Chapter 231

Chapter 231

***

No matter how deep the darkness, if one knows morning will come it isn't so despairing. Because not knowing whether it will come or not was the problem.

Fortunately morning dawned in the Forest of Demonic Beasts too. Stepping on and extinguishing the cold campfire, roughly resolving their meal, washing their faces and rinsing their mouths in the stream, and inspecting their equipment Rickart and his party made preparations to leave.

In the state where day dawned they looked up at the stone statue once again. The figure of Emperor Rikituss bowing his head while sitting and leaning on his sword seemed exactly like taking a rest but on the other hand also looked gloomy.

"Meaning if we cross this small stream we cease to be human right?"

Roy said. Then jumping lightly leap exactly as if playing like a child he jumped over the stream in one go.

And then he examined his body state, but he didn't particularly become a monster. Seeing the party on the opposite side of the stream he grinned.

"Doesn't feel like anything though?"

No one chimed in with his innocence. Rickart jumped over following him, and Bori and Maters also crossed. That was all.

"So what do we do now?"

Bori said. Everyone naturally stared at Rickart, and Rickart examined whether there were perhaps traces of beasts or humans around. Without water humans, beasts, and even monsters couldn't live so there were bound to definitely be traces.

However it didn't take long for it to become unnecessary to find any traces. Because they discovered a person staring this way in the forest away from the riverside.

One person was standing vacantly, and his attire was exotic. Just exactly as Count Ceska said he was wearing a somewhat tight-fitting outfit and a hat with feathers.

Due to the shade it was hard to recognize his face accurately, but his age looked roughly around the 30s.

"Is that person Malcolm?"

Roy said. At the same time, the figure whose identity as Malcom or not was unknown moved his position. Starting with Rickart the party followed him.

In the Forest of Demonic Beasts unlike the North the trees were generally thick and straight. So the stranger exactly as if guiding the way was covered by trees then visible repeatedly.

Then suddenly, as if brushing past a tree his figure ended up disappearing. Even when Rickart and the party arrived there and examined behind the tree he wasn't there.

At that time mysteriously even when his figure couldn't be seen and there was no presence a voice was heard. It was exactly as if he was speaking right next to them against their ears.

"Go east and kill the Spider Queen. Beyond that there will be a path heading to Solarium."

It was mysterious, and on the other hand creepy too, but there was no one among the party who was surprised.

"He sent the voice carried on mana. Definitely, their skill handling mana seems more delicate and superior than ours."

Rather than the content of the words Bori focused on exactly how he directly conveyed words without his figure being seen. If done well he felt he could also imitate it himself, but it was hard immediately.

Just, Rickart alone turned his head and was staring at an unseen place. His lips moved slightly, but the voice couldn't be heard.

The ones watching Rickart's party from very far away weren't just Malcolm alone. There were five in total, and Rickart was accurately staring exactly at the place where they were.

And exactly the way Malcolm had done Rickart's voice reached their ears too.

"Do it like this? By the way testing is fine, but there should not be any falsehood."

Then they were the ones completely surprised instead.

Someone said. It was a woman's voice.

"Surprising. It seems among Westerners there is also one who inherits the dying wish of the Steel Reaper."

"No. He just heard what I did just now and imitated it."

Malcolm said.

"Is that possible hearing it just once?"

"Not once. He used sound transmission last night too."

"What's certain is that it's above the Realm of Cloud. Because one has to be so to use sound transmission."

"Still let's not have great expectations. Because if expectations are great the disappointment is great too."

The five figures exchanged words with each other. It was unknown what their purpose was, but it seemed clear they were connected to the figure from 100 years ago.

While they shared a conversation Rickart and the party moved east. It was a bizarre and dangerous guidance, and the party still followed it.

The scary thing about man-eating spiders was them hiding in bushes or on trees and suddenly attacking, but actually without even needing to be tightly alert of the surroundings there was a spot that looked dangerous just by looking. Given ominous-looking stark white spiderwebs were struck here and there.

Even getting entangled in ordinary spiderwebs on the face or ears was unpleasantly incomparable. However the spiderwebs of man-eating spiders weren't easy to cut in the first place, and rather than unpleasant the thought that one would die came first.

Above all Rickart felt his old memories of his past life continuously reviving. Exactly as if things sunk deep under the water surface were slowly rising.

And it didn't just stop at merely rising in his head, but even his nerves and senses revived.

Even in his past life he didn't frequently encounter monsters. He occasionally witnessed them while patrolling around the garrison, and if unlucky died, that sort of way.

Given orcs or goblins were territory-centered monsters it was somewhat fine if one didn't invade their territory. And though he didn't know how the barbarians did it they would tame trolls and mobilize them for combat.

Anyway, Rickart said recalling his memories of that time.

