CHAPTER 31……………………………………………..
“—So that must be the queen’s chamber.”
The raccoon supported me as we moved forward.
“I better replenish my stamina, since I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
I bit into the body of a warrior lying on the ground.
Leaf stuck out his tongue in disgust at my actions.
“—You sure have an appetite. Trying to fill your stomach in a situation like this… if it were me, my stomach would have turned.”
I moved my mouth without even tasting it.
As I grew somewhat full, a message appeared: Experience gained. I wiped the blood off my face with my front paw.
“—Eat when you can eat.”
I walked along the path the ants had made for me.
But the ants who had cleared the path earlier waved their antennae frantically and blocked our way again.
“—Jizji.”
“—What are they saying? Why are they stopping us?”
I asked Leaf to translate.
He nervously rolled his eyes and stammered.
“—Uh… it seems only the victor of the duel can enter ahead. I have to wait here…”
“—No choice then. I’ll go alone.”
Leaving Leaf behind, I squeezed my body through the ants and into a small hole.
A narrow, damp room appeared before me.
Even my eyes, now accustomed to darkness, could barely make out the shapes, so I took out the blue crystal I had stored in my vine bag.
“—A blue light that repels insects, huh? How rude of you, Jigo.”
A gentle voice suddenly spoke, and I turned my head. Someone was crouched in the corner of the room.
“—What… is this?”
I was quite taken aback.
I had expected the queen ant to be just a slightly larger ant, but instead, someone appeared with a form resembling a human.
Roughly the same size as me standing on two legs.
They had antennae and multiple exoskeletal arms sprouting from the chest, but overall looked more human than ant.
Their body had curves like a human woman—quite peculiar.
“—Why are you so surprised, warrior? Come closer so I may behold you.”
The being behaved as if they truly were the queen of a nation. I stepped closer as instructed.
“—You are the queen ant?”
“—Indeed. I am Shalom, queen of the warrior ants of the Rock Cave. Brave warrior, I have observed your courage and determination with great appreciation.”
“—Observed? In this room?”
“—I share my vision with all ants. It is a noble gift granted by the Mother Tree.”
Queen Shalom blinked.
Her compound eyes were strange and insect-like.
If you imagined a human-ant chimera, this would probably be it.
Her face was close to human and quite beautiful, but her essence was still ant.
“—Warrior, I wish to welcome you as the greatest warrior of this kingdom. How about serving under me?”
Shalom offered to recruit me.
I wasn’t very interested, but hearing the potential rewards couldn’t hurt.
“—What benefit would I gain from being your subordinate?”
“—I am brother to Selma, the emperor of the North. Soon Selma will conquer all the forests and become master of the World Tree. You could be assigned an important post.”
Emperors, World Trees, complex titles—it sounded like they were offering a blank check to work for free for now, promising a future reward.
“An important post in the ant kingdom… what merit could that have?”
I knew I wasn’t the type to be a puppet in someone else’s scheme.
“—I’ll have to decline. I came at Yan-Mit’s request to kill you. I was promised cordyceps as a reward. If you want to bribe me, you’ll need to give something better than that strange mushroom.”
I preferred an immediate edible reward over vague promises.
Even as a human, I liked gifts of food. I had often been disappointed when a gift I thought was spam or tuna turned out to be soap or shampoo.
“—Co, cordyceps? W-wait a moment.”
Queen Shalom began rummaging through the room.
Curious, I watched as her slender arms offered me a small stone.
“—This is a precious stone. I never give it to just anyone.”
“—It’s a stone, yes… but what good is it?”
A stone can’t be eaten. Even silver or gold wouldn’t mean much to me now.
“—This stone is edible. A rare ingredient. For some creatures, its effect surpasses cordyceps. I don’t know what kind of beast you are, but as a quadruped, you can eat it.”
“—I can eat a stone?”
“—Yes, try it for yourself. You’ll understand by touch.”
I took the stone from Shalom. Its texture was bizarre—hard yet somehow soft, like touching a firm rice cake.
It emitted a gentle white glow. Its surface was rough, but the more I touched it, the more a smooth, liquid-like substance seeped out.
“Hard yet soft, rough yet smooth… could this be the stone?”
I realized this must be the mysterious stone Belzer had ordered. The stone he wanted to trade for the Commandment Stone was this.
Shalom explained:
“—This is the Moon Stone. It raises a creature’s rank. It is said to be the remnant of an ancient Wildling that lived long ago, buried in the earth and turned to stone. I cannot confirm its authenticity.”
I pressed it gently. A small squeak seemed to come from inside.
A stone-like solidified Wildling…
“This will definitely taste good.”
“—With this, it should surpass cordyceps as a reward. Forget that scale-lord Yan-Mit, and serve me. With your skill, the southern forest will soon be ours.”
