[Aghhh, damn it, that hurts,] I groaned as I woke up. I started to examine the area around me. Thankfully, I wasn't affected by the miasma. Still lying on the ground, I looked both ways and saw Alex, still unconscious but seemingly fine, not affected by the miasma either.
I stared upward, unable to tell what time it was since there was no natural light here to begin with. Only the distant glow of a campfire provided some light. It was strangely warm. When I tried to get up, I found it incredibly difficult. Examining my body, I realized I was trapped within a cocoon, with spiders crawling all over it.
For a moment, I felt the urge to curse at them, but as they sensed I was awake, they began to move erratically, expressing their joy. Even though I wasn't wearing the crown, understanding their intentions was easy. They saw me lying on the cold floor unconscious and wanted to warm me up.
[Hmmm, is it me, or are they weirdly cute?] I thought.
Spreading my mana to reach them, I conveyed my will for them to free me from the cocoon. I was too tired and lazy to spare any energy to free myself.
Accepting my will, the spiders slowly began to dissolve the cocoon. Surprisingly, they were able to use mana instinctively. As I was freed, I tried my best not to step on any of the spiders accidentally, which made them all cling to my robe and crawl up my hand.
I couldn't tell them to get down as they seemed genuinely happy to be in my company, so I helplessly let them stay. I made my way to the fire and saw Mirai sitting calmly, watching the flames flicker. Noticing my arrival, he seemed to hold back his laughter. Sitting opposite him, I asked calmly,
"Thou likely took great pleasure in watching them ensnare me in that cocoon."
Mirai, seemingly offended but barely containing his laughter, replied, "No, not at all. A giant spider came here to check on you after I gently knocked you out. Some stayed behind to take care of you, and I couldn't stop them. They seemed really happy taking care of you. Oh, by the way, there's something for you."
Mirai handed me what seemed to be silk. Seeing my confusion, he explained, "The giant spider I mentioned before gave it to you. It's high-quality silk that can earn you a fortune if you sell it, but it can also be used to tailor some excellent attire or even create weapons."
Weapons aren't a concern to me since I can create my own, and there is a relic I will eventually get from the forest. Looking around, I couldn't sense or see Edward since I woke up.
Mirai stood up from his place and began talking. "Ed left a while ago. Sarah found what we were seeking. I was waiting for one of you to wake up before I leave, but I will return soon. Think of this as the last break you will have." And just like that, Mirai disappeared.
As I was left alone with the unconscious Alex, I began to examine the silk, already having an idea how to use it . My current robe could morph into any shape or form I desired, but it was akin to a veil of darkness, wich made it's physical quality really poor
I signaled to the robe to embed itself within the silk. It took some time and concentration, but eventually, the robe fused seamlessly with the high-quality silk. Now, I could control it as I wished, and it was time to create a truly respectable attire since I was really tired from wearing the same robe since I came to this world
[Hehehe.....These new clothes would possess the durability of armor due to the silk's quality, and I could transform them into any other attire I needed. It's like the dream of any cosplayer out there, damn it. I must focus]
The reason Alex and I weren't affected by the miasma was due to the fire—or rather, the spirit Edward had left behind. This spirit was manipulating the mana in the air to expel the miasma, creating a safe zone that extended only as far as the fire's light reached.
This presented an opportunity for me to test my idea . I controlled the darkness, shaping it into a glove that covered my hand, and reached outside the safe zone.
When I touched the miasma with my bare hand, it began to rot rapidly, but I healed it immediately. However, when I touched it with the gloved hand, it remained unaffected, shielded by the glove.
I felt satisfied with the result but now it's the time for more
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[Aghhh, damn you, Mirai, that hurts,] I thought, lying on the ground as I recalled how I'd been knocked out cold. Checking the bracelet on my wrist, I was relieved to find my items still there. I got up and made my way to the campfire, expecting to find Gracefell, Mirai, and Edward—since one of them is the reason I wasn't affected by the miasma. However, none of them were there.
Instead, sitting close to the fire on a chair made of dark and purple hyacinth flowers, was a haunting figure. Legs crossed, he wore a long-beaked black mask that of a plague doctor. Where his eyes should have been, two silver pools shone, illuminating the darkness. He wore silver gloves in stark contrast to his black suit, and spiders crawled over his robe and clothes.
I summoned my spear, ready to attack, but before I had the chance, the figure spoke in a familiar voice.
"Hold, it is I, Gracefell!"
Realizing it was him, I lowered my weapon but couldn't hide my frustration. "This is the second time I've been freaked out by you just sitting there menacingly. And what's the deal with that mask? I couldn't recognize you for a moment."
As I sat near the fire, Gracefell removed the mask and replied, "My apologies."
[The hell, isn't this cheating?] I cursed inwardly, feeling wronged. How could people like Edward and Gracefell be this handsome due to their race?
Elves and fairies were inherently known for their beauty, to such a degree that even someone as handsome as Alex couldn't compare. The stronger one grows and the more refined their core becomes, all the impurities of the body disappear. This was why Mirai, though human, could compete with Edward and Gracefell in that department.
Gracefell tied his silver hair into a ponytail, his every movement graceful as he summoned a kiseru and began to inhale, his silver eyes gazed at me as he seemed to have something to ask, and so did I
"What is it you want to know?"