Chapter 589 – Journey to Silvatoria

“Ahem, ahem. Theo-kun, can you hear me?”

Alfred’s voice echoed through the bridge. It wasn’t coming from the speaking tube. A magic stone imbued with Seraphina’s properties was vibrating, emitting Alfred’s voice.

On the crystal panel monitor, we could see Alfred waving toward us from the workshop equipment.

“I can hear you clearly.”

Our voices wouldn’t reach him unless we spoke through the speaking tube. When I answered toward the tube connected to the workshop equipment, Alfred nodded with satisfaction.

“Then, how many fingers am I holding up?”

“…Two.”

I answered while watching the monitor. Alfred probably didn’t mean anything by it, but he was showing a peace sign through the monitor.

“Seems like it was successful. Well then, I’ll bring the Golem over there.”

Saying this, Alfred stood up and reached toward the scout Golem. The image shook significantly. To put it in terms of comparison, it was like picking up a video camera while recording.

We’ve been continuing modifications on the infiltration scout Golem since earlier… Even during our journey to Silvatoria, we’ve been experimenting with formalizing the Five Senses Link and incorporating it into objects, transmitting visual and auditory senses to remote magic tools.

By sending the video to the crystal panel monitor and the audio to the vibrating magic stone, we’ve made it possible to directly obtain information from a distance.

When the video from the scout Golem shifted toward the corridor side… and reached the bridge door, everyone who had been peering at the monitor shifted their gaze toward the door.

Then, after a brief pause, Alfred opened the door and entered the bridge. He was carrying the Golem in his arms. On the monitor side, our figures watching Alfred were displayed.

“This is quite interesting.”

Penelope looked at this and broke into a delighted expression. She exchanged glances with Marlene, both seeming to enjoy it.

Not just Penelope and Marlene, but everyone else seemed quite amused too. It felt similar to getting new home appliances… or something like that. While it doesn’t have recording capability, it’s like having obtained a video camera.

“How about the magical power consumption?”

Rosemary asked.

I took the Golem that Alfred brought over, touched its head, and checked the degree of magical power being consumed.

“Hmm… The scout Golem itself… is hardly consuming any, I’d say. That’s because the Five Senses Link is connected to the crystal panel side.”

“I see. Even with Familiars, it’s usually the spellcaster side that consumes magical power.”

Ashley nodded as if understanding.

“So ultimately, the burden falls on the user of this magic tool.”

I picked up the crystal panel monitor and began replenishing its magical power.

This magic tool consumes quite a bit of magical power. It feels like it consumes more than using the normal Five Senses Link. Continuous monitoring with this would be quite demanding. We’d need rotating personnel.

“But that means infiltration itself can be done for extended periods, right?”

“That’s right. Unlike base surveillance, it seems like more activity-based magical power will be used for movement and camouflage.”

I nodded at Grace’s words. The scout Golems sent to places like the Spirit Hall basically don’t move once their position is set. As such, their consumption is lower.

“If we were to distribute this, we’d need to include various restrictions through Contract Magic to prevent misuse.”

Alfred said while pondering.

Right. As applied technology from this, surveillance cameras and such come to mind first… but when considering such uses, since the communication devices also have several countermeasures to prevent them from being captured and used, we’d similarly need to implement various anti-misuse measures.

That said, since we’re using special magic stones that Valentina treated, along with technology and spell formulas obtained from communication device development and Belius’s vessel creation, replication wouldn’t be easy.

“Hmm. I was thinking this technology would be dangerous if it spread and was stolen by malicious elements… but you’ve considered that aspect as well.”

King Eberhart nodded with admiration.

“It’s the kind of magic tool where misuse methods come to mind immediately. I thought we should at least consider countermeasures.”

Well. There are no problems with the operation itself, but I’d like to conduct more experiments and collect data.

Infiltration surveillance scout Golems are expected to have higher consumption. I’d like to check differences in magical power consumption too… hmm.

“I’d like to have it move around various places within the ship to investigate how much magical power the Golem itself consumes… If you’re willing, could you take turns assisting with the experiment?”

When I said this to Princess Stephania and the others who were waving toward the scout Golem while peering at the monitor, they happily nodded.

“We’d be glad to be of help.”

“The experiment sounds interesting too.”

“I’ll help as well.”

Right. They seemed interested anyway. I think the content probably suits Princess Stephania and the others’ preferences.

“Then, I’ll explain. It’s also possible to give instructions to the Golem through this crystal panel—”

I proceeded to explain the experiment’s purpose and procedures.

I want to investigate how much magical power the Golem itself consumes by having it move around various places and report to the communication device when it finds target objects, among other things.

Meaning someone would play the role of hiding somewhere in the ship, and we’d have the Golem search for and report them—in other words, we’d periodically check the Golem’s consumption while playing hide-and-seek, so to speak.

The Golem would be the seeker, and we’d give various instructions through the crystal panel. It has a bit of a game-like feel.

With Princess Stephania and the others, and Sion and the others taking turns hiding and operating, we could verify the user experience and such, so the plan was settled.

“For those hiding, taking Caduceus along might help. When everyone has hidden, he can send a signal to the seeker role, making it more efficient.”

“Understood.”

Sion nodded while holding Caduceus, who was in cat form.

“Then, we’ll be going.”

“See you… later.”

Immediately, as the first group to hide, Sion and the others left the bridge. Hiding alone would probably be boring anyway. It’s fine if they hide together and chat normally. Audio information collection is also part of the experiment.

Then, timing it for when Sion and the others had hidden in the ship, I called out to Princess Stephania and the others.

“I think it’s fine to move the scout Golem now.”

“Understood. Well then, please do.”

Princess Stephania patted the scout Golem’s head and sent it off to search the ship. The Golem left the bridge with quick, short steps.

“Actually… we’d have it use camouflage and move to avoid notice, right? We need to have it move with that in mind.”

“That’s right. We should carefully give instructions so the Demon-Slaying Knight Order members don’t find it.”

“Understood. Also… we need to think about where they might be hiding.”

While looking at the monitor and consulting each other, the three princesses had fairly serious expressions. Right. They understand the key points, so I can probably leave the experiment to them for now.

“That said, calling it ‘scout Golem’ forever feels a bit dull, don’t you think? How about giving it a name?”

When Claudia said this, everyone nodded and looked at me.

Hmm. As usual, it seems the flow is for me to name it.

“Um… Hider and Seeker, perhaps?”

Straight from hide-and-seek, taken from the game.

The base surveillance type hides and waits in ambush, so Hider. The infiltration investigation side is Seeker. Well, actually, the Seeker also investigates while hiding.

Beyond that, we can just assign numbers to Hider and Seeker.

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

When I explained the name origins, Alfred smiled. Well then, the names are decided for now.

And so—while conducting the Seeker experiments, the Sirius continued advancing toward Silvatoria. As for the route, we’re first flying toward Marquis Zilbolt’s territory. We have plans to meet up with Tephra there.

While calculating our current position using sea charts, compasses, movement speed, and so on as we advanced… eventually, perhaps because land was approaching, islands matching the sea charts came into view. A bit further and we should reach Marquis Zilbolt’s territory.