"Alright, then..."
After giving Kira his name, Suho's gaze shifted to the side. There was a reason he was still lingering near the village even after resolving the Jisan Prison incident.
Bzzzzzzzzzz.
It was because of Queen Bee Arsha, who had inadvertently discovered Suho's true identity.
[Suho, my main body has already left this village. So... it's pointless for you to keep searching for me... Kweek!]
Beru squeezed Arsha's waist, and the doll-sized Arsha's body crumpled. But it was all an act. The clone was merely a collection of bees, a hollow shell connected only mentally to her main body. Crushing it wouldn't cause her any pain.
[My liege, we must find and kill her. If this Queen Bee colludes with Itarim's apostles in the future, it will be a disaster.]
Beru's expression was grave. When Suho revealed his Shadow powers while fighting Harmakan with all his might, Arsha, who happened to be nearby, also realized his true identity. That's why, as soon as the Instance Dungeon disappeared after defeating Harmakan, Suho immediately dispatched all his Shadow Soldiers to search for Arsha's main body. However, even with Gray's keen senses and Esil's help, finding Arsha's main body wasn't easy. The reason was simple: the entire area was covered in dense forests and mountains. Pocheon City, with its abundance of insects living in the woods, was the perfect hiding place for bees.
Tsk… Suho clicked his tongue and stopped looking for Arsha's main body. It didn't mean he had given up entirely. Capturing and killing her would be the most convenient solution… But there was a second option.
'This might turn out to be even better than eliminating her.'
"Arsha." Suho looked intently into Arsha's tiny eyes and asked directly,
"You're doing all this because you're curious about my exact relationship with Querehsha, aren't you?"
Flinch.
Arsha's small body trembled as Suho hit the nail on the head. She looked up at him with an awkward expression.
[...You knew.]
As Suho said, Arsha's clone could disperse into countless bees and escape at any moment. So why was she still obediently captured by Beru, chattering away?
"You could sacrifice your subordinate bees and escape even if it means your clone dies, there's no other reason for you to stay here willingly."
Suho had already guessed. "You really are curious about my relationship with Querehsha…"
[...Sigh. As expected of Suho.] Arsha finally sighed and revealed her true intentions.
[Yes, that's right.]
Arsha's voice trembled with tension. She had lived her entire life striving to become the successor of the Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, Querehsha. But for some reason, she could sense a trace of Querehsha's energy from Suho, which left her extremely bewildered. Of course, the energy was so faint that it was like a pheromone, undetectable to anyone but other insects.
'...It definitely wasn't like this when we first met.' Arsha recalled her first encounter with Suho. Back then, only the scent of a beast emanated from him.
'So I naturally assumed he was the descendant of the Fang Monarch...'
But the problem arose afterward. When Suho fought her lancer, Lee Minsung, she sensed another energy besides the beastly scent. A poisonous aura was surging from his entire body. However, at the time, Arsha didn't think the poison was Querehsha's energy.
'I thought it was just the poison from Lee Minsung.' But... the moment she saw Suho up close today, Arsha was certain.
[Suho, could you be...]
"Wait." Suho interrupted Arsha and said firmly,
"It's not difficult to satisfy your curiosity. It's not a big secret anyway."
Arsha's eyes momentarily sparkled with anticipation. But seeing her reaction, Suho gave a mischievous smile and continued,
"But even if I were to answer honestly, would you believe me?"
[...]
Arsha fell silent with a serious expression. Based on her own experiences, humans were a race that could lie without hesitation. Their lies were so cunning that they far surpassed the mimicry insects used to deceive their enemies.
"So." Suho gave a meaningful smile and added a condition.
"How about we make a 'Vow of Sincerity'?"
[...?!] Arsha's eyes widened in surprise.
[How do you, a human, know about the 'Vow of Sincerity'?]
Vow of Sincerity. It was a pact that even Rulers and Monarchs couldn't break, preventing them from lying to each other until the contract was terminated.
[That's because I taught him.] Beru puffed out his chest proudly.
Lately, Beru had developed a habit of telling Suho stories from the past whenever he lay down to sleep. It was a kind of instinctual behavior for an ant. Just as ants diligently catch and feed food to larvae until they mature, Beru still saw Suho as a larva needing care and was eager to teach him whenever possible.
[Sigh. Alright. For the sake of mutual trust...] Arsha finally accepted Suho's proposal. But there was a problem.
[But how do you plan to make the Vow of Sincerity? It can't be used without power comparable to a Ruler or Monarch...]
"That's not a problem." Suho grinned and raised his eyes.
"Right, Querehsha?" As if on cue, a response came from afar.
Ding!
[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, casts 'Vow of Sincerity (Negotiation)'.]
[If the 'Vow of Sincerity (Negotiation)' is accepted, the participants cannot lie to each other.]
[Will you accept the 'Vow of Sincerity (Negotiation)'?] (Y/N)
[...!] Arsha shuddered and trembled. Suddenly, Querehsha's energy, emanating from Suho, reached out and exerted its influence on her!
[H-how is this possible?! This is... Master Querehsha's...? You are indeed!]
Suho, with a meaningful look, pressured the flustered Arsha for an answer.
"Come on, make the vow."
[I-I vow.]
Then, Suho also chose to accept. And at that moment.
Ding!
['Vow of Sincerity (Negotiation)' is established.]
[Until the contract is terminated by mutual agreement, the participants cannot lie to each other.]
