That goddess told me that I'm some Imposter, traitor of humanity or whatnot.... but was she really telling the truth? Was it a misunderstanding? If not, then why would she ever lie? There is no reason for her to lie, is there? Is there a possibility that because of my reincarnation, she mistook me such? But... she told that she has seen multiple reincarnated individuals in the past too, it wasn't a unique case, she was sure that I and Akane serve the Devils. It is surely because we possess this system that those Summoned Heroes have.
Well, although Akane is the granddaughter of a pretty infamous sinner group, even she can't be working for the Devils. I mean the sinner group that Akane has ties with is basically an organised resistance group that doesn't like the law that prevents the use of skills by ordinary people. They don't kill or anything like that but still cause annoying troubles to the government, like stealing from the nobles, corrupt nobles mind you. Some people call them - The Dark Guardians. That's all really but anyway, I don't think Akane is a serves devils.... no, it's just that... I don't want to think that Akane might be an enemy, that she might betray me.
While traversing through the dungeon, my thoughts often strayed towards such unnecessary things.
Currently, we are walking on a narrow tunnel in this dungeon.
As we walked further, the colour of the stones, embedded on the wall, changed as we moved along the way. Sometimes they are all blue, sometimes an eerie red, sometimes it's just plain fluorescent white or sometimes a mix of all as if stars twinkling in the night's sky.
Do they change colour to give an idea of the location of this never-ending dungeon, or do they change colour because of the minerals of which they are consisted of, or are simply random? I don't know.
But at least it tells me that we're not circling the same area.
It has been nearly 3 hours since we started walking, and up till now, we haven't encountered any more Arachnes.
*Growl*
Akane's stomach growled from hunger, her face reddened a bit in... embarrassment?
Well, we haven't eaten anything after breakfast and it has been nearly 8 hours since then.
"Akane-san, you should eat your lunch."
"Yes, but you should eat too, let's find a nice corner and eat."
'Hmm, eating in a corner, huh.'
"Sure, let's find a suitable place where we can eat."
.
.
"Is it up to your taste, Itsuki-san?" Akane asked while munching on a sandwich.
"Yeah, it's great!" I replied, still chewing.
She smiled wryly and continued eating her share.
We have decided to eat only one piece at a time and drink only a few gulps of water with it.
If we don't escape this place in a few days, we will die of hunger and thirst even if the monsters don't kill us. And judging by the distance we travelled today, it doesn't seem like we'll be getting out of here soon.
"Remember to drink only one gulp and swirl it in your mouth plenty before swallowing it. I've read that doing this will keep your mouth from drying and thus, less sense of thirst will affect you, Okay,"
"Oh, okay, thanks for telling me, I'll do just that, Akane-san."
'She is quite knowledgeable about survival stuff, huh?'
After our little break, we set out to wander the dungeon once again.
!!!
'An Arachne...'
It's hanging upside down, ahead of the turn. It's Sleeping maybe...
As we were moving along the path, I saw an Arachne at a turn. We stepped back and hid behind the wall so that we don't disturb its 'nap'.
We don't chat while traversing through this dungeon, nor do we make that much sound when we walk. Maybe that's why it didn't open its eyes up when we arrived.
It is nearly 15 metres away from us.
In other words,
IN MY RANGE.
It is hanging upside down from the ceiling by a white rope or web string.
With this, their webbing ability, is confirmed.
Its eyes are closed.
Maybe it is sleeping.
But...
I can't aim properly at it, because it's continuously rotating.
If it was approaching us then aiming would've been a lot easier than in this case.
I don't know if a headshot kills them, but I'm aware that cockroaches can survive for weeks even without their heads. If these Arachnes live even a minute after my skill connects, it will be fatal for us, as I can't shoot them with my skill twice.
If my skill accidentally connects to a part other than that smooth stone-like organ, let's just call it 'soul core' for now, then it will surely wake up and charge at us with its full force.
We can't have that, they are too fast for us to outrun them, and their strength is unknown too. I need to aim directly at the soul core to survive.
'Hm..... This will require Akane-san's help...'
I whispered in her ear to reduce the Arachne's angular velocity (rotation speed) as slowly as she could.
She raised her arms and concentrated.
My right hand was aiming at the dormant-rotating Arachne to invoke my skill at the perfect moment.
I kept my focus on the Arachne and noticed that gradually its angular velocity was decreasing.
And after a minute or so, it finally settled.
'Time to exterminate it...'
*inhale*
"< D I S I N T E G R A T E >"
The aim was perfect.
"That was a perfect kill," I muttered.
'heh, It didn't even flinch when it died...'