Ahn Hyun glared at the spider with a face full of caution. Ahn Sol silently gripped her staff, while Yoo Jung held her dagger, exuding a chilling aura. Their expressions suggested they were ready to spring into action at any moment.
In stark contrast, the spider—no, Vivienne—wore a relaxed smile, as if amused by a sibling’s tantrum. She chuckled softly before speaking in a lively voice, directing her words at me.
“You’re laughing? You think it’s funny too, human male?”
“From your perspective, I suppose it makes sense, spider lady.”
“Oh ho ho! Spider lady, you say? That’s hilarious! You’re different, I like that. I’ll be generous for once. I won’t kill you… I’ll capture you alive instead!”
Vivienne looked genuinely pleased with herself, crossing her front legs in a gesture that resembled folding arms. It was amusing to watch, though my companions seemed more exasperated than entertained.
To me, she was quite the entertaining creature. I allowed a playful smile to form as I spoke.
“I have a question. Since you’re feeling generous, how about extending that generosity a bit more?”
Vivienne’s eyes widened in curiosity. “Oh? What is it? You want me to spare the others too?”
“Not quite. On our way here, we saw two bodies. Did you kill them both?”
Without hesitation, the spider nodded. “Yep, that was me. Why do you ask?”
“Well, as an alchemist, wouldn’t you have use for human bodies in your experiments? I was surprised you left them there.”
“Ehh, they were too torn up to be useful… Wait, how did you know I’m an alchemist?”
I suppressed a smile, maintaining a calm demeanor. Vivienne seemed intelligent, but any higher reasoning she might have had as an alchemist was long gone. Having confirmed her reaction, I felt no need to hold back.
Vivienne bounced with joy, thrilled to be recognized. (I worried for a moment that her jumping might bring the dungeon down.) I suspected she had dabbled in body modification or infection to extend her life, a common fate for lesser mages or alchemists who failed to become liches. It was a rare case, but if she was content, who was I to judge?
“Some humans came in before you. A few were quite skilled, and I lost many useful minions because of them. You passed through the goblin clearing, right? It wasn’t theirs originally, but I had to fill it quickly after the original occupants were wiped out… Ugh, it makes me so mad!”
Vivienne puffed her cheeks in anger, then spat venom to emphasize her frustration before continuing in a high-pitched voice.
“I couldn’t just stand by. I had to act. When I showed myself, one of them ran off immediately—the one with the bow! He left the others behind to save himself. It was infuriating. But it did break the others’ spirits.”
“And then?”
“I wanted to kill him first, but the others wouldn’t leave me alone. Especially the male priest. He kept invoking his god, so I took him out first. As they fled, I caught up and sliced him in half. I didn’t check, but he must be dead, right?”
Vivienne spoke rapidly, clearly enjoying the conversation. My companions watched in stunned silence, while Ahn Hyun signaled them to recover their strength, mistaking my curiosity for a stalling tactic. I didn’t mind the misunderstanding.
“Yes, he’s dead. So, you got the archer too?”
“Hehe, talking is so fun! Yes, I chased him down and twisted his neck. He screamed so much. Didn’t I do well? Heehee.”
Vivienne seemed genuinely delighted, reminiscing with a contented expression. Meanwhile, Ahn Hyun was quietly catching his breath. Despite his usual lack of response to Sol, he showed promise in moments like these.
Vivienne’s eyes sparkled as she pointed a leg into the air. “Ask me more! I love talking to you~”
”…Alright. What happened to the woman hanging from the ceiling?”
I asked gently, and the spider twisted her body, blushing. Behind me, I heard Yoo Jung mutter a curse under her breath. Was she jealous of a monster?
“Oh, the woman up there? I didn’t like her from the start. She looked down on me with such arrogance. It was infuriating. She ended up like that, so why act so high and mighty? I didn’t like her at all.”
“Even if you didn’t like her… that’s a bit much.”
Vivienne chuckled at my friendly tone, closing her eyes as if lost in thought. There had been plenty of chances to attack, but her storytelling was captivating. Still, I was starting to plan my next move.
“Hehe, you would’ve enjoyed it too. At first, she glared at me even when tied up. I wanted to break her. So I did. She was passed around by the goblins, then the first human who ran, and finally became a broodmare for the spiders. Her proud face, begging for mercy with tears and snot, was hilarious. She lost her mind after giving birth. Stupid girl. If she’d been like that from the start, I might’ve spared her like the others.”
