The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Rodion's voice echoed clearly in the room as Mikhailis sat on his chair, leaning back with his feet up on the desk.

<Commencing with the latest findings. The hierarchy of strength within this world, especially concerning monsters and magic beasts, is more nuanced than initially anticipated.>

Mikhailis glanced up at the display as Rodion continued.

<For humans and other intelligent beings, strength classifications are described by ranks—Baron, Viscount, Earl, Duke, and so on. These classifications combine an individual's inherent power and their acquired techniques. However, for monsters and magic beasts, these ranks represent more than just strength—they are linked to evolution.

Monsters evolve physically and mentally upon reaching a new rank, transforming in a way that exceeds the typical growth observed in humans.>

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. He leaned in closer, resting his chin on his hand. "Evolve, you say? So, you're telling me the chimera queen evolved when she reached Baron rank?"

<Precisely. The increase in her intelligence, her decision to establish farming within the colony, all of these are directly linked to her evolution. She transitioned from being a mere 'Beast' into a 'Magic Beast.'>

"Wait, so there's a difference between a 'Monster' and a 'Magic Beast'?" Mikhailis questioned, his brows knitting together in thought.

<Indeed. The distinction is subtle but significant. Monsters are born inherently magical; their very existence is tied to the wild magic that saturates this world. They are, essentially, born monsters. Their abilities, however powerful, are limited to their origin. Magic Beasts, on the other hand, are creatures that were once non-magical, or had minimal magic.

Through consumption of high-magic nutrition or significant exposure to powerful magical sources, they can evolve into something far greater.>

Mikhailis let out a low whistle, nodding as he processed the information. "So... if a squirrel finds a magic berry stash, it could become some super-powered rodent? Like... a Squirrel Duke or something?"

<While the comparison is simplistic, the underlying principle holds true. Consumption of high magic influences evolutionary pathways. Your chimera queen was simply an insect, a beast. But after consuming multiple high-magic sources, including magic scarabs, her potential evolved, granting her superior intelligence and magical affinity.

This led to the creation of farming practices and more sophisticated defense mechanisms within the colony.>

"Man," Mikhailis shook his head, "no wonder she's acting all regal now. And to think I haven't seen any of these actual magic beasts or monsters up close. Haven't I been living here for months now without seeing any of the wild wonders of this world?" He sighed dramatically, tapping his fingers on the desk.

Rodion's voice came in, carrying a hint of amusement.

<Your Highness has, unfortunately, been cooped up in this glorified prison called a royal chamber, indulging in digital insects and nurturing a clandestine colony of ants. Perhaps it is time for some exploration?>

Mikhailis's eyes lit up, leaning forward suddenly. "Now you're talking, Rodion. Can we... can we simulate some 'surveillance'? You know, use our little friends to finally check out the world?"

<Indeed. The surveillance system can be activated. We have five worker ants currently scattered across the capital, mapping the surroundings. I suggest we commence the 'world surveillance' initiative, beginning with a one percent coverage of the capital.>

A grin spread across Mikhailis's face, his eyes practically sparkling. "Finally! Yes! Let's go!" He quickly adjusted himself in his chair, his enthusiasm palpable. "And perfect timing too, since Lira's busy with work in the city and won't be back until late. No prying eyes, no maids walking in with their usual 'what is he even doing' look.

Just me, my ants, and the world!"

Rodion gave a brief pause before continuing.

<Shall we then? Commencing operation with the current forces at our disposal. The frog variant will spearhead the reconnaissance efforts. However, to ensure the safety of our precious 'ninja ant,' I would recommend an accompaniment.>

"Absolutely," Mikhailis nodded in agreement. "It would be a shame to lose the little guy right after all this progress." He moved to his desk, adjusting his computer screen as he leaned forward, his gaze intense. "What do you have in mind, Rodion?"

<Optimal configuration suggests a party comprising two soldier ants for defensive support, and ten fire scarabs to serve as potential decoys or bait. The frog variant, being significantly faster than the others, may require adjustments to maintain formation. However, the benefit of safety outweighs speed loss.>

Mikhailis rubbed his hands together, his grin widening. "Perfect. Safety first, or at least 'less danger first.' Let's get this party started—the First Variant Operation!"

Rodion's mechanical appendage, which Mikhailis affectionately called "Monkey Rodion," whirred to life, adjusting the feed on his computer and switching to the live visuals transmitted by the worker ants. Mikhailis settled himself onto the sofa, slipping on his customized glasses—an intricate design that allowed him to see the world through the eyes of his ants.

It was as if he was there himself, navigating through the tunnels of the underground colony.

"Alright, Rodion, switch it to first-person view," Mikhailis said, adjusting his glasses and leaning back. The screen switched, and suddenly, Mikhailis found himself seeing the world through the eyes of the frog variant chimera ant.

The darkness of the tunnels gave way to dim light as the frog variant emerged from the depths. The perspective shifted as the ant leaped, the ground blurring underneath. Mikhailis could see the frog-like limbs propelling it forward, its body moving with a fluidity that seemed almost unreal.

"Whoa... that's a heck of a leap," Mikhailis muttered, feeling his stomach drop a bit with each jump as if he was the one moving.

The frog variant emerged into the open air, the dense foliage overhead allowing only small beams of sunlight through. It was a strange world—one filled with towering mushrooms, thick underbrush, and sprawling tree roots that twisted like snakes across the forest floor. Mikhailis marveled at the sight, taking it all in.

