Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1967: Not what was expected

Despite sharing a nearly identical color palette, the creatures emerging from the shadows were not of a single species.

A diverse swarm of insects poured out from the surrounding tunnels, quickly encircling our position.

Their specific forms became much clearer as the distance between us closed.

Among the ranks, I spotted creatures resembling beetles and others that looked like spiders, along with various unidentified species. However, upon closer inspection of the gathering horde, it was obvious that ants were the dominant type present.

It appeared that more than half of the total population consisted of these ant-like beings.

The remaining portion of the swarm was comprised of the other assorted insect varieties.

Once the perimeter was established, the entire swarm came to a sudden, synchronized halt.

They formed a tight ring around us, effectively cutting off any potential escape route, yet they maintained a certain distance without immediately pressing the attack. It felt as though they were surrounding us because they required something from us.

Deciphering their intentions was nearly impossible, however, as their insectoid faces remained unreadable.

The organized way they boxed us in suggested they were acting under specific instructions.

An uncomfortable silence descended upon the area the moment the insects stopped their advance.

While they were approaching, the collective skittering of so many legs had been practically deafening. Now that they were stationary, the sudden lack of noise felt incredibly eerie.

Furthermore, it wasn't as if these creatures possessed the ability to speak, even if they had the desire to communicate.

Consequently, there was only one thing I could do...

"What is it that you want with us?" I asked, my voice slicing through the lingering stillness.

Hearing my words, Klein and the royal guards cast worried glances in my direction, but they quickly steeled their resolve. It seemed they had mentally prepared themselves to fight to the bitter end if the situation called for it.

Yet, the bugs offered no immediate reaction.

They remained perfectly still, as if my question had never even been uttered.

A look of awkwardness crossed my face; while I wasn't sure what I had been anticipating, I had at least expected some form of acknowledgment.

Their total lack of response made me feel quite out of place.

I stayed silent, waiting patiently for any sign of movement from the swarm.

Eventually, after a brief wait, they finally reacted. However, the nature of their response made their ultimate goal even harder to grasp.

Suddenly, the insects parted, carving a clear path through their ranks.

By opening this corridor, it appeared they intended for us to travel in a specific direction. Judging by the layout, they weren't exactly offering us a way to escape.

Looking down the newly formed lane, I realized it led directly toward one of the tunnels embedded in the cliffside.

It was clear they wanted to escort us to an unknown destination.

Naturally, Klein and the royal guards were displeased, their wary expressions signaling a silent plea for me not to follow the path. It was obvious they would much rather fight their way out of this predicament.

I could empathize with their perspective, as that was their primary duty as royal guards.

However, my purpose for coming here wasn't to engage these insects in combat. More accurately, I hadn't come to fight the entity controlling them.

My original goal was to establish contact with whoever was directing this swarm.

There was little doubt in my mind that the one pulling the strings was a god’s messenger.

Although I hadn't detected it initially, I could now sense a faint trace of divine energy emanating from the cluster of bugs. It was a subtle vibration, but its presence confirmed a connection to the divine.

While I couldn't pinpoint the exact nature of that connection, it proved these creatures were linked to the god’s messenger...

Or, at the very least, they were tied to whatever entity was masquerading as one.

Regardless of the details, there was a specific reason they carried this divine energy.

"Come on, we’re going in to see what it is," I declared, moving forward without waiting for the others' approval.

Klein and the guards wore bitter expressions upon hearing my command, yet they followed nonetheless. In reality, they had little choice but to stay close since the swarm was still pressing in around us.

Even if they disagreed with my decision, they remained steadfast in their duty to protect me.

They maintained a protective circle, ensuring I was shielded from every angle.

Despite our occasional disagreements, their devotion to my safety remained absolute.

Though I had to admit, seeing us march in a tight formation like this must have looked quite peculiar.

As we walked, I noticed that Klein and the guards stayed hyper-vigilant, keeping a close watch on the surrounding insects. They were clearly ready to strike the moment any bug made a threatening move.

But the bugs simply stayed where they were, watching us like silent sentinels.

Being observed by such a motionless horde was undeniably unsettling.

It didn't take us long to reach the mouth of the tunnel they wanted us to enter, but to my surprise, the interior wasn't nearly as dark as I had imagined.