Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 34

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“That’s the hive.”

“What a huge one…”

“Oh, I knew it was out of the ordinary size.”

As they moved through the forest, the forest cover suddenly spread out before their eyes.

What was revealed was a huge yellow boulder that was at least 5 meters high with numerous holes on the surface… no, it was the hive of the Hunting Bees, made of beeswax.

“No wonder the Hunting Bees are so ticked off.”

“Yeah, I suppose so. I mean, most creatures would be enraged by something like this.”

“Well, that’s true.”

However, in one corner of the hive… there was a giant hole in the wall near the ground, where many of the Hunting Bees had congregated to repair the hive.

That large hole was likely the one made by some foolish adventurer or someone of that kind.

But this was a natural reaction of outrage on the part of the Hunting Bees. To put it in terms of human standards, it was as if they had been living a regular life when all of a sudden a wall was smashed down and a burglar broke into the house. If anything, they ought to be justifiably indignant… at any rate, when they return to Kunukihappy, they might as well knock the adventurer out at least once. That much would be tolerated probably.

“Now, how do we negotiate?” Crave asked as he peered around the area.

There were plenty of Hunting Bees flying around the perimeter of the area as if they were on the lookout for anything, but from what Pumpkin could observe, they were all poised to battle at any time.

“Before anything else, I have been wondering, aren’t the Hunting Bees here remarkably well-organized?”

“Oh, that’s for sure.”

“Yeah. It seems like there’s a commander somewhere… ah, that’s the one.”

At Canad’s question, both Crave and Pumpkin glanced around the area, agreeing that Canad was spot on. Simultaneously, Pumpkin spotted a Hunting Bee that was moving in a particularly regular manner.

That particular one possessed more magic power and intelligence than the other Hunting Bees, and it also seemed to command the rhythm of its flapping wings, its flight patterns, and perhaps even pheromones, which were not known to Pumpkin since he was not an insect.

“Its stinger and crust seem to be superior to the others.”

“It also appears to carry a lot of magic power…”

Canad and Crave both noticed the one Pumpkin had pointed out and from separate angles recognized that it was distinct from the normal Hunting Bee. 

And now it occurred to Pumpkin’s mind that the magic power of that creature was somehow familiar to him. 

It was probably one of the Hunting Bees that was there when he rescued Rio, and it was the one that received the dew that was directly imparted with magic power from Pumpkin. However, it seemed to be noticeably more intelligent than it was then.

That would bring us to… yeah. I’m not going to dwell on the deep stuff right now. What counts right now is that if that creature is equally related to the creature I previously met, the negotiation is likely to be easier.

“Uh, do you mind if I go over there?”

“Alright. If anything goes awry, just run away immediately.”

“Got it.”

After receiving Crave’s permission, Pumpkin slowly approached the hive, being mindful not to provoke the Hunting Bees.

[[[Bububububu!!]]]

“Ah, time out, time out.”

But within a few meters of the hive, a large number of Hunting Bees surrounded him, and he had to stop in his tracks while trying to calm them down.

“Bububububu…”

“Ah, as I thought, it really is you.”

When looking again at the commander-like aura emitting from the creature who came in front of him, Pumpkin recognized it as the one he had met when he saved Rio.

“Bububu… bubu, bubububu.”

“Mmm.”

If it weren’t for me, no one would be able to tell that the Hunting Bee in front of me—who I will refer to for the time being as “Leader”—has a certain degree of emotion in its magic power accompanied by its complicated buzzing noises and trajectories, but it is endeavoring to convey some kind of intention towards me.

Yeah. I can somehow sense that I am not welcome here… but I can’t just retreat here.

Furthermore, it would be shrewd to express my feelings in a direct manner rather than in a poorly articulated one given its intelligence.

“Zuzuncha, zuncha, kakkakka.”

“Bu?”

[[Pumpkin!]]

For this reason, despite Crave and Canad’s astonishment at the back, he made an effort to convince the Hunting Bees that he wasn’t hostile by dancing while discharging a trace amount of magic power.

Can they understand me? It must be significantly better than using words, which depends on both parties being able to communicate in the same language system under the assumption that they can understand each other.

That was why from now on, Pumpkin will add some kind of simultaneous translation.

“Bunbubu, bububububu? (I understand you have no hostile intentions. So what do you want?)”

“Taratta-ta-ta. Taratatata. (My purpose is to re-establish communication between the humans and the Hunting Bees. I have brought fruits and flowers as an apology for what happened the other day.)”

“Bububun, bu, bu, bubu, bububu. (I’ll accept your apology, but there are conditions for the resumption of communication.)”

“Zunchazuzucha, zuzu, totototara? (Thanks for accepting. But what are the conditions?)”

“Bunbonbababu, bubun. Bubububu, bunbu, bu, bu, bu. (The adventurers who broke the wall are prohibited from ever coming near this forest again. And I want another portion of the dew you gave me before.)”

“Sutu, zunchatotarazunchacha. (I understand. First, I’ll offer you the apologies gift, but I’d like to discuss the terms with my companions.)”

“Bububu, bubun. (I get it, I will wait for a while.)”

“Zuzucha. (Thank you.)”

“Crave! Canad! I’ve got it all together, but I need to talk to you!”

“I don’t understand…”

“Don’t worry, neither do I.”

Having settled on a general arrangement, Pumpkin called Crave and Canad together, handed over the fruits and flowers that had been brought as an apology, and at the same time discussed whether or not they would accept Hunting Bee’s conditions regarding the adventurers.

After hearing what he had to say, Crave drew out a strange magical tool from his pocket and began to speak to it. It was probably some kind of magical tool for communication. 

How nice… but it looks expensive.

“There is a message from the Association President. He has agreed to Hunting Bee’s request.”

“Alright. I will tell the Hunting Bee.”

While dancing to inform the leader that the Hunting Bee’s request would be accepted, Pumpkin stealthily handed the leader the dew that contained his magic power.

And after receiving the dew from him, the leader made a motion with the intention of saying, [Let’s have a good relationship in the future.]

Phew. I guess we’ve successfully completed the negotiations.

“See you later.”

“Bunbubun.”

He was given a small bottle of honey that was endowed with a strange magic power after that before departing the Hunting Bee’s hive with a somewhat worn-out-looking Crave and Canad.

But still, what did you mean by the last message… [I will come to visit you one of these days]?

Just in case, I told the leader with a light step, [If you’re coming to see me, please come to the egg boulder in Lean Forest] but… hmm. Oh well. I suppose I’ll find out in due time.