The Tiny Demons

“Locusts…”

Jonah muttered under his breath.

“…? Jonah, what does that mean…?”

“W-well… in one word, they’re grasshoppers.”

“Grasshoppers… you mean locusts?”

“Though they are a mutated variant.”

Count Hagenberg answered in Jonah’s stead, adding an explanation to Marguerite’s question.

Even in the past records of the Langheim territory, there had been sudden outbreaks of massive swarms of these mutated locusts that caused devastating damage.

Normally, locusts do not form swarms and their numbers remain small.

Yet when certain conditions align, they multiply explosively and—despite being solitary by nature—begin acting as a coordinated swarm.

And they migrate across the continent.

Devouring every plant in their path until nothing remains.

That is why people call them—

—with fear and awe—hikō, the “flying locusts.”

“…Young Jonah. Just who exactly are you?”

Count Hagenberg directed a sharp gaze at Jonah.

With only the information Jonah and the others had gathered plus what the Count himself knew, an eleven-year-old boy had reached the correct conclusion. It was no wonder he found it suspicious.

“…I’m just a commoner. More importantly, couldn’t we harvest the wheat and other crops before the locusts arrive?”

“Unfortunately, the wheat hasn’t ripened yet. And those creatures will trample and devour everything regardless.”

“…………………………”

At the Count’s words, Jonah fell silent.

Since harvesting anything meaningful at this stage was impossible, the only option was to secure enough food reserves to endure the locust swarm.

“That’s… but Father, even if Zwerg somehow manages to survive this, what about the other regions? They’ll surely suffer the same damage, and if the entire grain belt around here is devastated…”

“Then a great many people in the Empire will suffer from hunger.”

Saying that, Count Hagenberg bit his lip.

The man who had noticed the possibility of locusts, prepared alone while enduring criticism from his citizens—he could not possibly be unaware of that consequence.

Even so, to protect the people dear to him, he was doing everything in his power to save at least the Hagenberg territory.

Even if the other regions ended up starving.

Who could possibly blame Count Hagenberg for that?

A Lord fulfilling his duty, fighting alone.

At that moment—

“…Count. Have the locusts actually been sighted yet?”

Jonah, who had been silent, spoke up and asked the Count.

This was by no means a question born from a desire to escape reality.

It was to resist the approaching absurdity.

“Not yet. But judging from past records, they could arrive at any moment… No, it’s even possible the neighboring regions are already suffering damage…”

“Then next—in this season, which direction is the wind blowing from?”

“The wind’s direction? …Ah, I see what you mean. Right now it is blowing from the southwest toward the northeast.”

“W-wait just a minute!? I can’t follow what you two are talking about at all!?”

Unable to keep up with Jonah and the Count’s conversation, Marguerite cut in, demanding an explanation.

“Lady Marguerite, it’s not a complicated matter at all. As you know, a single locust is a small, light insect. So if the wind catches it, which direction will it fly—that’s all.”

“Ah… so that’s what you meant.”

Exactly—even if they form a massive swarm, they are still just insects. They cannot fly against the wind.

That means they have no choice but to let the wind carry them.

“Then no reports of locusts have come from the southwest regions?”

“Indeed. Not yet…”

At that moment—

Knock, knock.

A tapping sound came from the study window.

“Hm… what is that…”

Looking over, they saw a single bird pecking at the glass with its beak.

A letter-like object was tied to its leg—most likely a messenger bird.

Count Hagenberg stood, approached the window, and took the letter from the bird.

“Count, could that possibly be…”

“Yes… It’s from the subordinate I sent to the southwest regions. Three days ago the locusts arrived and have devoured everything in sight.”

If it started three days ago, the swarm could reach Hagenberg territory as early as tomorrow… or it might already be inside the domain.

There was no time left to waste.

“F-Father…”

“…Do not worry. I have been preparing for this very reason and purchased food from merchants as well. The Hagenberg territory will survive.”

To the anxious Marguerite, Count Hagenberg nodded firmly, trying not to let her worry.

As though he were reassuring himself.

Then—

“…It’s already night. Locusts are diurnal, so let us go and confirm the situation tomorrow morning.”

Gazing at them with his onyx-black eyes, Jonah spoke those words with a gentle smile.