episode_0032

Surprisingly, Wolfgang and the spirit spider were not in a parent-child relationship.

Ah, yes. They certainly looked strikingly similar to each other. Especially with that radiant forehead.

However, it was impossible.

While there were monsters that used humans as hosts for reproduction, it wasn’t as if offspring of mixed blood were born between them.

Only monster offspring identical to their parents would emerge.

So, Wolfgang couldn’t be the son of the spirit spider.

Although his appearance and intelligence didn’t differ much from a monster, shockingly, he belonged to a race somewhat close to humanity.

A being slightly inferior to humans—should we call it a Lesser-Human? Anyway, he had no relation to the spider.

Therefore—

“Sonny…!”

No, now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

As the torch illuminating the ceiling fell once again, the wide-mouthed spirit spider began rushing towards us!

“Duck!”

I urgently shouted, looking back.

We had to flee.

That creature was beyond our current capabilities. Even with all our might, Kikel and I stood no chance.

To subdue it, veteran adventurers or kingdom knights needed to intervene.

“That’s a good idea!”

“Agreed!”

There was no dissent. Party members nodded and collectively rushed towards the main entrance.

“Are we running away or running away again! Can’t go!”

The old man’s roar echoed from behind. His voice seemed to be getting closer, sending shivers down my spine.

Crackling!

Eight legs pounded the cave ceiling as they approached. It was a noise that inexplicably reminded me of the sound of a helicopter rotor.

“Why is the spirit spider here in the first place…!”

Lauter growled through clenched teeth.

I shared the same sentiment.

Why on earth would such a monster lurk in an ordinary mine tunnel…!

The spirit spider, bearing a deep grudge, was a rare existence, obtaining a monster’s body through the exceedingly rare chance of a dead human’s soul being resurrected.

In a mid-level dungeon, this might be understandable, but it shouldn’t exist in a mine tunnel like this.

If every dead human turned into such a monster, this world would have long been doomed!

What should we do?

Can we escape like this?

I stared at the approaching entrance, my teeth clenched.

The passage was wide enough for even Kikel, the Lizardman, to fight freely. Could the spirit spider come through that passage?

If it could, there would be no point in running away.

Running straight down the path, someone with eight legs would be much faster than someone with just two.

Like a dog with its tail on fire, I would inevitably fall victim to the spirit spider’s attack as I dashed through the gangway.

In that case, what should I do…

“Whoa!”

As I anxiously chewed my lip, conjuring up ominous assumptions, Wolfgang let out a thunderous roar and sprinted faster than anyone else, leaping into the entrance as if he were a newly born monkey.

Perhaps because he wasn’t wearing any armor, dressed only in a simple robe, he was utterly incompetent in battle, but when it came to fleeing, he was faster than anyone.

“I’ve made it-!”

And so, finally reaching the entrance, Wolfgang flew inside with a cry of joy-

Thud!

“Kwaaack?!”

With a heavy thud, he was thrown back at the same speed he had entered, spraying crimson blood like a fountain.

“What the?!”

A startled Kikel grabbed Wolfgang by the neck.

“Ughh…”

Wolfgang, now limp like a sick octopus, groaned in agony, blood trickling instead of ink.

“Spiders…! Spiders are blocking the way ahead…! Gah…”

Trembling, he raised his right hand, pointing towards the entrance, then closed his eyes after uttering what seemed like a parting word.

“What, is he dead?!”

“Kishaah…! His heart’s beating! He’s not fully dead yet!”

Seems like he’s been injured and passed out.

“Kikel, Hilde! The entrance…!”

Laut shouted urgently, pointing at the entrance filled with ten giant spiders.

“Keek…! Keek…!”

“Damn it…!”

It seemed they were following us…!

While the spirit spider was charging from behind, the path ahead was blocked by enemies. It was a deadly trap.

“We have to break through…!”

“It’s impossible!”

Laut screamed, contorting his face as if spitting out the words.

Surely, as she had asserted, it seemed nearly impossible to break through.

Even if a dozen enormous spiders charged at us, we could somehow push through if we endured some injuries, but…

“Sszzz-!”

“Kieee!”

Splat-! Ssshh!

Instead of charging at us, they spat out spider silk, sealing off the passage completely without any gaps.

It was a cunning tactic, almost more intelligent than Wolfgang himself.

“Geez, this is…!”

