47 Drip, drip
Moving again, stealthily again today.
The labyrinth zone of the upper tier was nothing but countless branching paths, but this corridor has been a straight line the entire way.
No need to worry about getting lost—but if this path leads all the way to the lowest layer, I won’t be able to return.
Ah, no point imagining the worst.
It must connect to the middle tier!
I’ll believe that!
Now, the red gauge is starting to drop.
Last time I ate a snail worm—but that was meant to be a last resort.
Even now, a few of them creep along the walls, but I don’t feel like advancing to eat them.
Of course, if they’re that tasteless, even monsters wouldn’t want them.
So, I’d better find a regular meal before the gauge runs out.
Whether or not a poisonous monster counts as “ordinary” is beside the point.
Anyway, I’ve eaten plenty of toxic creatures already.
It’s nothing new at this point.
I don’t feel like eating anything delicious at all.
…Still, I miss cup noodles.
Alright then, forward—good!
Rear—good!
No dangerous creatures nearby!
Good, good.
‘Failed to鉴定 Elrolandanel LV8 Status.’
‘Failed to鉴定 Elrolandanel LV7 Status.’
‘Failed to鉴定 Elrolandanel LV7 Status.’
Three of the same creature, all close together, right in front of me.
They really do always appear in threes, no matter where or when.
But then again, perhaps that’s expected of lower-tier monsters—levels are unusually high.
If they evolve at level 10, the LV8 ones might evolve soon.
Though that future won’t come.
I quietly move behind them, unseen.
And here it is—the new weapon: the net throw!
Huh, is the name too obvious?
Doesn’t matter. I can’t come up with a fancy name every single time either.
Cromning Star smiled at himself the moment the idea struck.
Every time, being expected to deliver that level of quality is troublesome.
Thus, net throw—go!
Do not mistake this for a simple net.
This new weapon—well, naming it feels incomplete. Ah, explanation?
Yes, yes. Immediately after launch, it flies as a single unit. Upon reaching the target, it expands explosively like a spider's web, enveloping the opponent!
A dream combo achieved through the delicate structure of spider silk and masterful thread manipulation!
Three monsters are left helpless, trapped within the net.
Hahahaha.
Big catch, big catch!
Then, as usual, finish with the venomous fang.
Yes, gulp!
[Condition met. Title 'Venom Specialist' acquired.]
[Effect of Title 'Venom Specialist' activated. Acquired skill: 'Poison Synthesis LV1', 'Poison Magic LV1'.]
Hmm?
Oh?
Title acquired—yes!
Poison, huh. Poison, indeed!
Not bad. After all this time, finally—after a lifetime of using poison, finally.
Was this title really hard to obtain?
Or is it just that all previous titles had unusually strict conditions?
Is obtaining titles actually difficult?
Well, I got it. So what's the harm?
Skills acquired—Poison Synthesis and Poison Magic.
Poison Magic, as usual, remains unused. No idea how to apply it.
Magic fertilizer has increased again.
As for Poison Synthesis—still unclear what the effect actually is.
Poison Synthesis means creating poison, right?
But I'm a spider—my body already produces poison naturally.
No, no, no.
Testing the skill will have to wait for now.
For now, finish off the remaining two—better get rid of them quickly.
So, bite down with venom fangs.
[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Venom Fang LV7' upgraded to 'Venom Fang LV8'.]
Huh?
Oh?
Ohhh?
Is today a perfect day for poison?
Nice, nice.
If LV10 is maximum, LV8 must be extremely potent.
It worked well even against a venomous insect.
More satisfying than acquiring a title.
Good.
Carry the three slain monsters into the shadow of the rocks.
Ugh... my weak stats make moving three at once difficult.
Maybe I should have carried them one at a time.
Wait—
Didn't I do something similar before?
Didn’t I regret not doing it one at a time back then?
Hmm?
I don’t know!
I don’t remember any such past!
My memory isn’t the problem here!
That past never existed!
Right?
Good.
For now, let’s try synthesizing poison while eating.
I can’t actually use it properly—just guess at the incantation.
So, whisper, pray, focus—poison synthesis!
I actually focused, and something appeared.
Like the鉴定 screen—images formed in my mind.
『Poison Synthesis Menu』
『Weak Poison』
『Spider Venom LV8』
What is this?
Ah, but if it’s displaying like this, the鉴定 must be active.
『Poison Synthesis Menu: Allows synthesis of poison』
『Weak Poison: Extremely weak poison』
『Spider Venom LV8: Lethal venom secreted by spiders. LV8 is extremely powerful』
Hmm.
Is this spider venom originally mine?
Perhaps, at Toxicity Level 1, the substance normally producible is considered a mild poison?
Attempt selecting a weak poison.
A sphere of water rose before my eyes, then fell, forming a puddle on the ground.
Ah...
This won’t work without some kind of container?
The puddle was examined, as a matter of form.
Puddle of Weak Poison
Hmm.
As expected, it behaves like a weak poison.
I see—.
A skill that allows one to create poison without requiring materials or ingredients.
Would be quite convenient if I were human, but I am a spider, after all.
Depending on usage, it might prove useful.
Hmph.
The ability to produce poison at no cost is indeed remarkable.
Ah, no—wait.
MP is decreasing.
It was not cost-free.
Ah— the awkwardness level has risen sharply.
Perhaps higher levels will allow crafting more types of poison—but already being able to produce spider venom, a potent toxin, is sufficient.
Not particularly appealing.
But having a use is better than nothing.
Compared to the complete failure of magic-based methods, this is clearly effective.