Chapter 12

Halhallart's Dread

I can hear the thumping of my heart like hammering on wood. Cold sweat trickles down my cheek as my acquired instincts screams at me to get away.

Not that I can, because they’re everywhere—behind the trees, inside the foliages, or just there in plain sight, covering every stride of the ground like water covering the mud beneath.

「 Terrorize... me? 」

I look up to see a “cloud” slowly descending on me as the eight pillars that supported it creaks and bends in no way a tree could. When I realize it, in front of me is a set of four orbs.

Dark hair covering the entire body, two fangs as long as I am tall potruded from the teethed maw.

The two eyes on the sides as large as my head, and the ones in the middle like a full-body mirror, with my own reflection staring back at me.

Yes, but I’m willing to reconsider if you’re willing to talk with me.

Unsure of where to look, I stare back at my own eyes, picturing the me in the “mirror” as my opposition.

「 ...Tell me, whence.... did you come from? 」

Nowhere that matters you. I just want to talk, and if you don’t, I will terrorize you.

「 Tererize? 」

「 Teroraiz. 」

「 What. 」

「 What. 」

「 Don’ know. 」

「 What it means? 」

「 Homid words. Don’t know. 」

「 It means “to instill terror”, my children. This homid here intends to cause fear... and sorrow to us... 」

「 What... 」

「 No! 」

「 Homid bad. 」

「 Homid evil. 」

「 Kill. 」

「 Kill. 」

「 Won’t let homid teroraiz. 」

「 Eat. 」

「 Eat her. 」

「 Eat. 」

「 Forgive me, little homid....Children can get bit restless...., especially if someone threatens their mother. 」

.....I messed up didn’t I? I might’ve been a bit reckless coming here. Actually, why did I even come here for? For Latasha, or for myself?

「 What’s wrong...? You were going to terrorize me....., why so silent? 」

....................

(Thou art afraid, little lass?)

Ahh... what am I remembering at a time like this?

( And ‘tis for the better. Keep being afraid. Keep being alive.)

「 You stay wordless... and my children shall eat you. 」

Eat me? What are you, a bugbrain?

「 Hmm? 」

I didn’t come here to be eaten by lumps of eight-legged dungnids. I came here to talk, and either you’ll compromise or I’ll make you.

When I thought it’s already as freaky as it gets, what comes next proves me wrong. It’s a bizarre sound, like a symphony of clicks and hisses, accompanied by tappings and rubbings of various instruments. The symphony resounds through the woods, echoing like it would in a cave. Birds flew, and the few critters that were still around scampers away. That’s how bizarre the sound is.

The sound of the Mother’s laugh.

「 You’re amusing little homid..... However, I have no time.... to deal with the likes of you. 」

「 Eat. 」

「 I eat her. 」

「 No. I eat her. 」

「 Me. 」

「 Me. 」

「 I eat her. 」

「 Me. 」

Oh... you wouldn’t want to do that, though.

「 Why? 」

「 Eat. 」

「 Why? 」

「 Why? 」

「 Soft. Munchy. 」

「 Why not? 」

Trust me. You really, really don’t want to eat me.

Ehm... I wonder why? I need more bluffs. Think!

Oh, right! Help me, nexus!

Nexus, identify.

「 What...? 」

I said, ignify. I am capable of fire magic. Any of you makes a move, I’ll burn you to ashes.

「 No. 」

「 Lies. 」

「 Lies. 」

「 Don’t burn... 」

「 Hate fire... 」

「 Mother... 」

「 Lies. 」

*ping!*

A screen appears.

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│2468│ │99%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│112│/124

Name

Lyrfanas

Species

Xalneer, Broodmother variant

Age

546

Offsprings

10,282,571,729

218 Xalneers

14,127 Esselors

304,163 Fallites

10,282,253,221 , 196 distinct species

Appelations

Mother of the Swarm

Eight Shadows

Dread of Halhallart

The Shadow That Skulks

Guardian of the Cergian Ring

Kill It With Fire

Name

Species

Arachnid Demon

Gender

Female,

Age

Titles

Dread of Halhallart

Mana Affinity

Demon – Earth

Mana Pool

│112│

Threat Level

Category │S│

Umm....