“—Alright, let’s do that. Can I eat this now?”
“—If you eat it, you serve me. Swear on your honor.”
“—I swear on my honor.”
I swallowed the small, soft stone in one bite.
Its taste was incredibly concentrated, bursting with refreshing juice.
“Amazing… what kind of stone tastes like this?”
The flavor kept changing in my mouth—first sour, then sweet like melting sugar.
[Experience gained.]
[Experience gained.]
Not only did I taste it, but the experience gained text appeared repeatedly. My battered body began healing rapidly.
The sound of broken bones snapping back together was audible.
[Level up.]
A strange light radiated from my body. Queen Shalom watched and exclaimed, “Ohh, incredible!”
“—Amazing. Such a powerful effect. The Moon Stone has such an impact on a quadruped beast.”
“—I feel stronger. My broken arm is healed.”
I moved my twisted arm. I could make a fist as if it had never been injured.
“—Excellent. Truly excellent. To heal so cleanly…”
Queen Shalom smiled elegantly. Even though I had grown stronger, she seemed more delighted than I was.
“—It was truly delicious. I’m so grateful!”
“—I’m glad. Let us get along from now on.”
Shalom slowly raised herself from the floor, offering one of her many arms. A handshake?
I extended my paw and grabbed the back of her neck.
“—Kuh! W-what are you doing?! Are you betraying your honor?!”
“—Beasts have no honor. The Moon Stone was appreciated.”
“—Gu-guard…”
Before she could scream, I twisted her neck. Queen Shalom died without a sound.
I removed her colorful antennae and left the queen’s chamber.
“—W-what happened?”
Leaf and the ants were waiting a short distance from the queen’s chamber.
I walked past casually, whispering to Leaf:
“—On three, we run back the way we came.”
“—Ah…”
“—Three!”
I dashed away. Leaf, belatedly realizing, ran frantically behind me.
“—Jijik.”
“—Jizzi!”
Perhaps realizing the queen was dead, the ants gave chase.
I struck any that blocked the path with my front paw, sending them flying.
“—Quick, close the entrance!”
I raced out over Yan-Mit’s cave. I circled a bit, confused, but emerged from the ant nest unharmed.
“—S-save me!”
Raccoon Leaf poked his head out. From the sound of ants swarming his feet, it seemed every ant was clinging to him.
“—They’re holding my legs!”
Leaf looked miserable. There was little I could do.
I pulled him, but the ants’ grip prevented him from emerging.
“—Ugh! My legs feel like they’ll be torn off!”
Yan-Mit extended its long tail toward Leaf.
“—No choice. Grab him.”
“—S-save me!”
Leaf grabbed the tail without hesitation. Yan-Mit warned him to hold tight and lifted the tail into the air.
Leaf was lifted, and countless ants were flung from the cave.
“—Ssss.”
“—Sss.”
Lizards were ready, snapping the ants into their mouths.
“—Did you take care of the queen?”
I nodded repeatedly, holding up Shalom’s antennae.
“—Rainbow-colored… definitely the queen ant’s antennae. Good. Well done. We can seal this hole now.”
Yan-Mit slammed the tail down, collapsing the nest entrance completely.
“—With the queen gone, they’ll eat each other and disappear. That’s how warrior ants are. Hmm?”
Yan-Mit studied me, green eyes piercing through me.
“—You seem different. What happened? Your muscles are thicker.”
It was clear Yan-Mit realized I had leveled up.
“Other animals seemed unaware of experience or leveling.”
For some reason, only I could see the text and benefit from it. Perhaps this is one of the traits of the Behemoth.
“—Anyway, as promised, I will give you your reward.”
“—Ah, of course. A lord of the southern forest must honor his word. Those who fulfill a request deserve a reward.”
A lizard came out carrying a long mushroom—cordyceps.
“—Nice, fine mushroom.”
I took it and purred happily.
“—For a rookie, that’s a fancy sound. Is that your talent?”
Yan-Mit tapped me with its forehead. I felt it more as annoyance than friendliness.
“—Hmph, can I eat this now?”
I looked at Leaf, busy detaching ants from himself.
“—Do as you wish. You did it all anyway. Why won’t they let go?”
“—Alright then, no need to hesitate.”
I took a big bite of the mushroom.
Crunch. The raw mushroom smelled strongly of grass.
“—You eat well. It must taste bitter and harsh.”
Watching me chew, Yan-Mit shook its head. I agreed about the bitterness, but after eating raw meat my whole life, it was like seasoning to me.
Many messages appeared before my eyes. The most welcome:
[Maximum level reached. Experience can no longer increase.]
[Conditions met. Evolution is possible.]
