Chapter 455: 455
Aegir POV–
In front of the door was a vast circular open space .
It was easily over 90 m or 100 m in diameter and the already high ceiling was even higher at close to 50 m .
「So this is the innermost part……wow, seeing it in person really makes you at a loss for words . 」
Tristan smiles wryly as he shakes his head .
There was none of the lighting equipment that was in the passageway, but the brightness increased and the color is a whiter……no, it’s a faint red……no, no, could it be light blue or maybe it’s changed color to a shade that I’ve never seen before .
What I’m certain of is that it’s bright and the pale color of the light is beautiful .
「Incredible……I’ve been journeying just to see these kinds of things……magnificent . 」
Natia is so overcome with emotion that she’s about to cry .
Her ears seem confused and go back and forth between swaying or drooping .
「If such a room exists underground……I wonder how much power they possessed……it’s frightening . 」
「Fueeh……」
Agor seems a bit overwhelmed .
His attendant is also clinging tightly to his waist .
「……」
I see the silent Mack take one step back, while Celia remains vigilant and won’t leave my side .
This place cannot be compared to the size of the plaza of the palace in the Federation, let alone the one in Goldonia .
The fact that there isn’t anything small like a table or chair emphasizes how large the place is .
「No, there is one thing, or rather, there is someone……?」
In the center of the expansive area stood a female .
She was 150 cm tall with slender limbs that matched her height and a baby face that made her appear young .
However, her rainbow pastel-colored hair and light pink eyes, impossible for a human to have, clearly showed she wasn’t any ordinary girl .
Her tight-fitting white-based outfit, which is composed of a material I’ve never seen before, really accentuates the curves of her body, but doesn’t reveal any imbalances .
『I repeat . This is a high security area . Please state your name and job title . 』
Those same words were recited again .
It was spoken by a monotonous machine voice somewhat resembling the voice of a lovely young girl .
We don’t give an answer, and simply gather together, continuing to stay alert .
「I appreciate the repetition…… so, what do we do?」
I glance over at Tristan .
I don’t think it will be satisfied with any of our names or ranks .
「Automatic puppet, huh……those steel soldier dolls from before, I guess . We aren’t being attacked probably because we opened the door with the proper method, but now it’s asking for a confirmation of identity . If it determines we are intruders, we’ll likely……」
That’s why I’m asking you .
Useless, I’m going to fill your meals with peas every day if we return home alive . And I’ll get Irijina to cook your meals .
「When we go back, I’ll happily eat them . Well, our only option is to lie here . We might coincidentally guess a safe name and title . I’m counting on you to do the same thing you did with the key . 」
I click my tongue, frustrated that there is no other plan .
If I recall, the name of this civilization was――and it said this was a high security area .
『This is the final warning . Please state your name or job――』
「I am Birubiru Taro . I’m the boss of this area!」
How’s that?
「Aegir-sama……there’s no way that kind of name will work!」
「Get ready to run!」
「How do you get there from Jirubiru…… alright, let the battle commence」
「Lord Hardlett……it’s like you’re being questioned in the palace and declaring yourself as John Goldonia . 」
Hey, bystanders be quiet .
The automatic puppet shifts its completely emotionless gaze to me .
『Unable to identify――』
No good, huh? Damn, Tristan’s plan was useless after all .
However, it doesn’t attack us and nothing sprung out from around it either, rather it looked like the puppet was in thought .
『Name registry lost . Unable to match with visitor . Confirmation not possible . Omitting authentication process――welcome to Bados Fortress . Previous access was 1057 years and 153 days ago . 』
I don’t know what it’s saying, but I think we got by somehow .
「It was okay with that answer? Eeh……」
「Are the people from the ancient civilization stupider than I thought or maybe nobody ever lied……?」
As Natia and Tristan praise me, I feel a faint vibration under my feet .
『Moderate fatigue detected in two individuals and minor fatigue detected in four individuals . Rest is recommended . 』
A table and a chair rises up from the floor .
In addition, a mysterious rectangular object emerges and water is poured inside .
『Minor dehydration detected in three individuals . Please have a drink . 』
Glasses made of a material I’ve never seen before are offered to us .
「How considerate . 」
「Yeah, when you think of automatic puppets, you think of the ones that go “whirrr, kill, kill” . 」
It’s because we saw those other mechanical soldiers first .
Hmm, its expression softened after hearing Celia’s comments and became displeased from Natia’s words . Or was that my imagination?
「Here . 」
「Oh, thanks . 」
I get a glass too .
I pretend to accept and naturally rub its hand .
It feels exactly like human skin, including the characteristic warmth that living bodies have . The skin is smooth and soft, and its nails are meticulously trimmed, just like that of a human female .
「Fumu . 」
I try touching its hair next .
The color is not something that humans can naturally achieve, but the texture is no different from that of human hair .
It’s silky like a comb has been run through the strands many times .
「I see . 」
My hands proceed expectedly to its shoulders and cleavage .
The feel of its clothes was strange, but the tender body of a young girl laid beneath them, and although small, I also confirmed the presence of breasts .
『Please refrain from excessive touching . 』
「Woah!」
It didn’t behave like it disliked my actions, but a loud voice suddenly scolded me, causing everyone to stare coldly at me .
Umumu……it’s hard to read when its face doesn’t show any emotion .
「Why don’t you set your pervertedness aside, Margrave? Let’s move on to the main issue . 」
Tristan stands up .