Well, that showed up.

The number of offsprings is... ten billions...

.....................

Let’s ignore that for now. I don’t even know why that data is even there.

Her vim rate is 2468, which means she’s freakishly strong. Not worse than a lifer, but this is also the first time I saw the number below—pull rate, which is... 112/124? So she really is capable of magic, but... to what extent?

Also, there’s much less information than it should be. Something to do with the restriction..... perhaps? I’ll have to ask Thalvos about that. Another thing to note is the data below “subnex”. I’ve never seen those before. Mana affinity and pool? There’s also a threat category. Some of the data seems repetitive.... I wonder why?

「 I know bluffs when I see one..... Too bad, little homid. 」

Bluffs, you say?

I’m in luck.

I know....that’s odd to say in this situation, but I think they’re not fond of fire, judging from their reactions. There’s also a data here that implies it as well.

Going along with it, I summon firebulbs around me. One. Two. Three. Four. I summoned beyond what I can count with my fingers.

「 Fire! 」

「 Fire! 」

「 No...! 」

「 Hate... fire...! 」

「 Get away! 」

「 Grrr! 」

「 Kyaha...! 」

That’s right. Fear the firebulbs for they are your demise!

「 Puny tricks. 」

Tricks? I wouldn’t be so sure about that.

「 Give me a reason..... to not just get this over with. 」

There’s a lot of reasons, want me to list them all?

Keep talking. Buy time for me to think my way out of this.

「 Homid’s words are excessive..... One chance..... One chance for homid to speak. Fail.... and I shall feed you to my children. 」

「 Yess...! 」

「 Tell her! 」

「 Feed me! 」

「 Good luck, homid! 」

「 Eat...! 」

Ah, well... that’s it, I guess...

「 You will talk..... Amuse me, homid. Do not disappoint. 」

....I’m not someone you’d want to make an enemy of...

Be brave. It’s okay to be afraid, as long as you don’t act cowardly. Be brave.

I put down my hood as I strut closer to the looming shadow in front of me, using every mental strength I have to hide any quiver and to mask any resemblance of fear in my “voice”.

...Do you not know who I am?

..............................

.....Uh-oh... I don’t like this silence.

.「 .....Those eyes... you...? 」

Oh?

「 Demon Lord...... you are spawn.... of Demon Lord! 」

「 Eh? 」

「 Eh? 」

「 Demon Lord. 」

「 Demon Lord. 」

「 Spawn. 」

「 Demon Lord. 」

Ah...

I was going to go with something else, but this should work fine.

How nice of you to notice. Now can we talk?

「 .............. 」

「 .............. 」

「 .............. 」

「 .............. 」

Err... hey?

「 ....Eat. 」

「 Eat... 」

「 Demon Lord... 」

「 Eat... 」

....What?

「 EAT. 」

「 EAT. 」

「 ME. FEED ME. 」

「 EVOLVE. 」

「 GET STRONG. 」

「 Good luck, Homid! 」

「 EVOLVE. 」

「 EAT. 」

「 EAT. 」

Uh... what have I done?

「 A delight has come.....You, homid, shall be the mulch that nurtures the swarm.... We will grow strong.... with your sacrifice. 」

Crap, I should’ve gone with “Envoy of the Dark God”.

Nobody moves!

I shouted, flailing my arms with exaggerated movements as I let the fuel burn entirely, making my firebulbs burn brightly than ever.

The first one who makes a move, I will burn all eight of your legs.

「 LIES. 」

「 LIES. 」

「 LIES. 」

「 GO. 」

「 GET HER. 」

「 EAT HER. 」

Yeah? Come get me, then.

I start walking around in a circle, staring into as many eyes as I can while letting the flickering bulbs dance around me.

And should you come, I suggest you keep in mind... the first one who makes a move gets it.

