If I hit a nerve last time, then this time I flat out kicked it. Muscles bulge on her arm as she struggles to restrain herself from pulling out her sword. I think she knows it would be a bad idea to fight here surrounded by villagers, but she looks so damn tempted.
[My brother gave his life fighting in the Dungeon. My father has dedicated himself to the Deep Legion for decades and he is a damn hero. The idea of a monster putting itself above them is an insult!]
She might have a point, I suppose.
[Yeah, I can see how you’d think that. I apologise.]
[Excuse me?]
[I… apologise?] I can’t quite tell what she’s thinking right now. May have just shocked the frothing anger right out of her! [Soooo, what is the problem here? You think I’m mind controlling these people or something?]
[Uh, yes?] Morrelia pulls herself together. [Yes. It seems unbelievable that a group of humans would so readily accept the help of monsters from the Dungeon. Impossible, even. I want to be sure you aren’t manipulating these people with your Mind Magic.]
I sigh and give my antennae a quick clean as I think about the situation. Bringing my front legs up and pulling my antennae through the joint drags the sensitive detectors through the cleaning hairs on the back of my knee, ensuring the antennae remain effective and also feels quite pleasant.
I don’t recall ever being this clean as a human, actually…
[Look, Morrelia. I didn’t want these people here, they followed me after my colony fled in this direction. We ran through or near a few human settlements, none of which we harmed, and this idiot,] I stab one antenna at the priest, [decided that following us and depending upon the colony for protection was a great idea. To this point in time, I’ve ensured the colony won’t harm these people, tried to keep them safe from monsters and provided them with some help getting shelter. That’s it. If you want to take over babysitting, be my guest.]
Morrelia’s eyes narrowed.
[You could just be saying these things. Even if the villagers confirmed it, that could be because of your mind control, altering their memories.]
I can’t help but shrug my antennae.
[Then what are we talking for? If nothing I say would convince you I don’t mean any harm to these people, then why try and talk to me in the first place?]
If she wants to take over the protection of the village here and bar me from entry, then that could be a blessing in disguise. As long as I can get my info from the priest first, I’m happy enough to never come back.
[That is what I can’t understand, monster,] Morrelia bursts out. [Why haven’t you harmed these people?]
[Well, they’re super irritating, I agree with you there, but I don’t think they deserve to be killed for it.]
[Why? Any monster would be delighted to kill and eat all of these people. Experience! Food! Couldn’t your colony grow in size from eating them? What exactly is the reason why you are helping them?]
Ahhhh. Now we come down to it. She’s confused! Monsters from the Dungeon are supposed to be hateful things who kill and eat everything they can find, much like the croca-beasts are doing all over Liria right now. If we consider that, then finding an ant who seems quite content to live alongside people would be pretty darn weird, right?
If I were to explain that I myself was human in a previous life, that I don’t particularly want to kill and eat something that I used to be, would that be convincing?
She’d probably think I was just insane. A rogue monster gone completely bananas. What to say then…
All I can think is, [I don’t mind ’em that much, these villagers. You people are all right.]
Smooth.
126. The Priest
Morrelia blinks a few times. [You… can’t seriously expect me to accept that.]
This is one stubborn person.
[We’ve already established you won’t accept anything I say.]
Her eyes narrow.
[Then would you answer a few questions?]
It’s amazing how patient everyone is being. I have a crowd of people standing about watching a woman stare at a monster with absolutely nothing happening on the outside. For some reason they all seem riveted. Watching me, then watching Morrelia, as if an invisible game of tennis were going on and they had to imagine the movement of the ball.
[Yes, I can answer some questions, but can we make it quick? I have stuff to do.]
I can see her mouth tighten a little at that. I’m only telling the truth. This conversation taking place at all is a favour to her, I’m not getting anything out of it.
Maybe I’m just trying to work on my diplomacy. Nearly getting my entire commercial district bitten off was enough to remind me of the old days when I hung about on the ceiling and did my best to never be found.
The change to walking straight up into my enemies’ faces happened a little too quick. The caution from those early days kept me alive. Information first! Swaggering up to giant monsters and attacking them head-on is not supposed to be my style.
Stay low! Information is king!
This lack of care and attention, this was the work of Dark Anthony. Damn ego beast! Be gone from my sight.
Remember humility. Remember stealth. Remember not getting half of your arse bitten off!
With renewed motivation, I decide to listen to what Morrelia has to say. Not making enemies I don’t have to is a wise policy. Let’s keep it pleasant.
[Have you ever killed any humans?]
[Yep.]
DAMMIT.
Her eyes flash dangerously at my immediate reply and I hasten to explain myself.
[In defence! My colony was attacked by humans, and I defended my family! I surely can’t be blamed for that. I also killed a few during the rebellion in Liria, but I was assisting your queen in retaking her throne. You would have done the same had you been around, surely.]
Morrelia listens to my defence and is forced to reluctantly nod.
[I have heard from Enid and others about what happened during the rebellion in my homeland. I had not heard of your colony being attacked.]
I shrug my antennae.
[It was just bad luck, really. The human queen and her Guards ran straight into the anthill whilst fleeing the city. They attacked and we killed them in retaliation. Many of my siblings died in that battle. I honestly wish it had never happened.]
The humans who killed my kind had been dealt with. Then I took appropriate measures against the queen to protect myself from her betrayal.
[I don’t exactly trust humans, there have been plenty trying to kill me above ground, and the black soldiers have done the same down below. But these villagers have done nothing wrong to me or my colony, so I tolerate them.]
That should communicate my position.
Instead of being relieved, Morrelia is staring at me with even more intensity than before.
[Soldiers dressed in black? You’ve met the Legion?]
So those soldiers are from the Legion she mentioned? I remember when they forced me out of my first nesting place, systematically killing every monster they found and burning out the tunnels. I was terrified of them at the time. To be honest, I’m still afraid of them.