Episode 69: Let’s Build a Monster Extermination Memorial Park
“It’s dead, right?”
“Unknown.”
This conversation took place while digging up the buried Worm.
Two hours had already passed since the start of the operation, and the surroundings were completely dark. Although night vision devices were available, the worksite was illuminated by multiple high-intensity lights to allow for aerial photography from the drones above. From an altitude of 20,000 meters, night vision images would be extremely noisy.
“However, the Worm’s body temperature is gradually approaching the outside air temperature. There are no unnatural fluctuations or traces of life activity, so it is highly likely that it is already dead.”
“Monsters seem to have incomprehensible ecologies, which is scary.”
“Yes, Ma’am. We are prepared to respond to any situation. At worst, even if we are completely annihilated, it will not be a problem.”
“It would be a waste, so I hope that doesn’t happen if possible.”
This isn’t a flag, is it? Commander (Eve) sighed, but in the end, the work proceeded steadily.
“Ma’am, the Worm’s head has been fully exposed.”
“Hmm. Okay, wait a moment. Akane, let’s check it together.”
Commander (Eve) had grown tired of watching the monotonous task of digging up dirt and was looking at the strategic map with Akane, but she was called back by ＜Ringo＞ and sat in the command seat. ＜Ringo＞ stood to her right, and Akane to her left.
“This is the area that was fractured by the Railgun. It seems that regeneration had begun. The mineral-like epidermis is growing slightly inward, and an incomplete set of fangs, resembling a mouth, seems to be growing in the center.”
“……If you removed the mosaic, would it be gruesome?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is gruesome. I do not recommend it.”
The video showed the Worm’s (new) head, filmed from a distance. However, the Worm was pixelated, and a wireframe diagram illustrated the three-dimensional structure of the epidermis, fangs, and oral cavity for explanatory purposes. ＜Ringo＞ was processing the video with consideration for Ma’am.
“Well, it’s not like I want to see it, so that’s fine. So, what’s the situation?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is safe to say that the Worm’s life activity has stopped. Fluid is leaking from the oral cavity, which appears to be a mixture of blood and muscle tissue. This is likely due to the intense shaking of the internal organs caused by the Bunker Buster’s explosive pressure.”
“…I don’t want to imagine it.”
“I want to verify how the underground explosive pressure affected the target… Ringo, can you give me the information?”
“Yes, I don’t mind, Akane. I will copy the information to your personal space. Please confirm any unclear points.”
“Thank you.”
Eve (Onee-sama), slightly taken aback by Akane, who was staring intently at the pixelated video with shining eyes, told her to take it easy.
I have to guide her so that she doesn’t go in a mad scientist direction. I’ll tell ＜Ringo＞ later, she wrote in her mental memo.
“It doesn’t seem like regeneration is progressing, and it’s difficult to confirm with just the video, but it seems that the internal structure is deforming and being crushed by Gravity. We will continue to investigate other areas in sequence, but if it doesn’t start moving after giving it this much stimulation, I think it’s safe to assume it’s dead.”
“Hmm… So, the Worm’s internal structure doesn’t seem to have the same abnormal robustness as ＜Rain Croin＞?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The outer skin seems to maintain abnormal hardness, but the interior is a structure that can be physically reproduced. By applying a certain level of pressure and impact, shock waves circulate inside, leading to fatal destruction, I estimate.”
“Ringo… does that mean the epidermis is too hard, and the shock waves are reflected…?”
“That’s right, Akane. The epidermis absorbs or diffuses impacts below a certain level and does not transmit them into the body, but when it exceeds its capacity, it spreads inside and causes damage.”
Commander (Eve), hearing that explanation, muttered, “Like a sausage inside…” but ＜Ringo＞ ignored it. That was too much.
“However, we don’t know what might happen. We will continue the excavation while maintaining vigilance.”
“Please do. Well, let me know if anything else happens. I’m going to go to the archive for now to organize some more information. Akane, are you coming with me?”
“I’ll go with you too.”
“I will accompany you.”
As a result, the Worm was completely dead.
They dug up the entire thing and dragged it to the surface, but it showed no signs of moving at all. Since there was no space to take the Worm back as it was, they further disassembled it on the spot.
Although it took some time to cut the hard epidermis, the rest was disassembled smoothly without any particular problems.
In the end, it was decided to transport it in three parts. It would be transported to ＜The Tree＞ via Fortress Two.
When it was divided, the middle part of the body retained its shape, but the head and tail collapsed under their own weight. This was probably because the mysterious structural reinforcement by the mysterious crystals, which had been confirmed in ＜Rain Croin＞, was applied, and it returned to its original characteristics when it was separated.
The target of the Worm’s structural reinforcement is probably its outer skin. It seems to be a biologically unlikely body tissue in which metal, rock, and living tissue are intricately mixed.
The details are awaiting the results of the investigation, but according to ＜Ringo＞, the structure is too simple compared to organisms such as earthworms and lugworms. Perhaps most of its biological functions are covered by the inexplicable power (unreasonableness) of Magic (Fantasy).
After roughly loading the collected samples onto the Rotorcraft, all that remained was to refill the Crater. As a result, the ground was evenly tilled from about 40 meters underground to the surface.
Perhaps this place will become a forest in the future. Although the expression is problematic, there are some organic materials mixed in that will serve as fertilizer, so a Grassland will appear within a year.
“It’s a subtle place, but should we set up a rest area or something? Since we’re here.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is possible to crush the rocks into crushed stone and compact them. Anything more than that requires the input of materials.”
“Well, level the ground, put some of the carved rocks there to make it look like something. It might become a tourist attraction, you know?”
It did.
That place would be passed down in the stories of people traveling along the road as the place where ＜Paraiso＞ had once defeated a giant monster with a single blow, where plants sprouted from the buried corpse, and eventually became the forest it is today.
“Now then.”
After cleaning up everything related to the Worm.
By the way, the Worm is currently being transported to ＜The Tree＞, divided among SR-1 (Albatross). In a few hours, it will be carried into the research facilities.
“The Delegation has arrived in Flattala City. What’s the situation?”
“Yes, Ma’am. We have dispatched one guard and a Communicator Doll as scouts. We have released a group of intelligence robots, so we will be able to confirm the detailed situation within a day or two. Currently, they seem to have been led to the lord’s Mansion as heralds. The discussion is… well, going smoothly. They will probably stay in Flattala City for about a day or two.”
On the strategic map, a yellow icon (a deformed fox girl) was displayed in Flattala City. Yellow means “under judgment.” If it turns blue, it is judged to be within allied forces, and if it turns red, it is judged to be within enemy forces. Green is the judgment within our own base, but that is not relevant now.
Originally, it was a function used to send more units back and forth and grasp the overall situation of each force, but currently there are only four icons (＜The Tree＞ is too far away and outside the map display range), so it is lonely.
I want to enrich it a little more.
“The tributes for the stay should be taken from the Trade Goods we brought.”
“Tributes are needed?”
“Yes, Ma’am. The other party is a lord, even if only nominally. Although we are a formal Delegation, we are merely passers-by, and even though the head of the Delegation has a family name, he has no real power. Well, it’s a way to avoid making waves.”
“……Hmm… Dealing with people is such a pain after all…”
The shut-in muttered so.
“Yes, Ma’am. Please leave the negotiations to me.”
As they continued such a conversation, the fox girl icon in Flattala City turned red.
“…Wait, what!? ＜Ringo＞!?”
“I’m sorry.”