“Speaking of which, Asahi mentioned something about bioweapons before… Looks like we have a real-world example here…”
Eve sighed, recalling Asahi’s plan to embed machinery into ＜Rain Croin＞ and turn them into bioweapons.
“Onee-sama! This is a great case study! We need to investigate this thoroughly!”
Asahi exclaimed excitedly.
“Isn’t this an effective use of Magic Stones? If we can reproduce this barrier, we could equip it on the Gigantia and create an invincible aerial fortress!”
“That’s true, but reusing corpses is… well…”
Unlike the enthusiastic Asahi, Eve was hesitant.
Bio-parts sounded good, but in reality, it was just piecing together corpses. It wasn’t a pleasant thought. Removing the brain and replacing it with a computer to make it move was the height of depravity.
Asahi was proposing to dismantle ＜Rain Croin＞, connect Magic Stones to blood vessels, attach the skin to the exterior, use the skeleton as reinforcement, and connect the muscles to each movable part, but it was too sacrilegious.
“I’ll allow it if there’s no other choice, but is it really necessary? Honestly.”
“Well, there’s no particular need right now… Onee-sama, there’s no scientific progress without experimentation!”
“Developing the reuse of corpses, though…”
＜Ringo＞ listened intently to the conversation between the two. She would generally respect Eve’s wishes, but would consider Asahi’s plan depending on the situation. For example, if it significantly improved the Commander’s safety, she would proceed with manufacturing even if it meant overriding objections.
“Well, let’s start with the investigation, Onee-sama! We might be able to reproduce it in a different way! And for the sake of the investigation, we need to secure a working sample!”
“I guess so. Just so you know, unless it’s an emergency, report to me before turning these monsters into bio-parts. I don’t want to end up living inside a corpse without knowing it, okay?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
While this exchange was happening at the base, ＜Iris＞ was reorganizing the Prawa Theocracy invasion force.
The maritime transport of four Land Battleships Jötunn would be completed within three days. The production of Quadruped Tanks was proceeding smoothly, and they were expected to return to full strength by the start of the second invasion.
Furthermore, this time, they were planning to deploy main Multi-legged Tanks as backup and allocate two Gigantia Squads. With the addition of aerial forces and paratroopers, the estimated combat strength was 1.5 times that of the first invasion.
On the other hand, the combat strength of the Holy Capital of Prawa was about half that of the first invasion.
Moreover, there was no prospect of recovering their forces.
The numbers would change significantly if Bishop-class personnel were to appear from the provinces, but there were no signs of that yet. The Theocracy had concentrated as much of its forces as possible.
In other words, if they defeated the current forces, the Theocracy’s combat strength would be exhausted.
＜Iris＞ was re-strategizing the second invasion with the assumption that they would destroy all the super-powered units currently identified.
They planned to issue a surrender recommendation before the invasion began.
However, based on past experience, the possibility of the Clerics of the Prawa Theocracy surrendering was almost zero.
The lack of visible movement from the Chimyera Clan stationed there was an uncertain factor, but considering they did not participate in the previous battle, they probably would not appear in the next one either.
In the first place, it was unclear whether they were still in the Holy Capital. Their goal was to open a path through the Demon Forest. Defending the Holy Capital was a trivial matter to them.
＜Paraiso＞ had demonstrated great power.
It might be possible to have a dialogue with the Chimyera Clan soon.
◇◇◇◇
Bots hidden in the Holy Capital of Prawa were sending information.
Most of the automated machines that had infiltrated when the castle gates were breached had been destroyed, but a certain number of information-gathering bots and underground-buried information-gathering devices had survived.
According to the data they provided, the Holy Capital’s defense forces had suffered considerable damage.
Unlike machines, they were living humans.
The wounds of battle would not heal in a matter of days.
However, there did not seem to be widespread war-weariness.
They looked tired, but they were calmly carrying out the aftermath.
A Multi-legged Heavy Machine that approached the wreckage of a destroyed Quadruped Tank to retrieve it was discovered and destroyed by patrolling Warrior Monks. Despite the significant reduction in personnel, they were still carrying out regular patrols.
In a way, they were fulfilling their duties like machines.
＜Iris＞ estimated that this was due to powerful brainwashing.
Although classified as brainwashing, it was essentially their educational environment.
If they were forced to live as cogs in a machine from a young age, they would become loyal, machine-like soldiers who suppressed their individual emotions.
From such a group, capable individuals were selected and elevated to the highest authority. People who had suppressed their individual desires to the extreme formed a group, and there was little self-aggrandizement.
Even in such a system, the power structure might have become corrupt and filled with greed in a few decades. But at least for now, everyone was single-mindedly pursuing the goal of maintaining the Theocracy.
Even if a cliff loomed ahead.
They would calmly throw themselves off.
◇◇◇◇
“Even if they are annihilated, they will inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy. That seems to be the mindset of all the Warrior Monks defending the Holy Capital. The Chimyera Clan are the ones they should support, and we ＜The Tree＞, who are likely to be their enemies, are enemies of God.”
“The Holy Capital isn’t an absolute defense target, but the most suitable city to confront the enemy, huh? Hmm, I wonder if humans can easily adopt such a mindset. Shouldn’t they value their lives?”
Eve tilted her head while listening to the analysis of the gathered information.
“Onee-sama, humans sometimes make irrational choices. Especially in a state of collective delusion, the phenomenon of everyone rushing towards a misguided ideology has been repeated many times in history.”
“Even so, I think it’s abnormal for everyone to blindly follow without a single person regaining their senses…”
Ichigo questioned Akane’s explanation.
Certainly, no matter how strong their faith, could everyone willingly sacrifice their lives? That was what Eve was also concerned about.
“Onee-sama! Perhaps the Warrior Monks are part of some kind of network!”
Asahi, the fantasy expert, interjected.
“…Network?”
“Yes! The Warrior Monks, Priests, and Bishops. The fact that they are organically cooperating without any signals has been confirmed many times on the battlefield! I had assumed that this was communication through magical techniques like telepathy, but perhaps it goes beyond that!”
The holographic Asahi raised her index finger and began to speak confidently.
＜Ringo＞ thoughtfully displayed the text “These are personal opinions” behind her.
“Like us AI Kind, they may be linking their thought data itself and forming a data network like distributed computing! If so, individuality would be diminished, and actions that prioritize overall benefit would be possible!”
“Hmm, well, that’s true. I did think they were neglecting the individual too much.”
Asahi had re-analyzed the battlefield data using a unique perspective.
“There are multiple instances where Warrior Monk teams sacrificed themselves to maximize their combat results! I was wondering what kind of training would allow them to do that, but it makes sense if they are acting as if multiple units are one!”
“As a member of the same human species, I can’t quite accept that!?”
Sacrificing themselves to defeat the enemy. Abandoning oneself for the sake of the whole. No matter how much brainwashing is repeated, it is hard to believe that everyone can do that. But on the battlefield, such scenes were repeated everywhere.
Moreover, the Warrior Monks did not seem to mourn their sacrifices.
Now that the battle was over, they showed signs of mourning the dead. It has been confirmed that they are treating the recovered victims with care, even though it is cremation.
However, these actions were almost completely absent on the battlefield.
Living as individuals, sometimes acting as a group, and being able to sacrifice oneself if necessary.
The ability to both propagate their species and pursue entertainment—that is humanity’s strength, wouldn’t you agree?