Chapter 39
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 039
Chapter Title: Spider Den (2)
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'What the hell is that guy's deal?'
The question he hadn't gotten an answer to circled his mind once more. He wanted to ask again, but the guy in question wasn't cooperating at all.
Swish, swish.
The mage was busy waving his hands like a conductor leading an orchestra, preparing a spell. It didn't look like he had any intention of chatting. It was a shame for Woojin, but not something that really mattered.
'I can just capture him alive and interrogate him later.'
Of course, "interrogate" was a nice way of putting it—it meant he'd have to torture the bastard after catching him...
Naturally, Woojin had never done anything like that before. He'd just have to give it a try and see.
He started walking toward them.
The mage was in the middle of preparing a major spell, leaving him wide open. The leader spiders moved to block his path, protecting their charge.
The two spiders looked identical, but their abdomens were different colors. One had a green abdomen, the other red.
Both spiders aimed their abdomens at him.
Thwip!
Sticky globs of spider silk shot out right after. The two spiders alternated, firing wads of silk at him.
But the projectiles weren't that fast. Woojin could track their paths and always moved one step ahead of the attacks.
He zigzagged forward with quick steps. The silk wads always grazed past him a half-beat too late.
For a moment, he thought he could just keep pushing forward, ignore them, and stab his spear into the rift core...
'...But after what happened last time, I need to be careful.'
He remembered the time with Roland's group, purifying the rift core. The moving murals and laughter. To prepare for variables like that, he needed to clear out the threats around him first.
'That one first.'
Woojin targeted the green spider. He gradually picked up speed and charged at it.
The distance closed in an instant. Sensing the danger, both spiders suddenly took deep breaths.
'They're up to something.'
Woojin stopped his charge at the hunch. At the same moment, the green spider exhaled.
Fwoooosh—!
Green poison mist billowed heavily from its mouth. Like a thundercloud blanketing the front. Then the red spider followed suit.
Fwoosh!
The red spider vomited crimson flames. But when the fire mixed with the green spider's poison mist, it took on a menacing glow.
...This didn't feel good.
Woojin hurriedly backed away. Good call—the flames and mist immediately reacted violently.
Boom, boomboomboom!
Big and small explosions chained off one another. It was like setting off dozens of fireworks in a cramped room. The blast was powerful enough that even pulling back early left his hair slightly singed.
But Woojin wasn't focused on his condition. He eyed the floor where the explosion hit. Despite the intense heat, the spider silk looked mostly undamaged.
'Damn, that's tough.'
Spider silk was usually weak to fire. Even accounting for it being from beasts, this heat resistance was too good. It must have been reinforced by the rift core's energy.
Maybe he could use that trait to his advantage.
With that in mind, Woojin charged the two spiders again. The green one inhaled deeply once more.
Fwoooosh—!
Poison mist filled the front from its mouth. Just as the red one prepared to ignite it with fire...
A man burst out of the mist. Woojin, ignoring the poison and barreling through. The panicked green spider tried to retreat, but it was too late.
Crack!!
The swung machete split the green spider's head neatly. Woojin followed up with swings, hacking its skull like a watermelon, then brushed the poison dust off his body roughly.
'As expected, the poison isn't that strong.'
There wasn't much difference between this green spider and the corpses at the entrance. He'd confirmed back then that their venom wasn't potent.
"Keeeaak!!"
The red spider, now alone, shrieked in rage and gaped its mouth to spew fire.
Thud!
Woojin's thrown dagger lodged in its maw. The red spider gagged and staggered back, tiny embers leaking with each cough.
Its fire breath was sealed.
Gripping his machete, Woojin advanced to finish it. But the red spider hadn't lost its fight. It tucked its four legs under its abdomen.
Squelch, squelch—
Like spinning thread, it hurriedly wove silk around its leg tips. Then it splayed its legs wide. The silk stretched out like a net.
The red spider charged, swinging the net on its forelegs to capture him.
In the meantime, Woojin glanced down. While he'd fought the leaders, the spider swarm had climbed pretty high.
'Can't waste more time.'
He dodged the net roughly and swung his machete a few times. Each slash chunked the red spider. It felt less like hunting it and more like helping it commit suicide.
He butchered the spider in seconds. Then Woojin turned to the mage. The masked man was trembling, staring at him.
Woojin was impressed inwardly.
'Damn, he hasn't run yet?'
He'd planned to chase him down and grab him. But somehow, the mage hadn't fled.
