Chapter 172: The Only Thing I Want
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: The Only Thing I Want
“Good heavens. A tunnel like this was dug here?”
“This is insane...”
“You there. Request reinforcements from the Central Section. Tell them we need a mage.”
At the edge of the Farm Section, we discovered the nest where Arachne had gone into hiding.
A small tunnel, barely large enough for an adult man to squeeze through, had been excavated. Just past the entrance, the interior was cluttered with sticky, difficult-to-cut cobwebs and shattered eggshells.
Currently, four of us had entered: myself, Abram, Maximus, and Chloe.
It was a team that already had a front line and a healer. What we needed now was a mage. It would have been great if Helena could have joined us, but she was currently in a deep sleep for her growth.
Since I couldn't wake Helena, I hoped a suitable mage would show up.
“What is everyone doing here...?”
“Rien!? Wait, I thought you said you weren't coming into the Labyrinth...”
“It was stifling just staying at home... and A2 is so busy drawing something by herself that she won't talk to me...”
“Aha.”
The mage who appeared at the entrance of Arachne’s nest was none other than Rien.
She had said she would take a break after her resurrection, but it seemed she couldn't stand the boredom and had entered the Labyrinth after all.
“But what is this place? These are... spiderwebs...”
“It looks like Arachne’s nest. She should be inside.”
“That spider-human you mentioned...?”
“Yes. That’s the one.”
For some reason, Arachne seemed to be avoiding me. We had almost crossed paths a few times, but she had always fled first.
Well, she was caught red-handed today. With this lineup, we could probably capture her by force.
‘Of course, that’s not my intention.’
Since she was the gatekeeper who would open the entrance to the spider tunnels and someone I needed to maintain a good relationship with in the future, I planned only to talk today.
“Let’s head in for now. Maximus, Chloe, take the lead.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Unlike Chloe, who obeyed my orders almost absolutely, Maximus grumbled as he stepped to the front.
They were twins, but their personalities were truly worlds apart.
“Mr. Abram, please follow at the very back to protect Rien.”
“Will do.”
Abram took the rear. With Rien standing behind me and me following the two at the front, we entered the depths of Arachne’s nest.
“Give us some light.”
I tried to light a torch, but there were so many cobwebs that a single mistake could set the entire tunnel ablaze.
In the end, I decided to take out the Hypercube and use it in flashlight mode.
“The path seems to go on forever.”
Chloe moved forward, slicing through the webs with her sword as if she found it interesting.
It really did feel endless.
I wondered how she had managed to bore such a hole into the walls of the Labyrinth, but it was even more impressive that she had created such a vast area in just a few months.
“Damn it. A fork in the road.”
“Oh dear.”
After advancing for a while, Maximus announced that we had reached a split.
Right and left. I tried to determine the path using Map Creation, but both paths looked identical. It was as if they had been made symmetrical specifically to counter my mapping ability.
“Wait... move aside.”
As we were racking our brains over which way to go, Rien pulled something out of her pocket.
It was an object that looked like a small hand mirror.
“What is that?”
“Something A2 and I made yesterday. It reacts to the movement of living beings in the vicinity.”
“Isn't that just a motion detector?”
“A2 said something similar.”
It seemed A2 had designed the blueprints using knowledge from another dimension, and Rien had completed it.
As soon as Rien infused magical power into the hand mirror, red dots appeared.
“These five dots here are us...”
“Then the one nearby is...”
“A living being detected by the mirror.”
A large dot was hovering near us.
That was likely Arachne.
She had already noticed us and was observing from a distance.
Perhaps she had been circling and watching us from the moment Chloe and Maximus started cutting the webs to clear the path.
“The distance increases when we get closer. She’s avoiding us...”
“What should we do? It would be a shame to give up now.”
“But... why are you trying so hard to capture this spider-human alive? Wouldn't it be faster to just burn the whole nest down?”
