Rescue Mission Pt.II

The Bee Hive was unusually active today. The bees, insects, fire flies, centipedes and spiders had been moving about, preparing several resources. Obviously, deep in the Bee Hive, existed the Bee Queen. This place was original owned by the Bees, but the former Spider king saw it a fit place to make her nest. That was before her child, the spider known as Yokino, overthrew her.

Yokino could not accomplish this feat on her own. Even as a King, Yokino was never as powerful as her mother. To make up for this, she gathered allies. Pawns, as she would call them. Ten different bug-like monsters, with whom she overtook their heads, created a powerful army just to overtake her mother. This caused a very annoying ruckus in the forest a month ago and after that, no one dared to go bother the Bee Hive.

One of those ten subordinates had made an appearance, after having to take an exhausting trip from the south, where the Giant White Ants roamed. This creature was the current Ant King, and servant of Yokino.

It was almost as big as the former spider king, too heavy to move on its own and being carried by an army of Giant Ants. The king was currently resting in the Bee Hive, waiting its master's appearance. It actually was in a haste, wanting to deliver the news personally.

"Huh? You're here?"

A voice the Ant King recognized all too well came out. However, the weird part was that the voice was not in her head this time. She looked about and could identify a naked human in the cave. No. She couldn't call that thing human. Giant spider legs were sticking out of their back. The person possessed a voluptuous figure, with long curly black hair reaching down to her generously sized chest. She looked wet, as if she had just come out of the bath. Her skin was smooth and fair, and her eyes had no colour to them in the dark.

However, one would be a fool to mistake her for a weak human. The magical aura she was producing was completely absurd, easily surpassing the level of the former spider king.

'My queen… you look… different.'

The ant king could only comment like this.

"Oh? Is that so?"

She asked, looking at her body.

"Hmm… I guess so. Anyway, what are you doing here? And on such short notice."

Yokino switched the topic immediately, trying to get straight to the point. She was a terribly busy creature, always receiving information, giving orders, monitoring the well-being of her subordinates and making sure they grew up strong, powerful and unmatched. Basically, she didn't like it when people wasted her time.

'Yes. I came here quickly to deliver very important news.' The ant king began. Yokino's hands began to produce some threads and her legs went to work, weaving something. 'For the past month, there have been undead mobilizing and killing the monsters in the south.'

"Hmm? Undead? I thought that wasn't out of the ordinary for Larm though. I mean, undead are born in places with condense mana, so Larm is perfect for them, right?"

Yokino said, not even paying attention to the ant king.

'Yes. However, there was something odd about them. They were organized and we felt it quite absurd. At first they took down weak creatures, then slowly proceeded to take down normal monsters. Soon, they were taking down powerful creatures and multiplying. Much like an army. And the other races in the south were speaking of a possible inter-racial war or something.'

"Hmm… Possibly a necromancer."

'Yes. It is a necromancer.'

"Then just start with that next time!"

'Sorry."

"So? Did you see this necromancer?"

Yokino's hands started to glow with vibrant rainbow colours. The Ant King had no idea what that was, but whenever Yokino did it, she would come out with some crazy skill and plan, although before she would see Yokino's claws glowing instead.

'The last to see the necromancer said she was surrounded by five powerful undead. These undead possessed weird horns on their head and looked very old.'

"Ah… that's some bull description right there."

'They also smell off the Zwurix Tombs.'

"Ah! Lead with that next time, you idiot!"

'Sorry.'

The ant king apologized and Yokino sighed. The Ant king took a bite out of the dead creatures that centipedes dragged in for her.

"Hmm, I guess you've done well by telling me this. You deserve a reward."

'A reward? Oh, please give me one master!'

A dog.

That was how Yokino saw the ant king. Just a cute dog. The first time they met, the ant king tried to eat Yokino to survive, but the spider managed to survive. Yokino wanted to kill it, but she couldn't and ended up letting the ant help her and that was when she first got the idea to create a group so they could protect themselves. That lead her to becoming so powerful she just absorbed members into her party one after the other till she defeated her own mother.

"Inu. I shall call you Inu from henceforth."

______________________________________

Later that evening, Sylvie brought the clothes to me. It gave me thrice as much defense as the originals, had the same spatial storage effect from earlier, but she said that the [Stealth] option was removed so she could add the option for higher attack power and smooth magical conductivity by lacing it with some mithril she found in the Bee Hive.

[Item Name: Performer's Gear – Type: Battle

[Type: Normal (Non-Consumable)

[Item grade: Low Rare

[Item Description: A suit crafted for scouts. You can see that its creator put in certain effects that would make one prepared for war or sudden battles. Its wearer needs to be quick on their feet, although even if they were dumb, they wouldn't manage to be killed easily.

# +150 defense

# Inventory (5 m)

# +200 attack power

# 30% Mana Conductance

[Value: 4 gold coins]

[Market price: 5 store points]

I was surprised. Even more so to see that it was perfectly my size even though she never took measurements or anything. She explained to me that she actually could see the measurements of everything and I assumed it had something to do with her unique skill.

I thanked her for it and put it on. She even added a cape that had the stealth function, so in a sense, nothing was lost at all. So if I put them all together as one with the mask, I was actually a sort of ninja at this point.

