062 – Native Nymphs Dislike Invasive Species! # 1
A few days had passed since Korea faced an unprecedented ant problem.
The day after the government’s compensation announcement for the people who had their sugar and honey plundered.
Ahn Ahn had filled in all the holes.
The holes that had been dug in our backyard.
—Zzzi…!
—Juji…!
After the noisy honey ants that had caused chaos in Korea scattered into the forest and mountains.
There were now two honey ants in our house.
Because a knight ant had begun to stay as a guest.
“Shall I give you some food?”
—Juji…!
The knight ant shook its head vigorously.
It seemed to declare, “I only listen to my master’s commands!”
In reality, the knight ant felt more like Ahn Ahn’s subordinate than my friend or guest.
This silver knight ant had five black soldier honey ants as its subordinates, and the command structure seemed firmly pyramid-shaped.
“These guys pulled out all the weeds!”
“My, oh my—life sure brings all sorts of things.”
The soldier ants roamed this squirrel village, helping the elders with farm work or repairing walls, and were rewarded with candy.
It seemed rumors had spread among the elders that if you offered them red ginseng candy or pumpkin taffy, the ants would work.
“By the way—how do we tame these honey ants? The knight and soldier ants have been working on various things at the construction site behind our house.”
Moreover—
Beginner awakened individuals who had come to catch squirrel beasts were showing interest in honey ants instead.
They seemed to want to tame honey ants.
It’s true that honey ants had caused significant damage to the country temporarily.
However, they quickly blended into society, helping with people’s work, fixing collapsed walls, and assisting with construction.
Fortunately, after someone successfully tamed a knight ant and posted a video of it cleaning the floor on MyTube, reactions surged.
“Title: Owning dogs or cats is so last season.
Content: It’s now the age of squirrel beasts and honey ants!”
Frankly, I held the position of the highest authority on honey ants in our country.
I needed to give some advice to those aspiring to tame honey ants.
“Honey ants instinctively sense and follow vertical relationships. If you wish to tame honey ants, you must instill a sense of undeniable skill and trust as their leader.”
“Oh, indeed!”
Of course, that was merely my speculation.
I didn’t know if it was true or not.
But it felt right.
Ahn Ahn followed me because I was a decent leader, right?
Or maybe not.
In any case.
“So Ahn Ahn, what happened with that empress ant? I haven’t seen her around these days.”
The empress ant.
I had named her Elizabeth.
According to Oinoi, Elizabeth the empress ant and Ahn Ahn came from two different ant kingdoms.
I had thought they were siblings.
I soon chuckled seeing Illinois digging up the backyard frantically.
“I think Elizabeth the empress ant might be Ahn Ahn’s fiancée…! This Illinois, I can sense an unusual vibe flowing between the two of them…!”
Is that so?
Ahn Ahn is a well-liked ant.
Maybe it’s because of her golden, shining body?
Gold is indeed nice.
Should I make a suit in gold next time—
Adding stripes like a squirrel beast.
It would be immensely popular.
Hehe—
With such thoughts, I smiled and asked Illinois.
“So when will the suit I asked for be made? Seo Ye-rim took the leather and sinew.”
The large anteater Orormera.
Seo Ye-rim had taken this anteater’s sinew, leather, and fur.
I had commissioned it to design a suit using demon materials.
A Rank demon materials.
Surely, a good piece of armor would come out of it.
“Hehe, this Illinois knew you would ask and brought one! This is a rope made from the tongue of a large anteater…!”
Oh—
It was a rope that could stretch and shrink.
It was tough and durable.
Ropes could be used in various ways, which was great.
“Illinois, when will the suit be completed?”
“That will take a bit longer—first, I have asked for money…!”
The cost of suit production was 3,000.
I had to prepare a huge sum of 300 million won, but now I had to spend 3,000.
However, this was an investment.
I had to invest in equipment to make more money.
I didn’t hold back on investments for equipment.
# # #
—Hioong…!
—Kkungkkung…!
—Zzzi-.
In the late afternoon as the sun was setting.
Just as usual, I was searching my name on the internet when the animals playing in the yard began to cry out.
It was a sign that a visitor had arrived.
Could it be Seo Ye-rim here to pick up Illinois?
Or perhaps Lee Jin-A, coming to play with Coris?
Swoosh—.
