Chapter 24
After continuing along a single passage in the dangerous Lower Stratum for some time, I finally, finally arrived!
A fork in the road! Wait, is this a road? Hmm.
In front of my eyes is a gargantuan chamber. I’m not sure if you’d say that the road forks here so much as it spreads out, or maybe just kinda disappears.
How big is the space, you ask? So big that even with my eyes, which should be able to see in total darkness, I can’t make out the other side.
Okay. What do I do now?
The single path I’ve followed so far has been no problem, but I’m not so psyched about this huge, empty area. It sort of feels like going into a desert without a trail to follow, I guess.
Not knowing which direction to head in is intimidating.
Like, I have a strong suspicion that if I just start walking in a place with no visible landmarks, I’ll somehow get all turned around and end up right back where I started, you know? I guess that scenario is less likely with my spider body and all, but I still have no idea which way to go.
As far as landmarks, all I really have are the pillars of rock scattered here and there. But since they all pretty much look the same, they aren’t really distinctive enough to work as markers.
There are snail-bugs everywhere, so at least I won’t starve in a worst-case scenario, but it still seems like I could easily get lost without noticing.
Oh well. My best course of action is probably to stick with the basics of dungeon exploring and proceed along the wall.
I continue keeping to the right, just as I had before.
This place is seriously enormous, though. It’s super-wide. And also super-tall. The ceiling, which is supported by the rock pillars, seems to be about three hundred feet up. I can barely see it even if I crane my nonexistent neck. Thanks to that, despite being inside a dungeon, this area doesn’t feel cramped at all.
If anything, despite the place being full of nothing but rocks, there is a certain sense of the majesty of nature. Here, it really sinks in just how tiny and insignificant my existence is.
Back in my old life, I saw a TV show about unexplored regions and stuff. To be honest, that kind of thing never inspired me. In the end, all that beautiful scenery on the TV screen just seemed like some far-off, irrelevant world to me. Far from inspiration, all I felt about it was apathy. I don’t even know why I was watching that show in the first place.
But now, I’m actually standing here. This is the world I live in. It’s not irrelevant at all. And I certainly can’t be apathetic about it.
Back when I was a human, I don’t think just being somewhere had ever moved me emotionally, no matter where it was. And I never would’ve experienced this feeling if I just stayed holed up in the nest I called home before, I think.
In that sense, I guess I have to thank those pyromaniac humans who forced me into the outside world. Man, just remembering it still makes me mad.
Yeah, no. Like I’m gonna thank those jerks! If I ever lay eyes on them again, I’ll wrap ’em up like a bunch of mummies, drag them around the dungeon, then bite ’em to death with my poison!
Whew. That brought back bad memories.
I take another look around at the majesty of the dungeon to soothe my injured soul.
△ Bagragratch • Lv 14: Status Appraisal Failed ▽
A giant monster stumbles onto the scene. For some reason, its overall appearance suggests it’s lazy, somewhat slow, but its mouth sure ruins that image. It has a huge snout like a crocodile’s, packed with scores of jagged teeth. That mouth, juxtaposed with its monkey-like body, makes for an unbalanced, positively hideous form.
That doesn’t soothe my soul at all!
Right, right. This is a dungeon, after all. It isn’t just ‘nature’. It’s also super-dangerous. Got it, me?
Okay, roger that, me.
And so I stifle all signs of my presence as I make a hasty getaway.
Okay, I managed to escape without being spotted.
And then, well, something occurs to me that I don’t really want to think about.
This big, huge area can’t be the Bottom Stratum, can it?
I mean, I don’t know what exactly indicates a change in stratum or whatever, but I suspect a lengthy road that ends up in a much wider area might qualify.
The road has been straight, and I don’t exactly feel like I’ve been descending, but what if it was just such a gradual slope that I didn’t notice? That’s possible, don’t you think?
No, no, no. It can’t be, right? I just happened to arrive in an open area. Yeah.
Or maybe I even made it to the Middle Stratum! Ooh, that would be nice.
Let’s go with that. This is definitely the Middle Stratum.
Wow, so I guess I finally escaped from that dangerous Lower Stratum!
