When I was asked to go search for the kings of the West during the emergency meeting, I would have to admit that I was not up for it. However, I couldn't turn them down, since I was the one who brought it up. Seeking a way to get back at those five for making me have to do this, I requested for aid, but Diane had foreseen my argument and had already prepared a sprite.

I was ok with the thought of traveling alone with a beauty, but then the rat leader appeared, saying he would go with us to the Insect King. I feel as if it were my fault, well mostly because I wasn't capable of convincing the Wolf King to aid us.

So when he joined us, I felt that this trip was going to be an unpleasant one for me. I was proved wrong.

The rat man was a good guy. Funny, quick-witted and dependable. He tried his best to socialize with the sprite and me, and had been a great help during this entire time. Thanks to him, catching breakfast was not a bother anymore. Sure, he wasn't really helpful in catching the creature. However, he was one of the few creatures I had seen after my reincarnation that could cook. Even now, as we were catching lunch, remembering how good the horned rabbits we had for breakfast tasted was bliss. Unlike Oda's. I had chills remembering her cooking.

A massive stag beetle about my size, hovered above me. Apparently it was their way of threatening us to leave.

'Hey rat dude. Can you make something good out of the stag beetle?'

"Maybe… I have not really had the opportunity to cook one before, but I can try to make something out of it. And it would be good to add it to the records."

His response was all the confirmation I needed.

'Ok, then! Cover your ears!'

Once I had made sure both of them had covered their ears, I used [Wolf king's howl] and this made the stag beetle fall to the ground, paralysed. Since it was strong enough to survive, I used shot a bit of poison specifically on its head to kill it, leaving its body unscathed.

[You have killed Giant Beetle]

[You have gained 70 XP]

As usual, I was informed of my kill and the amount of experience points I got from it. Considering how easy it was to kill it, I expected lesser experience points. I would have to look into the experience point delivering function sometime later.

'I'm done.'

I called out to them and they both looked at the dead stag beetle. The rat man went over and kicked the corpse."

"As expected of Hinotori. However, could you not have refrained from doing that to the head?"

I looked at the half melted head, a truly gruesome scene.

'Hehehe…, I guess you're right. We can't have a lady seeing these things.'

"Oh, pay no attention to me. Such things do not bother me."

"Yeah, I think I can make something nice for the two of us out of this."

The rat man said as he eyed the beetle.

'Two of us? Have you forgotten that there are three of us?'

I asked him but he ignored me.

"Give me some time and I'll be done over here."

I shrugged, then left him to his business.

'That was kind of rude, wasn't it?'

"What do you mean, sir Hinotori?"

The dryad looked sincerely confused.

'I'm talking about how he didn't include you when he was talking about the food earlier.'

"Oh, that? Why would that bother you?"

'Hmm? Why wouldn't it.'

"Um, I do not understand."

She didn't understand? What was too confusing?

'I don't like how he is ignoring your presence.'

"He is not doing that."

'How can you say that when he didn't even include you in his lunch preparation?'

"Fufufu."

She put her hand over her mouth to stifle her laugher, but I could hear it as clear as day.

'What's so funny?'

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that the way you lack information about the world is amusing."

I could feel my blood rushing to my face.

"My kind don't eat meat like other magical creatures do. We receive our nutrition from the magical essence Sol emits."

'Sol?'

"Yes. Sol. The god who provides light for us. That ball of light is a portion of his body that he left before deciding to never directly interfere with the world. Something like his last blessing to us."

She pointed to the sky and I saw the sun.

'Wait… a god of light left his ball of light and it is what you feed on?'

"Yes"

'Oh god, I really don't want to laugh right now. I really don't want to laugh right now!'

"Laugh? Why?"

'Never mind. Sprites simply need sunlight to live?'

"Yep"

Her smile was bright and heartwarming. This world keeps on shocking me, though. Even the sun is magical. I really want to explore it.

After a while, the rat man said he was done with lunch.

Stag beetles taste bad. Like really bad. Or maybe, the rat man wasn't as good a cook as I thought he was. No, I couldn't blame the chef. This was all on me for choosing the ingredients. What kind of moron says he wants to eat cooked beetle for lunch.

At least I got some skills.

