The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

"Man, my monster party dreams are finally coming true," he muttered to himself, his lips curving into a grin as he thought about the scurabons and the frog variant chimera ant that had all grown larger.

"But… now what?"

The more he thought about it, the more excited he got about the possibilities. Finally, he had the means to create a real monster party—like something straight out of one of his favorite isekai anime. But as the excitement built up, a nagging thought interrupted his daydreaming.

"Wait, they're all bigger now. That's awesome, but… wouldn't that mean they'd need more food?" Mikhailis frowned, realizing he hadn't considered the logistics of keeping such large creatures alive.

<Your observation is correct, Mikhailis. The colony's food consumption has increased significantly due to the size enhancement of the ants. It's only a matter of time until the food supply reaches critical levels,> Rodion's voice chimed in, his tone matter-of-fact but with an unmistakable hint of sarcasm.

Mikhailis sighed and rubbed his temples. "Of course. Should've known there'd be a catch."

Rodion continued.

<The worker and soldier ants have already been dispatched to forage outside the colony in search of new food sources. But at the current rate of consumption, the existing food storage will be depleted within two days.>

"Two days?!" Mikhailis shot up, his eyes widening in alarm.

"What are they eating again? Carbs and proteins, isn't that right?"

<Essentially, yes. Ants require calories for energy, proteins for body development—especially for the queen and the larvae—and lipids for long-term energy storage>

A status screen popped up in Mikhailis's glasses, showing the exact breakdown:

_______

Current Food Storage:

Carbohydrates: 41,000 kg/day

Proteins: 0.73 kg/day

Lipids: 215 g/day

Daily Consumption Rate:

Calories: 18,450 calories/day

Proteins: 2 kg (enough for 2 days)

Lipids: 600 g (enough for 2 days)

_____

Mikhailis stared at the numbers, his frown deepening. "So, in two days, they're going to run out of everything, huh? But damn even the result of their hard work hunting and scavenging could only sustain for two days because of the evolution, huh... Damn those proteins are already in kilograms, you know?"

<Precisely. And given their larger sizes, the depletion will only accelerate. Your options are either to forage more aggressively—though this increases the risk of exposure—or to find a way to produce food internally.>

Mikhailis scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, I'm not too keen on sending them out more often. I mean, if they keep scavenging, they'll eventually run into someone's territory, and the last thing we need is to mess with the ecosystem or piss off the locals. Plus, ants don't exactly have the best survival rate when foraging."

<Correct. Normal ant colonies do experience a loss of foragers when sent outside the nest. However, the queen seems to prefer a sustainable approach to food production within the colony, likely to minimize losses.>

"Good thinking, Queenie," Mikhailis muttered with a smirk. "Yeah, relying on foraging alone is too risky. We need something more reliable. Something like… farming?"

<Indeed. Agricultural production would be a viable solution. In fact, the current agricultural chamber has been expanded by 20 times its original size to accommodate more crops. The colony is cultivating nightshade mushrooms, which are highly nutritious. However, with the current chamber size of 30 by 30 meters, they can only feed about 40% of the colony's daily needs.>

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow. "Nightshade mushrooms, huh? Not bad. But we still need to scale up production, or else we'll end up depleting the magic scarabs for food, and that'd be a waste."

<Correct. At this rate, the colony will consume the magic scarabs within a week unless a more efficient source of nutrients is found.>

Mikhailis leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "So, more production… but not just mushrooms. We need something that can grow quickly and in large quantities."

Rodion, always quick to respond, displayed several images of the agricultural chamber on Mikhailis's glasses. The chamber was massive, stretching deep into the underground, and filled with rows upon rows of glowing mushrooms. The mushrooms seemed to thrive in the damp, dark conditions, but even Mikhailis could see that it wasn't enough to sustain the rapidly growing colony.

"Okay, so, farming mushrooms isn't going to cut it. We need something more. Maybe a creature that can increase plant productivity? Or… what about monsters with plant traits?"

