I loudly clapped my hands on the table and turned to the count.
"Your daughter and the kidnapped villagers are still alive. They can be saved, but you must tell me everything you know. Even if it implicates you, I need the details."
Kurone was fruitlessly flipping through the encyclopedia of monsters, but there was nothing resembling insect-like creatures among them.
"Krito, this is useless; there's nothing here of such size and magic immunity," she said, leaning back in her chair, distancing herself from the book.
"So, these are unknown monsters," I continued. The count nodded affirmatively. "If they were not so dangerous before, what were they like?"
The count lowered his gaze, feeling ashamed as an experienced warrior who had overlooked such an obvious threat.
"Five years ago, we discovered an unusually large vein of mythril at the bottom of the mine. It was much purer than the rest of the ore, and I even thought it was filled with magic. The sword I gifted to Algo was made from that very ore."
Algo placed his sword on the table. Upon closer inspection, I realized that ordinary mythril didn't possess such a radiant sheen. This blade was clearly made from a higher-quality material.
"Mythril infused with magic," Kurone mused. "In theory, such a discovery should have brought you a fortune, right?"
"It should have," the count sighed. "But it didn't. Eager to excavate the vein as quickly as possible, we dug much deeper than before and stumbled upon hollows inside the rock. At first, we thought they were simple cracks or pathways for underground water. But then rumors began about frightening sounds of scraping and rustling coming from the new tunnels. Initially, I dismissed them, but then people started disappearing. I organized a search party, and that's when we first encountered them. Back then, they didn't look like the monsters we face now. They were more like ants, barely reaching my waist in height. However, the problem was their numbers. We encountered a group of ten, and it was a struggle to defeat them. Two of my men lost their lives in that battle. But deeper in the cave, we found their nest, housing hundreds of similar creatures. We couldn't handle them. I ordered the new tunnels to be sealed, and at that time, it helped."
"You said they looked like ants and were not as large," I recalled a page from the encyclopedia and quickly searched for it.
"Ants of Maroa. They live within the earth's crust, rarely surfacing but fiercely defending their territory."
"Count, are these the ones?" I asked, showing him the picture in the encyclopedia.
His face twitched at the sight. "Yes, it's very similar, but they looked like this during our first encounter. I don't know what happened to them, but now they are much bigger."
"Krito, even though they resemble the Maroa ants, it says here that they cannot be taller than a meter. Only the queen is of large size, but we've seen many of those creatures. Do you really think they could have grown so much in just five years?"
"The mythril ore in that area was saturated with mana; perhaps it affected their growth. It also says here that they attack people who intrude on their territory, but they wouldn't consider the surface as their territory. Maybe the changes in their behavior are linked to this."
Once again, I turned to the count.
"I know how to deal with them, but I need a city map. Mark the locations where their lairs have been spotted. The opening where we fought isn't the only one, right?"
"Yes, but how do you know?" the count asked, puzzled.
"I've made a guess," I replied.
The count, the captains of the militia units, and our guild, excluding Grain, gathered around a large map of the city.
I studied the positions of the lairs. All of them were in the western part of the city, on a large open space that separated the nearest buildings from the main entrance to the closed mine.
"Do they attack often?" I inquired.
"They only attack on moonless nights. For some reason, they fear the moonlight. However, they can still attack during daylight," the count explained.
"We'll have to take that into account. I suspect I know their next move, but we'll wait for our earth mage," I said.
Soon, Grain arrived, his face darker than a storm cloud.
"Krito, you were right. Their tunnels interconnect, and the ground at the surface entrance has sunk significantly," he reported.
"Hmm, so they're preparing for a large-scale offensive. We'll have to disrupt their plans."
"What are you talking about?" the count listened with bewilderment.
"All the tunnels they used to launch their attacks on you are connected together. Have you ever wondered why they dug so many tunnels?" I asked.
"I thought they did it to attack unnoticed. While we were waiting for their attacks through an open passage, they were breaking through a new one," the count explained.
"That's foolish. With their superiority in strength, they could have easily confronted all of you without relying on the element of surprise."
"Then, what is all this for?"
"They are digging a massive tunnel, and these passages are just part of it," I stated, and a grave silence enveloped those gathered.
"It seems they're preparing to create a large anthill with its center right in your city. Thus, we have only one chance to defeat them: to attack first!"
"This is madness! My men won't be able to hold them back! There could be hundreds of them in there," the count exclaimed.