[Due to the unique skill [Evolver] you have acquired the skill [Beetle Armor]]

We continued on our journey and as time progressed I found a centipede and I felt kind of hungry at the sight. As voracious as it may have seemed, I killed it and ate it. I then acquired the skills [Centipede Armor] and [Acid Spit]. It didn't take long for us to run into a giant ass bee. I killed it and got the skill [Compound eyes] and [Stinger]. I also managed to go up one level after eating so much till I was filled up. That was when I noticed something odd.

'Hey, haven't we been seeing a lot of bug monsters around?'

"Now that you mention it..."

The rat man agreed with me.

"That is because we are in the Insect King's territory."

'Eeeh? Already?'

I looked at the sky, and it was barely twilight. A huge bee flew overhead, carrying something. I couldn't make out what exactly.

'Then we might even get to the king earlier than expected?'

"Hmm, yes. Just a little more and we'll get to the bee hive."

She responded.

'We aren't at the bee hive yet?'

"Of course not."

'But I thought the Spider King's territory was the bee hive?'

"Oh no. The hive is its home in its territory. If you fly above the trees you should see a waterfall."

I wasted no time in getting above the tree tops. The view of the sunset was amazing, and just as I had been told, there was a waterfall up ahead. The way the clear water glittered made the view all the more amazing. It was like a portrait painted by a master artist. Nature truly was beautiful.

"Do you see it?"

The rat man called out.

'Uh, yeah.'

"Ok good, because that's the hive."

'The waterfall is the bee hive?'

"No! Behind the waterfall!"

'Oh, that makes sense.'

I descended to the ground.

'But why behind a waterfall?'

"I'm not too sure, but I do hear somethings about how the spider king hates the day time."

The rat man answered.

Hates day time? Is he a vampire or something? Guy sounds like a NEET.

'Ok, I'm going to go ahead. You guys hurry up.'

I took to the sky, leaving them in the dust. I had patiently walked with them the whole way, even though I could fly about much quickly. Now that I knew the location, there was no point in me wasting any more time.

"Hinotori!"

I could hear those two screaming my name, wanting me to get back.

'Don't worry! If you want, I won't start the negotiation without you guys!'

I left them with that. Surely that should ease their minds a little bit.

When I got to the waterfall, I was almost deafened by the loud roar of the water mightily slapping the river. I looked for possible entry roots and found quite a few, so I flew through one of them. I was planning on just flying through the waterfall, but according to god's agent, I would have just fallen to the river with my current strength stats.

When I got into the cave, it was quite dark so I couldn't really see anything. Even when I used [Night Vision] and [Heat Vision] the heat signatures were faint so I couldn't make out much. However, [Mana perception] was a whole other story.

<<Alert! Alert! Hostile aura detected! >>

'What?'

Without even giving me time to think correctly, something shot at me. I instinctively blocked with my right wing, but the impact from the hit was so strong that it threw me off balance. I fell on my back with a thud. I tried to free myself, but the thing was quite strong and felt sticky. When I looked at it, it was a thread that had been shot from the shadows. Another one was shot out from behind me, and again I blocked with my left wing. Then a third one grabbed my tail. I was completely immobilized. I struggled a bit but I couldn't free myself, even with my strength stat.

<<Notice: It appears mana is constantly being applied to the threads>>

'And because of that I can't break free?'

<<Affirmative>>

'Damnit! How am I supposed to escape from this?'

<<Notice: None of your skills can do anything to the threads>>

'Seriously!?'

<<Notice: Affirmative>>

'You know, none of this would have happened if I was able to simply use my awesome skill combo from before. I would have been able to scout this place to see all life forms present.'

<<Notice: Would you prefer if the selected skills were fused? >>

'What? Of course I would, but I can't.'

<<Notice: The skills [Auto Mapping], [Heat Sense], [Mana Perception] and [Goggles] will be fused if you will grant the permission to do so>>

'What? Seriously? You should have told me this earlier. Feel free to do so then!'

<<Notice: According to calculations, it would be optimal to include the skill [Analyst] in this fusion>>

'Ah… I'm busy now. Sure, sure!'

DING!

[Due to the skill [God's Voice], you have acquired the skill [Fusion]]

‐----------------------------------------

"I hope he is alright."

