NOVEL WEB Chapter 143
Chapter 143: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses
“What’s going on? What kind of bug is it? Is it something serious?”
My head was spinning, trying to figure out how to explain this, while the princess kept firing questions at me.
Her eyes were locked onto me, pleading for a quick answer about what insect it was.
Even though I wanted to tell her, the situation was too tricky.
Feeling flustered, I glanced at her, and my father-in-law quickly stepped in.
“Princess, allow me to have a word with my son-in-law. He may be nervous with a high-ranking person present.”
“Oh, I see. Go ahead then.”
“Son-in-law, what’s going on?”
“Father-in-law, come here.”
“Ear? Is this something to discuss in private? But we are in front of the princess…”
“It’s fine, just talk. The junior hero may find it hard to say this. We didn’t realize he might be intimidated since he’s so young.”
Young, sure, but I know way more than I should about certain… aspects.
Anyway, with the princess’s permission, I pulled my father-in-law’s head down and whispered in his ear.
[The bug’s name is a bit… feminine for the princess.]
[Is the name strange? What is it?]
[It’s called the Copulation Bug (交接蟲).]
[Copulation Bug!?]
The instant I revealed the insect’s name, my father-in-law’s eyes went wide in surprise.
He whispered back in disbelief.
[W-What kind of lewd insect is that!? Last time it was the Kiss Bug, and now it’s the Copulation Bug? Why is it that all the bugs we find together have such… scandalous names? Sigh…!]
His perplexity was understandable.
But hey, how should I know?
It’s as if I’ve been cursed! Every time I’m with him, these ridiculous insect names pop up.
[I don’t really know. I didn’t name them, after all. It’s just that these bugs are always seen together doing… well, you know how it is, and hence the name.]
[Got it. But for sure, that’s not something I can tell the princess.]
When it was awkward for just me, it became even more so with us both in this situation.
As my father-in-law and I exchanged glances, my eyes were drawn to the Ayang Governor standing beside the princess.
‘Ah! If I tell my husband, maybe they can sort it out themselves!’
Suddenly struck by inspiration, I thought that regardless of how embarrassing the name ‘Copulation Bug’ is, a married couple could surely discuss it without a problem.
A husband and wife could definitely have a conversation like this.
With a cautious voice, I asked my father-in-law.
[What if I tell the governor instead of the princess? Then he could relay it to her. Since they’re married, it wouldn’t be too out of place, right?]
[Oh! That could work. Yes, if it’s the Ayang Governor, that should be fine. But for now, it might be impossible. I can’t just say I’ll speak to the governor, ignoring the princess. That would seem disrespectful. Let’s find a quiet place to talk instead.]
Once our discussion wrapped up, my father-in-law stepped forward and suggested to the princess.
“Could we move to a less crowded area to discuss this important matter?”
“Oh, is it something that can’t be said in front of others? Come to think of it, I’ve kept the guests waiting at the door! My apologies, I was just so eager. Please, come inside.”
Following the princess’s lead, we entered a place that seemed to be a reception hall.
Once the influx of people receded, the princess couldn’t hold back any longer and asked.
“Alright, now that the crowd is gone, please tell me!”
At her cue, my father-in-law glanced back at me, prompting me to respond with caution.
It seemed I was expected to speak directly.
“Princess, I’m sorry, but can I just tell the governor? It’s not something that’s easy to discuss with ladies…”
“Huh? You find it hard to talk to a woman? What do you mean? Is it because I’m a woman?”
Waving my hands in panic at her suggestion, I hurriedly explained.
“No, not because of being a woman. It’s just a name that’s tough to share with ladies…”
“?”
The princess blinked at my words.
I elaborated more clearly why it should be kept from her.
“I’m not saying I won’t tell you, but if I tell the governor, then it would be better if he conveys it to you.”
“Although I don’t understand why it needs to be so complicated, I’ll accept it. Governor, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, alright.”
After my salute, the governor sat quietly like a log.
I quickly leaned in, whispering quietly in his ear.
[Copulation Bug (交接蟲).]
“!”
He jumped up with shock in his eyes.
After staring wide-eyed at the princess, he turned back to me, still stunned.
“Is… Is that really true!?”
“Yes, of course.”
-Glub.
In the silent reception hall, the sound of the governor swallowing was notably audible.
He probably was a bit startled, but since they were a couple, I thought this should translate smoothly. But suddenly, I noticed him giving the princess a sidelong glance, then turning back to me with a dazed expression.
“I… I can’t say it…”
“Huh?”
He declared he couldn’t say it with a sharp inhale.
Seeing this, the princess, unable to tolerate it any longer, shot up from her seat and yelled at him.
“Why is everyone acting like this? Binak, just spit it out! If you don’t, I’ll judge you for your disloyalty!”
“For, for the princess! I can’t say something that would tarnish your ears…”
“Enough! Just say it already!”
“I’d rather die than speak such heretical words to you!”
“What!?”
Even though they are a married couple, the exchange of ‘disloyalty’ and threats of death was quite strange for the princess and the governor.