「 ...Lies. 」

「 More lies. 」

「 Go. 」

「 You go. 」

「 No, you. 」

「 Grr! 」

「 Coward. 」

「 You go. 」

Yes, that’s right. Let someone else try first. See if my words are lies.

「 I don’t fancy having my children burned...., puny homid. 」

Then don’t tell them to eat me, four-eyes.

「 Why don’t I just.... kill you right now? 」

Why? Simple. See this little bright things? One of your kids try to have a go and I’ll burn them, but if you make a move, I’ll turn this whole forest char, I swear it.

「 You think your lies works with me...? I’ve lived too long.... to not know better. 」

Exactly. You don’t live that long by taking unecessary risks. Don’t be stupid, do the smart thing. Don’t wager your entire swarm just to eat one little homid.

Everything I’ve seen until now; the unlikely retreat and the use of afflictions.... it all seemed like a commander who wants to minimize losses from their own army. It was all tactical. It may be far fetched, but I really think she wants to keep her swarm safe, and that’s a bet I’m willing to take.

「 ............. 」

...............

We stare each other down for some time, the atmosphere so intense that none of the spiders dares to interrupt.

「 .....Talk. 」

Let us go. Let the homids go peacefully through the forest.

「 ...This forest is haven for my children.... Haven from those... who wills harm upon us. 」

So you kill everyone who passes through here? To scare everyone else off?

「 If even one happens to survive, they will know.... They will want to use the roads... and we shall be hunted. 」

That won’t happen. I give you my word.

「 Words of little homid..... What would we do should your words fail you? 」

My nails digs into my palms as I take a deep breath before I answer,

...me. You can have me.

「 ...Homid? 」

「 Yess... 」

「 We can eat homid? 」

「 ...You... will give yourself to us? 」

Yes. If I break my words, you can eat me.

「 ...No, we won’t eat you.... I shall have you bear my brood, for those borne of Demon Lord’s blood.... shall surmount all. 」

Err... right, I’ll be your whatever. Do we have a deal?

「 ....I will dispell the eggs. You have two days..... leave our haven after the hosts awakens. Now, begone. 」

....Eh? That’s it? How will you know if I keep my word?

Suddenly, a searing pain strikes me, so intense that I almost fall on my knees. It begins on my shoulder, as if someone pierced a hundred needles filled with poison that burns through flesh.

I.... I know this feeling. It’s the feeling of having someone else’s mana infest your body!

Ugh... what...

「 ...We are finished here. 」

You... what are you—

「 The words.... are sealed. For as long as you carry my mark, you also carry with you..... our pact. Should you fail, I will know..... and my swarm will come for you. 」

As she said that, the pain gradually disappears, leaving only a lingering heat, just below my right shoulder. I grasp it, and find that the skin is hot to the touch even through the coat.

「 Begone, before my children’s hunger gets the best of them. Begone, and know that I shall know. 」

.....Eh?

I... did I do it?

With that question in my head, I turn and start walking away. As I approach the swarm, the sound of eight thousand legs fills the forest promptly as the sea of spiders parts to give me way. What a sight.

Stopping midway, I turn back to see Lyrfanas’ eyes watching me briefly, flashing as if to say “I’ll be watching you”, before her shadow rises back beyond the trees and disappears from my sight.

..................

Hahh.... my heart isn’t calming down. I don’t think it will until I’m away from this place...

Still... this doesn’t feel right. I’m missing something, am I....?

「 Homid! Homid! 」

Eh?

I turn back to see one of the “little” ones hopping towards me, a few leaps at a time. These guys... they can probably jump over fortified walls, don’t they? If they ever got out of this place, wouldn’t it be bad?

「 Homid! 」

Y‒Yeah.

Ah, looking closely, it’s that first spider. You know, the red-brown one with big eyes.

「 You did it! You convinced Mother! Homid did good! 」

Eh? Well, erm... thanks?

「 Homid has courage. Homid has mana, too. Homid will become great. 」

...You’re quite an articulate one, huh?

Compared to the others, at least.

「 Artycuelaed...? Homid words, don’t understand. 」

....You speak well.

