episode_0033

“Was it unnecessary meddling?”

A quiet street with flickering lamppost lights.

Arachne, who had been silently strolling there after leaving the cocktail bar, began to reminisce about past events upon seeing the flashing lights.

Having worked as an art director for a fairly well-known foreign company, she had briefly visited her motherland’s hometown during a vacation.

Just when she was enjoying her break, she got caught up in the racial mutation incident and ended up extending her stay for up to two months due to the lingering chaos.

Recalling the morning of the racial mutation, she shook her head as if feeling dizzy even thinking about it again.

“The unfamiliar sensations, the repulsive gazes that struck me as soon as I stepped out. No matter how many times I think back, they’re not pleasant memories.”

Although now she had managed to somewhat improve her injured body with the help of the company, panic had gripped her when she first faced her reflection in the mirror.

Trying to forget her gloomy emotions with alcohol, she had stopped by a bar, only to be rejected entirely, even at the very bar she had just left moments ago.

Remembering the image of the bar owner who had touched her leg curiously, showing more curiosity than disgust, Arachne smiled faintly.

“Yes, a lot has changed since I went to that cocktail bar.”

Watching other mixed-race individuals like herself helped her overcome her slump.

Thanks to regaining her senses, everything she had recently designed had received rave reviews.

With a cheerful laugh, she began to walk back towards her accommodation.

“Perhaps racial mutation could be a new opportunity.”

Racial mutations appearing at a rate of one per thousand people.

The strange disease with unknown causes and conditions had welcomed the racial mutation incident from her perspective.

Even though the unfortunate event of turning into a spider from the waist down had occurred, life was much more exciting after the racial mutation than before.

“Inspiration never stops! I get excited every time I design!”

Initially repulsed by the spider-like lower half, after over a month had passed, she no longer wanted to return to her old self.

Rather than liking the spider body, she found that the benefits outweighed the penalty of having a ‘grotesque body.’

A race that inherited the name of a woman who possessed artistic genius to the extent of winning victory over a god in a myth.

Having transformed into such a race, could there be no advantage related to art?

In exchange for the grotesque body, her touch became much more delicate than before.

Her already brilliant talent began to shine like jewels crafted by a master jeweler.

Breathing life back into the frozen soul of art, allowing it to blaze brightly once again.

“To go back to how it used to be…”

Just the thought of it was dreadful.

If she had to go back to before the racial mutation, she would rather take her own life or sell her soul to the devil to keep this body.

Muttering softly, she paused for a moment and took out her phone from her bag.

“By the way, should I make contact?”

It had been a long time since she had given someone her business card and asked them to contact her.

Since becoming the art director of a company where just looking at the logo made people say ‘Ah, here?’ she had hardly ever given her card to anyone.

A designer creating luxury items worth hundreds or thousands clinging onto her to make a simple cosplay outfit.

Passing orcs would likely sneer at such a sight.

However…

“I hope they reach out.”

She was feeling anxious right now.

No matter what clothes she wore, the elegant grace that exuded from her.

Standing out amidst vampires who displayed very unhygienic behavior by not entering flowing water, contrasting with their clean and neat appearance.

And even the occasional clumsiness shown amidst her mature and noble demeanor.

Arachne was on the verge of going crazy wanting to make clothes for the vampire with whom she had briefly chatted.

“Any outfit will look great on him! Even if he were to go out wearing a Rococo dress, people wouldn’t find it strange at all!”

If he could pull off men’s clothing so well, how would women’s clothing feel?

A strong desire to see someone wear her designed clothes.

The peculiar yet thrilling desire she felt after a long time gave her a shivery pleasure.

“Ah… ♡”

Imagination alone wasn’t enough.

She wanted to see that appearance with her own eyes.

Feeling a burning thirst, Arachne began eagerly awaiting only the vampire’s contact.

Hurry, let this thirst be quenched.

—–

“…He turned out to be quite remarkable, didn’t he?”

On the way back to her studio apartment after work.

When Arachne took out the business card given by her guest and searched the name online, countless search results greeted her.

How should I put it?

It felt like finding out that the chubby man next door was actually a hero who saved another world and returned.

The fact that such a famous person gave me a business card didn’t feel real, so I just sealed the card in my wallet.

