191 Earth Spider

Digging a hole right now.

What am I doing?

I just said I'm digging a hole.

I am currently trespassing in the night city, secretly digging a hole in an inconspicuous vacant lot.

Using earth magic, I can dig without getting my hands dirty.

Unused soil is temporarily stored in an extradimensional space via void storage magic.

I dig a hole large enough to pass through, extending deep underground.

Once a sufficient depth is reached, I expand the interior space.

Eventually, a subterranean chamber of roughly room-sized dimensions is completed.

Hmm.

Not bad for my own work.

Now, I seal the entrance with earth, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding terrain.

I leave a small opening—just large enough for a thread to pass through—similar in size to an ant's nest.

This opening serves not only as a thread passage but also as an air vent.

Yet, such a small opening offers little reassurance. Proceeding horizontally, the tunnel is extended further.

At a considerable distance from the city, it opens to the surface.

The tunnel's diameter remains barely sufficient for human passage.

A secret basement is thus completed.

Reasons for constructing this exist in multiple forms.

One is intelligence gathering.

After my previous rampage, the outcome of subsequent conflicts remains unknown. Regular collection of information is necessary.

Thus, establishing a base beneath this familiar town seemed appropriate.

A second reason is as a refuge from the Demon King.

The Demon King’s escape prevention skill appears to have a limited effective range. As long as one remains outside that range, evasion is possible in advance.

The presence of teleportation and marking gives me a decisive advantage.

Yet, fleeing blindly risks a mistake at some point.

Therefore, I’ll prepare a few more makeshift hideouts like this one and move between them to evade pursuit.

Third one.

It’s more of a side task, really—just to observe the Vampire Child.

Born into the household of a high-ranking official during wartime.

Just that phrase alone suggests a life full of turmoil.

I could ignore it, but since it’s within reach, it’s hard not to notice.

Well, if I’m going to notice it, I might as well check on it.

Fourth one.

This is the most important.

Take a deep breath.

Tighten the abdomen.

Push.

It comes out.

Not messy.

An egg.

Yes. I’ll lay an egg here.

The egg I produced during the battle with the Demon King is confirmed to serve as the final refuge.

If all else fails, I can resurrect myself as long as this egg remains intact.

In a sense, it guarantees my immortality more securely than any skill.

Placing an egg at a secure location as a final contingency is essential.

I intend to establish several more sites identical to this one, and place an egg at each.

That way, destroying all eggs becomes nearly impossible.

Even if enemy forces overwhelm the strongholds through sheer numbers, as long as even one site survives, I can resurrect.

Body is immortal. Resurrection is possible.

Additionally, I will prevent escape routes to ensure I can teleport away if cornered.

What is that? Terrifying.

Even I don’t know how to defeat myself.

I thought about it.

The result is clear.

The means to defeat the Demon King vanish the moment the Demon King role fails.

No, that’s truly impossible.

Seriously, it cannot be defeated unless one reaches the Administrator class level.

Then, if it cannot be defeated, what is the solution?

A reversal of perspective.

Why not stop trying to defeat it?

And make ourselves an entity it cannot defeat either.

Thus, the Immortality Project has been activated.

Normally, being immortal would be meaningless—but I can execute it.

I’m starting to think it’s not unreasonable for the Demon King to call me a monster.

For now, I’ll deploy about ten eggs at a single base.

They will hatch if left unattended, so regular collection and repositioning are necessary.

Even with the effort, the number of eggs must always be maintained.

It’s the final fortress.

The hatchlings can be released into the Elro Great Labyrinth.

The seniors are progressing smoothly. Merging them will suffice.

As for supplies, some should be stored.

Hatchlings without food will struggle.

After resurrection, stats drop. Going without sustenance until recovery is impractical.

At minimum, store enough provisions to restore basic functionality—enough to activate teleportation.

Once decided, catch a water dragon and dry it for later use.

Even if slightly spoiled, it won’t be inedible. Still, preferable to eat something palatable.

Once two or three more bases are established, begin mass harvesting of water dragons.

That will be the plan.

But if I resurrect again… what form will I take?

A lap-sized arachnid?

Or perhaps initially arachnid-shaped, with humanoid forms emerging as it grows?

If it begins as a miniature arachnid, would the hatchlings also take that form?

Then the hatchlings already in the Elro Great Labyrinth would be a different species?

That would be interesting. Slightly enjoyable, actually.

Resurrection should be avoided if possible. It would be better if this egg hatched normally.