The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 71 The Chimera Ants' Way of Food Preservation

"Finally, the corpses are all successfully brought back to the nest, huh~?" Mikhailis said, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he watched the screen in front of him. The images showed the worker ants diligently transporting the remains into the nest. He adjusted his glasses, focusing on the activity happening inside the food chamber.

It was fascinating to see how the food chamber had expanded—now about five by five meters in size with a tall ceiling, enough space to store the growing collection of food sources.

The ants had organized everything perfectly; the corpses of scarabs, small animals, the magical wood of the treant, parts of the direwolves, the hexapedal shadow serpent, and even the remains of the two Technomancer scouts—all being minced into smaller, manageable pieces.

He couldn't help but admire how tidy everything looked. The queen really had a knack for keeping things organized. The ants moved swiftly, compartmentalizing the food chamber, arranging the remains as if sorting out a large pantry. The way the pieces were stacked, each type having its own designated area, reminded him of a neatly organized kitchen—except this one had monster parts.

The air was damp, filled with an odd mixture of earthy, musky scents from the magical woods and the metallic tang of blood. Rodion's voice chimed in, breaking his focus from the screen.

<As you can see, Mikhailis, the fluids produced by the worker ants are coating the food remains. These fluids are aiding in preserving the nutrients and preventing decomposition at an accelerated rate. Quite similar to a primitive refrigeration method, if you think about it.>

Mikhailis watched as a group of worker ants approached a part of the serpent's body. Their antennae moved in sync, each ant working meticulously as they extracted specific fluids from their own glands and applied them over the remains. The process was quite sophisticated, almost like watching a chef glaze a roast before putting it in the oven.

"Well, would you look at that?" Mikhailis chuckled. "I guess even ants have a sense for good preservation. So, how long can we keep this stuff fresh, Rodion?"

<Based on my calculations, with the chemical composition of the fluid secreted by the worker ants, the food can be preserved effectively for up to two months. The primary chemical involved here appears to be a mixture of formic acid and a naturally occurring enzyme similar to protease, both acting as preservatives.

The formic acid creates a mildly acidic environment, which prevents bacterial growth, while the enzyme inhibits the process of tissue breakdown.>

Mikhailis raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "So you're telling me that they're basically pickling and enzymatically treating the food at the same time? That's pretty neat."

<Precisely. The fluid also includes a lipid component that helps seal the surface of the remains, limiting oxygen contact and slowing the oxidation process, which further extends the preservation duration. It is a rudimentary but effective method, developed as a biological adaptation for maximizing food storage efficiency.>

Mikhailis whistled, impressed. "These ants are smarter than I thought. Even though they don't have fridges or freezers, they're making do just fine." He leaned in closer, watching the ants at work. "Seems like they're even better organized than my kitchen back home. And I'm pretty sure they'd be better at remembering expiration dates, too."

He continued to watch as a couple of worker ants detached from the group and made their way toward a different chamber of the nest, carrying small samples of the fluid. Mikhailis couldn't help but smirk. "Where are they off to now, Rodion?"

<The worker ants are transporting the fluid to your personal lab. As you requested, I have instructed them to deposit a sample in the laboratory chamber adjacent to the private royal garden. I have already conducted an initial analysis of the fluid's chemical properties, and the findings are quite promising.>

Mikhailis leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Oh? Do tell. What have we got?"

<The fluid, as previously mentioned, contains a significant concentration of formic acid, accompanied by several enzymes with catalytic properties. One of these enzymes shares a similarity with chitinase, which breaks down complex polysaccharides into simpler molecules, facilitating nutrient absorption.

The presence of lipid-like molecules suggests that these ants possess the ability to create a biological sealant, essentially waterproofing the stored remains to keep them fresh.>

Mikhailis grinned, nodding. "Not bad. Not bad at all. So, what you're saying is these little guys basically have their own version of an industrial food preservation process. Honestly, I'm starting to think they might be able to teach a thing or two to human chefs."

He watched as the worker ants placed the serpent's body next to the other preserved items, their mandibles clicking as they worked tirelessly. Everything was being neatly stored, no sign of disorder or mess. It was oddly satisfying to watch the process.

"You know, Rodion," Mikhailis said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I've seen ants gather up rotten food before. They would disintegrate the parts that could still be eaten, piling up the good bits, and disregarding the parts that couldn't be used. It's almost poetic, in a way—no waste, everything serves a purpose."

<Indeed, Mikhailis. The efficiency of such systems is both effective and admirable. This colony's ability to preserve and make use of nearly all available resources enhances their survivability significantly.>

Mikhailis sighed, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he relaxed into his chair. "Now we just need to wait for the queen to get her meal and evolve. Then things will really get interesting."

He blinked, turning off the display on his glasses, and closed his eyes for a moment, stretching his arms above his head. The tension from the excitement slowly began to melt away from his muscles as he allowed himself to unwind.

