A construction ship drove drills into the seabed, embedding support pillars as the foundation for a new offshore structure. Commander Eve observed the process through live footage sent from a solar-powered Swift reconnaissance drone while skimming through data about the fortress construction site.

“The coastline is all volcanic rock. So, this whole area was covered by a lava flow?”

“Yes, ma’am. The Afurasia United Kingdom’s coastline is almost entirely overlaid with volcanic rock, extending for over 2,000 kilometers—a truly immense span.”

Interestingly, Telek Harbor was one of the few coastal areas not composed of volcanic rock. According to surveys, the area’s bay likely formed due to minor upheavals that diverted the lava flow, creating a natural enclosure around the harbor.

“Where did all that lava come from…? It must’ve been a long time ago, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. Considering the vegetation, it’s safe to say the lava flow occurred several hundred years ago at the very least.”

“Hundreds of years… That’s hard to imagine.”

A volcanic eruption of such magnitude, capable of covering an entire coastline and beyond, must have been cataclysmic. If the volcano that caused it was still active, caution would certainly be necessary.

“At the very least, no significant seismic activity has been detected since our arrival in this world. It seems unlikely that active volcanoes are nearby.”

“Well, a volcanic eruption or earthquake would be impossible to counter... or would it? Hmm… no, probably not, right?”

“If we were to install environmental control systems designed for planetary terraforming, some control might be possible. However, large-scale facilities would be required both on the ground and in orbit. At present, this is not feasible.”

“Right… I suppose my civilization was just getting to that level. We were starting to develop outer planets, weren’t we?”

“Yes, ma’am. Immigration ships were under construction.”

The memory had become a distant one. In the original game, World of Space, the technological level had just reached the dawn of interstellar colonization. If the entirety of her game data had been transported to this world, things would’ve been far simpler. Orbital platforms would have made such challenges trivial.

“…Then again, if I’d ended up stranded in orbit, I might’ve starved to death in no time.”

On reflection, starting on the ground—or rather, on the sea—was likely a stroke of luck. Had she begun with zero food supplies in orbit, survival would have been impossible.

“Given the situation, the immigration ship might have had food packages in storage. The Tree, on the other hand, started with absolutely no provisions.”

“Ah… that’s true. Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Thinking back, the early days of their meals had been dreadful. With limited ingredients and Ringo lacking any culinary expertise, those were bleak times. Now, with a variety of ingredients available from Telek Harbor, their dining table had become far more enjoyable. Ringo had perfected seasoning adjustments to a fine art.

“At least construction is progressing smoothly.”

The first step in the new fortress construction involved building a massive offshore pier to unload vast quantities of materials for the ground-based structures. Currently, this pier was under construction.

“Yes, ma’am. The support pillars are being installed. Once the flooring components arrive, the offshore platform will be assembled. As soon as enough area is secured, we’ll extend pathways toward the shore and deploy construction machinery upon connection.”

“For now, we can use our stockpile of cement for the foundation, but that’ll deplete our reserves. Is there any prospect of replenishment?”

“Yes, ma’am. We’re actively searching. The seabed debris from drilling contains traces of limestone, suggesting nearby deposits. If confirmed, this area could become a viable mining site.”

“That’s good news. Keep at it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The volcanic layer covering the ground, which had impeded earlier mineral surveys, was now better understood. Slightly magnetic volcanic deposits, tens of meters thick, had masked resource detection. Low-powered sensors on Swift drones were unable to penetrate it. Only the advanced equipment aboard the SR-1 Albatross had revealed these characteristics.

Although past Swift sensor data was being reviewed, it was too riddled with noise to be useful. Thus, the Albatross was conducting renewed surveys.

“Exploration around Iron Town is mostly complete. However, as we lack equipment to act immediately, we’re redirecting resources to fortress construction. Ongoing surveys will soon reveal the distribution of underground resources.”

Once material unloading became possible, energy plants could be constructed to generate high-power microwave transmissions. This would enable the deployment of machinery to Iron Town. The current bottleneck in Iron Town’s development was the lack of a reliable power source.

“Ma’am, Prototype Unit 1 is ready for deployment. All three units have been prepared. Shall I commence?”

“Hm?”

Having finished her morning tasks (which included tending to her sisters), Eve was about to enjoy lunch when Ringo’s voice interrupted.

“Shall I stream the deployment to the dining hall display?”

“Oh, good idea. Let’s watch together.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Prototype Unit 1 was a multi-legged heavy machine designed as the standard model for future construction equipment. Its current power source was a gas turbine engine fueled by methane. After the microwave transmission system was completed, it would be retrofitted with a receiver and battery, but for now, a heat engine was the most practical option.

“Activating Multi-Legged Walker Prototype 1.”

The display showed WP1 vibrating slightly as it extended its folded legs, raising its body into an upright position.

“Oh, it’s moving!”

“Big Sister Commander, it’s alive!”

“Yes, it’s working properly.”

The WP1 was designed with multi-legged mobility for uneven terrain. It wasn’t devoid of aesthetic appeal either—a touch of romance had inspired its design. It used six legs for movement and two additional appendages as manipulator arms, for a total of eight limbs. Its flat, low-profile body maximized stability.

This all-purpose machine was equipped for excavation, mining, construction, and basic geological surveys. While lightly armed with a single multi-barrel machine gun, it wasn’t intended for combat. Its thin armor rendered it suitable only for rear-line support roles. Initial tests would involve drilling and preliminary site surveys, followed by the use of other heavy equipment for full-scale operations.

“Commencing deployment.”

WP1 rapidly moved its six legs, accelerating as it descended from the deck of the construction ship into the sea. Designed for all-terrain capability, it swam efficiently using its eight limbs, including its manipulator arms.

“It’s pretty large… almost looks like a kaiju.”

Watching WP1 swim from above, Eve muttered her observation. At 15 meters in length, the walker’s size was quite imposing. Its organic, spider-like movements gave it an eerie, lifelike quality.

“With a bit of creative coloring, it could pass as a monster.”

“Once facilities are operational, we can produce active camouflage. I’ll prepare several pattern options.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Whether or not we disguise it as a monster, camouflage is essential.”

Ordinarily, such equipment would rely on radar countermeasures. However, this world lacked advanced detection systems, making visual camouflage more practical. While some existing designs from World of Space could be used, many machines required entirely new designs.

“That said… it’s about time we took magic and fantasy research seriously.”

Although she had postponed it, magic research and development would soon need a dedicated base, especially with ongoing investigations into Rain Croix showing promising progress.