Everyone was preparing for the impending wedding, but I couldn't stop thinking about the book found in the tunnel. Locking myself in the room, I decided to read its contents. The first entry was dated five years before today. This coincidence seemed highly suspicious to me.
May 4, 5014.
Today, I was summoned by the leader. He said that my knowledge was needed by the order for a very important matter. I was overjoyed; they finally noticed me. Now, I will demonstrate everything I am capable of. Perhaps, I might even earn a place on the council. This will be a long project, and to avoid losing my records, I decided to compile them in this diary. If everything goes well, maybe I'll enter history as the great Inarius, the explorer of the unknown.
August 10, 5014.
The team has finally been assembled, and for some reason, we must disguise ourselves as ordinary mercenaries to deceive the local count. But that doesn't concern me much. Why?! WHY!? The leader assigned that dim-witted William as my personal assistant. He's just a mountain of muscles burdened with fire magic. He'll be the worst assistant imaginable for scientific research, but the leader's orders are not to be discussed.
August 12, 5014.
We have arrived at the location. It's a small town in the mountains, and I've been told that the research subjects live here. Let's hope that the amulet given to me by the leader will help to control them. Some audacious boy tried to exchange the amulet for money. Idiot! It's priceless, as it was a gift from the leader, and I will cherish it until the end of my days.
October 20, 5014.
I didn't have time to write anything. I was busy constructing the laboratory and preparing escape routes. Everything turned out even better than I expected; I don't even feel like I'm deep underground. Finally, I got to you, my little diary. These creatures are remarkable; they truly obey me with this amulet. Now, nothing hinders my experiments. My main task is to try and improve these creatures using the available means. There's plenty of magnificent mithril here; I'll have something to experiment... I mean, improve them with. The mithril here is peculiar, saturated with magic, even emitting a faint glow. I can't wait to see its effect on living flesh.
February 2, 5015.
I want to share my first successes, although things didn't go very well initially, now everything is starting to work out. Melting mithril onto the armor of these creatures proved to be a laborious task, and the subjects often didn't survive. So, I decided to feed it to them instead. Remarkable! They gradually assimilated the mithril and grew it on their bodies instead of chitin. Their adaptability astonishes me. I will continue the experiments.
May 19, 5015.
The first test subjects were sent to headquarters, but it seems they were not very impressed. The percentage of assimilated mithril is too low, only a few plates on their foreheads and paws. It's not enough, but increasing the dosage only kills the subjects. Thank the gods these mindless creatures feel nothing.
June 15, 5015.
Will this count never calm down? We had more guests, another group of adventurers hired by the count.
Supplemented the food supplies for the experimental specimens.
March 20, 5016.
My diary, what should I do?? I've reached a dead end; the samples continue to perish without achieving the desired effect. If I could obtain even one viable specimen, I could grow a whole new generation from it. ... ... Of course, a new generation. I knew you would help me!!
December 30, 5016.
Here they are, the first fruits of my labor. I truly am a genius! Mixing liquid mithril into the larvae's food proved to be much more effective; they assimilated nearly as much as I had hoped. It took some effort to melt the mithril, but the saliva of these amazing ants assisted me even with that. After tempering and treating the little ones in their abdomens, they can withstand even that idiot William's flames.
May 15, 5017.
It's been a while since we've seen any adventurers. Has the count run out of money? I'll have to bring food from the surface; my little ones are asking me for food, and I can't refuse my boys.
May 20, 5017.
I tried setting my little ones on their former brethren from the old brood, but they were more bloodthirsty than a hungry hydra. They tore them apart and devoured them right before everyone's eyes. Several workers asked for dismissal. My little ones escorted them to the exit.
Replenished the supplies of fresh meat for my boys. I think the self-wolves have met their end.
June 12, 5017.
That fool William discovered the remains of the "dismissed workers" and demanded explanations. I will explain it to him.
June 14, 5017.
What horror, someone forgot to close the door to the enclosure when it was William's turn to feed the larvae.
Damn mage, now at least I know that the animal fear of fire couldn't be eradicated from their minds, even with mithril. I'll have to work on that.
January 12, 5018.
I tried feeding the larvae exclusively with pure mithril saturated with magic, and the results are beyond praise. The mana made them grow in size several times, but that's not the only change.
