I am hungry.

The old man and the hero departed.

There was no one else.

Ah, solitude is magnificent.

{I could use a more detailed explanation about this soon?}

Ah, since the Queen was there, I wasn’t alone after all.

Briefly recount the circumstances that led to charging into war after exiting the labyrinth.

Oh, Jesus

For reasons unknown, the Queen wept.

Crouch low enough to cradle the head in hands.

Why?

{Hey, main body}

What is it?

Do you understand your situation?

Hm.

Why are you causing trouble beyond just the Demon King, if you already understand?!

O-oh.

There's nothing to be done about it.

Annoyed, aren't you.

Got carried away and did it, didn't you.

{Sleepyhead, shut up!}

I am sorry.

{Hah. What's done is done. And really, is there any issue from stirring up war?}

None.

Honestly, with my current strength, I could repel any number of humans, no matter how many gathered.

{Well, judging by what you've said, that seems likely.}

Yeah.

So, no matter how much I disrupt human nations or subdue them by force, it won't matter.

Power is everything. A fine era indeed.

{No, this isn't some apocalyptic age. Order is maintained, for the most part. Unless some pest runs amok.}

Which pest, though?

{So, right now, the only issue is the Demon King?}

Yeah.

Even with all this chaos, Gyuriguri hasn't made contact.

{About that Demon King—have you noticed?}

Yeah, I have.

Huh. It's gotten pretty tangled, isn't it.

{What do you think will happen?}

I don’t know.

Honestly, I can’t predict it.

{Are you sure that’s okay?}

It’s not okay.

It’s a major problem.

{Hey}

No.

Seriously, if this continues, whether the Demon King wins or loses, the situation’s already become too entangled. It won’t return to its original state.

And I can’t predict how the entangled Demon King role will act.

I don’t even know what kind of person the Demon King is.

Worst case, they’ll become hostile.

{Yeah…}

If that happens, my only path forward is clear.

Avoid direct confrontation, gain experience somewhere, grow stronger—just a little.

Then rise to the Administrator class.

{Can you do it?}

Yeah.

In fact, I think I’m already one step away from that goal.

{I thought it was reckless, but I’ve already signaled the other Queen handlers to advance their infiltration.}

Nice.

Unifying the Queens will bring the goal into clear view.

{What should I do from now on?}

For now, wait for recovery.

When the Demon King moves, use teleportation to escape in the opposite direction.

{Understood.}

The Demon King is still fighting the Earth Dragon in the lowest layer.

The Earth Dragon is holding on stubbornly, but the outcome seems imminent.

Perhaps one more day.

Still, the Demon King cannot use teleportation, so the Earth Dragon’s defeat won’t immediately create danger.

It will take time for him to ascend from the lowest layer.

Accounting for that, there is still several days of leeway.

Use that time to do as much as possible.

And in parallel, there is something that must be done now.

The evolution has significantly reduced my SP.

Prior to evolution, recovery was required, so SP reserves were not high.

Now, the surplus from satiation has been depleted, reducing maximum SP to approximately half.

Food intake is necessary.

However, I do not wish to use the provisions currently stored at home.

These are also the Queen's supplies. It would be better to prioritize her consumption.

Thus, food must be obtained independently.

Hmm.

Having evolved into Arachne, I now possess two mouths: one human-like, one arachnid. Which should I use to eat?

Previously, the arachnid mouth was used. But I am curious—what would consumption via the human mouth be like?

More importantly, is this human form merely a shell?

It does have functional digestive organs, correct?

Sensory perception appears to function properly, and thought processes are possible in humanoid form—so organs are likely present in full.

Speaking of senses—would taste change if consuming food through the humanoid form?

Doubtful that taste would remain identical between spider and human forms.

To confirm, food must be acquired.

Ideally, something sweet—but returning to the city is no longer possible.

I made a mistake.

They haven’t contacted the city yet, I assume, but future veneration as a divine beast is over.

I helped them extensively—yet repaid that same measure in harm.

In that light, receiving reward for unpaid labor could be seen as fair.

A fair exchange.

Still, even if I think so, they won’t.

They’re probably convinced I betrayed them.

Returning to the battlefield is best avoided.

If I suddenly return to the battlefield and begin slaughtering again, the hero’s position could deteriorate further.

Even now, they perceive me as having vanished alongside them and returned unharmed—too many inconsistencies remain.

How the hero will be treated is uncertain. Still, one must rely on the old man’s capabilities.

Rely on them, can one?

Anxiety is rising.

Well, even if the hero perishes worst-case, our losses won’t be severe. That would simply be unavoidable.

At most, a sense of regret—wasted potential.

Then, I’ll go secure supplies.

Fortunately, there is a plan.

Three large meat portions marked earlier, left untouched all this time.

Then, let’s proceed to the rematch.

Targeting the Earth Dragon Trio—transferring.