Chapter 4: Meeting in Another World
*Crack!*
The sound of an eggshell splitting rang out, and Shirazawa burst forth from the darkness.
"Reincarnation successful! Banzai!"
Shirazawa cheered in excitement. He had finally shed his human identity and gained a new life! Being human was far too weak; it was definitely better to stop being one. Non-humans are the best!
Shirazawa observed his surroundings and found himself in a pitch-black cavern. He was surrounded by countless Lesser Taratects who, like him, had just been born.
"Oh my, oh my... a disaster-level start?"
"I can't believe Wakaba threw me into a place like this. Really now, I'm the one who took her first kiss—shouldn't she be a little nicer to me?"
"Well, whatever. At least I reincarnated in the same place as the little spider. That's a decent start."
"Now, let me find where my little spider is."
Clambering out of his spider egg with some unpracticed movements, Shirazawa first took a moment to familiarize himself with his new body. Though it was a spider's form, it moved surprisingly smoothly.
"I'm free—!!"
A high-pitched, excited voice drifted over from a distance. Shirazawa looked toward the sound and saw a petite figure charging out of a spider egg.
"Found her."
Though she looked identical to the surrounding spiders, a spider that could talk was clearly the only one of its kind. If it wasn't Spider-chan, who else could it be?
"Ehhhhh—"
Her reaction shifted instantly from excitement to shock. After all, reincarnating as a spider isn't exactly something a normal person can accept right away.
"Stay calm! Stay calm!"
"This must be that 'Reincarnation in Another World' thing that's so popular online. But why a spider, hey?!"
"Ah!! You can't do this! How did I end up as a spider!"
Watching her roll around on the ground, Shirazawa couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ahem... Calm down, Wakaba-san!"
Shirazawa put on a mock-stern face and stepped closer. Even though she was a double for the Evil God, based on her current state, she had inherited all of Wakaba's memories. For all intents and purposes, she *was* Wakaba right now. Even if Shirazawa tried to explain the truth, she probably wouldn't believe him. Might as well live through this muddle together until they reach godhood.
"Are? (Huh?)"
The little spider looked up in confusion. "A hallucination?"
"I thought I heard a really annoying voice."
"No way, no way. It's impossible. That guy Shirazawa couldn't possibly be here."
Wakaba shook her head, repeatedly denying this terrifying possibility.
"Heh, well that's unfortunate. The 'annoying guy' you're talking about is right in front of your eyes."
At the sound of his light laughter, Wakaba's eight eyes widened in shock.
"Hmm? Could it be..."
Wakaba covered her mouth in disbelief, staring at Shirazawa for a long time as if she'd seen a ghost. "Shirazawa... san?" she asked tentatively.
"It's me," Shirazawa nodded.
"Ehhhhh—"
Receiving a definitive answer, Wakaba immediately went into "emo mode." It was bad enough reincarnating as a spider, but why did she have to reincarnate with *this* guy? She didn't want this!!
"Sorry, but that's the reality of the situation."
Shirazawa spread his two front spider-legs helplessly and shrugged.
"Fine. Since it's come to this, I have no choice but to accept it."
Wakaba hung her head in dejection, seemingly ready to give up the struggle.
"Hey! Wakaba!"
Shirazawa reached out a feeler to touch her forehead, but she dodged it.
"What!"
"I don't think now is the time for small talk. We'd better leave this place fast," Shirazawa reminded her kindly, pointing at the massive dark shadow behind her.
"Hmm?"
Wakaba turned around and instantly froze in place. A gargantuan black spider was opening its bloody maw, its hideous fangs glinting with a cold light. Eight crimson compound eyes emitted a predatory, murderous glare.
"Whoa! Is that Papa?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Mother Spider's massive front leg swung down heavily toward her.
*BOOM!*
A powerful gust of wind pressure hit her face, blowing her over. A scream immediately followed.
"Waaaah!! It turns out it's Mama! Sumimasen!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs, she manipulated her eight legs to run for her life.
"..."
Shirazawa watched this scene in silence. This personality didn't match that Evil God at all; it really was the soul of the little spider.
"Shirazawa! What are you standing there for? Retreat, move it!"
Running back to his side, Wakaba grabbed him and bolted toward the exit. He felt like a flag flapping in the wind, a bit disheveled.
"Hey, I can run by myself! Put me down! Ah—"
Inside the cave, Shirazawa's startled cries and Wakaba's screams echoed together.
*Thud!*
With a dull sound, Shirazawa and Wakaba tumbled to the ground together.
"Phew... we should be safe here, right?"
"I almost thought I was a goner..."
The two of them lay slumped on the ground, panting heavily, hearts still pounding with fear.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Shirazawa asked after scanning the area and finding no immediate danger.
"I-I'm okay..."
Wakaba instinctively reached up to wipe away non-existent sweat from her forehead, only to realize spiders don't sweat.
"By the way, why did we reincarnate as spiders?"
"A natural disaster? A terrorist attack?"
"Or am I actually a vegetable lying in a hospital bed, and this is all a dream?"
"Or maybe... I'm actually just a spider that happens to have my memories?"
Shirazawa: "..."
*Good grief, she actually stumbled onto the truth. Her logic is a bit too sharp.*
"Ahem, well... Wakaba-san, there's no point thinking about that now. We should focus on how to survive in this world. After all, we are now the 'enemies of humanity'—monsters."
"Mm... so, Shirazawa-kun, any ideas?"
Wakaba blinked her pink spider eyes. *Wait, can spiders blink?*
"Hmm~ We lack information. First, we need to gather some useful intel."
Shirazawa stood up, brushed non-existent dust off his butt, and began to survey their surroundings.
"Following the 'Other World' tropes, there should be a 'System-kun' for leveling up and fighting monsters. We should start by learning an Appraisal-type skill."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Wakaba nodded in total agreement.
[You possess a total of 100 Skill Points. You may spend 100 points to learn
The voice of the System Goddess suddenly echoed in both of their minds, giving Wakaba a fright. It actually existed!
[Yes / No. Learn?]
There was nothing to think about. Appraisal was the ultimate cheat skill in isekai light novels. Naturally...
"Learn!" x2
[Learned