Chapter 12: In the Royal Capital – 02
We decided to weave our way through the trees and approach the Queen Moth.
From a distance, it seemed that the Queen Moth was perched atop a tree, resting its wings.
The problem was how to defeat it. If we made a mistake in our initial approach and it took to the sky, things would become troublesome. We needed to incapacitate its ability to fly with our first strike, but how to do that… As I pondered, Larni sniffed the air.
“Hey, Soushi, something feels off. I can’t smell any poison even as we get closer. In fact, it smells kind of nice.”
“Nice smell?”
That could mean it was a dangerous monster trying to lure us in, but if there was no scent of poison, then it might not be the Queen Moth after all.
“Soushi-san, look over there.”
Sfenia pointed to the trees above. Between the branches, a white, rope-like substance was stretched out. It resembled something I had seen before, albeit on a different scale.
“Is that a spider’s web? If so, it means a giant spider has spun it…”
The white ropes were partially woven into a net, clearly resembling a massive spider’s web.
“Mariane, are there giant spider monsters?”
“Yes, there are. The type that spins webs is called a Killer Spider, but given the size, it would be a Queen Killer Spider. It’s definitely a B-rank monster.”
It seemed we were facing a more complicated situation than I had anticipated. A giant monster appearing alongside another was unusual, but could spiders and moths collaborate in such a way?
“Is it common for monsters to prey on other monsters? Like, could a Paralyze Moth be caught and eaten by a Killer Spider?”
“I haven’t heard of that happening in dungeons, but it does occur in the field. It’s common to hear about goblins being eaten by ogres.”
“Really?”
That meant it was possible that the giant moth was caught in the spider’s web. If that were the case, it could be a stroke of luck.
“Understood. Let’s stay cautious of that Killer Spider for now. Getting caught in a web would be a disaster.”
“Yes, Soushi-sama.”
“You could probably handle it with your strength, Soushi.”
“Heh, that’s true.”
The members of Soul’s Guidance seemed unfazed by the new monster information. They had grown accustomed to irregularities.
As we advanced, the density of the spider’s web above us gradually increased. When we got closer to where the Queen Moth‘s wings obscured the sky, it became clear that the giant moth was indeed trapped in the web. Its wings and legs were ensnared, rendering it unable to move.
“Looks like it’s really caught. But isn’t that lucky? Right, Soushi?”
“Yeah. First, we’ll take down the Killer Spider, and then we can deal with the Queen Moth at our leisure.”
As I replied to Larni, I scanned the surroundings. My Presence Detection skill was active, but the web seemed to interfere with it. There was likely a giant spider lurking somewhere in the web…
“Frei, go ahead and cast Purification. Sfenia, could you try using earth magic on the spider silk? That might draw the Killer Spider closer.”
I recalled hearing that web-spinning spiders could sense vibrations in their silk to detect prey.
“Okay. I’ll cast Purification now.”
“Stone Bullet!”
Frei’s Purification didn’t seem to have much effect. As Larni had said, there was likely no poisonous scales in the air.
Meanwhile, Sfenia’s Stone Lance struck the web above, cutting through several strands and causing a disturbance. After a moment, I sensed something massive moving among the branches.
“Ugh, that’s disgusting!”
Larni’s reaction was understandable.
Emerging from the web, a grotesquely fat spider, about seven to eight meters wide, crawled into view. Its abdomen was striped yellow and black, visually striking in a disturbing way.
“That’s definitely an upper-tier Killer Spider. The characteristics match perfectly. Be careful; it will try to ensnare us with its silk.”
Following Mariane’s warning, we took our positions. The Queen Killer Spider remained on the tree, and we couldn’t reach it with melee attacks.
“Frei, cast Divine Light first, then follow up with Holy Light. Sfenia and Mariane, attack with ranged weapons. I’ll block its silk. Larni, keep an eye out and cut any webs around it. Don’t get caught in them.”
“Understood!”
“Got it!”
At Frei’s signal of Divine Light, everyone except me sprang into action.
Sfenia’s Stone Lance pierced the Queen Killer Spider‘s abdomen, while Mariane’s spear struck its head. The damage caused the Queen Killer Spider to turn its rear towards us. I thought it might flee, but that wasn’t the case. In the next moment, a massive amount of white silk erupted from its rear.
