Very well, let's think about this, who could this man possibly be?
He said that his country wanted to spy on me... That does not narrow it down at all. But there are probably not many that could use a demon lord as a spy, I can only think of Arana's sisters.
There are also those strange machines that I've never seen before, they seem unusually advanced.
"Ah, you must be from Mekria."
"That is correct. My name is Gerard. High technomancer of Mekria. Under the direct service of Queen Felias."
Yes! I got it right.
"Wait, so you deceived me?"
"I did not. All I said was true. I did not even make any misleading statements."
Uh, he's right, I'm the one who just accepted everything he wanted.
"So, Nera. If he's an enemy should we have him arrested or something?"
"Eh? I... don't know."
"Arrest me? For what crime?"
"Well, you..." He didn't really commit any crimes, did he... "Trespassed into the castle?"
"I did not. I asked the guards. I was allowed to enter."
Yeah, I guess we have not made it clear who should be allowed to come in and who should be kicked out.
"So what were you after? You were collecting data about me... I suppose that you are trying to find a way to defeat me."
"That is incorrect. I believed that you would be sympathetic to my goals. The first being the advancement of science."
"Ah, yes, I'm all for advancing science."
"The second being understanding the truths of our universe."
"Of course, I also want to know all those truths."
"And the third being the destruction of nature."
"Yes, let's dest- Wait, what?"
"The destruction of nature. The ultimate goal of all sapient beings. Are you aware of the history of my country?"
"I... I'm sure that Nera can explain it to me."
I give her a pleading look, she knows more about the history of other countries than I do.
"Right... Mekria... If I recall correctly, it is a country of mostly humans and dwarves located in a cold and desolate area of the north continent. The largest magic forest in the world used to be located there, protected by many powerful spirits and elves that gave them directions. The power of the forest could provide the people with warmth that could save their lives in the cold winters and improve their harvest so they could avoid famines."
"Oh, shouldn't that make them love that forest?"
"There was a problem. In that harsh environment, some famines were particularly bad, and some winters were particularly cold. In those instances, the people attempted to take more than what they were allowed to in order to survive, and the elves used the spirits to punish them with natural disasters, all in the name of protecting nature.
No explanation was given as to the reason why taking what was needed to survive was wrong, and many innocents died each time that happened. The people of Mekria began to hold a grudge against the elves, and against the very concept of 'protecting nature'.
They decided to focus on the improvement of their technology, to do that, they rejected the use of magic other than to power and use their machines. That restriction they gave themselves allowed them to develop faster than any other country, and eventually, they became able to overpower the elves and their spirits. Most of the elves were killed in revenge, and when their machines became capable of giving the warmth and food they needed, they burned that magic forest to the ground."
"That is partially incorrect. Our ancestors did not overpower the spirits. They merely learned how they work. Spirits are like machines. No free will or intelligence. Only act according to a set of patterns. They can be controlled if they are understood."
I see, so that's how Mekria became the country of machines.
"So... You must hate elves like me, no?"
"That is incorrect. I believe that the actions of our ancestors were a mistake. We would allow the remaining elves to join us and take advantage of our technology if they were to ask. We hold no grudge against them. Those elves from the past were merely slaves of the true evil in that story."
"The true evil... Are you talking about... nature itself?"
"That is correct. Nature is the reason why all of those tragedies happened. Only when nature is replaced with machines can people know peace and prosperity. The history of Mekria is proof of it."
"You say that. But even if improving technology makes people's lives better, I don't see why nature needs to be sacrificed."
"Nature is a tyrant that enslaves all living beings. Violence will always be part of our lives for as long as we need to kill other living creatures to eat. We will always be in conflict with each other for as long as we are in need of the same resources that nature says we must have. And those that are weak will be the ones to die.
I was born unable to walk. I am one of those weak ones that would have died without the help of machines. Because the law of nature is that only the strong survive. And that is why nature must be destroyed.
We must escape our prisons of flesh and become machines ourselves. I cannot accomplish that on my own. But you have mastered the art of flesh-shaping. If we were to work together there is a chance that we could succeed."
Eh? He wants to work with me?
