Her Majesty’s Swarm - Volume 3 - Chapter 3

Atlantica’s Rebellion 

“The Albatross is back! Looks like Isabelle brought back some extra ships along with the loot!” cried a pirate who was serving as lookout in one of Atlantica’s watchtowers. 

Isabelle’s ship was tailed by the medium-sized merchant ship, where Sérignan and I were hiding, as well as the larger ship, which was full of Ripper Swarms. It was rather similar to the Trojan Horse. For now, the plan was going smoothly, and Isabelle gave no indication that she was looking to betray us. 

I had the Ripper Swarms keep a careful watch on the situation. Thankfully, unlike a human army, no member of the Arachnea would ever defy orders and act out of line. 

The Albatross skillfully steered between the rocks, leading us right into the pirate’s hideout. Not only was Atlantica missing from all the sea charts, but the reef also served to keep the pirates hidden. 

I imagined this cave was a natural one that had later been expanded by human hands. It had an opening in the ceiling that allowed sunlight and fresh air to flow inside, and it was structured so that it didn’t flood even during high tide. 

It was like a pirate base taken straight out of a fairy tale. Just being there filled my heart with excitement and the spirit of adventure. I had to hold back an urge to go “Arrr!” 

Atlantica’s pirates scrambled up to the wharf, shouting in excitement. 

“Isabelle’s heeere!” 

“What sorta treasures didja bring back today?!” 

“Oh, you ain’t gonna believe the loot we found this time,” replied one of the Albatross’ pirates with a grin. 

“Well, our haul this time is on those other ships,” Isabelle said, gesturing behind her. “Take a good look at ’em. Big girls, ain’t they? Should sell for a pretty penny, too. If any of you guys want ’em, I can sell ’em to you at a discount. We can start negotiatin’ once we unload.” 

“With ships this big, we can raid all we want!” 

The pirates eyed the ships greedily. 

“Yeah, yeah. How much are you gonna take from me this time?” 

“Forty percent. Sorry, Blasco’s orders. The leaders say that’s the tax now. Just hand it over, Isabelle.” 

“Fine, fine, take your forty percent. I got so much this time, I don’t even care.” 

Atlantica’s tax had originally been a tenth of one’s gains, but it had gradually increased since then. This was likely why the pirates were so disgruntled. I could see why they’d be annoyed; someone else kept taking a large chunk of their income. Their superiors kicked back in the safety of Atlantica while the pirates braved danger to bring back treasure, only to have a cut of their earnings taken away. 

On the surface, the superiors weren’t simply pocketing the taxes, but rather using it to cover expenses and keep Atlantica running. But, from what Isabelle had told me, these leaders were corrupt and used the money for their own personal gain. 

“We’ll be takin’ that share, then.” 

The pirates grinned as they climbed the ladder from the wharf to get a peek at the treasure, blissfully unaware that the “treasure” was waiting for them. 

“Huh? What, didja steal some cattle or somethin’?” one of the pirates asked when he saw something writhing in the ship’s hold. 

A split second later, the man fell to the ground. He thrashed and squirmed on the floor, frothing at the mouth. 

“What the...?! What happened to you?!” asked one of his comrades, visibly shocked. 

“Look at that!” shouted another, pointing. 

The pirates had finally spotted the Ripper Swarms. They crawled out of the hold we were hiding in, their feet clattering against the deck, and lunged at the pirates. 

“Eeek! Monsters, monsteeers!” 

“Oh, God! God of Light, God of the Sea, God of Ships, God of... Pirates, I don’t know! Somebody, save me!” 

The mere sight of the Ripper Swarms was enough to demoralize the pirates. Only a brave few dared face the creatures after seeing them up close. 

They’re so cute, though... 

“The ship’s crawling with monsters!” 

“It’s a curse! The treasure is cursed!” 

The pirates at the wharf didn’t have any weapons on hand and could only stand there, frozen in terror. This was a relief, actually, since I wanted to avoid any bloodshed if possible. 

“Listen up, you lot!” Isabelle shouted from aboard the Albatross. “The leaders are corrupt! Atlantica used to be a place where pirates helped each other, but not anymore! Those bastards have all of us under their thumbs, and it’s been nothin’ but taxation ’n’ exploitation ever since!” 

Though they were still wary of the Ripper Swarms, the pirates gradually turned their attention to Isabelle. 

“I’m sick ’n’ tired of this Atlantica! That’s why I’m gonna take down the guys who did this and bring our island back to its former glory! Atlantica’ll once again be a place where pirates band together and give each other a helpin’ hand! Where taxes are minimal, and the councilmen are always changin’!” 

“Now that sounds more like Atlantica!” 

“Hear, hear!” 

Cheers broke out in the crowd. 

