was a reasonable claim, ＜The Tree＞ forces are using aerial machinery almost without restriction in the skies above and near North End City.
Of course, they understand that they react to radio waves, so they are refraining from using radar at high altitudes.
As they continued to report on the situation.
“Ma’am. A Giant Creature is approaching the Fairy Circle under investigation.”
“Huh?”
Such a report was brought by ＜Ringo＞.
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“Estimated weight, 1,840kg. Body length, 5m. A creature resembling a boar.”
“Wow. It can really knock down trees while running, huh?”
In the video taken by the quadrupedal bipedal robot (Jumper) running through the trees, the Giant Creature in question was running with a thudding sound, not caring about the trees blocking its path.
Its destination is the Fairy Circle under investigation.
“It may be detecting Mana Density. It’s heading straight for the Fairy Circle.”
It’s detecting Mana.
If it can do that, then it must have some kind of organ, either inside or outside its body, that can detect Mana.
In that case, it might be usable as a new Maso Meter.
“Wait, that’s a Monster… a Threat Creature, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We estimate it’s a Threat Creature called a Forest Boar. Apparently, they are indeed said to be occasionally sighted in Hotspots.”
The Forest Boar is shared among Adventurers as a high-risk Monster.
Its skin is hard, and ordinary weapons cannot damage it.
Its muscles, which cover its entire body, deflect minor blows.
No matter how much you run, it will chase you by scent.
It has the leg strength to knock down trees, and you can’t escape by running.
It’s an omnivore and eats anything from tree bark to humans.
“Big, fast, and strong, huh? It’s certainly a threat in the flesh.”
“They say that even those with some skill will be minced. It seems that you can’t defeat it unless you inflict a deep wound at once with a weapon specialized for stabbing or slashing.”
“Ehh. Hmm… Could an Adventurer (Fantasy) do it… I wonder…?”
If it were an inhuman like the ones who used to be in Afrasia, Royal Capital, they might be able to cut it down head-on.
And she knew that there were such inhumans mixed in among the Adventurers who secluded themselves in the Demon Forest every day.
“Even if you defeat it, it’s too big to dismantle, and it’s a waste of life-threatening danger, so it seems to be an unpopular Threat Creature. When it appears on the outer edge of the forest, it can gather people, so it seems to become a festival.”
They hunt it on the outer edge and dismantle it with a large number of people. Apparently, they eat it on the spot.
“If the location is good, they may transport it to the city.”
Well, such a festival seems to happen only once every few years.
“The Forest Boar has reached the Fairy Circle.”
The Giant Boar, which had been running while shaking the ground with a thudding sound, knocked down the trees and entered the Fairy Circle.
“…It’s targeting the slimes.”
Then, it put its nose close to the ground and began to move around, sniffing.
According to previous information, Threat Creatures, that is, Monsters, are known to eat or crush slimes.
This is the first time they’re actually recording the situation.
“Oh, it’s eating them.”
The Forest Boar chewed up the slimes wriggling on the ground, along with the surrounding plants, in a single gulp.
Slimes seem to be food for Threat Creatures.
“I thought I could study the slimes, but is it difficult with this?”
“If we defeat it, the research material will increase.”
In another 10 minutes, a platoon of Multi-legged Tanks for suppression will be airlifted in.
Six giant combat machines that are comparable in size and weight.
If it’s a Forest Boar that doesn’t have any special attack methods, it should be possible to defeat it without any problems. If anything, they should be able to kill it with a single Cannon shot.
“Hmm, well, should we do it…? Can the escort fighter fire?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s equipped with a 20mm multi-barreled machine Cannon. It’s an Armor-Piercing Shell, so it will probably work. There is no record of it exhibiting a defense function like that Defense Membrane.”
“I hope it doesn’t become a flag…”
And so, 10 minutes later.
The Forest Boar was successfully defeated by the Armor-Piercing Shell fired by the escort fighter that had reached the sky.