The news of the recapture of the “Great Mother” did not spread quite as lightning-fast, but considering we lack long-range communication technology, it circulated remarkably quickly.
The surviving warriors immediately set out to bring this information back to their tribes.
With most of the strange creatures in the forest now silent—though a few are still active due to bugs—it was deemed safe enough for the Tech Gobs to reclaim their original settlements and pay homage to the “Great Mother.” Numerous Tech Gobs will likely come to do so.
Ridelberdy even promised me a celebration feast in my honor, so when I take the Great Mother back, I won’t face any salty responses. That assurance gives me a much-needed sense of relief.
Though, I kindly declined the title of “Pure Hero.”
Even the nickname “Holy Spear Hero” felt somewhat embarrassing, so I was troubled to hear I’d been nicknamed the husband of Tiamat 25. If such rumors spread, Lieutenant Terada from beyond the grave might bite his towel in regret.
At any rate, having successfully reclaimed the “Great Mother,” we decided to stay on-site with only the messengers sent out, in order to clean up after the battle.
There are faux humanoids inside the Great Mother who are dying due to lost control, and numerous strange creatures remain on the periphery. If left alone, given their organic components, they might rot and possibly cause an epidemic. After all, it would be no laughing matter if, after retrieving Tiamat 25, a curse-like illness killed many.
To address this, I obtained Ridelberdy’s permission—this time’s success will certainly elevate him to clan leader—to use some of the surviving factory equipment in the standard equipment compartment.
The first thing I made… well…
“Nozomu?”
「Master/Divine Engineer/Nozomu-sama」
Our bridge area, where we were managing controls, was then approached by Galatea and three Sylvanians, whose metallic footsteps echoed as they arrived. They were all wearing “Reinforced Exoskeletons.” These support frameworks bolster the back, shoulders, and waist while extending along the arms and legs, functioning as exoskeletons for engineers who work behind the scenes. The ship’s lightweight作业 exoskeletons, empowered by artificial muscles and fluid motors, greatly magnify muscle strength. Ideally, they also have various attachments for expanded functionality, though the ones we created here only amplified strength—just a downgraded version.
This was because we lacked materials, and the standard models require neural interfaces, which only I have access to. So, I had Selene assemble a simpler, older model that operates via nerve pulse synchronization.
While Galatea’s skeleton was standard-sized, the Sylvanians wore newly designed, scaled-down versions to fit their smaller frames. Though less flashy, they possess a certain charm that I’ve grown to appreciate. Design alterations were fairly simple—adjusting for joint interference and limiting excessive power output to match their strength. Even the rabbits seemed pleased, as they can now assist with labor-intensive tasks.
Once our factory’s capacity increases, I might craft walking aids for the elders too!
“The disposal of the bodies is mostly done. Anything visible has been tossed outside.”
“Thank you, that helps a lot.”
“Still, this is incredible. Such comfortable armor is a first for me. It feels completely natural to operate, and I can carry three faux humanoids in one hand without the slightest strain!”
After slightly dirtying herself with the faux humanoids’ white blood, Galatea pumped her mech-enhanced arms, clearly enamored with the exoskeleton’s power. Her original one may have been broken, but this downgraded version is undoubtedly high-tier equipment, able to lift up to one ton.
The original would have boasted 50% more power, six operational arms, and airborne anchors for greater versatility. But as I can operate the full version, I’ve made a personal one for myself with those features. Ideally, I’d prefer combat-grade exoskeletons, but the weapon-production section had been repurposed into a minimal robotic factory for maintaining the ship—likely by the lieutenant to preserve secrecy, judging by its priority. So, for now, I’ll have to upgrade this with added armor or modifications to make it combat-worthy.
“Say, Nozomu, what were you working on?”
“Legs.”
“Legs…?”
“Look.”
I then took out a small-scale model of the Type-A1 Long-Distance Mobility Multi-Legged Wheeled Vehicle, colloquially known as the “Wolfpack.”
It has a streamlined body with two pairs of four animal-like jointed legs instead of wheels, with the tips of the legs replaced by tires. The tires can unfold into three-fingered appendages, allowing the vehicle to traverse steep inclines or mountain trails with a 75° grade. These have been traditionally used by mechanized humans to explore uneven terrain and for reconnaissance missions in areas where air superiority couldn’t be secured.
Of course, they were also essential vehicles for planetary development projects across various barren worlds, and the basic equipment section was designed to fabricate them.
At about 2 meters long but just 80cm tall when its legs are folded for road mode, the “Wolfpack” is large yet stealthy, standing at just 1.4m when the legs are extended. Its sizable frame is optimized for cargo capacity, with three large rear pannier bags and two in the front, making it suitable for long-duration missions. With properly arranged resources, it could operate unsupplied for half a year. Furthermore, it’s equipped with a multi-joint operational arm that can mount personal weapons, providing some combat capabilities.
Though unavailable here, versions armed with recoilless guns and mortars have also existed, giving the Wolfpack a solid reputation as a swift light cavalry across numerous battlefields. Being able to manufacture these versatile machines here feels like a stroke of luck.
Ah, with these, we won’t have to spend over twenty days traveling to the Sylvanian Kingdom. With the Wolfpack, it’ll be a day’s journey—something I’ve been wanting desperately…
“Isn’t that a Gear Carriage?”
