Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Mosquitos are bad
The gods didn’t reply with words, but Farini felt a wave of assurance rise inside him, which was as clear as any answer.

“Keshich’s firstborn undoubtedly already took the reins of the province, my lord,” the Chancellor continued his rambling. “If he’s a dutiful son, he will finish what his father started. Yet again, I implore you, my lord—speak with the High King. For the sake of all your subjects! Plea that he resolves the issue while this change of circumstances won us some time.”

Farini looked at his Chancellor coldly. The man didn’t dare to ask Farini to “admit his faults” and become a scapegoat for the entire court; but he clearly had this in mind.

However, he was right that this was his best opportunity for action. Farini could direct his soldiers to Lower Grazahmich and retake the initiative of this small war. Or, he could order to fortify his army’s positions while he personally speaks with the High King.

After all, Keshich was the aggressor in this unlawful war, and without Keshich himself there to defend his actions in front of the High King, Farini’s words will be the only truth.

His missives might’ve been lost, but if he goes personally, he can ensure that the truth prevails.

“I will speak with the High King. Prepare the fastest steeds for me and my personal guards! I also want the priests to pray for my success, and tonight, I will join their prayers.”

***

That evening, Farini prayed in his city’s large temple, together with dozens of other nobles and rich merchants of the province. While they wished him luck and prayed for salvation from sickness and famine, Farini prayed for divine guidance.

Despite the assurance he showed in court, Farini wasn’t sure it was a right choice to leave a province for at least two weeks (this was how long it took to travel to the capital city and back) in a time like that.

What if disaster struck while he was away? His wife didn’t speak against his decision, but prayed harder than ever and looked at him with the saddest eyes this morning. The children—ones who were old enough to understand—cried until their nannies took them away.

‘Divine guardian, will you protect them while I’m away? Will you protect the people I worked so hard for?’

‘The gods will watch over them. Don’t let anyone stop you on your way.’

Farini thanked the gods profusely in his prayers and left an extra donation to the temple. The head priest celebrated his devotion… but Farini felt less and less like the man knew what he was talking about.

***

The journey to the capital city would take from ten to five days. Normally, it wasn’t a dangerous one—the main roads were patrolled by soldiers who made all bandits stay away.

But Farini took more direct and less well-guarded roads to reach his destination faster. To compensate, he had a squadron of guards with him, and all of them traveled on horseback.

On their way, the group saw that the plagues and disasters struck not just their province, indeed. In some places, entire villages had their gates closed and black banners of plague hanging as a warning to travelers.

Many new graves were dug near towns and cities, too. All travelers were screened carefully for signs of cities, and several times Farini and his guards slept outside a city instead of dealing with the quarantines.

Farini prayed that the royal court didn’t go into seclusion because of this, like it happened sometimes in times of plagues. He also prayed that he or his guards wouldn’t catch some sickness to bring to their province, which was already suffering from all the same things.

Five days later, Farini rode onto the streets of the capital. There was a partial quarantine, too—but he was let inside. However, things were bad here as well.

The place, usually bustling with activity and industry, was full of haggard people. The hospitals and offices of doctors had dozens of people gathered nearby.

It was too late to speak in court today, so Farini found an inn to rest in until tomorrow. It wouldn’t do to appear in front of the High King while dusty from the road, anyway.

And he prayed again—for luck and guidance. Usually, prayer was the easiest thing to do, especially since his connection to gods became so direct.

Today, however, Farini was distracted by earthly matters. Notably, the room he rented was furnished worse than its price suggested, and it showed.

The prayer mat was hard on his tired knees, and the window curtain that stopped insects from flying inside must’ve had holes, because a large mosquito got inside the room and was annoyingly buzzing around.

‘Divine guardian—’

Bzzzzzzz!

‘Divine guardian, I thank you for my smooth journey. Please—’

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

‘Please, give me a bit more of your grace, so I could—’

Bzzz.

The buzzing went silent, and so did Farini’s thoughts. Where did this mosquito *go*? It was well known that mosquito bites opened your veins to curses, bad miasma and sickness—and the city was already full of all three.

Farini looked around anxiously when he heard this buzzing again—right behind him.

He moved with lightning speed, slapping the mosquito to the back of his neck—only to hear another, louder buzzing right after the slap.

When Farini turned around to its source, he saw a bee that must’ve taken flight from his back (but why would Farini have a bee on his back?).

A bee that was… wearing clothes? Although he looked at it for a moment, Farini’s eyesight was pretty sharp, even at his age. In his youth, he was an excellent hunter—he clearly saw that the bee had a tiny tunic and pants and other, even tinier bits and pieces.

Farini blinked several times and looked at the squashed mosquito on his palm—no clothes, only ugly gray skin and red guts.

When he looked up again, the bee disappeared already, and he could hear no buzzing.

‘What in the name of all devils was this?’