Okay, let's talk to that envoy.

They may not directly appreciate that I'm asking them for more time, so we can in the meantime prepare for the invasion of Valera, as the creation of tunnel routes and establishment of a military base below the capital city can be called nothing else. However, it's quite far away.

So in any case we would've needed some time if we wanted to reach our destination.

Our guests meanwhile are located in the lower segment of the hive, where the main entrance is.

It was simply convenient to create some lodgings for humans close to where they would arrive.

It's a mass shelter, for whenever groups of people arrive, so they don't have to split apart since it might make them feel uncomfortable in this environment if we separate them.

I just hope the giant escort behind me won't look too intimidating.

"Exzzs- Excuse me?" (E)

Damn, I didn't use that word for a long time and lost a bit of control over it.

Some words are simply more difficult than others and a mix of high-pitched "e" and "x" isn't too great for my throat.

At least, I've now got their attention.

And they seem to all be well.

This is basically all I can wish for, as no complaints mean there are no issues with the accommodation in the insect hive.

If not for ringing ears because of my slip-up.

"Ahem, yes?" (envoy)

"We, we talked about your request. You're aware that you're demanding quite much, right? So we need to ask for some concessions." (E)

"Which would be?" (envoy)

"We need several weeks to prepare before we can depart to Valera. Also, we have to insist on most intense security measures from our side during this period. Is this agreeable?" (E)

Not like I could settle down for any less.

Or rather, it's impossible to get this through in this princess-focused insect society.

"This isn't exactly the answer we wished for, but it will have to suffice. Very well, we will deliver your answer. Yet I shall inform you that the lord of Osari requested a meeting before you appear at the citadel." (envoy)

"Oh, okay. Then I'll first go there." (E)

"It would also be necessary to inform us in advance when your preparations are finished. Since you hopefully didn't intend to just show up at your leisure." (envoy)

Honestly, I should feel offended and given my status probably also act that way.

As a very important leader and such.

But... I totally forgot that they might as well need time to prepare a proper reception.

I would probably have told them that I'm there when I'm there.

Maybe even showing up at the gates with my whole escort.

Their idea sounds much better if I want to avoid a diplomatic incident.

Yet I should answer without looking too embarrassed.

"Fine. I hope your stay here was pleasant. I'll prepare guides and provisions to lead you back to Osari as soon as you're ready." (E)

"Thanks. I appreciate your cooperation." (envoy)

"That's no trouble. Hospitality is a virtue here." (E)

At least that's what I'm telling them.

Who would step up and prove me wrong?

----------------------------------------

- Aaron -

"I was ready for everything.

Even for a gruesome death.

Yet not this.

One has certain expectations if the uppers are telling you to deliver a message to a just discovered nation of goddamn insects.

Certainly, it's clear why nobody else wanted this job.

One cannot help but think about getting eaten alive the moment one first sees them and their mandibles.

When I arrived in Osari, everything seemed to be fine.

No sign of conflict with the local people, no apparent invasion.

I talked to the lord and he seemed to be a decent man.

Yet with obvious worries.

One might judge this as guilt, especially considering his reputation in the capital with how he handled this situation.

Lord Hawkspear directly invited me to his office when he learned about my arrival.

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He tried not to show it, but it was obvious in his general demeanor that he was very concerned.

With barely hidden intention he served some kind of mushroom during the meeting.

It wasn't inedible, but nothing one would serve at such an occasion.

Yet it was only about explaining how they were provided with food by these creatures.

He tried to keep the conversation casual, but behind his facade, every single one of his words was directed at convincing me that his chosen direction of peaceful negotiation was right.

From the support with food to side mentions of their military strength, and elaborations about how the economy benefitted from trade.

As if my judgment would change anything.

My end report might be read, but it won't cause much of a change.

And as a messenger, my opinion has to remain neutral.

When I went to leave the lord he became serious for a moment.

He only said, that whatever I do, I cannot offend the princesses.

I didn't know at that time what to make of this.

Only that the one I had to deliver my message to was such a princess.

To not waste any time I had my escort assembled.

Only battle-proven veterans, as in the current situation there's the founded concern that Koreso might attack our travel route.

These soldiers, albeit small in number, are all able to utilize body strengthening, moving faster and hitting harder than the common batch of soldiers.

So at least it seems that my mission has a high priority.

The soldiers at the entrance to this underworld were awfully complacent, given the fact that they were opposing all kinds of freaky monsters.

But they just joked about my mission in irritating casualness.

And then I saw my first.

A brown or bronze creature, completely covered in hard shells.

Giant claws, able to tear through the earth and maws which can cause nightmares.

