Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Resolution
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Arachne was displeased that our bath had been cut short, but she quickly dried herself and headed towards the scene of the attack.
Of course, I accompanied her. Arachne wanted my opinion, so she showed me the site…
“Well? What do you think? Did you figure anything out?”
“…”
I already knew it was Jenny. So, I took my time, carefully considering my next move.
“This is unprecedented. No one dares to attack us. They’re either incredibly brave, or… newly born…”
Arachne didn't know about my connection to Jenny and the Blood Beasts. Revealing this information was entirely my prerogative.
But I remained silent, simply nodding.
There was no need to reveal my connection to Jenny just yet.
I could use this situation to my advantage.
I could subtly hint at my knowledge of Jenny, earning Arachne’s favor,
Or I could provide misinformation, setting a trap for Arachne and the spiders.
But I hesitated.
I wasn't sure if leaving Arachne’s side was the wisest course of action.
She was friendly towards me.
And the other spiders, despite their resentment, had to obey me.
From my perspective, Arachne and the spider women were valuable allies. Wouldn't it be more prudent to use them?
But… abandon Jenny?
She was also docile and affectionate towards me.
Making a wrong move here,
Could turn both of my potential allies into enemies.
“…That black tail is definitely a formidable weapon.”
So, I played along.
I would extract as much information as possible,
Then, when the time was right, I would escape with Jenny’s help.
“Perhaps it’s the Blood Beasts. Juho, do you know about the Blood Beasts?”
“Blood Beasts?”
Arachne, seeing my feigned ignorance, explained.
“They’re creatures with black scales. They build their nests from the reddish, foul-smelling blood they vomit, hence the name ‘Blood Beasts.’ Their claws and tails are incredibly sharp.”
Hearing a native’s perspective on these creatures was valuable.
“They’re disgusting. If there’s a nest nearby, we need to destroy it. We’re outnumbered for now, but we’ll deal with them as soon as possible.”
But something didn't quite add up.
The previous Spider Queen had seemed to worship the moon, and Jenny’s mother had also mentioned the moon.
This suggested a shared belief system,
But Arachne’s reaction suggested otherwise.
Well, humans weren’t any different.
Countless wars and massacres had been fought over similar religions.
And the Blood Beasts grafted body parts from other creatures onto themselves, creating grotesque hybrids. There were plenty of reasons for the spiders to dislike them.
I didn't understand their motives. They were a mystery.
And I suddenly wondered,
If the massive, fetus-like creature I had seen was truly the same species as Jenny.
Perhaps,
Jenny and her sisters were mercenaries, following someone’s orders.
Or perhaps the Leader’s appearance was simply a result of its focus on reproduction, its body swollen and engorged.
Or would Jenny,
Eventually undergo a similar transformation?
…I hoped not.
So, I began walking a tightrope, carefully balancing my relationships with Arachne and Jenny.
They both sent me subtle signals,
And I responded in kind, playing both sides, careful not to reveal my true intentions.
For now, I was on the spiders’ side.
I just had to endure for six months, and then Isaac would be free, and my own situation would improve.
Arachne genuinely desired me. I could feel her love and affection whenever she looked at me.
So, for now, I would work with her. I had time.
And with time on my side,
Aligning myself with Arachne was the wisest course of action.
“Isaac?”
“…Yes?”
But Isaac was growing weaker with each passing day.
He had been joking and making light of our situation during the first few days, but now he was withdrawn, listless.
He wouldn’t tell me what the spiders were doing to him. Whenever I offered to help, he would grab my wrist, his voice pleading.
“Don’t. I’m really okay. Don’t get involved.”
I knew he was trying to protect me. But seeing the dark circles deepening under his eyes was agonizing.
“Let’s just get some sleep. It’s not so bad, having so many… female companions. Don’t tell anyone, or they’ll be jealous.”
Isaac tried to downplay his suffering.
But I could see his breaking point approaching.
“…”
So, I decided to follow him tomorrow, to see what was happening. I forced myself to sleep.
***
Night, Day 81 of isolation.
17:53, planetary rotation standard.
Clear skies.
19°C, pleasantly cool.
After spending the entire day with Arachne, I was granted a small measure of freedom.
