"Buzz buzz buzz~"
"Buzz buzz buzz~"
A giant beehive the size of a castle hung from a large tree, disproportionate to its size. The tree was not small, but of normal size, yet still not suitable for supporting such a massive beehive.
Tree: What did I do to deserve this?
[Tiger Striped Giant Bee]
This is a detestable magic beast, as big as a small calf, with a violently potent venom and living in dense swarms. These characteristics make them one of the reasons they are dangerous magic beasts.
They build a massive hive, attacking passing beasts and intelligent creatures for no reason.
"Woo woo woo"
"So hungry"
"Someone save us"
"We"
The little fairies, watched by the giant bees inside the enormous beehive, complained as they worked quickly... Their nagging pleas were naturally incomprehensible to the bees.
In other words, although magic beasts are much smarter than ordinary wild beasts, they are still beasts. Being able to refrain from eating the little fairies and letting them help with work is already considered clever.
"Woo woo"
"So tired"
"Bee"
"Bad"
Inside the beehive, except for the constant 'buzzing' of the swarming worker bees, there were countless little fairies' complaints... Although fairies naturally love working, it doesn't mean they enjoy being forced into labor.
Moreover, the tiger-striped giant bee is a relatively difficult-to-understand omnivorous bee with a social structure that both collects tree sap and pollen to produce honey and captures weaker magic beasts as food.
To them, there is no distinction between intelligent beings, demons, and magic beasts.
"Woo woo woo"
"Sister"
"No"
"Eaten up"
Word by word, the little fairies cried out separately, watching as a slightly larger fairy was silently dragged away by the giant bees, tears streaming down her face.
Awaiting her was being eaten as food, her limbs would be torn apart, her body dismembered, her innards and flesh meticulously sorted to last through the winter.
But the fairy being eaten wouldn't see this winter, this is survival of the fittest.
Yet Yila despised this survival of the fittest model. He understood it was a rule of nature but didn't agree with not intervening... He wanted to intervene, to choose a stronger path.
"Anyone"
"Save us"
"Please"
"Please"
"Woo woo woo"
"..."
Even though they begged and pleaded, not a single fairy held hope. Their home captured by some inexplicable demon creatures, they had lost all hope.
A portion of the little fairies who had escaped were caught again, and some were killed, and after that... a whole day passed without anything happening, as if everything remained as usual.
Looking forward, all they saw was the enslavement, nothing else.
Anyone, anyone at all, please save the little fairy race, please save us all.
...
So-called [wishes] are things that get answered at certain moments.
"Rumble rumble~ Rumble rumble~ Rumble rumble~"
As if something was speeding towards them, feeling like a gigantic beast or an unstoppable force approaching, the entire hive noticeably vibrated.
The bee colonies started to become obviously anxious.
What's happening?
While none of the little fairies knew what was happening, countless giant bees, as if receiving some message, swarmed out of the hive passage, seemingly not bothering with the fairies at all.
"???"
The perplexed little fairies, although unaware of the developments, keenly sensed this seemed like a good chance to escape... even if the outcome could be being caught and eaten.
Because if they didn't escape, there would be no opportunity.
"No matter who it is"
"Anyway"
"Thank you"
"Maybe we're saved"
"Is it the Demon King?"
"Possibly"
The fairies chattered as they avoided the bees' line of sight, although it was unnecessary since... the bees now faced a true calamity.
"Headless Knight Team One! Start flanking, widely encircle the enemy, annihilate straggling units, occupy the cleared area! Team Two! Prepare Soul Fire!"
An unfamiliar male voice reached the fairies' ears. The moment they exited the hive, they felt an intense heat and saw forests covered in raging flames.
Countless Headless Knights and Insectoid troops were battling the giant bees.
The most conspicuous figure was an unfamiliar male, possibly a new cadre in the Demon King Territory, with crimson wings spread wildly behind him just like a demon, who was the one commanding previously.
"Insect Man Team One, advance! Head to the main hive! Teams Two and Three, prepare to flank, Team Four prepare for spine attack!"
The man said this, looking towards the direction of the [Insect Man Team], commanding the Demon King's army to advance in an orderly manner, as he continued to give orders: "Prepare Soul Fire Needle!"
As he directed, the Insect Men with sharp exoskeleton spines and Headless Knights with accumulated blue Soul Fire were ready, and just coincidentally, some giant bees were preparing to sweep down from high above.
Or perhaps... had this man already anticipated this moment?
"Fire!"
With the man's command, dense flying spines and cold flames rained towards the sky, instantly dismantling the bees' aerial advantage, while beside him, a small female Crimson Dragon with similar wings watched everything with flickering eyes.
She witnessed the grand execution of slaughter meticulously calculated.
"Advance!"
Yila commanded.
"Advance!"
The bee swarm disintegrated like a tide.
"Advance!"
The wild and blue-black torrents continuously swept away the enemy.
"Advance!"
The Demon King's army bypassed the wide-eyed fairies, continuing their one-sided battle.
"Advance!"
Endlessly issuing simple, repetitive commands, the male... human? Crimson Dragon? The fairies didn't know, but they saw him, along with the advancing army, arrive beside them.
"Insect Men begin free combat! Prepare to penetrate the hive! Capture the Queen Bee! Protect the remaining fairies who haven't evacuated! Headless Knights, start sealing, don't let any bee escape!"
After giving the final command for this campaign, the man squatted down, looking at the wild fairies trembling from blood and death, and said gently: "It's okay now, you're safe."
"From now on"
"I am your"
"New boss"
Spoke the fairy sitting on the man's shoulder.
The man followed up on the fairy's words, extending his hand to the wild fairies, saying: "From now on, you are citizens of the Demon King Territory, and you won't be harmed in the future."
Seeing the man say this, the leading wild fairy hesitated, and as if by some divine impulse... placed her hand on one of the man's fingers in front of her.