Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Hardworking Scoundrel - 4
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In the end, I caused a major accident.
A fatal mistake committed in a situation where Arachne’s assistance was desperately needed.
As I slowly pulled my arm out of the hole, sticky spider silk stretched out after it like tangled thread.
At the same time, the Arachne—whose waist had been bent like a bow—collapsed onto the ground.
Her unfocused eyes and ragged breathing filled the silence of the forest.
So much for making silk.
“Ane!”
At that moment, another nearby Arachne moved swiftly.
She shot out webbing from her spinnerets and tightly wrapped it around her companion’s waist.
The moment she confirmed her companion was firmly secured, she twisted her body and yanked the thread.
Like reeling in a fish caught on a line, she pulled her companion away from me and quickly created distance.
A blatantly disgusted expression and a body language full of avoidance.
It was exactly like how female classmates used to react when they saw my face back in school—it stung a little.
I couldn’t tell if they hated me because I was human, or just because I was ugly.
I think Heinz Altesia is fairly handsome, but beauty standards differ by race, after all.
“Human! You still haven’t given up on us? Please stop! That wasn’t something we did!”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Young Master, I’ll step in and try talking first.”
Because of their obvious aversion to humans, I had no choice but to put Lena Evergreen forward.
If she’s an elf, they might be willing to talk—that was my judgment.
As expected, they were still wary, but at least the contempt from before was gone.
“An elf? You even hired an elf just to catch us now?”
“Calm down. We didn’t come here to harm you.”
“Lies! Do you know how many have approached us like that, only to stab us in the back? Do you think we’ll fall for it again?”
“If that’s your concern, how about this?”
Lena pulled out a dagger from her pocket and dropped it on the ground.
Then she took out all the hidden weapons she had concealed across her body and dropped them one by one.
Assassination tools began piling up at her feet like snow.
When the pile of blades rose up to her ankles, the Arachne couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke.
“O-Okay! I get it, you don’t have hostile intent, so stop already! This is starting to get scary!”
Seeing weapons endlessly appear from somewhere on Lena, it looked like she was ready to kill at least one person if things went wrong.
She was already fast normally, but with just a single dagger, it was impossible to gauge how fast she’d be.
From the Arachne’s perspective—unable to distinguish friend from foe—it was only natural to be afraid.
“What business do you have in this forest?”
“We came to look for land suitable for elves to live in, and also to meet you.”
“So in the end, we were your target?”
“The one I serve wishes to make a deal with you.”
Lena nodded toward me.
She had created a chance for me to step into the conversation.
Gratefully accepting the opportunity, I stepped forward.
“It might be hard to believe, but I truly came to make a deal with you.”
“Sorry, but we have nothing to give you humans.”
“Nothing? You do. Right here.”
I waved my right arm.
The web clinging to it dangled but showed no sign of falling off.
The Arachne narrowed her eyes and stared at my arm.
Then she spoke as if she couldn’t understand.
“What do you plan to use our threads for?”
“To make silk, of course.”
Spider silk is stronger and more elastic than silkworm thread.
Its strength is five times that of steel, while also being lightweight and highly conductive.
It’s incredibly practical, but the reason people don’t use it is simple.
The amount a single spider produces is extremely small.
But the amount and thickness that Arachne can produce is enough to weave into fabric.
That means mass production of spider silk—something even modern times couldn’t achieve—is possible.
“You’re saying you’ll make clothes with our thread?”
“Exactly.”
Even the Arachne herself had her chest wrapped tightly with webbing as clothing.
It was so thin it looked like it would tear with intense movement, yet it wasn’t damaged at all.
Fabric made from Arachne thread could probably even block a sword.
How could I not covet it?
“You’re a strange human. Fine, if we give you thread, what can you offer us?”
“The land you’re standing on right now belongs to my family.”
“Oh, really? My bad.”
The Arachne said that bluntly and hopped one step to the side.
I barely managed to suppress my laughter.
To think she believed moving one step would solve it.
They must not understand the concept of territory, having been rejected by humans.
When Lena tried to explain, I stopped her.
It would be more effective to let them experience the majesty of a landowner firsthand.
“That spot is mine too.”
“Then what about here?”
“That too.”
“What if I go up the tree?”
“The tree is mine as well.”
“If I go far away, it’s fine, right?!”
“Sure, go ahead! It’s all mine anyway!”
The Arachne kept desperately moving around.
After about ten moves, she finally sensed something was off and stopped.