"Uh... I'm not sure if I'm interested. I don't want to destroy nature, whatever that means for you. And I'm already busy becoming the queen of this place and stopping an invasion of void demons. You might want to look into that as well by the way."
"I am not familiar with those void demons. But the rule of a queen is only temporary. A scientist can change the world forever. We do not need to be enemies. And I believe that you might be underestimating us."
"I'm not, I don't really have an opinion about you."
I mean, I've never seen the machines from Mekria fight or anything, so there's nothing for me to base an opinion of them from.
"When it comes to a potential conflict. You seem to only be concerned about Queen Felias. Her high level makes that understandable. But from studying you earlier I could tell that our queen will not be necessary. The technology that my country has developed with years of hard work is powerful. You would not be able to defeat us."
"Oh. You really think that?"
"To be more precise. We would be able to subjugate an average individual with the same powers you have quite easily. Perhaps you can surprise me by using them in a more intelligent manner. But I doubt that you could win against us.
I do not wish to leave having collected that data and not give anything in return. I shall leave you with this gift."
A white humanoid figure then comes into the hallway, it's something similar to a golem, but not quite... Gerard is using some magic to control it.
'Appraisal'
{Unknown golem, Element: Fire, Level: 53}
I don't think that appraisal is working correctly, it shouldn't say 'unknown', I don't think that's a golem, and something tells me that it's much stronger than level 53...
"What is this?"
"A standard-issue pearl combat unit. A robot. An example of the tools used by the combatants of our country. Feel free to study it as much as you want. It might help you to understand what we are capable of. And I would appreciate it if you were to suggest any improvements."
I've only looked at it for a brief moment but I'm stumped. I don't understand the magic that he's using to control it. And right away I can tell that this is not something I could easily recreate... And most importantly, the design is very optimized, this is the first time I've looked at someone else's work and I cannot see any obvious flaws. Is it because I'm not familiar with this technology?
"That will be all for now. I will be taking my leave. Please keep my offer to collaborate in mind."
"Oh, of course. It was nice to meet you."
Nera and I decide to accompany him as he leaves. The truth is that I'm a bit curious about the method he used to come here. Did he use a car like the one Ranna had? Ah! I should have asked if I could get a new one for her.
Instead, he gets into a strange vehicle, one that has a large balloon on top and a relatively small cabin... I believe that it's a blimp?
Except that there's a very complex magic circuit on it, the design is... impressive. It should be able to increase the effect of fire and wind mana crystals immensely, I... I don't think that I would have been able to make a better one.
The blimp slowly lifts into the air, and then.
*BOOM*
A loud sound like an explosion is heard behind it as it leaves at an astounding speed, and for a moment there's a cone-shaped cloud behind it. Nera seems to have gotten scared by it.
Don't tell me that was...
"W-what was that?!"
"Nera... Do you know what that sound meant?!"
"No, I don't, I really don't. Do you?"
"If I'm not mistaken... That vehicle was traveling faster than the sound it produced!"
This is simply amazing... I had already lost hope of ever finding someone who could surpass me as a researcher, even in a field completely different from mine.
But this... So this is what is possible with the hard work of generations of the people of Mekria... Can I really measure up to them?
It already felt great to know that there was someone like Vilde that I could look forward to surpassing in terms of combat. But to think that there was also someone who could challenge me in this area... After everything I've seen ever since I left my home, I was starting to lose hope.
I know that Gerard and Mekria are potential enemies, I should not be happy to learn that they are this powerful. And yet... I cannot help but feel excited.
Thanks for the chapter.
I don't think viewing nature in an adversarial manner is a healthy mindset. In seeking to supplant nature, they will probably dismiss or ignore certain aspects of nature that they do not understand. Such as emotions. And then they could end up as a cold logical machine with the primary objective of destroying nature, incapable of charging their core directives even to their own detriment.
Well, yeah, that's why he's still a villain.
Glad you both reached an amicable conclusion in this.
Yes, I to haven't seen that specific motivation for a character. Nearly everytime you see it it is more that they are doing it for the sake of it or the environment is in the way of their goals, they are in more of a scorched earth kind of mentality because they were oppressed. Interested in how you develop this!
