Chapter 39

□＜Cruela Mountain Range＞ 【Holy Knight】Ray Stirling

＜Majingia＞.

This is an abbreviation for ＜Magic and Gears＞, and it is said to be the common name for the main combat weapon of Dryfo, the empire.

I was riding on the right hand of that weapon, swaying, and thinking about something.

The first ＜Embryo＞ I saw when I entered ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞—my brother Baldur was also a weapon.

However, even though it was a weapon, it was one form of ＜Embryo＞, which takes various shapes according to each ＜Master＞, and is not made by technology.

In contrast, the ＜Majingia＞ is a weapon created by the scientific technology of the Dryfo Empire, which is rooted in the world's setting.

The Dryfo Empire, which created the ＜Majingia＞, seems to be the only country in the world of ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ where science and technology have developed.

What is concerning is why other countries have not developed science and technology if it has developed in Dryfo.

Technological innovation, once it starts in one country, usually spreads quickly to other countries.

It has been over a hundred years since Dryfo became a technological power.

Logically, other countries should have also developed science and technology.

From a game perspective, it might be a matter of giving each country its own characteristics.

However, this is ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞, which includes even the player's logout in its core setting.

I felt that there must be some reason for the vastly different technological systems.

That's why I asked Hugo about this while we were moving to the hideout of the Gouzmeiz Mountain Bandits.

“What do you think?”

‘Huh. To answer that question, I need to explain a certain civilization.’

“Civilization?”

‘Yes, a civilization known as the Pre-Civilization or the Pre-Pre-Civilization.’

...That name sounds familiar.

Ah, right. It was in the explanation of the Silver I got from the gacha.

It mentioned the Pre-Pre-Civilization.

‘That civilization existed thousands of years ago in the world of ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞.’

According to Hugo, the world of ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ had a scientific civilization thousands of years ago.

It was a civilization with even more advanced scientific power than Dryfo.

However, that civilization disappeared.

Now, only the faint traces of that civilization remain in the form of machines and documents that are occasionally excavated.

“I don’t understand just that.”

‘There is a theory that the disappearance of the great civilization was due to the wrath of the gods, which was provoked by the overgrowth of human power through scientific civilization.’

“Wrath of the gods?”

‘There is a legend that a single god and thirteen attendants flew from the sky and destroyed civilizations all over the place. The five countries other than Dryfo and Granbaloa generally believe this and do not study science and technology.’

I see.

They fear divine punishment and deliberately avoid it.

Hmm... Granbaloa?

“Is it different for Dryfo and Granbaloa? Does Granbaloa even have technology?”

‘Yes. Granbaloa can be said to have science and technology, but it can also be said not to have it.’

Which is it?

‘Let me start with Dryfo. Dryfo has always proclaimed itself as the successor to civilization and has continued to study science and technology. However, they have not been able to reproduce the technology of the past, and in the end, they have developed mechanical technology that operates on human magic power, like the ＜Majingia＞.’

“Operates on human magic power?”

‘In game terms, it means it consumes MP to operate. In the case of my 【Marshal II】, it consumes about 1 MP per minute now, and 1 MP per second in battle. Dryfo’s machines generally work on a similar principle.’

MP consumption per second. It’s the same as my 【Reversal】.

However, it makes sense.

That’s why Hugo’s jobs, such as 【Pilot】, 【Mechanic】, and 【High Pilot】, are also specialized in MP growth.

“Was it different for the old machines?”

‘Many of the excavated machines had generators built into them. They could generate the magic power needed to operate, a technology that has been lost now.’

Wow.

What about Silver?

“So, what about Granbaloa? I just found out they have machine technology.”

I only knew it was a country on the sea.

I thought they were in the age of sail with sailing ships.

‘Huh. That country is specialized in shipbuilding technology. Steamships are in circulation among the civilian population, but there are no automobiles. In a way, it’s a more unbalanced country than Dryfo. While their magic technology is inferior to that of Legendaria and the Yellow River Empire, their sailing ships are highly advanced.’

“Wow.”

So, Granbaloa is a country with advanced shipbuilding technology, whether it’s magic or science.

Indeed, it’s unbalanced.

‘Moreover, they are also salvaging from underwater ruins on their own, so the situation is not fully understood even by Dryfo.’

I’m getting interested.

I’d like to visit someday.

‘Hmm, Hugo. Is the information about the civilization you just told me also in the setting?’

