Even the simple-minded True Sting Bug couldn't help but fall into confusion and shock when facing a knight as magnificent, serious, and sincere as Argenti.
Its constantly fluttering wings made noises, and some organs inside its mouthparts vibrated, producing a low hum.
The knight took this as the reply from the being before him.
"No need for more words. Meeting a lifeform like you moves me deeply, but I will never abandon the demands of my spiritual discipline because of that."
"The one I follow is casting a gentle gaze upon me. If I cannot resolve this crisis, I shall use my death to uphold the honor of a knight."
Looking at the images sent back by the mobile train cleaning robot, March was so shocked that she stammered.
"W-w-w-what? Why is he talking with the bug so seriously..."
"He seems to have fallen into an illusion too," Dan Heng said.
"Did he also see another version of himself?" March asked in confusion.
"Obviously not," Nero said.
"From what Argenti said, it sounds a bit like the Wubbaboo I told him about before."
"Come to think of it, since we unexpectedly met on the train this time, I was planning to bring him to my room to let him see Wubbaboo, but these bugs delayed things."
"Anyway, let's hurry and help him!" March shouted.
At that moment, the image transmitted by the mobile train cleaning robot changed again.
Argenti asked the True Sting Bug before him with deep feeling.
"Beautiful being, are you followers as well?"
At the same moment he asked the question, the True Sting Bug suddenly attacked, stabbing its sharp horn toward Argenti.
Argenti saw the Wubbaboo before him seemingly wanting to embrace him, but in the next second, a horrifying feeling suddenly arose.
He had no time to react, but the body that had undergone countless trials had already moved ahead of his thoughts. Argenti instinctively stretched out both hands and planted his feet firmly.
In the footage from the mobile train cleaning robot, at the very last moment, Argenti's expression suddenly became serious. He reacted immediately and grabbed the bug's horn before it pierced him.
The Wubbaboo before his eyes gradually disappeared and was replaced by a terrifying True Sting Bug.
Argenti paused slightly, then a look of shame appeared on his face.
"How shameful. I believed that both my spirit and body had gone through countless trials and would never be deceived by such petty tricks."
"Although I do not believe I have ever neglected my training... could it be that my recent growth has made me complacent?", Argenti spoke to himself, seemingly reflecting on his shortcomings.
The True Sting Bug used all its strength and let out a shrill cry, yet during the struggle, it still failed to move the knight in the slightest.
"Meeting Mr. Nero again today and receiving news that brought me joy, only to embarrass myself before him like this, truly should not have happened."
"However... thank you, True Sting Bug. This is a new trial, and I believe I have gained growth once again."
With that, Argenti swung both hands and slammed the bug to the ground. At the same time, he summoned his bright red spear and instantly pierced through the True Sting Bug's body, taking away all of its life.
This was the scene everyone saw when they arrived at the archive room.
After putting away his spear, Argenti turned toward the group. His gaze settled on Nero, and he said with shame, "I am deeply sorry."
"Such a beautiful creature turned out to be an illusion. Its deception and threat are even more... ugly than its appearance."
Dan Heng frowned slightly.
"Speaking of which, after Nero told you about Wubbaboo, have you ever actually seen one?"
Argenti shook his head, "To be honest, never. Perhaps because I wished to witness that beautiful creature with my own eyes, I saw such an illusion."
Dan Heng nodded.
"Then combining this with what happened to March earlier... the hallucinations caused by the wing powder must rely on one's own experiences and long-term feelings before they can create something that matches what the person desires."
March twitched her mouth.
"Uh... so in Argenti's eyes, Wubbaboo is also the embodiment of beauty... But compared to that, what I saw was finding my own past? That doesn't seem very ambitious... I actually have plenty of other ideas..."
"There is no need to feel disappointed, Miss March," Argenti said with a smile.
"Do not let distinctions of status or value limit yourself. Your wish comes from the pursuit within your heart. That is an expression of beauty, and it is precious."
Dan Heng nodded as well.
"Not at all. It's a very pure wish, something very precious."
"If you still want to dream, you can do it anytime. I still have one in my hand," Nero said.
"Uh... Nero, forget it..." March pressed her lips together and rejected his help while looking at the bug in his hand.
Argenti thought for a moment and spoke again.
"The ugly threat that is the Swarm, perhaps its final words before death are worthy of consideration. After all, 'when a bug is about to die, its words are kind.' That too may be a form of beauty."
Dan Heng looked at Argenti in confusion.
"You mean the bug conveyed information to you before it died?"
Argenti nodded.
"Correct. I shall relay its final words, 'Celebrate your shallow victory as much as you like. In the end, you will never notice the existence of the Overlord!'"
Dan Heng looked at Argenti with an extremely strange expression, but he quickly adjusted himself.
"Leaving aside why you can understand the language of bugs, as for those words themselves... wait, I think I have an idea."
"When reading the 'Notes on Strange Insects Across the Worlds' in the databank, I came across a type of insect that exists only in records."
"Because there were no actual specimens to study, the author temporarily named it the 'Giant True Sting Bug.'"
"This species can grow to an incredibly enormous size, large enough to swallow an entire star destroyer whole."
"I have reason to suspect that the Overlord Argenti heard about refers to such a giant bug, and we..."
"I think I understand," Argenti said. "We... are very likely already inside its stomach."
Listening to Dan Heng and Argenti, Nero was also thinking.
Although he had played through this part of the story, he rarely paid attention to details. Hearing Dan Heng explain these finer points here was quite interesting.
But that wasn't the important part.
The important part was that, according to his memory, the bug that swallowed the train seemed far larger than the Giant True Sting Bug Dan Heng described.
It was like a monster hidden among the stars. Its opened mouth alone was enough to swallow countless planets in an instant.
Of course, that might have been because the scene was so shocking the first time he saw it, and too much time had passed for him to remember clearly.
In any case, after finally growing to such a size, if they simply escaped and let the bug go, Nero felt that would be too much of a waste.
Use everything to its fullest.
A thing this huge had to be full of treasures. He could catch it and use it as a pet mount. Its scales, bones, and teeth might be used to forge large weapons or personal equipment.
The materials in its wings might become resources for new stealth equipment or hallucinogenic weapons.
Nero made up his mind.
He absolutely had to make use of this giant bug.