Wow, they really are sick of it all. Isabelle was right; they hate the fact that Atlantica’s leaders take a huge cut of their earnings. I’d probably be pretty pissed too if my employer started taking away half of my paycheck as an arbitrary tax. 

“Anyone who’s willin’ to to cut those assholes down to size should come up ’n’ join these bugs! If you’re not willin’ to fight the good fight, well, you’re gonna become a tasty meal for the bugs instead! C’mon, make your choices, men!” 

With the grotesque Ripper Swarms right before their eyes, the pirates faltered. They might have detested the way they’d been treated by the colony’s leaders, but they hesitated to rebel against them. 

Wouldn’t accepting Isabelle’s proposal just invite retribution? Assuming they started a revolution, was there even a chance they could win? These sorts of doubts held the pirates back. 

“You see these things?! They’re the ones that destroyed the Kingdom of Maluk and the Dukedom of Schtraut! No pirate can beat ’em! Trust me, we tried... and they kicked our asses!” 

“Why did you bring them here?! The bugs are going to take over Atlantica!” cried a pirate down on the wharf. 

His question was justified, which was exactly why it was time for me to make an appearance. 

“You can rest easy, gentlemen,” I said, stepping out onto the deck. “I am the queen of the Arachnea, the one who leads these monstrous insects. So long as you don’t want to spill our blood, I don’t wish to see any of you come to harm, either. I promise you here and now that I have no desire to conquer Atlantica.” 

“Queen of the Arachnea...?” The pirates eyed me suspiciously. 

Their misgivings lasted only a moment, however. The surrounding Ripper Swarms lowered their heads and raised their scythes, acknowledging me with their gesture of fealty. Sérignan also stepped out from behind me and kneeled down respectfully. Upon seeing this grand display, the pirates’ expressions turned to utter shock. 

It seems they’ve realized I really am the Swarm’s leader. 

“Those things really listen to her?” 

“This is just crazy...” 

“I have a proposition for you,” I continued, a fake smile plastered on my face. “I wish for us to become allies. We will support you financially. Now that we’ve conquered both the Kingdom of Maluk and the Dukedom of Schtraut, we have numerous and unimaginable riches, which I’m perfectly willing to share with you. In exchange, we want to buy your cooperation and strength.” 

“Allies...?” 

“We will offer you support, and in exchange, you will attack the Popedom of Frantz. That’s the motivation behind this alliance.” 

I wanted to sic these pirates on the Popedom. They didn’t necessarily have to go to war with Frantz’s navy; all I needed was for them to persistently attack the Popedom’s trade cogs and provoke the navy to counterattack. 

This would prevent the worst-case scenario for us, in which Frantz’s navy would attack Schtraut’s vast coastline. My plan essentially consisted of using Atlantica’s pirates in place of a navy and having them draw the enemy away from our shores. If we failed, we’d be faced with the very real possibility that Frantz might stage a landing on our shores. 

“What will it be, then? Do you accept?” 

“Go on, decide, you blockheads,” Isabelle urged. “You wanna keep slavin’ away under those two greedy mongrels? Or would you rather team up with the strongest force on the continent, take back what’s ours, and get some real riches?” 

“To hell with the leaders! I’m in on this alliance. I wanna see their heads roll!” 

“Yeah! I’ve had enough of them treating us like slaves!” 

All the pirates present were on board for the revolution. 

“Aye, wise choice, laddies!” Isabelle grinned. “Bring all the captains here, and let’s give ’em the choice, too! Riches or slavery!” 

On Isabelle’s order, some pirates and Ripper Swarms scattered, looking to summon the other pirate captains to the wharf. Most of the pirates looked confused as they stepped up to the ships. They didn’t understand what was happening, and they were clearly afraid of the Ripper Swarms. 

“What’s going on, Isabelle? What are those monsters doing here?!” one of the captains shouted. 

“They’re my allies,” Isabelle snapped. “And dependin’ on how everything goes, they could end up bein’ your allies, too.” 

“I’m the queen of the Arachnea,” I said to the captains. “I command these monsters, and I want to form an alliance with you.” 

“Y’see, I’m gonna cooperate with Her Majesty here to purge the leaders and all the corruption that came with ’em.” 

So far, everyone was acting very rationally. 

“You’re gonna kill the commanders?” another captain asked, his eyes wide. 

“Yeah. I’ve seen bed bugs less annoyin’ than Achille and Blasco. They just kick back and relax here all cushy-like, and then they got the gall to ask for a forty percent tax. And the way this is goin’, I can see ’em kickin’ it up to fifty or sixty percent.” 

“You want to keep your profits to yourselves, right?” I added. “Isabelle’s trying to make that happen, and we’re poised to help her. The monsters here are all prepared to assist in any way they can.” 

