185 The Small Hero

No, no, no.

This is beyond unacceptable.

The hero—her stats are certainly much higher than those of the average mob?

But even so—bringing a child onto the battlefield like this?

There’s a limit to how out of place one can be.

Ah... ah...

Upon closer inspection, they're trembling.

How pitiful.

Huh?

The cause of the trembling?

What is it?

Seriously, why is the hero even here?

The fact that a hero is such a small child is surprising—but that they're even on a battlefield at all is impossible.

Is that it?

A lesson in death, showing the battlefield to a child from an early age?

Could it really happen?

A victory battle—normally I should’ve just been observing—but the moment I appeared, the situation shifted entirely. I couldn’t help but rush out.

Hmm.

Cannot say for certain, since I don’t understand this hero’s personality.

The Hero swings the sword downward.

The sword is disproportionately large relative to the body—only two options: swing downward or swing around.

Dodge with ease.

Unlike the Demon Lord, this Hero possesses conventional strength.

Age is the only anomaly.

Still, that means future potential is high.

Thus, eliminating him now would be wasteful.

Better to wait. Let him grow. Let him mature.

The more he grows, the more favorable the outcome.

Being chosen as Hero at such a young age—this implies immense future promise.

Destroying him now would be excessive.

Therefore, Hero.

I will let you live.

But I will take the pathetic adult trembling behind you.

Ah. Detecting large-scale magic preparation.

Gah.

This will include the Hero!

What is he thinking!?

Intervention is too late.

I could take it without issue, but the Hero might struggle.

No choice.

I’ll teleport him away.

I deflect the Hero’s desperate sword strike with minimal effort, then rapidly construct the teleportation spell.

Ugh—construction on the other side is faster than anticipated.

Bad—already fired.

A wide-area fire blast impacts.

Reduced in power by Divine Dragon Energy and the Dragon Barrier, but still incinerates the surrounding area.

Including the Hero, standing nearby.

I failed to react in time.

In the midst of the explosive expansion of flames, I initiate teleportation.

The battlefield’s previous chaos replaced by silence so complete it feels unreal.

I return via teleport to the Elro Great Labyrinth.

Retrieve the Hero.

Quickly assess the Hero’s condition.

HP is significantly reduced, unconscious, but not mortally wounded.

The clothing appears to be of high quality, with substantial defensive properties.

Ah, though the white scarf is more than half-burned.

Begin treatment.

It would be a waste to let such a promising future resource die here.

Also, adjust the scarf slightly.

Cut away the burned sections of thread, reconnect with new thread, and knit it back together using thread manipulation.

Hmm.

Even I must admit, this is well done.

Given the quality of thread used, fit for a Hero, but reinforced with my own thread—this increases defensive capability further.

It will surely prevent a fatal neck wound.

“Huh!? This boy—Hero!?”

The old mage notices our arrival via teleportation.

Ah, right—this old man had identification ability, didn’t he.

Realized the child is the Hero, then.

Ah, good idea.

I’ll pass this Hero off to the old man.

It’s about time I sent him back, and if he takes the Hero with him, it’s a two birds, one stone situation.

I can quietly remove the Villain, and return the Hero too. Perfect.

I’ll do that.

Once decided, communication must be established.

To communicate, I must be able to speak.

My current level—thanks to the massacre just now—has surpassed fifty with ease.

In other words, evolution is finally possible.

Therefore, I’ll evolve. Please handle matters in the meantime.

{Alrighty then.}

I’ll leave the rest to the Queen.

[Individual Zana Holowa is evolving into Arachne.]

It took a long time, but I’ve finally reached a form close to humanoid.

Ah, but wait a moment.

Arachne has a human upper body and a spider’s lower body, right?

Diminishing, aren't we?

Ah!

Damn it!

The eighth Eye Festival won't be possible anymore!

No.

Even worse—am I female?

I’ve always assumed I was female, but spider genders? No way to tell.

I suppose I’m female because I can lay eggs. But the skill’s power—could a male do it too?

Please don’t tell me I’ll turn into some muscular man with a humanoid upper body after evolving?

Ah, that might actually work.

Could it?

Ah, no—evolution’s starting.

Ugh!?

My body’s… cracking?

It hasn’t changed much before, but this time it’s drastic.

Gah—gah—gah.

Pain suppression works, so it doesn’t hurt. But the sensation is… unnatural.

My body’s growing larger.

Not just cracking anymore—now it’s throbbing.

No shedding. How is it even getting bigger?

Is this some fantasy world where thinking about it means losing?

The expansion of the body concludes. Now, a tingling sensation begins atop the head.

Something is growing—nudging, pushing.

Huh?

An extremely strange sensation.

As if consciousness is splitting into two, despite not using parallel thinking.

Then, the construction of the newly grown entity completes.

[Evolution complete.]

[Species: Arachne acquired.]

[All base stats increased.]

[Skill proficiency evolution bonus obtained.]

And I have completed evolution.