Kumodesu

I didn't expect a single skill to come with so many extras.

This really is a wonderful day.

Unfortunately, I still can't check the exact effects of each skill yet, so I have no idea what they actually do for me.

"I did it."

After celebrating a bit on my own, I informed the old man.

"Next is the skill [Soul Chain]," he said.

I nodded with anticipation.

"You can buy this skill from the Shop for 1400 Skill Points, or obtain it manually."

Fourteen hundred points?!

That stings a bit.

Even though I just got a bunch of great skills, spending 1400 Skill Points on this still feels like a huge loss.

"M-manually? What do you mean?"

"I'll have you use a support artifact."

There's an artifact too?!

"Underneath the house I used to live in, there's a basement where you'll find an artifact called 'Soul Shackles.' Its function is almost identical to the skill, but it's weaker and uses your own soul energy instead of SP."

"You can practice with that first, and once you've used it enough, you'll gain the skill. Pretty simple, right?"

Sounds anything but simple!

But compared to shelling out my own points, using someone else's gear seems like the better deal. I think I should try this method first.

"Let's go with that, then."

"Alright. I'll return you to the real world now."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a blinding beam of light appeared.

Ugh… light again.

I hate light!!

Along with my own scream, I found myself back at the beginning—back to being a spider. The lingering sensation of having a human body still hadn't faded, so I wasn't quite used to moving like a spider again.

Anyway, I'd better get going and find that artifact.

Before heading out, I grabbed the journal and some food, then left the underground chamber. As I stepped back outside, the ruins of this place looked completely different to me now.

After all, a lot of people died here.

I just hope they don't come back to haunt me.

I quickly made my way to the small house and descended into the basement, heading straight to the largest room I'd discovered earlier. There were many magical artifacts here, and according to the old man, the one I needed looked like a chain.

I began searching, and soon enough, I found it.

It had been thrown all the way to the bottom, so it took a bit of time to dig out.

After brushing off the dust, its original black color revealed itself.

Now that I had the item... how do I use it?

I forgot to ask the old man.

Is there a way to contact him again?

The journal!

I quickly flipped it open, but it was still blank.

Do I have to write something in it? But in my current form, how the heck am I supposed to write?

Mr. Loyral~

Come in, do you read me?

Hello???

I called out several times, but there was no response.

"I'm here."

There it is!

A voice came from the journal.

"I've got the item. How do I use it?"

"All you need to do is pierce the chain into your target's body, then infuse it with your soul energy. That will activate its soul-dragging effect. However, transferring soul energy is quite painful—it's like tearing off a piece of your own soul. Even the skill [Soul Attack Resistance] won't help ease the pain. But if you keep doing it, you'll gradually get used to the sensation. Only when you upgrade the skill to [Soul Attack Immunity] will the pain disappear completely."

Ugh… I have to endure pain too?

I'm already thinking about quitting.

No... let's push through a little more.

"Alright, let's do this!"

I carried the chain out and returned to the fourth floor for testing, since the creatures there were still manageable for me.

I picked a small, sleeping rat as my test target.

I missed on the first throw, waking the rat up, so I had to retreat and wait for it to fall asleep again before continuing.

Stay calm, me.

It's not like I missed because I'm scared of the pain or anything!

One... two... three... THROW!

Bullseye!

The end of the chain pierced right into the rat's body.

It woke up, squeaking in pain and scrambling around in panic, but I had already anchored the other end, so there was no way it could escape.

Now comes the important part!

Alright, I can do this!

I've felt this kind of thing before during my [Scan] training—this won't be any worse.

Just need to...

Wait, hold on...

I don't actually know how to transmit soul energy, do I?

Yeah... I don't know at all.

Guess I'll need the old man's help again.

But honestly... maybe it's a good thing I don't know yet? I mean, figuring it out myself might be better in the long run, right? Things feel more secure when you do them on your own.

Yeah.

I'll take my time and figure it out.

Just as I made up my mind, a voice spoke up again: "Oh, I forgot to tell you how to transmit soul energy."

Why do you always speak up at the worst possible time?!

I sobbed internally.

"Are you alright?"

Damn you, old man!

"I'm listening."

"Good. Just imagine your soul as a lake full of water. Normally, this lake is sealed shut so no water leaks out. What you need to do now is open up a new channel."

That explanation actually made sense.

But when I tried doing it, I couldn't imagine any lake at all.

It's not like I wasn't trying, okay?!

"Are you taking this seriously?"

I am trying!

...Well, trying a little.

"Old man, it's not that I don't want to do it, but I seriously don't know how to imagine it."

"This is difficult at first, but as long as you focus on yourself, you'll get there."

Yeah, easy for you to say...

I don't get it at all.

"Remember, focus on your soul—not your outer appearance."

So I can't think of myself as a spider?

Well, that makes sense.

It's not like I wanted to be a spider anyway.

So I started recalling the image of my former human self, and slowly turned that into water.

Sounds strange, but this actually worked.

A lake began to form in my mind.

Then, when I tried to open a crack in it...

An intense wave of pain slammed into me and knocked me to the ground.

The lake vanished instantly.

Ouch... ouch...

Yup, not pleasant at all.

I figured I'd better get used to the sensation first before trying soul-pulling. That rat I captured had already run off anyway, so I returned to the fifth floor.

Now it was time to get familiar with this horrible feeling.

I imagined the lake again, but didn't open it right away. I focused on keeping it stable, and tried to pick a spot that felt right.

I had just asked Mr. Loyral if different exit points affected the pain, and he confirmed it.

If I could find the most compatible point, it would hurt less. I started feeling around the lake's edges and tried opening a small hole.

Ah!

Even a tiny opening hurt this much?

But at least I didn't pass out.

Wait a second...

If I work alone, this could take forever.

But I have [Parallel Thinking], don't I?

I could try probing two spots at once.

But... would that make the pain twice as bad?

Nah, I'll be fine.

I created a second version of myself and had it search in the opposite direction. The method was simple: create tiny holes to let the water drip slowly, and compare which one hurt less.

Whichever one hurts the least—that's my ideal spot.

And thus began my self-inflicted torture journey.

One spot... two spots...

Pain... pain...

Three spots... four spots...

Too much pain!

Too much pain!

Stop! Stop!

Time for a little break...

"Mr. Loyral... Mr. Loyral!"

"I'm here."

"How much time do I have left?"

I asked because I was afraid that while I was still training, his wife's soul might vanish. And then he'd come after me for revenge.

"Last time I checked, Seryl's soul was still protected by a barrier. But some spirits were trying to break through it."

"Huh?! Doesn't that mean the longer this takes, the more dangerous it gets?!"

Oh no, I need to hurry up!

"It is quite dangerous. But those spirits are weakened, so their attacks aren't very strong. Plus, that barrier was created by the Spirit Queen herself. Based on my calculations, if they keep attacking at this rate, the barrier will hold for another 13 years."

Phew...

That's a relief.

Thirteen years... I've got plenty of time then.

...Wait a minute.

"H-how long ago was that 'last check,' exactly?"

"Hmm... about 12 years ago, I think?"

I knew it!!

This kind of twist is just too familiar!

I still have to hurry.

"Got it. I'll keep training."

"Don't pressure yourself too much. Even if you fail, I'll accept it."

He actually sounds pretty reasonable...

But sorry, what I'm really after is the skill. I want to master it as soon as possible so I can feel at ease.

Am I being too selfish?

Well... as long as I do everything I can to help him, it's fine.

I returned to my lake.

The feeling... was just as awful as before.