I have to say, I think this is the single most compelling rational I've ever seen for the promotion of the destruction of nature.
Also, I'm glad you've gotten some perspective on what does and does not make sense in terms of things to be emotionally upset by. A lot of people really do love this story of yours.
Part of it is also that I was challenging myself to try writing a captain planet villain that makes sense.
@forli haha that is what I was thinking of while writing my other comment 'this sounds like a competent Captain Planet villian'
I have to say, I think this is the single most compelling rational I've ever seen for the promotion of the destruction of nature.
This is a stupid argument, because the clash of muscular bodies is simply replaced by a clash of political and business-economic schemers.
The forest has been replaced by a city, but nature has remained in place.
@torvn77 The question was not whether or not it was a good argument. The question is whether or not it is objectively better and more compelling than any other argument that is pro destruction of nature you've heard.
@Jemini
As you can see, this is the most unconvincing of all possible arguments, in ontological terms, replacing a biome with a city changes nothing at best, and maybe even increases the risks.
@torvn77 Again, it's not whether or not it's a good idea, it's whether or not it's compelling.
We can presume from the flow of his argument that his end goal takes account for all the risks you are talking about, such as supplying for food. As for your "changes nothing" point, obviously that's incorrect. Murica's approach has greatly decreased the death rate in their nation.
@Jemini
The risks of a mechanoid society are that...
1. ... political censorship can be carried out not at the level of legal rights (posts on the Internet) and objects of property (books and the like), but already at the level of personal biological memory of the brain and the principles underlying the specific design of the brain.
2. ... in the same way, censorship and compulsion to obey can be carried out at the level of patented know-how in the field of brain architecture, without gaining access to which the subject (person, person) will not be able to access highly paid jobs.
3. dependence on component suppliers who can (.1) supply components only on the terms of refusing to use spare parts from alternative manufacturers, rather than complicate self-repair by forcing the purchase of unreasonably expensive services, (.2) or simply imposing components without unacceptable properties or without coercion to the conclusion of additional license agreements.
All this together turns the people into a rudimentary appendage of the ruling class of the country, which in fact loses human rights.
@torvn77 All of which are superior to being pitted between dying of starvation or being killed by spirits prompted by the elves.
We're talking about the difference between an autocrat and a tyrant right now, the tyrant being the elves and nature in the picture.
Mechanized society not being the perfect utopian ideal is not the same as mechanized society being inferior to the only other alternative on the table.
@Jemini
All of which are superior to being pitted between dying of starvation or being killed by spirits prompted by the elves.
Do you agree to be domestic draft animals, which are used while they have strength, and then sent to the slaughterhouse?
Do you agree that your fate is completely determined by your master or the one on whom you are financially dependent?
right now, the tyrant being the elves and nature in the picture.
The elves are not to blame for the fact that there were more people than the forest at one time or another could feed, and the people themselves are to blame for the fact that in the years of prosperity they did not make strategic reserves.
Mechanized society not being the perfect utopian ideal is not the same as mechanized society being inferior to the only other alternative on the table.
The degradation and collapse of the elite is an inevitable part of the life of society, and mechanoid society is such that the damage from this collapse can lead to the death of the entire race. It is possible in a biomo for a single individual to survive in a single secret place, while in a society of mechanoids it is enough to destroy one single production of high-tech components.
For example, do you know that on Earth the production of nanometer chips depends on one single company that has one single plant?
Here, destroy this company and humanity will not be able to produce modern PCs and smartphones.
And I do not hesitate to abandon the race and society of mechanoids, I say that the destruction of all other eco-systems, which are here called nature, is the beginning of the death of goal-setting and it is mechanoids who should understand this best of all.
@torvn77 Show me just 1 mechanized society that has collapsed THAT catastrophically.
The truth is, technology and infrastructure do not collapse in that manner unless you run out of the resources that fuel the technology, and even then it's not a complete collapse. You still have the products of that technology, which can be put to use to achieve only a slightly diminished standard of living from when you had said resources.
(For instance, we would never have gotten wind energy and solar panels if we hadn't created petroleum power first. And, if we were forced to rely on it now, it would not be sufficient, but it would be better than nothing and could be used to continue advancing technolocal research forward.)
