I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 97: Traps (2)

During the following hours, man and spider transformed that part of the forest into a gigantic trap.

Prata created the main structures, thick webs, intertwined threads, and complex patterns that Lukas could barely follow.

Lukas complemented her work, stretching threads between trees, rocks, and roots.

They created narrow corridors, forcing the rats to pass through specific areas.

They set up hidden nets near the tunnel exits.

Some traps were simple, a thread stretched at the right height to trip an animal in motion.

Others were more elaborate, webs that closed when touched, trapping prey inside a cocoon of silver threads.

Lukas even used bent branches to create improvised mechanisms.

When a rat touched a certain thread... The entire net would fall.

Prata seemed to approve.

The spider inspected each trap before moving on to the next. Like a true specialist.

Time passed quickly.

The sun crossed the sky, first high above, then gradually descending. The heat increased. Then diminished again.

Lukas barely noticed. He was focused. It was fun. Much more fun than he had imagined.

When they finally finished, Lukas observed the result. Dozens of traps. Spread throughout the entire area.

Some visible, shining webs stretched between trees.

Others completely hidden, nearly invisible threads, nets concealed beneath leaves.

Prata had done an excellent job. Perhaps even better than he had.

"Good work."

The spider moved her legs.

Tilbo approached and touched one of the webs with her antennae. She seemed curious, her antennae moving rapidly as they sensed the texture of the threads. But she did not try to destroy it.

The sun was already beginning to descend. Lukas looked up. The shadows were growing long.

"Time really passes quickly, doesn’t it?"

If he stayed there much longer... Aurora would certainly become worried.

"Let’s head back."

Prata descended from the tree. Tilbo began walking. The three started the return journey.

When they emerged from the forest, the sky was already painted orange.

Forest Village seemed even more worn down than before.

Perhaps because the villagers were finishing the day’s work, torchlights beginning to appear in the windows, and the sound of pots echoing from the houses.

Perhaps because the damage was more visible at that hour.

Lukas watched a farmer inspecting a sack of grain. Half of it was ruined, small holes in the fabric, grain scattered across the ground.

Farther ahead, a woman gathered partially eaten vegetables, with bite marks on carrots, potatoes, and pumpkins.

Another man spoke with two neighbors, his voice tense.

"This has never happened before."

"Not even when my grandfather was alive."

"The rats are appearing from every direction."

Lukas listened to the conversation as he passed. That caught his attention.

It had never happened before. The infestation seemed recent. Sudden. Something had changed in the forest.

’But what exactly changed?’

He did not have enough information to answer. He continued walking.

The rest of the journey passed peacefully.

When Dmond Manor finally appeared on the horizon, the sun was already touching the distant mountains, a golden-orange line cutting across the sky.

The manor’s windows shone beneath the golden evening light, like illuminated eyes set within stone.

Lukas felt strangely satisfied. It had been a productive day. A very productive day.

As he entered the manor, he encountered Aurora almost immediately.

His mother sighed when she saw him.

"Finally."

"I’m back."

"I noticed."

Judite appeared shortly afterward, her eyes shining.

"Where are the rats?"

Lukas blinked.

"In their burrows. But we set traps."

The girl looked deeply disappointed.

"Oh."

Lukas laughed.

A short while later, the entire family gathered for dinner.

The table was filled with food, warm bread, roasted meat with herbs, cooked vegetables, and fresh fruit.

Astra received small pieces of meat on a separate tray. The little eagle seemed extremely satisfied, pecking at the pieces with her beak.

During the meal, Clavor turned toward Lukas.

"So? How did it go?"

Lukas began to tell the story.

He spoke about the tunnels. About the absurd number of rats. About the traps. About the forest.

Until he reached the part about Prata.

"Actually..."

He looked at the spider.

"Prata practically set everything up by herself."

Aurora raised her eyebrows.

"She did what?"

"She seemed to know exactly where to place every trap."

Clavor became thoughtful.

"That’s unusual."

"I know."

Even Tilbo seemed to be paying attention, her antennae pointed in Lukas’s direction.

Prata remained motionless. As though it were nothing special.

After dinner, he returned to his room.

Astra settled into her box, her golden eyes already half-closed with sleep. Tilbo climbed onto the pillow, curling up like a metallic cat. Prata occupied her usual corner, hanging upside down from her web, her legs folded.

Lukas lay down. But it took him a while to fall asleep. His mind kept returning to the traps.

How many rats had been caught? Five? Ten? Twenty? Perhaps many more.

He eventually fell asleep thinking about it. Unaware that, at that exact moment... In the darkness of the forest.

Hundreds of tiny red eyes silently observed the traps scattered around the hillside.

And, somewhere even deeper beneath the earth...

Something larger was watching as well.

...

The first ray of sunlight passed through the bedroom window.

Lukas opened his eyes immediately. For a few seconds, he remained still, staring at the dark wooden ceiling where the beams crossed in familiar patterns.

The golden morning light painted the room in warm colors, and the distant sound of birds already announced the new day. The cool morning air drifted through the crack in the window, carrying the scent of wet grass and flowers from the garden.

Then he remembered. The traps.

In an instant, he was sitting upright in bed. His heart accelerated with anticipation, a mixture of anxiety and excitement that made him forget the morning chill. His fingers tightened around the blanket, and he felt energy flowing through his small body.

"Today."

Beside him, Tilbo was still sleeping on the pillow. The enormous ant had grown considerably over the past few months, but she still retained the habit of sleeping close to him, her metallic body curled up like a cat, antennae lowered, legs folded. Her black carapace gleamed beneath the light, with silver veins forming patterns of waves and flames.

Prata remained hanging upside down from her web in the corner of the room, motionless as a statue. Her black-and-silver body was nearly invisible against the web, and only her multiple eyes, eight dark shining points, reflected the light.

Astra slept inside the open box near the window, her head hidden beneath her wing. The little eagle breathed calmly, her chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm.

Lukas quickly got out of bed. Perhaps too quickly. His foot struck the side of the bed with a dull thud.

"Ow."

Tilbo raised her antennae, confused. Prata looked over, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. Astra let out a low, sleepy sound, a weak chirp that echoed from the box.

"Sorry."

None of the three seemed particularly bothered. Tilbo lowered her antennae and returned to resting. Astra tucked her head back beneath her wing.

Lukas changed clothes quickly, a dark green tunic made of light linen and thick cotton pants with deep pockets where he could store small objects.

He tied the leather sandals around his ankles with firm straps. Then he left the room, carefully closing the door behind him.