Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1972: She’s just lazy (2)

Listening to the spider’s explanation, I found myself at a complete loss for words.

Insectum, the God of Insects, appeared to be the type who simply could not keep their mouth shut.

It was clear that this deity possessed a natural compulsion to ramble on incessantly.

Nevertheless, this chatterbox nature wasn't necessarily a disadvantage for me.

Clearing my throat, I replied, "Alright, I understand your circumstances. However, how does any of that relate to why we are here now?"

"Right, it is quite straightforward. I am certain the other gods spoke with you during your previous encounters, but I haven't had my turn yet. I just explained how incredibly lazy my messenger is, so you can surely imagine the difficulty of trying to communicate with you through her."

A small smile played on my lips for a moment before vanishing. "So," I asked, "what exactly was it that you wanted to discuss?"

"Well, it isn't a matter of great importance. I was simply hoping you could handle a small task for me."

"Huh?" I muttered, unable to hide my confusion at the request.

Even though Insectum had just finished complaining about Queenie’s laziness, the way this request was framed felt identical to how she had asked me to retrieve the relic.

It seemed the two of them shared more similarities than Insectum was willing to admit.

Then again, there was likely a specific reason why Queenie had been chosen as the messenger of Insectum in the first place.

I coughed once more to compose myself and asked, "What is it that you need my assistance with?"

"It is nothing too serious; there is just an accumulation of corruption energy in this location that I need you to deal with."

"Huh?" This time, I was completely blindsided by the request.

Insectum spoke as if this were a trivial errand, but the topic being raised was anything but minor.

The god remained silent for a beat before suddenly adding, "Oh, it isn't nearly as grave as you are imagining."

I gave the spider a skeptical look, unable to fathom how such a thing could be considered anything other than serious. Still, I held my tongue and waited for Insectum to provide further clarification.

"I assume you are aware of the scouts that the God of Destruction has deployed across the entire continent, correct?"

I gave a slow, deliberate nod. We had run into them before, though their numbers had dwindled since we started dismantling the outposts they established. While remnants of corruption energy were still discovered occasionally, it was nothing compared to the previous scale.

"Well, naturally, they attempted to infiltrate my domain. Consequently, I ensured that any who snuck inside were captured and imprisoned."

"Why didn't you just purify them? You are a god, after all," I questioned, my voice laced with bewilderment.

The sheer volume of divine energy radiating before me was proof enough of Insectum’s celestial status. That level of power should have been more than sufficient to cleanse any common monster born of corruption energy.

Unless they were facing a high-ranking Apostle of Destruction, there was no reason they shouldn't have been able to handle it.

The necessity of capturing and detaining them made no sense to me.

Following a brief, awkward silence, Insectum admitted, "Well, the truth is that my power is simply not suited for such tasks."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of suspicion.

It sounded illogical for a god who was supposed to stand in opposition to the forces of Destruction to make such a claim.

"My abilities are focused more on expansion rather than destruction. I can perhaps cause them some pain, but I lack the means to actually eliminate them."

The more the god spoke, the more my confusion and doubt intensified.

Sensing my skepticism, Insectum suddenly declared, "Rather than explaining it, showing you would be far more efficient."

Without waiting for my consent, the spider abruptly descended from the podium and scurried toward the wall. By tapping the surface with its foreleg, a hidden passage opened, revealing a staircase that descended into the darkness.

Though the situation felt increasingly bizarre, I followed after the deity.

As we made our descent, the unmistakable stench of corruption energy began to waft toward me.

It appeared Insectum hadn't been lying; a massive concentration of corruption energy was indeed gathered in this place.

Still, I harbored doubts about their ability to keep such a force contained.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, a vast chamber opened up before us. In the center of the room sat a massive pit, so deep that the bottom was lost to shadows.

However, the aura emanating from the hole made it clear: the pit was overflowing with corruption energy.

This was the problem Insectum had described.

As I stepped forward to get a better look, something within the depths reacted to my presence.

A presence stirred deep inside the darkness before a limb suddenly lunged upward, reaching out as if to seize me.

The lack of light made it impossible to identify the creature until it drew near. Even so, I could already feel the overwhelming aura radiating from the entity.

It was composed entirely of corruption energy.

The thing, a manifested mass of pure corruption, continued to reach out, desperate to snatch me and drag me down into the abyss.