The political systems within a mechanized society can collapse, but this does not cause the technology itself to stop existing. Even after the collapse of the political structure, the people can still continue to use the machines to generate a better living than being out in the wild.
@Jemini @torvn77
Uh... I just got into a lot of trouble as a result of feeling too strongly about the contents of some stories, so seeing this discussion is worrying me a little.
It's not too bad yet, but please be careful that it does not get out of hand.
@Jemini
Show me just 1 mechanized society that has collapsed THAT catastrophically.
Here you have two miscalculations:
1. There are no such examples, since there are still no states completely dependent on complex technologies, but there are examples of irreversible loss of technology - an example of Damascus steel, with all our scientific progress, we still cannot restore it.
We can do something close in quality, but nothing more.
2. You have a hidden assumption that a political or economic system, when it collapses, "just stops working" or doesn't work well.
But the fact is that in the event of a collapse, politicians can begin to deliberately destroy the country, the most recent example is Gorbachev's policy, the essence of which is the deliberate destruction of the USSR, about which his minister Chubais made a direct public admission. (of course, he did not blame himself for this, but boasted confident of his impunity).
Naturally, with such bastard policies, the degradation of technologies can reach any depth.
@forli Oh don't worry about me. This is the verbal equivalent of a friendly spar. Debate for the sake of each of us exercising our mental muscles through opposition. It's the best way to work your own knowledge and logical skills, and to thoroughly explore another person's perspective at the same time.
So long as there's no name-calling, personal attacks, or disparaging remarks toward the other's arguments, it's all in good fun so far as I'm concerned.
@torvn77 Damascus steel is just a folding technique. And, no, it's not a lost technology. That's a myth that keeps getting perpetuated, but most modern day armorers (those who create historical weapons and armor for historical or artistic purposes) have known the technique for decades.
Also, Damascus steel is not stronger than modern day crucible steel. That's another part of the myth. Folded metal techniques are a smithing technique meant to remove impurities from the steel by repeatedly heating and then folding the metal. The vapor point of iron is just higher than the vapor point of most of the impurities, so you pound the steel flat and thus expose more surface area in order to allow the vaporized impurities to escape. After that, you fold it so that you can repeat the process all over again.
Back in the days the technique was used, it allowed really low-quality impure steel to equal the strength of some of the highest quality steel one could possibly get their hands on. About the only challenging thing in using this folded metal technique is knowing when to stop so you don't wind up vaporizing too much carbon and accidently turning your steel into wrought iron. (Iron with less than 0.05% carbon. Steel is just iron with 0.05 to 2.1% carbon in it.)
These days, the only reason to craft a weapon with the Damascus technique is for artistic purposes. Once treated with acid, it makes a really beautiful ripple pattern in the blade, and it is especially beautiful in swords. However, for the actual strength of the weapon, it's better to use crucible steel using the best modern techniques.
It would have been the best weapon in the field back in the days of the Greeks and Romans, but these days we've improved technology and can make even stronger steel simply by melting the iron completely, stirring it to remove ALL impurities, and then adding back in the exact amount of carbon we want.
@Jemini
Also, Damascus steel is not stronger than modern day crucible steel.
You have a small mistake: the point of Damascus steel is not only that it is hard, but also that it is flexible, that it can be strongly bent.
Yes, there is multi-layer forging now, but we cannot exactly "retake the bar" of Damascus steel in terms of the COMBINATION of flexibility and hardness.
We make products that are close in quality, but we cannot achieve the same quality, our swords are worse than the swords of those times.
But you are right that this loss is not critical for our civilization.
But nevertheless, there is an example of loss [of competence].
@torvn77 Ok. I'll give you that one. We don't currently have a folded metal technique that also produces a flexible sword.
That said, we DO have techniques that produce strong and flexible swords, swords flexible enough to be bent to touch their tips to their pommels and spring back into shape while also being strong. It's called spring steel, and I honestly don't see Damascus steel being able to do what spring steel can.
That said, yes, spring steel is a uniform steel that does not use folded metal technique. If Damascus steel can do that, then I'll concede that it's a pretty amazing technology if only for the fact it accomplishes something we can't quite figure out.