The sprite said in a worried tone.

"What are you worried for? You sensed his aura last night, right? He is holding back a lot. The only problem is we hope he doesn't accidentally anger the spider king like he did the wolf king."

"Ah, yes. You are right."

"Let us hurry up."

Both of them moved quickly towards the bee hive, but something had been bothering ever since the beginning of the trip. Even now as the rat man looked at the dryad's running figure, it felt quite odd.

"Hey you."

"Hmm?"

"I thought you said you don't need food to survive?"

"Huh? What could you possibl-"

Both of them stopped running, and a gentle wind blew over.

"Oh please. I've never heard of a sprite that craves meat before. They just eat fruits if they get hungry, yet you lied that you absorb mana from the sol."

"That is um-… is this really important now? If Hinotori isn't able to convince the spider king, we will be in a lot of trouble later on, you know?"

She was looking for ways to escape her current predicament and Hinotori flying ahead of them had provided an escape route for her.

The rat man wanted to find out more, but she had given him a reason to postpone his investigation. He was curious as to what she actually was.

'I heard Diane was keeping something unnatural with her. Could she be it?'

Sure, she radiated the same presence as the other sprites did, however, she was eyeing the food he had cooked earlier in the morning and he felt it were odd, since the sprites hated meat.

All his questions would be solved at a later date, so he shoved them to a corner in his mind and ran as fast as he could towards the bee hive. What was most important was making sure they brought the spider king to their side and Hinotori was most likely to fail in that aspect.

It was not that he saw Hinotori as incompetent. No, in fact he respected Hinotori after seeing her beat the timber wolf the night before - although the timber wolf was hiding its aura. It was just that, Hinotori was too naive and lacked a lot of common knowledge. They couldn't possibly leave negotiations in her hands.

After a few minutes of running, they finally arrived at the waterfall. When they got there, two spiders, easily twice as large as the leader of the rat men were standing guard. Knowing that trying to sneak in would be futile, they introduced themselves to the guards and were led inside the cave. They were marveled at the sight of the bee hive at first, but what marveled them even more was the sight before him.

"W-what happened here?"

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

I had been completely immobilized by the threads from some giant spiders and dragged around a dark cave. When we got to a point, all the faint presences I noticed earlier on, became stronger. Lights suddenly lit up. No. Those were huge fireflies. There were holes in the massive caves and I could see countless worker bees flying in and out of them, but strangely, there were other bugs in here. I could spot centipedes, beetles, bees, spiders and the likes. Was this really a bee hive? It was more like a bug cave.

I was taken to a certain chamber in the hive. Inside was a giant golden web, with a huge spider resting on it. I tried using [Analyst], but then I received a notification from the agent.

<<Notice: You cannot use some selected skills while in the process of fusion>>

'Ah… that's right, I sent my unique skill to the slaughter house. Dang it I'm dumb.'

Seriously? Was this how I was going to go out in my second life? Getting eating by a huge ass spider?

"So you have finally arrived."

A feminine voice rang out through the chamber, making it difficult to tell its source, but I deduced that it was from the massive spider resting on the webs. That spider was the biggest I've seen, probably around 30 metres large. I definitely wouldn't want to fight something like that.

'Finally arrived? The insect king has been waiting for me?'

"I have been waiting for you for a while now. Although you arrived sooner than expected."

'Ok? So what now?'

"Oh, forgive my rudeness. He is my guest. Release him."

As soon as she ordered that, the threads were loosened. I felt that I could easily break them now so I did just that and broke free. I looked right at the massive spider's eight eyes and could see my reflection in all of them. Creepy.

"Ok, then let's get down to business, shall we? I will help you."

She said something surprising.

'Eh? For real?'

"Yes, but…"

I let out a sigh.

"I want you to give me a name after this."

'What?'

"A name. I want a name. I heard your conversation on the outside and I like the terms of completing this task."

'You heard my conversation? I can't even speak out loud!'

"I could piece together the bits of information from those two you were with."

'Ah… Well they were pretty loud about it.'

I get that names proved that they've been acknowledged and all, but still, these guys are ready to fight against one of the most dangerous creatures in the forest for just a name which they didn't even know its actual value.

"Is there a matter?"

The spider king or should I say queen, asked me.

