Feasting Lord in Another World

Before black figures were noticed near Dominic's makeshift quarters in the remote area, someone had already relocated to that spot.

It was Ian, the blonde knight.

'I forgot to inform him to move his tent closer to the military camp since it's becoming dangerous from today.'

Ian knew that ever since Dominic had been deployed, he was secretly indulging in various alcoholic beverages at night, from beer to wine, and even whiskey.

Strictly speaking, Dominic was not a soldier but an outsider, making it ambiguous to penalize him for violating military orders.

Moreover, being shrewd, he deliberately set up his tent in a secluded area to enjoy his drinks away from the soldiers, which Ian had so far turned a blind eye to.

Swish, swish.

The ground was covered with overgrown weeds.

It was land where natural recovery outpaced human intervention, making it a boundary between civilization and wilderness.

No monsters would recklessly attack upon seeing a large troop of soldiers.

After all, beasts and monsters possess a strong instinct for survival.

'But even a lost goblin could cause casualties.'

The monsters in the mountain ranges were behaving strangely, so it was best to eliminate even the slightest possibility.

"Ah, I want some chicken."

Dominic's mutterings could be heard from a distance.

Just as Ian was growing weary of food talk while cooking daily,

Rustle-

Ian's ears caught the sound of something rustling in the bushes. Unfortunately, the sound emanated from near Dominic.

"Something is in the bushes, move away!"

"What?"

Under the moonlight, Ian observed the shimmering shadows and immediately shouted out, prompting Dominic to instinctively stand up.

Shreeeek!

Was it because their prey, which they thought they had captured, suddenly leaped?

From the bushes, creatures revealed themselves with strange noises all at once.

"Groot Spiders!"

With bodies exceeding 30 centimeters, eight long, hairy legs, and short, stubby appendages where their eyes should be, they were Groot Spiders, cave spiders.

Shriek, sizzle!

There appeared to be at least twenty of these giant spiders.

"Ah! What is this!"

Dominic was horrified at the sight of these fully exposed monsters.

How could he not be startled when the first monster he encountered in this world magnified the insect he detested the most?

"Do something!"

Shreeeek-!

"Stay quiet and freeze! They have degenerated eyes!"

Upon hearing Ian's instructions, Dominic froze and even attempted to hold his breath.

Shriek?

Thud-!

"Over here!"

A giant spider hesitated as it was about to sink its dripping fangs into Dominic's calf, distracted by a sudden noise. Ian seized the opportunity to divert their attention by shuffling his feet.

Shreeek, sreeek, shreeeeek!

The insects all simultaneously began to slide rapidly across the shrubs toward Ian.

By now, Ian had drawn his rapier and assumed a combat stance.

Clink, clink, clink!

The spiders emitted a horrifying sound as they rushed toward Ian, their mandibles snapping incessantly.

"Move! There are too many of them!"

Even Dominic, who had been holding his breath, shouted out in the critical situation.

However,

Screeeeak!

Ian's rapier moved like a work of art.

The blade gleaming in the moonlight and his golden hair billowing in the wind.

And spiders splitting in half, spewing green blood like fountains.

Thud, thud, thud.

With each move resembling a dance, the spiders' corpses piled up on the grass.

Seeing Ian wield his sword for the first time, Dominic realized that he wasn't a commander just because he was a young favorite.

'Why on earth would they assign a knight of that caliber to watch over a village chief like me?'

Although this question crossed Dominic's mind even in the critical situation,

"I don't know how you got here,"

Shh-.

"Rest in peace."

With a slightly mournful tone, Ian dispatched the last remaining spider and softly muttered something. Upon hearing this, Dominic swiftly dismissed any prior thoughts he had.

'...He's impressive yet also a bit strange.'

Dominic couldn't comprehend why Ian, who had elegantly finished the battle, would say something so awkward.

"Thank you for saving me, Sir Knight."

"Any injuries?"

"None, thanks to you."

But gratitude to his life's savior took precedence.

Dominic's legs were still shaking.

"Will creatures like these appear in the monster-clearing operation?"

"......"

Seasoned soldiers had informed him that typically, it was kobolds, frogmen, or goblins that appeared. Large magical beasts or social creatures rarely ventured to the outskirts of the mountains.

"I wasn't informed that there would be dog-sized spiders! If I had known, I wouldn't have followed!"

This was clearly a case of misrepresentation.

"What's happening?"

"I heard strange noises... What in the world is this!"

Soldiers from a nearby barracks arrived late to the scene, their bodies freezing at the sight of the spider corpses.

Dominic observed the soldiers' reactions.

