Chapter 15 An Incident That Cannot Be Overlooked
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Charles arrived at the inner part of the 92nd floor world tree, guided by Esmeralda. It was the inside of a giant tree where the sunlight couldn’t reach, and there were no lighting fixtures. The world tree itself emitted a soothing soft light, as if it were wrapped in a cradle in a mother’s womb.
In a room that resembled a guest room at the very back, Charles was greeted by a man.
”Your Majesty, we’ve been waiting for you.”
He was an astonishingly beautiful young man, with a head that would have originally had hair like platinum shaved cleanly. He wore priestly attire reminiscent of ancient Rome, made of jade, and his shaved head made his bamboo leaf-like ears stand out.
His name is Vasquez. He is the mayor of the 92nd floor city and a higher species called [Divine Tree Spirit (Leitzel Elf)], who serves as the administrator of this world tree.
His position is the mayor of the 92nd Floor, but in reality, there is no settlement that can be called a city on the 92nd Floor. In fact, his actual role is the management of the World Tree, also known as the heart of Babellion, which stands tall in the center of the 92nd Floor and has a significant impact on food production.
In large dungeons, where many monsters (Mamono) are placed for attacks and defenses, the World Tree, which has the effect of greatly improving food production, is an essential object. Although it can be purchased with in-game non-payment funds, the effect is tremendous, to the point where if the dungeon does not match the concept, it becomes a story of how to deceive rather than placing it somehow.
Charles tried changing the color to black and hanging human flesh to create a dark atmosphere, and even gave up and installed the food production layer, but it will become a cursed equipment, so he didn’t.
When Charles sat down in the chair, a teacup with steam coming out was placed on the table in front of him. As he picked up the teacup, thinking it must be delicious tea, his gaze was drawn to the servant [Elves] who had brought the tea set.
”Hmm?”
The [Forest Spirit (Elf)] swiftly placed the tea and stepped back, causing her to lean forward and turn around instinctively. Naturally, if their master suddenly turned to follow the servant, Vasquez and Esmeralda would also turn in the same direction with puzzled expressions.
”What is the matter?”
”…No, I was just curious about the elf pouring the tea.”
”If Your Majesty wishes, I can prepare a resting place for you.”
”That won’t be necessary…”
Though it made Vasquez worry, Charles didn’t fall in love with the elf at first sight. Charles had a different reason for following the servant with his eyes – because that servant was a Monster who should have disappeared. It was a [Courtesan Forest Spirit (Drya Elf)] that he obtained from a gacha once. He had intended to assign it to his army because it had an interesting debuff skill, but she had disappeared without a trace. He had given up searching for her on the list, but to think he had mistakenly placed it on the 92nd floor… Charles chuckled at the long-awaited answer, years later.
──And yet, even in such a situation, Charles had not come to search for the missing person.
”So… tell me your report.”
As Charles changed his tone and crossed his legs, Vasquez and Esmeralda knelt and straightened their posture. However, Charles’ state of mind was not calm. The 92nd floor only had the World Tree and farmland, so the possibilities were limited if there was any abnormality there. And all of them were serious matters.
”There is a possibility of a decrease in crop production.”
”…I see.”
He didn’t hold his head in his hands, but he let out a sigh-mixed voice as if anticipating the worst-case scenario.
”So, Your Majesty was aware after all.”
”My Lord, you were waiting at the villa before I summoned you.”
”Ah, indeed, you are the great and holy Majesty indeed.”
Some praise began, but he continued to ponder in his mind without paying it any attention. An abnormal situation discovered on the second day of the transport, perhaps an unprecedented change is occurring…
”Why did you know that crop productivity was declining?”
”The voices of the plants and crops have weakened. However, it seems that the power of the World Tree has not changed, so this is still just a hypothesis…Therefore, before I report this to Your Majesty, I will first call on the Minister of the Right-dono…”
”If what you say is true, by how much will annual production fall?”
”I believe it will likely decrease by about 30%.”
Charles understood everything that is happening with those numbers.
”As expected of the guardian of the World Tree. Those numbers are correct.”
The change that occurred on the 92nd floor is the disappearance of the continuous effect due to payment.
There are many pieces of equipment and Magic Items obtained through purchases. However, they become owned by Charles as data at the time of purchase. This continuous effect is due to the food that is deducted from the credits every month as a subscription service. This is a paid buff that increases production.
In the case of Babellion, the 91st floor thrives as a port town where marine resources are harvested, while the serene 92nd floor spreads out as a food production area with vast farmlands. Particularly, the 92nd floor boasts the largest area in Babellion.
The combined area of the 91st and 92nd floors accounts for over 10% of the entire Babellion, illustrating the vastness and importance of these two floors in food production.
In the APOCALYPSE SAGA dungeon content, the continuous subscription service offers three benefits: a 30% increase in food production and mineral mining, as well as a 10% reduction in revival funds. While it does not directly alter the power balance of the dungeon, the buff effects are significant, especially felt by higher-ranking players.
”It’s not entirely inaccurate to say that the power of the World Tree is not weakening. It seems that this is not the World Tree, but rather my abilities… A part of my abilities has been sealed due to being transported to a world unrelated to me.”
”What”
It is necessary to take measures promptly. Otherwise, there is a possibility of a large number of deaths from starvation and internal collapse while the empire is at war.
”Vazquez”
Charles glares at Vasquez while rearranging his knees. And without waiting for Vasquez’s response,
”How do you think about it?”
”Your words, but the question is too broad for me to know what to answer.”
”Now let’s change the question. Assuming that the current level of food production continues, is it possible to maintain life and defense functions using only Babellion?”
Assuming the current food production, Babellion’s food production and consumption are almost the same. There is a slight surplus in production, but basically continues, the amount produced over the year is consumed. In addition, there is some food stored in the food warehouse. The question is not whether it is possible or impossible, but rather how long it will take for people to starve.
