Chapter 71
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Spider Emerges
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In the direction Kang Seol was pointing, there was a somewhat unusual terrain.
A landscape that felt out of place, like a crudely set trap.
The stone floor where his finger rested was a different color from the rest of the ground.
As if a new lid had been slapped over it.
Kang Seol turned to Jamad and Karen.
"Suspicious, right?"
"Super suspicious."
"I see... So that's it. No matter how much I looked around, I couldn't spot any spiderwebs."
Jamad stepped forward.
"Should I smash it first?"
"Think you can?"
"If not, we'll figure something else out."
With that, Jamad raised his right arm, now equipped with the Mountain Fist.
His heavy fist came crashing down on the discolored stone floor.
Boom!
Hiss...
"Tougher than I thought? Nah, it's pathetic."
"Really?"
"See for yourself."
As the dust settled, the only broken part was the distinctly colored stone floor.
Only after smashing it did they realize the strange terrain was quite extensive.
"A passage?"
True to the hole in the stone floor, the passage led underground.
"Suspicious, huh?"
"Suspicious as hell..."
"Definitely."
The reason they'd come up empty after more than five days became clear.
Kang Seol's group had assumed the spider was somewhere in the visible parts of the ravine and hadn't even imagined an underground lair.
Karen asked,
"Where does the passage lead?"
"Obvious. Underground."
"Then whose territory is this underground?"
"Who knows... Not sure."
Karen grinned at Jamad's response.
"Easy—let's just check it out!"
Whoosh!
Karen leaped into the hole in an instant. Before anyone could stop her, she was gone, leaving them to swallow their protests and wait.
About a minute later, she returned.
"Phew, it's blocked!"
"Blocked?"
"Yeah. It was a pretty spacious passage, but it was sealed off with the same kind of stone we smashed up top."
"Did you break it?"
"Tried to. Wouldn't budge."
"Not enough strength?"
"Me? You're kidding, right? The stuff you broke probably hadn't fully hardened 'cause it was exposed to outside air!"
Kang Seol pieced together the info.
Something was lurking underground in Shadow Ravine.
No signs of movement from the spot where the goblin scouts were first sighted, so they were likely taken out by whatever lived below.
"It digs through the ground... then seals it back up?"
"No wonder... If there were holes like that scattered around the ravine, we'd have noticed. Whatever it is, it's cautious."
"What now, boss? Wanna head back down the passage?"
"You said you couldn't break it, and we got no tools."
"True. Oh! But there was something weird."
"Weird how?"
"Yeah. The rock blocking the passage wasn't all solid—parts were kinda sticky. Figured I'd mention it in case it's useful."
Kang Seol pondered Karen's words.
'Artificially made rock—some parts hard, some sticky... Huh? Feels just like...'
Freshly poured concrete.
That was the vibe. Though judging by how Karen couldn't smash it, way tougher.
'The sticky parts aren't fully set yet?'
Karen pressed,
"So, what's the plan?"
The underground monster surfaced for prey, then plugged the passage with concrete-like stuff.
If they wanted to track it, the timing was clear.
"When it comes for bait... or before it finishes sealing the tunnel..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. But there's something else off."
"What now?"
"How'd it know the goblins were here?"
"Dunno? Oh! The fire maybe?"
"Fire?"
"Think about it—the only difference between us and the goblins is we lit fires."
Jamad countered,
"That's speculation. We lit one on day one too."
"We were up high then, so maybe it couldn't reach. Plus, two of us were awake?"
"Hm..."
Kang Seol latched onto Karen's point.
'Lit a fire and everyone fell asleep? Sounds just like...'
Kirri.
Once Kupa's owner and Kang Seol's piece.
Their party lit a fire like the goblins and all dozed off—never seeing morning.
"Well, boss? My theory!"
"Plausible. Though lighting a fire might not be the absolute trigger. Still, it raises the odds. Maybe the monster reacts to heat sources."
"Our warming stones don't trigger it?"
"They're not that hot. Comfy to hold."
Kiruruk...
Kupa's cry echoed from high above.
After its attack on day one, the group stopped lighting fires—which ironically kept them safe.
'...Nah.'
Kang Seol chalked it up to coincidence.
Kupa deliberately saving humans? Didn't add up.
"Anyway, let's test it now."
"Sweet!"
Simple plan: Hunt ravine wildlife, leave it as bait in a spot, light a fire.
Observe for reactions.
"Think it'll show?"
"If not, we sweep the ravine again."
"Please show—spider, monster, whatever. Done with the scenery."
Jamad chuckled at Karen.
"Even if it shows, you can't do squat, fairy."
"Again with that! Karen's greatness isn't just swordplay! Want a demo right—"
"Shh. Setup's ready."
Half doubt, half hope, they laid out fresh-kill bait and built a fire pit.
One spark away from done. Kang Seol turned to them.
"Let's decide upfront. If the monster shows, what's the move?"
"If it looks easy, grab tools and pursue!"
"If not?"
"Plenty more chances—play it slow."
💬 Comments
— Anonymous
Now they're like a perfect duo lmao
— Viewer123
This combo... not bad.
— Lolwatcher
Jamad and Karen bickering all the time lets Snowman play referee and steal the show lmao
Kang Seol nodded.
Prep complete.
Whoosh...