"That's exactly the point!" I pointed my index finger decisively. "Grain, did you find it?"
"Yes, as you suspected, deep within the mountain, there is a vast chamber, or rather, three interconnected chambers. Is that what you were talking about?"
"Yes, breeding chambers," I answered, responding to the guards' questioning looks. "It's where the queen of the colony bears her offspring. Ants lack individual consciousness; they obey the queen's commands."
"Krito, are you suggesting you'll venture into the depths of the mountain, teeming with these creatures, to face an even bigger and scarier monster??" the count asked incredulously.
"Oh, no, not at all. I'm going deep into the mountain to kill the queen. As for these creatures, I'm leaving them for you."
My satisfied smile startled those gathered.
"He's what? Going to sacrifice us?!"
"Oh no! We will gather the townspeople and evacuate the city."
"Goodness, how the guard has shrunk in our time," I said, spreading my arms wide, which only angered the guards further.
"All you have to do is distract the ant colony's army while my friends and I deal with the queen. Without that, your city is doomed."
"This is madness!! You're just sending us to our deaths."
"If I sacrifice all of you, I won't have anyone to pay me," I said, and a few guards gritted their teeth in frustration.
"Besides, I'll leave a couple of powerful mages with you; they'll come up with something."
"Magic doesn't work on them!"
"Not necessarily. Perhaps you just haven't been using it correctly. Tomorrow morning, gather everyone who can wield a weapon and all the mythril blades in the city on the main square. We'll form a small militia."
The next morning, everyone who wanted to defend their city gathered on the square in front of the count's house. There were about fifty guards and a hundred ordinary citizens. The count himself led them.
"Aren't you too old for this?" I asked him with a sly grin.
"If I can't defend my lands myself, what kind of nobleman would I be?" His confident words strengthened the resolve of the townspeople.
"I'm a strong mage too, and with my magic, I can protect ordinary folks, even if I can't harm the enemy with it."
"How many mythril blades do we have ready for battle?"
"Fifty among the guards," the count gestured with his hands, "and the ordinary citizens are armed with whatever they could find."
"Don't you have mythril fences at the roads only? If you had one more day, could you equip the militia with more blades?"
"I think we could forge forty more blades, but how will you ensure a clear night for us?"
"Do everything necessary, and distribute the blades to those I indicate. Also, try to make a supply of mythril arrows; they might come in handy," I said, observing the heavy clouds in the sky. We probably didn't have much time before the attack.
"Ragni, Seleria, I have an important task for you. Climb higher into the mountains near the valley and release a lot of fire into the sky."
"Why? Planning to scare them off with a fireworks display?"
"We'll be making our own weather. And you'll have to do it periodically throughout the entire next night. Seleria, can you produce a flash that reaches from here to the clouds?"
"That will require a lot of mana, and without a staff, it's unlikely."
The count decided to join the conversation. "I have my old mythril staff; would that do?"
"That's perfect! Practice with it; you'll have to use it during the battle."
"I see you're plotting something grand again. Well, I'll gladly fulfill YOUR request, deputy," Seleria said with a mischievous smile as she took the staff. It was a beautiful piece made from a solid piece of mythril, with a sharp crystal at its tip.
"Do I get to practice throwing fire over long distances too?" Ragni pointed to herself uncertainly.
"No, no. You'll be part of the attacking group. Everyone capable of close combat will go to battle the queen, while the strong mages will stay here to defend the city."
In the cave, Katrina and Seleria's powers could only bring inconvenience.
"Grain, you will also stay here. Naturally, providing us with a map of the area will be part of your duties."
"It will be difficult for me to do that during the battle."
"Then try to pass it as accurately as possible to Kurone, and describe all the collapses at the first opportunity," I turned to my guildmates, "Algo, Leira, Ragni, and I will go to fight the queen, while the rest will stay to protect the townspeople."
"Huh? Are we not going to lure her out like a hydra?" Ragni's suggestion was too problematic.
"Have you ever seen an ant queen? It's hard to imagine a more sluggish creature. She may be powerful, but she's unlikely to physically leave the nest. It's easier to lure her guards out."
"And how are you going to do that?" The count still didn't trust my plan.
"We will collapse the main tunnel they're digging to the surface and set off several charges inside. In the commotion, they'll rush to defend the territory and head to the surface. By that time, we'll already be inside the lair. And after the queen's death, they will go insane, making it much easier to kill them."
"But what if you don't succeed?"
"What do you take us for?" I feigned offense. "We'll deal with her, and you won't even have time to come to your senses."
