Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Human-Faced Spider
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What the hell is this guy?
Ho Myeong couldn't shake the feeling that he'd gotten tangled up in something.
Before he knew it, the boy had seized control of the conversation.
But letting himself be dragged along like this wouldn't do as the stronghold leader.
"You don't know anything, yet you spout off like you do?"
Ho Myeong unleashed his killing intent.
Ordinary folk froze the instant they sensed it.
Unless they were exceptionally dull, their legs would go weak and give out—that was the norm.
Yet Lee Seon kept a calm expression.
"A few days ago, I saw a group dressed like you lot."
The bandits flinched.
"They were all chasing after someone."
Ho Myeong's eyes bulged wide.
"A girl with green eyes and black hair flying in the wind—she's the one you're desperately looking for, right?"
It's true!
Ho Myeong instinctively knew this boy understood the truth behind the incident here.
"So, what happened to them?!"
Lee Seon held out his palm.
"From here on, you pay to hear more."
Ho Myeong fiddled with his money pouch.
Fine. Let's play along.
He's just a country bumpkin from some remote valley anyway.
He doesn't even seem to think his life is in danger.
It's just lending money for a bit—easy enough to stomach.
With his thoughts settled, he could shout boldly.
He could reclaim it anytime, so no reason not to hand over whatever was asked.
"Fine. How much?"
But Lee Seon's response far exceeded his expectations.
"Hand over every coin you've got."
"What?!"
Ho Myeong bellowed.
His voice, laced with inner energy, echoed thunderously through the mountains.
Lee Seon plugged his ears and frowned.
"Keep that up, and every animal in these woods will come running."
"You a bandit or what? Pricing a few words like that?"
Lee Seon casually glanced beyond the trees, leaving the nape of his neck vulnerably exposed.
Ho Myeong wanted to snap that slender neck right then.
His hands trembled with the urge.
But it might feel good for a moment—what about afterward?
If he couldn't capture Dang Ha-ryeong or prove her death, he'd be the one dying.
The bargaining power was already in Lee Seon's hands.
"So, you gonna pay up or not?"
"You fucking little shit!"
Spitting curses was all he could manage.
"Heavy."
Lee Seon grinned, savoring the weight of the bulging pouch.
"Thought you were unwanted guests at first. Turns out you're generous mountain heroes after all."
"...Shut up and lead the way."
"Sure thing."
Money? I'll hold onto it for a bit.
You're dying anyway. But not an easy death.
I'll make you beg to be spared. For that, I need to minimize your pain first.
As brutal imaginings swirled in Ho Myeong's head...
Unaware or perhaps fully aware, Lee Seon began flicking his fingers lightly.
Silver coins jingled beautifully in his hand.
Several coins flipped back and forth in the air, dancing prettily.
Ho Myeong glared at the sight, as if ready to weep blood.
"Guide us right, or your head rolls on the spot!"
"I'd do that even without the threat."
Lee Seon flashed a smile at the blustering man.
Ho Myeong was thoroughly pissed right now.
And why not? Getting fleeced of silver—even temporarily—by some green kid was infuriating.
It had been ages since he'd dealt with someone this aggravating.
Types like this didn't even blink with a blade at their throat.
Ho Myeong had seen eyes like those a few times before.
Those emotionless pupils were eerily still.
No simple scare would rattle him.
Once they found her, he'd rip that mouth open first.
Night had fallen before they knew it.
Ho Myeong scanned their surroundings.
The growing darkness narrowed their vision.
The bandits soaked rags in oil, tied them to branches, and lit torches.
"Douse the flames."
Lee Seon warned them.
But the bandits ignored him.
"How are we supposed to move in this pitch black without light?"
Lee Seon gave a clear answer.
"Don't move."
"Ridiculous."
Time was of the essence.
Dang Ha-ryeong could escape—how could they leisurely rest?
"This mountain is dangerous."
"No mountain's that bad."
Even if beasts appeared, their numbers could handle it.
"I've said my piece."
Lee Seon stopped arguing and led them on.
Pushing through dense underbrush revealed a fairly open clearing.
Faintly glowing granules were embedded in the ground here and there.
"W-what the hell is that?!"
One bandit approached with his torch, and the group recoiled in horror.
Spiders the size of a man's palm swarmed the spot.
"Stronghold leader! Those clothes!"
Ho Myeong recognized them too.
The fine silk garments the vice-leader had looted from a caravan not long ago.