Either he was incredibly brave, or stupid enough to think two spiders could take Woojin down. One or the other.
Either way, things just got easier.
'If the interrogation fails, I can just hand him over to the knights.'
The remaining issue was the spiders coming up from below... But using this guy as a hostage might make them clear a path?
'Let's check.'
He walked toward the mage. The man flinched and held out both hands.
"...Don't come closer!"
The mage shouted.
Younger voice than expected. He'd been gesturing silently like a mute until things got urgent, forcing him to speak.
"Stay back!! Let's talk!"
The mage screamed desperately.
Purple light particles flickered in his hands. He'd prepped a big spell while the spiders stalled. But he wasn't firing it recklessly.
'Trying to buy time.'
One spell wouldn't turn the tables.
So now he was trying to talk, stalling until the spiders arrived. Obvious ploy. Woojin chuckled and kept walking.
"Stop! I'll shoot! I'l—"
Before the mage finished, Woojin stomped hard. The spider silk floor rippled violently. Using the bounce, he launched himself.
He closed the gap like a bullet. The startled mage tried to fire...
Slash!
"Gaaah!!"
But the machete sliced his wrists first. The mage collapsed screaming, hands gone.
Can't let him bleed out.
Woojin yanked silk from a spider corpse and smeared it over the stumps for a rough tourniquet. He also bound the mage's ankles with more silk to prevent escape.
'...Oh, right, check the face too.'
He removed the brass mask.
A terrified young man's face appeared. He'd guessed from the voice, but he wasn't old—mid to late twenties, maybe.
Anyway, better gag him while at it. Woojin stuffed a bandage from his pouch into the mage's mouth.
Then...
Scuttle, scuttlescuttle—
Frantic footsteps approached. The beast spiders had arrived. They hesitated at the sight of their captured mage.
Woojin was certain now.
'As expected, he's the top dog here.'
A quick interrogation, then use him as a hostage to escape easily.
"Mmph, keeak!"
Suddenly, the mage made weird noises. Despite the multilayered gag, the sound leaked through oddly.
As Woojin wondered, the surrounding spiders' eyes glowed red.
"What did you do?"
The mage glared with bloodshot eyes. Venomous gaze. He'd clearly ordered an attack, embracing death.
Made sense on reflection.
Being dragged out meant a high chance of burning at the stake. Even if lucky enough to live, life without hands wouldn't be great.
'Always ends up tangled like this...'
He sighed involuntarily.
Spiders surged from all sides, too many to count. Killing them all personally would be tough.
"...No other way."
Muttering that, Woojin hurled the mage high into the air. Straight up toward the ceiling. Gagged, he couldn't even scream.
'Five seconds.'
Including ascent, he'd land on the webs in about five.
'Finish before then.'
Woojin poured energy into his hands.
Crrackle—!
A vicious noise, and crimson lightning crackled wildly across his palms. The surrounding spiders swarmed like moths to the flame.
He slammed his palms down onto the web floor.
...Flash.
For a moment, sound vanished... then crimson light illuminated the entire cave.
The red lightning raced along the webs, sweeping everything. It scorched every visible thing, then surged outward along the silk with remaining power.
Connected spider nests ignited in chain reaction. The burning repeated endlessly...
From above downward, ever lower. The lightning spread infinitely via the conductive webs. Spiders atop them fried silently in the bolts.
Crack—craaaack!!
Thunder finally boomed, darkness returning to the cave. The mage's body thudded onto the web below.
Thud, thudthud...
Sounds of more things falling from below. Climbing spiders burning and plummeting. Those near Woojin were charred black like coal.
The air stung with burnt squid stench.
"...Cough, hack!"
Woojin coughed repeatedly, black smoke bursting from his mouth each time.
'Fever's guaranteed now.'
The flame lightning technique.
Using it wrecked his body for days. Immense power came with brutal recoil. That's why Woojin avoided it normally.
Spiders worked because their webs connected everything, but beasts with such traits were rare. Too costly and inefficient otherwise.
'Wrap this up quick and head back.'
Adrenaline pumping, his body moved fine for now.
He checked the mage. The man stared in horror.
Thrown high, he'd avoided the lightning and survived unscathed on the springy web.
In hostage as intended.
'What to ask this guy.'
Too many questions.
Whether he'd answer honestly was another matter... But after seeing that, would he stay silent?
This guy didn't seem that brave. Looked pretty dumb, too.