Just as the party was reaching its peak, I overheard a concerning piece of news.
"There are monsters on the road?" I asked.
"Yes," the man replied. "We took the route through the southern plains to get here, but before we even left Kereban, we heard rumors that Ants had been spotted. We were on edge the entire way. It was exhausting."
"Ant" was a general term for ant-type magic beasts. While there were many different species, they were characterized by their hard, durable carapaces and their tendency to swarm. Their danger level varied wildly depending on the type, but...
"Wait, you don't mean Murder Ants, do you?"
Murder Ants were giant, carnivorous insects equipped with incredibly tough shells and powerful mandibles. They were notoriously aggressive toward anything that moved. Depending on the size of the colony, the Adventurer Guild classified them as C-rank threats or higher.
"Good heavens, no! If it were those, we would have taken a different route entirely," the man said, waving his hands. "They’re saying it’s Tunnel Ants."
"I see... Excuse me, but could you tell me more about that species?"
"Well, let's see... Like most Ants, they have hard carapaces, but I’ve heard their mandibles, claws, and physical strength are quite weak compared to other varieties. They aren't venomous, either. Overall, their combat ability is low, and they’re among the more docile types. They don’t usually go out of their way to attack people or livestock."
He took a sip of his drink before continuing. "However, they specialize in digging through soft earth and expanding their burrows over massive areas. That’s the real problem. If you unknowingly drive a carriage over one of their tunnels, the ground collapses and you get stuck."
Apparently, the Ants reinforced their tunnels with bodily fluids, meaning they were strong enough to support a person walking, but not the weight of a loaded wagon. They possessed a very specific, inconvenient level of structural integrity.
While the monsters themselves weren't particularly dangerous, they sounded like an absolute nightmare for anyone relying on land trade.
"That must be a real headache for the transport companies," I remarked.
"I just hope it doesn't affect the festival preparations or the influx of visitors," Serge-san added, his face clouded with worry.
If that was the case, maybe I should head out there tomorrow to investigate.
"You're going, Ryoma-dono?" Prenance-san asked with a puzzled look.
I explained that I was an active adventurer and mentioned that I eventually intended to visit the Shulls Great Forest.
"I see. That explains why you jumped straight to Murder Ants," he said understandingly.
The Great Forest was home to several varieties of ant-type magic beasts, including Murder Ants. Encountering their weaker cousins now would be good experience.
"I’m a bit worried about the impact on the local trade routes, so I think I’ll go have a look for a day or two."
"We would certainly appreciate that," Serge-san said.
"As would we," Prenance-san added.
Not just Serge-san, but Prenance-san too?
"We can't show our customers an unpolished performance," the troupe leader explained. "We were planning to use the plains a short distance from Gimul as a practice space."
Traveling performers like them rarely had dedicated practice facilities. Furthermore, they viewed their performances as a product; they refused to let anyone see their act until it was perfect, so they usually practiced in seclusion.
However, Tunnel Ants had appeared in the very plains they intended to use. It was too risky for them to practice there now. I suppose that was why they wanted the problem resolved quickly.
"In that case... why don't you use my place?" I offered.
If all they needed was somewhere out of sight, the abandoned mine where I lived was perfect. No one ever went there. The Ducal House had told me I could use the property however I liked, so I could certainly give them permission to practice their routines. Besides, I had already confirmed that no dangerous monsters lived in the immediate area. Even if something did wander in, Soldio-san looked more than strong enough to handle it alone.
"Are you certain? People say that some traveling troupes are little more than thieves and kidnappers. Of course, we have no such intentions, but..."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I don't keep much of value at the house anyway."
I kept my truly important belongings in my Item Box, so lending out the open square wouldn't be an issue. In fact, the interior of the house was more dangerous for them than for me. I had things lying around that would cause a world of pain if touched carelessly—and I wasn't joking. It would be no laughing matter if someone stumbled onto my caustic soda or soap while it was still curing.
"If it truly is just the outdoor space, then we would be honored to accept."
"Great. When would you like to start?"
"If it’s alright with you, Ryoma-dono, we could begin as early as tomorrow morning."
They had only just arrived, but they certainly were dedicated.
"Understood. I'll be waiting for you, then. Just head straight out of Gimul's North Gate and keep going. You can't miss it."
With the plans for the following day settled, the mixer eventually came to a close.
The next day, I provided the practice space for the Semroid Troupe. I gave them a quick rundown of which areas were dangerous to enter, set out some drinking water, and then left the rest to Prenance-san as I headed out for work.
When I arrived at the Adventurer Guild shortly before noon, the hall seemed quieter than usual. On the bright side, it meant I didn't have to wait in line.
"Well, look who it is. Hello, Ryoma-kun."
"Hello, Meilyne-san. I heard a rumor that Tunnel Ants appeared in the southern plains."
"You're quick on the uptake. We have work if you're interested."
As she spoke, she laid several request forms on the counter.
"Extermination, nest searching... and excavation? I understand the first two, but what does excavation involve?"
