Chapter 80 – Floor 12. Ended Too Quickly

Rising dust, the tangy smell of iron, completely shattered ominous heteromorphic symbols.

The scent of death hung heavily in the chamber, once a miners’ rest area carved from a massive rock.

Drip─

Dark red liquid flowing across the floor touched the soles of my boots, spreading thinly, some seeping underneath while the rest spread outward.

‘Scary…’

I made a disgusted face as I watched from hiding the Black Bride Spider, who had instantly pulverized the apostate group.

Even though the apostates were just many weak opponents, taking down more than a dozen alone would make even me break a sweat.

‘Though it seems she’s reached her limit too.’

After fleeing from our battle and then consecutive fights with the apostates, the strain seemed too much for the Black Widow Spider, as she staggered and leaned heavily to one side, seemingly struggling to support herself.

In contrast, there were about five apostates remaining.

Considering her remaining Health, she might kill two more before dying herself.

Though I’m just reaping the benefits, it’s excellent for me.

“Ha..! Did you think a mere creature could damage our sacred idol and live to tell the tale! Brethren, everyone use blood magic!”

At the apparent leader’s command, all the apostates cut their arms.

Drip─

The blood flowing down their arms began to take shape in midair.

『Blood Magic』

Blood forming into spears while spiraling in rotation, all aimed at the Black Bride Spider.

This moment transforms from a life-or-death struggle to a mere hunt for a beast.

“Hsss…”

Making an unintelligible hissing sound like air escaping, the Black Bride Spider forcibly raised her body that refused to move.

The apostates looked at this sight and smiled sickly, as if finding it amusing.

“We’ll place your corpse on the altar as an offering to the Great One. Even your dead brethren would be honored.”

A situation where the skin prickles.

And then six blood spears launched─

『Crescent Slash』

Thud─ Roll…

With the appearance of a wanderer and a massive high-speed slash precisely targeting the apostates’ necks.

As the greatsword passed through the apostates’ necks without resistance, their heads fell to the floor with a thud- and rolled, still wearing their sickly smiles.

That’s three dead.

“What─”

Crack─

A mace smashing into the face of an apostate who couldn’t grasp the situation as his comrade’s neck flew off beside him.

The apostate collapsed to the floor, his nose and face crushed, spraying various disgusting bodily fluids.

That’s four.

Whoooosh─!

A sharp sound cutting through the air, like a hornet flying.

A green, tough, and sturdy whip shot toward the remaining two who were bewildered as they watched their comrade falling backward with a mace embedded in his head.

“H-Huaaah!!!”

As if making a last stand, they shot blood spears at the whip, but even after the rotational force was spent, they could only cut halfway through the stem, not completely neutralizing it.

Whoosh- Whip─!

With a sonic boom, one apostate’s neck was torn, while the last survivor blocked with his arms, ending with just both arms shattered.

“Ah… ahh… huaaa…”

I gave an axe injection to the back of the head of the remaining one who was lying face down on the floor trembling, and after a brief convulsion, he stopped moving as if cured.

Axe injections are the best. Definitely effective.

Six cleared out in an instant. Distracted and drained of stamina, they were finished easily.

“We still have unfinished business.”

“Hsss…”

After needlessly kicking an overturned apostate corpse, I turned around to see the Black Widow Spider unable to raise her body, as if she had reached her limit.

A mess even from a distance.

It seemed like she might die even if left alone.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

Each step splashed through the apostates’ blood, and wooden fragments from the idol that the Black Bride Spider had shattered crunched underfoot.

In D.D., you couldn’t break things like this, so I wonder what changed? Even while thinking that, I didn’t lower my guard as I approached the Black Bride Spider.

『Black Bride Spider』Level: 20☆ [Status: Bleeding]

Health: 26/302 ■□□□□□□□□□

【A heteromorphic being with the upper body of a beautiful bride. It uses its beautiful appearance to lure men. Whether it’s for a happy wedding or just for predation is left to interpretation.】

‘She’ll really die if left alone.’

Perhaps she was hit by a blood spear that ricocheted during the exchange, as her condition was worse than when I last saw her.

She seemed to sense death approaching, as she made no attempt to get up or ambush me despite my close proximity.

She just looked at me with powerless eyes.

“Any last words?”

“…”

I already knew she couldn’t speak, and even if she could, I wouldn’t understand.

I just blurted it out because those eyes looked so pitiful.

Instead of making that unintelligible hissing sound, the Black Bride Spider reached out her hand. My body twitched at the movement, but I didn’t dodge since I didn’t sense any hostility.

Slide-

The Black Bride Spider’s fingertips brushing my cheek.

Though all she did was gently tap and touch as if exploring, she laughed titter- as if something was so delightful.

An affectionate touch, as if just being able to touch was good enough.

That reminded me of the Black Bride Spider’s flavor text.

