Chapter 45 How could Horace exist in interstellar space...?

In interstellar space, all species are aware of the Zerg's power.

Even the lowest-ranking insect can easily pierce through hard rocks with its pincers.

Their carapaces are extremely defensive, capable of withstanding the vast majority of attacks.

As the Lord Insect, second only to the Queen Insect, it is even more powerful than any other species can imagine.

It is virtually impossible for any weapon to penetrate the Lord Bug's defenses.

The Lord Insects were even more aware of the power of Lord Insects of the same level as them.

So, seeing Horace's energy push him to the ground, leaving him looking severely injured, Fiedlock stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

How could he have collapsed so easily?!

He didn't use any force at all!

Fiedlock was both confused and afraid, his dark purple eyes looking helplessly at the king not far away:

Would Wang think that he was being belligerent and bullying Horace?

But he quickly realized that with the energy he had just used, he wouldn't even be able to push Horace, let alone break through his defenses.

He must be faking it!

He wanted to feign weakness, frame him, and gain the king's mercy!

Realizing what had happened, Fidelock glared angrily at Horace, whose wound was still bleeding profusely.

But he only dared to glare at him, and dared not do anything, not even utter a word of protest.

Since he was the one who started it, he was afraid that saying anything would make Wang even angrier.

Fiedlock stood there looking aggrieved, his hands behind his back, like a little insect that had made a mistake and was looking at its master expectantly, hoping to gain the master's forgiveness.

Saville stood not far away, merely glancing indifferently at Fedlock and Horace before looking away with an expression of complete detachment.

He continued to look intently at the king, observing his needs.

That's the only thing he needs to do.

Isaiah looked at the pitiful Horace and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

He knew that with the energy Fiedlock had just used, Horace wouldn't have been injured so badly.

Is this a self-inflicted injury ruse?

Isaiah lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions within them:

Horace's injury this time not only excused his earlier attack on them, but also easily earned him the king's favor.

It seems this insect isn't as stupid as he thought.

Horace, who was being watched by all the insects, took a while to realize what had just happened.

He looked at himself sprawled on the ground, looking disheveled, and his face instantly turned bright red.

He... he was actually pushed to the ground?!

Was it pushed to the ground by such a light, airy energy?!

He's always been the one fighting other insects; no insect has ever beaten him like this!

The key point is that Fiedlock didn't even exert any force!

Horace's chest heaved violently, and his body trembled with rage.

He actually made such a huge fool of himself in front of the king!

Will Wang think he's useless?

Wouldn't Wang find him hilarious?

The more he thought about it, the angrier and more ashamed he became, and his body trembled even more violently.

To the other insects, Horace looked pitiful, trembling with pain from his wounds.

Seeing this, all the insects' eyes were filled with understanding and disgust:

How could such a minor injury cause this much pain!

It's obvious that Horace is trying to gain the king's sympathy.

snort!

It's truly shameful for an insect!

At this point, Fiedlock couldn't hold back any longer and defended himself:

"king……"

“I didn’t use any force at all. That little bit of energy wasn’t enough to knock Horace down…”

Horace snapped back to reality upon hearing his voice.

He jumped up as if he'd been stepped on a worm's tail.

He used his remaining energy to repair the wounds on his body, then raised his head and retorted without hesitation:

"Who said you pushed me down?!"

"I just lost my balance and tripped!"

"What's it to you?!"

Horace maintained a relaxed expression, trying his best to appear as if nothing was wrong:

Don't think he doesn't know that Fedoro wanted to use the incident of pushing him down to show off his abilities in front of the king.

With Fedorock's strength, how could he have hurt him if Fedorock hadn't been caught off guard?!

snort!

He would never let him succeed!

He just accidentally fell!

It has absolutely nothing to do with Fiedlock's energy!!

Seeing Horace's face turn pale from exhaustion, yet he still maintained a calm demeanor as if nothing was wrong, Isaiah's previously relaxed, almost spectator-like expression gradually turned serious.

Taking a step back to advance is truly a brilliant tactic!

He really underestimated him.

Sure enough, while all the insects might be a bit silly at other times, they were all incredibly cunning when vying for the king's favor.

Isaiah looked at Fiedlock, who seemed completely unaware of what had happened on the other side, and silently shook his head.

How could he possibly defeat Horace?

Fiedlock truly had no idea what Horace was thinking.

Horace's words seemed to be making excuses for him, but for some reason, he always felt a stuffy, uncomfortable feeling in the insect core.

The four insects each had their own thoughts, but their eyes were all cautiously fixed on the direction where the king was.

Some insects feared the king's wrath.

Some insects observe the king's movements and preferences.

Some insects were sensing the king's emotions.

Some insects, fearing that the king would think they were useless, tried their best to appear as if they were very healthy, strong, and trustworthy.

