I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 542

Gi-iiiiing!

A furiously spinning drill. Steam spewing out little by little because of it.

A reaction anyone could tell was anything but friendly. I put my guard up completely.

Sensing that the diving suit in front of us was no ordinary matter, the rest of the party readied their weapons as well.

[---- --- --]

The diving suit uttered strange words while its drill was spinning.

But it was definitely not a language I knew. Rather than English, it was close to mechanical noises.

If communication were possible, that would be one thing, but unfortunately, there was no sign of that whatsoever.

"Everyone, prepare for bat—"

[Hold on.]

Just when I thought blood inevitably had to be shed, Cain stopped us.

Normally, he wouldn’t gainsay my instructions. For him to stop us meant there was definitely a reason.

When I looked at him as if asking what was wrong, Cain spoke to me.

[It is asking what business brought us here.]

"You understand what it’s saying?"

[Peculiarly, it is speaking in numbers. And numbers made of 0s and 1s at that.]

"...Binary?"

Using only 0s and 1s could only be binary.

And binary was practically the language of computers. That meant the diving suit was speaking to us.

While Alex, a biological AI, spoke human language fluently, this one seemed different.

Since there was no need to fight if dialogue worked, I asked Cain.

"Tell it we just came to explore and have no intention of fighting. Also, since this is our first time here, ask if it could let us know what to be careful of."

[--- --- -- ----]

At my request, Cain also produced mechanical sounds akin to Morse code.

As those mechanical noises continued, the hostile momentum emanating from the diving suit gradually faded.

On top of that, the furiously spinning drill even calmed down bit by bit. Surprisingly, it understood our words.

[--- -- ---]

[It asks how it can believe those words.]

It even went beyond simply accepting it and harbored suspicion.

It seemed to be a fairly high-dimensional AI, just unable to use human language like Alex.

Furthermore, doubt is inherently an intermediate step toward trust. I ran my mouth so the diving suit would believe us.

"If you can’t believe it, we’ll leave right now. We only came to pass through this region anyway, we have no intention of messing with the shipwreck."

[--- -- ---- --]

Gi-iiing—

A short moment after Cain finished speaking, the drill stopped spinning.

At the same time, it even withdrew the hand it had thrust forward with hostility. A reaction indicating it would avoid a fight.

[---- --- --]

[It says it will believe us for now. However, the moment we touch the shipwreck even a little, it will treat us as hostile.]

"Please tell it we don’t want to fight either."

Only then did the diving suit completely drop its hostility. Of course, it didn’t lower its guard.

More importantly, this guy seemed to be managing this shipwreck just like how Alex managed the library.

In other words, we could obtain important information. I hurriedly asked before it could leave.

"Could you ask what the name of this shipwreck is, and how it ran aground?"

[--- ---- ---]

The diving suit paused at that question. It even stared intently at me.

It looked like a reaction asking, ’Why on earth are you asking that?’ It felt like an AI endowed with emotions, much like Alex.

[--- ---- ---]

[Hmm?]

Did he feel something strange in the diving suit’s answer? Cain voiced his doubt.

As he did so, he even sneaked a glance at Tyranno.

"What did it say?"

[It says to ask Tyranno’s kin.]

"Bbiik?"

The diving suit mentioned Tyranno out of nowhere. The moment I heard those words, a thought struck me.

"Did Vanir split the shipwreck in half?"

↳ Sword Matstar) Judging by the nuance, it certainly sounds that way, doesn’t it?

↳ Heavenly Demon) No matter if it was a legacy of the gods, it seems it could not withstand the might of a dragon.

↳ Allfather) How fascinating. Dragons of the Mythological Age were supposed to have been defeated by the gods... yet records of that are almost non-existent.

↳ Starlight Lady) Come to think of it, it is quite intriguing. Ruins are occasionally discovered, but almost none are linked to the Mythological Age.

↳ Passing Dwarf) I f*cking want that drill so bad, can’t we just steal it?

I lightly ignored the dwarf’s greedy words.

At any rate, it was highly likely that the diving suit was referring to dragons of the Mythological Age rather than Vanir.

Since Vanir was born toward the tail end of the Mythological Age, making her closer to a second-generation immigrant in national terms.

’I want to know more, but...’

Information was lacking.

