I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 117: The Arrival of Count Hark

Lukas woke up with his body aching, as if Tilbo had trampled him throughout the entire night.

The sunlight was already strong, indicating it was nearly noon. He blinked several times, his eyes still stinging from the accumulated exhaustion, a familiar feeling after sleepless nights.

His small body was still recovering from the strain of the previous night. Lukas realized that his childish body was still a limitation in certain situations.

The room was silent, except for the quiet sound of Astra’s breathing and the gentle swaying of Prata’s web on the ceiling. Astra slept peacefully beside his pillow, her head tucked beneath her wing, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Prata remained motionless on her web, her multiple eyes half-closed, but Lukas knew she was merely resting, not sleeping. Tilbo stood in the corner, his metallic carapace faintly gleaming with silver veins of mana, his antennae lowered in repose.

He got up and walked over to the window. The sun bathed the gardens in golden light, and the cool air drifted through the open crack, carrying the scent of grass and flowers.

The birds sang cheerfully, as if the morning were completely ordinary, as if the forest were not filled with monsters lying in wait. For a brief moment, Lukas even forgot why he had slept so long after staying awake for an entire day.

That was when he heard it. The sound of many horses, the voices of men, and the clinking of armor, a sound he knew well from the stories Clavor used to tell about ancient battles and wars.

A long column of horsemen was approaching along the main road. At its head, riding an imposing black horse, was Count Hark. Beside him rode Clavor, visibly exhausted, his shoulders slumped, his face marked by deep dark circles.

His clothes were stained with soot and dried blood, and he moved with the sluggishness of someone who had not slept for days.

Lukas hurried down the stairs, his feet nearly stumbling over the steps. Aurora and Judite were already waiting at the entrance. When the riders came to a stop in the courtyard, Clavor dismounted with difficulty.

His face was marked by deep, dark circles, soot, and dried blood, but there were no serious injuries. Only the profound exhaustion of someone who had nearly depleted all of his mana.

"Father!" Lukas ran over to him.

Clavor smiled tiredly and ruffled his son’s hair.

"I’m in one piece."

Count Hark dismounted next. When he saw Lukas, his stern face broke into a familiar smile.

"Lukas!" he exclaimed, giving the boy a friendly slap on the shoulder.

"You’ve grown since your family stayed at Hark Castle a few months ago. Still throwing yourself into danger, from what your father told me?"

Lukas smiled, feeling the warmth of the recognition.

"Just trying to help, my lord."

Everyone entered the main hall. Aurora quickly arranged food and drinks, warm bread, cheese, fruit, and a pitcher of wine for the adults.

The two mages accompanying the Count, a thin man specializing in wind and ice, and a middle-aged woman focused on support and healing, also took their seats. Master Thorne arrived last, supported by a servant.

The old mage was utterly exhausted. His face was as pale as wax, his eyes sunken, and his hands trembled. He could barely remain seated, and his breathing was short and uneven.

"Thorne..." Clavor murmured, worried.

"Don’t worry," the mage replied in a hoarse voice.

"I’ve spent nearly all of my mana over the past two nights. I’ll need at least one day, maybe two, to recover. I won’t be of any use during the hunt. I’ll stay here and protect the mansion."

He paused, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"I hope my payment will be higher."

Count Hark nodded.

"Don’t worry. Get some rest, Master Thorne. Your contribution has already been immense."

During the meal, Clavor briefly recounted what had happened the previous night. His voice was hoarse, and he spoke slowly, as though every word required effort.

"The wall cracked in several places. The rats managed to break into the village in two waves. Thorne and I held them off for as long as we could, but the horde was larger and better organized. We thought we’d have to fight until dawn... but Count Hark and his riders arrived earlier than expected."

He looked at the Count, gratitude filling his weary eyes.

"They charged in like a hurricane. The cavalry annihilated the horde with ease, and the Count’s mages held back the Rat King himself when it finally showed itself. The creature fled back into the depths of the forest. We bought ourselves valuable time."

Count Hark took a sip of wine before continuing.

"We arrived before dawn. We saw the signs of battle from afar. My men were well-rested and well-equipped. It was a relatively clean victory, but we know the King only retreated to grow stronger. It has not been defeated."

Lukas listened attentively. Knowing that the Rat King itself had appeared, even if only briefly, made his chest tighten. The image of a creature capable of commanding thousands of corrupted rats was terrifying, but it also stirred his curiosity. What kind of being could create something so monstrous?

The meeting continued. Count Hark outlined the plan on the table, his thick fingers tracing routes across the wood.

"We leave at dusk. My twenty riders will form the front line alongside Clavor. My mages will deal with the horde and provide support. We’ll head straight for the lair. The objective is to kill the King before it can recover and grow even stronger."

Lukas raised his voice, surprising even himself.

"I want to come too."

Clavor frowned, but Count Hark looked at the boy with approval.

"The lad is brave. If he wants to come, as long as he stays in the rear with his companions, I’ll allow it."

Clavor hesitated, but eventually nodded.

"Very well. But you’ll obey orders, Lukas."

The meeting ended after the tactical details had been settled. While the riders rested and prepared themselves, Clavor went upstairs to bathe and sleep for a few hours before the hunt. Thorne had already been taken to his room, practically collapsing from exhaustion.

Lukas remained in the courtyard for a while, watching the reinforcements. The Count’s arrival had brought relief, but also a new tension. The Rat King had only been contained, not destroyed.

That afternoon, he returned to his room. Tilbo, Prata, and Astra were waiting for him. Lukas sat down on the bed and gently stroked the ant’s carapace.

"Tonight, we’ll go together," he whispered.

He looked out the window toward the forest. With his eagle-like vision, he could see every detail of the leaves, every movement within the shadows.

The King was waiting.