“What?”
“Our beloved steed from the Magius Geanaite order! The steel steeds exclusively crafted in the Great Holy Mother factory under the Canopy Holy Capital! How could it be here…?”
Galatea seized the model, trembling with emotion as she stared at it in my hand.
Come to think of it, I’d heard the Holy Capital was extremely far away. I had assumed they used biological horses, but that wasn’t the case here. Upon reflection, that makes sense. With their total equipment weight easily surpassing 300kg, a regular horse wouldn’t suffice. Moreover, considering logistics, deploying large contingents of knights—though likely not a thousand strong—would strain supply lines.
The Wolfpack uses a miniaturized fusion reactor, requiring no replenishment and explaining how Galatea’s group could have traversed such distances… but this raises questions. Why are they familiar with the advanced equipment of the high-tier league if the exoskeletons were seemingly crude reproductions? Could the Holy Capital harbor remnants of even more advanced high-tier league technology?
“Y-yeah, it’s the Gear Carriage. Sure is.”
“All of our Gear Carriages were lost in combat, and we were wondering how we’d return! You’re willing to gift one of these rare machines?”
Given that my immediate priorities are complete, producing a few extras shouldn’t be an issue. While Tiamat 25 will primarily be devoted to maintaining its self-sustaining functions, personal equipment needs won’t be a problem. Besides, I’ll need the Sylvanians and Tech Gobs moving about for various purposes, and I intended to produce several dozen sets of these “legs” anyway, so this is but a minor adjustment.
“You won’t be stranded far from home, so I’ll give you one of the finest models. After all, we’ve fought together, haven’t we?”
Right, fellow warrior? A wink from me—though, I wonder if it translates—seemed to slightly color Galatea’s cheeks.
After holding my hand for a moment, she gazed into my eyes and paused in thought before finally speaking resolutely.
“Nozomu, could you please come with me to the Holy Capital?”
“Huh? What’s with the sudden request?”
“I’ll explain why we came to the Great Mother.”
Before I could interject, she began to earnestly recount their story.
The Canopy Holy Capital was apparently in dire straits. Threatened by massive creatures referred to as “dragons” and Chimera-like abominations, their domains were said to be shrinking each day. Consequently, the Magius Geanaite knights were dispatched to scour ancient ruins in search of equipment capable of repelling these dragons.
“This is an impudent favor I ask of you!”
“No, it’s not that bad…”
“Just, I beg of you, don’t laugh at me for clinging to your compassion to save the rabbits, even the children!!”
“But there’s no need…”
“I implore you, Nozomu! You, a man of such caliber, can surely save the Holy Capital! Please, come with me! For the memories of our fallen comrades, don’t let their sacrifices be in vain! I’ll do anything you ask, anything!”
Uh, wow, I didn’t expect such fervent pleading.
I was planning to visit the Holy Capital anyway. Humans bearing inactive photon crystals, the unnatural thousand-year gap coinciding with Earth’s terraformation completion…
And most importantly, a city said to have “descended from the heavens” is highly likely to be the site of a facility far grander and more crucial than Tiamat 25—perhaps even a functional starship.
“Alright, Galatea. I was planning to visit the Holy Capital anyway.”
“Really!?”
“Besides, after hearing of the people’s peril, I couldn’t stay silent. Let’s see what we can do.”
Chanting my agreement, I embraced her and stroked her head to comfort her as she clung to me.
Hmm, but it seems Galatea is emotionally unstable after losing all her comrades. She’ll likely need some counseling down the line.
“Thank you, thank you, Nozomu…!!”
“Anyway, Galatea, what exactly is this Holy Capital?”
“Oh, right…”
She reached into her pocket and produced a single sheet of paper. It was a keepsake given by a friend so she wouldn’t forget her homeland, adorned with several writings and what appeared to be a “photo.”
The photo seemed to have been taken from a distant hill, showing the silhouette of a vast city. Given the space provided for messages on the back, it resembled a type of postcard. Printed on the front was not just any city—it resembled a colossal lid covering the earth, reminiscent of a cracked eggshell. The diameter appeared to span approximately 160 km.
This structure was familiar to me—a fragment of a “quasi-satellite-class starship.” The Second Secondary Seed Ship Fleet had numerous large vessels, both satellite and quasi-satellite-class ships, accompanying it.
“This is absolutely the quasi-satellite-class starship, Inanna 12.” A mechanized-human-adapted vessel with advisory functions, it possessed a degree of autonomous authority. Such ships were typically used by the humans of the “Ecliptic Republican Union” who sold the fully terraformed 16th Earth and then descended to the planetary surface to propagate humanity. If this holds true, there must be some monumental abnormality concerning communication bands involved.
“I’ll prepare accordingly, Galatea.”
Gripping my hands around her precious postcard carefully, I felt a profound certainty. Within my grasp lay a significant key, a piece of the grand puzzle waiting to be solved…
Thank you for your feedback and typo reports—they’ve been very helpful. They significantly contribute to improving the quality of the work and motivate the author. If you keep watering the plant like this, I am truly grateful.
On July 20th, 2024, we’re planning a 1-hour interval, 5-episode consecutive update starting from 15:00.
Stay tuned!
