Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Flame
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Only eight spiders remained under Arachne’s command.
Five had accompanied her on the hunt for me, and the remaining three had stayed behind, preparing for their departure.
So, Arachne could set fire to everything without waiting.
I was with her now,
And the preparations were complete.
The spiders’ forest burned.
Before leaving with her remaining followers, Arachne set fire to their home, reducing everything to ashes.
Tonight, the intense heat and light of the flames seemed to dispel the moon’s influence.
I knew that irritating moon was still up there, watching,
But I couldn’t focus on it.
“Juho, how do you feel?”
Arachne, silhouetted against the fire, her gaze fixed on me, consumed my attention.
She smiled faintly, her expression unreadable.
A mixture of relief and sorrow.
“Burn brighter. Brighter.”
Arachne raised her arms towards the sky, her voice a low murmur. I stood behind her, watching the flames dance and sway.
“Turn to ash. Everything.”
The fire erased all traces of the spiders. It felt like even the memories of what had happened here would fade away.
I still didn't understand her actions.
At first, I had thought it was an impulsive act, born from the chaos and confusion.
But now,
Sitting on her back, watching the flames,
I realized this was a deliberate act, a carefully considered decision.
“Goodbye, everyone.”
This was her way of atoning, of making a fresh start.
Before establishing her new kingdom,
Arachne erased the past, the history of the spider women.
She was choosing a different path, a different future,
Rejecting the ways of her mother and father,
Prioritizing her own journey.
“Shall we go?”
Arachne turned, offering me her hand.
Her face, illuminated by the firelight, was beautiful, ethereal.
Her white hair flowed around her, like a silken waterfall.
I had no choice, of course.
With Isaac and Aria still held hostage, I had to follow her.
But,
I wasn't afraid to take her hand.
“I look forward to our future together, my partner.”
I placed my hand in hers, and Arachne kissed my knuckles. It was a strangely romantic gesture, and the other spiders clapped, offering their congratulations.
And so, we began our journey.
I didn't know where we were going.
I didn't know how to rescue Isaac and Aria, or when Jenny would return.
“Let’s build our new home. More beautiful, more radiant than the one we left behind.”
But I walked beside Arachne,
On two legs,
Side by side.
Hand in hand,
We walked.
***
The procession of spiders was an intimidating sight.
Other creatures, sensing their presence, kept their distance.
“I don’t want to stay too close to our old territory. I want a completely new place. A bright, sunny forest, not a gloomy swamp.”
Arachne’s will was strong, her vision clear. She spoke of her dreams, her aspirations, her voice filled with a quiet determination.
“What do you think, Juho?”
“…Since we’re larger now, we need a place with easy access to resources. Let’s avoid dense forests.”
I offered my advice, drawing on my experiences, the hard-won knowledge I had gained on this planet.
I shared my knowledge freely, hoping to earn her favor. With each word, she smiled faintly, her fingers gently squeezing my hand.
“Good. We’ll do as you say. And we need a cave nearby, right?”
“A cave?”
“Yes. You need a place to stay.”
Her words startled me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“A place… for me…?”
“Mother and Father weren’t very considerate, were they? I’m not like Mother. I won’t confine or mistreat you.”
Good heavens.
While it seemed like a perfectly reasonable statement,
It brought tears to my eyes.
It was an incredibly generous offer.
She was offering me… respect, treating me like a person.
“R-really…?”
“Of course.”
I had endured so much to survive.
Trapped in the mermaids’ cave, constantly subjected to their demands,
And then, with Alraune, confined within her suffocating petals.
And now, Arachne was offering me my own living space.
Not just a [cave].
This meant she saw me as an equal, a partner.
“I’m a little worried, though. Can we find a suitable place, a place we both like?”
I had to respond appropriately, to maintain this favorable relationship.
“…Wait a minute.”
An idea came to mind.
A forest that would appeal to Arachne,
And a cave for me…
“…There’s a beautiful forest near the place where I’ve been staying.”
And a place with… potential.
Where Amy’s head was,
Where the mysterious altar was located,
The place where I had first met Alraune.
“Would you like to see it?”
Finding it would be easy.
Alraune would remember the place where she had spent her entire life.
My body, as if guided by an unseen force, began walking.
***
The spiders’ expressions brightened.
They seemed pleased with their new home.
“It’s beautiful.”
Arachne, especially,
Smiled, her face almost childlike as she looked at the flowers in the meadow.
She carefully walked among them, avoiding the delicate petals,
Picking a few and tucking them behind her ears.
“How do I look?”
“Beautiful.”
It didn't suit her.
Her face was cold, aloof, her eyes and demeanor radiating a predatory aura.
But she looked cute, adorned with flowers.
Thinking of the human women who cherished flowers, I realized that perhaps all females, regardless of their species, were drawn to these fragrant blooms.
“Good. We’ll stay here.”
Arachne set down her belongings at the edge of the forest, near the meadow.
The spiders sprang into action.
They cleared away the unwanted trees,
And began spinning their webs, using the fallen trees as anchors.
It didn't take long.
Within hours, five or six webs had been constructed.
Spiders were truly remarkable creatures.
Except for their cruel nature, they were skilled builders, strong and resilient, natural pioneers.
“Uh, but…”
But that very [nature] was what made them dangerous.
I saw Aria, her body slowly drying out,
And Isaac, exposed to the spiders’ lustful gazes.
While Arachne and I had been admiring the flowers, they had been subjected to the spiders’ attention.
Aria, especially, seemed to be the target of their cruelty.
Like cats toying with a captured mouse,
The spiders had hung Aria upside down from a tree, their laughter echoing through the forest.
“First…! W-we have to! Let that other male stay with me. He’s my friend…”
But the one I wanted to save first,
Was Isaac.
Helping Isaac was my priority. I had to get him away from the spiders.
I didn't know what they would do to him. At least if he was with me, he wouldn’t-
“Juho, what are you talking about?”
Before I could finish,
Arachne placed her finger on my lips, silencing me.
“Don’t be silly. You know how rare males are.”
Her kindness extended only to me.
As Queen, she knew how to wield her power.
“I need him to help my sisters produce offspring. Unless your friend doesn’t have… the necessary equipment, I’m afraid I can’t make an exception.”
Arachne was clever.
And ruthless.
“Let’s not discuss this any further. Sometimes, you’re surprisingly foolish, despite your intelligence.”
Humans were emotional creatures.
Driven by sentiment, prioritizing relationships.
It was a peculiar trait, even from a cosmic perspective. Humans were fascinating, mysterious, and often foolish.
“…But I’ll let him stay with you. You can keep him in your cave. It’s spacious enough for two, as long as you avoid that strange altar.”
Isaac and I were granted the altar cave.
A small measure of freedom,
Sandwiched between mercy and oppression.