Ch.84Smoke (1)

# The Queen Bee’s Nest

The scout’s report made Virzoneh frown.

“The vanguard was completely annihilated?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?”

“If even a single one returns alive, you may execute me on the spot.”

The queen fell silent. Though they were mere drones with lives as insignificant as flies, such certainty made the report credible. It was also concerning that the vanguard, which should have returned with results, had gone completely silent.

“Even though the yellow hornets are known as a suicide squad, for not a single one to survive…”

“The enemy’s strength was beyond our expectations. Their formation was also stable. There were three women, each wielding holy power for combat, healing, and crafting, and a man who, despite having less magical power, was a considerably skilled mage.”

“Hmm.”

Combat, healing, crafting, and a mage.

Hearing this list of words, Virzoneh nodded as she recalled something from the past.

“That’s entirely possible.”

Long ago, there was a party that opposed the previous Demon Lord.

A human warrior who received a holy sword from the Goddess of Combat, capable of destroying any darkness.

An elven priest who received immense medical skills and holy power from the Goddess of Healing.

A beastkin scout who received crafting dexterity from the Goddess of Creation, able to make anything quickly.

A special operations unit centered around those three infiltrated the Demon Lord’s castle hundreds of years ago, inflicting fatal wounds on the predecessor and disrupting the front lines. The expansionist advance of the Demon Lord’s army was halted, and the forces, struck from behind, were ultimately defeated.

That wasn’t all.

The laborers who had secretly learned magic in the Demon Lord’s territory rose in rebellion.

When that uprising wasn’t properly suppressed, the political situation fell into chaos, making it difficult for the legion commanders stationed throughout the territory to gather at the capital, Hellayer.

In the end, the Demon Lord’s army was defeated, the country collapsed, and that brings us to the present.

“Jeriem…”

The queen’s face contorted as she recalled a certain man’s face.

“Seeing how he fights alongside believers of the Holy Spirit Church, that mage must not be affiliated with the Eight Shadows. He must be one of those pretentious intellectuals who calls himself a Mage. I must capture him alive and torture him until death. You there!”

“Yes!”

“Gather all the black hornet units on the island immediately! We will eliminate all intruders at once!”

The messenger shook his head frantically in alarm.

“With all due respect, immediately mobilizing our main forces may not be the best choice. If we’re not careful, the Witch of Calamity or the Vampire Princess might notice.”

“…Hmm, you have a point.”

The Witch of Calamity who controls mushrooms.

The Vampire Princess who controls blood.

Both were obsessed with men.

The former was crazy about the “ingredients” that only men could produce, while the latter was obsessed with their blood.

This could lead to a competition ratio of 3 to 1.

She needed to monopolize him while she was the only one who knew.

After a moment of contemplation, Virzoneh once again chose the path of caution.

“Then gather them slowly over several days under the pretext of large-scale training. In the meantime, don’t let the enemies rest. Use the remaining worker bees to launch nightly raids. However, they should only pretend to fight and never try to kill. Just drain their energy, understand?”

“As you command.”

The messenger bowed his head and flew away.

The queen bee looked up at the sky and muttered.

“…You’ll have to birth as many as you kill, youngster.”

***

The stones have been unusually chatty lately.

They gossip incessantly except when I’m sleeping or fighting. It’s so noisy that I can’t help but be distracted.

The stones discuss various topics, one of which is my relationship with the enemy kingdom’s female soldiers.

‘What a shame. If the Holy Maiden and the Engineer had arrived a little later, they could have gone all the way.’

‘I know. Why is the timing so bad?’

‘It’s fortunate. The Holy Maiden still has a chance…’

‘You all still don’t get it. The Valkyrie is difficult to connect with because they’re sworn enemies, and the Holy Maiden is too shy to be aggressive. In the end, the fox sisters will be victorious. My eyes have never been wrong.’

‘Now they will be wrong.’

‘Who are you to block Rachel’s marriage prospects?’

‘Do you really want to see blood even in death?’

‘These are our stones.’

‘Why? Stones can bleed too. Want me to show you?’

‘Oh my.’

‘Ugh, I can’t stand being with these blockheads.’

They debate like this for hours. It’s maddening.

If you asked whether I have no feelings for the three female soldiers, that would be a lie. What man in the world would dislike beautiful women?

But if you asked whether the attraction between me and the enemy female soldiers could develop into deep love, well, I’m not sure yet. Love isn’t one-sided, after all.

Perhaps with the now completely gentle Holy Maiden or the Engineer with whom I’ve formed a “heavy relationship,” but I thought it would be difficult to stay with the Valkyrie even after the war ended. That was until her two comrades started supporting our relationship.

‘Ah, isn’t there another good opportunity?’

‘Rachel is too scared. It’s frustrating.’