Don’t you have any doubts?

Honestly, I found myself hoping that the Arachne who handed me the card was a fraud.

It doesn’t make sense. Why would such an extraordinary person want to make cosplay costumes for me?

If this had been before the species transformation, I would have laughed it off as a joke.

But now, with the species transformation having occurred, and the fact that the other party happened to be Arachne…

Belonging to a species with a small population, with distinct differences below the waist in the form of spider features, it was almost impossible to deceive.

That kind of species.

Looking exactly like the photo inserted in the first newspaper article that comes up when you search online, how could I doubt?

In reality, it was a golden opportunity to get a high-quality cosplay costume, but I decided not to contact Arachne’s guest.

If I asked that person for help, my wallet would likely take a hit.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch; I didn’t consider Arachne’s guest’s help to be free.

As someone who designs luxury items that typically cost millions, how much do you think it would cost to commission them?

Well… I’d probably have to work at a cocktail bar, scrimping and saving for at least a few months, right?

“I’d rather do low-cost cosplay and live comfortably.”

Giving up a small happiness that can be enjoyed for a long time for a moment of ecstasy is foolish.

I sealed the wallet containing the business card to forget about Arachne’s guest’s offer and stretched my stiff body to relax.

“Ugh… I should ask Hye-eun tomorrow. She must know how to get costumes since she has a lot of experience.”

“You’re right. If it were Hye-eun, she would have jumped at the chance without hesitation, right?”

“She’s too impulsive, that’s the problem. That’s why I said. She needs a guy to put the brakes on.”

“Oh, so were you a candidate back in the day?”

“What candidate? You idiot. My patience isn’t as great as Jun-hyun’s, you know?”

After scolding him not to talk nonsense, we walked along the empty street for a while.

Suddenly feeling a chill down my spine, I cautiously spoke to him.

“…Hey, about Arachne’s guest.”

“Why, still holding onto hope?”

“No, it’s not about holding onto hope. Surely you’re not waiting for a call, right?”

He did say to contact him when I had time… Do people usually add that when giving out business cards?

Tilting his head in confusion, Jaehyuk seemed to ponder for a moment.

“What, do you think something happened because I didn’t contact you? If asked why you didn’t call, just say you didn’t have time, right?”

“…Yoon Jaehyuk, you’re a genius.”

“Genius my ass, you must be the dumb one.”

With a plausible response, he reassured me.

Yes, he was always polite, so he wouldn’t pry too much.

If things get tricky, just say you were busy like Jaehyuk said!

A sense of relief settled in.

So, I spent another day thinking nothing would go wrong and happily headed to the cocktail bar for work.

“Welcome, sir! Nice to see you again! Have a great day…”

“…Why didn’t you call?”

“Uh…?”

“I told you to call when you had time, why didn’t you?”

As soon as I arrived at work, I found myself in quite an awkward situation.

The Arachne customer with a grim expression suddenly started questioning me.

Should I lie and say I couldn’t call because I was busy, as Jaehyuk suggested?

Standing before those stern eyes, could lies come out easily?

Even if I lied, wouldn’t it backfire? I haven’t tested it, but instinct tells me.

Right now, it’s better to stay quiet.

Following my instincts, I averted my gaze and kept silent, as the Arachne customer hesitantly approached me.

…Please don’t come any closer, sir.

If you come closer, I might really faint…?

Panicking at the thought of trouble, I tried to escape, but somehow, a spider web trap had securely bound my feet, preventing me from fleeing.

Oh no.

This is really messed up.

Sighing internally, I found myself cornered by the persistent questioning of the Arachne customer.

All I could do was…

“Do you know how long I waited at the lodging? I stayed up all night waiting without even sighing once, wondering when you’d call. Isn’t that too much?”

“W-wait, wait a minute, my leg… Aaaahhh?!!”

“Say something, will you? Even if it’s an excuse like being busy!”

“My leg, the spider leg… Get it off… Aaargh!!!”

With a pale face, all they did was tremble and scream.

An overwhelming sense of terror from the sharp, spider-like legs, numbering up to eight.

Feeling everything fading away, I lost consciousness then and there.

…It was spring.