I unleashed a Shockwave upward, but the spider’s silk spread out gracefully, showering down around us instead of scattering.
“Everyone, fall back!”
Under my command, Frei and the others retreated while continuing their ranged attacks. Larni skillfully avoided the silk as she climbed the tree, cutting through the web that the Queen Killer Spider was using as a perch.
As I faced the Queen Killer Spider alone, I found myself ensnared by several strands of silk. The threads were as thick as ropes and sticky, making them quite troublesome. However, they didn’t seem strong enough to hinder my immense strength.
As Larni cut through more sections of the web, the weight became too much for the Queen Killer Spider, and the part it was standing on gave way. The giant spider attempted to brace itself against another tree, but its leg was severed by Holy Light, causing it to crash to the ground.
Without hesitation, I broke free from the entangling silk and dashed forward, swinging my mace down towards the spider’s head, targeting its fourth eye.
“Now it’s just the Moth left. Should I go and take its head?”
Larni looked up, where the giant moth was still ensnared in the spider’s web.
“…Wait a moment.”
Normally, I would agree with Larni and swiftly defeat it, grateful for our luck.
However, upon seeing the main body of the giant moth caught in the web, I felt an odd sensation. While it was indeed just a massive moth, something about it felt different from an ordinary monster. Based on the earlier Purification, it seemed that its scales were not toxic either.
“Mariane, can you use Appraisal on this monster?”
“Huh? Yes, at this size and distance, I can do that. Let me try.”
Mariane focused her sharp eyes… and then tilted her head in confusion.
“It seems this monster is not a Queen Moth. Appraisal identifies it as a Garuda Moth. Moreover, it appears to be classified as a Sacred Beast, not a monster.”
“A Sacred Beast? A Garuda Moth…”
In my previous world, “Garuda” was the name of a bird that gods rode upon. The classification of Sacred Beast certainly sounded fitting, and it made me think that defeating it would be a grave mistake.
“Larni, could you fetch me some scales from its wings? But be careful not to damage them.”
“Eh? Well, okay.”
Using her Jump and Space Kick, Larni leaped up, scraping the surface of the moth’s wing with the sheath of her sword before descending. She executed the maneuver with an otherworldly grace.
“Is this good?”
The scales that clung to the tip of her sheath shimmered with a golden hue.
“Mariane, please use Appraisal on this.”
“Sure… Scales of Abundance… They purify and revitalize the earth, creating fertile land for plants to thrive… This is an effect I’ve never heard of before.”
“Frei, Sfenia, have you heard of any Sacred Beasts like this in the church or among the elves?”
“I don’t think it was mentioned in the church’s scriptures. The church tends to avoid stories about animals and such.”
“…I recall an old elven legend about a giant butterfly that enriches the land. I’m not sure if it’s the same as this Sacred Beast, though.”
“I see, thank you.”
This was turning into a perplexing situation. If I were a reckless adventurer, I would think of defeating the Garuda Moth, collecting its scales as a rare item, and selling them.
However, it was clear that this creature was not the type to be slain. After all, it was a Sacred Beast. Folklore often warned that killing such beings would lead to terrible curses or the destruction of the environment that had been maintained thanks to them.
“…Perhaps we should let it go.”
As I muttered this, Larni looked at me in surprise.
“Why?”
“I feel like we shouldn’t defeat this Garuda Moth. Judging by the composition of its scales, it seems to be a creature that benefits humanity by flying in the sky. Plus, the fact that it’s a Sacred Beast raises concerns. There are tales of curses befalling those who mistakenly kill such beings.”
“Hmm. Well, if you, the wise Soushi, say so, then I suppose that’s the right choice.”
While Larni tilted her head in confusion, Frei placed her staff against her chest and nodded deeply, saying, “I believe what Soushi-sama says is correct.”
“I’m also curious about the Sacred Beast. As Soushi-san said, we should release that Garuda Moth.”
“The guild has no issues with this. Since it can’t be definitively classified as a monster through Appraisal, what to do with that creature is left to the discoverer’s judgment. However, a report will be necessary.”
With Sfenia and Mariane also in agreement, we decided to release the Garuda Moth.
When I looked up, the head of the giant moth was visible above the spider’s web. It shouldn’t have been possible, but its face seemed to wear a look of relief.