Realizing I had been messing with her, she spoke irritably.
“You lied just to make me suffer!”
“I didn’t lie. This entire forest belongs to me.”
“Another lie!”
Though she snapped back, she glanced sideways at Lena.
Lena silently shook her head, confirming I was telling the truth.
Only then did the Arachne widen her eyes and tremble.
“Fine! Then we’ll just leave the forest!”
“Hey now, why so hasty? You haven’t even heard my conditions yet.”
“If you own this forest, then your condition would be letting us live here.”
Though they lacked common knowledge due to isolation, the Arachne weren’t stupid.
Even after correctly guessing my offer, they still chose to leave—meaning it wasn’t appealing.
I had no choice but to propose something else, so I decided to ask why.
“If the forest owner says you can live here in exchange for thread, why leave?”
“That’s because if we stay in human land, they’ll definitely…”
“Found you!”
At the shout from behind, the Arachne flinched.
She immediately tried to flee, but figures emerged from the bushes behind her.
Turning back, there were armed people there as well.
“You can’t run anymore, you spider monsters!”
“This will be your grave!”
“We’ll avenge our villagers here!”
The sudden intruders approached slowly with fierce expressions.
Their tone suggested they held a grudge against the Arachne.
At first, I thought they were adventurers attacked by them.
But adventurers wouldn’t leave life-saving weapons rusted.
Their grip on their polearms was clumsy too.
“We haven’t harmed anyone! How many times do we have to say it?!”
The Arachne shouted in frustration.
She placed a hand on her chest like making a solemn oath.
But the oldest-looking man among the intruders shouted back angrily.
“Enough of your ridiculous lies! There were no other monsters that could have harmed our villagers! Then who did it?!”
“We’ve been living hidden in the forest the whole time—how would we know?!”
“You dare speak so boldly with the mouths that devoured our loved ones!”
I roughly grasped the situation.
They were villagers whose family or lovers had been killed.
They concluded the culprits were the Arachne living nearby.
From the Arachne’s perspective—who had lived quietly—it was unfair.
They likely tried to talk it out, but villagers blinded by revenge wouldn’t listen.
Eventually, the Arachne left and wandered.
They ended up in this forest, but the villagers’ obsession was so strong they chased them here.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah. This is an opportunity.”
A chance to gain favor with the Arachne.
But if I subdued the villagers by force, rumors might spread that I was bewitched.
Ideally—and like a proper delinquent—I needed to solve this my way.
“Time!”
I shouted loudly enough to echo through the forest, drawing everyone’s attention.
Their gazes were hostile.
If I interfered, they wouldn’t let me off.
Typical people who see nothing but themselves.
“What? Not looking at me nicely? Want to die?”
“Who are you to interfere in our matter like this?”
“The landowner, you bastard.”
I’m weak enough to lose to an ordinary villager.
But my pride and mindset had to be higher than any hero’s.
That’s what being a delinquent means.
“…Are you perhaps a noble?”
“Do I really need to say it? Use your eyes.”
“M-My apologies!”
At my arrogant attitude, they quickly dropped their hostility and bowed.
“Get the hell out of my land.”
“Please grant us just a little time! We’ll subdue those monsters and leave—!”
“Hey, does what I say sound like a joke?”
Lowering my voice, they immediately knelt.
“We’re truly sorry!”
“It’s too late for apologies.”
At my signal, Lena rushed forward with a dagger.
In an instant, she cut through all their weapons.
“You were in the wrong first, so don’t expect compensation.”
“Thank you for your mercy.”
“Save it and get lost.”
“…One request—would you hear us out?”
“Want to die?”
“If you grant this last request, you may kill us afterward.”
“You idiots. What if it’s really a misunderstanding?”
“That’s impossible.”
“Proof?”
“The timing of the disappearances matches when those spider monsters settled in the forest!”
“We were already living there half a year before humans discovered us!”
“Lies!”
“It’s true! Ask the water spirit in the lake—it’ll prove our innocence!”
“There were bloodstains and webs along the forest path!”
“So that proves the Arachne did it?”
“Are you insane? Who decides a culprit based on suspicion alone?!”
“Shut up and bring real evidence!”
“Until then, no one touches the Arachne. Got it?”
At my command, they reluctantly turned back.
After confirming they disappeared beyond the forest, I faced the Arachne proudly.
“Well? As you can see, I can protect you like this.”
“I-It’s not like we needed your help…! But… it wasn’t bad!”
…Is she a tsundere?