I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 98: Checking Traps

A short while later, he was seated at the breakfast table.

Aurora was already there, holding a cup of herbal tea in her hands. Her white hair was tied in a loose braid over her shoulder, and her violet eyes still looked slightly sleepy. She held the cup with both hands, steam rising in spirals.

Clavor flipped through a few documents while drinking tea, his eyes carefully scanning the lines. His thick, calloused fingers held the pen with a precision that contrasted with his size.

Judite was eating bread with jam, the tip of her tongue sticking out as she spread the topping. The jam was red, made from wild berries, and dripped down the sides of the bread.

Everything seemed normal. Except for Lukas.

He was devouring breakfast.

Bread. Cheese. Fruit. Everything disappeared at an astonishing speed. His mouth barely stopped chewing. The Lirium juice, which he normally drank slowly, was swallowed in two gulps.

He needed to return to the forest. He needed to check the traps. He needed to find out whether they had worked.

He grabbed another piece of bread. Took a bite. Tried to swallow too quickly. And ended up choking.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Aurora sighed. Then she gave him a light smack on the back of the head, a sharp blow, but not a painful one.

"Be careful."

Lukas rubbed his head, still feeling his mother’s hand hovering over him.

’Domestic violence.’

Of course, he did not say that out loud.

Aurora pointed at him with her finger.

"Eat slowly."

"But I..."

"Slowly."

"Yes, Mom."

Judite started laughing, jam still on her lips.

Clavor merely raised an eyebrow, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Lukas continued eating. More slowly. Unfortunately.

A few minutes later, he finally finished. He pushed the plate away and stood up. Astra, who had been in a small box beside the table, landed on his shoulder with an agile movement, her wing still bound but her body already stronger.

Prata climbed down from the chair, her legs touching the floor with a soft sound. Tilbo walked over to stand at his side, moving his antennae in greeting.

The little group was ready.

Aurora stood up, setting her cup on the table.

"Don’t go too deep into the forest."

"I know."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

She sighed. Clearly, she did not completely believe him. There was a glimmer of concern in her violet eyes.

Lukas smiled. Then he departed.

The morning was pleasant.

The blue sky seemed endless above the hills, without a single cloud. The sun was already high enough to warm the earth, but it was not yet hot. A gentle breeze swayed the leaves of the trees, carrying the scent of grass, wildflowers, and damp soil.

Lukas walked along the dirt road, his feet kicking up small clouds of dust.

Astra remained on his shoulder. The little eagle observed everything attentively, her head turning in every direction. Her golden eyes registered every movement, every sound, every detail.

Her wing was still tucked against her body, but she already looked far better than she had months ago.

Tilbo moved along the path without hurry, his six legs striking the ground in a steady rhythm. The enormous ant attracted the attention of peasants and children, but no one was frightened anymore.

Prata disappeared and reappeared among rocks, bushes, and fences. Her silver web gleamed beneath the sunlight, and her movements were so smooth that she seemed to float.

The fields passed slowly.

Wheat fields swayed with the wind like a golden sea. The heavy stalks bent in waves, ready for harvest.

Cornfields, with tall stalks and broad leaves, formed rows that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Orchards, laden with red and yellow fruit, apples, pears, and the small Lirium fruits that Lukas loved so much.

Small farms, with chickens scratching at the ground and pigs sleeping in the mud.

Then came the villages. One. Then another. Until he finally reached the most distant one.

Forest Village.

The moment he entered the village, he noticed something.

The villagers were still worried. Perhaps even more than the day before.

A man stood observing a damaged barn. The door had been broken open, splinters of wood scattered across the ground, and grain was spilled everywhere like golden tears.

Two women spoke near a partially destroyed field. Corn stalks had been knocked over, the ears gnawed down to the cob.

Several children carried baskets of food into their homes, eyes wide, steps hurried. As though they were trying to protect everything before nightfall.

Lukas frowned.

This was beginning to look like a serious problem. A very serious problem.

"If this keeps up..."

Perhaps Clavor would truly need to come personally. After all, those people lived within Dmond territory. And they were suffering losses.

He continued walking, passing between wooden houses and thatched roofs.

A short while later, he left the village behind. The forest appeared before them once more.

Prata immediately shot forward.

The spider seemed to know exactly where she was going. She crossed roots, climbed trees, and leaped over rocks. Without hesitation. Her black-and-silver body moved with a fluidity that Lukas never grew tired of admiring.

As though she remembered the location of every trap.

"Wait."

Naturally, she ignored him.

Lukas quickened his pace, nearly tripping over a root. Tilbo kept up easily, his legs moving in a steady rhythm. Astra watched everything from his shoulder, golden eyes fixed on the spider.

Soon, they reached the first trap. Or rather... what remained of it.

Lukas stopped. Blinked. Frowned.

The web was torn. Not merely torn. It looked chewed.

Threads were scattered across the ground, as though someone had ripped pieces away with their teeth. Parts had simply vanished. As though something had eaten the web.

"That’s strange."

Prata approached. She touched the remains with one of her front legs, her chelicerae moving slowly.

She also seemed confused.

Lukas knelt down. He picked up a strand of web and examined it against the light. It had definitely been destroyed. But not by brute force. They looked like bite marks, small and sharp, like those of a rodent.

"Rats?"

He fell into thought, his violet eyes scanning the scene.

Even so, he continued forward.

They reached the second trap.

The same situation. Destroyed web. Missing strands. Strange marks.

Third. Fourth. Fifth. The result was always similar.

The more he observed, the more confused he became.

Prata’s webs were reinforced with mana. So were his. They should not have been easy to destroy. Much less chew through, especially by ordinary rats.

But the signs were there. Something had eaten the threads.

"This doesn’t make sense."

Prata walked from one trap to another.

Growing increasingly restless. The spider seemed to understand that something was wrong. Very wrong.

They continued. Sixth trap. Seventh. Eighth. Tenth. Twelfth. Fifteenth.

The situation repeated itself.

Some had not even been triggered. It was as though the rats knew where they were. Or had deliberately avoided them.

Lukas began to feel a growing sense of unease. A tingling at the back of his neck, as though he were being watched.

This seemed far too intelligent.

Far more intelligent than normal rats should be.