novelraw Chapter 212
Chapter 212
Chapter 212
Riding on Kambandi, they advanced through the country.
Meanwhile, Emotion observed the state of the underground empire. Halgan Na, who had left, had mentioned the population problem underground. Supporting his words, apartment complexes stood out in the residential zones.
As expected, the underground seemed rich in mineral resources—structures made of processed earth and metal. With little temperature variation, it was likely possible to live comfortably without worrying about heat or cold.
"All the buildings are seven stories tall."
"Did you notice something, Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen (Alto Romia)?"
"That Smallfolk earlier mentioned the population issue. Every building is constructed up to seven stories. If the population had grown too much, there should still be room to expand upward."
"Yes... that's true, isn't it? There's still distance to the ceiling."
Rutimi De, like Emotion, looked around the residential area.
Then, apparently having overheard their conversation, Kadiri Ki responded without turning his gaze.
"Even if we can increase the number of living spaces, we can't prepare enough food to feed that many."
"I see. So you calculate the amount of food distributed based on the number of apartment units?"
"Exactly. One room per adult or child, no difference. We prepare the same amount of food for everyone."
"I see."
The ones collecting trees are giant beasts. They crush the delivered trees to cultivate mushrooms for food.
Meat from beasts that fall along with the trees is an occasional luxury, but the amount is far too small compared to the total number of Smallfolk. It is treated as a minor bonus.
"How often does that giant beast collect trees?"
"They never collect from the same place. After digging underground, we first send it to the surface to gather Jumoku, then start digging sideways again. When the Jumoku has decayed enough that it can no longer cultivate mushrooms, we send it up again from the next dug-out area."
"I see. So that's how you all live a migratory lifestyle."
Expanding the underground territory is a far more dangerous and difficult task than one might think. First of all, there's always the risk of collapse. They must be reinforcing it somehow, but even that has its limits. Perhaps luminous moss and other glowing plants also help in reinforcing the underground.
Then, Kadiri Ki turned to Emotion with a surprised expression.
"Why do you think we live a migratory lifestyle?"
"The residential areas, right? They seem to be designed to be easily disassembled. You can tell just by looking. How do you prepare for collapses?"
"The prophets give us instructions."
"Prophets?"
Come to think of it, they had mentioned prophecy earlier too. As Emotion grew confused by the sudden talk of the occult, Kadiri Ki spoke with a face that showed not a hint of doubt.
"The prophets decide where we dig next. If we go against them, a great disaster will strike us."
"Hmm."
Perhaps they're like geologists on the surface.
Speaking of disasters in the underground...
"These disasters, they're not just collapses, are they?"
"Exactly."
"Water, molten rock, air that kills just by breathing it—things like that?"
"You understand!?"
"Well, I suppose."
There was no sea visible on the surface, so there was likely no danger of digging too far and connecting to the ocean. But if they hit magma, groundwater, or gas, the Smallfolk would have no escape. It would be extremely dangerous.
Apparently, prophets can detect such underground features beforehand. Whether it's accumulated knowledge or some special talent is unclear, but to the underground Smallfolk, they are likely more important than even the emperor.
"We have overcome extinction threats many times. Each time, it was the prophets and the emperor who guided us. Since ancient times, we've buried old lands with the soil we've dug out."
"I see."
In that sense, landing near the giant beast had been a complete coincidence. Had they landed on the opposite side of the planet, they would never have encountered it or come underground.
Where exactly had Dolti Mu seen the giant beast? It was said to be back when the Federation's Smallfolk lived in Ramadite, so that would be over 500,000 years ago. During that time, they had carefully continued digging underground in Ramadite to survive.
An incredible story. Without perishing, the underground Smallfolk had prospered, occasionally banishing their kin to the surface.
"That's the food production facility."
"Oh, it's big."
A particularly large building came into view. It was on the outskirts of the residential area, and from here, its size and width were hard to gauge. Emotion maximized her sensors to check the building's shape, size, and scale.
The building seemed about seven meters tall. With countless steel plates layered together, it reminded her somewhat of the Queen Bee.
The ceiling was about ten meters above, so there still seemed to be room. However, since they might dismantle and relocate it depending on the migration, it was likely designed for easy disassembly and movement.
"With this kind of height and space, even the Captain could probably move around without much trouble."
"No. If Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), came here, he probably wouldn't have made it past the residential area."
"Ah, that's true."
The path to the center was a straight line, but the road wasn't wide. If Kait walked normally, there was a real risk he might bump into or break something.
At the food production facility, processed wood was still being brought in, and decayed wood that could no longer be used was being taken out. When asked where the removed wood went, the answer was Kambandi's ranch.
Apparently, Kambandi eats the decayed wood. As expected of a creature treated as a living partner by the underground Smallfolk. Through selective breeding, they had made it more suitable for their needs.
Kambandi was an extremely important labor force for digging through the ground. And though Kadiri Ki hadn't said it outright, Emotion hadn't forgotten how it had tried to attack Adie Ze at first—perhaps the underground Smallfolk also ate it.
It seemed that those Smallfolk who had grown too numerous were banished to the surface, so perhaps those who died of old age... It might be a kind of funeral for the underground Smallfolk.
"Don't you ever expand that facility?"
"We do. But the number of Kambandi doesn't increase so easily."
"Hmm."
Kambandi looked like ants, but apparently, their reproductive rate wasn't as high as Earth's ants. Maybe that was a result of selective breeding. Not everything could be made convenient.
They dig tunnels and carry trees. Because they are such indispensable partners in daily life, the underground Smallfolk plan their society's expansion based on the number of Kambandi.
From another perspective, it might look like the Smallfolk are using Kambandi, but in truth, Kambandi might be the ones controlling the Smallfolk.
"I suppose this is one form of symbiosis."
The underground Smallfolk's lifestyle was astonishingly complete. As long as they could maintain this form, they probably felt no need to look outside. Most of them likely even accepted the banishment of some of their kin to the surface—like Kadiri Ki.
Unless a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the underground empire, the Smallfolk would likely continue their current way of life. Even if such a quake did occur, the surviving few would probably build a similar society again.
Perhaps they had already experienced that several times before reaching this point.
"Look, it's coming into view. Beyond that is the palace where the Imperial household resides."
"Oh, I'm looking forward to it..."
Adie Ze, who had silently followed along, suddenly spoke in a cheerful voice—then froze.
What came into view was a building that looked almost exactly like the residential areas they'd seen earlier.
"I see, eight stories tall. So that's the symbol of power, huh?"
Well, since they lived a migratory lifestyle, it made sense that the palace would be built just as easy to dismantle and reassemble as the residential areas.