The group lit the fire and climbed to a spot with a clear view, watching silently.
"Coming?"
"Dunno how deep underground is, but if it notices, it'll come fast, right?"
"Hope so."
But nothing happened.
Kiruruk...
"Damn..."
"That bird's back. Now what?"
Kirururuk!
"Gonna kill..."
"Shh. Watch."
The cries grew closer. Predator Kupa arrived, shoving its massive bulk into Kang Seol's trap.
And then.
Thud.
Gulp... Gulp...
"That damn birdbrain!"
"Quiet."
"Ugh... Not letting it off."
Their careful setup wasted.
Kupa scarfed the bait in one bite. Its huge frame matched its appetite.
💬 Comments
— HungryFan
Plan? What's that? Food?
— Muncher
(Nom nom)
⭐ Top Comment
— ChefKupa
The prepared meal had a dash of love—Kupa was touched.
— ProteinPro
Plans are prime protein sources.
Kang Seol watched with mixed feelings.
Frustrated at redoing it all, but proud of Kupa's growth.
Kiruruk...
Kupa yawned lazily, turning to fly off—then paused, glancing back.
Swoosh!
Its talon kicked the fire out. Satisfied, Kupa flapped away.
Fwoosh... Fwoooosh...
"Birds bullying us now."
"Gotta reset."
As Karen and Jamad dusted off, Kang Seol replayed Kupa's finale.
'Why? Why snuff the fire?'
Maybe its initial attack was just to douse their fire.
'Kupa, why?'
Kirri maybe.
If Kirri's party wiped because of the fire—leaving Kupa alone in the ravine.
Kupa might hate fire.
💬 Comments
— WiseOne
Kupa's smart. Right?
Kirri's dialogue snippet pierced his memories.
Recalling lost mounts always brought guilt first—for not taking them to the Hall of Ascension.
"Boss!"
"Yeah. Coming."
"Sigh... Keep zoning out and you're in trouble. I get wanting to slack with great Karen here, but..."
"Fairy! Quit yapping and move!"
Kang Seol knew Karen was joking to cheer his funk.
Pfft.
Karen shrugged and overtook him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Kururuk...
Swoosh!
"Aaaah! Again! That jerk..."
Kuruk!
Thwack! Thwack!
"Gonna kill it. Spider or not, that bird first..."
Karen fumed as Kupa ruined setups repeatedly.
💬 Comments
— RageMode
Madness... my old friend...
— RealTalk
Honestly I'd rage too lmao
— AntiKupa
Fuck Kupa! How long you gonna cockblock?!
Finally, drastic measures.
"So, set up on both sides?"
"Yeah. Spread out, no way it plucks all the feathers in time."
"Who lights the fires?"
"One of us per side. I'll do it—quick round trip."
"Not bad... but two's too few. Scatter everywhere."
"Me solo on all?"
Kang Seol blinked innocently.
"You said you would?"
"Well... yeah."
💬 Comments
— Troll
You said you would?
— FaceReader
That face lmao
— Sneaky
Then I volunteer in the meantime?
Plan rolled smoothly.
Prep four zones. Karen lights two, Kang Seol and Jamad the rest.
Time up—they moved fast.
Whoosh...
Fires blazed in four ravine spots, seconds apart.
Karen, Kang Seol, and Jamad met at the rendezvous.
"Good?"
"Yeah."
"No damn bird yet? Kahaha!"
"Nah, over there."
Kupa was already devouring bait at one site.
Kururuk...
"Shoot... Almost cursed."
💬 Comments
— LmaoKing
lololololol
— EarlyBird
Already there lmao
— Philosopher
Humans plan, Kupa laughs
⭐ Top Comment
— KupaFan
Kupa: Quadruple the joy! Kururuk bingbong!
Volume tactic worked—Kupa slower extinguishing.
Kang Seol observed, brooding.
'Fail again...'
Then.
Thud...
"Boss."
"Hm?"
"Look."
Thud. Thud thud...
Eerie sounds—like something stirring below.
Suspicious motion at a fire Kupa hadn't hit yet.
"The ground..."
"It's heaving?"
Finally.
The surface bulged, a massive hole bursting open.
Crack!
"Ha... Haha... Knew it."
"Spider."
A huge, creepy eight-legged arachnid emerged. Red body bristling red fur, eyes galore—peak nightmare fuel.
'Insight didn't trigger?'
Not Anakindria's last spawn then—likely a descendant thereof.
Kieee...
It crept toward the dead bait.
"Now? Chase it—"
"Crap, it noticed!"
"Who?"
"Who else! That damn bird!"
Kiruuuuk!
Kupa spotted the spider and charged recklessly.
Kiiiiii!
Startled spider spat web at Kupa.
Spiiiit!
"Kupa!"
Kang Seol yelled instinctively.
But Kupa dodged nimbly.
Kiii!
Talons slashed, snatching spider legs skyward. In a blink, they were gone.
"...Huh?"
Kupa vanished into the sky.
"What now?"
"Chase?"
"Nah, can't catch a flyer on foot."
Better yet,
"Works for us. Hole's open."
"Oh!"
The spider's exit gaped empty.
"Through there!"
Confirmed: Spiders underground in the ravine.
The ones that ate Kirri and countless adventurers, merchants.
Whoosh!
The group dove into the long tunnel. They were sucked downward.