“Status report!”
“Yes, Ma’am. A high-temperature area has appeared on the ground. Simultaneously, we detected a burst of electromagnetic waves from the infrared to microwave range. Immediately after, the detector was attacked by a focused beam of high-energy electromagnetic waves and was destroyed.”
It’s the same as what we saw, but verbalizing it is important.
Already, the superintelligence entities, including ＜Ringo＞, have begun data analysis. The results need to be conveyed to Commander (Eve).
“Point of origin?”
“Estimated to be the high-temperature reaction area on the ground.”
In other words, something on or under the ground carried out some kind of attack.
Something with enough power to shoot down that Wyvern in a single hit.
“The satellite?”
“Downloading data. Displaying pre- and post-attack images, though at low resolution.”
An overhead view of the scene is replayed in slow motion.
Data transmission from the satellite is only carried out intermittently with a highly directional beam to prevent electromagnetic wave leakage. Therefore, there is inevitably a time lag in data reception.
In the video looking down from directly above, the survey drone is moving.
Then, the moment a point in the Grassland shines brightly, the survey drone also lights up as if a flashbulb went off, and then shatters into pieces.
“The entire aircraft instantly reached a high temperature, igniting flammable materials such as fuel, causing an explosion. It is believed to be an attack by a beam of ultra-high-energy electromagnetic waves, likely including wavelengths from the infrared to microwave range.”
“A laser or a Maser?”
“No, it was like a powerful light, containing many wavelengths like white noise. In terms of attack power, it’s quite inefficient, though.”
Electromagnetic waves called lasers and Masers have aligned wavelengths. By oscillating at a single wavelength, energy loss is suppressed, and energy is efficiently transmitted to the irradiation point, i.e., heating it.
If the wavelengths are not aligned, the amplitude peaks are canceled out, so the efficiency in terms of energy transfer decreases.
“Onee-sama, ＜Ringo＞! The enemy is operating on Fantasy rules. It’s pointless to discuss scientific inefficiencies! It was probably attacked by something Magical! Otherwise, I don’t think even high output could penetrate that Wyvern’s scales!”
Asahi (she) makes that claim, her eyes sparkling.
“Yeah… well, I guess that’s true.”
Eve (she) was about to argue for a moment, but remembering the Threat Creatures they had fought so far, she agreed.
“There is no movement in the Grassland. Could it be hiding underground?”
At Ichigo’s report, everyone turned their eyes to the Grassland shown in the telescopic image from the rear.
The crashed survey drone is burning, but there is no other movement.
Come to think of it, the shot-down Wyvern also seems to have been left as is. No Threat Creatures are showing up to feed on it.
“…. For now, should we just observe for a while? Let’s launch Drones and focus on observation. It doesn’t seem like the rear survey drone is being targeted.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Akane (she), prepare the Drones. Utsugi (she) and Erika (she), continue monitoring until the Drones take over. Ichigo (she), adjust the Reconnaissance satellite’s orbit so that the monitoring interval doesn’t widen. Olive (she), revise the satellite fuel replenishment plan.”
“Yes.”
“Yeees.”
The Five Sisters cheerfully replied to ＜Ringo＞’s instructions and began their respective tasks.
“Asahi (she), you’ll analyze the data with me.”
“Yes, Onee-sama!”
Asahi (she), who hasn’t been assigned a role within ＜The Tree＞, has become the Onee-sama attendant. Or rather, Eve (she) is Asahi’s attendant. No one can predict what will happen if she isn’t kept in check.
◇◇◇◇
A day and night have passed since the survey drone was shot down.
During that time, there has been no movement in the Grassland.
“Hmph. Still no movement. Are they cautious…?”
Some kind of Threat Creature is thought to be lurking in the Grassland.
Since it went to the trouble of shooting down the Wyvern, it was expected to prey on it, but there has been no movement at all.
Similarly, the wreckage of the shot-down survey drone has also been left untouched.
“…………”
By the way, Eve (she), who is receiving reports from ＜Ringo＞, is still in bed.