As I went out to the yard, I saw a tall woman.
Her hair was blonde, she was very slender, and she wore sunglasses.
Pointed and long ears poked out between her hair.
An elf.
Why did an elf come to our house?
“Hieeek…! An invasive species is here…! We must sprinkle cold water and chase them away…!”
“That Illinois, an invasive species is visiting and troubling our native nymphs…! This can’t be tolerated…!”
The battle spirit of the nymphs was rising rapidly.
They were about to splash the cold water from the basin they had prepared in the bathroom at the elf.
If that really happened, we’d end up on the news!
I hurriedly shouted over the front gate.
“What’s going on?”
“I was told that a peculiar tree is growing here. I’m not a strange person; I’m Greenf, from a non-profit organization called ‘Green Fairy Society.’”
Swoosh—.
The elf presented her business card.
So she was an elf from a citizen group.
She soon took off her sunglasses and looked at the tall golden apple tree growing quite high in the yard.
“Oh my, isn’t that a golden apple tree? I can’t believe such a tree is growing in this rural area!”
Does the elf know about golden apple trees?
In that moment.
“Invasive species, hurry and retreat…! This is the land of nymphs…! It has been the habitat that nymphs have protected for a long time…!”
“If you don’t get away quickly, this Illinois will call the police…!”
The nymphs came out to the yard, shouting wildly.
They were furious, like farmers facing an invasion from foreign forces, tightly clenching their round fists and shaking them.
The elf who had identified herself as ‘Greenf’ seemed greatly flustered by this intense response.
“Oh my, there were already other fairies here. Hohoho─. Then I will take my leave─.”
Swoosh—.
Brum brum—
The elf drove away in a car.
Soon Illinois said.
“Look at her, an elemental fairy driving a car that emits so much exhaust…! An invasive species elf doesn’t qualify as a fairy…!”
Was Illinois displeased with the elf driving a car?
But hadn’t Illinois also arrived here by car?
“You came by car too, didn’t you?”
“Hehe, this Illinois drove in Core Ye-rim’s electric car…! It’s a very nymph-friendly vehicle…! It’s quite different from an invasive species vehicle…!”
I see.
That made a lot of sense.
Electric cars are expensive, but they are indeed good.
I want one too.
Anyway, it was my first time seeing an elf up close.
They were certainly tall and mature.
Didn’t all my hometown classmates marry elves?
“This Oinoi has driven away an invasive species…! I am dancing the dance of joy…!”
“Very good…!”
Oinoi and Illinois began to dance a strange dance with their hands on their waists.
They seemed happy.
I relaxed and went back into the house.
Notification 1.
Just as I was about to search my name on SNS again, I saw a message.
“To Awakened Haildo. You are invited to the fundraising meeting by the Green Fairy Society.”
“Date—.”
“Location: Incheon Port Fairy Ship”
“This event is fully funded by the Green Fairy Society.”
Is this some sort of invitation?
The fairy ship seemed to be the name of a boat.
Upon searching, I found a very large ship, apparently a super cruise ship.
A fundraising event lasting three days and two nights.
It seemed that famous celebrities and politicians would also be attending.
An ultra-luxurious passenger ship with elf chefs cooking a banquet.
Is it like a charity party where celebs gather?
To think I was invited to such a place.
But why?
No, I think I kind of understand.
“My name has been quite hot lately!”
When I searched on SNS, my name appeared prominently on the first page.
There were posts about honey ants and squirrel beasts—.
Compared to just a while ago when there were zero search results, this was a huge improvement.
“A fundraising meeting, huh….”
It smells like money.
As someone who needed to make 300 million won, I had no reason not to accept this invitation.
It would allow me to expand my fame even more!
“With one invitation, I can bring up to two additional guests.”
Were they being generous, asking family to come along?
In an instant, thoughts of my mom and dad crossed my mind.
While I was about to open a group chat, I paused.
If I brought Mom and Dad, my younger sister would be left out.
If the four of us couldn’t go, it might create an awkward atmosphere.
Knowing Hai-rae’s personality, she would surely create a fuss about not being able to go.
Then should I go with someone other than family?
“I’ll bring Oinoi. She might dislike it since it’s an elf party, but if I say there will be a lot of delicious food, she’ll probably enjoy it.”
In that case, one spot would remain.
As I pondered, I glanced at my phone.