Their eyes have atrophied; they are blind now. However, they acquired an enhanced sense of warmth and seem to have learned to communicate through some inaudible sounds or something of the sort. At least now, the queen's scent won't disturb them; they are entirely under my control. I couldn't overcome their fear of fire, and new weaknesses were revealed. Apparently, this mithril reacts strongly to moonlight. I've heard about it, but never in such quantities; it not only shines but also emits small static discharges. It slightly disturbs my little ones. So, I no longer let them out at night.
July 15, 5018.
I presented the research results to the leader. Of course, he was very pleased and DEMANDED that I provide him with an army of my children!
HOW DARE HE ORDER ME AROUND!!
I have done more for the order than the entire council! I AM THE LORD OF MONSTERS! I will show them all, I just need to get rid of this pack of William.
September 16, 5018.
In the queen's lair, we found an egg of incredible size, undoubtedly the queen's egg. When we tried to take it, the queen killed three workers, but they served the greater cause. With this, I will create an army, and the leader will bow before me!!!
September 17, 5018.
The treacherous William found out about the egg and tried to report it to the council. I locked him up in an empty cell. How amusing that he used to scare my little ones with fire, and now he has become a toy for them. Their pincers can reach almost the entire length of the neighboring chamber, leaving him with only two square meters for walks. It's so amusing to play with someone else's life; now I understand what it's like to be a god!!!
October 25, 5018.
She was born!! What a beauty, those cute little teeth and claws. I will raise her with all my love; she is my key to world domination!!
January 1, 5019.
No, what am I saying? This marks the beginning of a new era of my reign, so now starts the new year of a new era!! January 1, Year 1.
I visited our friend; he turned so pale, poor thing, trembling with fear, but I see hatred in his eyes. I want him to witness my triumph!!
May 1, Year 1.
Here is the first offspring of my queen. She is so adorable and reproduces much faster than her kin. The entire carapace of the new brood is covered in magical mithril, and they willingly feed on it to maintain it. I ordered them to attack their own kind, and they tore the old queen and all her little ones to shreds. Now I need to figure out what to do with the old specimens.
June 15, Year 1.
I am preparing an attack on the order; I'll take a couple of my little ones and strike at them. I must personally bind them to me; right now, they mainly listen to their mother. I admit, I'm a bit jealous, but she completely obeys me, sometimes it even seems like we don't need the amulet.
July 30, Year 1.
When the workers attempted to take a couple of eggs from the nest, the mother attacked them. It's a pity; they have been with me since the very beginning. I reprimanded her and decided to use the old specimens; they will find a purpose after all.
August 10, Year 1.
My most loyal servants, along with a few of the old specimens, headed towards the exit, but the new offspring didn't let them pass. All the people were killed, and the specimens got lost in the caves. What's wrong with her? Could she really defy me?
September 14, Year 1.
Incidents of attacks on my people are increasing. What does she think of herself!?? I love her, but I won't tolerate such behavior!! I'll have to have a serious talk with her.
September 18, Year 1.
(Strange, but the ink turned dark red, and the words are written with a trembling hand.)
TRAITORS!! MONSTERS!!! ALL OF YOU!!! I WILL KILL YOU ALL!!!! I AM THE GREAT INARIY!!! I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!!!!
I don't know what day it is; I can't reach the calendar. Why did it all turn out like this? I thought we loved each other...
I know it's all William's doing!! Somehow, he disabled my amulet!! When I scolded the queen, she attacked me!!! My loyal servants brought me back, but they followed right behind us. They no longer obey me. These traitors set William free. They think he will lead them out of here!!!
This bastard says it's my fault. The queen's psychic abilities are much stronger than the amulet, so she managed to break the control. He gathered all my research and ordered everyone to move as one group towards the exit. He left me there and, out of pity, gave me a torch and a barrel of inflammable resin, saying that if I wanted to die, I could blow myself up with my laboratory.
This scoundrel knows that research is much more important to me than life. I would strangle him with my own hands, but the queen tore off my leg. I can't even stand up. They left me completely alone. Idiots, do you think I'll let you get away with it? I rigged the main exit, and they'll have to go through the entire hive to reach a new one. Well, let's see, you arrogant bastard, if you can make it out.
It seems I am alone here with you, my diary. I hear them creeping up on me, but as long as I have the amulet, they won't attack.
I hear her footsteps. She's coming to finish me off personally. I know it will be a magnificent double suicide; I'll die together with her. And you, my friend, lie in the storage for now; maybe you'll tell someone my story.
The last entry was dated two months before today. Now, everything was more or less clear; Leira's family had nothing to do with this, but if the remains of that expedition made it outside, it could lead to severe consequences.