△ Bagragratch • Lv 8: Status Appraisal Failed ▽
△ Bagragratch • Lv 4: Status Appraisal Failed ▽
△ Bagragratch • Lv 11: Status Appraisal Failed ▽
This kinda thing wouldn’t be in the Middle Stratum, would it?
Time to become the Invisible Man. Oh, I mean, the Invisible Spider.
Anyway, I have to hide my presence. Then I can just slip out of here, easy peasy.
After I put enough distance between us, I realize I haven’t actually appraised the new species yet.
△ Bagragratch – A deformed monster with a huge jaw. They generally form herds and attack prey in groups. ▽
Ahaaaa.
So even though they seemed super-powerful, they form herds even bigger than that?
Now, that’s scary.
Yeah. Let’s just pretend my Middle Stratum theory never happened.
The Middle Stratum would never be this tough!
Sigh. I just have to hope that I’m not actually in the Bottom Stratum.
I scuttled along the wall quietly. After I ate those last three monsters, my red stamina gauge stopped decreasing.
Hmm? Yeah, it was a lot of food, so the gauge was already nearly full by the time I finished the first one, but… Maybe my Overeating skill is the cause or something? It could let me stock up extra energy by eating too much.
This phenomenon never happened before I got the Overeating skill, after all… So maybe that isn’t such a far-fetched theory.
≪ Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill〔Appraisal • Lv 6〕has become〔Appraisal • Lv 7〕≫
Oh? Ooh? Ooooh?! Miss Appraisal! You’ve come back to me! Now we’re cooking with gas!
After that big breakthrough last time, I can’t help but have high expectations now, though.
You know that, right? If you disappoint me again now, I’ll never forgive you, got it?
You can still clear the bar now that I’ve raised it, right?
We had a good thing going here. Don’t mess it up, okay?
Now, how’re my self-appraisal results looking?!
△
Nameless
Small Taratect • Lv 3
✧Offense: 21
✧Defense: 21
✧Magic: 19
✧Resistance: 19
✧Speed: 369
✧Skills:〔HP Auto-Recovery • Lv 2〕〔Poison Fang • Lv 8〕
〔Poison Synthesis • Lv 1〕〔Spider Thread • Lv 8〕〔Thread Control • Lv 5〕〔Throw • Lv 1〕〔Concentration • Lv 1〕〔Hit • Lv 1〕〔Appraisal • Lv 7〕〔Detection • Lv 3〕〔Stealth • Lv 5〕〔Heretic Magic • Lv 2〕
〔Shadow Magic • Lv 1〕〔Poison Magic • Lv 1〕〔Overeating • Lv 3〕〔Night Vision • Lv 10〕〔Vision Expansion • Lv 1〕
〔Poison Resistance • Lv 7〕〔Paralysis Resistance • Lv 3〕
〔Petrification Resistance • Lv 2〕〔Acid Resistance • Lv 3〕
〔Rot Resistance • Lv 3〕〔Fear Resistance • Lv 5〕〔Pain Nullification〕〔Pain Mitigation • Lv 5〕〔Strength • Lv 2〕〔Solidity • Lv 2〕
〔Skanda • Lv 2〕〔Taboo • Lv 2〕〔n% I = W〕
▽
Huh? Really? Seriously? My eyes aren’t deceiving me?
Wh-… Wh-… Whaaaaaaat?! A real skill list!
Seriously, Miss Appraisal, you’re too good to me! You cleared that bar without a problem!
Whoo-hoo! The dog days are over at last!
Miss Appraisal, you’re amazing. Thank you. Seriously, thank you!
With this, I can finally use double appraisal to find out what my mystery skills do!
Alright. Whew. Where to begin?
Well, I was just thinking about Overeating, so how about that one?
△〔Overeating〕- Allows the user to ingest food beyond normal limitations. In addition, the resultant stamina can be stocked as surplus. However, the user will gain weight proportionate to this. The amount of stamina that can be stocked increases with higher skill levels. ▽
Oh, whoa! Very nice.
That’s more or less what I guessed. So this skill means my stamina won’t decrease for a while based on how much extra food I eat.
I’d gain weight, though? Am I really that fat? I don’t feel fat.
Maybe it just doesn’t make much of a difference, since I’m a spider. If I were human, that could be a serious disadvantage.
Next, how about this one?