「 I do! Hehe... Mother says I’m special! Says I’ve good mind. Says I’ll be Mother someday. 」

Right. Umm... was there something you need?

「 Homid has name? 」

Eh?

No, I don’t... not yet, at least.

「 Too bad. Mine is Cylvanas! Only few in swarm has name, you know! 」

I see... but why’re you telling me this?

「 Swarm future. Brothers, sisters, endangered if swarm isolated. Need connections. Homid connections. Preferrably strong homids! Bad relations might endanger swarm in future. 」

.......................

No, actually, I’m not really stro—

Whoops. I probably shouldn’t tell her that.

「 I put trust. Please keep friendship with Cylvanas and Mother! Brothers and sisters, too! Swarm needs connections. 」

No, erm... well, your family just wanted to eat me.

....Alright. I’ll keep my promise with your Mother, at the very least.

Because I’ll be kidnapped and eaten inside out if I don’t. Or be used as an incubator for demon spiders. I honestly don’t know which one is worse.

「 Cylvanas have trust in homid. I bid you bye! 」

With that, she’s out of sight within a single leap. What incredible jumping powers. Oh, it’s evening now. I should probably get back...

Anyhow, that was.... surprising. So one of them actually reasons from a diplomatic standpoint, but it doesn’t seem that the rest of thinks the same.

........Ah.

Did Lyrfanas has the same motive for the deal?

..............

....I’ll think about that later.

--- --- ---

Right now, I am faced with another crisis. In front of me is the commander, his aged face staring down at me like a parent would a troublesome child.

“...Where have you been?”

Umm, saving your asses?

“Tch. Troublesome girl...”

The unicorn rep scoffs at me.

“You’re lucky we found you when we did,”

the commander continued, “don’t wander on your own, or we might have to rope you down, for your own safety. Got it?”

I timidly nod at him.

“And you.”

“Y‒Yes!”

Standing besides me, tomatoes answered nervously.

“You left a her in the middle of hostile territory, a mute girl who can’t even call for help. What were you thinking?”

“I‒I’m sorry!”

“Don’t leave her out of sight in any case, no exceptions.”

“Yes! I’m sorry, Orlev.”

Oy, what happened to privacy?

After being dismissed, tomatoes runs up to me, a terrible frown contorting his face and his lips opening and closing, as if wanting to say, or rather, shout some angry words at me.

“Oy, you....”

Hmm?

I put on my most charming smile and he freezes and ripened in red once again before pacing off with a snuffle, leaving nothing but those two words.

Oh, and... Lyrfanas seems to be keeping her word so far, because Latasha just woke up! Sluggish and light-headed, but very much awake. Farica hugs her when she did and Latasha couldn’t do anything.

Seeing them like this, you wouldn’t really believe they’ve only been together for less than a week...

“H‒Hey? What is it wuss?”

“Latasha, you idiot....”

I hear some sobbings, and Latasha pleads at me with her eyes. She must be really confused. Some of the girls have gathered as well with a relieved expression on their faces.

During this touching scene, Luise shows up as well. He lets out a sigh of relief and stays quiet as he pats her head.

“What are you doing, rake?!”

He ignores her and keeps rubbing her head as if to vent his emotions, stopping only after a punch to the face. The girls quietly giggles at the scene before us.

The other drifters woke up as well. I probed them again, but I can no longer sense any of the “eggs”. So far so good.

--- --- ---

“Why can’t we just keep moving like yesterday? And don’t tell me more of those sixth-sense crap.”

“It’s called instincts, Sir Lain. Survival mechanism formed through millenia of evolution, in case you don’t know what it means.”

“And what have these... “instincts” told you?”

“That we’re heading into a trap.”

“Bullcrap.”

“No, the chief is right. There’s too many risks if we move at night. I believe we just got lucky last time. We have a solid plan, and now we have the men to actually do it.”

“...You drifters have this... weird logic, you know? I as a proper soldier wouldn’t understand.”

After he said that, Lain turns his back and briskly walks away.

“I guess it’s decided, then?” Chief said to the commander.