'Even the soldiers appear to be encountering this for the first time.'

While he contemplated whom to inquire with, Ian had already tidied up.

"Soldiers, handle the disposal of the monster corpses."

"Understood!"

"You, come with me."

"Where to?"

"We need to report to the lord that a monster has appeared."

"Do I really have to go?"

"Is this the time for such discussions? It's no laughing matter, so follow me."

Dominic had a sinking feeling that he had become entangled in a troublesome situation.

***

"Is it true that Groot Spiders appeared?"

Sinclair, a Viscount getting ready for bed, hastily dressed and rushed into the command barracks.

Other lords were also arriving promptly.

"Yes, there were a total of twenty-two."

"Oh my! Any casualties among the soldiers?"

"Fortunately, due to early detection, there were no human casualties."

"Thank the Lord."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Groot Spiders were known to possess highly potent venom in their fangs. Missing the timing for treatment could lead to limb amputation.

'I regret following, what's the point of the tax!'

Dominic lamented, but it was already water under the bridge.

"But Groot Spiders usually inhabit deep caves, right? Even those living beneath the mountains rarely encounter them."

"Exactly. How could these creatures, adapted to dark caves, have ventured all the way here? And judging by their numbers, it seems like a swarm has moved..."

"If something has transpired in the mountains, that would pose a significant problem."

The lords fell into contemplation.

The unexpected appearance of a monster like a giant spider complicated matters.

"May I speak, my lords?"

An elderly knight stepped forward.

He was a veteran among veterans who had dedicated his youth to battling monsters in the monster-infested north.

"Even I have never encountered such creatures, specifically these Groot Spiders."

"Even you, Sir Richard?"

"Yes, but I'm familiar with their habits. They dwell deep in caves where no light penetrates and hunt prey by sound. Typically, they do not venture outside."

"But they were found near the soldiers' barracks, correct? So, something unusual has occurred?"

"Exactly."

"What is it?"

The middle-aged knight hesitated briefly before speaking.

"It's the Queen's lore."

"...Queen?"

Dominic's head turned involuntarily.

While others did not hear it, Ian appeared to have also guessed the reason for the spiders' appearance.

'How did he know?'

Reflecting, Ian had also shouted not to make a sound when the spider attempted to attack him.

The moment he saw the spider, he appeared to know precisely what it was.

'How did he?'

Questions swirled in Dominic's mind, but he lacked the courage to engage in idle chatter while standing before the high-ranking nobles.

"Queen? Do these spiders emerge from the cave when the queen is born?"

"Yes. To be precise, they emerge to hunt for food to store as nourishment after the queen has fully molted. The creatures within the cave cannot accommodate that quantity. If those spiders are preparing for the queen, we must act swiftly."

"Swiftly? Will there be issues if this queen completes her molting?"

In response to Lord Han's query, the middle-aged knight replied with a somber expression.

"The balance of the food chain in the mountain range will be utterly disrupted. The repercussions will extend to the people residing beneath the mountains as well."

"......!"

A brief silence fell over the command tent at the knight's words, but the atmosphere soon shifted with Lord Han's next comment.

"It's just the queen of the spiders; it seems like an exaggeration."

They were indeed large and grotesque, but one skilled knight had single-handedly dispatched over twenty without a scratch.

Regular soldiers might struggle, but a skilled knightly order shouldn't have much trouble defeating even the queen, or so he thought.

"That's not the case."

"And why do you believe that, Sir Richard?"

"Because what they serve as their queen is not a spider."

"What?"

It was an bewildering statement.

"It's a Sentinelarachnida, a mutated giant centipede. That's the queen of the spiders."

"…!"

**

The next morning, while it was still early, a group of people with serious expressions gathered in front of the command tent.

They were elite knights, carefully selected for their skill and character from various regions.

"You all understand the gravity of the mission you've been entrusted with," Count Sinclair affirmed, encouraging the knights, who appeared even more solemn.

"Remember, this is not just about dealing with a single monster. It's about safeguarding the lives of countless commoners who have settled in the lands below the mountain range."

Thud, thud!

Despite hailing from different territories, the knights moved as one, displaying their respect for the Count.

"We will certainly complete the mission and return."

"I have faith in you."

There were no better words to hear.

Nevertheless, the gratitude and respect sensed from the Count's hand patting each knight's shoulder conveyed more than a hundred words could.

Some knights even appeared moved that a high-ranking noble was bidding them farewell in person. However, one person still couldn't fathom how they had ended up in this situation.

"...Why me?"

Among the knights, there was one unarmed civilian.

It was Dominic.