'Oh, nothing. I just thought a creature of your, er magnitude wouldn't have even given me a second thought.'

"Why wouldn't I make time for the Tyrant of the West's friend?"

Just how many people know I'm Minerva's friend?

'So you know about Minerva, huh?'

"Why yes. Some of my children have died at your hands, you know?"

Her children? Is she talking about the bugs we have been killing for some time now?

'Hehe, sorry about that.'

I immediately bowed down to the giant spider and apologized. She had already agreed to help us, before but I still needed to get on her good side so as to avoid angering her.

"What are you doing?"

'Huh? I'm bowing to show how apologetic I am. Is there something wrong?'

"No, I get that and all, but aren't you supposed to bow to the one you are apologizing to? I didn't know that you were blind."

I looked at the spider, completely confused.

'H-huh? Aren't you the insect king?'

"No, that's my guard. I am here. On the throne."

'W-what throne-'

Suddenly, a presence that was not there before had appeared. The aura was even scarier than the wolf king's. I looked around and was surprised by the sight of a throne that wasn't even there at first. The throne was elevated and I could spot something small sitting on it. No, it was another spider, but with a crown of gold on its head.

Ah! It was the smallest spider I had seen ever since being reborn, although it wasn't a normal sized spider. Still, it was radiating a very powerful aura.

'So I take it that you are the spider king?'

"Indeed, I am."

'B-but, how did you-?'

"Don't ask for answers you won't be receiving."

'What? Do you even know what I was about to ask?'

"So you weren't going to ask how I completely erased my presence from your [Mana Sense]?"

She had me completely figured out. But to completely hide the throne from my vision and even worse, her presence from my [Aura sense] as if she didn't exist. Not even the Timber wolf king could completely erase her presence. At most, she could just hide her aura much like I do. What kind of skill was that?

Suddenly out of nowhere, the spider jumped on me and I wasn't even able to react, leading the both of us to fall on the floor.

"But finally! To think that I will be getting a name after the war."

I cringed at the sight of the mandibles that were moving restlessly.

'Ah? Yea, yea, I can tell that you are happy and all, but I thought someone as strong as you would have a name.'

"Oh no. Truth is most of us kings don't have names."

'Seriously? And you're that strong?'

"Well yea-"

I saw the spider looking behind me, and I could sense four presences. Two of which belonged to the sprite and the rat man, the others were some spiders. However, both the dryad and the rat men looked completely stunned.

"What happened?"

The rat man asked, and the insect king jumped off me. I got up and walked towards them.

'You guys made it. You won't beli-'

They cut me off

"Are you alright Lady Hinotori?"

"Lady Hinotori, is everything ok?"

Both of them rushed towards me. But there was something odd. Why were they referring to me as 'Lady Hinotori'? That was a weird and sudden switch. Also, shouldn't they have been saying 'Sir' instead?

'Oh yes. Everything is fine.'

"Thank goodness."

'Any way you guys! I just finished talking to the spider king-'

"Oh spider king, please forgive our rudeness, but we have come seeking your aid during this invasion."

The rat man completely ignored me and bowed before the spider king.

I felt kind of offended but understood him none the less.

"Oh, uh… leader of the rat men, you can stand up. Rest assured everything has already been taken care of. I will aid you in the defense."

"R-really?"

"Oh yes, Hinotori-kyun and I hit it off splendidly and so I would like to help you lot."

'Kyun?'

"You did!?"

"They did?"

All three of us were confused, and I could see the others looking at me.

"I guess, I shouldn't have worried at all."

The rat man, who so rudely told me he believed I wasn't capable of doing this bashfully admitted.

"Erh-erm, its ok. No harm done."

I looked at the insect king again and I it… winked at me? Imagine looking at four eyes on the same body, winking at you at the same time. It was sort of creepy.

"Ok, then! As my guests, we shall have a feast tonight and then talk about the plans for the upcoming invasion."

Oh yeah, we hadn't really discussed about the actual matter

DAILY ACHIEVEMENTS

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Beetle Armor]]

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Centipede Armor]]

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Acid Spit]]

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Compound Eyes]]

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Stinger]]

[Hinotori acquired the skill [Fusion]]

[Hinotori went up 1 level]