"Passing quickly or entering briefly and coming out is safe for the habitat of man-eating spiders. Because it's a way where they mainly go outside Hunt prey and then bring it. The habitat is mainly a resting space, not a place to Hunt prey. So don't dilly-dally and we must break through in one breath. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

At Rickart's words the party just nodded without even raising questions.

"The best method is using fire, but since it might become difficult to pass the path then let's use it as a last resort. Maters hold a torch in emergencies and use it as a weapon."

Roy was carrying the bag, and rather than untying the bag and taking out a torch it was faster for Maters to take it out. It was a kind of division of roles.

While Roy and Maters stared blankly at each other, Rickart drew his sword. And with it chopped the bundle of stark white spiderwebs blocking the front in one breath. Then the bent bushes spread out and a path appeared.

Rickart took the lead holding his sword, and after him Roy and Maters followed in order, and Bori took charge of the very back.

Walking speed was just walking speed, they didn't run or anything. Nor did they stop.

Then entering somewhat deep into the habitat, the prey of man-eating spiders tied to spiderwebs and hanging exactly like cocoons on the surrounding trees were seen.

There were orcs, goblins, and other beasts seen too but no humans. Since it was an area where humans didn't live in the first place.

The surprising point was that those were in a living state. Prey whose nutrients were all sucked out dried up completely like mummies and were thrown away in one place crumbling.

Those sights were so bizarre that they reached the extent of not feeling like reality. It made one naturally think who am I and where was this.

Rickart's party continuously advanced forward. The spiderwebs became denser, packed tightly. Consequently the speed of advancing forward had no choice but to decrease.

However something exactly like a pitch-black bundle was seen on top of a tall tree. That pitch-black bundle was none other than tens, hundreds of man-eating spiders bundled in one place resting.

"Heuk......"

Wondering what that was Roy carefully looked, and soon knowing its identity opened his eyes wide and inhaled empty wind. If those rushed at them all at once it seemed there basically was no method other than fleeing never mind swordsmanship.

Their knees naturally trembled, and perhaps the spiders on the outside woke from sleep glaring with crimson eyes they looked down at the party.

However they just twitched their front legs nodding but didn't suddenly rush at them or so. Actually even from the standpoint of the man-eating spiders seeing Rickart's party they wondered what that was.

Because generally there was no living creature wandering around completely fine alive in the habitat of man-eating spiders.

Rickart continuously walked taking the lead, and the rest of the party followed behind exactly with a desperate feeling that it was now truly did-or-die. Whether fortunate or unfortunate before long a cave appeared.

"It's a place that looks appropriate for the Spider Queen to live."

Rickart said briefly. And then went into that pitch-black cave without hesitation.

Malcolm and his colleagues watching that sight from afar were flustered. Because they truly didn't know they would go catch the Spider Queen. They just intended to test their courage.

"Shouldn't we stop them even now?"

"With what method? Even we could become in danger."

"Do Westerners have no fear, or are they brave?"

"Maybe because they have no lingering attachments to life."

"Didn't seem like it though."

"So what do we do?"

Malcolm who seemed to be the leader of the party thought quietly and said.

"If something happens let's help them escape as much as possible. But if it seems even we will be in danger let's withdraw."

Actually they also weren't exactly professional examiners or something like that. Because in the first place the two civilizations had low contact frequency with each other, so even if they tested them it was the first time this time.

Whether knowing that or not Rickart's party continuously entered into the cave, and to illuminate the darkness Maters held a torch. Looking around, tough spiderwebs filled the ceiling and walls.

Then faint light coming in from the opposite side was seen. It didn't seem to be that deep a cave than expected, and exactly as Malcolm said it seemed there was a path leading to the opposite side.

The problem was that there was an existence blocking the space in between.

At some point prey caught by spiders were dangling profusely like some fruits on the ceiling.

With only faces exposed their whole bodies were bound by spiderwebs, and it was truly an unimaginable thing that orcs or goblins would look pitiful.

At that time a huge shadow in the corner moved. Actually it wasn't a shadow but something with a huge physique.

It slowly raised its body. Its abdomen was a spider the size of a house, and its upper body was the figure of a female giant.

"Uh......"

Upon seeing an appearance never witnessed even in nightmares the party all became half out of their minds.

Because it was his first time seeing the Spider Queen too Rickart opened his eyes wide. Because he truly hadn't expected the upper body to be the shape of a human.

It had long black hair and its arms were very long, and its eyes had no whites and were completely black. Its breasts were abnormally large and traces of milk having flowed out were evident. Its jaw being excessively pointed seemed it could also be used as a lethal weapon.

"Shwi...... Ra, Ka...... Son......"