Suddenly, he felt his hand bump into something soft. Something comfortable. Mikhailis paused, blinking as the texture registered in his mind. Slowly, he squeezed it again—an involuntary reaction.

"Ahn!"

Mikhailis's eyes shot open, and he found himself staring into Lira's face, her beautiful tanned skin only inches away. Her eyes, usually indifferent, now held a faint blush, though her expression still bore her signature stoic look.

"Uh, well," Mikhailis began, looking down at his hand, which was currently wrapped around the perfect curve of Lira's chest. "I, um... I believe it's time to put my hand away, don't you think?"

Lira tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Oh, perverted your highness... until a moment ago, I was inclined to believe it was merely an accident." She paused, raising an eyebrow. "But given the fact that you're still holding on, I'm starting to think this might not be so accidental after all, no?"

Mikhailis blinked, his mind momentarily blank before he quickly moved to pull his hand away. But before he could do so, Lira suddenly moved, shifting her weight and sitting herself down on his lap. Her legs straddled his, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that sent a thrill down his spine.

Mikhailis swallowed, staring up at her, his lips parting slightly in surprise. "Hey, now... What are you—?"

"Since my body is not something to be given away cheaply," Lira interrupted, her voice smooth, almost playful, "I believe some form of compensation is in order, wouldn't you say?"

Mikhailis looked up at her, an incredulous smile spreading across his lips. "This girl... You've gotten even more sly, haven't you?" He let out a laugh, shaking his head.

Lira didn't respond immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes, raising her chin slightly as if inviting something. Her lips parted just barely, and a hint of her natural scent—a mix of something floral and musky—filled Mikhailis's senses.

He knew what she wanted. She didn't need to say it out loud. It was written all over her posture, her expression, the way she raised her chin in expectation. And for a moment, all Mikhailis could do was stare at her, his heart pounding in his chest.

This was his maid—the one who had stood by him since his arrival, helped him, supported him through everything. And now, she was sitting on him, eyes closed, waiting for him to make the next move. Discover exclusive content at empire

Mikhailis swallowed, his gaze shifting down to her slightly parted lips, feeling the air grow thick between them.

"Lira..." he whispered, leaning in just a little closer, feeling her breath against his skin.

And just like that, the moment froze—an electric tension hanging between them, the world around them fading away until there was only Lira, her warmth, her scent, her lips waiting for him.

He hesitated, just for a heartbeat, before he slowly leaned in, closing the distance between them.

___

Chimera Ant Queen & Colony Status:

Queen Chimera Ant: Evolved with intelligence levels beyond normal; capable of magic (Water Bullet) and influence over other insect species.

Colony Units:

Worker Ants: 120 (responsible for nest expansion, tending to eggs, and resource gathering)

Soldier Ants: 20 (Defense and Combat)

Frog Variant Soldier: 1 (special recon unit; amphibious with enhanced jumping capabilities and camouflage)

Fire Scarabs: 43 (provide light, sentry duty, combat support)

Scarab Units: 150-200 (supplementary defense and secondary ration)

Eggs in Hatchery: 200 (mixture of worker, soldier, and new variants)

Nest Status:

Location: Expanding underground tunnels, moving into neighboring colonies and creating new chambers.

Key Sections:

- Hatchery Chamber: Holds developing eggs, tended by worker ants.

- Agricultural Chamber: Producing crops—Nightshade Mushrooms, Glowcap Fungus, Ironvine Root.

- Food Storage:

Current Supply:

Technomancer Remains: 3 bodies remaining (high nutrient value)

Magic Herbs: Moderate supply, used for nourishment and growth enhancement

Captured Prey: Small animals captured periodically (low but replenishable)

Luminous Scarabs: Partially assimilated, serving as both food and magical units

- Scarabs' Containment Area: Holds subdued scarabs under the queen's control, integrated as part of the colony.

- Hatchling Chamber: Designated for new eggs. Under construction.

- Defense Chambers: Surrounding queen's location for protection.

- Queen's Chamber: Centrally located, highly fortified.

- Food Storage Chamber: Stocked with recent Technomancer captives, providing food security for eight weeks.

- Worker's Chamber: Rest area for workers, located near tunnel exits.

- Soldier's Chamber: Rest area for soldiers, positioned closer to the surface for quick deployment.

- Resource Chamber: Stores harvested materials (chitin, metal scraps).

Special Projects:

- Variant Eggs: Four eggs potentially containing hybrid ants with unique traits (e.g., magical frog properties).

Recent Developments:

Recent Developments:

- Food Preservation: Worker ants utilizing enzyme-rich secretions to preserve collected remains for up to two months.

- Evolution Anticipation: Queen ant set to evolve after consuming new resources, potentially gaining shadow-based abilities.