Obviously, I had no way of knowing whether Isabelle would really bring about the utopia they craved. But, if nothing else, I needed the pirates to keep Frantz’s navy suppressed for a few years until the war came to an end. As for what came after... 

Well, let’s just see how things play out. Whatever happens, happens. 

“I’ll join.” 

“You’re in, Gilbert? Good man,” Isabelle said happily. 

“Same here.” 

“Do we really have a choice? If we say no, those bugs’ll eat us.” 

The captains were agreeing one after another. 

“All right, all right. I’m in,” the last captain shouted, pounding his fist on a nearby desk. 

“All in favor, eh? Heh! Let’s send those suckers to Davy Jones’ Locker.” Isabelle’s smile was deliciously nasty. 

“Find Blasco ’n’ Achille, as well as any of the snakes who work for ’em! Once you sniff ’em out, we’ll take care of ’em!” 

“Where do they usually hide?” I asked. 

“The highest room overlookin’ the area, but neither one of ’em was there,” Isabelle replied bitterly. “I sent your monsters out to find ’em, and they’re looking for ’em now.” 

“Hmm. The Ripper Swarms have a strong sense of smell, so they should be able to track your leaders down.” 

“Yeah? Well, that’s good. They might have some hidden harbor we don’t know about. We gotta find ’em somehow and make sure they ain’t goin’ anywhere.” 

Thankfully, the Swarms were on par with hunting hounds when it came to tracking scents. That aside, I was still baffled that just about all the pirates had sided with the revolution. Everyone, from the lowest of crew members up to the seasoned captains, had joined in—even if the Ripper Swarms’ presence helped coax them into it. 

Maybe the idea that the leaders’ fortune and status would be split up among everyone was too lucrative to pass up... Or perhaps the leaders’ corruption had simply aggravated the pirates to a breaking point. 

I made a mental note to avoid monopolizing all the fun stuff so the Swarm didn’t end up turning against me. After all, only my little group had gotten to enjoy a dip in the ocean and a barbecue. The other Swarms deserved some time off, too. 

“You’ve no need to worry, Your Majesty,” Sérignan assured me. “The Swarm is all in one and one in all. Your joy gives us all joy. The Arachnea will not squabble over wealth like the humans in this place.” 

“You’re right, Sérignan.” I nodded. “We’re a true collective. My joy is everyone’s joy, and everyone’s sorrow is my sorrow.” 

The Arachnea was essentially a hivemind, and the collective consciousness connected us all. There was no disparity of wealth, and all emotions—happiness, sorrow, anger, or pleasure—were shared by everyone. That meant there was no room for discrepancies, to say nothing of discrimination. Quite the opposite, in fact. Any individual Swarm would willingly sacrifice itself for the sake of the group. 

Our unity was ironclad, and this harmony made the Arachnea somewhat like an ideal society. If I were to send all the pirates here into a Conversion Furnace, they’d never have to squabble again. 

“Your Majesty, we’ve discovered one of the leaders. We’ll be leading the pirates there,” reported a Ripper Swarm. 

“Good job. Capture him.” 

One down. 

“Let go of me! Let go! Do you know who you’re dealing with here?! I’m the goddamn leader of Atlantica!” 

Soon enough, my Ripper Swarms dragged over a large man bearing an eyepatch. 

“Well, well, if it ain’t Achille. What, Blasco isn’t halfway up your ass like usual?” Isabelle asked, taunting him. 

“Isabelle! Are you the one behind this?!” Achille bellowed. 

“I’m the one askin’ the questions here. You do know your authority ain’t worth jack shit anymore, right? We knocked you off your high horse and down into the mud. Now, be a good boy and answer my question: where’s Blasco?” 

“Dammit! I don’t know!” Achille said, thrashing about as he tried to shake off his captors. “I hid as soon as I heard about the rebellion! How should I know where that shitstain ran off to?!” 

“Oh, so you don’t know. Well, we’ll find him ourselves. A shame, though. I thought about sparin’ you if you helped us out.” Isabelle shrugged. 

“W-Wait, Isabelle!” Achille’s tone changed. “We can work something out! If you let us leave, you can have all the loot we’ve got stacked up in the vault! Sounds good, doesn’t it? Right?” 

“Sure does... Well, it would’ve before you decided to start takin’ half my loot. It’s way too late for that now. Sit quiet and accept your fate like a man.” 

“Damn you all! Did you forget who made you good-for-nothings into pirates worth a damn?! It was us! Me, Blasco, and the rest of the bunch! We gave you ships! We let you use Atlantica as a hideout! It’s because of us you could even—” 

I silently ordered one of the Ripper Swarms to sting him. 