Our appearance stirred them to an extent but the knights managed to stay calm and in return, they as well showed no hostile behavior.

I told them about my mission, but they didn't answer my request to bring us to this Princess Erys.

Instead, after a short time, a more slender-looking insect arrived and spoke to us.

Yet as surprising as this occurrence was, calling what I heard back then speech might be a bit of a stretch as it answered in very simple and hardly understandable comments.

However, communication was possible.

We were told that Princess Erys isn't here and they showed us a passage through which new creatures regularly entered and left.

So we had no other option but to continue deeper into the dark.

While I didn't have doubts that my escort should be able to fight these creatures, and maybe even fight their way straight through them, the question was, how long would they last against such numbers?

Even with the convenient illumination from glowing moss embedded into the walls we certainly had no hope to escape.

Already after a short distance, it was clear that the creatures are everywhere in these tunnels.

If something had happened they'd simply have swarmed us until we would've been eradicated.

But still, we could manage to find peace in the confidence of our own abilities and that we were serving our homeland.

That was until we arrived.

Even now, I can barely comprehend what I saw back then.

Everything was, for a while already, covered in this brownish-orange goo the insects use to coat their structures.

But then the earth suddenly widened and in front of us, a vast open space extended.

In the middle rose a giant pillar and everywhere were insects.

While we could before, while being outnumbered, at least be sure that we would be able to maintain our position and at least give them a good fight, the moment we entered we knew that we could just be snuffed out if whoever governs those creatures wishes to do so.

The mere mass of their bodies was enough to simply drown us like a candlelight in the ocean.

Without shame, I confess that anxiety about my assignment crept up inside me.

However, I persevered and waited.

While I adjusted to the sight in front of me I noticed a certain insect.

This one was intensely staring at me and clearly different from the others.

Mostly visible through the fact that those almost revered it.

Somehow I knew that this was the creature I was looking for.

A princess.

Then it spoke with the most shrill voice I've ever heard and demanded to know why we came.

I cleared my throat and was almost ready to convey my message to this one when something else happened.

To my left, appeared a girl.

A young thing, looking uneasy and worried.

It was certainly an unexpected sight, as she was totally out of place.

Yet then I saw her wings and more importantly noticed something else.

The insects around her showed the same reverence towards her as to the other one.

At this moment I knew who this was.

Princess Erys, the one I was told to escort.

My intel about her was rather abstract, but I was sure it fit when I saw her.

She was supposed to be an inexperienced girl without any diplomatic abilities.

At least her demeanor, despite a slightly forced-looking confident bearing spoke much of her recorded origin as a country bumpkin.

At least this helped me to gather my bearings and relay my message.

It seems doing so was a bit rash, as it caused quite the defensive reaction when I demanded that she was summoned to the palace.

They began to speak in a weird clicking language and after this, it seemed like there was a problem.

At least they asked for more time.

I wasn't too elated about the prospect of staying even longer in this nightmarish place than necessary but was left no choice.

To my surprise the accommodations were decent.

While the organic-looking coating, looking like the inside of some creature, was an unsettling reminder about where we were, the rooms had many curtains covering the walls.

The earthen furniture, while hard to get used to, served its purpose.

Then a number of bipedal slender, delicate insects came and brought us food.

What they brought left little to be desired.

It wasn't skillfully cooked, but the meat was of good quality and the vegetables fresh.

Never would I have believed that we'd receive such treatment at this place.

Later that day princess Erys came to inform us about their decision.

Naturally, they needed more time.

It wasn't the answer I hoped for but it was to be expected at this point.

I informed her about Lord Hawkspear's invitation then we were guided back out, all the way to Osari.

Fortunately without incidents.

In conclusion, I can say that princesses have an abnormally high value for the insects and they find lasting, unconditional support from their subjects.

And with this ends the report." (Aaron)

I become quiet, looking at the man in front of me, while internally contemplating the content and the implications of what I just recited.

"Do you have any further thoughts about this princess, this Erys?" (?)

"She seems to be slightly overwhelmed by her own situation. Unprepared and of unfitting mentality in regards to the power she obviously wields. Maybe she's also a little idealistic. Which might work in our favor." (A)

"So you're saying it might be possible to take advantage of her?" (?)

"It might be possible. However, her environment makes this difficult. She isn't deciding things on her own and instead relies on the opinion of others. And the ones influencing her right now are these insects." (A)

"There's much to consider. Seems like we need to prepare the palace for their arrival and wait for further notification. Also, someone else should take it upon himself to safely guide her here. Someone more diplomatic and sensitive to delicate topics if you understand." (?)

"Yes, my king. I will do as you wish." (A)