“Burn it? Don't say such disappointing things. I want to strike a deal with Arachne, not hunt her.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. Her silk is incredibly strong.”
Of course, it wasn't just to obtain Arachne’s silk.
I wanted the key to the spider tunnels. Furthermore, I suspected that Arachne possessed a unique ability similar to Prodo’s.
‘There’s a very high possibility she has a unique ability similar to Prodo’s Reprocessing.’
That was why I needed to meet her and build rapport.
“Hm? Excuse me, Sion.”
“Yes? What is it, Abram?”
“Is this... a note?”
“A note? Wait, why is this on my back?”
“I don't know. It was just there before I knew it.”
“Hah...”
Abram discovered a note stuck to my back.
I had no idea when or who had placed it there. However, it was easy to guess who the author was.
“The handwriting is quite clumsy.”
“You’re right... I think Arachne wrote this...”
The note said that only Rien and I should remain in the tunnel.
Naturally, she wouldn't know our names, so she described us by our appearance.
Since it mentioned the woman with glasses and the shortest man, it had to be Rien and me.
‘When on earth did she stick this to my back?’
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
From the moment we entered Arachne’s nest, we might have already been in the palm of her hand.
The fact that she could deceive the eyes of Platinum Badges and attach a note without anyone noticing meant she could manipulate all the webs inside this nest at will.
If she had intended to slit our throats, she could have done it long ago.
“For now, Maximus, Chloe, and Abram... please leave the nest.”
“What? All of a sudden?”
“Yes. It seems that’s what Arachne wants.”
“It’s dangerous. The opponent is a monster.”
“It can't be helped. It’s an order. Both of you, get out.”
I ordered Chloe and Maximus to leave the spider nest.
Neither of them seemed willing to leave, perhaps worried about what would happen if I died, but they had no choice but to obey when I gave the command while holding the Spirit Chain.
“Then I shall wait outside as well. I pray for your safety.”
“Yes. If we don't come out within three hours... please come looking for us then.”
“I will do so.”
Even Abram retraced his steps.
Through mapping and Rien’s motion detection mirror, I identified the location where Arachne would be.
“There. She should be in that large chamber over there.”
“Ugh... why do I have to stay... I want to leave too...”
Rien looked extremely anxious once the three Platinum Badges had left.
But what could I do? She was told to stay. If I wanted to open negotiations with Arachne, we had to stay together.
“I need to make the map, and you need to check the location with the mirror, Rien.”
“Y-you don't necessarily need me to use this... you can use it too...”
“Good grief. Arachne said to stay. Let’s just go.”
“Ugh... just the two of us... it’s scary... I don't want to die again...!”
“You won't die! I’m fairly strong in my own right!”
“R-really...? Is that so...?”
“Yes. I’ve taken down Chimeras alone. Didn't you see me kill a Minotaur in one hit?”
“I was already dead back then...”
“Ah.”
I suppose it couldn't be helped if she hadn't seen me fight properly.
“Let’s just go for now.”
“Ugh... fine... hey... can I stick a little closer to you...?”
“Yes, yes. Go ahead.”
Rien clung to me, seemingly out of fear.
Wait, she was so close I could feel her breath.
“I-I’m telling you this in advance... but I can't stand humans... my taste runs toward golems...”
“Yes, yes. I understand. But you’re clinging so tightly it’s a bit hard to walk.”
“It’s because I’m nervous... just figure out how to walk on your own...”
At Rien’s urging, I hurried toward the chamber where Arachne was likely waiting.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't afraid. But if Arachne truly intended to kill us, she would have done so already.
However, she had requested a conversation. So, I thought it best to comply with her demands for now.
This was also a form of affinity farming.
“It’s here.”
“It’s s-so big...!”
After traveling through the narrow tunnel for a long time, we reached a considerably large chamber with a high ceiling.
The surroundings were filled with the corpses of various monsters and Dungeon Trolls that had dried up like mummies.
“We’ve come alone as requested. It’s time you showed yourself.”
