Wriggle Quest: The Value of the Small

[Hanzo K.]

>"Yeah, I don't think I've ever met anyone with as diverse a list as yours. Well, Titania would probably come close, being Nature and all."

[Raikaria]

>"Yeah, I don't think I've ever met anyone with as diverse a list as yours. Well, Titania would probably come close, being Nature and all."

> "Of course, she can control everything me and Kanako can together, and then a whole lot more." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"....Looks like I'd better stay far away, and hope she doesn't try to drag me into it."
>Beat.
>"Any gods you know of aside from her that have insects in their list? I'm not talking specific insects, I'm talking about insects in general. Just asking out of curiosity."

[Raikaria]

>"....Looks like I'd better stay far away, and hope she doesn't try to drag me into it."
>Beat.
>"Any gods you know of aside from her that have insects in their list? I'm not talking specific insects, I'm talking about insects in general. Just asking out of curiosity."

> Kanako and Suwako look in thought.

> "Of those ever worshiped by humans, there's Khepri. Who took the form of a Scarab Beetle." Kanako says. "His worship has long since faded, however, and he's just a spiritual god now, no physical form."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Huh.  Interesting."

[Raikaria]

>"Huh.  Interesting."

> "Not really. He wasn't a very fun guy anyway. Most Egyptian gods were far too serious." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, it's more that fact that he was even connected to insects at all that I find interesting. Gives a girl hope that maybe someday a new one for insects will show up. I mean, the frogs, snakes, and fairies have one, so why not insects too?"

[Raikaria]

>"Well, it's more that fact that he was even connected to insects at all that I find interesting. Gives a girl hope that maybe someday a new one for insects will show up. I mean, the frogs, snakes, and fairies have one, so why not insects too?"

> "I said gods worshiped by humans. There are many minor deities worshiped by insects. Mostly ants. Not sure why ants are so faithful." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Probably because of the whole hive mentality they have."
>Come to think of it, what is our opinion on ants?

[Raikaria]

>"Probably because of the whole hive mentality they have."
>Come to think of it, what is our opinion on ants?

> Ants largely ignore you, and are single-minded on serving their Queen. In fact it's not that easy for you to command them because of this. Still, they're strong, and fast. You think if an Ant ever developed enough individuality to become a youkai, it would be a sight to behold.

[Hanzo K.]

>"I guess Ants are just weird. I've never had much luck getting them to obey really, too devoted to the Ant Queens and stuff. It'd be an interesting sight to see one gain enough self to turn Youkai though. Can't say as I've ever heard of it happening before."

[Raikaria]

>"I guess Ants are just weird. I've never had much luck getting them to obey really, too devoted to the Ant Queens and stuff. It'd be an interesting sight to see one gain enough self to turn Youkai though. Can't say as I've ever heard of it happening before."

> "Ants don't have enough individuality and willpower to become one. Although I presume their whole 'ten times their body weight lifting' would carry over, maybe even rise, and then there's their exoskeletons, and reaction speed, and agility... yeah, an ant youkai would be pretty strong." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...a Queen could though I guess. I bet they'd be a tough fight for even an Oni."
>Beat.
>"Wonder how many people would pay to see a fight like that? Wonder if I can get Tewi in on that angle..."

[Raikaria]

>"Hmm...a Queen could though I guess. I bet they'd be a tough fight for even an Oni."
>Beat.
>"Wonder how many people would pay to see a fight like that? Wonder if I can get Tewi in on that angle..."

> "I think a Queen would be a lot weaker than a solider ant." Kanako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"True, but with a Queen, there might be minions to serve her. There usually always is."

[Raikaria]

>"True, but with a Queen, there might be minions to serve her. There usually always is."

> "Just because the Queen becomes a youkai doesn't mean the other ants do. And without more youkai ants there won't be baby youkai ants."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...Wonder if it's possible... Well, if it does happen, you know I'll be keeping an eye out. Never underestimate my information network."

[Raikaria]

>"Hmm...Wonder if it's possible... Well, if it does happen, you know I'll be keeping an eye out. Never underestimate my information network."

> "Probably possible. Any animal can become a youkai by eating the corpse of a hermit." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"That's true, and ants do scavenge a lot, so it's just a matter of them getting to it first I guess. But with how single-minded they are, they'd probably be really boring people. Hard workers though, that's for sure. They'd probably give the Oni, Kappa, and Tengu a run for their money in that regard."

[Raikaria]

>"That's true, and ants do scavenge a lot, so it's just a matter of them getting to it first I guess. But with how single-minded they are, they'd probably be really boring people. Hard workers though, that's for sure. They'd probably give the Oni, Kappa, and Tengu a run for their money in that regard."

> "It depends. Things change when someone becomes a youkai. They become far more intelligent. Insects are not smart creatures, yet you are smart enough to have come to ask us about events." Kanako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin sheepishly. "That's true. But fireflies and ants are completely different insects. Just because I'm one of the more known insect youkai, that doesn't really make me the gold standard does it?"

[Raikaria]

>Grin sheepishly. "That's true. But fireflies and ants are completely different insects. Just because I'm one of the more known insect youkai, that doesn't really make me the gold standard does it?"

> "Well, you're the ONLY Insect youkai we know of." Kanako says.

> "Not much else to compare to, standard-wise." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"There's probably others out there. I heard about a crazy Spider Youkai, even though spiders aren't really Insects.. She tried to eat Rumia once apparently."

[Raikaria]

>"There's probably others out there. I heard about a crazy Spider Youkai, even though spiders aren't really Insects.. She tried to eat Rumia once apparently."

> "Yes, well, as you said, spiders are not insects." Suwako says.

> "If there were other Insect youkai, they would be in Gensokyo, or some similar place." Kanako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Maybe they're somewhere else then. Yukari would've known."

[Raikaria]

>"Maybe they're somewhere else then. Yukari would've known."

> "Would she?" Kanako asks. "Who says Yukari had any knowledge of other Gensokyo-like areas?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"It's Yukari, there's a good chance of it. There's a lot of things she knew that nobody else did, according to what I've heard."

[Raikaria]

>"It's Yukari, there's a good chance of it. There's a lot of things she knew that nobody else did, according to what I've heard."

> Kanako smirks.

> "And others knew a lot of things she did not."

> "Like how to raise a child that's not evil or abandoned?" Maribel pipes up.

> "... I guess so." Kanako says, before looking at Suwako. "Your child didn't grow up evil or abandoned, did he?"

> "No." Suwako says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"To be fair to Enkura though, she just lost her mind though. Mind's a terrible thing to lose after all."

[Raikaria]

>"To be fair to Enkura though, she just lost her mind though. Mind's a terrible thing to lose after all."

> "Of course." Suwako says.

> "The body's worse. At least you're still alive with a lost mind." Kanako argues.

> "What's the point of living when you're not in control?" Suwako argues back.

> The two start arguing about various points on this matter, until Sanae breaks them up, stating losing either is bad.