Ai Ying felt the gazes of all the insects and sighed helplessly.

Although Horace's attack on the other insects had indeed angered her.

But he never appeared by her side, never heard her commands, so he had no idea that she hated the fighting between the insects.

Ignorance is no excuse.

not to mention……

As a Gu Master, she could sense the current state of Horace, the insect.

His energy was almost completely depleted, and his insect body was riddled with holes.

She knew that Fedlock hadn't used much force, but Horace really didn't have the extra energy to withstand the slight physical impact.

Looking at Horace's pale face, Ai Ying's anger softened.

She looked at him, her voice still carrying a hint of cold authority:

"Horace, do you want to stay by my side?"

Upon hearing the king's words, Fidelock, Saville, and Isaiah all froze for a moment.

Although they had a vague idea that the king would keep Horace by his side when Horace arrived on Noah.

But when that moment actually arrived, an undeniable sourness still welled up in their insect cores.

Soon another insect appeared beside the king, diverting his attention.

Horace's dark red eyes suddenly lit up when he heard what the king said to him.

But he quickly realized his expression and averted his gaze from the king, pretending not to care at all.

He blinked twice nonchalantly:

He was abandoned by the king for 299 years, six months, and seven days.

So much time—

He wouldn't agree until Wang asked him again...

never mind.

Horace blinked twice more:

He's a lord insect; he can't be so willful.

He waited three more seconds before responding to Wang.

In the less than two seconds of his silence, Saville keenly sensed the king's exhaustion.

Savile presented the king with a bottle of nutrient solution meant to boost spirits, his voice filled with concern:

"Your Majesty, you should go back and rest."

As he moved, Isaiah subtly took two steps, blocking Horace's view.

Ai Ying didn't hear Horace's reply and assumed he needed to think it over.

She accepted the nutrient solution offered by Saville, nodded slightly, and was then escorted by three insects towards the insect nest. Her mental energy, depleted by the 'Healing' technique, hadn't been fully replenished, and she had also used her Gu magic to stop Horace's attack on the other insects.

She was exhausted and needed a good day to rest and replenish her depleted mental energy.

Moreover, Ai Ying glanced at the direction behind her, then walked forward with a calm expression:

She didn't want to force the contract insect.

Horace watched the king leave without looking back, and all the pride and composure in his eyes shattered instantly.

He stood still for two seconds.

As she watched Wang Yue walk further and further away, a hint of grievance appeared in her eyes.

He wiped the scales from his injured face, dusted himself off, and followed as if nothing had happened.

Isaiah noticed the commotion behind him and gave Horace a mocking look.

Horace tilted his head back, his face full of righteous indignation, and said:

"To stay by the king's side and protect him is the duty of every lord insect!"

He is a dutiful lord insect!

That's right!

That's it!

After speaking, he thought he had subtly glanced at the king's expression, and finding that the king hadn't paid any attention to what he had said, he nonchalantly looked at the scenery in the sky, but his pace involuntarily quickened.

He must fulfill the duties of the Lord Insect!

He can't be left behind!

*

Inside the insect nest.

Ai Ying slept for another day before regaining her mental strength.

She stepped out of the room and saw several insects that had been waiting outside for who knows how long.

Fiedlock bent down slightly and carefully brought the black hair to her hand.

She reached out and skillfully ruffled his hair.

Savile held a glass of invigorating plant-based liquid, his deep blue eyes looking at her with pious anticipation.

She took the plant extract and drank two sips.

Isaiah held his hands to his chest, with fireworks made of wind blooming in his hands. Only after seeing her smile did he stop what he was doing.

After calming down the three insects, Ai Ying finally had time to look at the newly arrived lord insect by the window.

Although Horace kept looking out the window, he was always aware of what was happening in the bedroom.

After noticing that Wang had left the bedroom, he casually moved to the left, standing in a spot where Wang could see him as soon as he looked up.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wang Anfu pacifying the three insects, and a hint of envy inadvertently flashed in his dark red eyes.

But he quickly realized what was happening and turned back with an impatient look on his face:

These insects are so obsequious!

He wouldn't stoop to associating with them!

Just as Horace stood arrogantly by the window watching the storm outside, he suddenly felt that the king was looking at him!

His expression suddenly froze, and a hint of annoyance appeared in his eyes:

You should have turned your right cheek toward the king!

He has a patch of scales scratched on his left cheek; it must look terrible!

It's all that damned, sycophantic, rude Fiedlock's fault!

Horace knew that the king was watching him now, and it would be no use blaming Fidelock.

He used all the little energy he had recovered in his body on the scales on his left cheek, each scale shimmering with a dazzling dark red light.

He's a meticulous insect; whether the king is present or not, he always makes sure he behaves perfectly.

His actions now are just routine, nothing surprising at all!