“Stop shoutin’, you old geezer. Don’t you have a shred of dignity?” Isabelle glared at Achille with a mix of exasperation and disgust as the Ripper Swarms tied him up. 

Just as we lined him up with some of his underlings, one of the Albatross’ pirates ran over to deliver some alarming news. 

“Sis! This is bad!” 

“What’s wrong?” 

“The vault is empty! The treasure’s all gone!” 

“What?!” Isabelle’s expression darkened. 

The leaders’ treasure—which was an important factor in uniting the pirates—was missing. 

“Blasco, that rat bastard! He must’ve swiped the treasure!” Isabelle hollered. 

“Calm down, Isabelle!” I rose to my feet. “Trust me, he’s not going to get away with this. My Swarms have already detected someone who fits his description trying to escape Atlantica with a ton of wooden crates. Achille here was just trying to trick you.” 

“Thanks, I owe ya one. Atlantica needs that stuff! We can’t let Blasco have it!” 

“Let’s go! He’s this way!” I hopped onto a Ripper Swarm’s back and motioned for Isabelle and her entourage to follow. 

We hurried through tunnels extending across Atlantica. Traveling with pirates through this natural fortress caused me to shiver with excitement. 

“He should be around here... There, isn’t that him?” 

After traveling through a narrow tunnel that had been difficult to find, we came out into an open grotto on the other side. Before us was a small wharf and a medium-sized galleon moored there. It was a separate, hidden wharf that the other pirates had never known about. And there, at the far end, was the man we were looking for. 

Bingo. 

“Blasco!” Isabelle drew her cutlass and charged at him. 

Oh, dear, she’s got a short temper... 

I had to make sure she didn’t get herself killed. 

“Sérignan, help her, please.” 

“By your will.” Sérignan took off after the pirate. 

“You bastard! How dare you try to take off with Atlantica’s treasure?!” Isabelle roared, waving her cutlass at Blasco. “You’ve done a lot of stupid shit so far, but this really takes the cake! You lying snake!” 

“Like yer one to talk, ya traitor!” he screamed back at Isabelle, pointing his own cutlass in her direction. “I only did this because ya kicked up a goddamn rebellion and let them monsters into Atlantica!” 

Blasco’s underlings, who had been loading the cargo onto his ship, put down the crates and drew their weapons as well. Frankly, I wasn’t worried at all. 

“You will have to contend with me.” In a flash, Sérignan stepped forward and cut down one of Blasco’s men. 

Another pirate swung his cutlass at Sérignan, but she quickly flicked away his blade and stabbed the tip of her sword into his throat. When a third pirate charged at her, she ran her sword parallel to his cutlass and drove the blade into his heart. 

Sérignan’s fighting form was amazing. It was fluid, without error, and betrayed no sign of hesitation. She thoroughly and precisely drove her opponents back. It reflected the experience she had acquired during our battles in Maluk and Schtraut. She was a hero unit capable of constant growth, after all. 

“Amazing...” 

“That lady’s mighty ferocious...” 

Isabelle and Blasco were momentarily distracted by Sérignan, despite the fact they were practically engaged in their own battle. 

“Weren’t you going to finish him off, Isabelle?” I asked. 

My question snapped the two of them back to attention. 

“Right! Prepare yourself, you rotten fraud!” 

“Yer the one who’s gonna kick the bucket here, Isabelle!” 

The two of them locked blades. Isabelle clearly had the upper hand, probably because her youth afforded her much more stamina. She pushed Blasco back with ridiculous ease and soon had him backed against a wall. 

“Dammit! Help me, you idiots!” Blasco yelled. 

“I’m not sure who you’re speaking to,” Sérignan said coldly. “You’re the only one left.” 

She had taken out all of Blasco’s men like it was child’s play. Having met their demise at the tip of Sérignan’s corrupted holy sword, the pirates lay in pools of their own blood. 

“Ya useless fools... I spent a small fortune on ya!” Blasco howled as he barely managed to block a swipe from Isabelle’s cutlass. 

On the next swing, Isabelle’s blade dug into Blasco’s arm, and his own weapon fell from his hand and clattered to the ground. 

“This is as far as you go, Blasco,” Isabelle said, pressing the tip of her cutlass against his Adam’s apple. 

“Grr! Fine, kill me if ya want! Ya can bet yer sweet ass I’ll be cursin’ ya from beyond the grave!” 

“Ooh, that sounds scary. Guess I can’t kill you, then. I’ll just have somebody else do the honors.” Isabelle nodded in my direction. 

Ugh, what is she thinking? 

I grumbled internally as I ordered one of my Ripper Swarms to stun and tie up Blasco. 

“All right. Now to have them taste the same humiliation we had to go through,” Isabelle said, an evil grin playing on her lips.