Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The Ground Knows the Answer
The task I had this time could be divided into two main parts.
First, eliminate the queen ant.
Second, clean up the trash.
These days, trash has legs, so it’s not easy to deal with—but someone has to do it.
For the sake of leaving behind a cleaner world for the next generation.
“So that’s what happened while I was away.”
“With more villages needing help and the knights tied up suppressing the southern rebellion, the guild and adventurers have grown more influential. And that made them even more arrogant.”
“I don’t think it’s right to act like that when people’s lives are at stake.”
“I agree, but what can you do? Most adventurers value money more than lives.”
People without humanity—
Now holding power.
It was the same problem as any world: imbalance of power.
In a year, the rebellion would end and things would settle—but the reputation of adventurers would be ruined.
And Bern—
Would be blamed.
Suspended.
Forced into guild labor.
Rejected everywhere.
‘Not my problem anymore… since I dropped out.’
Still—
Thinking those four bastards contributed to his suffering pissed me off.
They’d retire rich and happy.
While Bern suffered endlessly.
Unacceptable.
“So what will you do with them?”
“I want to crush them.”
“But not yet.”
“Then you’ll spare them?”
“No. I’ll give them a chance.”
“If they still have a conscience, I’ll stop at teaching them a lesson.”
“And if they cross the line?”
“…Then I’ll show them what hell is.”
I wasn’t worried.
I trusted them.
Enough to bet my arm they’d betray me in the mine.
At the entrance of Fistal Mine—
Silence.
No miners.
No noise.
Abandoned.
Meanwhile—
“They pissed me off so much!”
The adventurers were venting.
“That bastard—who does he think he is?!”
“Calm down. People like him always try to show off.”
“He was kinda handsome though…”
“Fix that habit of hitting on everyone.”
“….”
Then—
“The sword.”
“…What?”
“The black sword he had.”
“…Right.”
Expensive.
Rare.
Valuable.
Their expressions changed.
Greed.
“Let’s kill him and take it.”
“Say the ants got him.”
“I’ll handle the body.”
“Sounds perfect.”
They smiled.
Didn’t realize—
They were already dead.
“KEEEK!”
“This area’s clear.”
“Any injuries?”
“No. Too easy.”
Mineral Ants—
Weak individually.
Iron-based.
Soft compared to rare ores.
They died easily.
But numbers—
Were the problem.
“And the queen keeps laying more.”
“Exactly.”
If needed—
I’d burn everything.
But only as a last resort.
“Hmm… about time.”
“The plan you mentioned?”
“Yeah. I’ll go ahead alone.”
“You gather the materials.”
“Got it!”
I cast combined magic.
Wind.
Frost.
Illusion.
Rene—
Vanished.
Sight, smell, presence—
Gone.
“Good luck.”
Tap tap.
Two taps.
Acknowledgment.
Now—
I waited.
“For the hyenas.”
“Come out.”
“….”
“I can feel you. Even ants hide better.”
Then—
A presence behind me.
Blade to my neck.
“Predictable.”
Crack!
Elbow strike.
Ribs shattered.
I turned.
The tall assassin—
Collapsed.
“Hide better next time.”
I moved.
Faster than perception.
Snapped his leg.
Struck his core.
He dropped.
Foaming.
“Not bad… you’re stronger than expected!”
“Not equal. I crushed him.”
“Don’t underestimate teamwork!”
“…Annoying.”
Warrior.
Mage.
Priest buffing.
Formation—
Decent.
Execution—
Terrible.
“Casting like that?”
I appeared beside the mage.
“Too exposed.”
“W-wait—!”
“Wrong outfit too.”
Strike.
Barrier shattered.
Direct hit.
She collapsed.
“YOU—!”
The warrior charged.
Bad stance.
I grabbed his wrist.
Pulled.
Kicked his leg.
Slammed him down.
Stomped his head.
Silence.
Only one left.
The priest.
Gone.
“Running?”
Cute.
“Prahrakh.”
[Yes?]
“Can you pull someone here?”
[Of course.]
“Do it.”
[No killing.]
“Fine.”
Black mist formed.
A spear.
“Target her.”
It flew.
Through walls.
Moments later—
She returned.
Dragged.
Eyes empty.
Drooling.
Mind broken.
“All gathered.”
[Shall we execute them?]
“No.”
[Oh?]
“My way.”
Darkness.
Underground.
Tied.
Buried.
“What…?”
The priestess—Meria—panicked.
Then—
My voice.
In her head.
“You’re buried 10 meters underground.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t suffocate.”
“Curious why you’re alive?”
“Look near your stomach.”
Egg.
White.
“That’s a Mineral Ant egg.”
“Also—”
“I fed you something.”
“…!”
“A mana stone.”
“Ants love those.”
“They’ll sense it.”
“Dig toward it.”
“….”
“But it’s inside you.”
“…!”
“They’ll tear through flesh.”
Screaming.
From all directions.
“Some eggs don’t hatch.”
“Some do.”
“Maybe all.”
“Good luck.”
Silence.
Only despair remained.
“Trash disposal—done.”
[That was… cruel.]
“Not really.”
“They’ll be rescued before hatching.”
“Just enough fear.”
[So psychological torture.]
“Plus isolation.”
“Depression.”
“Claustrophobia.”
[Impressive.]
“Did you want them dead?”
[No.]
“I admire this more.”
“…What?”
[You’re more ruthless than demons.]
“…Why are you like this?”
Something felt off.