Glacia’s Tears

Glacia, who had been pinned to the wall, slowly turned around.

Quiver quiver!

What kind of reaction is this?

Are you afraid of being scolded by me?

I initially thought so, but upon closer inspection, the emotion in Glacia’s eyes wasn’t fear.

Her clear pupils were filled with indignation.

Grief over not being able to achieve her dream.

The shock of being betrayed by Cecilia, whom she trusted.

Sorrow that everything was now over.

These emotions were intricately intertwined.

No!

Who’s playing the victim here!

“Hey! You sexual assault attempter!”

Anger blazed furiously in my chest.

I summoned roots to bind Glacia.

Black roots whipped through the air, tightly wrapping around her body.

Yet Glacia didn’t resist, allowing herself to be captured easily.

She then looked at me with a resigned expression.

It felt like a scene where I was the villain, and she was the independence fighter captured by the Japanese!

Her appearance made me feel as though I was the one committing a wrong.

Wait, could I be misunderstanding something?

No, that’s impossible!

Cecilia told me, didn’t she?

Glacia ate the core of the Great Labyrinth and became stronger, so she would drink my honey every day!

I clenched my right fist tightly.

Since Glacia’s level has increased significantly, maybe a serious punch would work?

“Hey! Serious punch!”

Whoosh!

My fist flew toward Glacia’s forehead.

Glacia didn’t even blink, simply staring straight at the approaching fist.

Bang!!

“Ow!”

Why is her head so hard!

My hand stung terribly.

The back of my hand turned bright red in an instant.

The pain spread from my fingertips to my elbow.

It felt like my bones were cracking against the hard exoskeleton of a wasp.

Meanwhile, Glacia blinked once and resumed her normal expression.

It seemed she barely felt any pain, just slightly shifting her gaze.

“Hehe! Mom’s serious punch!”

Cecilia fluttered her cloak and jumped around joyfully.

She raised her small fists high in a victory pose, looking adorable.

Her innocent face was filled with admiration, as if her mom were the coolest.

It was funny… but in reality, my punch had little effect.

Wasps have such hard exoskeletons, after all.

This punishment wasn’t enough.

I shook my aching hand and stared into Glacia’s eyes.

Then I issued the final warning:

“You’re now under Cecilia! Obey her! If not, no more honey for you!”

At that moment, genuine anger flared in Glacia’s eyes.

Rumble!

As if outraged by such nonsense, Glacia charged at me with her enormous tongue sticking out.

Like she wanted to taste the honey one last time!

Eek!

“Mom said so!”

Cecilia’s young voice echoed through the cavern.

She then threw a small punch.

The air vibrated, and Glacia was launched like a cannonball into the opposite wall.

Boom!!

A loud sound erupted as Glacia was embedded into the wall.

“Huh!”

The sight drew an involuntary exclamation from me.

Cecilia’s punch seemed light, but…

Is this the power of an 800-level attack?

The surrounding air shimmered with shockwaves from Cecilia’s punch.

The entire cavern trembled, and cracks spread from where Glacia was embedded in the wall.

The impact reached me as well.

The ground’s vibrations made me instinctively step back.

The space, which had just been filled with Cecilia’s playful jumps, transformed into a battlefield in an instant.

While I stood there, speechless, movements erupted around me.

Rote wobbled up and down in the air, startled by Cecilia’s punch.

Her superconductive body shook violently, like an earthquake.

Miel took more drastic action.

She quickly flew to Levi and pulled her hair.

“Ack! My hair!”

Levi, still staring at Glacia’s collision, cried out.

Miel quickly flew up and began writing with Levi’s hair:

《That’s the fitting end for a traitor! Justice prevails!》

After finishing, Miel scattered some sparkling blue dust and flapped her wings wildly.

It was like she was dancing in victory.

This guy!

Switching sides so quickly!

Just moments ago, she was acting like Glacia’s spokesperson, but now she’s treating her like a traitor!

Meanwhile, Glacia slowly extracted herself from the wall.

Dusting off the dirt and debris from her body, she seemed to shed her last bit of pride.

Then, with a sorrowful expression, she knelt on the floor.

Showing the back of her head in submission…?

“Glacia, let’s go!”

Cecilia fluttered her cloak and walked toward Glacia.

