Unknown Force And Scientists' Dilemma
The United Nation headquarters. The representatives of both permanent and non-permanent member states were racking their brains. Listening to the report from the Ama no Murakumo inspection team, each and every detail was unbelievable. A magical engine that was powered by neither fossil fuel nor natural energy. The mithril light alloy that surpassed even the superhard alloy made of tungsten and cobalt. The mobile weapon made from these materials --- Magia Ritter.
Even though they had toured the inside of the Magia Ritter's cockpit, they still could not understand its principle, mechanism, transmission system, or even how or why it could be operated. There was also nothing that could be inferred, and the only explanation that could be given was that they just worked that way.
Regarding the urban area, the scenery was pretty much like that of a modern city in a developed country. There was also a change of day and night, making it hard to believe that the city was inside a mobile battleship. The worker golems called Servants roamed the streets and lived as residents. Except for the fact that human presence was minimal, the city was no different from any ordinary city.
"The more I read the report, the more abnormality of Ama no Murakumo becomes apparent. And yet, Misaki Tendou was claiming to want to live a quiet life."
"If any country here were to obtain such weapons, world domination would not be impossible. That's how big of a threat Ama no Murakumo is."
"Is it even possible to counter their military power with our current technology?"
"Moreover, if she wanted to, she could produce an infinite number of golems. Just imagine soldiers who don't feel pain and are unaffected by public opinion could be mass-produced endlessly on that mobile battleship."
"More importantly, take a look at this! The currency circulating in Ama no Murakumo is gold coins of such high purity. In addition, its raw material is said to be seawater from the sea around Ama no Murakumo.... Can you believe that?"
Magical over-technology. Ama no Murakumo would be extremely dangerous as an enemy, but they would be extremely reliable as an ally.
“They also gave us quite interesting items....”
The Russian ambassador to the UN received something from two people standing behind him. One was a small bag, and the other was a combat knife. Those were souvenirs given to the inspection team, but they were quite special. The bag was an ordinary shoulder bag you could find anywhere. However, its interior had been expanded through alchemy, making it three cubic meters in volume. The items stored inside were automatically organized, and when you put your hand into it, you would instantly know what was inside. Furthermore, just by thinking of what you wanted to retrieve, that item would be instantly in you hand. Misaki explained that only the representative who received the bag could use it. In addition, if the bag was separated more than five meters away from its owner, the bag would automatically return to their hand.
"So this is alchemy, huh. If we have this technology, we could use it not only for military purposes but also for peaceful applications."
"Maybe this could greatly alleviate land issues. However, since it could be misused for malicious purposes like smuggling, handling it requires the utmost caution."
"Still, I'm quite envious of this privilege only the inspection team members received. There's the knife as well."
The South Korean ambassador to the UN pointed at the knife on the table, a souvenir given to all the escorts who went with the inspection team. The knife was made of a multi-layered mithril alloy that was even capable of scratching diamonds. If the knife was separated more than three meters away from its owner, it would also automatically return to their hand. That being said, the range was too short to be used as a throwing knife.
"According to Hildegard, Misaki's secretary, the internal structural of Ama no Murakumo was made of material stronger and lighter than this multi-layered mithril alloy. Even this knife weighs only 120 grams."
The knife in front of the ambassadors looked like a typical survival knife with a total length of 330mm, a blade length of 175mm, and yet it weighed only 120 grams.
"Even if we want to study it, we can't separate it from its owner. This is really troubling."
"For those who usually carry around a knife, it might not be much of a bother, but still, if you say inconvenient, it is inconvenient."
"According to the explanation, this too is a crystallization of alchemy. It's so frustrating that we couldn't get our hand on this technology after seeing it."
This metal could be used to make tanks and fighter jets that were stronger and lighter than the current models. This technology was truly suitable for military use.
"That's why Ama no Murakumo is a threat to this world and we must work together to eliminate them. I would like to pass this resolution at this Security Council meeting and take appropriate action."
A resolution to send the UN peacekeeping forces to subjugate Ama no Murakumo was brought up. However, since the result was not unanimous, three in favor and two against it, the resolution couldn't be passed. China, Russia, and France, who voted in favor, were dissatisfied with this result, but there was nothing they could do about it.
The discussion continued afterward. There was enough evidence and factors to recognize Ama no Murakumo as a country, but many countries still chose not to. Because of that, Ama no Murakumo could not join the United Nations formally, and despite being a nation, it was not under the UN's umbrella.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ama no Murakumo, lower deck, Manyo Pavilion.
"Fuaah~ This is great. I never thought I'd get to enjoy sake in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.... Maybe not in the middle, but still out at sea."
After relaxing in the hot springs to relieve my fatigue, it was time for my evening drink. This bottle of sake was given to me by a Japanese deep-sea fishing vessel. Earth's alcoholic drinks weren't available in Ama no Murakumo's procurement system yet.
"There's only one bottle, though. We need to find some way to acquire more."
"I think we need to establish trade with other countries. However, in order to do that, we need to establish diplomatic relations with those countries first."
"*beep*.... How about contacting a nearby country and going shopping there?"
In response to Roswaize and Hildegard’s conversation, Octa One came up with a suggestion.
The nearby country is the US territory of Guam, right? You want me to go there?
"Guam, huh. I do want to go shopping, but how do I get there? Do we have small planes here?"
"*beep*.... The only aircraft onboard are Magia Ritters. The rest are ground vehicles and work vehicles."
"Even though we have aircraft catapults, we have no fighter jets. This is a curious design."
I thought so, but it seemed they weren’t originally there. This mobile battleship was modified to suit my preferences, so catapults and hangars for Magia Ritters were added after I won it.