As we all stared at the odd display, the princess realized it too and looked flustered.
“Um, um… Okay, then the young junior hero can just say it. I’ll forgive whatever crime you commit.”
But then, like a hot potato, the bomb was hurled back to me.
Considering it was now my fate, I clenched my eyes shut and answered.
The governor seemed firmly set on not telling the princess, so it’s up to me now.
I’d probably be better off explaining it than a middle-aged father-in-law would.
‘What the heck, this is what they want to hear, anyway.’
“It’s called the Copulation Bug (交接蟲).”
“What!?”
At my declaration, not only the princess but also Hua Eun, who was accompanying her, widened her eyes, staring at me.
Both of their cheeks flaming red.
In an era where even a kiss would cause extreme embarrassment for women, it’s no wonder hearing the name ‘Copulation Bug’ caused such a shock.
But since I had already spilled the beans, I decided to give a thorough explanation.
It’s better to get it over with in one go than to drag it on.
‘One shot and done. No second tries allowed.’
“Here are the two Copulation Bugs I caught earlier, and look, they’re stuck together, right? This is how they’re mating. They always stick together, hence the name.”
After giving the cleanly finished explanation, the princess fanned her face with her hand.
After some time, once she calmed down, she asked for a solution.
“Okay, I understand why everyone was so awkward. So, what can we do about it?”
“How long have they been around?”
“Let’s see… It’s been about ten days.”
‘Ten days… That’s not long until it’s over then, huh?’
Love Bugs belong to a type of fly in the Plecia genus, which breed like mad when odd high temperatures appear in regions where rivers meet.
Although their vast quantity and bodily fluids can cause inconveniences, to be honest, they aren’t pests.
Actually, they’re quite beneficial.
In their larval stage, they consume rotten weeds, helping to clean the surroundings, and as adults, they move from flower to flower, facilitating pollination.
However, one thing to keep in mind is their acidic insides.
Since their innards are acidic, bursting one could corrode metal, so precautions are necessary.
In my past life, when these became prevalent in Florida, they often corroded cars and paint, causing issues.
So, when I said it wouldn’t take long, it means these things mostly disappear within a week or two after a mass occurrence.
Why do they just disappear?
Due to variances in pupation timing, while they seem to swarm in great numbers, the males live only about 3-4 days, while the females last about a week.
Earlier, when the guards lit a fire to attract them, most of the ones that perished were clearly not paired, meaning they had already mated.
Conclusively, this entire mess would wrap up in just a few days.
Sorting my thoughts, I informed the princess.
“If it’s been ten days, there’s really nothing you need to do.”
“Do nothing? What does that mean?”
With her eyes wide open in surprise at my suggestion to do nothing.
I decided to explain the details to her.
I can’t afford to leave her with a significant task, but since I’m here for consulting, I must clarify and offer post-management too.
“I’ll explain why you don’t need to do anything, but first, may I ask a couple of questions? Are there rivers meeting near Ayang?”
“The Myogang River flows down from Guiyang into Dongjeong Lake, and the Zhang River meets right by Ayang.”
“I thought so… Has it been particularly hot in Ayang this year?”
“Yes! It was so hot that people fainted in the daytime.”
Listening to her response, it seemed to align perfectly with the conditions for the Love Bug’s mass emergence.
Nodding, I resumed my explanation.
“Firstly, the reason so many have gathered is that when it’s hot late in the summer at the confluence of rivers, it creates plenty of rotten weeds, which makes for a favorable breeding environment for them.
Plus, they’re not so much pests as they are beneficial insects; as larvae, they consume rotten weeds, and when they mature, they encourage fruit to set by pollinating flowers.”
“That… such a detailed explanation! I was suspicious of you hesitating on the name earlier, thinking perhaps you didn’t know.”
At my thorough explanation, the princess’s eyes widened in surprise.
She seemed a bit astonished to encounter an expert for the first time and smiled as she continued.
“However, when you kill them, their fluids can corrode iron, so that’s something to be cautious about.”
“So the heat led to their rapid population growth, huh? I’ll need to tell the guards to ensure proper equipment maintenance.”
Now that I’d explained everything, it was time to clarify why doing nothing was an option.
“Yes, and the reason you don’t need to do anything is that they will all die off in about ten to fifteen days after they show up.”
“They’re all going to die!?”
“Yes, even now, I bet there are a lot of them falling dead on the streets or near homes, right?”
When I posed this question, the princess appeared to contemplate for a moment, then nodded affirmatively.
“Indeed… sweeping up the dead ones every morning is the servants’ job.”
“While they may reappear each year, with only ten days left, there’s no need for you to worry excessively.”
Just as I wrapped things up, I noticed the princess deep in thought, her chin in hand, wearing a serious expression.
After pondering for a while, she looked at me and asked.
“Not needing to do anything seems a bit troublesome. Could you perhaps create a task for me? Surely, as someone who knows about bugs, there must be something we can do?”
“Huh?”
She asked for something to keep her busy when I was telling her not to do anything.
At her inquiry, I found myself flummoxed now.
‘What in the world does she mean?’