‘No. I heard it from an archaeologist named Tian and a setting enthusiast who explores ruins all over the place. My clan has a lot of hobbyists.’

“Clan?”

‘Yes. It’s quite large in Dryfo, so it has a lot of members. If you end up joining the Dryfo Empire, I’ll introduce you.’

“Ha ha, no way.”

‘Huh. That might depend on the outcome of the war later on.’

Indeed, even if I don’t want to, if Dryfo wins the war and absorbs the kingdom, it might happen.

‘Depending on the outcome, I might end up joining your clan instead.’

“I haven’t joined a clan yet.”

‘If you find a group you like, it’s good to join. It increases the range of what you can do. You can even start your own if you want.’

“I’ll think about it...”

‘We seem to have arrived.’

◇

Hugo’s ＜Majingia＞ stopped in the forest.

The engine output was reduced, and the sound was minimized as it moved forward.

After moving a little further, the view opened up beyond the trees.

“I can see it.”

It was Kyuko’s voice.

At the same time, I confirmed it through the gaps in the trees.

Beyond the forest, there was a huge structure.

It was a stone fortress.

Built in the middle of a space several hundred meters square that had been cleared in the forest.

The outer walls were covered with vines.

It seems to have been built a long time ago and is now abandoned.

It’s being used as the hideout of the bandits, I guess.

‘It matches the map information. It must be here. There are also guards on the wall.’

As Hugo said, there were bandits on the wall who seemed to be guards.

However, they didn’t seem very serious, just yawning and looking around.

They didn’t seem to notice us in the forest.

It wouldn’t be strange for them to notice the ＜Majingia＞, but it seems to be hidden well.

The trees are tall, and the ＜Majingia＞ is well hidden.

The dark green camouflage might also help.

Or maybe Hugo has a skill that makes him harder to spot.

‘What do you want to do? Attack all at once?’

“Don’t be ridiculous. If the kidnapped children are used as hostages, it’s over.”

If we try to fight and rescue them, they will definitely be taken as hostages.

However, without knowing the internal structure of the fortress, it’s difficult to sneak in without being noticed.

Even a lax guard would notice if they came out into such an open area.

‘...I have an idea about that.’

“Idea?”

Hugo’s ＜Majingia＞ nodded skillfully and pointed to itself with its mechanical fingers.

‘This ＜Majingia＞ is a weapon of the Dryfo Empire, and everyone in this world knows that.’

That’s why we moved here avoiding people’s eyes.

‘Yes, a weapon of the Dryfo Empire. Normally, there would be no reason for the Dryfo to come to the rescue of children from the enemy country, Alter Kingdom.’

“...? ...Ah!”

I see.

‘If I attack the fortress, they will think it has nothing to do with the kidnapping. That’s right, there’s no reason for the Dryfo to come to the rescue of a kidnapping in the Alter Kingdom. The children won’t be used as hostages. If I show up recklessly, the Dryfo won’t care, and the ransom will just decrease.’

Using Hugo’s original position to his advantage.

‘The children won’t be used as hostages, but the bandits can’t ignore my attack on the fortress. They will definitely come out to counterattack. I will draw them out, and while they are engaged, Ray will sneak into the fortress and rescue the kidnapped children. That’s the plan.’

“I understand. But you’ll be the decoy. Are you okay with that?”

‘This 【Marshal II】 is a sturdy machine. It won’t fall easily. Besides, Kyuko is here.’

“Yeah. What will you do?”

‘Support me. I’ll use the 【Smoke Discharger】 to reduce their numbers while hiding in the smoke.’

“Okay, um... *psh*”

‘It’s best for Ray to approach the fortress in the smoke as well. Try to rescue the hostages without being noticed as much as possible.’

“I got it.”

‘Yes! Ray and I can do it!’

‘This will likely be a race against time. Speed and accuracy are required.’

“Yeah.”

Rescuing the children, a race against time.

It’s like the first quest I went on to save Miriane.

But back then, Liliana was there, and most importantly, my brother was there.

Without my brother, I wouldn’t have been able to reach Miriane, and without him fighting the 【Demidragonworm】 underground, the situation would have been much worse.

That was a quest with a difficulty level of 5.

This time, it’s a much higher difficulty level of 8.

I don’t know what kind of monsters will appear, and I don’t think it will end well.

I don’t have my brother and Liliana to rely on this time.

But I have Hugo and Kyuko.

I’ve become stronger since then, and Nemesis is with me.

Let’s see how far I can go now.

