Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1978: Bugpocalypse (2)

These mercenaries were far from the only ones trapped in this predicament.

At any given time, numerous mercenary bands could be found traversing Death Valley.

This was simply because so many people depended on the local resources to earn their bread.

Consequently, the valley was never truly empty; a group was always present.

Some organizations even stationed permanent sentries to guard what they claimed as their own property.

However, every single one of them was currently grappling with the same crisis.

Even the guards were left in a state of shock, discovering that the assets they were protecting had vanished right before their eyes.

It was as if thieves had managed to spirit everything away while being watched directly.

Naturally, they attempted to track down the culprits, yet no footprints or traces of thieves could be found. The only evidence left behind were the familiar trails of passing insects.

Because no one believed that simple bugs could be responsible, that lead was initially ignored.

But such thoughts were hard to maintain now that massive tides of insects were swarming toward them.

Some tried to stand their ground and fight, as their entire livelihoods were tied to this location.

Losing their interests to these pests was, in their minds, no different from losing their lives.

The grim reality, however, was that the sheer number of bugs far exceeded their wildest estimations.

They had assumed their established defenses would be sufficient to pick off a few stragglers. Yet, it wasn't just a handful of insects heading their way.

Despite being prepared for a significant swarm with decent fortifications, the scale of the assault was simply too overwhelming to manage.

A literal sea of bugs stretched out as far as the eye could see.

Even for those eager for a fight, there appeared to be no viable path to victory.

Compared to the possibility of regrouping after a retreat, engaging these insects meant certain death. Realizing the futility of resistance, no one ultimately chose to stay and fight.

Even if they managed to slaughter a few, defeating the entire swarm looming before them was an impossible task.

Once this realization set in, they didn't hesitate to toss everything aside and flee.

In such dire moments, any sense of brotherhood or camaraderie seemed to evaporate instantly.

Their minds were consumed by a single, driving impulse: survival.

After all, only the living have the luxury of planning their next move. If they perished here, it would be the end, leaving nothing left to consider.

By surviving this ordeal, they could at least figure out their next steps.

Thus, everyone abandoned their posts and focused entirely on escaping the area.

Escaping was no easy feat, though, as the insects weren't just approaching from a single path.

It felt as though they were being closed in upon from every conceivable direction.

To these mercenaries, it looked like the end of the world—an apocalypse of chitin and legs.

"Just where did all of these bugs come from?"

This was the solitary question echoing in their minds as they stared at the advancing waves.

But as they were pushed into a corner, the mercenaries spotted a detail they had previously overlooked. Upon noticing it, they bolted toward that opening without a second thought.

Although it appeared they were surrounded on all sides, that wasn't strictly true.

Upon closer inspection, they realized that only one direction was blocked by an impenetrable wall. In the other directions, small gaps existed within the swarm that offered a chance for passage.

If they cooperated, they could actually punch through the living wall of insects ahead of them.

While a few harbored resentment toward those who had earlier abandoned them, those grudges were secondary now.

Such feelings were irrelevant in the face of death; they knew collective action was their only ticket out.

Consequently, they suddenly rallied together and charged toward those openings.

This wasn't just one group, but every mercenary present.

Their movements became remarkably unified, as if they had all been brought together by a singular, desperate cause.

What remained hidden from them was the fact that they were being observed the entire time.

"I’m sorry about the sacrifices I’m asking you to make."

"It’s fine, I can always spawn more of them," Queenie replied, showing no hint of regret.

I couldn't help but give her a bit of a strange look, but I didn't press the issue since she insisted it was okay. This was likely just the natural order of things within insect society.

Regardless, the plan seemed to be unfolding perfectly.

Had the mercenaries paused to observe, they would have realized the bugs weren't actually trying to kill them. The swarm was merely herding them out of the valley, ensuring they had a clear path to leave.

This was the core of my strategy to drive them away.

It would have been a problem if any of them had been seriously hurt, as they weren't necessarily evil people.

At least, as far as I could tell, they weren't truly malicious.

They might have done questionable things to survive in the past, but I had no personal knowledge of such deeds.

That's why I would have felt guilty if I had caused them harm while forcing them to retreat.