Nyunyu Daphne.
Their natural form is that of a tree or tree stump, but they are a race capable of taking human form.
Although their official home is Village One, they are spread across Big Tree Village and Villages One, Two, Three, and Four as well.
The reason is to make use of the Nyunyu Daphnes’ unique ability to communicate emotions.
If something goes wrong, they can relay the news to every village as quickly as possible.
In other words, they serve as an alarm system.
Of course, that alarm has never actually been needed.
That simply means there have been no troubles and life has been peaceful.
It is not because the Nyunyu Daphnes have failed at their job.
Besides, it would be a problem if the alarm had to go off all the time.
There is another reason the Nyunyu Daphnes are spread among the villages.
They also serve as the villages’ streetlights at night.
While in their tree or stump forms, they can make their branches, leaves, and fruit glow.
That has proven extremely useful.
Few villagers go out at night, but having lights around is reassuring.
-0-
Now then, while the Nyunyu Daphnes can eat when they are in human form…
They normally do not.
As long as they have sunlight, soil, and water, they have everything they need.
That is why they care most about good sunlight, fertile soil, and water at the right temperature.
Even so, there is one type of food they absolutely love whenever they take human form.
Mushrooms.
They eat them with astonishing enthusiasm.
Is it a racial favorite?
「Mushrooms are our enemy.」
「They are enemies that steal the soil’s nutrients… its strength.」
「By eating those enemies, we reclaim that strength.」
That was what they said while devouring grilled mushrooms at the summer harvest celebration.
Hmm.
Well… I suppose that makes sense.
Mushrooms can be mass-produced with the AFT.
It is not a problem no matter how many the Nyunyu Daphnes eat.
「Ah, this one’s nice and tingly!」
「This one has a slow burn. It’s delicious.」
「Hiiyaa! It’s spicy! It’s spicy, but it’s delicious!」
Hey, hold it! Those are Loo’s poisonous mushrooms for research!
It is impressive that poison mushrooms do not affect them, but it would be a disaster if someone else accidentally ate them.
If you are going to eat them, do it somewhere out of sight.
And make sure to grill the poisonous mushrooms on their own dedicated wire rack.
It would be a serious problem if the poison contaminated the other food.
「Okaaay, we’ll be careful!」
Yep, that is a good answer.
I think I will bring them some more mushrooms.
Edible ones, of course.
-0-
It seems the inspection of the Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines, along with their related equipment that had belonged to Rana-san’s husband, has finally been completed.
They are going to be transported to Big Tree Village.
Yoru was absolutely thrilled.
Klim happily joined in with Yoru’s excitement.
-0-
After checking how many Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines were arriving, along with the amount of related equipment, I found myself with a bit of a problem.
There was simply too much.
To begin with, there were forty Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines.
As for the related equipment, there were around ten large warehouses, each large enough to store about four of the machines.
No wonder the inspection had taken so long.
Then Yoru started dancing.
I am not speaking figuratively.
She was genuinely dancing.
It was freestyle, though.
I suppose you could call it something like contemporary dance.
Klim danced along with her, but…
She looked a little embarrassed.
Her face was bright red.
You do not have to force yourself, you know.
-0-
I had to decide where to put them.
If I accepted everything as it was, Big Tree Village would end up becoming a maintenance village for the Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines.
Considering how often they would actually be used, the four machines already in the village were more than enough.
There was no need to add another forty.
Should I send them to Village Five as the usual solution?
They could probably make use of the Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines there.
……
Could they?
One or two would be one thing, but forty?
No, that would be impossible.
They would have been an enormous help during the early stages of Village Five’s development.
But Village Five has continued to prosper and has grown into quite a large city.
It will probably continue to expand, but there are not many large-scale construction projects left that would require Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines.
The road construction project, which would have been the most suitable use for them, was already finished by me.
Considering we would also have to train pilots, they would probably just end up sitting in storage for the time being.
Maybe Yuri, the Demon King’s daughter, would drag them out to fight in the stadium?
Even then, there is no need for forty of them.
Hmm.
In the end, tools should be used as tools.
