Chapter 170
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170
Fwoosh—!
A fierce blaze tore through the Black Moth habitat.
Crossen and Malt watched the incinerating cocoons and the surrounding forest, their eyes gleaming with reflection of the flames.
“Hoh, it’s really catching fire.”
“Incredible, Lord Roen.”
“Think nothing of it.”
I nodded, my Azoth Sword planted firmly in the ground.
Thanks to my enchantment magic, the mud—which had been so swampy you’d sink into it just moments ago—was now bone-dry and cracked like a drought-stricken rice paddy. Because of that, the humidity that once choked the forest had vanished, removing the dampness that had been suppressing the particles of my flame magic.
That was why the forest had ignited so easily.
I smiled, looking up at the thick pillars of black smoke billowing into the sky.
Mud is just a mixture of water and earth, after all.
As long as they weren't chemically bonded, separating the two with enchantment magic wasn't particularly difficult. I had forced the water component to sink and the earth component to rise, trapping the forest's ambient moisture deep beneath the soil.
If I were a more skilled alchemist, I might have been able to evaporate the water entirely, but that was currently beyond my abilities. Even this feat was a massive drain on my mana, achieved only by borrowing the power of a legendary-grade artifact. Normally, a mage wouldn't have the sheer capacity to pull off such a trick.
Regardless, the enchantment magic had allowed us to start the fire with ease. Now, the inferno was spreading through the entire forest on its own, sparing us the effort of lighting each cocoon individually.
Malt laughed heartily as he watched the woods burn.
“This should be the end of those blasted Black Moths. If we burn down their entire habitat, we won't have to see their faces for months.”
At that, Freya asked cautiously, “When you say ‘for a few months,’ does that mean they'll eventually reappear?”
“Yes. This area is an ideal nesting ground for them. Even if it burns to ash, they'll just establish a new habitat somewhere else—unless, of course, we defeat their leader, the Black Moth Queen.”
The Black Moth Queen.
She was the heart of the swarm. As long as she lived, a new colony would inevitably rise. It was best to think of her like a queen bee or a queen ant.
“The Black Moth Queen… Is she a powerful monster?”
This time, Crossen answered Ciel's question.
“She’s strong, but more than that, she’s a nightmare to deal with. Her swarm protects her constantly, and she sprays silk and poison everywhere, making her nearly impossible to approach. Engaging her usually results in heavy casualties.”
“I see. Then in a situation like this, how do you expect her to react?”
With the fire consuming her entire home, how would she respond?
Malt scratched his beard, looking troubled. “Honestly, this is the first time we've ever done something this drastic, so it's hard to say. She might abandon the habitat and flee, or perhaps…”
Listening to their conversation, I pulled my Azoth Sword from the ground and stood up.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
“Prepare for battle? You mean…?”
“Yes. She's coming.”
The Black Moth Queen was heading straight for us—the ones who had set her home ablaze.
She might have overlooked us burning a few cocoons, but it seemed she couldn't forgive the destruction of her entire territory. She could always lay more eggs, but finding another habitat with such perfect conditions would be a monumental task.
Perfect timing.
Burning the habitat wouldn't have much of a long-term effect if the Black Moth Queen survived anyway. Since she was showing herself, we might as well lure her out and finish her for good.
Crossen and Malt didn't question my intuition; they simply chose to trust me.
“Everyone, prepare for battle! Brace for an enemy attack!”
Just as I reached for a yellow flare to signal the other units, a different light caught my eye.
Fwoom—!
A red flare flashed from the far side of the forest.
It seemed the Black Moth Queen's response was even faster than I’d anticipated. We exchanged quick glances and sprinted toward the signal without a word.
*
Kieeeh—!
A swarm of Black Moths poured out from the depths of the forest like a colony of bats erupting from a cave.
Fth-th-th-thump—!
The chilling, rhythmic beat of thousands of wings echoed through the woods. Faced with a sudden assault from moths larger than eagles, the expedition's soldiers found themselves in a living hell.
“All units, shields up!”
“Close your eyes! The powder causes blindness!”
Thud-dud-dung—!
The swarm of Black Moths slammed their bodies against the soldiers' shields with suicidal intensity. Even with their feet planted, the soldiers struggled to stay standing under the sheer force of the impact. To make matters worse, the poisonous scales the moths shed were deadly to the eyes, making it impossible to see the battlefield clearly.
“Kugh, why so many all of a sudden…?”
They had burned Black Moth cocoons many times over the years, but they had never faced a counterattack on this scale. Was this because of the suddenly dry ground and the black smoke rising in the distance?
“Form up! Don't get isolated!”
If you were swept away by the tidal wave of Black Moths, death was certain. They might look like moths, but they were carnivorous monsters capable of shredding living flesh. No matter how heavy your armor, you wouldn't escape unscathed if those mandibles found a gap.
“Gather up, quickly!”
The expedition's soldiers moved into five-man cells, forming defensive "hedgehog" formations with a knight at the center and shields facing every direction.
Chk—!
The shield walls held firm. As expected of elite soldiers hardened by years of frontier service, they handled the chaos with discipline. However…
Kieeeek—!
