Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1987: More experiments (1)

Queenie appeared displeased the moment she spotted me stepping into this area.

The expression on her face wasn't one of outright rudeness or insolence; instead, it simply showed her fear that I'd force her into handling even more tasks.

And that was exactly the reason for my visit here.

Prior to this, I hadn't possessed a secure location for running experiments, given the uncertainty of potential results.

Yet with this newly gained artifact and its self-contained realm, no spot could be more perfect for carrying out such trials.

Furthermore, the experiment I planned to conduct tied directly into the protective field she had the power to create.

Which meant she had no way to avoid getting involved.

"I only need to try out a couple of ideas; I won't push you into repeating that ordeal from before. You've earned a break after everything I made you endure," I assured her softly, though Queenie eyed me with clear suspicion.

Seeing her like this, I couldn't stop myself from giving a slight shake of my head and a small smile, knowing full well this was just the backlash from my earlier choices.

Her guarded behavior toward me now came entirely from the strain I'd subjected her to previously.

"Simply summon a handful of bugs that can generate the barrier, and you won't have to lift a finger beyond that."

Queenie continued gazing at me skeptically, but the binding contract linking us prevented outright refusal. Finally, she gave in to my plea and called forth several bugs for my use.

After being brought into existence, those bugs could deploy the barrier independently.

However, that required her to infuse them with divine energy beforehand. Once active, the bugs would consume that divine energy steadily until none remained.

This issue stood as the core challenge we faced right now.

Or more precisely, the one I was determined to tackle, having sworn to the other nations that I'd devise a fix for it.

I'd declared that we'd supply both the barrier and the divine energy required to sustain it, but only part of that promise rang true. Delivering bugs preloaded with divine energy for barrier formation was a simple matter, after all.

Replenishing that divine energy afterward proved far trickier, with no known means to transport it effectively.

And that was precisely what my current test aimed to address.

My opening move involved allowing the barrier to persist until the bugs depleted their divine energy entirely.

This step came easily, considering how little divine energy each bug could hold from the start.

With the divine energy gone, the barrier faded away in an instant.

Rather than touching the bugs to add more divine energy, I directed my attention toward Queenie instead.

Her back faced me, yet I noticed her shiver as my gaze landed on her. Bound to the bugs close by, it was natural for her to sense my focus shifting her way.

"What do you want?" she questioned hesitantly while turning to face me.

"Would you mind providing a little more divine energy?" I asked in a steady, approachable tone, but Queenie displayed zero faith in my words.

So I followed up with, "Could your bugs pass divine energy from one to another?"

At first, she stared at me in sheer disbelief over the question. Then, with a shake of her head, she responded, "No, that's not possible. Divine energy flows only through my direct link, since it originates from me. If they attempted to exchange it directly, it'd vanish without transferring. They have no way to manipulate what I provide; they can only unleash it following my instructions."

I'd suspected as much, given how divine energy operated.

This rare energy could only be wielded by those specially selected for it.

In truth, such power belonged solely to gods.

Thus, abandoning the idea of bugs sharing divine energy on their own, I pulled out various items and arranged them around Queenie before inquiring, "In that case, can you channel divine energy into these objects?"

Queenie seemed on the verge of turning it down, but she paused, her eyes scanning the assortment encircling her.

She regarded them with the eager hunger of someone eyeing a tempting delicacy.

I held my tongue, fully aware that coaxing her cooperation demanded the right incentive.

Not every item I'd presented held potential for absorbing divine energy; some served purely as lures appealing to a being like Queenie.

After a brief, conflicted glance around, I chimed in, "If none of them pan out, they're worthless anyway. Should they fail, you can treat yourself to a bite."

Queenie's eyes immediately brightened at that.

Still, she put on a show of ongoing hesitation, pretending she truly dreaded the task.

That's why I produced a few extra items.

These matched the treats she'd been coveting.

I understood that swaying her would require more than a mere handful of goodies.

Spotting them, Queenie's reluctance melted away as she shifted her focus to the first object I wanted her to test.

Yet the instant she poured her divine energy into it, an astonishing twist unfolded.