Not actual freedom, of course, simply the privilege of returning to the altar cave a little earlier. They escorted me to the entrance.
Arachne walked me to the cave,
Then, her cheeks flushed, she leaned in, expecting a kiss.
I no longer felt any aversion to her touch. Her beauty, and the kindness she showed only to me, had disarmed me.
But I broke our unspoken agreement and left the cave. I couldn't bear the thought of Isaac suffering alone.
As I walked, I saw Aria, hanging upside down near a fire, a victim of the spiders’ cruel games. She seemed almost lifeless, her responses dulled.
But she was still alive.
Our eyes met.
“…”
But,
Aria could only grimace, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.
“A-Aria…”
I had been on my way to see Isaac, but
I stopped.
Aria’s body was covered in wounds. I remembered her beauty, her grace, and the sight of her current state was unbearable.
“…What? Come to gloat…?”
Aria laughed, a hollow, empty sound. Her broken face and mangled tail twisted my heart.
“Do as you please…”
The tip of her once-beautiful tail was now scarred and discolored, constricted by spider silk, the dried blood a dark, rusty hue.
Aria seemed resigned to her fate, her spirit broken by the relentless abuse.
“Do as you please…”
I couldn't bear to watch. I turned and walked away.
I pushed aside the heavy feeling in my chest and continued my search for Isaac.
What was Aria to me?
She had saved my life, yet she had also imprisoned me, repeatedly trying to bind me to her.
And yet, I couldn't quite define my feelings towards her.
Perhaps, I felt guilty.
No, that was ridiculous.
Guilty?
After everything she had put me through?
Why? Because she was beautiful? Because she resembled me?
Or because she had initially tried to save me?
No.
I knew the answer.
“It’s all your fault… if it wasn’t for you…”
It was,
Because Aria had genuinely loved me.
Her intense, unwavering affection had a profound effect on me.
Was she truly evil?
Or simply a misguided woman, expressing her love in a twisted, destructive way?
…But it didn't matter.
I wasn't the one who had caused this.
It was Aria’s obsession, her possessiveness…
“…”
But my self-justifications didn't last long.
Clutching my throbbing head,
I found Isaac, surrounded by spiders.
“Hold him still. He keeps moving.”
A scene of spider silk and writhing limbs,
A grotesque display of the spiders’ power…
“Six months, right? Well, we have to obey the Queen’s orders. But if you’re too broken to escape… that’s not our problem, is it?”
No one to save them,
No one to intervene,
A brutal, violent display of power in this world of predator and prey…
Crack-
“Ah! I think I broke his leg. Move him.”
“He’ll heal. Leave him.”
Torture disguised as mating,
Sexual exploitation by the group.
***
I couldn't sleep.
Isaac tossed and turned, his body wracked with pain, and Aria’s dry sobs echoed from outside the cave.
I couldn't just lie here and do nothing.
Even though I knew it was foolish,
I sat up and began searching the cave.
“Juho?”
Isaac called out to me,
But I signaled for him to be quiet and continued my search.
A plan was forming in my mind.
I wasn't sure if it was feasible, but it wasn't entirely impossible.
“Amy, can you hear me?”
I carefully lifted the rocks, using the glowing rod as a light. Amy was somewhere beneath this pile of rubble.
“Amy, if you can hear me, respond.”
“Amy…? You mean that AI? Is she here? Juho, just go to sleep. I’m really okay…!”
Isaac was worried, afraid of alerting the spiders. But he was too weak to stop me.
“…You’re lying. You’re not okay.”
Quietly,
Methodically,
I worked through the night, preparing for our future.
“I have a plan. I just need a few things to fall into place. I think I can do this.”
“What plan? What are you talking about? Juho, please don’t do anything foolish. Please… I’m telling you, I’m fine!”
I couldn't endure for six months.
And even if I did, I doubted the other spiders would let Isaac go.
I needed a weapon.
A weapon dedicated solely to protecting Isaac and me,
A human weapon…
“Amy, if you can hear me, respond.”
So, I dug,
Removing the rocks with my bare hands, searching for Amy.
It didn't matter how long it took.
I just,
Kept digging.