'The system used by deities... That means there are other deities out there besides me.'
Quite some time had passed since I got swept up in the sudden events of my bred ants venturing into another world and my own awakening as a deity, their breeder.
As I grew accustomed to it all, I finally had some leeway to entertain other thoughts.
But I was still locked out of certain system functions due to my "abnormal" awakening.
There was nothing I could do about the frustration. It wasn't like I had anyone to ask.
For now, all I could do was keep observing and tending to my ants.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates desire more food for rapid injury recovery]
"How much are they even eating? My salary's gonna run out at this rate."
It was worth reiterating, but the ant colony had an endless appetite.
If they were a typical ant colony, they couldn't have processed more food than what I provided. The problem was that they had already transcended the limits of ordinary ants.
They devoured insect jelly and mealworms without end, expanding their numbers and colony in tandem.
I'd experimented with other foods midway through, but we always circled back to mealworms. They were the most efficient and cost-effective option.
Even that highly efficient, budget-friendly staple was starting to feel insufficient against their voracious hunger.
'Will it ease up a bit now?'
Even right after their victory in battle, they roamed like possessed creatures in search of food. I turned my attention to the new caste of ants hatching from their pupae.
These were the first generation to inherit the Leafcutter Ants' abilities—the ones who knew how to cultivate the fungal spores that came bundled with the Leafcutter Ants I'd introduced.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates seek to obtain food in a new way]
They immediately set to farming.
The first site they chose for cultivation was near the nest they'd built in that other world.
They had long since razed the trees and grass there while constructing the nest.
In other words, they had plenty of material to grow mushrooms on.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[The Queen is dissatisfied with the slow growth of the fungi]
One problem arose: the fungi brought from the breeding tank weren't adapting well to that world's environment.
'Well, the mushrooms they're supposed to cultivate are just ordinary fungi, unlike the ants themselves.'
Unlike the ants, who had become subordinates and evolved by preying on that world's special foods, the fungi cultivated by the Leafcutter Ants were plain old varieties with no special powers.
There was no room for complaint if issues cropped up during adaptation. That place was, after all, a genuine "other world."
'What now? Do I have to pick the mushroom species they'll cultivate too?'
It felt like a sudden assignment had been dumped on me. I furrowed my brow.
For a split second, I considered sneaking some company spoils brought back by my hunter colleagues, but tampering with unknown otherworldly specimens was on a whole different level from raising exotic ants.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[The Queen discovers a clue]
Fortunately, the ants found a solution on their own before too long.
It was thanks to the heightened intelligence of the first-generation Queen, now freed from her egg-laying duties.
"Is that a mushroom too?"
I watched the screen with growing interest.
What the scouting ants had found deep in the forest was a massive mushroom sprouting from a giant tree trunk—large enough to match the ants' enlarged size.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[The Queen detects faint poison along with rich nutrients in the mushroom]
All information detected by the scouts was relayed to the colony in real time, allowing the Queen in the nest's deepest chamber to observe and judge it.
She concluded they should discard the tank fungi and cultivate this mushroom instead.
The faint poison was a hurdle, but most of the colony had already built up toxin resistance through the formic acid solution I provided for adaptation training.
"Well done."
A problem had arisen, but they'd solved it themselves. Satisfied with the process, I chuckled.
Investing in the Queen to steadily boost her intelligence had been the right call.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates recognize your joy]
And at that moment, a notification popped up saying they'd noticed my emotion.
Emotions—at least the ones I knew—were surely beyond the ants' comprehension.
To begin with, we hailed from entirely different worlds, making true understanding between us impossible.
But not anymore. The evolving ants could now recognize what emotions were.
'Are emotions really something that can develop? Or is "learning" the right term?'
For now, it was just perceiving them through my influence as a deity. Similar to how they used to rampage without fully grasping my commands.
Still, having watched their growth in real time, I was certain they wouldn't stay at that level forever.
I provided nutrients and new ants as evolution fodder, but predicting how they'd change... even that was beyond me.
'Doesn't mean I can stop, though.'
Even if so, fretting over a distant future wasn't the priority yet.
Some of the orc mercenaries who'd joined the fray far outclassed the ants' current combat prowess.
The ants needed to grow much stronger.
"I only just managed to get this one recently. The colony's still small, so..."
