Glessia's Gluttonous Initiation
'Here, eat up!'
As I was making honey, a giant hornet slowly approached my petals.
'Uh... hold on...?'
Up close, this thing was way bigger than I thought... Its head was as big as my whole flower!
The moment I panicked, a tongue shot out from the hornet's mouth. That tongue was overwhelmingly huge too—dozens of times bigger than the other bugs'!
'No way! Something that big is impossible!'
Lick!
'Hiiik!'
The massive tongue dug right into my weak spot. Then the enormous thing started sloppily lapping at my pistil along with the honey!
Lick lick!
'Ahh! Eek...!'
"Look at that—Ricoris loves it."
"Yeah. Her whole body's trembling; she looks so happy."
"Yep. I learned something new thanks to that guy."
Nooo! I don't like this at all! There's no way I'd enjoy something like this! My body just reacted on its own!
Before I could tell Master and Nis the truth, the hornet's assault resumed.
'Wait! You know I'm suffering because of the nectar's will, right?!'
Lick lick lick!
'Ugh!'
... Lick lick lick!!! Lick lick lick!!!
'Uwaaaaa...'
...
'Hah... hah...'
Finally... is it over...?
No... I hate it when it's so rough...! I like gentle touches!
"Hehe, is that so? Then it's my turn again?"
"I'll help too."
'Eek...' No, not again...? I really can't take any more...!
Rub rub! Stroke stroke!
'Waaah!'
...
'Sob... sob...'
Now it's really over, right...?
Master and Nis were gazing at me with those lewd... no, pleased expressions. And the giant hornet lay on the floor, rubbing its bulging belly with all six legs like it had eaten its fill.
What the heck!? Are you human or something!?
More importantly, how did that puny little hornet from before get so strong?
Master!
"Hm? Did you like it that much? You're even acting cute."
'Eep!' What a typo! My head was all over the place!
This is all that giant hornet's fault!
That's true too! But that giant hornet was definitely small and super weak just a few months ago!
"Hmm?"
"Oh ho?"
Master and Nis's eyes sparkled at the same time.
Can it really get this strong all of a sudden?
"Then... shall we take a look inside?"
Huh? Inside? Nis hiked up her swaying dress hem and approached the hornet.
Wait! Nis, no dissecting!
"Why not? A rare specimen like this is worth studying..."
No! This one's gonna be the strongest fighter in our bug squad!
The scraping of my roots against the floor was more frantic than usual. Nis let out a regretful sigh.
We can't kill off a talented recruit—no, a treasure—that fell right into our lap!
Master was eyeing the hornet with keen interest too. The hornet seemed to notice, staying surprisingly calm. Unlike the other bugs, who would tremble before the absolute one, this guy even folded its wings slightly as if greeting her.
"It's a female."
'Phew...'
I sighed in relief. Female—thank goodness! If a male had licked me that roughly earlier... shudder!
Master's gaze sharpened further.
"Oh? Interesting. I sense the magic of the Set Hanryeong guardians in it."
Huh?
"It must've eaten them."
My petals quivered with excitement.
What's Set Hanryeong?
"The massive ice canyon surrounding Sia Kalt."
Nis explained gracefully.
"Like the fence around our house."
My petals rounded in surprise at Master's words. Even that gigantic ice canyon was part of Master's territory? Amazing...!
Whoa! Land rich girl! I love you!
The giant hornet was still sprawled on the floor, flapping its wings happily. Such a powerful being joining our bug squad!
I wanna name this super strong kid!
The scraping roots sounded thrilled and bouncy.
"Oh? What name would be good?"
Nis chuckled amusedly.
"Hmm, Glessia."
Everyone turned at Master's single word. The hornet's compound eyes gleamed.
Whoa! I love it!
Glessia flapped her wings joyfully.
That was when it happened.
Flap flap!
The girl butterfly started circling my petals frantically. Her wingbeats were more frantic than usual.
'Huh? You want a name too?'
We'd finally arrived. Relief washed over me as we entered the village gate, our long journey at an end.
The village was livelier than expected. Kids dashed through alleys, merchants haggled loudly. It brimmed with peaceful energy.
"Maybe because the hero and saint passed through?"
Adrian scratched his chin, his potion pouch clinking.
"Could be. They say every village they visit changes a lot."
Hawin nodded. That's why we came all this way. To get stronger.
I sighed. The stamina drain from crossing Set Hanryeong hit all at once. Especially that Frost Wolf fight—it was brutal. Too much for our current level.
"Let's rest first. Find an inn."
Dalbit's Haven. The biggest inn in the village, they said. Warm air rushed out as we opened the door, thawing our frozen bodies.