‘It uses its beautiful appearance to lure men. Whether it’s for a happy wedding or just for predation is left to interpretation…’

Usually, the answer to such questions would be the latter, but I thought “perhaps” as I took the Black Bride Spider’s hand and slowly removed it.

“Hsui…”

As if regretting this, she instead explored my hand that held hers, making me form a peculiar expression and lick my lips.

“Well… you don’t have to be so disappointed.”

“..?”

“I don’t know if it’s really what you want, but even if I can’t make you a bride, I can at least make you an onahole.”

Naturally, I had no intention of leaving the Black Bride Spider to die in such a favorable situation.

Given her condition and seeing that she wasn’t aggressive toward me, there was a possibility she wouldn’t even resist.

Tap.

When I placed my hand on the Black Bride Spider’s head, her two differently colored eyes glowed slightly as she stared at me.

“Just sleep for a while.”

[You have used Onahole Creation on the Black Bride Spider.]

[The Black Bride Spider has become an onahole.]

[You have defeated the Black Bride Spider.]

[You have grown.]

[You have obtained an Arachne Onahole.]

As I thought, she fell to the floor without resistance, becoming an onahole. I caught her, exhaled deeply, and looked around.

Between the cruelly dead bodies stood my mace and axe, embedded in a face and the back of a head respectively, along with shattered ritual tools and tapestries. Fortunately, the most important oak barrel was safe.

“Haah… this is hard, so hard~”

I put the onahole-turned Black Bride Spider inside the mimic, retrieved my weapons, and then stood in front of the oak barrel containing Naud’s alcohol, falling into contemplation.

“How am I going to move this… it won’t fit in the mimic.”

In D.D., you could simply find the oak barrel and move it without consuming inventory, but in this crazy place, there was no tool or device, as if suggesting I should carry the oak barrel myself.

“Wow. Mother.”

***

A large oak barrel advancing while making a huge sound rolling across the stone floor, and a man diligently rolling it like a dung beetle.

Rumble─

One step.

“Fuck.”

Rumble─

Another step.

“Fuck.”

Yet another step.

Rum─

“Motherfucker!”

Just as the urge to smash this oak barrel containing legendary 108-year-aged alcohol welled up uncontrollably with every involuntary curse that escaped with each advance, I spotted a familiar bushy-bearded dwarf waving his hand in the distance, right on time.

I could tell it was Naud, the owner of this alcohol, without even looking…

“Oh─! You really retrieved the alcohol, friend! Really! Really thank you!!!”

Anyone would recognize that thunderous voice that sounded like it had swallowed a train’s boiler.

“Ugh… stop shouting!”

“Hahaha! I’m so happy that even if I wanted to lower my voice, I can’t!”

I passed the oak barrel to Naud with an irritated feeling.

Naud then placed the oak barrel on a cart he had obtained from somewhere, and wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling contentedly at the two barrels.

“Now there are 2 barrels of alcohol left. If it weren’t for you, what would have happened… Whew! I don’t even want to think about it.”

Naud rubbed his arms as if feeling chills, and grabbed the cart handle as if about to depart for the lower floor.

“I’ll go ahead. If you find more alcohol, bring it to me!”

“Yeah.”

I casually waved my hand at Naud as he departed for Floor 13 with the alcohol, and when he was no longer visible, I unfolded the map and pointed my finger at a square area that hadn’t been illuminated.

After today’s considerable exertion, I planned to rest at the altar.

Besides, I hadn’t met the suspicious merchant yet, so it was also too early to descend to Floor 13.

Rumble─

A door made of pure white marble, adorned with artistic statues, out of place in this abandoned mine that had long been deserted and now used as a secret base for heretics, slid open smoothly, revealing the white altar it had been hiding.

Six statues, each representing a deity, still looked down at me as I entered the altar.

I filled my lungs with fresh and refreshing air, different from the stifling air of the abandoned mine.

“Whew─ that was tough.”

However, its size had become much smaller and more modest than the altar in the sewers.

The statues, which could have been 10m tall, were now only about 2-3m—not small, but not imposing enough to boast the majesty when first seen.

“They seem more detailed too…”

Like the story of a dragon flying away after its eyes were painted, these statues also seemed like they would come alive if just painted and given pupils.

It wasn’t really important, and I wasn’t particularly artistic, so after briefly appreciating the statues, I went to the fountain where clean water was springing forth and quenched my thirst first.

Gulp gulp-

Cool, sweet water filling my parched throat felt like it was clearing my head.

“Ah! If this was on the local mountain, it would be a hot spot for hikers.”

After wiping away the water flowing from my mouth, I stared blankly into space, catching my breath for a moment, then opened the mimic’s lid.

Inside were the mimic’s mucous membranes and tentacles, various items, and sticky, wet onaholes.

Resting is good, but I also needed to prepare for tomorrow.