She can’t move because Asahi (she) has her left arm restrained.
Well, it’s not like Asahi (she) is sleeping either, or rather, she had Class Changed into a warrior who can fight 24 hours a day, so there’s no need for her to sleep.
For her, the act of sleeping with Onee-sama is important, so it’s left as is.
By the way, right now, Asahi (she) seems to be contemplating the Threat Creature lurking in the Grassland.
Of the three Brain Units installed, one is dormant, one is contemplating, and the other is controlling her body. That’s the report from ＜Ringo＞.
“We will continue observation for at least a week. It is desirable to completely destroy the crashed survey drone, but since it’s in that location, we can’t touch it for a while.”
The site is outside ＜The Tree＞’s sphere of influence. If possible, we would like to destroy the survey drone, which is unlikely to be recovered, but it could provoke the Threat Creature thought to be lurking.
“Well, it’s not like there’s an enemy civilization, so it’s fine to leave it alone for a while, right? If something happens, we can just fire a missile at it.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
The current time is 8:00 AM ＜The Tree＞ time. It’s about time to get up.
The other Five Sisters aren’t sleeping in the first place. They seem to be moving around to monitor the Grassland.
Instead of thinking “Asahi (she) is being unfair!”, they pushed Eve (she) and Asahi (she) into the bedroom, saying that they usually sleep together anyway. They are accomplished daughters.
“Alright. Asahi (she), wake up.”
“…Yes, Onee-sama. I also want to talk about the results of my consideration!”
“Asahi (she), save that for after breakfast. Let’s get changed first.”
＜Ringo＞, grabbed the uniform she was holding and pushed it to Asahi (she), who abruptly sat up. Certainly, there’s no rush, and there’s no need to do it in her nightwear.
Unlike Asahi (she), Eve (she) needs to eat.
And so.
“いただきます” (Itadakimasu – Let’s eat)
“いただきまーす” (Itadakimasu – Let’s eat)
Everyone is gathered for breakfast.
However, Asahi (she) can only eat liquid food. She’s smiling next to Eve (she), so she probably doesn’t have any complaints.
“There’s no movement in that Grassland, right?”
Eve (she) said, poking at the salad with dressing, and Akane (she) nodded.
“No. No reaction at all.”
During the attack, it released that much heat, or rather, electromagnetic waves. There’s no doubt that a Threat Creature with the power to store or create high energy is lurking there.
“Rather, when comparing before and after, it seems that the amount of heat is decreasing. It is also possible that it released the accumulated energy.”
Akane (she) continued, hitting a boiled egg on the table with a thud.
“Asahi (she), can’t you think of anything?”
Asahi (she), who was sucking on a tube-shaped nutritional paste, nodded greatly when the topic was directed at her.
“…Ngh, gupp, hah. Yes, leave it to me!”
There’s no need to chew or take a certain amount, so Asahi’s mealtime is probably over.
She drank the water in her cup and jumped off the chair.
“Please listen while you eat!”
Asahi (she) said, raising both hands with a flourish. In response to that movement, multiple projection monitors activated.
“I’ve considered various possibilities, but Asahi’s top recommendation is this!”
The telescopic image of the Grassland is further enlarged.
“This leaf! It covers the entire Grassland! We’ve only been able to do passive surveys, but this plant seems to have extremely high electromagnetic wave absorption efficiency!”
Probably, it’s the result of analyzing the reflectance of various frequencies. The reflectance of wavelengths other than visible light, especially around green, is quite low. If you capture the Grassland with anything other than visible light, the whole thing would be captured dimly.
Only that place, as if it were shrouded in darkness.
And, to explain it scientifically.
If it’s dark even though light is hitting it, it means that that much electromagnetic waves are being absorbed.
“Suspicious, isn’t it? I’ve heard from the Adventurers of North End City that there are plant-type Threat Creatures, so maybe!!”
“…You’re saying that a plant-type Threat Creature that shoots Ray Cannons is growing in that Grassland?”