“This is a real headache, oy.”
“Take your complaints to Fenrir.”
Amadio Silverhead, having immediately received a report of Fenrir’s appearance from Asidanthera-Ayame Zero, sighed with a troubled expression.
Despite the Prawa Theocracy’s offensive being a massive nuisance in itself, he had been handed an even more outrageous bombshell on top of it.
It was no wonder that a frown was forming between his brows.
“But the Demon Forest, huh? Still as much of a demonic realm as ever.”
“The reason for Fenrir’s sudden southward movement is unknown. Do you have any ideas?”
Asidanthera asked, while Amadio muttered, gazing at the enlarged satellite photo.
However, Amadio shook his head.
“I have absolutely no idea. In the first place, this Fenrir monster is something I’m seeing for the first time. If it were the country involved, they might have some information through oral traditions or something, but we don’t even have contact with the Demon Forest in the first place.”
“I might know a little about the situation 120 years ago,” he added with a wry smile.
“I’ve lost quite a bit of my old memories, too. It might be archived in the extended memory field, but there’s not enough decoding area. It’s the limit of the bio-computer.”
“I see. ＜Ringo＞ has determined that providing you with an expansion module is premature. We want you to build trust.”
“…Good grief. Well, we’ll be together for a long time, so I’ll take my time.”
Amadio shrugged, his request for parts, spoken implicitly, having been promptly rejected. He mentioned it at every opportunity, but ＜Paraiso＞ kept refusing.
For ＜Ringo＞, it wasn’t a request that could be easily accepted. It was only natural.
“…Anyway. What I’m most concerned about is whether the Prawa Theocracy will deploy forces to suppress this Fenrir. Depending on that, the pressure on the front lines will change completely.”
“I agree. Whether they divert their forces, ignore it, or throw their forces against Fenrir. Our intelligence network within the Theocracy is still incomplete. We’re not getting much information.”
“You’re casually saying something outrageous… an intelligence network…?”
Recently, the ＜Paraiso＞ group had given up trying to hide things from Amadio. In a way, it might be a sign of trust.
However, regardless of Amadio personally, more than 30% of the current Repuytari Kingdom’s economy is based on trade with ＜Paraiso＞. Moreover, that percentage continues to increase daily.
If ＜Paraiso＞ were to sever its relationship with the Repuytari Kingdom here, it is clear that immense damage would occur.
Therefore, ＜Paraiso＞ makes demands as it pleases, and the Repuytari Kingdom obediently complies. The saving grace is that ＜Paraiso＞ basically makes decisions based on goodwill.
“Well, that’s fine. I’ve given up on that. Will you continue to support us with weapons and ammunition as is, for the time being?”
“Affirmative. As you requested, the production factory has started operating. The second factory is also under construction. It will be a degraded mass-produced type (monkey model), but we can provide 20,000 units with the next shipment. And of course, more ammunition than that.”
“…The number of guns in the army will increase tenfold with just that…”
“Wartime exception. It can’t be helped.”
“I think you’re probably using it wrong, aren’t you?”
20,000 assault rifles. 800 light machine guns. 100 heavy machine guns. The number of bullets was so large that it was too much to count, and it was written on the paper handed to him.
“Do you know the meaning of the word ‘restraint’?”
“I know. To be careful not to take rash actions. Support for weapons and ammunition, although it may be unfortunate for you, is kept to the bare minimum necessary. I want you to understand.”
Asidanthera answered, sounding somewhat smug. Amadio sighed again and leaned back in his chair.
The way they perceived things was fundamentally different. Amadio understood this and decided not to press the issue any further.
“Well, that’s fine. Next is the means of transportation. Well, I suppose you can’t provide that Burnstone engine, of course. Horse-drawn carriages, horse-drawn carriages, huh…? Well, it’s overseas, so that’s to be expected, I guess…”
The next thing Amadio mentioned was the means of transporting the provided weapons and ammunition to the front lines.
＜Paraiso＞ also plans to prepare vehicles for this for the time being.
“Large dual wheels, a body made of high-tensile steel, and lightweighting using resin and Cellulose. Naturally, it is also equipped with powerful suspension. It can be moved by horses even on considerably rough roads.”
“Airless tires, huh? I read that you can adjust the ground pressure, too?”
“Affirmative. We have incorporated a mechanism that allows the ground contact area to be adjusted to some extent. Even in places where the ground is soft, it can be moved by adjusting it in advance.”
Amadio pressed his temples, taken aback by the casually introduced Over-Technology.
“The tire width can be changed with specially structured spokes. It is necessary to stop the carriage once and adjust each wheel, but it should be able to withstand transportation for the time being.”
“…I see. Rubber tires haven’t even become widespread yet, so I can already picture the scramble for them…”
The first to make a fuss will probably be the Chamber of Commerce. After all, with this carriage (?), logistics costs can be significantly reduced. In addition, vibrations during transportation can also be suppressed. It will also be possible to transport delicate goods more safely.
“With your technological capabilities… you should be able to mass-produce them in 200 years. Just wait until then.”
“Ordinary people can’t live for 100 years, you know?”
However, this vehicle provided by ＜Paraiso＞ is not subject to any particular usage restrictions. It was only given as one means of delivering goods to the front lines. The contract stated that once its purpose was fulfilled, its use would not be their concern.
Once this war is over, the Repuytari Kingdom and its surrounding nations will undergo a dramatic civilization.
“But still, to think that this lump of Over-Technology will be pulled by horses… It’s kind of profound in its own way, or rather, picturesque…”
Moreover, the inside of that vehicle is loaded with a large number of firearms.
“If you mean that it feels like the trial and error of the dawn of scientific technology, I agree. Or, relics used by a declining civilization without understanding the mechanism. Excavated items used in ways far removed from their original purpose. It’s a truly fascinating subject.”
“Hoh. I see. What kind of education policy does Eve-chan have, anyway? I don’t understand.”
“If you’re interested, I can prepare various documents in book form, but?”
“Ah. Well, that’s true. I don’t want to distribute them yet… but it’s okay to put them in my library… Can I ask you to do that?”
“No problem. I’ll deliver them directly to your mansion.”
It’s a complete mix of public and private matters, but he is, after all, the Duke, the head of the country in some way. It’s probably something like royal diplomacy. Probably.
“Well, it seems like we can buy some time for the time being. By the way, how far could you ＜Paraiso＞ go if you投入 your forces into that front line?”
“…. At least, with the current distribution of forces, we could pacify everything. ＜Ringo＞ has calculated that. However, if we do that, we would have to act as conquerors. The Commander does not want that.”
“Hmph… you’re too good, really. Well, knowing that you guys are behind us makes it easier for me. At least, our country is safe.”
“The uncertain factor is that monster. We have some experience fighting different kinds of monsters, but we have determined that they are basically creatures to be avoided.”
“Hoh… that’s the first I’ve heard of that. Unfortunately, my memories don’t contain what monsters are, but what I have left is all the data up to just before the abandonment of the base. There might be some interesting information, you know?”
“That’s under consideration. I’ll contact you later.”
“Business communication, huh?”