The Spider Queen said in an unknown language. The meaning couldn't be communicated but the fact that it spoke itself was a very surprising thing.

Anyway, the Spider Queen was extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant right now. Because her sleep was disturbed, and above all because the torch was offensive.

The Spider Queen's jaw opened wide opening her mouth, and lifting a hideous front leg attached to its abdomen side quickly thrust it towards Rickart who was at the very front.

However fortune and misfortune tended to seek regardless of human and beast. Regrettably it was an unfortunate matter for the Spider Queen. The point that Rickart wasn't an ordinary human.

As a golden lightning flashed the Spider Queen's angular and long front leg was severed cleanly snip. Thick green blood spewed out and the Spider Queen let out a loud scream filled with pain.

"Kkieeeeeeeeeek!"

Then that sound echoed through the whole cave, and was transmitted even outside the cave. Malcolm's party was completely surprised, and the sleeping man-eating spiders woke up all at once at the queen's call.

While doing so they rushed into the cave in droves crumbling, and even inside the cave that sound could clearly be heard.

"Set fire!"

Rickart shouted.

"What about a retreat path!?"

"Just set it!"

Maters recklessly set fire to nearby spiderwebs. Bori also took out torches from Roy's bag and hastily lit fires around. Spiderwebs caught fire very well, and instantly became a huge fire illuminating the cave full. Roy took out his axe and held it in his hand.

In the midst of that the Spider Queen moved her multiple legs busily going back and forth on the floor and walls. Her eyes were fixed on Rickart, and though she didn't flee she couldn't recklessly approach Rickart either.

Holding a burning sword in one hand Rickart shouted pointing at the Spider Queen with his other hand.

"Come down right this instant!"

Even doing so would this seriously twisted monster understand human words, but instead Roy reacted immediately. From afar he just threw the axe forcefully.

Perhaps because he resembled his master the axe holding a faint golden light struck the queen's abdomen which had a wide area. With a thwack! sound her fast and deliberate movements stopped for a moment.

Not missing that opportunity Rickart rushed at her quickly. Then the Queen Spider surged her body aiming the end part of her abdomen, her tail at Rickart and poured out a massive amount of spiderwebs.

JWAAAAAAK!

Rickart cut those sticky and tough spiderwebs, but because the amount was so much they ended up tangling onto his body. And the spiderwebs adhered to the floor interfering with Rickart's movements.

In that gap the Spider Queen attacked Rickart with her remaining front legs, and Rickart rapidly lowered his body and dodged. A hideous front leg brushed past Rickart's head.

However the more he moved his body the tighter the spiderwebs constricted Rickart solidly.

Rickart clenched his teeth tightly giving strength to his whole body ran forward with his legs, shook his arms and body and eventually severed the spiderwebs.

Bori and Maters were frantic taking charge of the rear. Though they blocked the approach of man-eating spiders by setting fire, it was because there were some spiders that rushed in enduring getting burned because their mother was in a dangerous state.

Things like a retreat path didn't exist. No, if there was a retreat path there was only advancing.

As that judgment stood Bori just left the rear alone, grabbed Maters and ran.

"Let's just go!"

Running forward and looking the Spider Queen was shooting spiderwebs everywhere. And exactly she seemed to be trying to fill her surroundings entirely with sticky spiderwebs.

"Ricky!"

Shouting Bori threw a torch at Rickart. Then the fast-flying torch faded almost as if about to extinguish, but as it was held in Rickart's hand the flame flared up again.

Exactly like wielding twin swords Rickart held the torch in his left hand and the burning sword in his right hand.

While doing so he evaded the spiderwebs the Spider Queen shot as much as possible, recklessly set fires and cut with his sword.

Exactly like a salmon going against a rough river current backwards Rickart succeeded in approaching the Spider Queen. Driven into a corner the Queen spread her long arms and rushed exactly as if trying to hug Rickart tightly.

However there was no way such an attack could succeed. Precisely matching perfect timing lightning flashed. Then the Spider Queen's head was cut off.

Even with the head cut off the torso moved twitching throbbing being very threatening, and Rickart quickly grabbed the hair of the cut head and ran heading to the opposite side of the cave.

Thick spiderwebs were blocking the way but cutting with his sword he opened a path instantly. The red broad daylight exactly as if it had been waiting poured down fully. Though his eyebrows frowned slightly, he quickly adapted.

Following behind his friends followed, and trying to secure his axe Roy joined last. Coming outside the heat could be felt warmly burning from inside the cave.

However coming out crossing the spider cave, a completely different world welcomed the party. The forest was the same forest, but unlike before it was a place entirely in full bloom with flowers.

Sticky blood was dripping dripping from the Spider Queen's head held in his hand.

Malcolm watching that from afar muttered unawares to himself.

"My god......"