Dung Beetle × Toadlet
Short story.
● Blurb:
Qiuqiu is a great dung beetle.
Though still young, he has already rolled more dung balls than other dung beetles could manage in several lifetimes. He generously gives food to countless fellow beetles, while also cleaning up all sorts of filthy messes for Mother Earth.
Wherever there is dung, there he is!
As he travels from place to place rolling dung balls, Qiuqiu also happens to do many good deeds.
For example:
Rescuing a kingfisher who flew so fast she got her beak stuck in a tree and was waiting to die.
Exposing a male pirate spider who was trying to court a female with a fake gift, keeping her from being deceived.
Bravely stepping in to save a poor toadlet from a human child.
Whenever he helps an animal, Qiuqiu sincerely asks, "Can we be friends?"
The kind kingfisher and pirate spider sisters never openly criticized him for eating dung, but they both turned him down.
So he couldn't even be bothered to ask the toadlet, who seemed so easygoing.
One day, feeling down, Qiuqiu transformed into a human and sat daydreaming beside a lotus pond. Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps behind him.
He turned around and saw a tall, handsome man in colorful clothes standing there. The man bent down, offered him a half-open lotus, and asked gently:
"Can I be your friend? The kind who wants to court you."
"..."
Qiuqiu was so startled his cheeks flushed red. Stammering, he said, "B-but... I grew up eating dung."
The man: "..."
Moral: Don't judge creatures by their appearance. Treat beneficial insects kindly.
