Chapter-06 · EP-092

Episode 92: Waterside Inscription

I advanced carefully through the trees.

I soon found spider webs. Glowing white threads stretched between the trees. I took out my dagger and cut them. The thread snapped with a ping.

I checked for spiders nearby. Looking up, there was one in the tree.

A Giant Spider – a huge spider monster.

It was enormous. And it looked terrifying. Eight legs, multiple eyes, a hairy body. Honestly, of all insects, spiders were the ones I disliked most. And now it was the size of a human. It sent a chill down my spine.

The Giant Spider seemed to notice me and descended from above, releasing thread from its rear.

I stepped back and activated Water Magic. I hit it with a Water Ball. But again, it didn't seem to do much damage. The Giant Spider didn't stop its descent and landed on the ground.

No choice. Close combat.

I raised my wooden sword. The Giant Spider raised its front legs to attack. I dodged and counterattacked with my wooden sword. Its carapace was hard. I landed several hits, but it wouldn't go down.

I recalled that this thing also had poison. I fought carefully, watching out for its front leg attacks and bites.

I was so focused on its legs and bites that it suddenly spat web from its mouth.

Wait, don't spiders release web from their rear?

Caught off guard, I couldn't dodge in time, and the web tangled around my leg. I lost my balance and nearly fell.

This was bad!

I quickly cut the web with my dagger and stood back up. Immediately after, the Giant Spider lunged at the spot where I'd been. A close call.

After that, I continued fighting, now also watching for its web spit, and finally defeated the Giant Spider.

I'd been exploring the fourth floor for a few days now, but both the river crab earlier and the Giant Spider were new to me. There must be specific habitats for them. These were monsters I hadn't encountered in the Shinjuku Dungeon.

Giant Spiders were quite troublesome. From then on, if I saw spider webs, I went around them, trying to avoid combat. Using the white threads on tree trunks as markers, I carefully chose my route.

But I couldn't avoid the webs entirely.

I sensed something falling from above. I reflexively leaped sideways. With a thud, a new Giant Spider landed where I'd been.

An ambush from above. Annoying.

The second Giant Spider of the day immediately assumed an attack posture. It raised its front legs and charged.

I blocked the front legs with my wooden sword while retreating. I'd learned from the first fight: this thing spits web from its mouth, and its front leg attacks also carry poison.

The Giant Spider swung its front legs down again. I dodged, circled to its side, and slammed my wooden sword into its flank.

Hit, the Giant Spider quickly turned and opened its mouth. Here it comes!

I immediately leaped away. The next moment, a stream of white web passed through the space I'd just occupied. A narrow escape. I'd been hit by the first one, but I managed to dodge the second.

After a web attack, it left an opening. I exploited that opening, closed in, and struck repeatedly with my wooden sword. One hit, two hits, three hits. The Giant Spider's movements slowed.

Finally, I aimed for its head and swung down with all my might. The Giant Spider stopped moving.

Catching my breath, I picked up the Magic Gem dropped by the defeated Giant Spider. After fighting the second one, I felt I was getting a much better read on its movements. This was what gaining experience meant, I suppose.

Still, I couldn't stomach the sight of spiders. I didn't want to fight any more.

Carefully scanning the surrounding trees, I chose a direction with fewer spider webs and advanced.

After a while, I heard a rushing sound from ahead.

What was that noise? It sounded like water. Keeping an eye out for any signs of spiders, I headed toward the sound.

Then I emerged into another open area.

There was a waterfall cascading down a rock face.

The waterfall basin formed a pool, which flowed into a stream. So this was the source of the stream I'd been following earlier. Mist sprayed, and the loud rushing sound echoed around.

And before the pool, I found another inscription.

I approached and read the text.

"Look at the back."

The back?

I went around to the back of the rock with the inscription. There were more characters carved into the rock.

"Safety First."

What was that?

Was that it?

I stared at the waterfall basin. Water crashed down with intense spray. It was a scene you wouldn't expect to find inside a dungeon. The area was quiet, with an atmosphere like a hidden spot surrounded by trees.

I didn't see any other inscriptions, and there was no path forward. Apparently, this was the end. But there was nothing here besides the waterfall.

Had Saito-san offered a prayer here for the safety of the explorers who came to harvest antidote herbs? Perhaps that was the meaning behind "Safety First."

I'd come this far expecting something, but it felt like I'd been given the runaround.

I sighed and looked at the waterfall again. The scenery was indeed beautiful, but would he have left multiple inscriptions just for this?

Was I missing something? Or was this truly the end?

Sigh.

I let out another sigh.

No, I'd gotten sidetracked. I needed to defeat the floor boss and aim to level up on the fifth floor. If I spent my time investigating inscriptions, I wouldn't be able to obtain a Rank 4 potion during Golden Week.

I turned back the way I came and headed for the boss room.