Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Chapter 3 - Web
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Intense heat and a monstrous roar erupted from the cave. The explosion had been powerful.
They were all dead. Including the remaining eggs…
“Aaaaagh! Ugh…!”
But contrary to my expectations,
A small spider, flung from the cave entrance, lay twitching on the ground.
The youngest spider.
The only one who hadn't violated me.
The smallest of the group.
“Aaaaaaaaagh! Screeeech!”
Perhaps because she usually stayed near the entrance, repairing the webbing, she had survived the blast.
But she was on fire. Two of her legs were broken, and her human-like torso was badly burned.
“…”
[He] observed the situation for a moment, then,
Drew his knife and emerged from the bushes.
I followed him, but I noticed a strange sadness in his demeanor.
He seemed sorrowful, even though his face was hidden behind the mask.
A strange observation.
“Uggggh! Groan…! Aaaaaah…!”
The youngest spider’s expression, on the other hand, was clear and unmistakable.
Pain, rage, resentment, grief,
And,
A burning hatred directed at us.
“You bastards…! You…! You killed my sisters…!”
Tears streamed down her face. Despite her agony, she cursed us, her voice filled with hatred.
“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! Groan…!”
[He] stared at her, knife in hand. I expected him to finish her off, but he hesitated.
“Come here! Come on! Aagh! Come heeeeere!”
Perhaps it wasn't so surprising.
She dragged herself across the ground, flailing her limbs wildly. Even [he] wouldn’t be unscathed if he got hit.
But surprisingly,
He simply watched her flailing, claw-like legs.
Legs that strangely resembled…
His own claws…
“…”
Wait.
Something felt off.
The sickle-like claw that replaced [his] right arm looked remarkably similar to the youngest spider’s legs.
A chilling realization dawned on me.
[His] countless scars, the gaping hole in his torso, his emaciated body…
“You bastard! Die, die…!”
The youngest spider desperately tried to reach him, to tear him apart. But he kept his distance.
He knew a lot about spiders. He must have spent a considerable amount of time with them…
“…”
But why was he trying to kill them?
And why was he hesitating now, in front of the youngest spider?
I couldn’t bring myself to speak, only watching, waiting for his decision.
“…”
[He] loosened his grip on the knife and backed away. He couldn’t bring himself to kill the small, strangely beautiful spider.
Then, he looked at me.
He offered me the knife.
He was asking me to finish her off.
“I think she’ll kill me if I get any closer…”
We both knew the answer. I couldn't kill this spider.
[He] nodded silently, understanding.
The youngest spider was badly injured. She wouldn't survive long in this harsh environment.
We needed to leave.
But…
Crack-
“!”
The scene shifted abruptly.
The youngest spider, who I had thought was too injured to move, lunged at [him] and bit him.
One of her legs lay broken on the ground. She had sacrificed it, using the last of her strength for one final attack.
“Kyagh-!”
[He] stumbled backward and collapsed. The venom paralyzed his muscles.
“No! Wait…!”
I tried to help him up, to escape. Supporting his larger frame was difficult, but I couldn’t abandon him after he had saved me.
“Don’t come any closer! I-I’ll kill you!”
Hiss-
I grabbed the knife, my hand shaking, and swung it at the spider. She didn't move.
…But not because of my threatening gesture.
“You…”
She already knew what was coming.
“My sisters will be here soon. You can’t escape.”
[He], leaning on me for support, seemed to understand as well. He pushed me away, collapsing onto the ground.
“Ugh!”
The spider caught her breath.
Her breasts heaved, and then she screamed, her voice amplified by her inflated chest.
The spider’s cry,
Summoned the others.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!!”
Amidst the deafening shriek,
As a ringing filled my ears,
[He], his fingers barely moving, signaled to me.
Run!
***
“Gasp… pant…!”
I ran, my breath ragged. Knife in one hand, Amy’s head in the other, I fled through the forest, consumed by fear and panic.
Trees and bushes blurred past me. But a darker shadow, moving even faster, flickered at the edge of my vision.
“Doctor – two on your left, three approaching from 300 meters on your right-”
Even Amy’s rapid-fire reports couldn't keep up with the spiders’ movements. The information was useless now.
I had no way to escape. They moved through the forest with ease, while I struggled to navigate the tangled roots underfoot.
“Doctor, one approaching from 500 meters ahead-”
I ran, desperately trying to evade them, but it was no use. I couldn't hide, and I couldn't climb the trees.
I couldn't seek refuge in the rivers or lakes either. Having escaped the mermaids, I knew I wouldn't be able to leave their clutches again.
Still, I ran.
Somewhere,
There had to be an escape.
I couldn't stop. If I stopped, I would die.
If I had been captured by the spiders initially, I might have had a chance to survive.
But now, if I was caught, I would be treated worse than an animal. Death might be preferable.
I had already been complicit in the deaths of three spiders. Even though it was [him] who had killed them, the youngest spider wouldn't see it that way.
So I had to run.
I had to escape…
“Ugh!”
I felt something strange against my skin. Sticky and resilient…
“This is…”
Webbing.
A spider’s trap, strung between the trees.
“Ah, mmm…! Wait, wait a minute…!”
I frantically hacked at the webbing with the knife. But it clung to my clothes and limbs, refusing to release me.
My panicked movements only entangled me further. More webbing stuck to me than I could cut away.
“Doctor, you must hurry.”
Amy urged me on. I wasn’t doing this on purpose.
I had never used a knife before, and I couldn’t wield it like [him]. My efforts were clumsy and ineffective.
“Doctor…”
“I know! Just be quiet!”
Finally, I managed to cut myself free. I even removed the strands clinging to Amy’s hair.
“Pant… damn it… that was close.”
“…”
I had to run again. I had been unlucky, caught in their web, but I still had enough energy to escape.
“Doctor.”
…Amy’s voice sounded hesitant. She seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
“My apologies for being unable to assist.”
I knew what she meant.
But I didn't want to look back.
Even in the dim light of the forest, I could see their distinct shadows.
One thing was certain,
They were much larger than the youngest spider.
“…”
My throat was parched, and I seriously considered suicide.
I held the knife in my hand.
Could I end it quickly, painlessly?
Perhaps I should have stayed with the mermaids.
I had escaped their lair to survive, to return to headquarters, and now, here I was, contemplating suicide.
“That won’t do.”
A spider emerged from behind me, lowered her head, and grabbed my arm, lifting me off the ground.
The pain in my shoulder and arm was nothing,
Compared to the sight of the spider women, their faces slowly coming into view, bringing tears to my eyes.
“Hello there.”