52 Thread, sorrow, strength

Shh.

Right, good!

Left, good!

Front, target confirmed!

『Elrokhokoro LV7

HP: 67/89 (Green)

MP: 21/21 (Blue)

SP: 79/79 (Yellow)

: 54/85 (Red)

Status assessment failed』

Ahead, a massive creature resembling a pill bug.

Body is pill bug-like, but head is rodent-like.

Clarify whether it is mammal or insect.

If it is a pill bug, it likely increases defense when curled.

Earlier, when fighting a turtle-like monster, I had difficulty when it retracted into its shell.

But with my thread, it will be immobilized before it can curl.

Thus, net deployment ready.

Terya!

Hit!

Now just guide the thread—easy as that.

[System notification: Conditions met. Title 'Threadweaver' acquired.]

[System notification: Title 'Threadweaver' grants access to skills 'Manipulate Thread LV1' and 'Cut Thread LV1'.]

[System notification: 'Manipulate Thread LV1' merged into 'Manipulate Thread LV5'.]

[System notification: Mastery level reached. Skill 'Manipulate Thread LV5' upgraded to 'Manipulate Thread LV6'.]

Hmm?

Oh?

Got the title!

Threadweaver?

The very archetype of that over-the-top fantasy trope?

Just a moment—no time for you, little pillbug. Let’s finish this quickly.

Agreed?

No?

No problem.

Then, fangs out.

Carry it into the rock shadow. Now.

Proceeding to analyze the newly acquired title.

Threadweaver. The condition was probably just... using thread excessively?

Hmm?

Could’ve gotten this title a bit sooner, actually.

Maybe another condition exists.

Anyway, no point worrying about the acquisition conditions of a title already obtained.

The key is whether it functions.

And I’m certain.

This title will work.

Well, I already received the level-up for Thread Manipulation, so the result’s already been delivered.

Thread Manipulation is increasing in importance daily, and gaining levels is very satisfying.

That alone justifies this title’s worth.

But my focus is now fixed on another skill.

Cutting Thread.

Honestly, doesn’t that word tickle the inner otaku?

It’s basically that, right?

Cutting enemies with threads, like slicing through them?

N-no way!

An invisible slash!?

What…?

What’s being cut?

C-can it be… the thread!?

That’s what this development means, right?

Heh.

Good.

This is good.

Well, setting aside the childish enthusiasm, this does seem like a significant increase in combat capability.

Until now, my only offensive method was my venomous fangs.

Now, finally, I have another means of attack.

And it’s my main weapon—my thread—becoming that weapon. It’s perfect.

Oh, right. I haven’t even鉴定ed it yet, nor tested it. I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.

First,鉴定.

『Cutting Thread: Imparts cutting property to thread』

Hmm.

Exactly as the name suggests.

I was worried it might have some absurd effect.

At least one concern is resolved.

The remaining issues are whether it can be applied to spider silk, whether it activates reliably, and how effective it is at level one.

What’s useful here is the pill bug I just eliminated!

Come on, be the test subject.

First, produce spider silk.

Set strength to maximum, adhesion to zero.

Swing the thread toward the pill bug’s corpse while chanting: Cut Thread.

Ah, seems to have activated properly, by feel.

The thread rebounds off the pill bug’s body.

Mm.

Guess level one doesn’t deliver much force.

But… there’s a mark on it.

If level one can do this, it’s sufficient.

Previous skills at level one were mostly ineffective. Being able to mark a tough pill bug at level one suggests solid performance.

Incidentally, what about the cost?

Is MP decreasing?

MP remains unchanged.

SP doesn’t decrease due to Gluttony’s effect, so it’s hard to tell.

But considering things like poison synthesis, it's unlikely there's no consumption at all.

That would mean the red gauge doesn't decrease at all—yet internally, it's slightly diminishing.

Hard to tell how much it would normally consume, but the cost efficiency doesn't seem poor.

And since Gluttony will keep the red stamina gauge lasting longer in the future, it's probably fine.

Next, attempt to add adhesive properties to the thread.

Attack the pillbug as before.

Hmm?

Hmm.

Activation worked properly, but no wound appeared.

Well, this was roughly expected.

Through prior experiments, it was already known that spider silk has limits in customizable properties.

For instance, maximizing adhesiveness makes maintaining elasticity difficult.

It's not impossible, but the effect diminishes significantly.

There is a maximum limit to the properties that can be applied to a single thread—essentially, a distribution of values across each attribute.

Thus, by applying adhesive properties to the thread this time, the addition of cutting properties could not reach its maximum potential.

Balancing adhesion and cutting ability is not impossible, but it seems impractical.

Still, the Cutting Thread skill is highly effective.

It complements me exceptionally well.

This skill level should be raised immediately.

Therefore, Dangomushi.

Though you are already dead, I ask you to endure one more round of punishment—accompany me in raising your skill level.

I continued to force the Cutting Thread skill into Dangomushi.