"Welcome~"
A plump landlady greeted us warmly. The restaurant smelled of hearty meals. None of us had eaten properly in days.
"Meals too?"
"Yes, please."
As we sat, my eyes drifted to a corner. A grizzled old man with patchy beard drank alone. Seemed ordinary, but his eyes were sharp. Robe marked him as a mage.
"That guy's..."
Hawin whispered.
"A-rank adventurer from party Indomitable Will—mage Oldin."
My heart raced. All the rumors we'd heard flashed by. The flower where hero and saint met. And the Indomitable Will party from those tales.
Coincidence? Or fate?
"Let's go."
I swallowed hard and approached Oldin's table.
"Excuse me. Mind if we ask about the rumored... flower?"
Oldin set down his mug, scanning us sharply. Tension hung in the air.
"Hoo... rumor spread that far already?"
"Yes, pretty far."
Sweat slicked my palms. He wouldn't brush us off, right?
Oldin eyed us, then sighed.
"Our party and another met it directly. But I can't say details."
My heart sank—
"How about an S-rank mana awakener potion?"
Adrian cut in quick, holding a glowing blue vial. Our ace in the hole.
Oldin's eyes lit up. No backing out now. Can't waste this trip.
"...Can you keep a secret?"
We all nodded.
Oldin glanced around, lowering his voice.
"Can't say much. But this..."
I leaned in. Every word was gold.
"I've walked the path of magic for 60 years. Never believed in gods. But..."
His voice shook. 60 years—almost three times my age. A grand mage like him rattled?
"After eating that flower's honey... I gained a bit of holy power. Didn't notice at first, but time confirmed it. Unexplainable."
My eyes widened. Magic and holy power clash. A mage gaining it? Impossible.
"More shocking were Marianne the priestess, the saint, and hero. Their holy power exploded."
Oldin drained his mug.
"Seems biggest for followers of the God of Light."
I glanced at my companions. Alchemist Adrian, archer Hawin. No priest among us.
At this rate... even meeting the flower won't give much effect.
But too late. We nearly died three times crossing Set Hanryeong. No turning back.
"Still..."
I clenched my fist. Even a little boost. Any strength...
"We came this far. Gotta meet it."
Adrian and Hawin nodded. We knew. We weren't enough. Needed more power.
"Then..."
Oldin raised his empty mug.
"Good luck. And..."
His gaze turned meaningful.
"Come back alive."
Chills ran down my spine. Even an A-rank wary. Could we handle it?
But resolve was set. We'd come prepared to die.
"Thank you."
...
Early morning. Sia Kalt's endless eternal snows loomed over us.
The moment we took our first step—
"There!"
Hawin shouted. A knight staggered down, clothes blood-soaked.
"Help... please..."
He collapsed muttering.
Adrian rushed over, checking him.
"Severe injuries."
Wounds everywhere, frostbite all over.
"Need a high-grade life potion."
Adrian pulled a red-glowing vial—one he'd brewed all night.
One vial down, but still critical—used a second.
"Urgh..."
Color returned to the knight's face. He opened his eyes weakly.
"Thank... you."
"No problem. What happened...?"
"Help us!"
He bolted upright, wincing but ignoring it.
"My comrade... at the great labyrinth entrance..."
Hawin and I locked eyes. We'd planned to scout the whole range—flower's location vague.
But now... destination clear. By sheer chance...
"Got it. We'll help."
I nodded. As we hurried, the knight introduced himself.
"Klaus of Jenes Kingdom's 2nd Knight Order."
He recounted the labyrinth horrors. Each word weighed down my steps.
"The flower... not just a flower. King of bugs."
His voice trembled.
"40 elite knights... wiped in seconds."
He caught his breath.
"Hundreds of bugs moved with perfect coordination. And the poison from the flower... flesh rotting away..."
Adrian glanced at me, eyes shaken. Nothing like yesterday's tales. A holy flower boosting holy power?
This was a calamity.
Hawin gripped his bow tighter. Same thought crossed his face.
"Only Sir Edgar and I survived. But now he's at the entrance... against a giant hornet..."
Cold gripped my chest. The thing we sought—was it blessing or terror?
No retreat now. If this dangerous... maybe greater power awaits?
That thought flashed—and Adrian and Hawin's eyes hardened. Same idea.
"Twelve potions. Enough."
Adrian checked his pouch. No hesitation left.
Labyrinth entrance at last. But eerie silence hung. Battle scars everywhere: frozen rocks, deep sword gouges, scattered blood.
"Sir Edgar...!"
Klaus called, scanning. No reply. Just cold wind.
Adrian and Hawin's faces tensed more. Yet the journey was underway, irreversible—and the danger hinted at greater potential.
The entrance gaped like a deep abyss.