We halted our running steps, gritting our teeth.

If we foolishly rushed in, we’d be caught in the spider silk, unable to resist, and end up as their next meal. We couldn’t go any further.

“…We’ve lost.”

It felt like everything was turning pitch black. I cursed under my breath.

In front of us was a web made of spider silk.

“Kiiieeek…! Are you going to let it slip away again…!”

Behind us was a monster we couldn’t possibly defeat.

Quite literally, it was an insurmountable obstacle.

◆◆

“Release your grip, my son…!”

Was it mocking us, rendering us helpless, or was it the ghostly spider slowly approaching, its aged and worn face and speech? Considering the nature of the spectral spider, perhaps the spirit haunting that monster was none other than the former village head.

That damned village head. If you’re going to kill the father, do it decisively. Don’t leave behind such a haunting…!

I ground my lips together, turning my body to face the slowly advancing colossal spider with the elderly visage.

“Kiiiee…!”

My body trembled.

My breathing felt icy, and my legs seemed not to belong to me.

All I could hear was the thunderous sound of my own heartbeat.

The corner of my vision narrowed so much that I couldn’t see anything except the spectral spider.

Since being possessed by Brunhilde, had there ever been a more dire situation than this?

Even when facing Gunter, or when I had to fight back against raiders during our first mission, despite being wounded.

Back then, I was confident that as long as I kept my wits about me, I could find a way out.

But now?

“Sigh….”

Suddenly, an old joke came to mind.

The Tiger may have bitten me, but if I keep my wits about me… there’s a joke that says you’d feel the pain of being torn apart while still alive.

That was the situation. Right now.

◆◆

“…I have a good idea.”

Lautte spoke up clearly.

A good idea?

Could such a thing exist in this situation?

“What is it…?”

“Burning Wolfgang’s body and throwing it towards the spider web.”

What the hell?

I turned to her with a puzzled expression.

“Yes…?”

“If the firepower is enough to burn a person, wouldn’t it burn down the entire spider web as well? Once the web burns and disappears, we can escape through that hole…”

What kind of insane idea is that?

Sure, I might be injured and unconscious, but I’m still alive. To set fire to the spider web using Wolfgang’s body like some kindling.

It’s obviously a completely crazy idea.

It seemed like Lautte wasn’t in her right mind due to fear.

Come to think of it, just like me, she recognized the creature as a spirit spider the moment she saw it. Therefore, she could do nothing but be captured by fear and despair.

Unlike Kikel, who still had some fight left in him, she was convinced that it was already too late for her.

“…Seems like it’s too late for that. There’s no guarantee it will work as planned.”

I rejected Lautte’s proposal—no, her proposal disguised as a crazy idea.

Wolfgang is undoubtedly weak to the point of being useless and noisy, not to mention grotesque in appearance and even a non-combatant…

But he’s still a fellow party member.

Being a bald non-combatant isn’t a heavy enough sin to become human kindling. Probably.

“Sigh…”

A good idea? I was foolish to expect that.

I sighed and turned my gaze forward again.

Still, that crazy idea did provide some help in its own way.

Perhaps because I heard such an absurd statement, my arms and legs, which had been stiffened by fear to the point of being difficult to move, started to loosen up a bit.

“Kikel, I’ll take care of the rear.”

I firmly gripped the hilt of my longsword with both hands, forcibly pulling myself together, and aimed at the spirit spider that was fading away.

“Kikikikik…!”

With a sinister grin, the ghost spider descended to the ground on its web. Within its hollow eye sockets, a gleam of blue light seemed to flicker with excitement.

…Amusing.

Yes, this is my captured prey, isn’t it?

“…You sound like a son. Can’t you even tell because you have no eyes?”

Gritting its teeth, the ghost spider exerted more force on the hilt of its sword.

The odds were slim.

No, beyond slim. The likelihood of us defeating it with our own strength was close to zero.

Nevertheless… we must fight.

We have to fight.

Even if the odds are close to zero, we cannot overcome them without fighting.

“Sssigh… haaaah….”

Inhaling deeply, filling the lungs with air, then exhaling long, as if expelling a sigh.

A deep breath to suppress the trembling of the body.

The quivering tip of the sword found stability once more.

I turned my body slightly sideways, pulling the edge of the horizontal greatsword closer to my cheek and lowering my knee slightly.

A chilling tension flowed through the taut muscles of my back.