Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Subjugation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Leaving behind the room where four villains had met their ends in an instant, I stepped out into the corridor.
...
Was it because a little time had passed?
Villains blanketing the entire wide corridor were there to greet me.
"Wow, is everyone here to welcome me? I didn't know I was this popular. As expected, you all know how to appreciate a good look."
"Don't let your guard down! The opponent is that Arachne! Form ranks!"
Ha, really.
People with no sense of humor.
I'd tried to chat a bit before fighting.
...Well, fine. I don't have time to waste either.
Guess I'll have to get serious, just like they want.
"Alright. It's great to see everyone diligently doing their jobs, but just one thing."
"...What? Surrender won't help. You won't survive intact."
Ugh, as expected, getting captured would've made it hard to keep all my limbs.
If I'd kept playing dumb and infiltrating, the odds of turning into Mech-Arte with flames shooting from my hands would've skyrocketed.
Even if I stripped down to my leotard under these clothes, reverting to my birthday-suit body, I couldn't take them all out.
So, I need to scare them.
Fights are all about momentum. If no one wants to fight me anymore, that's enough.
If 500 out of 600 lose their will to fight, I only have to deal with 100.
"I'm a bit busy, so I can't play with all of you. If you want some fun times, gather in the middle of the hall."
"...Nonsense! Everyone, battle stations! Capture that bitch! No, kill her if you have to! I'll reward the one who does!"
Hmm, so this level of intimidation isn't enough to scare them.
Fine, whatever.
If they won't be scared by words, I'll just show them.
"...Don't say I didn't warn you. Last chance. If you want to live, get out of the way now."
"Attack!"
Ignoring my words, the commander-looking guy ordered an assault, and countless mana-infused ranged attacks came flying.
Haa, fine.
They won't even listen, huh?
I wove threads from part of my stockings to form a barrier.
But as they say, fights are won by numbers. The barrier, battered by dozens of attacks, looked on the verge of shattering.
They're not complete idiots, after all.
This is a narrower passage than I thought.
Even if hundreds of villains charge at once, the number I can face simultaneously is limited.
That's why he ordered ranged attacks—to keep their distance.
Well, that just means I have to move.
I unleashed the threads from the half-glove I'd deliberately saved, slamming them into a muscular man's arm.
"Guh, guaak...?!"
"Threads...?! H-Hold on! She's gonna use you as a shield! Hold out no matter what!"
Hmm, correct.
As expected, a physical enhancement type. He looked the part.
If not, I'd have picked someone else. Perfect fit.
I circulated mana and gripped the threads tight. Then, arching my back, I started pulling as if yanking him toward me with full force.
The guys who'd figured I'd subdue him and use him as a shield started using their heads.
The massive villain planted his legs into the floor to resist being dragged, while several others pinned his shoulders...?
Why are villains cooperating like this? Go figure.
The net of threads overhead was on the brink of breaking.
This was an incredibly dangerous situation.
...But those guys are mistaken about one thing.
When did I ever say I was going to use someone as a shield?
The moment the overhead net shattered, I slammed in max mana to forcibly snap the taut tug-of-war line.
The forcibly boosted strength from mana dropped instantly to frail high-school-girl levels, and naturally, the tug-of-war balance collapsed in a flash.
"Wha—?!"
Now, here's a question.
If you're in a tight tug-of-war and one side suddenly lets go, what happens?
Right—the side still pulling gets yanked forward!
And since it wasn't a light pull but full force, the speed is way faster!
That's why I was looking for a physical enhancer. Lucky me.
I shot forward faster than the incoming ranged attacks, straight into the clustered villains.
"Ta-da!"
"This crazy...?!"
"Hello, and goodbye."
As thanks for bringing me here, I separated the heads from the bodies of the musclehead and the villains struggling to hold him in place.
As the stunned villains snapped out of it and lunged, my uniform unraveled in an instant, unleashing the rampaging threads.
...Yeah, that. The technique I'd sworn to seal away.
I didn't want to use it, but no choice.
The goal is maximum terror, after all.
"Ptoo... ah, damn. Got some in my mouth."
"H-Hiiiik...!"
Moments after the threads danced wildly.