The luxurious fabric, unbandit-like, lay torn and buried among the spiders.
Ho Myeong swung his sword in one hand and torch in the other wildly.
"Mess with spiders in these mountains, and it won't end well."
Lee Seon muttered, but to no avail.
Following his lead, the bandits began slaughtering the spiders too.
"Die, you filthy spider bastards!"
"Kill 'em all! Gross things!"
Kieeeek!
The spiders shrieked, their red eyes gleaming.
Those with crushed bodies or severed legs fled hastily into the darkness.
The horror revealed where they vanished was gruesome.
Almost no bones left—just one arm remained.
Ho Myeong's face hardened.
Unrecognizable face, but the clothes and hand shape confirmed it: the vice-leader.
"What happened here?"
"A fight broke out."
"Do I look blind? I can see that much without you telling me."
Ho Myeong's face twisted demonically.
"Dang Ha-ryeong! What about that bitch?"
"She's alive."
"Where?!"
Knowing her name proved Dang Ha-ryeong was conscious now.
But after exerting herself against multiple foes while internally injured...
She hadn't recovered yet.
"At my house."
Ho Myeong blinked blankly for a moment.
His expression warped strangely.
Eyes twitching like he might cry, lips quivering as if about to burst into laughter.
"I see. At your house..."
He cackled wildly, then slashed like lightning.
Lee Seon easily dodged by leaning back and swiftly created distance.
"You've been toying with us this whole time."
Ho Myeong's rage boiled over.
Placating a mere child with pointless Q&A.
"Don't expect a clean death."
But Lee Seon's gaze wasn't on him.
He stared behind Ho Myeong.
"That's my line."
Ho Myeong sneered.
"What can a punk like you do? Fight us?"
"Fighting's not my job."
Only then did the bandits check their surroundings.
"Something's off!"
They assumed alert stances.
Red glowing eyes flickered around the clearing, steadily increasing.
Soon filling every direction.
"You thought wandering at night with torches wouldn't attract attention?"
They were surrounded before they knew it.
Yet the boy watched impassively, as if he'd foreseen it.
Infuriated by the attitude, Ho Myeong pointed his sword.
"You led us into a trap."
Lee Seon denied it.
"No. You walked into it yourselves."
He'd have guided lost travelers.
Even fearless poison hunters—he'd have saved them.
But these were bandits.
Greedy eyes gleaming—what were they hunting?
His houseguest.
"I warned you several times."
Yelling recklessly, disturbing the forest rulers.
Lighting fires in the dark.
Not content with interrupting the spiders' meal—they harmed them.
"Ignoring warnings comes at a heavy price."
The bandits paled at Lee Seon's threat.
But Ho Myeong bellowed thunderously.
"You think these things can take us down?!"
As the bandit chief, he asserted his presence.
His men reignited their fighting spirit.
"Just overgrown spiders anyway!"
"Squash 'em all!"
Yeah, spiders—no matter how big, just creepy bugs.
No massive fangs or sharp claws, right?
With weapons and torches swung well, not so scary.
That's what they'd think. And understandably so—
"You only fought the babies."
The bandits felt a chill crawl up their necks.
"Mothers always hover near their young."
The starry night sky vanished in an instant.
Not clouds or dimmed moonlight.
A house-sized black spider drooled from midair.
A peculiar pattern marked its abdomen.
"N-no way..."
A human face-like marking glared at them.
A shape from legends.
Its name infamous to all.
"...The Human-Faced Spider."
The bandits gaped at the colossal arachnid.
The king of poisons, they called it.
"Pearl. Long time no see. You doing well?"
Kieeeek!
Lee Seon greeted it, but the spider screeched horrifically from its maw.
"I know, I know. But I did warn them. Sorry your kids got hurt."
Lee Seon reached out to pet the Human-Faced Spider.
But it snapped its head away.
He awkwardly withdrew his hand with an embarrassed smile.
"Awkward. Looks like Pearl's pretty pissed at you for hurting her babies."
The bandits exploded in fury.
"You brought us here!"
"You share blame for harming her spawn!"
"Don't say such ominous crap."
Lee Seon flicked his hand lightly.
The bandits who spoke clutched their throats.
Mid-sentence, foam bubbled from their mouths as they collapsed.
Kiek?
The Human-Faced Spider eyed Lee Seon questioningly.
Lee Seon hid his hands behind his back innocently, as if nothing happened.