Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Assembly
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We had to create a small miracle within this cave.
The dim, almost lightless space was filled with the sounds of our breathing and the rhythmic clang of metal on metal.
Instead of the distant sunlight, a small fire burned in a makeshift forge.
We heated the metal components in the flames, then pulled them out, our rough hopes glowing red-hot.
“Slowly now. Slowly…”
Sizzle-
The red-hot metal plunged into the oil, screaming in protest. We watched, our gazes fixed on the cooling metal, our hopes solidifying…
We had spent the first two days gathering the necessary materials.
Coal for the forge,
Supplies salvaged from the Paradise wreckage,
Oil (rendered from wild boars and local plants), metal components…
“Remove the hydraulic cylinder. Be careful. There is a risk of damage.”
Once we had everything, we began disassembling the components.
Amy provided simple instructions, and we worked through the night, manipulating the metal.
“Hand me the long one.”
“This one?”
“No, the gray one beside it.”
Isaac, even without Amy’s guidance, handled most of the work with ease.
He had disassembled his prosthetic leg and was using its parts, along with components from the rifles, to create a new weapon. His engineering skills were impressive.
We had a pile of broken rifles, so we salvaged every usable part.
Clang!
“A week isn’t enough time. You know that, right?”
“I know. But if we take any longer, Arachne and the spiders will become suspicious.”
“I suppose so.”
Isaac was remarkable. He hammered and shaped the metal with one leg, his movements precise and efficient. I almost wondered if his disability had somehow enhanced his upper body strength…
Despite the lack of proper tools, his calloused fingers manipulated the metal with a skill that reminded me of the blacksmiths of ancient legends. I watched him work, my mind filled with images of mythical craftsmen forging legendary swords…
“Push and pull the red part. See the red one?”
“Yes.”
I followed Isaac’s instructions, removing, cleaning, and shaping the components he couldn't handle with his weaker hand.
I wasn't completely unskilled. In this age of space travel, knowing how to use basic tools was essential.
But it was just a hobby.
Nothing more.
“…Those aren’t the hands of a mechanic, but you’re doing well. Take this, heat it, and then quench it in the oil.”
Isaac smiled, praising my efforts. I wasn't sure if I was truly skilled, or if it was just one of his empty compliments.
The quenching process felt almost… ritualistic. Weren't skilled craftsmen said to create new worlds with their fingertips?
I was beginning to understand.
My trembling fingers shaped the hardened metal,
And the sweat dripping from my brow,
Sizzled and evaporated as it touched the hot surface…
After the initial preparations, it was my turn to take the lead.
Isaac and I divided the tasks. He focused on finishing the new weapon, while I examined Amy’s body, studying its internal components.
“Doctor, the power source is sufficient. It has been recharging while submerged in the lake.”
I could feel Amy’s gaze on me. She was observing my every move.
Our eyes occasionally met. Perhaps she was embarrassed, her inner workings exposed.
“Doctor, pulling on that component will deploy a high-frequency blade. Exercise caution.”
“…Yes, but please warn me about such things before I almost lose a finger.”
While I occasionally suffered minor injuries, like a sliced finger, these small sacrifices were necessary to enhance Amy’s combat capabilities.
“Impressive.”
Isaac, while working on the weapon, marveled at Amy’s advanced technology. But his hands never stopped moving.
We both worked tirelessly. I had asked him to create a new weapon using four rifles and the parts from his prosthetic leg, so I had to handle the rest.
Like,
How to connect the weapon to Amy…
And,
How to reattach Amy’s severed head…
“…”
I had a plan.
But I wasn't sure if I could execute it, and a sense of urgency gnawed at me.
“Sigh…”
I examined Amy’s body. Not out of lust, but to study the severed sections, to analyze the artificial neural networks and synthetic tissues.
I memorized the textures, visualizing the blueprints with Alraune’s help.
The image of Amy’s internal structure, simultaneously projected into our minds, occasionally overloaded my limited processing capacity, causing nosebleeds.
“…Cough, i-it’s fine.”
But I was a quick study.
Memorization, analysis, exploration, meticulous observation, and a touch of creativity.
“Let’s do this…”
I would be the surgeon.
A self-taught, improvisational surgeon, but I had dissected and sutured countless creatures…
I could do this.
I had to.
***
“Is everything progressing smoothly?”
It wasn't an easy task.
Since we were using Isaac’s damaged leg as an excuse, the spiders frequently checked on our progress.
“Not yet. But we’re working on it.”
“Let me see.”
Arachne, especially, was curious. She observed our work with great interest.
So, we carefully presented our progress.
The crude collection of scrap metal, initially just a broken prosthetic limb, was now taking shape.
But it still had a foot attached, maintaining the illusion. They wouldn't realize we were planning to remove it and replace it with a high-powered, auto-targeting scope.
“…Impressive. You could create your own offspring instead of simply… producing them.”
The device, filled with intricate components, seemed incredibly complex to those unfamiliar with machinery. And it was.
“What’s this part for?”
“Hmm?”
But there were always unexpected questions.
“The round thing. It… tingles. There’s something inside, isn’t there?”
Arachne, driven by her insatiable curiosity, continued her interrogation. I had to answer her questions while simultaneously concealing our true intentions.
“…It amplifies force. It also stores thermal energy…”
“Hmm…”
Her questions only intensified.
Isaac, Amy, and I,
Hidden beneath the rubble, watching,
All realized that our time was running out.
“Really?”
Arachne stared at me, her hand stroking her chin thoughtfully. Her gaze seemed to pierce through me, reading my thoughts.
“Alright… that’s enough for today. Come with me.”
The net was closing in.
While Arachne didn't know what we were building, she sensed I was hiding something.
And she wouldn't let go of her suspicions. Her sharp instincts were still intact.
It was only a matter of time before she discovered Amy. She would return with the other spiders and search the cave.
“…Okay, let’s go.”
I was the only one who could prevent that.
I took Arachne’s hand, holding it a little tighter,
And looked up at her, forcing a playful smile.
“Did you bring back something delicious today? I’ve been hungry lately. I really enjoyed those fruits we had the other day.”
And,
With my free hand, I signaled to Isaac.
–I’ll be back soon. Finish it.
–Bring out Amy.
“You mean the green ones? You liked those?”
“Yes, they were sweet. Could you bring more next time?”
I continued the conversation, keeping her distracted,
While mentally reviewing Amy's schematics.
16 minutes,
Until the surgery.
As Arachne led me away, I stopped.
“Ah, wait! I just remembered, I have a secret present for you.”
“Suddenly?”
I had bought myself a little more time. I needed to be away from her, even for a few minutes.
“Let’s go get it together.”
“No. Then it wouldn’t be a secret…!”
“I don’t believe you. Tell me what it is.”
I blushed, feigning shyness.
While it might arouse her suspicion, she would have to grant me this small measure of freedom.
“…I-I made you a flower crown. It’s not very pretty. I made it while we were in the meadow the other day…”
The increased heart rate and the blush triggered by my lie,
Were indistinguishable from genuine shyness.
“Is that okay…?”
My feet felt heavy.
“Gasp… pant…”
With Arachne’s permission,
I ran.
At first, I pretended to be shy, my pace slow,
But as soon as I was out of sight, I sprinted.
“Gasp… pant…!”
“Juho!”
I reached the cave,
And there, lying on the ground, was Amy’s body, which Isaac had retrieved. I quickly connected the severed sections.
“Keep watch. I don’t have much time. I have to finish this quickly…”
10 minutes,
Until Arachne realized I had lied and came looking for me.