Whether Vanir really snapped this massive ship in two.Visit novel‌ping.com for the full chapter.

Why no one came to repair this ship.

Lastly, why you consistently maintain this ship, and so forth.

There were heaps of things I wanted to ask, but it didn’t seem like it would answer all of them.

Not only was our first impression poor, but its personality was rather on the cynical side.

Even so, I couldn’t give up. The only one who knew the history of this shipwreck was that diving suit.

"Please ask if there’s anything we can help with. I’d like to get information about this shipwreck in exchange for helping out."

[--- -- ----]

At Cain’s words, the diving suit, which was just about to leave, froze.

It then looked at us closely. As if observing us.

To prove our military power, I explained in detail what we had gone through so far.

"Tell it that on the way here, we killed an octopus that controls minds and a shark giant that wields an anchor."

[--- --- --]

Was it because I mentioned an anchor, one of the key ship parts? The diving suit stared intently at us.

I hoped we caught its fancy, but it was hard to judge easily.

[--- --- -]

"It is asking where it is."

"Uh... it should be over that way? Still, it’s a huge anchor, so it’ll be easy to find."

The diving suit pondered for a long while at my reply. First off, the fact that it was deliberating was a good sign.

Usually, deliberation tends to conclude in a positive direction. And that expectation hit the mark.

[--- --- --]

[It says it will give information if we just bring it here.]

"Got it. I’ll bring it right away."

[-- ---- ---]

Even without translation, I knew what it was saying. It had a slightly worried vibe.

Asking if we could really bring that over. In fact, Cain translated it immediately as well.

Indeed, both the size of the anchor and its weight were tremendously heavy.

Even for an AI armed with all sorts of advanced technology, bringing it personally must have been difficult.

"So I brought it right over. This is it, right?"

[... ...]

Of course, I brought it very easily. Even if it was a bit heavy, dragging it along made it easy.

Still, it was heavy enough that I had no choice but to use mana.

[-- --- --?]

[It asks if you are perhaps a person from Earth.]

"I’m Korean, too."

The diving suit nodded as if it finally understood. The grumble of ’Why didn’t you say so sooner?’ was a bonus.

It grumbled that if I had introduced myself as an Earthling from the start, it would have told me everything.

"I’m speaking Korean right now, though?"

[--- ---- --]

[Its translation system is broken, so it cannot understand.]

It was a moment where another limitation of AI was revealed.

A normal person would have brushed it off, assuming it was just that country’s language.

But AIs or machines severely lack flexibility. If a specific part breaks down, that’s just how it turns out.

Well, still, it worked out reasonably well, so it was time to get information. I asked straight away.

"Then I’ll ask now. Who on earth are you?"

[--- --- ---]

[---- ---- ---]

[Its name is Alpha. It says it is a robot ordered to repair and preserve this shipwreck until it can be recovered.]

A robot. Well, with biological AIs like mimics around, it would be weirder if pure robots didn’t exist.

Above all, hadn’t Earthlings possessed scientific technology advanced enough to create even the Colossus?

Alpha was also one of those robots; however, unlike the Colossus, it had no direct combat capabilities.

Since the drill and harpoon attached to each of its hands were closer to tools or self-defense.

It was only because Earthling technology was so over-spec that it was ridiculously strong; actual combat itself was tough for it.

[--- ---- ---]

[Then have you come to rescue this ship now?]

"No. We are stranded too."

When I said we were stranded too, Alpha’s reaction was quite something to behold.

Even though it was clearly a expressionless robot, its absurdity and pity were conveyed to me vividly.

Just like Alex at the library, they each had their own circumstances, so I could easily gloss over it.

"Then could you tell us why this region turned out like this? Compared to other places, it seems submerged in water."

Having gained its goodwill, it was time to get other information. First and foremost, the structure of this region.

According to the recording found in the wheelhouse earlier, it was speculated that the region itself had transformed due to this ship.

And since Alpha was the robot and AI repairing and managing this ship, it would surely know the reason.

[---- ---- ----- --- --- -]

[It is a method to easily preserve the ship. The ship’s engine was converted into a power plant.]

"So under the influence of that power plant, it became like this, right?"

Up to this point, it was as expected. But I still didn’t understand the principle.Get faster updates on novelping . com.

