The place where the ants first became aware of beings from that other world and began using it as a base was a frontier wilderness even the locals called an untamed land.
Those called magical beasts, differing slightly from ordinary animals, ruled the land, and the only ones worthy of being called a force were the goblins who banded together in villages.
Naturally, the ants expanded their influence centered there, evolving by feeding primarily on those magical beasts and goblins.
After I awakened as a deity, more aggressive and large-scale clashes occurred, leading to a wider variety of prey consumed, but even now, those remained the most devoured by far.
'No wonder they absorbed the most Demonic Power from them.'
The magical beasts vanished from areas near the ants' nests.
The goblins, after repeated defeats in large-scale territorial wars, had clearly abandoned their homes and fled farther away.
The ant colony, having extracted Demonic Power from those abundantly consumed prey, used it to grow and evolve themselves.
And now, new enemies specialized against that very power had appeared.
'How should we handle this?'
This didn't seem like something I needed to intervene in directly.
The ants had to adapt their own physiology.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙The Queen Ant seeks to raise a dedicated unit grown without Demonic Power to counter the new enemies.
And indeed, the ant colony centered on the Queen had found the answer.
They aimed to create new specialized individuals by investing heavily in mana instead of Demonic Power.
"Oh..."
I watched the worker ants using their antennae to sort food and feed it to the larvae.
As per the original Queen's design, later Queens laid eggs like mad, and worker ants selected the strongest candidates to feed these 'special' foods.
The special food was, of course, those infused with Demonic Power or mana.
The larvae, accumulating power within by consuming such food, would pupate and grow into evolved or variant adults.
Until now, it seemed they fed mixed without much thought, but this time, they deliberately excluded Demonic Power-infused prey and fed only mana-rich ones.
Once those larvae matured, troops unrelated to Demonic Power would be born.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙At the same time, the Queen covets even the power possessed by the new enemies.
"No way... if they devour that power too, can the ants use it?"
I let out a small sigh upon seeing the notification that popped up then.
The fundamental ability of my subordinate ants was predation.
The power to make what they devoured their own.
Both Demonic Power and mana had been acquired that way.
Even this new power would surely become the ants' upon consumption.
These insane ants were coveting the very power that had just defeated them.
'Guess I should help too.'
With the emergence of new formidable foes, the ants were wriggling to survive by finding their own countermeasures.
I hadn't been idle during that time either.
Before even removing my outer clothes, I rushed to the living room and tossed a new ant type into the breeding pen that might aid them.
These ants, called Samurai Ants, possessed jaw blades sharp as knives and exceptional combat prowess.
I believed that for the ants, who had reached the stage of manipulating genes within devoured ant species to create chimeras blending various traits, this would provide even more options.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Your subordinates detect your assistance and are hastily collecting it.
The ants, with unusually hurried movements, swiftly killed the tossed-in Samurai Ants, processed them into meat dumplings, and rushed them to the original Queen, who clicked her jaws impatiently.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙The Queen seeks to create a new class of soldiers. She believes your help is the solution to the impending crisis. Because it has always been so until now.
And the Queen, without the slightest hesitation, began strengthening the colony's forces using the devoured Samurai Ants.
"Because it's always been so, she trusts...?"
A wry smile crossed my face at the notification.
Admiration and surprise at their abilities and actions, far surpassing any single ant, had become routine, yet they depended on me more than I thought.
I'd assumed higher intelligence would reduce reliance on me, but no.
On the contrary, as intelligence rose and collective consciousness deepened, their dependence and loyalty to me grew stronger.
'Fine by me. Better this way.'
Better than them doubting or deeming me useless.
That way, when communication became possible later, they'd be a loyal legion obeying my word without hesitation.
Of course, that meant my actions could cause them great loss, so it wasn't to be taken lightly.
Still, it had to be done.
The beginning may have been unwanted, but the emotions from watching and caring for them were unmistakably attachment.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Your subordinates prepare thoroughly for revenge. In preparation for enemies attacking first during that time, they decide to increase scouting activities and adopt defensive movements.
Now was the time for reorganization and full preparation.
The hunting units, which had been explosively active, all vanished at once.
They retreated into their territory, conducting only defensive hunts to catch their breath.
The ants, having learned patience, were surely far stronger and colder than before.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙The scouts discover something in the enemy group, and your subordinates observe the action, harboring doubts.
