Symphony for the Insect Princess

Today, more than half of Kasol City has become ruins.

Fights were happening everywhere, causing chaos and unrest.

But this state is definitely abnormal.

The fighting continues throughout the city.

But the object has changed—

“…………Ants? Big ants?”

At first glance, Qimila thought the cracked streets were flooded by black sewer water, but upon closer inspection, she discovered they were filled with armies of massive ants. These ants were pitch black, with sharp, pincer-shaped mouthparts. The smallest ants were as big as a palm, and the largest were even larger than an elephant.

"Here it comes again!!!"

“Watch your back—Aa ...

"Everyone gather together, don't disperse!!"

"Wide-area magic is ready! Everyone, get out of the way—"

Boom boom boom boom! ! ! !

Thunder, cold winds, flames, and slashing swords—the targets are no longer humans, but ant-shaped monsters that attack indiscriminately! Adventurers, mercenaries, and thugs, who previously fought each other on their own, now unite in a deadly battle against a common enemy!

“Chichichichi——!!!”

Suddenly, several ants the size of calves rushed onto the rooftop. Upon seeing the four people, they pounced on them, but they immediately ran into the temporary barrier set by Sedraon and were electrocuted to charcoal! This marked the beginning of a surge of ants that spotted them and gathered in droves!

"Tsk, I've been discovered... I'm not afraid of any number of guys like this, but it's still really annoying!"

As he spoke, Sedroon casually weaved a spell, and pillars of fire immediately burned the ants. Aisia also picked up the machine gun and fired a burst of shots. Each poisoned bullet was enough to kill the ants, and Charlotte's skeletons could completely crush the ants.

Judging from the strength alone, this side is indeed overwhelming, but the number of ants is simply too large!

Chapter 93: One and a Third Stage (End)

"I'm so fed up with it. I'm so fed up with it. I can't kill them all! What do you think? Let's move on?"

"The road to the city center has been blocked by ants..."

"Then we'll move outside the city first—eh? Wait!"

Sedraon used magic to enhance his vision and looked towards the edge of the city.

"...This isn't good. There are bugs there too... They're not strictly speaking 'insects,' but they can still be classified as 'bugs.'"

"what?"

"Spiders, spider-shaped monsters, have attacked the area on the edge of the city! Each one is as big as a wheel, and it seems they can spin silk."

"So, there aren't just ants in the city now? There are spiders too? Two kinds of bugs are attacking Kasol and causing trouble?"

"Uh, I forgot to tell you," Aisia suddenly interrupted, "Actually, there are more than two types. The City Lord's Mansion was probably the first to be overrun by bugs."

“What kind of bug?”

"...worms and maggots."

“““………………”””

"But broadly speaking, maggots can also be classified as worms."

"Alright, alright, stop it! I can't help but start imagining it! Uwaaaaaaaa!"

"Um……"

Sedroon frowned.

It's so unusual.

While insect-like monsters attacking human settlements—a natural phenomenon not uncommon worldwide—no one would be foolish enough to truly believe it was "natural." The fact that it happened in this location and at this time was definitely man-made.

But who?

A user of insect magic? But there are many ways to control insects, so we can't make a conclusion based on this.

Everything is so strange.

"Butcher's death, the fake great treasure, the sudden insect swarm that attacked the city, all these bad things happened one after another."

"...There must be some connection between these three events. It is very likely that they were orchestrated by a certain person or group."

"But who did it? If there really is someone behind this, what is their purpose? What's the benefit of doing this?"

"Maybe it's just for fun?" Qimila suddenly had an idea, but was immediately given a cold look by the three of them.

"Speaking of which, I think the biggest problem is the 'great secret treasure itself', right? The magic mark samples will not lie. The three investigation teams all verified that there was indeed an ownerless great secret treasure in Kasolu, otherwise you would not have gathered here." Aisia said.

"Could it be that?" Charlotte clapped her hands lightly. "In fact, the real secret treasure was taken away a long time ago. In order to confuse people, that person left behind many, many fakes?"

"That's not right. If it's as you said, then that person must have prepared the fake in advance and then took the real one. In this way, it is 'premeditated', but the fact that the great treasure appeared in Kasolu should be a complete 'coincidence', unless--" Sedroon frowned.

"——Unless the appearance of the great secret treasure was also arranged by someone!" Aisia continued.

The four of us looked at each other.

If that's the case.

The biggest mystery remains the motive.

If all this is truly being manipulated by someone, what is their motive? Can that person gain any real benefit?

Even if that person really did it 'for fun', why did he choose Kasolu City?

"Anyone with a bit of common sense can come up with this level of inference. After all, this is all the information we have at the moment."

"If we want to find out the truth further, we need more information."

"In that case... Aisia, you said the first insect swarm was in the City Lord's Mansion, right?"

"That's right... Oh, by the way, I brought something out from the City Lord's Mansion. I thought it would be okay to show it to you now."

Aisia gently stroked the space ring, and a bag about the size of a human head appeared in her hand.

Open it and take a look——

“““——!!!!”””

Big secret treasure.