Horace tilted his head slightly, allowing the figure not far away to clearly see the beautiful nine scales that snaked down his neck from his profile.

If the king... wants to touch his scales, that's not impossible.

Anyway, the reason he has such beautiful scales on his face is so that... insects can admire them.

Ai Ying stared at the figure by the window, slightly taken aback.

She had always known that all the Lord Insects looked as impressive as they were in combat, but Horace's face still surprised her for a moment.

His long, dark purple hair made his profile look even more refined.

Beneath her long eyelashes were a pair of dark red eyes that carried a hint of arrogance.

But when those eyes looked at her, they held a tenderness and trepidation that he himself was unaware of.

What impressed her even more were the scales that snaked down his neck from the side of his face.

The dark red scales shimmered with an undercurrent of light, making his already exquisite profile even more radiant, and giving him a unique allure.

Horace in this form looks like a proud and beautiful phoenix worm.

However, his physical condition is completely contrary to his appearance.

His energy reserves were depleted, and his body was riddled with holes; even a slight collision could severely injure him.

The worm blood in his body was so thin that it didn't look like that of a living worm.

The decline beneath the beauty is all the more regrettable.

Ai Ying sighed inwardly.

From the moment she saw Isaiah lose control and injure himself, she knew how difficult it would be for all the insects without the King's comfort.

Horace appeared to be unharmed, but without her, it's uncertain how long he could have held on.

Unfortunately, he may still be wary of her now.

Although the contract could heal Horace's injuries, she did not want to force him into the contract.

Since he has chosen to stay by her side, he will eventually be able to fully trust her.

It's not too late to conclude a contract then.

Before making a pact with him, she used Gu magic to alleviate his injuries.

Thinking of this, Ai Ying's somewhat heavy mood eased.

She looked at Horace and praised him with a smile:

"Very beautiful scales."

Horace's eyes lit up immediately:

The king praised his scales for being beautiful!

He said that no species could resist the allure of his beautiful scales!

He pretended to be calm as he looked at the king, but the fire energy around him couldn't help but overflow, dancing around him merrily.

The other three insects watched as Horace radiated with a glow under the fire, feigning composure and seemingly expressionless, but in reality, deep apprehension lurked in his eyes.

Especially Isaiah.

As he watched Horace's series of cunning actions, his vigilance towards him within the insect core increased even further.

First, it pretended to be ostracized by the insects, standing alone by the window that the king could see from his bedroom, in order to attract the king's attention.

After the king noticed him, he didn't forget to use his good looks to seduce the king and get the king to praise him.

That's a brilliant tactic.

Looking at Horace, who still wore an air of pride and innocence, Isaiah's amber eyes darkened slightly.

Horace had no idea that he had become a cunning lord within the Isaiah's brain.

Wang has arrived at his usual office.

Horace stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the king, the scales on his profile still gleaming with just the right amount of dim light.

He crossed his arms, seemingly surveying his surroundings, but his gaze kept drifting towards Wang, a hint of expectation hidden in his eyes.

Cough cough—

Since the king likes his scales, he, as the lord insect, naturally has to satisfy the king's preferences.

So if Wang wants to touch it... then let him touch it.

It's his duty, and he won't refuse.

Fiedlock, Saville, and Isaiah all stood in their fixed positions for this period of time.

This time, they no longer had the undercurrent of competition they used to have; instead, they were united in their hatred of Horace and kept a close eye on his every move.

Ai Ying was unaware of the undercurrents among the four insects.

In the past few days, while healing the hidden injuries of the Noah Star Bugs and restoring their mental strength, she has been reading some books about the Zerg and the current state of interstellar space.

After deciding to become 'King', she had to take on the responsibilities of a king.

Currently, limited by the strength of her Gu magic, she can only improve the living conditions of the insects on one planet.

But that doesn't mean she only cares about the insects on Noah's Planet.

She needed to understand the current situation of the Zerg in all the star systems they lived in as soon as possible.

after all……

Ai Ying glanced at the ongoing storm outside the window, a hint of seriousness creeping into her eyes:

There are many other insects, just like the ones on Noah's Planet, waiting for her.

Moreover, she wanted to understand not only the current situation of the Zerg on various planets.

As the queen, she also needs to understand the current situation of other species, their attitudes towards the Zerg, and so on.

Ai Ying lowered her head and began to carefully read the books about the Feathered Beast Clan in the paper book.

The feather iron refined by the Feathered Beast Clan is incredibly sturdy yet considered high quality and inexpensive.

Among the Zerg, there are many planets similar to Noah's Ark, and feather iron is also needed to build nests on those planets.

Thinking of this, she waved her hand, wanting to ask Isaiah, who had visited the Feathered Beast Clan many times, some related questions.