It seems we’ll be standing our ground instead of running this time. Hopefully it won’t make a difference, but I’ll to be ready too, just in case...

--- --- ---

Eventually, nightfall came. The girls cooperated with the plan too. I thought they would be reluctant to spend the night so close with their captors, but....

“Hey, isn’t this the one, wuss?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Hey, old man. If I recall, you were saying about how you wanted to have a taste of my friend whitey here?”

Oh, that’s.... the old pervert, isn’t it.

The man in question shifts uncomfortably in his bounds under the all the hateful gazes.

“I thought you were sleeping then, Latasha.”

“I was, before you woke me u—.”

“Heh, fucking slaves. If they didn’t come that moment, you and your white friend would’ve been chained to my bed, screaming my na—Ofgh!“ (old slaver)

“Who said you could talk?”

“Oh my, that’s a bad place to put your foot on, don’t you think?”

“Why, don’t you think he deserves it?”

“No, but.... you might get filth on yourself.”

“...You’re right.”

Uh... they’re having fun aren’t they. Why isn’t anyone stopping them? The drifters are turning a blind eye, and the girls are just snickering at the scene. There’s a lot of grudge here, it seems.

“You wanted to have a taste of us. Well, why don’t we have a taste of you first?”

“Mm? You have something on your mind, Latasha?”

“I don’t know, maybe. What do you think, girls? Should we teach them a lesson about female superiority?”

The girls all cheer at that, and the slavers’ faces goes blue.

Scary! A mob of girls might be scarier than a demon...

=== === ===

=== === ===

That night, everyone stayed awake. We waited hours, guns ready and eyes sharp, sleepiness kept at bay by our sense of dangers. Every rustling of the leaves gave alarm, and it eventually became a long and suspenseful night. I don’t really know whether to feel relieved or disappointed when morning finally came.

*sigh*

Lyrfanas is keeping her word.... and now it’s my turn to keep my end of the bargain, but how would I go about that?

When the officers gathered in the morning, they all have baffled looks on their faces.

“...Now what?” The chief voiced what’s in everyone’s mind.

“Keep going, I suppose,” The commander replied.

“To tell you the truth, I was expecting something big to happen.”

“Heh, some instincts you have.” (Lain)

“Oy, you...”

“Now, now. We should be civil in front of the girls, shouldn’t we?”

Luise interjected them with a playful smile.

“Let’s get back on track. We should assume the worst, but if there’s no more attacks, we should be out of the ring some time tomorrow, maybe tonight if we push it.” (Commander)

“.....I don’t understand. First everyone woke up as suddenly as they were out cold, and now this? Did the demon let us go or something?” (Chief)

“Perhaps... no one knows how their mind works. What do you think, Sallis?”

“....I don’t know. Not enough empirical records on demon behaviours.”

That’s what he said, but why is he staring at me? Does he... know?

“How about you misses? What do you think?”

The commander asks, out of courtesy to us as the girls’ representatives. Or so I thought, but now that Latasha’s finally here, she might have some insight.

“Eeh? Well, I don’t know? Use the chance we’re given, I guess?”

“....Certainly.”

Ah, well.... better than nothing, I guess....

Since there’s nothing on the table but theories on demons, everyone is dismissed to prepare for the decidedly final trip. Before we go back, though, the commander calls out to us.

“Are you well now, Lady Ardent?”

“Fine, I guess. Also, could you refrain from calling me like that? I’d rather not have everyone know.”

“Pardon me. I have a favor to ask of you and miss Farica.”

“Favor?”

“I‒I’ll do my best.” (Farica)

Eh? How about me?

“Actually, your magus friend went missing yesterday, and didn’t turn up until hours later. I was hoping for you two to watch out for her.”

....Oh.

“Eh?!”

Farica exclaimed as she turns towards me. Latasha just stayed silent, but.... hey, why are you looking at me like tha—

*POW*

OW! The hell?!

After hitting me in the head, she just stares me down like the commander did yesterday. They must be secretly related!

Now, how do I get out of this....

*POW*

OUCH!