Creeeeeak...
“Eek!”
“....”
A sudden presence.
At the same time, a spider leg brushed against my neck.
“What adorable children.”
Arachne revealed herself.
She was quite intimidating. I couldn't just stand still.
“Is this a threat against me? I assume you aren't looking for a fight?”
There was no need to show fear. I questioned Arachne while taking a stance that suggested I would enter combat immediately if necessary.
If her intention was to intimidate me right now, she had better give up.
I could blow this entire space apart right this instant.
“Fufu. Rather than reckless bravado... you are a child with certain power. It is not a threat. I was merely curious about the texture.”
Skreeeeee.
With a sound like a knife scraping against guitar strings, Arachne, who had been behind us, leaped up to the ceiling.
“What is that... it’s huge... so scary...”
“Calm down, Rien. She has no reason to harm us.”
“B-but... it’s gross...”
I quickly covered Rien’s mouth.
Calling her gross to her face? That was rude.
“Where is she gross? She’s nothing but beautiful.”
“Ugh....”
Rien tried to shake her head, but I stopped her from doing even that.
The spider hanging from the ceiling stared intently at us.
Her upper body was that of a naked woman, while her lower body was that of a massive spider monster. The woman of the upper body was quite beautiful—a beauty with jet-black hair. However, the lower body was that of a hideous spider.
Perhaps she communicated with humans using her upper body and devoured monsters with the mouth of her lower body.
“Fufu. It seems you are trying to win my favor. But I know as well. I know that my form is hideous.”
“Not at all. Rather than hideous, it’s actually quite cool. Your spider legs are so sleek and stylish.”
Unconditional flattery. Mindless praise.
This was the strategy for Arachne that Olivia had taught me.
“Praise is not bad. Regardless of your true feelings. It seems you are prepared to serve me.”
If you provide me with your skills, of course I’ll serve you.
“So, why did you ask for just the two of us to stay? Simply because we looked the weakest?”
“No. That is not the reason. To my eyes, you appear to be the master of the 5th floor. I wanted to meet the human who conquered a floor at least once.”
“I see. Then why did you ask this person to stay?”
“Because she’s cute.”
That was a lie.
She already knew my strength. Rien was likely Arachne’s own safety measure. She probably asked her to stay so she could use her as a hostage if a fight broke out.
Furthermore, seeing as she had been avoiding me until now and then invited me to her nest, it was clear she had invited me to her home to converse on equal footing, anticipating she might lose in a direct confrontation.
“.....”
“She says you’re cute, Rien.”
“Ugh... I don't want to be loved by a monster...”
Rien seemed to have completely lost her composure at the sight of the spider.
Did she have arachnophobia? Well, she did seem to dislike bugs.
“Then it is my turn to ask a question. You have been looking for me. What is the reason?”
“I want the skills or abilities you possess.”
“You wish to recruit me?”
“Yes. If you desire compensation, I will prepare as much as possible.”
“Fufu. To say you will even meet my conditions.”
“Within the realm of what I can do.”
“Is that so. What if I refuse your proposal here? Will you then use your Spirit Chain to capture me and make me your slave?”
“.... No. Of course not.”
How did she know about my ability?
Did she figure it out by observing?
“There is no need to be surprised. This is my ability.”
“Are you able to see through abilities?”
“Do I only see through them? I can do much more.”
She could manipulate abilities?
No human was capable of that. It must be a unique skill like Prodo’s Reprocessing.
“Tell me what you want. I’ll prepare anything for you.”
I had to recruit her.
No matter what, I had to bring her to our side.
Just by being able to handle abilities, Arachne’s value was higher than anyone else’s in the Underground City.
“If you can give me anything... then there is only one thing I want.”
“What is it?”
“I want your shadow.”
“Pardon? My shadow?”
“Yes. Your shadow. Your other side. That is the only thing I want.”
What did she mean by wanting my shadow?
Arachne’s request was peculiar.