My words didn't inspire them with much confidence.
"Now, my friend and I will assess your combat abilities. Algo, help me."
For the next half-day, we evaluated the combat capabilities of the townspeople. Some were better with weapons than the guards. In the end, we selected a group of forty people who would be armed with swords, while the rest were better suited for archery. Algo already had experience with this, so he took charge of the archers. I, on the other hand, began training the swordsmen to face this specific enemy.
I brought the body of the monster we killed yesterday and explained its weak points. These creatures were different from regular ants; besides their six supporting legs, they had an elongated neck segment connecting the head to the main body. Sharp-bladed legs extended from it. Strangely enough, there were no eyes on their heads, which significantly reduced the number of vulnerable spots. They could also spit webbing that could extinguish even a dragon's fire. But the general principle was similar. The main nervous nodes were located in the second segment of the body, not in the head. If you struck the base of the neck or severed the body at this point, you could kill them with a single blow. The problem lay in the toughness of their carapace; only mythril blades could pierce it, and of course, one blade couldn't withstand too much damage. At the same time, for the archers, higher targets were a priority. The monsters had antennae on their heads, which acted as both balance apparatus and communication with the queen. At the base, the carapace was slightly thinner, and arrows could pierce it.
During the training, Rizel approached me.
"Lord Krito, can I also come with you?" Her timid voice was barely audible.
"I wanted to take those capable of close combat. But I have no idea of your capabilities. Are you sure you can handle a fight in a confined space?"
"Yes! Don't worry about me. I can hold my own."
"Alright, just don't rush into the heart of the battle," I patted her shoulder, which seemed to slightly fluster her.
The night turned out cloudless, just as I had expected; the flashes of fire managed to disperse the clouds over the city. However, it was only a temporary improvement, as all the clouds that were dispersed today would return the next day.
The swords and bows were ready. The fighters were getting used to their new weapons; they were lighter and sharper than the training blades. I wanted to minimize the losses as much as possible.
By my order, Grain erected a high wall around the battlefield so that the enemy couldn't bypass us from the rear.
Though it wasn't in my usual habits, I stocked up on mythril chainmails for the attacking group. However, Ragni and Rizel tactfully declined the offer. I couldn't imagine how confident one should be to venture into the monster's lair wearing only an academy robe.
Before the battle, Katrina came to see me.
"I also want to go with you."
"It's not up for discussion."
"Why?!" The princess almost yelled.
"Your lightning in a place with a lot of metal will only harm us."
"But I want to protect you. And I don't want you to shoulder everything yourself."
"What's gotten into you, princess?" I widened my eyes and said in a lowered voice, "You aren't worried about me, are you?"
"No," the caring guild member blushed, "but I'm afraid you might not manage without me."
"Ha! I can handle any obstacle in my path, don't doubt that. Your task is to protect the townspeople."
"But my lightning is useless against them. I couldn't even protect Myrida..."
"Don't worry—I'll save her. And I'll find a way for you to protect everyone."
"Alright then..." The girl hesitated, then hugged me and whispered, "Don't you dare die—it's an order!" and rushed out of the room.
Ah, princess, sometimes you manage to unsettle me after all.
The visits didn't end there. Next came Algo.
"Krito, about what you said regarding the contractual marriage... Are you serious?" The boy's face was stern, like never before.
"Yes, exactly."
"And if they object?"
"That's the agreement, and they'll have to abide by it."
"Are these guarantees so important to you?"
"No, rather the noblewomen themselves. Their strength could greatly help our guild. Do you have any objections?" I played the role of a heartless brute quite well, which was perhaps not far from the truth.
Algo's face contorted with anger.
"No, as you say."
"I've been wanting to ask for a while, why do you sometimes call Leira 'Liri'?"
"It's an old story. I used to be their servant, but Myrida, Leira, and I grew up together, like friends. They were very similar, and I sometimes confused their names. That's why I started calling them Liri, sort of combining them."
"Quite foolish."
"Well, what can you do? I was seven years old back then."
"But why do you address Myrida only by her name?"
"Well, maybe because she has become so important and serious now. I'm embarrassed to call her by a childhood nickname. Besides, Lady Leira and I were closer. That's why I haven't gotten used to calling her differently."
Algo's face relaxed slightly from the childhood memories.
"That's good, otherwise, I didn't want to go into battle with such a sour face by my side."
"Damn," Algo cursed, but he left with a smile.