This is strong!

　The General Ant was strong, while Delarosa and Medero were struggling.

　The soldier ants behind me were easy to kill, and I was able to reduce their numbers.
　But the General Ant is fast and strong with its four swords.

　Delarosa and Medero, who basically only dealt with small fry, don't have much experience fighting opponents of the same rank.
　Because of that, their fighting techniques were not very clear.

　While they were struggling.

　I can hear footsteps again from afar.

"Na's got company!
"Uu ...... is struggling for free.

　Things are getting bad, and Delarosa and Medero are getting impatient.

　Then, seconds later, the Legionnaire Ant emerges.

Huh?
She's white.

　The color was white.
　Other than that, it's just like a normal legion anthos, only it's color is white.

　There are dozens of white legion ants, but the general ants seem to be acting strangely when they see the white legion ants.

　He was threatening the white legion ants.

　Then, as if to cut through the crowd of white legion ants, a strange form of white legion ants emerges.

　They are taller than normal legion ants. They are slender and smartly built.
　It carries a single rapier, a sword that specializes in stabbing.

　It was a white general anth.

　The white general-ant moved with blinding speed and stabbed the black general-ant in the chest. Then the black general anto fell forward and died.

　Delarosa and Medero watched in amazement.

"The white ant killed the ant.
'Doh, what do you mean, Lo: ......

　The white General Ant looks alternately at Delarosa and Medero .
　The two bodies brace themselves, wondering if they are going to attack. Medero braces himself, slightly frightened.

　The white general anthropoid does not attack, but turns its back to them.

　Then, after a beckoning gesture, it walked leisurely away.

Could it mean that they should follow me?

　Medero examines the implications of his actions.

What should I do? Would you like to follow me?
'What? I'm scared. What if it's a trap?
No, I don't think I'm a trap!
What?
Kang!
A hunch?

　It was a hunch, but Delarosa didn't hesitate to follow the white general ants.

　Medeiro was feeling uneasy, but he followed Delarosa as if he was being carried along by the situation.

　I followed her.
　The general-ant said something to the wall.
　And then the wall started to move. It was like a secret door.
　It didn't open automatically, but a legion of ants opened it from inside.

It's like a safe house: ......
What do you mean, Lo?

　The white General Ant went through a hidden door. Delarosa and Medero followed.

　Behind the door is a fairly wide open space.
　Inside are many white legion ants.

"There are many white ants.
But are you sure you're okay?

　The white Legionnaires don't seem to be attacking us.

　The white general ants make a gesture to Delarosa and Medeiro, telling them to wait. Then they go away.

　Delarosa and Medero feel uneasy as a crowd of white legion ants stare at them.

　After a while, the white general ants come back.

　But Delarosa and Medero do not see the white general anthos that have returned.

　There was a striking presence beside her.

　A pure white legion ant. It was much closer to a human female in appearance.
　Her immaculate, pure white appearance seemed to transcend tribal barriers and leave a lasting impression on all who saw her.

''It's beautiful.''
It's true. ......

　Delarosa and Medero were also slightly fascinated.

"...... ne, ne ...... but I think that's the queen ants ......

　Medero whispered to Delarosa.

...... If you ask me, that's what ...... looks like! Battered down ......!
Wait a minute! That's reckless, indeed!

　I knew it was a bad idea to fight with the ants, and I did my best to stop them.

"You are the children of hobgoblins, aren't you?
He speaks goblin!



　The supposed queen, a Legionnaire, spoke fluent goblin.

"I am Medina, Queen Ant of the Legion ants here. I understand that you two have been fighting the Kuro Ants. May I ask for your help?

　Medina the Queen Ant said, bowing with a beautiful posture.

'Chot! What do you mean, asking for help? How dare you send the ants to our village!
"I see. ...... I'm sorry to hear that they are in the goblins' village. I don't have the power to stop the black ants now.
Nande! You're a queen ant, aren't you?
Yes, sir. Do you two know much about us, the Legion of Ant?
Shiranai.

　Delarosa and Medero shake their heads.

'Okay, so let me explain.

