Chapter 126 126 – Invasion

“So.” Elise still talks stiffly. “Who are you?”

“I’m just a forest fairy that lives nearby…. No more. Unlike what humans say, our colony only lives like other creatures. We are not protectors of the forest or anything like that. But, we really love nature. Nature is an inseparable part of us.”

“Why are you crying, Alette?” The female warrior slightly bent her body so that her face was the same height as the petite woman.

The fairy pointed to the bee swarm that was going back and forth from the seafront to the cliff. Elise realized that the bees weren’t actually in groups but made holes in the cliff individually. Those insects dig the hole, suck water from the seafront, then use the water to strengthen the hole’s walls.

“Ah, like a cement mix,” Raymund concluded after observing the bees, which turned out to be bigger than the ordinary bee.

“They make the holes to lay eggs.” Alette wiped her tears..

Elise observed those circular holes. They’re like bullet marks and were only inches away from each other. “Is something bothering them?”

“I wouldn’t cry if it was an ordinary predator who did it. It’s a natural cycle.” Alette was still struggling to hold back her tears. “But, there are creatures that…. Ah, there they are!”

About ten other insects were flying over there. Their shape is like a winged praying mantis but with claw-like hands. And what makes them look even more unnatural is their neon light blue body color.

“They’re not insects from this habitat,” Alette growled as the insects made the bees flee. “The elders in our village suspected that they were man-made who had escaped experimentation. In nature, there are no such insects…. Hey, look at them stealing those bee eggs!”

The insects plucked rice grain-like eggs from the holes, having destroyed the protection their mother had made. They can carry several eggs at once thanks to their unnatural hands.

“Do you want me to destroy them?” Elise asked.

“Please! Don’t let them do more damage than this!”

Without any hesitation, Elise came up to the bugs, caught them with her hands, then squeezed them hard. The few remaining insects immediately flew away.

“Don’t chase them! Let them go!” Alette warned, flying to Elise. “Hey, stay away! This girl just helped you all!”

Some of the bees about to sting Elise’s body returned to their respective activities.

“Why don’t you want me to go after them? Don’t you want me to come to their nest?” Elise watched the thieving bugs continue to move away, then looked at her palms full of insect remains and thick white liquid. She remembers the flying scorpions that attacked the poppy fields in the third mission.

“Aah, it is said that the king of the colony of those insects is very dangerous, especially their king…. I just didn’t want to put you in danger.” Alette sighed.

“Well, I came here to help you.” Elise flashed a smile, though still stiff. Elise was already awkward with ordinary people, even more so in front of a fantastical being like Alette. The female warrior felt a different aura from the fairy.

“By destroying those bugs earlier, you’ve helped a lot, Elise.” The fairy shook her head. “I could have taken you to that cursed insect’s colony. However, even my villagers don’t dare to fight them. We have sufficient armaments and a large number of us. Yes, we do admit that we are not forest protectors. However, we shouldn’t be standing still looking at this destructive unnaturalness…. Unfortunately, we were too scared…. Even though this blasphemy could upset the balance of nature here.”

“Aah…” Elise recalled a documentary she had watched long ago. “The population of bees here will be greatly reduced, even though they are important for pollination. Not to mention their predators, which will decrease due to lack of food…. And so on.”

“It seems you understand the importance of the balance of nature.” The fairy finally put on a smile. “Those insects make the bees’ eggs into creatures that look like them. Such a thing alone is not something natural. No other animal breeds like that.”

“Looks like they really need to be exterminated.”

“But, are you sure you want to do that? Against the king of that cursed insects and its army?” Alette made a worried face. “You don’t know what you’re up against. I can’t give more information because no one in my village dares to approach those their nest.”

Elise nodded, this time neither stiff nor doubtful. “This is my duty.”

“You’ve become more and more reliable, Elise.” Raymund complimented Elise, who in the past would not have immediately agreed like that.

However, that doesn’t mean Elise isn’t afraid at all. The worry and nervousness in her were still there, but this time she was able to handle it more, even with her legs shaking again like when she was going to fight Olga.

The god then spoke to Yua. “So, how about it, Yua? Are you also afraid of other kinds of insects?”

“No, sir.” Yua shook her head and took a deep breath. “I’m really disgusted by other bugs, but I can still handle it as long as it’s not bees. They’re evil.”

“Good.” Raymund then gave the order again. “Ask the fairy for a detour, Elise.”

Instead of following what her master said, Elise focused her attention on a bee sitting on one of the rocks. That bee is motionless as if watching the others do their job.

“Ah, she hasn’t moved from here the last few days.” Alette flew closer to the bee. “I don’t know…. I feel that there is something a little different about her. Maybe she’s a little bit smarter than the others and believes that it’ll be pointless if she puts her eggs down now.”

“I see…” With her passive animal control blessing skill, Elise also sensed something different about the bee. “She wants her children to be safe, doesn’t she? She is unique…. Ah, is it possible that we can get to the nest of those insects without passing these bees? I need my friend’s help, but she is terrified of the bees.”

The fairy began to fly from that place. “Then follow me.”