But before she could speak, a figure suddenly appeared beside her.

Horace, who seemed to be looking out the window the whole time, was actually focused on the king.

The moment the king raised his hand, his eyes lit up, and he rushed to the king's side before all the other insects.

He knelt sideways beside the king's hand, his face full of a helpless expression that said, "The king wants to touch my scales, and I have no way to refuse."

He raised his head, his scaly profile brushing against the back of the king's hand almost imperceptibly, then brushing against it again.

Ai Ying felt the cool yet slightly warm touch on the back of her hand, and her fingertips twitched slightly.

Seeing the insect beside her glancing at her every now and then with expectant eyes, she gently raised the corners of her lips and reached out to touch its scales.

Horace's face turned bright red in an instant, and even the scales on his face felt hot.

Even though the insect core was throbbing as if it were about to explode, he remained motionless, letting Wang continue to touch it.

He said, "Such beautiful scales, how could the king not like them, how could he not want to touch them!"

He was simply fulfilling his duty as the lord insect!

That's right!

Behind Horace, the three insects' faces grew increasingly grim.

Especially Isaiah.

Wang Mingming was just summoning him!

Horace, that scoundrel!

He pretended not to care about the king, but he ran away faster than anyone else!

These insects are disgusting!

Isaiah took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, and calmed down again.

His amber pupils were icy cold.

The most important thing now is to get the king’s attention away from Horace!

He walked up to the king, completely ignoring Horace who was kneeling on one knee, and spoke respectfully:

"Your Majesty, is there something you need from me?"

Ai Ying finally snapped out of her daze from the sensation of Horace's scales.

She glanced at the open book on the table and remembered why she had called for Isaiah earlier:

What do you know about the Feathered Beast Clan?

Isaiah's eyes showed a hint of doubt:

Why did the king suddenly become so interested in the winged beast race?

Is the king planning to conquer the Feathered Beast Star?!

Thinking of this, a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes.

But as his gaze shifted downwards and he saw the red figure, the excitement in his eyes vanished instantly.

How could Horace, that little bug, be so insensible!

Can't you see that Wang is currently asking him a question?

Why hasn't he left the king's side yet?!

Horace felt the piercing gaze on his back, his eyes filled with impatience towards Isaiah:

Why is this insect taking so long?

Didn't you see that Wang was busy touching his scales again later?

Why isn't he hurrying up?!

As for why he still stays here.

Horace's eyes were filled with unwavering commitment to his duty.

He is the lord insect, and whether he likes it or not, he must obey the king's orders.

The king did not let him leave.

How could he leave without permission!

Isaiah glanced at Horace, who seemed to be living there motionless, took a deep breath, ignored him, and began to tell the king about the current situation of the Feathered Beasts.

As Ai Ying listened to his description of the Feathered Beast Clan's level, size, finances, and hostile races, she nodded thoughtfully.

As long as the Feathered Beast Clan has a need, the Insect Clan can obtain more Feather Iron at a lower cost, according to their needs.

Between species, self-interest always comes first.

Just as she was pondering the current situation of the Feathered Beast Clan, she suddenly noticed that Horace beside her seemed to sway slightly.

Horace's body energy was almost depleted.

However, in order to maintain the beauty of the scales on his face, he kept overdrawing his energy.

I've reached my limit by now.

But Horace remained calm and composed, the faint, dim sheen of the scales on the side of his face unchanged.

He must persevere!

He wants to be the most useful and the most beautiful insect!

He absolutely cannot let the other insects know that he can't even maintain his beauty!

He tilted his head back, calmly kneeling on one knee, as if the insect who was about to faint from exhaustion wasn't him at all.

As a Gu Master, Ai Ying sensed Horace's condition the moment his body swayed.

Looking at his stubborn expression, she sighed helplessly in her heart.

Then a hand was placed on his forehead, and the Gu technique 'Healing' poured out.

Upon witnessing this scene, Isaiah abruptly stopped his narration of the Feathered Beasts.

He ground his back teeth, his worm core brimming with rage:

He asked why Horace wasn't so eager to be covenanted with the king.

He remained silent when Wang asked him if he wanted to stay by Wang's side!

He still believed that, as he had said, he could survive without a king!

Isaiah clenched his fists:

He underestimated him!

Horace's injuries will not heal unless he is bound by the King's contract.

As soon as Horace shows the slightest sign of discomfort, the king will notice his injury, ignore the other insects, and focus solely on treating him!

What a disgusting bug!

Not only Isaiah, but also Fidelock and Saville, who rarely participated in the power struggles among the lord insects, all looked wary.

Horace is no benevolent man!

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

Author's Note: Horace: A fake green tea bitch, but a real tsundere~~

Happy National Day, my darlings! Have a wonderful holiday!!

I'm giving out red envelopes to all the little ones today!