The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The Goblin Apostle roared, his voice echoing through the fortress, as he clashed with the red-skinned Goblin Champion. It felt like a battle between titans—each swing of their massive limbs sending shockwaves through the fortress, their power on display for every goblin to see. The other goblins watched in awe, their eyes wide, their voices caught somewhere between cheers and nervous murmurs.

Mikhailis, hidden in the shadows, smirked.

Let them beat each other to a pulp. That's just perfect for me.

He gestured to the Goblin Champion under his control, whispering to the hypnotized creature.

"Alright, big guy, let's get moving. We've got work to do." The hypnotized champion gave a slow, vacant nod, his eyes glassy, and followed Mikhailis through the narrow stone corridors of the fortress.
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The goblin champion under Hypnoveil's control led Mikhailis to the restricted areas. They managed to navigate without much suspicion, the champion barking orders to the other goblins in his guttural, simplistic language. It was almost amusing, in a very irritating way, how the champion communicated like a toddler throwing orders.

"Uh, you… you follow me. Have… to check… stuff. Big boss said," the champion grumbled to another goblin guard.

Mikhailis watched, his face twitching in annoyance as the guard simply nodded and stepped aside.

I swear, if I have to listen to more of this barbarian baby talk, I might lose my mind.

But it worked. The goblins obeyed without question, their heads bowing slightly as they let the champion and his "assistant" pass.

The fortress was labyrinthine, with endless stone passageways that twisted and turned into darkness. The air was cold, damp, and smelled faintly of rotting wood. Mikhailis kept his eyes sharp, noting each turn, each hallway, each guard they passed. He knew he couldn't afford to get lost—not with everything riding on this plan.

Finally, they reached one of the key sections—the weapons storage room. It was a large chamber, filled with crude swords, spears, and shields. Goblins were moving in and out, taking inventory, sharpening blades. Mikhailis quickly took note of the layout—if things went according to plan, this place would be a point of chaos. But for now, he moved on, keeping his head low, staying close to the hypnotized champion.

They made their way through several more sections—a shaman's chamber where goblin shamans sat in a circle, muttering incantations; an armory stacked with rusted helmets and mismatched armor pieces. Mikhailis took mental notes, all the while keeping an eye out for their real target.

The food storage, Mikhailis thought, his lips curling into a small smile.

That's where we'll hit them where it really hurts.

After what felt like an eternity of winding through the dark corridors, they finally reached it. The food storage area was massive, a cavernous chamber filled with shelves stacked high with dried meats, barrels of grain, and large ceramic jars that Mikhailis could only assume were filled with whatever passed for goblin ale.

He moved cautiously, his eyes scanning the room. Goblins were bustling around, carrying supplies, checking inventory. Mikhailis turned to the hypnotized champion.

"Go tell them you need to inspect the back. Clear the area."

The champion nodded, walking towards the other goblins.

"All… you… leave. Big boss say… have to check. Important."

The goblins exchanged confused glances, but the sight of the champion's imposing figure was enough to convince them. They grumbled, but obeyed, shuffling out of the storage area, leaving Mikhailis alone.

Good. Now… let's make some chaos, Mikhailis thought, his eyes glinting in the dim light.

He moved quickly, grabbing several jars of oil from one of the shelves. He pried open the lids, pouring the thick, flammable liquid over the piles of grain, the dried meats. He worked methodically, making sure to spread the oil across the entire storage area, his heart pounding with each second that ticked by.

He found a torch, its end smoldering faintly, and used it to light a small piece of cloth. He placed it carefully near one of the oil-soaked barrels, making sure it would catch—but not too quickly. The fire needed to spread slowly, to give the prisoners time to escape before the fortress descended into chaos.

He took a step back, surveying his work, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over him.

That should do it. When this place goes up, they'll have more than enough trouble to deal with.

With the trap set, Mikhailis slipped out of the storage room, the hypnotized champion following behind him. The halls were still bustling, the noise of the Apostle's battle with the challenger echoing through the fortress. Mikhailis moved quickly, making his way towards the perimeter of the fortress.

"Alright, Hypnoveil, it's your time to shine," he whispered, the talisman in his pocket glowing faintly.

The Hypnoveil emerged from the shadows, its sleek body slipping through the cracks in the stone walls, its eyes glowing faintly as it began its search. Mikhailis watched as the creature moved effortlessly, its body melding with the darkness as it explored the perimeter.

It took for several minutes only.

Then finally it returned.

Somehow, the hypnoveil is writing words on top of the ground, which Mikhailis didn't even have the time to question how did he managed to learn the human language words.

<Secret tunnel located. Coordinates marked. Tunnel appears structurally sound, though infrequently used. Likely leads out of the fortress.>

Mikhailis grinned, a sense of hope swelling in his chest.

"Good job, buddy. Now get back here. We've got more work to do."

The Hypnoveil slipped back into the shadows, its presence vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Mikhailis turned, his eyes narrowing as he looked towards the direction of the prison cells.

Time to give these people a fighting chance.

He moved cautiously, his footsteps silent as he approached the prison area. The guards stationed outside the cells barely spared a glance at the champion as Mikhailis led him inside. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, the quiet whimpers of the prisoners filling the chamber. Mikhailis's eyes scanned the cells until they landed on the elven woman he had seen earlier.

She sat against the back wall of her cell, her eyes closed, her face bruised but calm. There was something about her—a quiet strength, a resolve that hadn't been broken despite everything. Mikhailis approached her cell, his eyes meeting hers as she opened them.

He didn't say a word. Instead, he slipped a small knife through the bars, his eyes never leaving hers. Her eyes widened slightly, her gaze flicking to the knife, then back to Mikhailis. There was a moment of silence, a silent understanding passing between them.

The elven woman took the knife, her grip firm, her eyes narrowing with determination. Mikhailis gave her a small nod before turning away, moving towards the gate that held the prisoners in. He gestured to the hypnotized champion, the large goblin lumbering towards the gate, his hands reaching for the heavy lock.

The gate creaked open, the sound loud in the otherwise silent chamber. Mikhailis knelt down, quickly drawing a crude map of the route to the secret tunnel on the dirt floor. He pointed to the map, then to the elf, his eyes serious.

"Take them. Get them out of here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The elf nodded, her expression hardening as she turned to the other prisoners. She moved with purpose, her voice low as she began untying their bindings, her hands moving quickly. The other prisoners looked at her, hope flickering in their eyes as they realized what was happening.

Mikhailis stepped back, his eyes scanning the room, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this was just the beginning—that the real fight was yet to come. But for now, he needed to focus. He needed to make sure these people got out, to give them a chance at freedom.

The prisoners moved quietly, their eyes darting nervously as they followed the elf, their feet bare against the cold stone floor. The elven woman led them towards the tunnel, her grip on the knife firm, her eyes sharp as she moved.

Mikhailis watched as they disappeared into the shadows, his heart pounding in his chest. Good. Now we just need to defend them until all of them fled. He turned, his eyes narrowing as he heard the heavy footfalls approaching.

A Goblin Champion entered the prison chamber, its eyes locking onto Mikhailis and the hypnotized champion. Mikhailis felt his muscles tense, his mind racing.

This is it. No turning back now.

He took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto the approaching goblin, a determined grin spreading across his face.

"Alright, big guy. Let's see what you've got."