Unable to bear it any longer, I asked directly.

“Why are you trying to match me with the Valkyrie? Didn’t you threaten to keep watching me on the previous island?”

‘That was because the Holy Maiden was present.’

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

‘Are you really oblivious, or just pretending not to know?’

The laughter of the two women echoed in my head.

‘Erich Lohnstein, right? We were impressed by what happened yesterday.’

‘We didn’t expect you to prioritize Rachel’s safety over lust even after inhaling the pollen. We thought you’d go for it…’

‘This is good in its own way. Thank you for taking care of our defenseless captain.’

‘And now we’re certain. You’re essential to our captain’s happiness.’

‘Yesterday’s events make us want to support you even more. Kyaa, how exciting!’

I was bewildered. These people are completely different from when we first spoke.

It’s clearly insane that those I killed are trying to connect me with their most precious friend.

I turned my head to look at the resting Valkyrie.

“Ugh.”

The Valkyrie immediately avoided my gaze.

See that? She won’t even make eye contact. It means a wall has been built between us. Yesterday’s events were shocking for both of us.

‘Argh! This is so frustrating!’

‘Mr. Mage. Could you rebuild our bodies? We’ll talk to Rachel and help smooth things out between you two. Then this awkward atmosphere will quickly disappear.’

“Alright.”

I called Miyo.

“Starting today, I’ll teach you how to make golems.”

“Really?!”

Miyo’s eyes sparkled.

Actually, I had never seriously made golems before. It wasn’t my specialty. But as a fellow earth mage, I knew the theory thoroughly. I could help with creating the mana circuits and leave the design to Riyo.

In the end, it was more manageable than expected.

A few days later.

The fox sisters and I created four small humanoid golems.

“Oh, I have vocal cords again.”

“I was tired of muttering incantations. I should speak the Magic Kingdom language.”

“Ooooooh.”

“Eeeeeeng.”

The two short-limbed golems vibrated on my shoulders.

“What’s wrong with these people?”

“They’re both cute. Shall we do that too?”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh.”

Did I design them wrong?

Daisy and Olivia, at their own request, climbed onto the Valkyrie’s shoulders. One way or another, it should be quiet again.

“But I preferred being a dinosaur.”

“When can we go back to being dragons?”

“Senior, please evolve us into dinosaurs.”

“If possible, I want one with wings. I’ve always dreamed of flying high in the sky.”

“Don’t fly too high. You’ll achieve enlightenment.”

“This bastard?”

I take back what I said. It’s still noisy.

“Mage, mage.”

“Yes?”

Riyo lifted up Kalon with a bright smile.

“We made it. It’s our baby.”

This is ridiculous.

“Waaah.”

Don’t play along.

***

About a week had passed. During that time, the four people’s base had taken on a fairly decent appearance.

Walls were built around the beds, a ceiling was added, and a makeshift storage for remaining food and various utensils were created. At the very least, they now had living quarters that could shelter them from rain and wind.

Food supplies were also reasonably abundant. It was much more plentiful than the previous island, which had nothing but rocks and fire. Even if hunting failed, they could gather herbs and berries to fill their stomachs. At least they didn’t have to worry about starvation.

What made Rachel happiest was being able to talk with her friends again. Erich and the fox sisters had worked together to create golems with vocal cords.

However, every statement from Daisy and Olivia, who could now speak again, was rather concerning.

“Why are you hesitating?”

“We’re really okay with it.”

“No need to feel guilty. Just pounce on him!”

“No matter what happens, you must hold onto that man.”

They were urging her to seduce Erich even more strongly than before. They even brought up the intoxication incident from a few days ago, making Rachel’s cheeks turn bright red.

Honestly, she was still wavering.

Whether it was okay to reconcile with the man named Erich Lohnstein. Whether she could fall in love with him. Whether the day would come when he would smile at her purely, without fear or contempt.

The longer Rachel spent time with Erich, the more she realized that her past anger had been indiscriminate. She hadn’t fought as a soldier for her country, but had been consumed by the madness that all mages must die.

The guilt from that realization mixed with the memory of unilaterally savoring his lips a few days ago. That was why Rachel couldn’t lift her head in front of Erich these days.

“Ah, look there.”

“The mage is coming.”

Rachel, who had been fidgeting, raised her head in surprise. Erich was approaching with a serious expression.

What does that look mean? Does he have something to say?

“Here it comes.”

“What?”

“We’ve been telling the mage for days. Take our Rachel, we said. Judging by his expression, it seems he’s decided to have a serious conversation with you today.”

The two souls giggled.

“Oh my, is he really going to confess?”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my.”

Rachel’s shoulders tensed up.

Confession? A confession? Suddenly?

The next moment, Erich grabbed Rachel’s wrist and pulled her.