This notification appeared right after the brief calm before the storm began, a peace that wouldn't last days.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"No! The statue containing our ancestral spirit...!"
"Cut the crap! The only true god proven almighty in this land is Goddess Henes!"
Knight bearing the Golden Mandate Society's banner gathered and smashed the locals' cherished talismans, statues, spirit tablets, and other religious symbols, then burned them.
Those who resisted were beaten until they fell.
For the sin of unproven wicked superstition.
Instead, Golden Mandate Society priests stepped forward, explaining how great and magnificent the goddess who granted them Holy Power was, forcing residents regardless of status to believe and follow her.
"Those bastards act like they own the place..."
"Quiet. Look at what they did against those monster things—demon, evil god, outer god, whatever."
Even the local lord's knights and soldiers couldn't stop their radical, arrogant actions.
It infuriated to see them rampage like they were the masters, but the Golden Mandate Society's holy knights and priests had indeed achieved overwhelming victories against the terror-incarnate ants plaguing the area.
Yet the real problem went beyond mere religious suppression and forced faith.
During the few days the ants retreated for reorganization, the Golden Mandate Society forces and followers spreading through the frontline territories began causing real trouble.
"See? The moment we arrived, those monsters vanished. We are the lions of light driving out the darkness."
"Know what we fight for... and repay that grace, or you're no better than beasts, eh?"
Coincidentally, the ants halting activity after defeats against them provided strong justification.
Not only the Golden Mandate Society members preaching Goddess Henes, but also the central soldiers and mercenaries supporting them grew arrogant and started wreaking havoc.
They seized and killed resisters as heretics, hanging them from poles.
They extorted goods, claiming repayment for fighting for justice, and raped powerless women whose faces they fancied.
Even when voices of dissent rose, countered with "Who'll stop the ants then?", no one could drive them out.
The terror the ants instilled was that profound in the region.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Your subordinates cannot comprehend their actions. They cannot find an answer to why the same group weakens its own forces with meaningless, inefficient behavior.
"...No need to understand that."
How would such actions appear to the ants?
Inefficiency incarnate.
Jin-hyuk saw it no differently.
To the ants' doubts, he sighed knowingly and shook his head.
"High Priest! This can't be! Regardless of else, seizing goods and assaulting village maidens can't be the goddess's will?!"
"Not wrong."
Daniel, staying at the lord's castle of Baron Bohl's frontline territory, chuckled at Seira bursting in indignantly.
Having learned of the ongoing atrocities, Seira couldn't hide her rage and bewilderment.
"Order it now. We're all allies now...! Already struggling, this is undermining our own side before war!"
"You know it too. We humans survive only by standing atop others. The clothes you wear, food you eat—all squeezed from others."
"What does that even..."
Unlike Seira, whose silver hair tips trembled with excitement, Daniel remained nonchalant, as if he knew it all.
Seira, at a loss, worked her mouth silently.
"And 'allies.' Sure, we're sided now against the 'outer god's' minions. But these lords only joined after the royals fell—they were just watching before."
Daniel smirked, setting down his glass.
Only then did Seira's flushed face pale. She understood Daniel's implication.
"As expected, sharp one. Someday, these lords too must fall under Grand Duke and our Golden Mandate Society. Better strip their power for irreverent thoughts."
"Deliberately allowing this to weaken the lords' resistance? How could..."
"Didn't I say? We live by trampling others."
Unlike shocked Seira, Daniel spoke calmly, as if stating natural law.
"No need to worry overly. As you know, Goddess Henes's power is true divinity. It'll grow stronger, and they'll find peaceful rest. The whole world thus is our goal."
"...You know? All you've said is meaningless if we don't properly eradicate the 'outer god's' minions."
"Ha! Of course. Worry not. The goddess said the outer god's forces will be swept away before they rally."
The ants are no longer a threat.
Having confirmed Holy Power from Goddess Henes wreaked great havoc on variant ants in prior battles, Daniel trusted the results implicitly.
"Anyway, 'outer god' slipping off your tongue now? Keep learning—the goddess favors the talented with her power."
Seeing speechless Seira, Daniel patted her shoulder, feeling camaraderie.
Indeed, Seira was gradually learning the world's truths.
Unlike others using 'evil god' or 'demon god,' her shift to 'outer god' proved it.