”…So there are still survivors?”
“Yeah, I’ve got them wrapped up in cocoons. They’ll live for a while. I’m not sure what to do with them yet. Feed them to the kids or make them into chimeras… The latter is tempting.”
My companions’ breathing had steadied. I decided it was time to wrap up the conversation and picked up my sword. Vivienne looked disappointed.
“Aw, you’re going to fight? Let’s not bother with that~ I won’t hurt you.”
“It’s a hassle, but I think we need to take you down. My friends don’t seem to like you much.”
“Hmph. Fine. If you insist on a fight, I’ll spare you and the cute boy next to you.”
Ahn Hyun’s expression turned strange, while Yoo Jung and Sol’s anger intensified. I wiped some sweat from my brow and continued.
“What about the other two?”
“Hmm… The priestess seems like a good host, with all that mana. But she’s too fragile. They often kill themselves before becoming hosts. So I’ll choose the feisty one.”
“Crazy bitch.”
“Yep, that’s me.”
“Talking nonsense.”
“I don’t have one.”
“[email protected]#$%^&*&^%$#@!”
Vivienne’s cheeky response made Yoo Jung burst into unintelligible curses. Vivienne listened with a smile, then suddenly shifted to a serious expression, exuding a deadly aura. Watching her mood swings, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She was far from a normal spider.
Yujeong abruptly stopped her animated chatter when she noticed a distinct change in Vivian’s incantation. Watching the kids get serious, I began to gather my own magic. But leaving everything to them seemed a bit too risky. I was ready to step in, even if it meant revealing my abilities. Just as I resolved to act and took a step forward, the spider, which had been silently observing us, opened its mandibles wide, releasing a torrent of silk like a waterfall.
“Since we’re catching it anyway, let’s not damage it. I’ll catch it all at once. Hehehe!”
With the spider’s laughter, shimmering silver threads spewed from its mouth. These threads were far thicker and more abundant than any web I’d encountered before. They cascaded down like an umbrella unfurling, then curved towards us like arrows.
The speed was astonishing, and even I was caught off guard. The spider’s silk reached us in an instant, wrapping around us with a sticky embrace. Yet, I remained still, not reacting. A sudden thought flashed through my mind: if there was no immediate danger to our lives, it might be best to let it take us to its lair and then make our escape.
“Surprised, aren’t you? Hehehe.”
While I didn’t resist much, the kids were fighting desperately. Even though I was caught off guard, it was too fast for me to react. Ahn Hyun swung his spear wildly, trying to cut through the threads, but it was futile. The thickness and stickiness were one thing, but the sheer volume was overwhelming. If Ahn Hyun was struggling, there was little Yujeong and Sol could do. Despite their efforts, Vivian giggled and taunted them.
“Hehehe. It’s useless. My silk isn’t weak enough to be cut by such weapons. Don’t underestimate it. Just accept it, like the male in front. Your eyes, mouth, and ears will be covered, but at least your nose will be free.”
…Wait, what?
“Hey, hold on. Everything but the nose?”
“Uh, yeah.”
When I spoke up with a hint of excitement, Vivian’s eyes widened, and she stammered. But after confirming with a nod, I turned my head slightly. The threads were wrapping around us so quickly that the kids were already cocooned like silkworms.
Looking down, I saw the threads rapidly enveloping my own body. All senses would be blocked. This meant that once inside the cocoon, the kids wouldn’t see or hear anything I did. Suddenly, it occurred to me that if secrecy was guaranteed, there was no need to go inside.
Having made up my mind, I awakened the fire spirit slumbering within me.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ryu Yujin.
The ceremony went smoothly.
A person has turned to ashes and been placed in an urn.
As I carried the hot urn, countless thoughts crossed my mind.
To all the readers who left comforting comments, thank you sincerely.
Your words were a great source of strength.
I returned home at 10 PM today.
Normally, I wouldn’t be able to write in just two hours, but I had some material prepared, and being under pressure, I managed to produce something. I promised to only take a break on February 2nd and 3rd, and I wanted to keep that promise. Some might not be satisfied with the quality or quantity of today’s chapter, but I hope you understand the circumstances.
The Alchemist’s Dungeon is nearing its end. It should wrap up in about 3 or 4 more chapters, and then I’ll return to Mule. For those who are bored, please hang in there a little longer. I’ll strive to meet your expectations with more exciting and fulfilling content.
Starting tomorrow, the replies will resume.
I ask for your continued interest and support, dear readers.