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A cold wind slipped in through the crack of the warehouse door. It was an unpleasant chill.

Being discovered was bad enough, but the cold wind made it even worse.

A giant insect strode toward the Red Rooster and spoke:

“Now, as promised, you’ve been caught by me. Time to return quietly~!”

The insect sounded curt, as if this was routine, even a little bored with the situation.

“Mond! Please let me go this time. I really want to reach the Tarin Forest.”

Mond was neither surprised nor flustered.

“Ah~ don’t say that. A promise is a promise~ let’s just go back.”

Mond firmly rejected his plea. But the Red Rooster could not simply return.

This time, he desperately wanted to reach the Tarin Forest.

Red Rooster (Eat): Please, I beg you. Pretend you didn’t see me, okay? I’ll never forget this favor. Please!

Mond hesitated for a moment, but chose to remain cold. He decided to reason with him step by step.

Mond: Even if I let you go, you won’t reach the Tarin Forest~ You know that, don’t you?

Our forces surround the forest completely. You’ll be caught before you take a single step.

Just wait for another chance, Lord Eat~!

Eat pleaded again and again, but it was useless.

Eventually, repeated rejection began to hurt his pride, and their conversation grew more emotional.

Eat: Then I have no choice. I’ll defeat you and go my own way.

[Mond was incredulous, but still answered calmly.]

Mond: You must let go of past glory. Lord Eat… you’ve lost everything.

Mond: The power that once made our Barak tremble is gone.

Mond: Queen Sage deliberately imprisoned you, turning you into an object of ridicule and shame…

[Mond could not bring himself to finish, seeing Eat’s misery.]

Mond: I understand. You need hope in life… Let’s just go back.

Mond: We’ll think together of a way to reach the Tarin Forest. Right now, there is no way. Truly.

Their conversation continued, but neither could bridge the gap.

Then, from afar, something massive was approaching the bright light spilling from the warehouse.

By now, their emotions had flared, and their words grew harsh.

Eat: I can still take you down easily! Step aside! You might get badly hurt!

Mond: Pfft~ Fried chicken catching someone? Don’t forget, I’m scary when I’m angry too!

Eat: I’ll show you what the food chain really means! How dare an insect act up!

Mond: Go ahead, try it! And you think you’ll reach the Tarin Forest in that state? Don’t make me laugh~

As they argued, a massive insect leg appeared at the rear entrance behind Mond.

It was Melon, a Barak warrior insect, three times larger than Mond.

Mond: Enough! Let’s stop this and go. This pointless talk is exhausting.

Mond: And have you ever seen me travel alone? Even though I’m low-ranked, I’m still an officer!

Eat: [trembling] … Me… Melon…

[Melon was a combat-type Barak. Larger than Mond, though not the largest form.

Barak usually used their yellow antennae freely, like animal ears, sometimes as weapons.

Their body colors varied by role, but ground combat types like Melon were purple or blue.

Their eyes and claws matched the color of their antennae.

Between head and torso grew thick fur, giving a warm appearance.

Their shells were light yet tough, impervious to simple bullets or blunt weapons.]

Mond looked at Eat with resignation. With a faint tenderness, he spoke again.

Mond: There is hope. Let’s wait for the right time together.

Mond: Your plan to reach the Tarin Forest—I’ll help you.

Mond: For now, come back with me, and we’ll prepare anew there. Okay?

But Eat, worn down by longing, hardship, and fading hope, lost his grip.

Mond’s warm words only deepened his despair.

At last, Eat pulled out the secret weapon he had saved for the Tarin Forest.

It was a long, red, cylindrical canister, resembling a missile.

Countless secret weapons spilled from his back onto the floor.

Mond: Huh? What are those? Where did they all come from? How could such a small body hide so many?

Eat: Let me go… I must reach the Tarin Forest…

Mond: Calm down! And what are those things anyway~

Eat: These are insecticide bombs, made by Emperor Loran of Gordic to destroy Barak… Step back!

[They were made as a hobby, so their effectiveness was unknown.]

Mond: Are you threatening us with insecticide? That won’t work~

Eat: This is your last warning!

Mond finally lost his patience and spoke harshly.

Eat snapped, and immediately pressed the activation button with a command.

“Roll-roll!”

At his command, the weapons scattered on the ground rose into the air, waiting for orders.

Eat: Aaaah~ I can’t hold back anymore! Go!

The weapons all flew toward the Barak.

Eat expected gas or liquid insecticide to spray out, but instead, the unknown weapons erupted in massive explosions, releasing intense heat.

Eat: Wh-what is that!?

The tremendous blast shocked Eat, but he seized the moment.

Using that brief chance, he dashed with all his strength, slipping through the Barak and out the door.

Even as he ran, squeezing past them, and bursting outside, the explosions did not stop.

Propelled by the force, Eat was flung farther than expected and landed softly at a distant spot.

His ears rang with deafening tinnitus from the blast, dizziness overwhelming him.

As he lost consciousness, he muttered his last words:

“Ugh… Loran! This is a bomb…” [collapsing]

Eat fainted on the spot.

Meanwhile, the warehouse behind him continued to erupt in massive explosions.

“Insecticide, my ass… damn it…” [thud]