　Medina said, and gave a brief description of the Legion Ant.

"And finally, Legion ants are usually white. There is no such thing as a black Legionnaire.
What?
There were demos. There were a lot of black ones.
It's a Legion of Ant that has been taken over by an evil demon.
'...... Sihaiken?' What's going on?
"I am the Queen Ant and I should be able to control all the Legion Ant's, but the Kuro Legion Ant's are no longer controllable by the Watusi. See here.

　The Queen Ant receives something from his soldier ant.

　It's a square base with a cracked round ball on top.

What is it?
I don't know what it is. Look at this.

　Medina holds up a pedestal.
　There's some writing on the pedestal.

I can't read. What does it say?
'This is written in human script, "I hereby seal the demon of evil intent, Hereldyne, Mercês Lelest," . So the person named Mercês sealed the evil demon called Hereldyne in this round ball.
"A demon of evil intent? Teka, do you understand the language of Nande Ningen?
I won't tell you why I understand human language, because it would be a long story if I told you, but it's not relevant right now.
"Hmm.
"I don't know much about demons of evil intent. But I do know it's a vicious demon.
　When we were expanding our nest, we accidentally unearthed this seal buried underground. At that time, we broke this seal by mistake.
　When he broke it, something black flew out of this ball and that something entered and took over the Ant Core. And many of the Legionnaires turned black. The black Legionnaires became violent and disobeyed orders, and they attacked Watakushi.
　More than 90% of the Legion Anthems that were present at that time changed color. I managed to take the legion ants that didn't change color and set up a hideout, looking for a chance to fight back.
That sounds like a lot of work. ......

　Delarosa said what she thought of Medina's story.

"What do you want us to do to help you and to fight back against the black ants?
That's right. Ragnar the General Ant says that your magic is strong. There are too many black legion ants out in the open today and their defenses are stretched thin. Now is the time to strike. Will you help us?
Well, we'll take care of that, but we'll take care of the ants.
Ano ...... I'm just curious, what will you do if I fight back? If you say the Ant Core has been hijacked and you destroy the Ant Core, Medina will be gone too. ...... Is there a way to defeat only evil-willed demons?

　Medero wonders.

No, there is no such way.
'What? Jaa, what are you going to do?

　Medina thought for a moment, then spun the words.

'I don't like the exploitation, the looting, the plundering, the disruption of the order around us, as the black ants do.
What?
Contrary to my beliefs, perhaps that's more accurate. Until now, I have steadily accumulated the minimum amount of sustenance to increase the number of legion ants. But now the ants I've created are acting against my beliefs. They're going to devour the forest monsters by the roots.
　"Rather than let this situation go unchecked, we would rather destroy the Ant Core and eliminate all Legion ants, including Watashi.
Oh, really?

　Medina's determined tone of voice frightens Medero slightly.
　Delarosa doesn't seem to understand it all that well.

I don't understand, but if you want to beat her, just get out of here! Where's the Ant-Core?


Oh, wait! We are now carefully sending the leader ant to find out what's going on. We'll only attack when that Leader Ant returns. ......

　And then, slam! and a hidden door opened, and a Legionnaire Ant returned.
　This Legionnaire Ant is the Leader Ant. It looks like an ordinary Legionnaire Ant, but it is intelligent and can speak.

　The leader-ant rushes up to the general antho, Ragnar, and whispers into his ear.
　Ragnar speaks in a panicked tone, and tells Medina in Legionnaire's language.

　Medina's expression changes drastically when she hears these words.

"What is it, No?
Opportunity has arrived.
Koki?
''It seems that someone invaded this nest and kicked the black legion ants to the curb, and they're doing a lot of damage. We don't know who they are, but we should be grateful. Now, let's get ready to attack!

　As Medina said this, the Legion ants gathered around.

"Come on, let's go!
'Un! They're attacking the village and they won't be stopped!
"I don't know if I can beat ......, but it's going to be okay. I don't know what to tell you, but it's okay. ......

　And so the Shiro Legion ants and their band of white Legion ants, Delarosa and Medero, set out for the Ant Core.