Where is there a place that actually needs Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines?
A developing city, perhaps? Or a fortress that is about to be built?
A place like that… Ah, the city that used to be Ursa’s base!
Would they be useful there?
Training pilots would still be necessary, but that would be a problem no matter where they were sent.
It feels a little strange to use something Rana-san gave us in the very place where Rana-san is now, but it is better for them to be where they are actually needed.
I will discuss it with Ursa once she returns.
With that decided, the plan to transport the Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machines to Big Tree Village was canceled.
The related equipment as well.
When I announced the decision, Yoru collapsed to her knees.
Klim was there comforting her.
It is nice to see the two of them getting along so well.
Come on now. I will at least have them bring your size of pilot suit to the village.
That way, you will be able to pilot the four machines already here.
I can probably ask Zabuton to adjust the suit for you as well.
After all, we had postponed retrieving the pilot suits that everyone had been talking about because Rana-san was giving us all of the Multipurpose Humanoid Heavy Machine equipment.
I can at least do that much.
You want a brand-new one?
Well, even if you ask…
All right, all right.
Just one.
A personal machine?
That is asking too much.
They are village property, after all.
However, I will allow one machine to be painted in your own custom colors.
Bell is probably going to tell me I am being too soft.
She did.
-0-
Ursa has not come back.
I wonder if something happened.
However, none of the angels who accompanied her have returned either.
If something had gone wrong, at least one of them should have come back.
But none have.
Hmm.
My anxiety and my desire to trust Ursa were evenly matched.
While I was struggling with those thoughts, Hakuren had already assumed her dragon form and was preparing to go pick Ursa up, while Zabuton was seeing her off as if to say, “I’m counting on you.”.
Wait, wait, wait.
「Village Chief, are you coming too?」
No, that is not the point.
「There is no use trying to stop her.」
Yeah, I know.
Still, I am worried about letting Hakuren go by herself.
She probably would not suddenly attack the city that used to be Ursa’s base…
But there is always the possibility that they might attack her.
And if Ursa is not there, that is what really worries me.
If Hakuren finds out Ursa is not there and gets into a bad mood, I do not think even Asa and Earth could stop her.
「So?」
We should send someone along to handle negotiations.
-0-
So, Gran Maria, Kuudel, and Corone of the angel race were chosen.
Kuudel was carrying about five horned spears.
「Is that not enough?」
No, I mean, will that really be enough?
There might be some serious reason why Ursa has been unable to return.
「Then I’ll load as many as Hakuren-sama can carry!」
Yes, yes. Take as many as you like.
At that point, Zabuton suggested that several of her spiderlings should accompany them as well.
Good point.
If Ursa has been captured, we may need to infiltrate the place and rescue her.
We should send a few of the ones who excel at infiltration…
Just as we settled on that plan, one of the angels returned to report that Ursa was safe.
Thank goodness.
What a relief.
And…
I was not thinking clearly either.
Hakuren, cancel the departure.
Thank you as well to the spiderlings for gathering.
But the mission has been called off.
Sorry, you can all stand down.
The same goes for Gran Maria, Kuudel, and Corone.
Hmm?
You want to do some practice dropping the horned spears?
All right.
I got your hopes up, so you can throw a few extra.
Just make sure you do it somewhere far away from the village.
Those exploding spears are incredibly loud.
-0-
Nyunyu Daphne: 「Tree-growing mushrooms like shiitake, nameko, and oyster mushrooms are especially our enemies.」
Village Chief: 「So they’re your favorite food.」
-0-
Dragon Village: 「We’re bringing them over!」
Big Tree Village: 「How many?」
Dragon Village: 「This many!」 (Forty machines, plus a little extra.)
Big Tree Village: 「…………There’s nowhere to put them!」
-0-
Raimeiren: 「……」 (She has experienced her daughter running away from home.)
Hakuren: 「……」 (She has run away from home herself.)
Dors: 「……」 (He believes Hakuren only remembers to be a dutiful daughter once in a while.)
Hiichirou: 「Grandma and Mother get along so well.」
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