And there are five in total.

----------

Underground near the city center, in the water conservancy hub——

Shadows flew past, passing through the intricate spider-web of ancient underground waterways, raising clouds of dust.

"Lord Sacco..."

"what happened?"

"Just received urgent news! A surging wave of monsters suddenly appeared on the surface of the city! The remaining members of the investigation team are engaged in battle, but the situation is not optimistic!"

"What!?"

Sarco was shocked. This was happening again? First, Butcher's death, then the multiple great treasures, and now even Warcraft was causing trouble? What was going on in this city?

A nauseating feeling crept through Sarco's heart. In the pitch-black darkness, somewhere unseen, it felt as if a pair of large hands were waving, manipulating everything. He was certain that all this was deliberately orchestrated by someone, that this series of "coincidences" was the result of a meticulous plan.

But the frustration is - so what?

So what if all this was arranged by someone?

The real ownerless secret treasure is indeed in Kasolu City. The three investigation teams have verified it and there is no doubt about it.

Faced with a great secret treasure, even if one realizes there must be a mastermind behind all this, one has no choice but to keep moving forward, or risk losing this greatest treasure forever. The mastermind must have taken this into consideration, setting up so many traps with such impunity, and perhaps they simply have no intention of "disguising everything as coincidence."

"Damn it, at this point, there's no other choice but to charge headfirst—huh?"

Sarko suddenly stopped and released powerful magic power, forcing the team members following him to stop.

At the same time, a huge explosion occurred in front of him. The walls and pillars of the waterway collapsed one after another. After losing their support, dozens of tons of bricks and stones fell from above!

"Tsk, it's just a small skill."

The materialization of magic power is one of the signs of the great battle spirit realm. The magic power released by Sako just now rose violently and materialized into dozens of giant swords over five meters long. They were stacked up layer by layer, replacing walls and pillars to support the collapsed upper wall.

This sudden collapse was so unnatural, it was obviously done intentionally.

"I must commend your courage for ambush the Knights' investigation team. Don't hide, come out!"

…………

A moment of silence.

Then, four groups of people came from both ends of the waterway at the same time, blocking the road completely.

The members of the investigation team immediately became alert.

He survived until now, discovered the connection between the location of the great treasure and the underground water system, and dared to ambush the great war spirit.

Everything shows that the person who came this time is definitely not an ordinary person.

"After joining forces with you, my first battle turned out to be such a formidable opponent. Did your bad luck get passed on to me?"

The man, wearing loose clothes resembling a yukata, was not carrying any weapons, but he gave the impression that he was holding a sharp blade in both hands.

"You're annoying. I told you not to use ambush tactics. They're useless against a large war spirit."

The young man with pale skin was wearing a heavy robe that looked bulging, and the magic power he exuded had both hot and cold fluctuations.

"…Let's try to end this quickly."

The woman with long purple hair had a slender figure, beautiful features and a very pleasant voice. She didn't look like someone who would go to the battlefield.

"Little ones, cheer up, success or failure depends on this battle!"

The tall and strong man gave people a very calm and resolute feeling. Behind him were nearly a hundred fully armed elite mercenaries who blocked the waterway tightly.

"They are all key targets in this battle for the Great Treasure," the adjutant reported quietly, leaning close to Sarco. "In order of speaking, they are: 'Swordless' Nicholas Xi, a war spirit and bounty hunter; 'Scorching Cold Current' I. Lianbing A, a mage who was once a researcher at the Tower of Babel; 'Once Remembered Defeat' Ming Linmei, a mage and a rare user of sound magic; and 'Tall Nut Lord' Harry Riha, a skilled defender and captain of numerous mercenaries."

“…Wow, that’s interesting, but—”

Zheng!

Sarco drew his sword.

"——With this lineup, you dare to compete with me for food? You think too highly of yourselves!"

The battle is about to break out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The second volume is almost finished. By the way, if nothing unexpected happens, the second volume should be the longest volume in the whole book.

Chapter 94 Captive

In Aisia's bag.

Big secret treasure.

And there are five in total.

Sai Zhuoang, Charlotte and Qimila were stunned.

"These—could it be that the investigation team found them and temporarily stored them with their people stationed at the City Lord's Mansion? You brought all of these out!?"

"Don't get excited, they're all fake."

"Tsk!" Sai Zhuoang showed blatant disdain.

“However, this has not been verified yet.”

"—!"

Aisia took out another small ball the size of an egg.

Big secret treasure.

There is no number of the Sage Craftsman on it.

"Let me be honest. I'm not really that interested in the Great Secret Treasure. Right now, I just want to find someone, a maid with silver-gray hair. She accidentally discovered the Great Secret Treasure in the City Lord's Mansion—that's what it is—and was harmed by my so-called father. She's since disappeared. I can't find her in the City Lord's Mansion, but I'm sure she's not dead. The reason I want to follow the Great Secret Treasure is to find clues about her."

"A lady like you would do this for a mere maid? Who is she to you?" Setroon couldn't help but tease.

"Don't worry about it! The question is, why do you think I'm taking it out now?"