[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, observes this situation with great satisfaction.]
Even Querehsha, who usually disliked Suho, couldn't help but welcome this situation. It meant that Suho had decided not to kill Arsha, who had a high chance of becoming her successor.
'Let's see if you can only tell the truth.'
Suho opened his mouth to test the vow's effect.
"I'm um..." It worked. The moment he tried to utter a lie, his mouth was forced shut. Satisfied, Suho asked Arsha,
"Alright, let's begin. Arsha, what are you so curious about?"
[Are you the priest of Querehsha?] Arsha asked the question she had been waiting for. Suho nodded readily.
"Yes. I became the priest of the Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, and received Querehsha's blessing."
[As I thought!] Arsha's eyes sparkled with eagerness as she made a request.
[Then, please make me Her...]
"Now, it's my turn."
Suho firmly cut off Arsha's words, and his expression made her tense up.
"I have many questions for you."
[...Ask me anything. I'll answer them all.] Arsha bowed her head obediently. The role of a priest was to choose the next monarch. She had to impress Suho to inherit Querehsha's power.
"Then I'll ask. Arsha, are you in league with Itarim's apostles, or the Itarim themself?"
[No, absolutely not.]
"Then do you intend to side with Itarim in the future?"
[No. That will never happen.]
Arsha's tone was firm.
[My only desire is to succeed Querehsha and become the Queen of Insects. I can assure you that none of those who claim to be the successors of the Monarchs will side with the Outer Gods.]
"Why is that? Is there no possibility of exceptions?"
[Of course... I can't speak for all races, but the Outer Gods' goal is to devour all the remaining magic power in our world. The moment their goal is achieved, we will all become their next meal, mere mana.] And that was what nobody wanted. Suho stroked his chin and nodded.
"Hmm. That means there's no need for us to be hostile towards each other."
[That's right. So please...]
"But you know, that 'us' doesn't include humans, does it?"
[...] Arsha's mouth was forced shut at Suho's question. Then, she sighed and opened her mouth again.
[That's correct. I intend to kill and use humans whenever necessary in the future.]
"Then I must kill you."
Shiver.
Arsha couldn't help but feel fear, knowing Suho was serious. He was the descendant of the Shadow Monarch and had Querehsha's blessing. If he truly wanted to end her life, she would eventually be caught and killed.
[W-wait! I promise to only kill humans classified as villains!]
"Then you could just frame them as villains before killing them, right? Human laws are imperfect."
[...]
[What do you want me to do? Tell me, and I'll obey.] Arsha finally surrendered completely to Suho. She looked at him with pleading eyes and made an earnest request.
[I'll become your slave. Even if I inherit Querehsha's power, I'll serve you forever until I die.]
"...That's an interesting proposition."
Shudder.
Suddenly, an intense murderous intent erupted from Suho.
[Skill: 'Bloodlust' activated.]
Whoosh!
[Kyaaaak...!]
Arsha screamed in terror at the overwhelming killing intent, amplified by Querehsha's blessing. Suho's black eyes, filled with the abyss, looked down at Arsha with an arrogant gaze.
"Until you die? Aren't you essentially a collective of countless bees? If even one bee dies, that vow will be broken."
[I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I never intended to play such tricks!]
"Really? Then appear before me in your main body right now."
[Th-that's...]
"Why? You don't want to?" Suho asked with a smirk.
"Are you scared? Afraid that I'll kill you right away?"
[Will you... promise not to kill me?]
"No, I intend to kill you anytime."
[...]
"But I promise not to kill you if you don't give me any reason to."
[Such an easy to circumvent promise...]
"If you don't like it, you'll live as a mere insect forever, not Querehsha's successor."
[...]
Arsha felt a deep sense of despair at those words. The truth was... she had known from the beginning. That in this conversation she would be at a huge disadvantage. Suho held all the cards. Arsha desperately wanted something from him, but Suho wanted nothing from her. No even worse, the only thing he wanted was her death. That's why she had to endure this… She could only describe it as bullying. Of course, if she complied, the reward would be substantial.
'I'll be able to become the Queen of Insects, which I've longed for so much.'
So, Arsha's answer had been decided from the start. In the end, with an extremely humiliated and desperate expression, she nodded.
[A-Alright...]
"Hmm?"
But at that moment.
[Kieeek?]
"...!"
[...]
Snap!
Suho, Arsha, Beru, and even Harmakan, who was undergoing punishment... They all widened their eyes and turned their heads in the same direction.
[My liege!]
[Someone is approaching!]
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Someone with tremendous magic power was rapidly approaching them along the mountain ridge! And that power was...
[S-rank!]
"Could it be Hwang Dongsoo?!"
The second reason Suho had remained in the vicinity was the possibility of Hwang Dongsuk's brother, Hwang Dongsoo, appearing after hearing the news.
"Everyone, hide!"
The moment Suho gave the order, all the Shadow Soldiers disappeared.
KWAANG!
Finally, 'he' arrived before Suho. But it wasn't Hwang Dongsoo.
"Such a pungent smell of blood!"
The moment he spotted Suho, he unleashed a ferocious aura and threw a punch with his white, fur-covered fist without hesitation.
KWAANG!
"...!"
Suho hurriedly dodged the attack, and the newcomer roared at him, baring his teeth.
Growl!
"You dodged that? You're definitely a villain!"
"Uh, no, I'm not?"
"I'm Suho."