In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 303 Locust Plague

There were opportunists everywhere—and in Lania, they lived in the South.

During the Elonia campaign, they had contributed almost nothing, guided as always by their instincts for self-preservation.

Yet despite their inaction, the southern nobles still produced the majority of the kingdom's agricultural wealth.

Astrid exchanged a glance with Duke Capone and sighed. The duke, too, shook his head in resignation.

"Sigh… No doubt they'll come charging in, demanding their share under the claim of equal rights."

They would likely dredge up centuries-old achievements and argue that, despite their contributions, they had been denied lands in the past due to territorial shortages.

Many of the southern nobles had long left the management of their estates to stewards, choosing instead to entrench themselves in the capital's politics.

Some among them were even old royal relatives—ones who viewed Astrid's regency as an irritant, if not a threat.

Even though Michael's Crassus territory had recently seen a rise in agricultural output and budding industrialization, it still paled in comparison to the richness of the South.

"If only there were a way to put them in their place," Astrid murmured.

"Having to tiptoe even when distributing lands to those who've earned them… it's frustrating."

Gazing out the window, her face clouded with worry. The sky was clear and bright, yet her heart felt heavy.

Just then, the reception room doors opened, and a royal courier entered.

He handed a letter to the chamberlain, who approached the princess with practiced grace.

"A message from the Lord Chancellor of the Southern Province, Your Highness."

Astrid took the letter with a puzzled look. Duke Capone raised his brows as well.

"Well, that's some timing," he remarked. "Talking about them one moment, and they come knocking the next."

No doubt it would contain the southern nobles' request to be granted territory in the Northwestern Province.

Astrid sighed, brushing aside the duke's attempt at humor.

A part of her wanted to toss the letter aside unread. But…

"I need to face this head-on. Avoiding it won't change anything."

Steeling her resolve, Astrid broke the seal.

And then—

"…A locust swarm?"

Papal Palace, Radiant Holy Kingdom.

"There's nothing more to worry about now, Your Holiness. We've released the engineered locusts into all the continent's fertile farmlands. Soon enough, nations will come begging for aid."

So the truth behind the unwavering power of the Radiant Holy Kingdom came to light.

Surrounded by oceans, they were insulated from the infestation devastating the mainland.

Thus, they created a Locust King—a monstrous biological weapon designed to control the continent's food supply.

"All we have to do now is wait for them to come crawling, offering gold for grain," one official said smugly.

Tons of food that couldn't be exported due to cargo ship losses were currently stockpiled in the kingdom.

Now that the Sacred Sea Knights had been deployed, the sea was no longer their concern.

"Let them pay dearly for it."

Pope Allegro III exchanged a glance with Cardinal Jacopo, both of them smirking darkly.

As Michael rode Marcus into Crassus Territory, his brow furrowed at the sight of countless dead locusts scattered across the ground.

"Why are there so many dead locusts here…?"

One of the territory's commoners spotted him and ran up excitedly.

"Ah, my lord! It's a true honor to see you again—and you as well, Sir Marcus! The neighboring lands are being ravaged by locusts, but we've suffered no harm at all. All thanks to Sir Marcus, of course!"

Michael's eyes drifted to the large pile of fertilizer at the edge of a field.

It had been made from carefully collected droppings of Marcus and the other magical beasts.

"Could it be… the dragon's aura is repelling the swarm?"

Michael picked up a locust corpse from the ground and examined it closely.

Among the dead insects strewn about, this one stood out—larger than the rest, with unusually strong mandibles.

His fingers traced the insect's hardened exoskeleton. It felt cold and dry, yet carried a subtle, unfamiliar energy.

At first glance, the locust appeared intact—no signs of physical damage. It seemed to have died simply from exposure to the dragon's aura radiating from the land.

"There's something familiar about this…"

Michael's gaze drifted toward his waist.

The holy sword had already been passed on to Drake. But the power that once resided in it had long since been etched into Michael's being. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"This isn't just a normal locust."

His eyes sharpened.

Michael scrutinized the locust more closely. Its legs were unnaturally swollen, and the delicate cracks in its wings shimmered with an unnatural glow.

He carefully peeled back the wings to reveal a hidden symbol etched beneath them.

It was a mark that would've remained invisible had he not possessed the power to absorb magical energy.

Now, reacting to Michael's presence, the symbol reflected a faint light.

It was the mark of Radiance.

"The Holy Kingdom of Radiance… so they've finally resorted to this."

A cold smile spread across Michael's face.

He could feel the divine energy embedded in the locust—an unmistakable trace of Radiance.

A common knight or magician might not recognize it. But any priest would.

Ordinary priests of the Holy Kingdom, however, wouldn't dare speak out. They were already indoctrinated into the Church's doctrine and would surely justify the Church's sins as the will of Radiance.

But—

"Edward from our territory is different."

Edward, known for his gentle and kind nature, had undergone thorough re-education and spiritual reconditioning. The results had been beyond satisfactory.

And the royal chaplain stationed at the palace had long since been recruited into Michael's camp.

With their testimonies and this physical evidence, turning the Holy Kingdom into a pariah in the eyes of the continent would not be difficult.

The locust's faint divine aura, combined with the witness accounts, would serve as a devastating blow against Radiance.

"Especially since the King of Elonia and the Emperor of the Pamir Empire are already on my side."

Pocketing the locust carcass as evidence, Michael spurred Marcus forward.