"One's plenty. Here's the payment."
An ant cherished by a seller who illegally reared exotic animals from around the world.
I opened the test tube and dropped it into the breeding tank.
Devouring just one would allow the Queen to analyze it and modify future colony offspring anyway.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates confirm your tribute and rush over]
Several of my ants lunged at the intruder in the unfamiliar environment.
One enemy versus three Worker Ants charging in.
"They say its reputation is insane. Let's see."
I smirked as I watched one of my Worker Ants aim its venom stinger at the foe's abdomen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Any updates?"
"Nothing new. I dug around just in case, but they haven't been spotted near the old territory either..."
In Count Dyke's lordly castle, far south of her homeland, Baronet Redenverk.
Seira Redenverk bit her lip at the news brought by Rogers after she'd relocated there.
Baskal's forces that ruined her family were gone, but she couldn't return.
Most residents, including her, had already evacuated.
Rebuilding her house there was practically impossible.
'Why? Given the savagery they showed attacking our territory...'
The ants still haunted her dreams.
Emotionless killing machines that tore people apart alive.
The fact that creatures who lusted for human flesh and seemed ready to end the world had gone quiet unnerved her.
The humans in the southern forces didn't know it was due to their frontal clash with the goblin forces in the vast untamed forest.
They'd rejected Goblin Chieftain Karon's alliance proposal from the start.
"They can only live in the forest, right? Or maybe they fought other monsters there and got wiped out."
"If that's truly the case, then fine."
Seira sighed at Rogers' words, tinged with hopeful optimism.
No one would heed her warnings to beware the ants in this situation.
Some were already whispering that the shock had driven Seira mad.
"Let it go already. You can't dwell on monsters forever. As the last survivor of a noble house, you must reclaim your status and make a comeback somehow."
Rogers gazed pityingly at her.
Having known her since childhood, he could tell she was deathly afraid of the ants.
"I don't want you to become that count's concubine either, miss. But with your magic talent and stunning beauty, the count would covet you—and you could find far better matches."
"Sigh... I know. Drop it."
No matter how skilled a mage she was, she had limits acting alone.
Still, her mage status and pure noble bloodline were weapons that could seize a power base in one stroke if played right. He wasn't wrong.
"Urgent news from the north!"
But before she could decide, frantic rumors spread from the north.
"M-monsters have appeared! Hordes of beasts tearing people apart alive—they're devastating the upper regions!"
Word of the ants she'd dreaded finally arrived from the north.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates desire more food]
Farming didn't sate their fundamental hunger, nor did the extra food and materials Jin-hyuk provided.
They had already tasted food infused with Demonic Power and Mana.
A miraculous force that accelerated evolution. Though not meant for ants, they could devour foes and claim that power for themselves.
'So that's why they've set their sights south.'
To the ants, who ceaselessly expanded their nest and territory, the human realms starting from the southern plains looked like superior prey compared to goblin villages.
It was only natural they'd head that way.
Tensing, Jin-hyuk watched hundreds of mixed ant types march toward a village.
The villagers were fleeing desperately.
The ants ignored leftover valuables; ordinary villagers weren't the "special food" they craved anyway.
"Hurry and evacuate!"
"We'll get caught at this rate. No choice."
But what about an adventurer party trying to protect the villagers?
A few brave souls stayed behind to buy time for the straggling elderly and children.
"Grace..."
"Don't worry, just go. I just need to stall. That's all."
It was a noble, selfless sacrifice. The villagers pressed on without stopping, cheering and praying for those fighting to protect them.
'Yeah, just secure time for them to escape.'
Of course, the adventurers didn't plan to die.
They figured they could fight lightly and retreat to slow the ants.
Experienced against magical beasts, they assumed the numerous ants were similar—just more in number.
"Urgh, aaargh!"
"What strength do these things have..."
But this vanguard of hundreds trampled and broke through the dozens of adventurers blocking their path.
Exoskeletons impervious to magic scorch marks. Venom stingers piercing sturdy armor in one strike.
Adventurer Grace stared in horror at the massive stinger impaling her gut as her consciousness faded.
"No... the people..."
As she watched the ants pursue the villagers in her dying moments, swarms attached to Grace's body and began dismantling her.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Your subordinates are satisfied with securing special food]
They never realized, even in their final moments, that the ants had targeted them all along.