"It means digging up the tunnels to remove the entire nest. If you only kill the adults and leave the eggs, they'll just hatch and start the cycle all over again. Plus, leaving empty tunnels everywhere is a safety hazard."
"I see. Is that why there are so few people here today? Everyone is out handling the Ants?"
"Bingo. We've already located several nests, so most of the active members are out dealing with them."
"How bad is the damage so far?"
"Nothing major yet, but..." Meilyne-san’s expression darkened. "The fact that so many nests were found at once is the problem. It’s highly likely that a large group migrated here to breed, or that a new generation of Tunnel Ants is looking for territory. We expect to find more nests soon, and the damage will probably start mounting. That’s why the guild is prioritizing nest searches. The actual extermination and excavation are going fairly well thanks to the Tamer Guild’s help."
"The Tamer Guild is helping?"
"Can you tell me more about that?" I asked.
"There isn't much to tell, really. The guilds coordinate when a problem requires a fast resolution. This city is near the mines, after all, and the Tamer Guild has plenty of members who employ monsters with great physical strength for digging and hauling."
"I’m not sure if I should be asking you this, Meilyne-san, but... can I accept this same request through the Tamer Guild?"
"You probably could, but why there?" She gave me a look that was slightly painful.
"To be honest, I'm registered there as well, and the Guild Master has been very good to me. But because of the types of monsters I use, there hasn't been a single request I could actually fulfill until now. I’ve never once taken a job from them."
"Oh, you want to return the favor? That's fine." She laughed, her tension melting away. "You don't have to look so guilty. It's an adventurer's right to choose where they take their work from."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sorry, but I'll be taking this one through them."
"No worries. Just come back and see us when you feel like it."
"Thank you very much."
I thanked her for her understanding and left the Adventurer Guild.
"Take care out there!" the gatekeeper at the South Gate called out as I stepped into the southern plains.
I had almost never shown my face at the Tamer Guild, so they had mistaken me for a new recruit, but once that was cleared up, I was able to accept the request without any issues.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Kurururru!"
At my call, the Rimur Birds I had brought along soared into the sky, forming a V-shaped formation. I needed them to scout for the Ants and their nests from the air.
According to the briefing at the Tamer Guild, Tunnel Ants had a habit of dumping the soil they excavated around their entrances. They didn't build large mounds, but any area where the dirt looked freshly turned was a likely spot for a nest.
"Keeh!"
"Oh, found one already?"
Through my Sensory Link with Eins, I viewed the landscape from above. In the middle of the lush, green plains, I saw a patch of earth that looked mottled with brown dirt. From the ground, it was almost impossible to see, but from the sky, it was glaringly obvious.
I avoided the areas where excavation and extermination were already underway. Following the birds while using Space Magic to keep pace, I headed toward a remote spot far from the city.
This looked like a good place to start.
"Dimension Home."
I released the Metal and Iron Slimes I had brought from the mine. Once they were all out, I had them line up—all four hundred of them.
I had been aggressively increasing their numbers with the goal of merging them into Big Slimes... but I might have overdone it with the food. I only needed a hundred of each, but now I had two hundred Iron Slimes and two hundred Metal Slimes. Still, having this many allowed me to do things I couldn't do otherwise.
I had the slime most skilled at Deformation transform into a katana, then gave the order.
"Keep moving forward slowly!"
The line of metallic spheres advanced, parting the grass and scanning the earth.
A few minutes later, one of them stopped.
"Did you find something?"
Slimes were weak, but they possessed a sharp Danger Perception. While the ability might have dulled slightly since they evolved, the Iron Slimes were definitely reacting. There was something nearby. They were being cautious in their own way, freezing in place to alert me.
I stepped in front of the line and advanced carefully. One step, two steps, three steps... just as I reached the point the slimes had indicated...
"!"
A pair of antennae broke the surface, followed by massive compound eyes. A giant ant, nearly as high as my chest, emerged from the earth.
It looked somewhat similar to a Cave Mantis. Before it could fully crawl out of the hole, I brought my blade down on its neck.
Snap.
"So this is a Tunnel Ant."
I quickly dispatched the two others that followed. No more came out.
According to the Tamer Guild's data, Tunnel Ants were nocturnal to avoid predators. During the day, they stayed deep inside the colony, leaving only a few sentries near the entrance. As long as the sentries were eliminated before they could retreat and warn the others, the rest of the nest would usually stay put.
Those three must have been the sentries for this entrance.
"Well, that's the first one. Earth Needle."
My job today was scouting, not total extermination. I recorded the location, set up a marker nearby, and prepared to move on. I made sure not to provoke the rest of the nest as I gathered the slimes and headed for the next candidate site.
"Since we have the space, let's run!"
I usually only let them loose in the abandoned mine, so I figured I’d let them enjoy the open plains for a change. When I conveyed the thought, I felt a wave of excitement from the slimes. As soon as I gave the signal, they went rolling off at high speed.
They were fast. Lately, I couldn't help but feel like these guys were becoming a pack of speed demons.