“What are you even smirking about? Clearly you’re not reflecting.”

Eeh... it worked on tomatoes, though. Ah, maybe Farica will help me.

......Nope. She just looked away from me, probably scared of Latasha. Are you really a wuss?

“Hey, are you even listening to me? Don’t ever do that again, you hear me?”

Says the one who’s been sleeping the entire time.

“Oy.”

..... *nods*

“Actually, I don’t think you get it, so me and wuss will be watching you now.”

..... *nods*

I was told to watch you, though.

I signal the commander with my eyes and fortunately, he understands as he tells the girls to go back while we “discuss more of the plans.”

“Okay, I figured you want to talk, but how would you do that?”

Haha... I don’t know, either.

While I fidget as I storm my brain, I notice Sallis still there at the side, staring at me with curious eyes.

“Is something wrong, Sallis?” (Commander)

Rather than answering the commander, he walks towards me and voices out a question directed to me instead.

“...Have you anything to do with?”

...So he really is suspicious of me.

I can’t let this chance go, so I nod. It only took the commander a few seconds to register the topic.

“You mean... about this?” (Commander)

Again, I nod.

“Don’t tell me yesterday, when you...?”

Uh-huh. *nods*

“....What did you do?”

To Sallis’ question, I raise my hands and make a link with my little fingers, doing a pinky swear with my own hands. Hopefully they’ll understand.

“...A deal?” (Sallis)

Oh, so quick! *nods*

“Deal? What deal?” (Commander)

“I believe she’s saying that she made a deal with the demon.”

“.................”

“Demons have been proven sentient to a certain degree. An exchange may be possible, hypothetically.”

“..................”

“It may sound outlandish.... more so to you, who had actually fought with a demon before...”

A few seconds passes before the commander’s face is defrosted.

“.....Miss, is it true? You met with the demon?”

Yeah! *nods*

...Eh? What’s with that frown?

“Little miss...”

The commander spoke to me as he puts his hands on my shoulders with a.... difficult expression on his face.

I... I did the right thing.... I think?

“Never speak of this. Not to anyone, you hear me?”

His voice was hushed and urgent. I look at Sallis behind him, and see him nodding in agreement.

I quietly reply with a nod as I stare back into the commander’s dark eyes, making sure he knows that I get his point. Making deals with a demon does have a bad ring to it...

“....So, about the deal... It has something to do with us going out safely, I take?”

*nods*

“Then, is there something we should know, like our part of the bargain?”

................

“....In short, ‘keep the demon matter a secret’?” (Sallis)

“Is that correct?” (Commander)

*nods*

Phew... well, that took some time. Naturally, it’d be hard to explain what the deal was with just pseudo-sign language.

“It doesn’t add up. What’s the collateral?”

Ah, well...

To answer that, I point at myself.

“....What?” (Sallis)

“....I.... understand. I’ll see what I can do.”

The commander’s face became even more furrowed.

I’m sorry... I wish I’d thought of a better deal, but I do hope you’re taking my well-being into consideration.

After that, someone called out to tell us it’s time to depart. Before the commander is about to go, he makes a final look at me with troubled eyes, so I just smile at him in response.

The convoy departs, and thinking that the demon will uphold the deal, the commander assumes that there will be no more attacks. I think that’ll be the case too, but... I still don’t know Lyrfanas’ motives on making that pact.

I mean, I may have used threats, and..... offered her my body, I guess? Was that really all it took? She wasn’t exactly affable either, unlike to what Cylvanas implied.

There’s the thing with the Demon Lord, too.... there’s just too much that I don’t know.

(The words.... are sealed. For as long as you carry my mark, you also carry with you..... our pact. Should you fail, I will know..... and my swarm will come for you.)

I slide my hand beneath my shirt to the part of my arm below the shoulder.

The pain is no longer there, but there’s something to the touch. Some kind of.... engraving, like the skin itself was twisted and deformed to form the mark....

(Never speak of this. Not to anyone, you hear me?)

..............................

*sigh*

I... may have outdone myself this time.