Chapter 275

Chapter 275: What Are Ants Good At?

Defeat…

Though anticipated, this outcome… damn it all…

Must we truly surrender?

No… surrender isn’t an option…

Even should the Ant Clan honor their pact and spare the human race, should the duchy and church discover this town under monster control… Master Simon and I would be doomed.

So… escape remains our only path?

But before that…

Philid first relayed the situation to Simon through Psychic Call.

Then he shifted his focus back to the battlefield.

"So, Philid the lord’s deputy? Since victory is decided, shouldn’t you honor your surrender promise and dismantle this troublesome barrier?"

"This… surrender carries grave consequences."

Philid hesitated, throat bobbing before continuing, "The lord himself approaches. Let us defer surrender discussions until his arrival. Surely you see—a mere deputy like myself can’t make such weighty decisions for my lord."

Silence stretched thick.

"Then what meaning held our earlier pact? If powerless to decide surrender, how could you claim authority to bargain for this town?"

The Psychic Call’s voice remained devoid of inflection—precisely why cold sweat trickled down Philid’s spine.

"I… acted rashly then."

"Enough. I see your ploy—buying time for your lord’s escape." Magic Rainbow’s voice held a teasing lilt.

"As for these two…"

Every human at the gates, Philid included, snapped their gaze forward.

There stood Red Pupil of the Ant Clan, arms draped around the waists of Army Lady and Stealth One—both bearing grievous wounds from defeat.

"Re…release me!"

"Unhand us!"

The women writhed helplessly in the young girl’s iron grip.

Their bowed heads hid expressions from the watching townsfolk.

With several bounding leaps, the child warrior vanished into the ant army’s dark tide, all three women swallowed by the chitinous horde.

"Ho? Even post-battle, you’d deny sanctuary to your defeated champions?" Magic Rainbow’s laughter rang hollow. "Moat Blade—the town’s hero? How pitiful. Your human race outshines even ants in treachery."

"You! What foul purpose with them?"

Philid didn’t contest the accusation. Having witnessed Red Pupil and Weak Sound’s might, lowering the shield remained unthinkable.

"What indeed? Your kind broke faith first. Hehe… Such delicate beauties tossed to my daughters? Why, the swarm might feast until naught remains but bone."

Philid opened his mouth to speak but remained silent for a long moment.

Meanwhile, the human race below had erupted into chaos, a cacophony of voices clamoring. Some wailed in despair over their impending fate, others hurled curses at Philid after witnessing Army Lady and Stealth One being dragged into the Ant Tribe and "devoured," but most seethed with betrayal-fueled rage upon hearing their lord intended to abandon the city.

"Are you conversing with me now merely to stall for time?"

Magic Rainbow terminated the Psychic Call with the rest of the town’s inhabitants, isolating her communication to Philid alone.

Her words again stirred unease in Philid’s heart.

"Let me speculate on your escape plans. Will you flee via aerial mounts? Use Teleportation Magic Crystals? Or perhaps employ the Remote Speaker to seek aid from neighboring towns while relying on the Magic Defense Crystal’s barrier to delay the ants? Though… the latter seems rather unlikely."

"You! How could you know such details?!"

Though his worst suspicions were confirmed, Philid still reeled in shock. Had the Ant Tribe infiltrated the town? If humanoid ants existed, they could indeed lurk among them… Wait!

Teleportation Magic Crystals were one matter, but knowledge of flying monsters and Remote Speakers… such intelligence wasn’t easily accessible. Particularly the Remote Speaker—only the lord’s castle and Adventurer’s Guild possessed such devices. Connecting this to the Guild’s recent recruits and the lord’s new hires… Could it be…?

"Army Lady, Stealth One, and Lvzi… Those three, yes? Or rather, three ants in disguise…"

Philid’s face darkened like stormclouds. Truthfully, he’d harbored doubts since Lord Simon ordered their investigation—three adventurers suddenly appearing from other towns under dubious pretenses reeked of suspicion.

Yet the Identification had marked them as human, and adventurers’ secretive nature hindered his inquiries. After finding no evidence, he’d dismissed concerns, especially after their heroic deeds: first subduing the Goblin Tribe, then saving the town itself. Both adventurers and townsfolk praised them as heroes, even dubbing their team "Moat Blade."

These celebrated protectors were actually monster spies. Mere moments ago, he’d even mourned two ants… Absurd! Detestable! Had their earlier heroics been mere theatrics?

"Shh—this stays between us. Disclosure would prove… inconvenient."

"A secret? You expect me to deceive the citizens?!"

"Precisely. Imagine the scandal—Ant Tribe infiltrators becoming the Adventurer’s Guild’s stars, the lord’s trusted aides, beloved heroes? Your lord’s reputation would crumble. And—" Magic Rainbow’s voice sharpened like ice.

"I never intended to expose them, but since you’ve uncovered the truth… Though you’d have realized eventually. For a clever man like you, compliance is wisest. Unless… you wish to endanger your lord’s life."

"Lvzi, then…" Philid’s expression hardened.

"Not just her. Surely you don’t believe only three infiltrated your town? Perhaps I overestimated your intellect."

The man’s visage grew grimmer.

"The true spectacle awaits. While controlling your lord offers the simplest path to conquest—so effortless it renders this siege almost unnecessary—" her tone turned mocking, "such victory would lack… artistry. No satisfaction in crushing unresisting foes, no drama worth witnessing."

"What are you plotting?"

"Philid," she purred, "what are ants truly skilled at?"