"Lady Misaki, let's go to Guam to do some shopping and sightseeing later. The US has recognized Ama no Murakumo as a country, so there should be no problem visiting them."
"You are right. However, wouldn’t arriving on Magia Ritters instead of a plane be seen as a military show of force?”
"*beep*.... Is there any problem with that?"
"Yeah, never mind. Please notify the US air base in Guam about our visit later."
I gulped down the last sip of sake and concluded my evening drink.
The alcohol available on this battleship is mostly wine, probably made from some kind of grape from some other world. That goes for food ingredients, too. Most of them were procured from some other world. They looked the same, and even though I know they were safe, I couldn't help but a little concerned. I'm glad that we have been getting fresh local seafood these days.
Now then, let's change into my pajamas and have a good night's sleep. The UN Headquarters is probably very busy right now, so we will probably hear the report from them tomorrow at the earliest.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Even though Ama no Murakumo had issued a warning through the UN inspection team, military vessels from twenty-four countries, including China and Russia, continued to monitor Ama no Murakumo beyond its territorial waters. However, excluding Russia, China, and France, twenty-two countries continued sending their crews to investigate Ama no Murakumo's territorial marker buoys from up close, even went as far as climbed onto them.
"This is a warning. The objects you are investigating is our national territorial marker buoys. Get away from them immediately. I repeat....”
Hearing Valtraute's warning, they sneered, returned to their ships temporarily, but climbed back onto the buoys and resumed their investigation after some time passed.
"This is a warning. The objects you are investigating is our national territorial marker buoys. Get away from them immediately. I repeat....”
"Just ignore it. They are just an incompetent country that can only issue warnings, after all."
"This is our last warning. Get away from our national territorial marker buoys or we will take military action against you."
As if they had given up on dialogue, the third warning was given without using Transmission of Will, so it was not automatically translated to the receivers' native language. Not understanding that the contents of warning had changed, they continued their investigation with a smirk.
"According to Lady Misaki's order, we have to issue at least two warnings before using force. Now then, please proceed with swift removal."
"Understood. Begin the operation."
Hildegard, who was in charge during Misaki's absence, gave orders to Grimgerde, which she then passed on to the Combat Servants who were already waiting to be deployed. The lower hatch of Ama no Murakumo opened and 12 humanoid figures took off from there.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“What are those? Ama no Murakumo’s soldiers?”
One of the soldier pointed at the humanoid figures in all black who were flying toward their location. He and the other soldiers immediately raised their rifles, but it proved to be a mistake.
"This is a military aggression against our country, so we will respond in kind."
Running his magic jetpack in full power, a Combat Servant approached one of the soldier in an instant, snatched his gun, and ripping it to shreds. He then grabbed the soldier's arm and slammed him into the sea.
*baam*
The territorial barrier was erected from the center of the buoys inward, so the other half of the buoys' base could still be accessed from the outside and be used as a foothold. They could have insisted that they didn't trespass Ama no Murakumo territorial waters. However, they had crossed the line by drawing their guns first. In addition, various devices for investigation were still connected to the marker buoy. They could no longer make any excuse.
*baam*
One soldier was grabbed by the arm, swung around, and thrown toward the barrier. Those with hostility toward Ama no Murakumo could not pass through the barrier, so his body collided with an invisible wall. The soldier's body sank into the sea as his consciousness left his body. Seeing this scene, the nearby French oceanographic research vessel opened fire on the Combat Servants. The situation had escalated quickly in the blink of an eye.
-
-
-
“Is that French Pourquoi Pas? That was a foolish move.”
The crew of Russian Slava-class guided missile cruiser Moskva were watching the battle between Combat Servants and French soldiers broke out. Two days ago, Andrei Mazarin arrived on Moskva to replace the aircraft carrier that was stationed in this area to monitor Ama no Murakumo. President Fudin had ordered him to avoid direct confrontation with Ama no Murakumo. Russia had decided to change their stance after receiving reports from the UN inspection team. Incidentally, China had also changed their stance from 'military suppression' to 'surveillance and diplomacy' after receiving the reports. France, despite steering in the same direction, continued provoking Ama no Murakumo under the orders of an 'incompetent field commander'. The result was, although his life was spared, he lost more than half of his capable subordinates and the oceanographic research vessel Pourquoi Pas.
-
-
-
"I am warning you. Your ship has engaged in illegal military actions near our territorial waters. This was despite the fact that we have issued two warnings. Therefore, we will seize your ship."
Even though four Magia Ritters surrounded Pourquoi Pas, they didn't seem to have any intention of stop attacking at all.
"We would like to avoid marine pollution, so please excuse us...."
The four Margia Ritters circled around Pourquoi Pas and deployed force shields. When these force shields were connected on both sides and passed under the hull, they lifted the the ship into the air, just like scooping up a fish with a net. This move must have scared the crew members as they jumped from the ship one by one into the sea wearing life jackets.
"Trained soldiers won't die just from this fall. Unless they were unlucky, that is."
"The nearby foreign vessels will surely rescue them later."
"This will make a fine souvenir for Lady Misaki."
"Let's disassemble it, extract all the data, analyze their military codes, equipment, registration lists, and so on. Hehehe...."
The four Margia Ritters muttered to themselves. To be precise, it was just the pilots' communication leaking out, but that was just a performance to instill fear in their opponents.
"Final warning: this ship has been seized and will now be transported to Ama no Murakumo territorial waters. All crew members must leave the ship immediately. Otherwise, we can't guarantee your safety."
Five minutes after the announcement. During that time, the rest of the crew members jumped into the sea. The ship then moved to Ama no Murakumo territorial waters. In later investigation, eight 'minced-up soldiers' was found on board Pourquoi Pas. This was reported to Misaki while omitting some details.