Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 403. Mantis the forest’s real owner

When everything had finally settled, they began moving toward the only path leading out of the area.

Theo was certain this was one of those places where only the inhabitants, especially the heirs, were allowed to enter.

The mantis had already come out of the beast space and was walking beside Theo.

Lucien’s attendant, Cassian, who had been smiling throughout the carriage journey, now had his tail curled up tightly. The mantis wasn’t even looking at him, yet the man had already decided it was going to do something to him.

It was only because of Lucien that the man stopped from doing something he would regret later. If he had done something and somehow survived, the barony would have been another problem waiting for him.

When the mantis noticed the tall grass nearby, it suddenly turned into a blinding white streak. By the time everyone saw it again, the grass within several meters had already been cut apart.

Clara, along with her beasts, was left dumbstruck by the mantis’s strength after its sudden growth spurt.

"Your beast is still not in your control, Theo," Lucien said, watching the mantis roaming freely, doing anything it wanted as long as it stayed near the group.

"It might take me a little longer to tame it completely," Theo replied, but the answer already felt like a lie. He didn’t want to control the mantis the same way he did his other beasts.

To him, it was unique. If it could have a little bit of its own personality, Theo wouldn’t mind.

’Wait... it’s that habit again...’ Theo thought before taking a deep breath.

"But other than that... maybe this much taming is already a lot better, wouldn’t you agree?" Theo asked, making Lucien stare at him for a moment before returning his attention back to patrolling the surroundings.

"...A beast is meant to be controlled, not allowed to do whatever it wants," Lucien said.

Theo felt like frowning at the very thought of this idea.

"But as a Merrick, you are free to do whatever you want, Theo," Lucien added, making Theo nod.

That answer didn’t surprise him.

If anything, it was the first statement that made him feel like it wasn’t Lucien speaking but a book instead.

"You have already seen how Father never refused anything we want to do. The only times he says no are when we overdo it or when it might hinder our growth."

"Mm hmm," Theo nodded again. The baron was really like that.

"KRIEEKKK!"

Suddenly, the mantis’s high-pitched cry rang out nearby.

Theo immediately turned toward the direction before he ran toward it.

He caught sight of the mantis’s silhouette for a moment before reaching a small clearing.

The others entered at the same pace, and the sight that greeted them made Lucien’s attendant wrinkle his face in disgust.

A boar’s body lay limp on the ground. And on top of it stood the large mantis.

The boar’s head was no longer on its body. Instead, it was held between the mantis’s forelegs as it munched on it like a delicious meal.

Theo looked at the boar, who was staring at the mantis with eyes Theo couldn’t understand. There were emotions there, ones he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

"Ahh... now that it has hunted some food, why don’t you all send your beasts too so that they can have a feast as well?" Theo said.

The moment the mantis heard that, it let out another screech while looking directly at Theo, making him frown.

"You will share your food; there is no room for a NO," Theo said in a commanding voice, though it sounded more like a father scolding his child for doing something wrong.

Theo looked back at the others.

Lucien simply shook his head, while the attendant apologized.

Theo then looked at Rhys, who also shook his head before speaking.

"Unfortunately, my beasts won’t even be able to get their teeth wet with such a small prey, young master."

The statement made everyone look at the man with different expressions, as it sounded more like a brag than a simple explanation.

But since Rhys was Theo’s sword master, Theo already knew what the man truly meant.

His gaze moved to Clara last, who looked hesitant.

Theo understood that right away. Her trauma still hadn’t faded, and she might not want her beasts to be anywhere near the mantis.

But he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Theo watched as both the boar and the pup moved toward the mantis in perfect synchrony, who gave them a single glance before continuing to eat its food.

The boar dug one of its tusks into the dead boar’s body, its skill still activated, while the pup tried to widen that cut further with its iron-sharp claws.

Their coordination made Theo feel proud, something he had felt for as long as he could remember.

"Your beast is injured, Attendant," Lucien muttered, looking at the boar whose tusk was badly damaged.

Before Clara could speak, Theo chimed in.

"It was damaged during the gate, elder brother. The boar did a lot to save us back then," Theo explained.

Lucien looked at the boar again.

"Hmm. I thank you for helping my brother when he was in need," Lucien said in a noble tone, making Clara immediately bow in response.

Theo turned back toward the mantis.

It had begun sharing its meal, and within a matter of five minutes, a large portion of the flesh was already gone. The boar’s entire head had disappeared.

Theo was flabbergasted by the mantis’s new eating speed.

Perhaps it was because he had mostly fed it greens and only a little meat back in the castle, but Theo could already tell he was in trouble.

When the mantis was small, it ate a lot.

But now that the mantis was big... how much was it going to eat?

That question was somewhat answered when Theo saw it munching on the bones as well.

It seemed the glutton had only grown into an even bigger glutton.