<That is a possibility. Creatures with regenerative abilities or that can reproduce quickly would provide a renewable food source. I have already scanned the monster encyclopedia for potential targets. Would you like me to list them?>

Mikhailis grinned. "Yeah, go ahead. Hit me with the options, Rodion."

<First potential target: The Verdant Troll. This creature has the ability to stimulate plant growth within its territory. It is, however, highly territorial and aggressive.>

"Territorial and aggressive? Well, we could deal with that if we can contain it. What else?"

<Second option: The Rootborn Ent. A slow-moving, plant-based creature with roots that can extend and replenish the soil. It regenerates quickly but is less aggressive than the Verdant Troll.>

Mikhailis rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Less aggressive… might be easier to control. But it sounds kind of slow. Anything else?"

<Third option: The Replenther Vine. A highly regenerative plant-monster hybrid. Its vines can be harvested repeatedly, and it regenerates overnight. However, it can be difficult to contain as it spreads rapidly.>

Mikhailis nodded, considering the options. "I like the sound of that last one. Quick regeneration, and we don't have to keep replanting it. The spreading part could be a problem, but if we keep it confined underground, it should be manageable."

<I have already transmitted orders to the workers to search for creatures matching these descriptions during their scavenging trips. They are also instructed to bring back any potential livestock that could be nurtured within the nest. This may be the first step toward creating a self-sustaining colony.>

Mikhailis chuckled. "So, the queen's going all out with her sustainable food plans, huh? Well, it's better than relying on hunting all the time. Who knows what kind of mess we'd cause if we started wiping out the local wildlife."

<Indeed. Disrupting the ecosystem could have unintended consequences, such as attracting unwanted attention from local governments or rival factions.>

Mikhailis rolled his eyes. "Right, because the last thing we need is a bunch of angry druids knocking on our door, yelling about how we ruined their sacred forest."

<That would be… problematic.>

"Alright, so we've got agriculture and livestock farming as our main options. But we'll need to figure out how to balance it all out—like, make sure the nutrient production exceeds the depletion rate."

<Correct. A constant supply of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids is essential for maintaining the colony's health and development. Producing enough nutrients to cover the daily consumption rate is the key to long-term sustainability.>

Mikhailis sat up, rubbing his hands together. "Well, it sounds like we've got a plan. We just need to find the right creatures and start farming. I can already picture it—our own little underground ecosystem."

<It will be a challenge, but not impossible. The colony's survival depends on efficient resource management. This may be the first step toward expanding the colony into a formidable force.>

Mikhailis's grin widened. "A big ant monster colony, huh? Sounds like something straight out of a dungeon-building game. I can't wait to see how this turns out."

<Just remember, Mikhailis, while this might seem like a game to you, it's a complex operation that requires careful planning and management. Failure to maintain balance could lead to catastrophic consequences.>

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. No slacking off."

<Good. Because the queen has high expectations for you, as do I.>

Mikhailis chuckled. "You're starting to sound like my old teachers, Rodion. But don't worry, I won't let the queen down."

The images on his glasses flickered again, showing the expanding agricultural chamber. The workers were already busy enlarging it, their tiny figures moving quickly as they dug out more space and prepared for the next batch of crops. It was impressive—thirty by thirty meters, filled with nightshade mushrooms. But even that wouldn't be enough to keep up with the growing colony.

"We'll need more than just mushrooms," Mikhailis muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "We need variety. Something that can grow fast and give us the nutrients we need."
Continue your saga on empire

<The search is ongoing. The workers have been instructed to prioritize sustainability. This may be the beginning of a new era for the colony, Mikhailis.>

He smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yeah, I think you're right, Rodion. This is only the beginning."

As the images of the expanding colony filled his mind, Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. His monster party was coming together, and with the right planning, they'd be unstoppable. This was going to be his legacy—a massive, self-sustaining colony of powerful creatures, all under his command.

And the best part?

It was only the beginning.