The frog variant continued moving, accompanied by the two soldier ants and ten fire scarabs. The scarabs moved in a formation, their luminescent glow barely visible under the dim forest canopy. Mikhailis observed the precision in their movement, each ant and scarab in sync with the others.

Suddenly, the frog variant froze, its antennae twitching. The perspective shifted, and Mikhailis could see what had caught its attention—a massive tree trunk that seemed to be moving.

"Wait, what...?" Mikhailis narrowed his eyes, adjusting his glasses.

As he focused, he realized the tree trunk wasn't just moving—it was alive. It was a treant, its bark-covered body shifting as it swung its massive arms. The ground shook slightly as its roots pulled free, repositioning themselves for a better stance.

Mikhailis's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. He had heard about treants—ancient guardians of the forest—but seeing one up close was an entirely different experience. The treant's face, etched into the rough bark, seemed almost human, its eyes glowing with an eerie green light.

But it wasn't alone.

A pack of direwolves circled the treant, their low growls echoing through the forest. Their fur was dark, almost blending with the shadows around them. They moved swiftly, their eyes locked onto the treant, their sharp fangs bared as they lunged and snapped at its massive legs.

"Whoa! Treants and direwolves?" Mikhailis exclaimed, his heart pounding. The frog variant, though smaller and quicker, seemed almost insignificant compared to the size of these creatures. He could feel the instinctive fear—an awareness that these were real monsters, far beyond the strength of his current colony.

<Analysis complete. Treant identified as Viscount rank; direwolves are Baron rank. It is recommended to retreat immediately.>

Mikhailis clenched his jaw, watching the direwolves leap at the treant, their sharp teeth tearing at its wooden form. The treant swung its massive arm, sending one of the wolves flying into a nearby tree, the impact resonating through the forest.

Rodion's voice was calm, but there was an urgency behind it.

<Mikhailis, immediate action required. Frog variant is vulnerable in the current scenario. Retreat command initiated.>

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes wide as he watched the scene unfold. "Yeah, yeah, run! Get out of there!"

The frog variant turned, its powerful legs propelling it away from the battle. The perspective blurred as it leaped through the forest, dodging branches and weaving through the dense underbrush. The soldier ants and fire scarabs followed, moving as quickly as they could, but Mikhailis could see the gap widening between them and the frog variant.

"Come on, guys, keep up!" Mikhailis muttered, his fingers clenching around the edge of the sofa.

The frog variant continued its retreat, leaping over a fallen log and skirting around a thick patch of brambles. The fire scarabs, though slower, maintained their formation, their bioluminescent bodies glowing softly as they moved. The soldier ants, built for strength rather than speed, were doing their best to keep up, but the distance between them and the frog variant was growing.

Mikhailis could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It wasn't just a game—this was real. His ants, his creations, were in danger, and he could do nothing but watch.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the forest, followed by a deep, resonating growl. Mikhailis's eyes widened as he saw one of the direwolves break away from the fight, its eyes locking onto the frog variant. The wolf's muscles tensed, and in an instant, it lunged forward, its massive form closing the distance between them.

"Rodion! We need a distraction! Now!" Mikhailis shouted, his voice laced with panic.

<Initiating decoy protocol. Fire scarabs redirecting. Standby.>

The fire scarabs broke formation, moving towards the charging direwolf. Their glowing bodies flickered as they began emitting bursts of light, their fire affinity creating small, dazzling explosions meant to distract the predator.

The direwolf skidded to a halt, its eyes narrowing as it focused on the scarabs. It let out a low growl, snapping at one of the glowing insects as it darted past. The scarabs scattered, their small explosions lighting up the forest floor as they led the direwolf away from the frog variant.

Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his body relaxing slightly. "Good, good... keep it distracted."

The frog variant continued its retreat, its powerful legs propelling it further into the forest, away from the battle. Mikhailis could see the soldier ants finally catching up, their sturdy bodies pushing through the underbrush as they followed the frog variant's path.

<Threat level decreasing. Direwolf has diverted attention. Recommending continued retreat to safe location.>

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes still glued to the screen. "Yeah, let's get out of here. No need to be heroes today."

The frog variant led the group deeper into the forest, away from the treant and the direwolves. The forest grew quieter, the sounds of battle fading into the distance. Mikhailis could feel the tension slowly leaving his body, his heart rate beginning to steady.

He let out a shaky laugh, shaking his head. "Man... that was intense. I knew this world was dangerous, but seeing it firsthand... it's something else."
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<Observation: Your Highness is fortunate that the encounter did not escalate. The current strength of the chimera ant colony is insufficient to face threats of Viscount rank or higher. Caution is advised in future operations.>

Mikhailis let out a sigh, nodding. "Yeah, I got it, Rodion. No more picking fights with treants or direwolves. Let's stick to less terrifying stuff for now."

He leaned back on the sofa, his gaze still fixed on the screen as the frog variant and its companions found a secluded spot to rest. The forest around them was quiet, the danger seemingly behind them for now.

Mikhailis closed his eyes for a moment, a smile tugging at his lips. "Still... it's kinda cool, isn't it? I mean, we've barely started, and already we're seeing magic beasts and treants. Just imagine what else is out there."

Rodion's voice carried a hint of amusement.

<Indeed. Though, Your Highness, I suggest we proceed with more caution moving forward. There is no need to add 'eaten by a wolf' to your list of achievements.>

Mikhailis laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, noted. I'll make sure not to get myself—or my ants—eaten. But hey, this is just the beginning. We'll grow stronger, smarter. And one day, we'll be the ones chasing the wolves."

He took a deep breath, his gaze turning determined as he looked at the screen.