Inn Overlord: Reincarnated with Enhancement Magic, Now Worshipped as a Divine Messenger! - Chapter 27

(Seraph’s Perspective)

We finished fetching water and left the morning business to Mom, Laura, and David while we took a break.

Then, the three of us—Luka, Jeanne, and I—entered the Demon Forest. Of course, we didn’t tell Mom and the others.

As soon as we entered the Demon Forest, we contacted the Army Ants. I sent my thoughts through magic.

‘Queen of the Army Ants! This is Seraph!’

One Army Ant appeared, and through it, the Queen’s thoughts were transmitted to me.

‘Is something wrong?’

I replied.

‘Do you know where monsters that collect nectar from flowers and tree sap live?’

‘Are you talking about Evil Killer Bees?’

‘Yes! That’s probably the monster we’re looking for!’

Guided by the Army Ants, we arrived at the southern part of the Demon Forest’s midsection. From here, we could see the towering Titan Mountain Range, which marked the border with the Victor Empire. I had never come this far before.

On the way, they reported various things—like how some mind-controlled monsters had been here, but they had already been taken care of. They also mentioned dealing with the actions of Lydia Kreil, one of Harmonia’s Three Great Divine Bards. However, no one knew where Lydia was now or what she was doing.

—Where is Lydia now? What is she up to?

Harmonia’s Three Great Divine Bards were warriors who served the Pope, the ruler of the Harmonia Holy Nation. David told me they held a position similar to the Empire’s Four Knights. For such a powerful warrior to be hiding in the Demon Forest… If even the Army Ants, who controlled the forest’s midsection, couldn’t find her, then she was likely deep within the forest’s core.

As I was thinking about this, the Army Ants spoke.

‘This is the place.’

We looked up at the tall trees. There, stretched between the trees like a giant movie screen, was an enormous beehive. Around it, massive palm-sized Evil Killer Bees were flying.

—If one of those stung us, it’d be fatal…

As we stared up, several Evil Killer Bees noticed us and attacked.

We jumped off the Army Ants’ backs to evade them, but there were too many. It was impossible to keep dodging forever.

Then, the Army Ant Queen sent a thought transmission to the attacking bees.

‘Stop this at once! These people are my masters!’

The Evil Killer Bees halted their attack, but their buzzing wings crackled with hostility. Then, from the hive, a particularly large Evil Killer Bee emerged—it was likely the queen.

It was a meeting between the Queen Bee and the Queen Ant. The two rulers exchanged words.

‘Huh…?’

The Army Ant Queen let out a puzzled sound, then spoke to us.

‘I-I deeply apologize, but…’

She seemed hesitant to continue, so we tilted our heads, urging her to go on.

‘Before Seraph saved us, when we were under mind control… It seems the Evil Killer Bees found our actions suspicious.’

I see.

—So that’s why the Evil Killer Bees were wary of the Army Ants…

It couldn’t be helped. Back then, the Army Ants were trying to exterminate the other monsters in this forest.

As I accepted this explanation, the Army Ant Queen continued.

‘Additionally, it seems that due to large-scale deforestation, the Evil Killer Bees lost their habitat…’

“Ugh…”

“Oh no…”

I glanced at Luka and Jeanne. They had cut down a lot of trees in the Demon Forest, trying to impress me.

—Seriously, these two…

The Army Ant Queen kept relaying the Queen Bee’s words.

‘And even before that, a giant apple tree suddenly appeared, causing the trees where the Evil Killer Bees lived to wither…’

“That was my fault!!”

That was one of my past experiments.

With the Army Ant Queen acting as an intermediary, we negotiated.

We promised not to act so carelessly anymore and convinced them that the Army Ants and I would maintain security in the midsection of the Demon Forest. In return, we were allowed to take some of the Evil Killer Bees’ honey.

As we carried a bucket full of honey back to the Black Piglet Inn, Luka nearly plunged her hand into it to eat some. Jeanne had to take over carrying the bucket to keep her from devouring it on the spot.