The once-slick floor grew sticky with blood, like a lie.
...Whoa, there are so many people.
I knew 600 was a lot, but seeing it firsthand makes it seem even more.
And even after slicing that much, no sign of thinning out...
I brushed off the beret from what used to be the commander puppet and plopped it on my head.
Ugh, the blood's all sticky and gross... But I need something to avoid going full nude...
"Too bad. I told you to scram if you didn't want to fight, but you wouldn't listen."
"M-Monster...!"
"Monster's too impersonal. I've got a cool name: Arachne."
Not that I named it—the Writer did.
Writer-nim's got solid naming sense.
I like it more than I expected. Arachne.
"So... fight or flee? Decide quick."
Chicken out, chicken out, chicken out...!
Was it because I used that technique I didn't want to? Or all my silent prayers?
Fortunately, the terrified villains began slinking back.
They must've been traumatized by the cube-steak production process.
Panicking at the thought it'd happen to them too.
Haha. Bluff tactic: massive success!
...Not that I'll let them go if they flee.
Exits are all sealed, idiots.
Too late to regret not fighting sooner after all the executives are dead.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ahaha... That was a shock. A sudden ambush like that."
"S-Spare me... Spira. I-I can't move...!"
I'm screwed.
The Übermensch executive whose lower body had turned serpentine—the Serpent of the Twelve Branches—sensed defeat.
Her supposedly perfect ambush had failed spectacularly.
"H-How...? Why did it fail? No, how...?!"
"Huh?"
"How did you kill Obis...?!"
"Oh, this?"
Having a comrade who'd been fine moments ago referred to as 'this' while limp—
Those who haven't experienced it wouldn't get it. I didn't want to know either.
"Obis's wool absorbs slashes instantly...!"
Obis, with her sheep's wool, boasted low attack but insane defense in certain situations.
Blunt force couldn't pierce her wool, and slashes would cut a few strands before losing power, unable to harm her.
She'd bragged nothing short of fire or electricity could seriously hurt her. So why?
"Ah, no wonder the wool wouldn't cut easily. Physical immunity or something?"
"How did you do it...?!"
"Oh, it was nothing. If once doesn't work, do it hundreds of times, right? She hugged me outta nowhere and startled me."
Just sever a strand or two, then slash the same spot hundreds of times!
Chills ran down my spine at her casual explanation.
In that short time, she slashed the exact same spot that many times...?
Thanks to that, I used up all my clothes. Damn. Good thing it was wool, or I'd be a total perv.
Spira missed Arte's mutter and turned to the controlled comrade.
Chris, the pig beastman. He had some slash resistance too, and his weighty attacks could pulp a person.
...Yet there he was, trembling at a tiny thread.
"Good plan, right? Have the blunt-resistant guy hug me and pound like a punching bag. The one inside takes the hits, the hugger stays fine."
"Y-You're mocking me...?"
"Backing up with a second ambush in case the first failed was smart too."
Too bad it wasn't me who got hit!
She, reeking of blood all over, grinned wide and manipulated Chris. Or maybe mocked him.
...She was toying with him, poison spreading through his body, watching like it was fascinating.
The moment she sensed the ambush fail, a second one.
She used Chris as a shield and slipped out in a flash.
"Stop, stop...! P-Poison's spreading! What do you want?! Info?! Money?! Name it! Anything!"
"Oh, you'll really give it?"
"Yes! Anything! Hurry! Tell me!"
"Your life."
"...Kuhuk?!"
That was Chris's end, cowering at the tiny thread by his ear.
He'd bragged his thick fat would shrug off such threads.
The thread burrowed into his ear, and soon he collapsed, blood pouring from eyes and nose.
Did it scramble his brain?
Horrid imaginings paled my face.
"Your money or info means nothing. What I want is your deaths."
In an instant.
Truly an instant, and two ambush executives were dead.
People with real combat experience, too.
"Now, just you left. ...What to do."
My mind went blank.
What now?
How can I survive?
...No time wasted agonizing.
Nothing felt like it'd let me live.
So, she followed instinct.
"Spare me!"
Like a snake, she groveled on the ground.
No, even if not a snake, it'd be the same.
If she were a dog beastman, she'd have rolled belly-up.