“No matter what, we can’t fail since the children’s lives are at stake.”

‘Huh?’

Did I say that out loud?

‘...’

The camera on the head of the ＜Majingia＞—the 【Marshal II】—was pointed at my face, as if it had heard my words.

“What’s up?”

I get what you’re thinking.

You probably think I’m taking the game ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ too seriously.

But even in a game, it’s not a good feeling if a child dies.

‘...’

Hugo didn’t say anything.

He was silent, thinking about something, and looking at me through the camera.

“Say what you want to say.”

‘...Yeah.’

When I said that, Hugo spoke.

But his words were different from what I expected.

‘What... I was thinking is that Ray is also a ＜Master＞ of a Maiden, right?’

“?”

I don’t understand the intent of the statement.

What does being a ＜Master＞ of a TYPE: Maiden have to do with what I said?

‘Does Ray know the common traits of TYPE: Maiden ＜Masters＞?’

“Common traits?”

‘Yes, a friend who is a ＜Master＞ said that there are common traits among the ＜Masters＞ of Maidens.’

I’ve never met any other ＜Masters＞ of Maidens besides myself, but do they really have such traits?

“What kind of common traits?”

‘“They don’t think of ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ as a game.”’

...What?

“Don’t be ridiculous. I know it’s a game.”

I’m not dreaming of being in a different world like in some old novels.

I understand that ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞ is a game.

‘My friend said the same thing. They understand it in their head, but not in their heart. That’s why...’

“Why?”

‘...No, I’m sorry for saying something strange just before we attack. I got a bit off track.’

Don’t leave it hanging like that.

‘Ah, right. If the opponent is Tian, it’s okay to kill them if they are a wanted criminal or in self-defense. Remember that.’

“Yeah... I got it.”

Hugo fell silent after that.

What was he trying to say just now?

‘Master’

What is it?

‘Do you understand what he was trying to say?’

I can’t understand.

Even Nemesis can’t understand, right?

‘Not necessarily. But if you don’t know, it might be better not to know.’

What do you mean?

‘...! Ray, look at that.’

Hugo’s 【Marshal II】 pointed at the fortress, interrupting my question.

The gate of the fortress was slowly opening.

“There, they’re coming.”

This time, I looked in the direction Kyuko pointed.

Part of the forest surrounding the fortress was open, and it seemed to be part of a mountain path.

Several carriages were moving toward the fortress on that mountain path.

“Are they kidnapping more children?”

‘It seems so.’

“I can hear something.”

Kyuko put her hands on her ears, closed her eyes, and focused her consciousness on her hearing.

“They’ll return to the fortress. Kill. Comrades. Captured. Revenge. Brats. Kill.”

“...!”

‘No way!’

The captured subordinates... the ones we defeated in the city and handed over to the guards!

‘There must be more of them in the city, and they noticed us.’

So, the ones they are planning to kill when they return to the fortress are Rebecca’s brother, who was in charge of the deal...!

‘It seems we don’t have much time.’

The 【Marshal II】 that had been in a crouching position stood up.

‘I will attack the group with the carriages. The forces inside the fortress will come out to counterattack. When that happens, I’ll create a smoke screen, and Ray will infiltrate. Kyuko, provide support.’

“...Understood.”

‘Yes!’

“Let’s go!”

After confirming our responses, Hugo’s 【Marshal II】 rushed out of the forest.

It didn’t run on two legs as it did in the forest, but used the wheels on its legs for a roller dash.

In that high-speed state, it took the gun mounted on its waist and fired at the lead carriage.

The horses pulling the carriage were blown away with one shot, and the driver was thrown by the impact, causing the carriage to overturn.

The carriages behind stopped at the sudden disaster.

However, the 【Marshal II】 didn’t miss the opportunity and fired at the bandits around the carriages, killing and wounding them.

“...?”

I felt something uncomfortable about the scene.

‘...’

The 【Marshal II】 continued its attack.

After a few bandits were killed, the bandits finally seemed to be ready to counterattack.

However, it wasn’t an organized response; each bandit was attacking the 【Marshal II】 with their own weapons and methods.

They were using swords, hand axes, and bows.

Logically, these weapons wouldn’t stand a chance against the tank-like 【Marshal II】, but this is ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞.

The bandits seemed to be low-level combatants, but they had higher stats than normal humans, and their attacks often pierced and embedded into the armor of the 【Marshal II】.

‘...Huh!’

Still, the 【Marshal II】 didn’t stop