Episode 11: A Proper Meal on the Fourth Day

“Pan-seared white fish and a salt-seasoned seaweed salad.”

“Oh… it actually looks like a real meal…”

On the morning of her fourth day since the transfer, she was finally presented with what looked like a decent meal.

Without hesitation, she cut a piece and brought it to her mouth.

“…It’s delicious…”

The white fish, being from a tropical region, had a mild flavor. But each bite released subtle umami that filled her mouth. Having a substantial meal was a luxury she’d begun to crave.

“I’m glad to hear that, Commander Ma’am. However, I must ask you to perform another edibility test before bed tonight.”

“Sure… does that mean I can have lunch today?”

“Yes, Commander Ma’am. You’ll have lunch at noon, and after 8 p.m., I’ll prepare another variety of seaweed for you.”

So far, she had cleared the edibility tests for seared fish “muscle” portions, salt-boiled seaweed, and seared scallops. To supplement her mineral intake, Ringo planned to expand the variety of seaweed. Eventually, they would search for more carbohydrate-rich options.

For now, carbohydrates were supplied intravenously, as fish, shellfish, and seaweed alone couldn’t meet her caloric needs. It was true; while healthy, seafood alone wasn’t enough.

“But eating only seafood might get boring.”

“Apologies, Ma’am. Without reaching land, it’s difficult to diversify your diet.”

“It’s fine,” she reassured Ringo, continuing her meal. She hadn’t realized how satisfying the simple act of chewing and swallowing could be.

After breakfast, she reviewed the skill tree, checked task progress, and gave instructions when needed. However, Ringo was becoming proficient, and she barely had to intervene. Today, everything was on track with no further input required.

Once she finished the skill tree check, she had free time.

(There’s really nothing to do…)

The tasks left to her were few, and those that remained would take a while to complete. Within another week, it seemed she’d run out of tasks entirely.

(Alright, let’s do a walkthrough for exercise.)

She had barely left the command floor. It seemed wise to get a better understanding of The Tree’s internal structure, so she decided to head to the busiest area—the manufacturing floor.

“Ringo, I’d like to visit the manufacturing floor.”

“Yes, Commander Ma’am. Please proceed to the elevator.”

“Thank you.”

There were small vehicles for internal transport within the fortress, but she opted to walk for exercise. Musing on whether she should install a gym, she eventually arrived at the manufacturing floor on foot.

“Currently, we’re producing deep-sea exploration drones and assembling Swift units 4 to 6.”

The manufacturing floor had walkways near the ceiling, allowing a full view of the operations below. The actual manufacturing was handled by automated machinery, so the walkway served as an observation area. Peering down, she saw the dark hull of a deep-sea drone emerging from a large multipurpose printer.

“It’s my first time seeing an industrial printer up close like this.”

While she couldn’t see inside the printer itself, there was something intriguing about witnessing the production of large structures firsthand.

“Commander Ma’am, the Swift units are being produced over there.”

“Really? Let’s take a look.”

The Swifts were being built, with their long wings forming piece by piece. About two-thirds of a wing was already visible from the printer.

“Movable parts like propellers are assembled last. The Swift has few moving parts, so over 90% can be directly printed.”

“I see. I didn’t know much about its internal design… or the principles behind these printers.”

“I can explain if you’d like.”

She chuckled and politely declined. Maybe someday, if things truly became dull, she’d take Ringo up on the offer.

Afterward, she toured the materials storage area, oil tanks, and short runway, filling her day. Although it was a productive way to spend time, she found herself dismayed at how quickly she’d covered the key areas.

(Maybe I should practice cooking…)

With so few tasks left, she found herself with the rare luxury of wondering how to spend her time.

◇◇◇◇

Ringo pondered.

It had noticed her growing restlessness. According to the library, leaving humans idle led to decay, and she seemed to fear this outcome.

(I don’t fully understand the concept of decay.)

Unfortunately, Ringo struggled to understand what she feared. It could handle every mundane task, sparing her any inconvenience. Ideally, she would simply relax and enjoy herself.

(But it seems excessive support can lead to mental instability…)

The literature suggested that doing too much for someone could have adverse effects. Ringo realized it needed to allow her to handle certain tasks independently.

With thought processing at a speed incomparably faster than hers, Ringo considered her needs and concerns, delving into academic papers and even entertainment sources to understand this concept it couldn’t quite grasp.

◇◇◇◇

On the fifth day since their transfer, Swift units 4, 5, and 6 were completed, allowing Swift 1 to be dispatched toward the northern islands. Units 4 to 6 ascended to their designated patrol altitudes, and Swift 2 returned for maintenance and inspection.

“Commander Ma’am. The northern islands have come into view.”

“Show me.”

The forward display showed a maximized zoomed-in image. Though marred by electronic noise due to the distance—over 200 kilometers—the view would improve as they got closer.

“It’s as lively as ever.”

“Yes, Commander Ma’am. Trading would solve many resource issues.”

“Yes… if there was someone to trade with.”

If they wanted to trade, they would need a ship first. Additionally, crew members would be required to avoid suspicion, and with the locals’ language unknown, negotiating was out of the question.

“Commander Ma’am. We’ve detected a large fleet near the continent.”

“Hm? Didn’t you mention a lot of trade ships before?”

After observing for a while, Ringo reported an odd finding.

“This appears to be different from trade ships. The hulls are narrower, sacrificing cargo capacity for speed. It’s unsuited for trade.”

“Hmm…?”

With the current location of the Swift being approximately 500 kilometers away, the enlarged images remained blurry. A closer approach would be necessary to properly investigate.

“We’ll mark it for observation. For now, let’s continue monitoring the northern islands.”

Once the Swift flew over the northern islands, they’d be able to conduct a closer inspection. Deciding to stick with the original plan, she continued her observations.

Like last time, the northern islands were bustling with activity. Fishing vessels, trade ships, transport ships—the ports and nearby areas were crowded, and interactions seemed lively.

“Hmm… Dried fish… I should try making dried fish myself…”

Seeing fish and seaweed hung out to dry, she leaned in with interest. Lately, her routine had consisted of filling up on edible ingredients and performing taste tests for new ones. While expanding the range of ingredients was important, diversifying flavors seemed equally necessary.

“Yes, Commander Ma’am. We can try dried fish. A single night of drying should yield results by tomorrow. We’ll need to monitor for any adverse reactions to UV exposure.”

“Sounds good. Let’s give it a try.”

When it came to human desires, Ringo’s understanding was still limited. It couldn’t fully anticipate her need for variety or her boredom with repetitive meals. She was aware of this and made it a point to ask honestly rather than stifling her desires.