Her small frame, with the long cloak dragging on the ground, kicked up small dust clouds.

Her adorable face held the confidence of a victor and the innocence of a child.

Glacia looked at Cecilia with tearful eyes.

And, overwhelmed by the humiliation, she allowed Cecilia to ride on her back.

“Yay! Let’s go to the sky!”

Cecilia climbed onto Glacia’s back and raised her small fists high.

Her appearance was so cute that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Now that I saw her, Cecilia was really small compared to Glacia.

Like a doll sitting on a toy car, Cecilia, no bigger than an adult’s fist, sat on Glacia, who was half the size of a grown man.

Given Cecilia’s size, Glacia could certainly fly.

Glacia slowly spread her wings.

The airflow from her wings stirred the dust, and they began to ascend into the air, circling the cavern.

Cecilia laughed joyfully, holding onto Glacia’s antennae like handles.

Is that okay…?

Just then, something shimmering fell from Glacia’s eye.

A single tear dropped from Glacia’s eye.

Transparent, with a faint blue tint.

It was a tear.

Do insects even cry?

My heart felt a strange pang.

It felt like I was the villain, scolding someone who was clearly the bad guy!

Glacia’s transparent tears glistened in the air, falling slowly like snowflakes.

Tears from a wasp…

Glacia, once so proud, had become Cecilia’s toy.

It was… a bit heartbreaking.

A tiny bit.

Of course, she deserved the punishment!

“Hehe… I didn’t know insects could have so much emotion.”

Nis-nim chuckled elegantly.

Her red eyes sparkled with mischief.

Actually, Nis-nim didn’t particularly like insects, but she seemed quite interested in this story.

Master stood silently, but a faint smile lingered in her white eyes.

Cecilia and the insects’ commotion seemed to bring Master some small joy.

“I didn’t know Cecilia was this strong.”

Ryandel whispered to Levi.

His voice was soft, but the cavern’s acoustics made it clear.

“Really… Such power hidden behind that cute face…”

Levi trailed off, nodding.

She was still glaring at Miel, who had pulled her hair.

Cecilia and Glacia continued to fly around.

At first, they moved slowly, but they gradually picked up speed.

When Cecilia shouted, “Faster!” Glacia obediently increased her speed.

Their airflow stirred the cavern’s air, creating a cool breeze.

“Hehe! Mom! It’s fun!”

Cecilia waved at me and laughed.

So cute!

“Lico.”

Master called me softly.

“What are you planning to do about this Great Labyrinth?”

Huh?

Shouldn’t that question be directed at Cecilia?

Oh, but Cecilia will follow my lead anyway.

So…

Maybe it’s fine to just leave it as is.

Cecilia would probably prefer to follow me rather than stay here.

We can check on it occasionally.

“I think it’s fine to leave it as is. Cecilia would probably prefer to follow you and Master rather than stay here.”

“Yes! I’ll follow Mom!”

Hehe!

Such a lovely child!

“Let’s go now!”

I stood up and clapped my hands.

Glacia descended with Cecilia on her back and stayed by my side.

Cecilia sat on Glacia’s back, gripping the antennae tightly with her small hands.

Glacia’s face bore a mix of resignation and acceptance.

Ryandel and Levi also stood, dusting themselves off.

Rote still lingered in the corner but was slowly gaining courage to come out.

As we left the Great Labyrinth, my mind was filled with thoughts of the new lair being built in the Kingdom of Genes.

It must be finished by now.

Over two months had passed, so it was surely completed.

A grand palace made of shining crystals…

Towers adorned with silver…

An interior designed to Master’s tastes, elegant and luxurious…

And!

Of course!

“Perfect!”

“Will you return to the kingdom?”

Ryandel asked cautiously.

“Of course…! I need to show Master the new lair…!”

I glanced at Master and whispered.

“Uh… Are Levi and I coming too?”

Ryandel asked hesitantly.

Hmm…

They’re not necessary, but…

Master said to give them rewards.

“We’ll show Master the new lair and return to Shia Kalt. You two can receive your rewards then. So, are you coming?”

“Yes… Understood.”

We began ascending the spiral path from the depths of the labyrinth.

Glacia, with Cecilia on her back, flew ahead, and Miel followed excitedly, flapping her wings.

Rote maintained a distance, following slowly.