Krr-crunch—!
There was no telling how much longer they could hold out. The Black Moths were gnawing at the steel shields, trying to chew through to the men beneath.
“Kgh.”
With their eyes squeezed shut, the soldiers thrust their spears blindly to pry the creatures off, while the knights at the center used their sword ki to slice away the moths clinging to the shields. Individually, the creatures weren't that strong, but their numbers were overwhelming. At this rate, the line would eventually break.
Just as the soldiers were beginning to falter under the weight of the swarm…
Kwoooaaa—!
With a flash of blue lightning, the mud on the ground surged upward like a massive wall.
Thwack—!
Kieeek—!
The swarm of Black Moths, rushing in like a tidal wave, slammed headfirst into the sudden earthen rampart and began to fall limply to the ground.
Thwack-thwack-thwack—!
The moths flew into the wall like… well, moths to a flame. A few managed to change course or fly over the top, but the main force of the assault was shattered.
As the sound of insects continuously slamming into the other side of the wall echoed through the air, the expedition's soldiers and knights finally found a moment to breathe.
“Huu… huu…”
“What the hell is happening?”
“And this wall… did Roen make this?”
I approached the group as they recovered from the shock.
“Everyone, gather around.”
“…”
Despite my command, the soldiers didn't move. Instead, they focused on picking moth fragments off their shields or wiping poison from their visors. They didn't complain out loud, but their silence was a pointed act of defiance.
I would have reacted the same way in their shoes.
Crossen, standing beside me, sensed the tension and spoke up. “Everyone, assemble. Lord Roen has something to say. Hakon, Ranmir.”
“…Everyone, move,” the knights ordered.
Only then did the soldiers reluctantly shuffle toward us. I did a quick headcount; thankfully, no one was missing. As expected of elites, they hadn't fallen to an attack of this level. However, several soldiers were rubbing their eyes, clearly suffering from the moths' toxic powder.
I pulled Antidote Potions and health recovery potions from my Subspace Pouch and handed them out.
“Use these. They’ll neutralize the poison and help you recover.”
In a way, I was providing the cure for a disease I’d caused, but it was better than nothing.
“Thanks,” one soldier muttered.
I nodded and addressed the group. “The reason the swarm attacked you is because I’m burning down their entire habitat.”
“…”
“Their leader, the Black Moth Queen, will be here shortly. We will subjugate her right here. Once she’s dead, this area will be safe for the next several years.”
If we burned the habitat and killed the queen, the wall would be free from their harassment for a long time. Killing one queen wouldn't wipe out the species, but queens from other regions wouldn't abandon their own territories to move here anytime soon.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
Just as I finished my explanation, a soldier raised his hand.
“We only take orders from Duchess Aslan.”
The middle-aged man stared at me with a resolute, stubborn gaze. It wasn't just him; the other soldiers wore the same expression. Even the knights, who had been cordial with me due to their loyalty to Aslan, didn't seem inclined to disagree.
To be honest, I wouldn't follow my orders either.
Some unknown noble brat suddenly starts barking orders as if he's the commander of the expedition—who would trust him? I might have built them a latrine yesterday and saved them with a wall just now, but that didn't equate to military authority. And since I was the reason they were in this mess to begin with, their resentment was understandable.
But what could I do?
If they don't like it, they can stay here and die.
Whether they followed me or not, the Black Moth Queen was coming. Moving under my direction was simply the best way to minimize casualties.
It wasn't my loss either way. I crossed my arms and said flatly, “It’s not like you have a choice.”
“…?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Just as the soldiers tilted their heads in confusion…
Kieeeeeee—!!
An eardrum-shattering screech tore through the forest.
The very air trembled, and the ambient mana resonated with the Black Moth Queen's fury. As the mana vibrated, the fine hairs on my arms stood up, and a primal chill ran down my spine.
“Kugh!”
The regular soldiers, possessing low mana resistance, collapsed to the ground clutching their ears. The knights frowned, drawing upon their own mana to steady themselves.
The screeching grew louder, and the mana resonance intensified. In response, the Black Moths that had been stunned by my wall began to twitch and crawl back to their feet.
Shudder—.
The sound of thousands of wings vibrating in unison was sickening.
Krr-crunch—!
At the same time, we felt a massive presence approaching, the sound of ancient trees being snapped like twigs echoing through the woods.
Kieeeeeee—!
Cra-boom—!
A colossal, pitch-black figure burst through the gaunt treeline.
Gwoooooh—.
Its wings were patterned with markings that looked like weeping red eyes, shrouded in a heavy, dark mist that radiated ominous magic. Its antennae drooped like willow branches, and its sharp, hooked legs looked capable of snuffing out a human life in a single swipe.
Kieeeeeee—!!
It was the Black Moth Queen.
This was an opponent that even veterans of the long expeditions couldn't easily defeat. The expedition force wouldn't be wiped out, but casualties were a certainty.
Of course, that’s only if I weren't here.
I looked at the frozen soldiers and spoke.
“Everyone, get ready. We’re taking down the Black Moth Queen before Aslan gets here.”