△〔Strength〕- Adds to average attack capability by the number of the skill level. ▽
Ooh. So that’s what it does? So basically, a simple stat-enhancing skill?
Come to think of it, this skill increases when I level up. I thought my attack power had gone up by 2 when I leveled up, but one of those points was actually thanks to this skill, I guess. Which would mean…
△〔Solidity〕- Adds to average defense capability by the number of the skill level. ▽
So this skill is the defensive version of Strength. Honestly, it doesn’t do much, but given how crappy my stats were, I’ll take any advantage I can get.
Okay, let’s keep going!
Next is one I don’t recognize. Since it’s level 2, it must have leveled up at some point, but I must’ve missed it when the Divine Voice mentioned it.
△〔Skanda〕- Multiplies average speed capability by the number of the skill level. Also, growth of this stat at each level-up increases by 10x the skill level.▽
Huh? Uh, wait, excuse me?
Oh, so this skill is why my speed is so much higher than all my other stats. Okay, I get it.
Whaaaaaaat?!
What kind of mega-overpowered skill is that?!
I thought my speed was just because of my species or something, but it’s because of this skill?!
Ooh. Hold up. Is this, like, one of those reincarnation perks you hear about or something?
Ooh! For real?! Whatever god is responsible for this, you rule!
Being born with a rare skill like this has to be the best benefit ever! All hail reincarnation!
They didn’t call me Skanda for nothing in that game I used to play!
Woooo! Now, this I could get used to!
So, what’s with the other skill I haven’t seen before?
△〔n% I = W〕- Cannot be appraised. ▽
Hmm? Can’t be appraised? Why? Aww, maaan.
I can’t believe I’m stumbling here after coming all this way. Well, based on the name, it’s probably just a bug or something, anyway.
It’s kinda creepy, to be honest, but since I can’t appraise it, there’s no point in getting hung up on it any further. Hopefully it isn’t a negative skill or anything.
Oh well. Time to move on to the next one.
△〔Taboo〕- A skill given to those who commit a taboo. Must never be raised. ▽
Yikes. Now this is way too deep for me.
That phrasing smells like a curse or some other destructive effect, though.
Man, I don’t want that! And it said ‘must never be raised’, but it already went up to level 2 at some point… Seriously?
That takes the wind out of my sails real quick.
△〔HP Auto-Recovery〕- HP gradually recovers over time. Can even recover injuries that would not otherwise recover naturally. ▽
△〔Poison Fang〕- Attacks using fangs will be given the poison attribute. ▽
△〔Poison Synthesis〕- MP can be used to purify and customize poison. Poisons that can be synthesized vary depending on the level. Lv 1: Weak Poison. ▽
△〔Spider Thread〕- A special skill possessed by spider-type creatures. Can make customizable threads. Customizable Qualities: Viscosity, Elasticity, Resilience, Texture, Strength, Size. ▽
△〔Thread Control〕- Allows the user to freely manipulate thread. ▽
△〔Throw〕- Improves power and accuracy when throwing objects. ▽
△〔Concentration〕- Ability to concentrate increases. ▽
△〔Hit〕- Improves accuracy rate in any situation. ▽
△〔Appraisal〕- Can read information about objects, creatures, etc. ▽
△〔Detection〕- A skill that combines all perception systems. Summary: Magic Perception, Physical Perception, Material Perception, Presence Perception, Danger Perception, Motion Perception, Heat Perception, Reaction Perception, Spatial Perception. ▽
△〔Stealth〕- Hides signs of the user’s presence. ▽
△〔Night Vision〕- Allows clear sight even without a light source. ▽
△〔Vision Expansion〕- Widens range of visible light. ▽
△〔Poison Resistance〕- Ability to defend against poison attribute
increases. ▽
△〔Paralysis Resistance〕- Ability to defend against paralysis attribute increases. ▽
△〔Petrification Resistance〕- Ability to defend against petrification attribute increases. ▽
△〔Acid Resistance〕- Ability to defend against acid attribute increases. ▽
△〔Rot Resistance〕- Ability to defend against rot attribute increases. ▽
△〔Fear Resistance〕- Makes it harder for user to experience fear. ▽
△〔Pain Nullification〕- Negates any faculty limitations on the body and mind due to pain. ▽
△〔Pain Mitigation〕- Reduces the sensation of pain. Danger signals to the brain will still continue. ▽
I continue appraising the rest of my skills in order. Most of them are more or less what I expected, but there are some new discoveries, too.
