Now the princess departs, but not without leaving a huge contingent of those warrior insects in front of the only entrance back into the hive.
Objectively, I don't see us getting past there.
If what she said is right, then she already expects attacks of those freaking crabs on the regular.
So the defenses should be more than sufficient over there.
Quite a paradox if you consider that the very same creatures are also protecting us by manning the fortifications around the camp.
I excuse myself and walk back to the barrier.
While I actually don't really know how to convince these hundreds of people, who on top of the generally rather bad situation also got dragged into a conflict with terrifying monster crabs, that it's in our best interest to fight for our captor, I suppose I ought to start with those of my own former troop who just fought by my side.
I try explaining to them the situation as calmly as possible as to not cause further agitation.
The last thing we need would be a revolt that gets violently suppressed.
"They want us to fight more of these things!?!"
"That's unacceptable!"
"I won't stay here!"
Sigh.
It should've been expected.
"Asiede from thee fact that we don't have a choiece, az all thee surrounding reegions are infested, wee stand to gain from thies." (D)
Now I try to elaborate on the advantages we'd gain from supporting the princess.
While it might only be a shallow condolence for them who're still in a life-threatening situation, it's a good thing for our nation.
However, when I show them the adamantium stone their attitude changes.
The idea that we'd all get handsomely rewarded for our service being a good motivator.
On the other side, I feel like the general situation as well as the darkness all around still weighs heavily on the mood.
"I don't want to remain here."
"Who knows if she will just wait for us to die down here?!"
I'm really giving my all to convince them.
Some might still heed my higher rank, but many are unconvinced, only kept here by the oppression Princess Chera commands.
"ListEn! I'll talk to the princEzz. I mieght be able to convience her about a better treatment. Yet shee was rather adamant about our sErviece heere." (D)
"Ha, adamant!"
"Yea, yeah, very funny." (D)
Though, it's good that some of my men could still keep their humor.
"SHKREEAAAAAAHHHHK"
Oh damn!
After another fierce fight we find another dead minster crab to our feet.
The palisade starts looking slightly worn, but we managed without any injuries.
One of the insect wardens got slightly clipped, yet without dire consequences, and the spears probably won't hold much longer.
"How often do these things come?!"
"Are we about to get killed?"
They do have a point.
Not only the wear on our material, but also the mental and physical exertion will eventually wear them down.
We'll need some significant adjustments!
"I'll talk to the princEzz. Shee may not lieke it, but I'll gEt some changEs out of her!" (D)
That's mostly me talking big, but if I act as if I'm fighting for them with Princess Chera here, they will be more likely to listen to me on other things.
Time to test this weird scent mark out.
It's certainly hard to ignore, so the insects should perceive it.
And truly, they part and give way.
(D)
Not exactly sure what I expected, but moments later, one of the flying insects approaches me.
Well, such an amicable invitation.
The tour leads a bit deeper into this base.
These hives are very astonishing structures with all the halls and tunnels that form a big whole.
Eventually, I arrive at a place that looks like it specifically directs me to a structure in the center.
In there, I find the princess.
"Plop, plop, plop"
She's... laying eggs.
I still remember this from the time we had Princess Erys, but seeing it like this, with the original creature, is something else.
"Plop"
At least, I feel like it's a bad time.
She clearly has far less reservations than Erys about being seen doing this.
While the latter put up a strong front, it was clear that she didn't like it.
This princess on the other hand is absolutely casual about this act.
I do need to say, the simple idea that these hundreds of eggs may in a few months form a ready-made force of fighters is terrific.
I try not to stand in the way and eventually the seemingly never-ending flood of eggs ebbs.
(C)
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Did she say this for me or is she just used to spouting her thoughts?
Yet now she turns towards me.
(C)
She says this so matter of factly that it's hard to deny her.
So I should maybe bend the truth a little.
Hopefully, this will be enough to convince her.
Ehm, excuse me!?
She just sounded like a young child getting an awesome gift.
Okay...
I think I need to reevaluate my image of her.
But if she's so positive about this, it should be possible to get some concessions out of her.
Hopefully, this wasn't too brazen.
The sad truth is, we got those of our fallen comrades, which greatly exceed our current numbers.
Yet not all of them are still useable, and we mostly need spears.
I would say there are thrice as many as we have soldiers.
I don't know how much wear the tips can endure, but the shafts should be replaceable.
On the other side, we don't even have wood down here and it's not like there's a manufacture nearby.
The fortifications will need to be produced on site, and we have some among us who could do so, but there are no trees nearby.
(C)
That might be a problem, but if the fighting continues as is, the troop is going to be too exhausted to fight anyways.
This way, we can establish a guard rotation.
There should be enough of us to efficiently do those.
Also, there's a factor that might help our cause.
(D)
At least focused fire should help to get rid of some.
(C)
Urgh, she probably means raw.
(D)
Uh, okay...
After a long round of back and forth about the things the troops require, we seem to have come to a temporary conclusion.
Alright, I'm treading dangerous currents here, but this has to be addressed.
(D)
She stares at me for an uncomfortably long moment.
She leads the way, but apparently it isn't even far, as soon I see the first of the mages I'm looking for.
"Diroen!? What are you doing here?" (earth mage)
At his words, more begin assembling.
"Apparentlye, I'm doieng communiecation servieze. I came to azzure that you're fiene." (D)
"Damn, it's weird to hear words like this."
"It's like that stuff!"
"That it does that."
What are they talking about?
"Ahem. What iez the mattEr?" (D)
"They made us smell some weird stuff. Since then we understand what they're saying. After that they put us to work."
Ah, the potion for receiving their smell language.
Makes sense if Princess Chera has a special task for them.
"What kind of work?" (D)
Uh, was this disrespectful?
"I'm sorry, but we need to meditate. Our reserves are spent." (earth mage)
At this, the man grows understandably pale.
The man from before looks now helplessly at me, as he's afraid of speaking up with the still looming threat of the treatment.
"You can speeak. I'll tranzlAte." (D)
This seems to convince him to speak.
"As she said, we're supposed to use our affinity with earth magic to manipulate the ground here. It's... quite fascinating. There's a gigantic deposit below us. Adamantium and black iron, among many others. Truly, a whole treasure cave." (earth mage)
(C)
She doesn't seem interested in the deposits themselves.
But what else would be so important to her?
Is that it?
She wants to dig up a veritable treasure simply to go deeper?
But for it to be so important to her that she'd be so eager to set the earth mages on the task, it has to be quite the big deal.
Suddenly, the princess brushes past me, towards a hole that's leading down.
(C)
I guess I should follow.
After the shortest distance, I arrive.
It's overwhelming.
The whole wall, the ground, the ceiling, everything consists of black ore.
In between, there are countless gems, so many that they're even lying on the ground.
She's saying that this stretches below the whole hive?
Incredible!
However, I can see that without tools it would be quite a difficult task to crush this ore.
Yet this might be the greatest deposit ever found, even dwarfing the Koresoan mining towns.
Next, the princess picks up one of the gems from the ground.
(C)
Oh damn.
It's interesting that she's so open about suggestions.
I think there's quite a number of things that need to be solved, yet she's working on them and I see the value in this place.
(C)