Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Ants Want Freedom
After finishing the trash cleanup, I checked the spoils hidden among them.
I took every last gold coin, and as for their equipment—
I burned it all.
I could’ve resold it, but carrying it was a hassle, and honestly, it smelled like it had been worn by those idiots.
I wasn’t desperate enough for money to deal with that, so I disposed of everything cleanly.
“Rene.”
“Yes!”
“You found where the queen ant is, right?”
“Uh… well….”
I had sent her to scout and steal ant eggs.
But instead of giving a clear answer, she kept avoiding my gaze.
Just as I was about to question her—
The ground shook.
A tremor.
I instinctively reached for Prahrakh, but—
Rene grabbed my arm tightly and shook her head.
“It’s okay! You don’t have to do anything!”
“…What?”
She clearly knew something.
But since she insisted—
I trusted her.
She could judge good and evil, after all.
“You’re sure?”
“I guarantee it!”
“…Fine.”
Five minutes passed.
The shaking stopped.
Then—
From behind the wall—
Countless presences.
A massive movement of life.
“…I don’t remember asking you to bring the queen here.”
“Hehe….”
BOOM!
The wall collapsed.
Ants poured in—
But didn’t attack.
Instead—
They lined up.
Disciplined.
Like soldiers.
Then—
She appeared.
Walking on two legs.
An ant—
With a crown.
“…The queen.”
“Did you finish talking with him, Rene?”
“Not yet….”
“…Wait. Did that ant just speak?”
“Yes. I am Marryan, queen of the ants. I learned human language from a man named Fabre.”
“…Fabre?”
Of course.
That name alone—
Made it believable.
“So you understand us?”
“Of course.”
“…This is insane.”
In the original story—
Monsters never communicated like this.
Yet here she was.
Speaking fluently.
“No wonder you couldn’t explain.”
“I-I’m sorry! But she’s different! She’s kind!”
“….”
A talking monster.
Could be dangerous—
Or a massive opportunity.
“Let me guess. You wanted to talk.”
“Yes. Please, let us speak in my chamber.”
I glanced at Rene.
She nodded.
Not a trap.
“Alright. Lead the way.”
“Thank you. But first, I must check the eggs you took.”
“…What?”
“They’re close to hatching.”
“…Wait, those weren’t fresh eggs?”
Rene whispered—
“I’m sorry! New ones are too fragile, so I had to take older ones!”
“….”
Clap.
The queen clapped.
From underground—
Screams.
The buried adventurers.
The eggs—
Had hatched.
“…Thanks for feeding my children.”
“…Your children ate well.”
I felt—
A tiny bit guilty.
Using her offspring like that.
[You said you’d spare them.]
‘I changed my mind.’
[Excellent.]
“…Why am I being praised?”
Something felt off.
After checking the larvae—
We followed Marryan to her chamber.
Huge.
Filled with worker ants.
After clearing them out—
We sat.
At a table.
Like humans.
“So you want to live here.”
“Yes.”
“You know humans use this mine.”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re trespassing.”
“…That’s why we want your help.”
She wanted mediation.
Peace.
Naive.
“You’re overlooking something.”
“…What?”
“I killed twenty of your ants.”
“…!”
She trembled.
But endured.
“…It’s fine.”
“They would understand.”
“…Maybe.”
“But others won’t.”
“Humans won’t understand you.”
“They’ll assume hostility.”
“Then attack.”
“You’ll defend.”
“And die.”
“….”
“And even if they don’t—”
“The minerals will run out.”
“You eat them.”
“Humans need them.”
“Eventually—nothing remains.”
Silence.
Heavy.
“So what do we do?”
“…Are we doomed to wander, lose our children, and die?”
“….”
Her voice rose.
Desperate.
“I tried to trust humans!”
“But we were rejected!”
“….”
She was breaking.
If this continued—
She’d turn hostile.
I couldn’t allow that.
“I know a place.”
“…A place?”
“No humans.”
“Safe.”
“…Where?”
“Secret.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“I swear.”
“Follow the mountain range northwest.”
“Find an old statue.”
“Dig beneath it.”
“A hidden cave.”
“…Are there minerals?”
“If not, I wouldn’t suggest it.”
“…What kind?”
“…Orichalcum.”
“…What?”
Legendary metal.
Unbreakable.
Priceless.
Her eyes widened.
“Enough for three years.”
“…Three years?!”
“Yeah.”
“…Will you marry me?”
“…Want to die?”
“…J-joking!”
“Don’t joke like that.”
“Sorry!”
“Anyway—go.”
“Yes!”
She bowed deeply.
Then left.
Grateful.
“That solves it.”
“Mission complete.”
“Bern!”
“What?”
“What happens if ants eat that metal?”
“…Well.”
I thought.
Then smiled slightly.
“They might become strong enough to conquer a kingdom.”