Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Magic Crystal

Elsewhere.

Earlier.

After receiving successive Psychic Calls from Philid and Magic Rainbow, Simon’s initial hope that Army Lady and Stealth One of the Moat Blade could triumph over their foes crumbled upon learning of their defeat. No longer able to remain idle, he sprang into action.

He first entered his study and retrieved the Remote Speaker.

Then he opened a concealed panel in the wall, withdrawing three Magic Crystals etched with intricate spellwork that pulsed violet.

Teleportation Magic Crystals—rare and exorbitantly precious.

He had once believed he would never need such treasures, yet the precarious situation demanded their use.

Securing the three crystals within his robes, he turned his attention to the Remote Speaker.

Nuquel Town to the north…the maximum range of the communication device barely reached that settlement. Its lord being his longtime ally made it the obvious refuge should flight become necessary. Moreover, the siege of Aowenduo Town by the ant horde required immediate dissemination.

Tens of thousands strong, predominantly Class C or higher combatants… This constituted not merely a city-level catastrophe but something far graver. Should this legion spread outward, entire villages and cities would be devoured like wheat before scythes.

Yet as he raised the Remote Speaker, shadows rippled in the study’s corner.

A dark blur struck—Simon’s hand spasmed in pain, the device clattering to the floor.

Five wolf-sized gray ants materialized around him, some barricading the door while others flanked the windows.

"Monsters! How? Guards! GUARDS!" Simon’s voice cracked as he stumbled back into the corner, limbs trembling.

One ant ambled toward the fallen device. Its forelimb twitched, and the Remote Speaker vanished.

"A…Magic Backpack skill?" Simon whispered, pupils constricting. These were no ordinary monsters. Could castle guards handle such foes? If only Philid—

"Master Simon! What’s wrong?"

Armored guards came pounding down the corridor, halting abruptly at the threshold where two ants stood sentry.

"Monster breach! Protect the Master!"

Swords flashed as guards charged the door guardians. The clash of metal rang out as the blade failed to pierce the monsters’ hides, the recoil splitting the guardsman’s palm.

"It’s an advanced monster!"

"You fools, attack them with full force!"

"Understood!"

Just as they tightened their grips on their longswords to strike again, the two Stealth Ants vanished from their positions.

The moment they disappeared through their "Stealth" skill, the soldiers momentarily froze in bewilderment upon losing their targets. Their hesitation was instantly punished by heavy blows to the back of their heads, sending them crumpling to the floor with dull thuds as darkness claimed their vision.

Within mere breaths, all the arriving guards lay unconscious on the ground.

"H-how could this be…"

Simon gaped incredulously at his defeated guards who hadn’t even managed resistance. These castle patrolmen might not match the Guard Knights’ prowess, but they remained Class D elites excelling in combat.

Moreover… Could these advanced monsters possess independent thought?

Had they stolen his Remote Speaker specifically to block external reinforcements?

But how did they know about the communication device… And their method of infiltrating the castle?!

His panicked thoughts scattered as the gray ants shifted their focus toward him after neutralizing the guards.

An ant near the doorway suddenly lunged with gleaming mandibles bared – too swift for any evasion.

_This is it!_

As despair contorted Simon’s face, an emerald blur streaked across his vision.

"Screech!"

The attacking gray ant shrieked while being hurled backward, crashing heavily against the stone floor.

"Ant monsters! Adorable! Wait no – formidable! They survived my strike with mere scratches? Insufferable!"

"Miss Lvzi?! Thank heavens you’ve come! Hah! Truly saved by the bell!"

Simon’s face flushed with exhilaration from the sudden reversal of fortune.

"Don’t celebrate yet! I’ll handle these creatures first—"

Her declaration was interrupted by two Stealth Ants pouncing.

The assailants strangely hesitated mid-charge upon noticing the green-haired girl’s barely concealed excitement before renewing their assault.

Crossing her blade horizontally, Lvzi intercepted the snapping mandibles.

"—I’ll hold them off! The Guard Knights are en route. My lord, retreat now!"

"Understood! Take care, Miss Lvzi!"

Simon didn’t feign heroics, knowing his presence would hinder more than help. Yet as he turned to flee, five Stealth Ants abruptly swarmed toward him in unison.

Lvzi blurred into motion again, spreading her arms wide as if to embrace the quintet of attackers.

"Five at once? Pah! Still inadequate!"

Then the five ants collectively pummeled her.

Intermittent yelps of pain and her desperate cries of "Flee! Leave me!" stirred Simon’s heart. Gritting his teeth, he sprinted away while secretly rejoicing – his months of courtship hadn’t been wasted. Why else would she risk her life arriving before the knights?

_Just rendezvous with the Guard Knights, reach the Flying Beast Army camp, then escape town on Reifon’s back. Mere crawling insects could never pursue a flying mount…_

…

After Simon’s departure:

"He’s beyond earshot. Mission accomplished."

Lvzi attempted scooping up the nearest Stealth Ant, which evaded her with a panicked backspring. These newly hatched offspring of Stealth Eleven had only recently reached high Class C.

"Come now! By seniority, you should call me Sister Lvzi! Or perhaps Auntie Lvzi?"

«Keep your distance.»

«Mother… No, sister warned you’re dangerous.»

"Stealth Eleven, was it? Mark my words – I’ll settle this with her next home visit! Spreading slanderous tales…"

"With the Remote Speaker recovered, our role here ends. Whether he flees via flying monster or teleportation crystal – that fool remains ensnared in our web."