”As I do not know the situation on the 91st floor, I cannot make a definitive statement. However, if I only look at the current situation on the 92nd floor, I believe that it will be impossible to maintain Babellion without taking countermeasures.”
”Is Babellion going to perish like this?”
”I wouldn’t say it’s going to perish completely. The 92nd floor hasn’t completely stopped functioning. However, since the production and consumption levels were nearly equal even before the transition, the food reserves are not that substantial. If we can open the military’s food storage, it might change, but at the moment, it’s estimated that the storage will run out within a year.”
”Within a year? Is such a thing… true? That we won’t last a year?”
”Yes, unfortunately.”
Esmeralda, who had been silent until now, barked at Vasquez’s words. Charles restrained Esmeralda, who was trying to grab him by the collar and confront him, saying, “Don’t panic.”
”There’s no point in doubting Vasquez’s calculations. We may have some margin of error, but it won’t last two years. That’s the reality.”
Charles seemed to be analyzing the situation calmly, but in reality, he was quite anxious. Perhaps, from the perspective of a sense of crisis, it might not be as calm as it was immediately after the transport.
If it said that they have been transported to another world and crushed a city, the reality is not much different from the dungeon content Charles has been doing so far. Facing the enemy with absolute trust and pride alongside the dungeon and its subordinates, which have such strength.
It’s something he has been fantasizing about for years, and he never thought he could be friendly with all the people from another world forever, so he was not surprised or panicked by the fact that he was transported.
But this time, it’s completely different. It feels like being sniped in the back from far away while facing the enemy in front of him, an attack that was completely unexpected. Because Charles had been using automatic debit purchases as a matter of course. For over ten years, it had been automatically deducted from his account as a matter of course, and he had even forgotten that he was making purchases, let alone the fact that it would be lost.
That’s why he was shocked when Esmeralda told him that something abnormal was happening on this 92nd floor.
And the newly discovered fact that has come to light is such a serious matter that it shakes the very foundation of trust and pride, or rather, it completely undermines them. Even though Charles can remain calm even after being transported to another world, the significant existence of Babellion is a major factor. Nevertheless, there has been a change significant enough to jeopardize the maintenance and operation of Babellion, so it was impossible to stay calm.
Now, he felt the cold sweat soaking into the back of his clothes. However, he solemnly disclosed that fact, trying not to show it on his face or in his behavior.
”…This is a serious situation.”
Charles murmured in a voice that seemed to chew over the words once again, as if he had said the same thing just a moment ago.
These words represented everything about Babellion.
When the amount of food production decreases by about 30% in a situation where the production and consumption of food are almost equal, it means that about 30% of the population will be left with excess food. And having excess food means death.
In the game, the selection of those who starve was random, and it included senior-level figures like Esmeralda and Vasquez. If this has become the real world, then it may be the poor who die, but in any case, the number of deaths will not be in the thousands. And that would definitely mean a significant decrease in their military strength.
Even if they end the first day’s battle in victory, even if they understand that the level of this world is low, it doesn’t mean that they can let their guard down. Even though Charles feels like he knows the world, the world he has experienced is nothing more than water scooped up in the palm of his hand, and it is so dense that he might forget it. It is still the morning of the second day of his life in a different world. In the midst of not knowing what will happen next and what kind of enemies are waiting, there is no way he can accept a 30% decrease in fighting power.
Moreover, whether it’s the Twelve Pillars of the Saint Tower, the military, or the citizens, they are all equally beloved children to Charles. While he can order them to fight, he cannot be cruel to his children by giving orders like starving them until their production matches their consumption.
”With the right measures, self-sufficiency is possible. Specifically, by adding a new food production floor, including manpower, besides the 92nd floor.”
”That’s inefficient.”
”As Your Majesty has stated, the power of the World Tree does not extend beyond the 92nd floor, resulting in a significant decrease in production. Therefore, in order for Babellion to achieve complete self-sufficiency, it will be necessary to convert multiple defense floors into food production floors.”
The influence of the World Tree is limited to the floors where it is installed. The reason the World Tree is referred to as a human rights object is because of its high effectiveness. Additionally, it is impossible to obtain multiple World Trees, so Charles only possesses one. Creating farmland in floors without the World Tree is nothing but inefficient.
”What specific numbers are we talking about?”
”It depends on the floor… but at least five floors, and possibly up to ten floors, would be necessary, I believe.”
With a solemn expression, Charles uttered these words, while Esmeralda stood speechless next to him. However, Charles did not feel any discomfort.
”Should we lower the ‘Reception Hall (Acheron)’ into the sea of wheat?”
”Lord, that is…”
At the sound of Esmeralda’s scream-like protest, Charles smiled for the first time.
”Just kidding. Whether it’s a crisis or a peaceful time, reducing the defense floors by ten floors is foolish.”
Currently, Babellion is in its optimal and perfect form. With four major armies alone, Babellion holds twenty thousand soldiers, and it has a larger number of attack units compared to other dungeons, requiring a significant amount of city floors and food production floors to maintain its military strength. In other words, it is pushing the minimum required defense floors to the limit at the moment.
It’s like selling clothes because you’re hungry and then freezing to death; it’s just not a viable option––
However, changes in dungeon design, such as floor rearrangement and expansion or reduction, cannot be manipulated at will.
Now that it has become a reality, Charles didn’t want to get too close to the core, which is the heart of Babellion, but perhaps it’s necessary to check its condition at this opportunity… While contemplating such things, he said,
”If you can’t sustain yourself from within, then you have no choice but to bring it from outside.”
Taking from others if it means survival, it is the principle of war that has persisted since ancient times. This is the unchanging essence of living beings, whether it be in a different world or not.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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