In the Ash Zone, too, the runaway of the Artificial Sun engulfed the entire region in flames.

Beyond being engulfed in flames, even the creatures had evolved.

’Come to think of it, I feel like the Mechanical Kraken also turned its surroundings into an ocean...’

Was there a reason? Wouldn’t something like an airplane be better than a ship?

Both the Mechanical Kraken and the ghost ships outside—why they were all constructed as ’ships’ was a mystery.

"Out of all the things I’ve seen so far, there were so many ships. Could you tell me why they built them as ships?"

[--- ---- --- ----- --- --]

[--- ----- --- ---]

[It scolds you, asking how an Earthling could not even know that.]

I might not know! Though I felt wronged, from Alpha’s perspective, I could understand why it spoke like that.

So I roughly answered that it was because I lost my memories. There was no need to attach all sorts of fancy explanations.

Fortunately, perhaps because we gained its goodwill earlier, Alpha kindly explained.

[--- --- ---- -- -]

[Ho. This is quite surprising.]

"What did it say?"

For Cain to say it was surprising, it had to be an extraordinary reason.

Cain listened intently to Alpha’s words, then spoke so everyone could hear.

[It replied that because water is the source and origin of all life, mana is naturally abundant within such a structure.]

"Then..."

[It says mana and water are close to the perspective of gas versus liquid.]

"Oh..."

That mana was virtually close to water—that was quite a surprising story.

That water is the source of life and the foundation for building civilization is a well-known fact.

A person could survive three weeks without food, but couldn’t last three days without water.

There was a reason I craved water so desperately when I first began living here.

"Master. Then does drinking a lot of water mean we can accumulate more Internal Energy?"

"I doubt it. In the end, your vessel has to support it."

"Beyond supporting the vessel, a process would be required."

Just as Ludwig and I said, simply drinking water wouldn’t increase one’s mana.

A simple example is the steam engine. Energy wasn’t generated simply by putting coal in.

That colossal steam locomotive was moved through various complex processes, imbued with wondrous scientific principles.

The Mechanical Kraken or the shipwreck possessed a different level of vessel and technological prowess, so they transformed the region itself.

It was merely a fact uncovered by ancient humanity; the detailed principles would remain unknown.

Still, well...

↳ Allfather) What a truly magnificent story! Mana is actually close to water! We must research this swiftly!

↳ Starlight Lady) Then what if, instead of mana stones, we used water as an energy source...?

↳ Praise the Sun) Ah. Our country’s gonna go broke, lol.

↳ Smart Demon) Since ancient times, nations that rule the sea have been famous for ruling the world. It is quite surprising.

To the fixed handles and people outside, it must be quite a fascinating topic.

Of course, that too is only possible because technology supported it; with current technological prowess, it would be impossible.

My stance was no different. It was nothing more than satisfying my curiosity.

In any case, I already have an absurdly high amount of mana, so having even more wouldn’t mean much.

"I’ll ask just one last question. Could you tell us which way leads to the World Tree?"

[--- --- ----]

[--- -- ---]

[It replied that it would be best not to go.]

Roughly meaning dangerous things are scattered everywhere, so don’t go.

However, since I’ve already made up my mind, I will go no matter what.

Sensing my determination, Alpha didn’t stop me either.

[-- ---- ---]

[If you insist on going, I will not stop you. However, you might get lost, so I will assist you.]

"Really? Then I’d be grateful."

[Instead, it asks that you help with its work a bit.]

Gaining a guide was great for me. There would be no need to take a bothersome detour for no reason.

Thus, I readily accepted. Once I accepted, Alpha brought up its request.

[--- --- ----]

[Because the power plant has been running in this area for a long time, even a small pebble can be utilized as energy. It is just not efficient.]

"Then does that mean even small pebbles in the ocean can be utilized as energy?"

I spoke in a joking tone, but...

[--- --- -- -- ----]

[That is correct. In particular, an ocean with mana even denser than this is a magnificent energy source in itself.]

It was shocking that it was actually true. Even after hearing this, I tried to brush it off as ’is that so’...

↳ Praise the Sun) Hey. I can literally hear the sound of our country going to sh*t from all the way here?

"Huh?"

To the people of Setan who made a living off ’mana stones’, this sounded like bad news.