「You are the supervisor of this place, right?」
『Negative . The one with the highest authority is Colonel General Midect and the ones with upper management authority are General Guinun and Lieutenant General Atoei . 』
Tristan, tilting his head slightly in confusion, goes on .
「Are you the one currently in charge of maintaining this place?」
『Affirmative . In situations where authority holders are absent for long periods of time, I have been temporarily tasked with the preservation of critical functions . 』
Tristan made himself useful for once .
Natia tried to sneak the glass she was given into her bag, but hastily returned it to the desk and whistled like nothing happened when the doll turned its head/
「People came here before us . They should have carried out various things……」
『Confirming… 106 days prior, a total of 15,455 people continuously intruded the facility . A few weapons and miscellaneous items held in storage were stolen . 』
It knew about everything?
「You didn’t try to stop them?」
『My top priority was the preservation of the core . Since the intruders could not bypass the security system, I determined they were not a threat to the core . Furthermore, I have been forbidden to leave the high security area . 』
I see, so the initial passage was, to put it in our terms, equivalent to the courtyard or outside the window .
「Okay……about that . We are interested in those few weapons which were stolen . 」
Tristan unrolls a scroll with the aforementioned items .
『Warning, presence of fungus and foul odors above the standard levels has been detected . Scheduling emergency cleaning . 」
「Haha……it does stink . Anyways……this . 」
Tristan points to the weapon drawn on the scroll .
『Image is not clear, unable to identify . 』
「Aah……okay . Then what weapon do you have that most closely resembles this shape?」
『The A-7 magic cannon matches . The R-12 scatter shot suppressing magic cannon matches . 』
「What about the weapon that resembles the shape of a spear――」
『The S-12 light infantry suppressing magic ruler . 』
The answer was so easily obtained that it was almost disappointing, but something feels off .
「And……what about a mechanism that reinforces an already built wall or fence?」
『Coatings PP-3 to PCP-16 matches that description . The application of any of those coatings will form a highly durable layer on the surface of any object, protecting it from damage or flames . 』
「What happens when the structure covered in the coating breaks apart?」
『If damage surpasses a certain amount, it will be considered destroyed and the coating will lose its strength . 』
Tristan smiles wryly and spreads his arms .
「I’m finished . I understand everything now . I was collecting resources and looking forward to perform an analysis……no, I was prepared to do so . 」
Yeah, it’s certainly not very satisfying . And there’s still this strange feeling I can’t get rid of……
「The most important part also hasn’t been addressed . 」
I guess it’s my turn to shine .
「That’s right! We’re not here to create a picture book for weapons . We have to figure out how to deal with――」
「What’s your name?」
I ask the female-looking doll with a smile .
Celia, I know you’re fussing behind me, but you’ll have to wait a second .
『T-99, auxiliary type automatic puppet, made for the preservation and maintenance of this facility . 』
I mean, that’s just a code name .
「T-99…… how about Tikuku?」
When Natia mutters her suggestion softly, it……no, Tikuku turns its head 180 degrees to look at her .
It has such a function?
「Hiieh!」
Natia hastily puts the glass back on the desk . Does she want it that badly?
「My official name cannot be changed . ――therefore, I will register it as a secondary name . 」
I guess it took a liking to the name .
Anyways, Celia is getting noisy, so let’s get back to business .
「The theft of the weapons and coating have caused a bit of a mess . We would like to destroy or neutralize them, do you have any solutions?」
『The A-7 and R-12 are not very durable . It is easy to destroy them with a certain amount of physical or magical force . 』
「IWe’re asking because we can’t get close enough to do so……」
I nudge Tristan .
「Ah, right……what should we do if these weapons are stolen or if the army wielding them rebels? We want to minimize the number of casualties as much as possible . 」
『An order will be sent from this facility to turn off all weapons . 』
My soldiers slump as I shout “why didn’t you just say that from the start?”
「Then can you send that right away?」
We might be losing Aless soldiers on the surface as we speak .
Tikuku fixates her eyes on me from the front .
When I look closely, her pupils are moving mechanically . So she isn’t human after all .
『Birubiru Taro . Are you an authority figure in this fortress?』
「No . Also change my name to Aegir . 」
Tikuku nods robotically .
『For the sake of preserving the fortress, a special protocol will be applied . Aegir, are you a supervisor?』
「I’m not that either . 」
It changed my name properly like I asked .
『Applying the emergency manual for the special protocol . Are you a person affiliated with the fortress?』
Tikuku’s eyes peer into my eyes almost like she was trying to appeal to me .
Now I know what made me feel so uneasy .
「Yeah, that’s right . 」
At that moment, Tikuku’s expression softened .
『A request has been issued to T-99 by the current highest authority figure to apply the special protocol in conjunction with the emergency manual . T-99 approves . Magic weapons will be shut down remotely . 』
Desks with countless protuberances on them emerge from the floor and Tikuku starts operating them .
「Slowly…… gyah!!」
When Natia, whose attention was drawn to the foreign devices, reached her hand out to one of them, she was surprised by Tikuku, who only spun its head around to look at her while continuing to manipulate the mysterious terminals .
So it seems its head has a range of motion of 360 degrees .
『Transmitting stop signal to the magic weapons . All weapons outside the fortress have now been stopped . 』
「That’s it? How anticlimactic . 」
Everyone, including me, visually relaxes .
With that, we’ve pretty much achieved our objective .
Since the weapons have now lost function on the surface, that means the Aless soldiers should be fine too .
「We only have the impenetrable walls to deal with……」
『The coating is designed to lose its effect if hit by a certain amount of voltage for disassembly purposes . 』
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login