I wanted to go alone, but Nukeme came, complaining about how it was due to his negligence that Ulva go kidnapped. To be honest, I didn't want to go alone, but I also didn't want to go with him alone.

"Oi! You didn't think you were going anywhere without me, right?"

Looking back, a beautiful tall woman with long flowing red hair, and some of it tied up into a bun with a pair of sticks chocking it. Her face was stunning, with full rosy red lips. Her large eyes had no specific colour, changing depending on which angle one viewed them. She was clothed in a black yukata with blood red spider web designs all over it. She was wearing some sandals, making her look like some kind of European trying to be Japanese.

'Yokino?'

"In the flesh. I look sexy, no?"

'What do you want? I'm busy right now.'

"Tch. This new attitude is no fun. I need the other chicken back, so I'll be helping you."

She said with a pout. Thanks to her, I didn't have to go anywhere with Nukeme. The hob-goblin seemed disappointed, and I didn't care.

I looked at the portal and shrugged. I walked through and she followed after. For a while, I couldn't feel my body. It were almost like I didn't exist, my thoughts clashing and scrambling, but instantly coming back together.

I jumped out of the portal and landed on a wooden table. Yokino came out behind me and then the portal closed up. Looking around, I saw a bunch of rough looking men and women, wearing hoods, armor, carrying armors, drinking alcohol, eating or playing games. They all stopped their activities and were now looking at us.

They wouldn't be able to see my face through my mask and since I was new, I was definitely suspicious. I jumped down the table and moved towards the counter, Yokino moving right behind me.

"Hey there! New guys in town, don't mind us."

Yokino spoke the human tongue, confusing me.

'You can speak human?'

'Yeah, so just leave the talking to me. It'll be even more suspicious to see you using [Telepathy] instead of actual speech.'

"What can I get ya?"

The bar tender came over. He was a round man, with no hair and three claw marks over his face. He wore round glasses and had a scary expression. He wore a green vest over his white shirt which had been rolled up, revealing his hairy arms.

"Water for the kid, a lil bit of the usual for me."

Yokino said.

"That'll cost ya 4 coppers."

He said.

"Oh really? Sorry, but I think I left my money at the other side of the portal."

Yokino tried to lie to him. I noticed her using her skill [Lustful Gaze], but it had no effect on the man.

"Then go get it."

He said then walked away to another person on the counter.

'Well that didn't go too well.'

I mused.

'I'd like to see you try.'

She said to me.

'I can't speak, remember?'

'Well, theoretically you should be able to, especially since this is your human body.'

She said something I hadn't even thought about. I opened my mouth, in an attempt to produce sound, and yes sound came. Now that I had lips, I could properly manipulate my speech hopefully, and with the agent giving me the translations, I should be able to speak, although my pronunciations might have been a bit off.

"I… see."

I said and the spider looked surprised.

"Since when did you know human language?"

"Always."

I told her, trying to sound cocky.

"Ha! As if, you stupid bird brain."

"Shut… it! You… idiot… bug… eyes!"

"Hahaha! You still can't talk properly."

"Tch."

Yokino had a blast laughing at me, and even wiped a tear from her eye.

"That's the chicken I know, now. Don't let little matters just upset you so easily. We'll get Ulva and we'll be back home before you know it, alright?"

She managed to cheer me up, something the others hadn't been able to do. I was grateful to her for that, at the same time impressed by her abilities.

"Still, we need to find a way to get money."

BAM!

The bar tender dropped two cups on the counter in front of us. One contained alcohol and the other, water.

"Why?"

Yokino asked.

"Some creep's got the hots for ya."

We followed his gaze and saw two men approaching us. They looked like the average punk – messy black hair, mediocre armor, visible scars on their body, slim and greedy gazes.

"Heya, you guys are new to town, ain't that the case?"

One of them said. His name was Eridin and he was hitting on Yokino. The Arachne looked at him and showed a devilish smile.

"Yeah, we're new. You boys gonna show us the ropes?"

She asked. And the other guy licked his lips.

"Yeah, we'll show ya. And it won't even cost ya a copper."

"Oh my, then I guess I better follow you, then. Let's go, little Tori."

Yokino called out to me. She was planning on grabbing the man in an alleyway and torturing him for information and money. I was down for her idea, until the other guy placed his hand on my chest.

"Hohoho, sorry. I kinda slipped- OH!"

I grabbed his hand and flipped him over the counter. I made sure to twist his wrist to cause him pain. He kept wriggling in pain on the counter.

"Ow! OW! T-That hurts. Stop! Stop!"

"Sorry… I… slipped."

I mocked him.

'Um, chicken. I think it would be best if you stopped now.'

I looked back and everyone in the bar was looking at me with stretched out hands. To be honest, I wasn't scared, because the average human here wasn't strong at all. No wonder they bore scars and wounds. Even bull deer could kill them. My only problem, was the bar tender.

This guy was not normal in the slightest.

"I'd believe it best you stopped now."

He threatened. His sharp emerald eyes would have been more than enough for me to stop in the first place. I let go of the man's wrist and walked next to Yokino.

'I think we should leave now.'

She nodded and followed after me. The bar tender however said something before I left.

"You. You're from that guy's battalion, right? That Lion bastard."

Confused, I wanted to ask more, but I was too scared to do so. I felt like if I ventured further, that night wouldn't end well for me.