The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"Okay, Mikhailis. I guess this is not the time to hold back."

Mikhailis took in the enormity of the fortress before him, his small goblin eyes squinting to take in all the details. The walls were high, cobbled together from stone blocks that looked like they had stood through ages past. But it wasn't just the sheer size that overwhelmed him; it was the people. The prisoners—humans, elves, halflings—all in desperate conditions, huddled together in the filthy cells. Most of them were women, many of them naked, shivering, and covered in bruises, a testament to the cruel treatment they had received. He clenched his small goblin hands into fists, anger simmering beneath his rough green skin.

This is... Perhaps something that could be deemed as naturalf or the ecosystem, but looking at people getting treated like this...

It wasn't like he had never seen cruelty before—he had faced monsters and danger in his own world—but this felt different. This felt more vile, more personal. He felt the weight of it, of all the lives at stake, and he knew he couldn't afford to mess this up.

He needed a plan, a real plan—and it couldn't just be about escaping. He needed to find a way to free the prisoners, to give them a fighting chance. He needed to signal Elowen and the others. And perhaps, most importantly, he needed to figure out how to get back to his real body. All of this had to be done with the utmost caution, for one wrong move could mean his death—or worse, it could mean the death of these innocent people.

As Mikhailis tried to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach, he leaned against a rough wall, scratching his back in discomfort. Goblin bodies weren't exactly designed for comfort, and the battered trousers he wore weren't helping either. He grumbled to himself, fingers brushing against the worn fabric until—

Wait a second... what's this?

He froze, his clawed fingers brushing against something inside his pocket. He discreetly pulled it out, his eyes widening as he realized what he had found. It was a talisman—no, three talismans—etched with runes and shimmering faintly even in the dim light of the fortress.

"Entomancer's Talismans?" Mikhailis muttered under his breath, hardly able to believe his luck. He recognized them instantly: Scurabon, Frog Variant Chimera Ant, and—Hypnoveil. He quickly shoved the talismans back into his pocket, making sure no one saw. A small, excited grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

This could change everything.

He considered his options, his eyes flicking to the other goblins that surrounded him. The Scurabon and Frog Variant Chimera Ant were too crucial to use right now—they were defending his clone and the Chimera Ant Queen back at his nest. If something happened to them, his clone would be in danger. And if the clone died, well, he'd be done for. He couldn't risk summoning them now.

But the Hypnoveil? That was a different story.

Hypnoveil…

It was perfect for his current predicament. With its abilities, he could manipulate key figures within the goblin ranks, maybe even create a little chaos to weaken the fortress from within. He'd need to be careful, of course, but the possibilities were endless. He could use it to hypnotize a goblin leader—someone with real influence. He had seen a few Goblin Champions—larger, stronger goblins who commanded respect from the others. They weren't entirely mindless, which made them perfect targets.

Okay, Mikhailis. First step: find a Goblin Champion, he thought, his eyes scanning the courtyard.

The champions were easy to spot, towering over the rest of the goblins, their bodies more muscular, their armor a little less rusty. They moved with an air of authority, the smaller goblins scurrying out of their way. If he could take control of one of them, he might be able to cause a significant disturbance.

He watched as a champion marched across the courtyard, barking orders at a group of warriors. The goblins fell in line quickly, their crude weapons clutched tightly in their hands. The champion was imposing, his eyes gleaming with a cruel intelligence. He was exactly the type Mikhailis needed—but he couldn't act just yet. He needed the right opportunity, a moment when he could use the Hypnoveil without drawing attention to himself.

As he contemplated his next move, the goblin captain stomped over to him, his helmet barely hanging on his oversized head. He jabbed a finger at Mikhailis, his voice a harsh growl.

"You! Bring... corpses. Dead women... take away."

Mikhailis felt his stomach turn. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to see what these monsters had done. But he had no choice. He nodded, trying to look as obedient as possible, and shuffled over to where the bodies were piled. The sight that greeted him made him gag—naked, lifeless bodies, their faces twisted in pain. It was a horrifying sight, and the smell… the smell was even worse. His goblin senses seemed heightened, every stench amplified to an unbearable degree.

This... this is revolting.

He held his breath, trying not to retch as he lifted one of the bodies. The weight of it was almost too much for his wiry goblin frame, and he struggled to drag it towards the tunnel the captain had pointed out.

As he moved through the fortress, he noticed where they were taking the bodies. It was a small, dark room, the walls slick with moisture. The goblins were just piling the corpses up, one on top of the other, with no regard for sanitation or decency. It was horrifying. Disease would run rampant here if they continued like this.

Wait a minute...

An idea began to form in Mikhailis' mind.

What if I used this?

Disease could be a weapon—a way to weaken the goblins, to make them vulnerable. If he could find a way to spread it through the fortress, it could create chaos, make them easier to deal with when the time came. But it was dangerous. He couldn't risk something like that unless he was absolutely sure he could contain it, to make sure it wouldn't spread to anyone else.

One thing at a time, Mikhailis.

He needed to focus. He dropped the corpse onto the pile, his eyes narrowing as he considered his options. He needed to make a plan—something that would allow him to take control, to create enough of a disturbance that Elowen and the others would be able to find this place. But first, he needed a way to communicate with them.

Mikhailis stepped back from the pile of bodies, his hand slipping into his pocket. He pulled out the Hypnoveil talisman, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. The talisman shimmered in the dim light, and Mikhailis felt a surge of hope.

"Alright, Hypnoveil. Let's see what you can do." He whispered, activating the talisman. There was a faint shimmer, and then, from the shadows, Hypnoveil appeared. The creature was larger now, its body sleek and glossy, the vines on its back moving like they had a mind of their own. It glanced around, its eyes widening as it took in the pile of corpses.

Mikhailis gave a small grin, whispering to the creature.

"Hey~ Can you return me back to my original form~?" He half-joked, though there was a hint of desperation in his voice.

The Hypnoveil tilted its head, staring at him with an intense gaze. For a moment, Mikhailis wondered if the creature even recognized him in this goblin form.

Does it... does it not know who I am? Mikhailis thought, a chill running down his spine.

But then, after what felt like an eternity, Hypnoveil's eyes lit up, and it gave an excited nod, its vines writhing in apparent excitement.

"Great, great. Now, listen. I need you to send a message to Rodion. Give him these coordinates." Mikhailis gestured towards the pile of corpses.

"These bodies could be a source of nutrition for the nest—but more importantly, I need Rodion to figure out a way to communicate with me. This goblin body... it's the one you hypnotized, right? There must be some kind of link, something Rodion can use to make an interface. Tell him that."

Hypnoveil nodded again, its vines moving with an almost eager energy. It turned, slipping away into the shadows of the tunnel, disappearing from sight. Mikhailis took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at the fortress.

"Alright, next..." he muttered under his breath, a determined grin spreading across his goblin face.

"We're going for a Goblin Champion hunting."