For one thing, I’ve finally found out what Vision Expansion actually does, kind of.
Does this mean I can see infrared and ultraviolet light and stuff?
Well, I haven’t seen anything like that yet, though. Maybe since the skill is only level 1, those things are still mostly invisible? Or maybe there just isn’t any light outside the visible spectrum inside a dungeon.
Well, not seeing that stuff hasn’t caused me any problems, so whatever.
Anyway, after examining the resistance skills a little more closely, I discovered something kinda unsettling. Most of the resistance skills are just as the name implies, but there’s one that seems a bit inconsistent with its name.
△ Rot Attribute – Attribute that regulates the decay of death. ▽
What the heck? Freaky.
I originally thought it meant I could eat rotten food or something, but it seems to be creepier than that. My Rot Resistance skill increased when I ate that snail-bug, so… Does that mean those things have the same attribute?
Yeesh. That would explain why the taste is so mind-blowingly foul.
Well. So snail-bugs are really, truly for desperate times only, then.
Okay, last but not least.
Depending on the results of these appraisals, my future could change dramatically. The appraisal of the three magic-type skills I possess. These are the skills that I have no choice but to ignore, since I have no idea how to use them. If I could utilize them, though, I’m positive they would come in handy.
I mean, if I learned how to use these, I would basically be a magical girl… Well, a magical spider, anyway. Like “Kumoko the Spider Girl” or something.
Alright. Miss Appraisal, don’t fail me now!
△〔Heretic Magic〕- Magic that directly assaults the soul. The available spells depend on the skill level. Lv 1: Discomfort. Lv 2: Phantom Pain. ▽
△〔Shadow Magic〕- Lower-ranking Dark Magic that manipulates shadows. The available spells depend on the skill level. Lv 1: Dark Shadow. ▽
△〔Poison Magic〕- Magic that manipulates poison. The available spells depend on the skill level. Lv 1: Poison Touch. ▽
Oh? Oh-ho-ho? Hmm. Now, that’s vague.
Well, it’s still leaps and bounds from being thoroughly clueless about these skills, but I still don’t know how to use them.
Alright, so Heretic Magic is basically a psychic attack type of thing, right?
The shadows and poison bits seem self-explanatory.
So apparently there are spells I can use at level 1.
But how exactly do I cast them? Maybe if I try thinking about it really hard, like with Appraisal?
Okay then. Here goes… Let’s use Discomfort!
…Nothing’s happening.
No, maybe it just misfired because I don’t have a target. Let’s try another one.
Dark Shadow!
…Nothing.
Poison Touch!
…Nope, nada.
My MP hasn’t decreased, either. That means it didn’t misfire, probably—more like it didn’t activate at all.
Man, seriously? Well, I can’t say this is entirely unexpected, but still, come on.
Hey, wait a minute. Maybe if I examine the term ‘Magic’ with Appraisal, I’ll get some kind of hint.
△ Magic – An established phenomenon that allows magic power to be transformed using skills. ▽
Yeah, thanks for nothing.
Oh well. I guess mastering magic is still out of my reach.
Damn. It looks like I won’t be able to call myself Magical Girl Kumoko for a while yet.
Aw, man.
Well, I can’t use them, but I figure I may as well appraise the details of each spell anyway.
△ Discomfort – Plants discomfort directly in the soul. ▽
△ Phantom Pain – Plants phantom pain directly in the soul. ▽
△ Dark Shadow – Makes a shadow darker. ▽
△ Poison Touch – Adds a poison-attribute attack to a target upon contact. ▽
So Discomfort is a kind of mental attack, like the name implies. And Phantom Pain, well, it isn’t too different from Discomfort.
Poison Touch seems like a formidable spell to learn at level 1, but that means it’s probably got some kind of weakness.
Dark Shadow’s effect is obvious from the name, too, but how am I supposed to use that?
Hmm. Maybe you can combine it with higher-level Shadow Magic or something? In which case, it probably doesn’t serve much purpose on its own.
Well, not like I can use it either way.
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know if there’s anything I need to fix, and feel free to join my Discord for chapter updates!
Scarlett Shoujo 