Chapter 21: Deviant Thoughts, Dame!
"Ahaha, sorry about that."
Shiro stuck out her tongue and turned her gaze toward the Guneseven across the way. Her playful grin vanished, replaced by a look of intense gravity. No matter what, she was getting that gourmet meal into her stomach today!
[Skill activation:
Shiro's gaze sharpened, locking onto the catfish's large head exposed above the magma. Her legs coiled like springs, and she launched herself into the air, spitting a deluge of spider silk.
"Ah!!! Ura-ura-ura-ura...!"
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
The sky full of white silk wrapped around the Guneseven's head, binding it like a zongzi before yanking it toward the shore.
"GET! UP! HERE!"
An unprecedented, terrifying strength erupted from Shiro's body. The tiny spider hauled a creature hundreds of times larger than herself out of the lava, executing a super-invincible over-the-shoulder throw that sent it flying!
*Thump!*
A dull explosion rang in their ears. Shirazawa heard the distinct *crunch* of shattering bone.
He thought to himself, *Brutal...*
The Gunaseven slammed heavily against the stone wall, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Huff... huff..." Shiro gasped, her chest heaving.
Shirazawa couldn't help but be amazed. This was the most vicious girl—no, female spider—he had ever seen. The big catfish tried to resist, but it was immediately met with a face full of venom.
*Glug, glug, glug...*
Soon, its body stiffened and it lay motionless, its life force completely extinguished. Shiro licked her lips, her eyes full of anticipation.
"It's time to eat!"
Without waiting another second, she took a massive bite. Instantly, the fresh, succulent flavor exploded across her taste buds.
"Mmm~ mmm~"
Shiro closed her eyes, letting out a groan of pure bliss.
*Drip, drop...*
Two tears of happiness spilled from her eyes, wetting her delicate small face.
"Waaaaah!"
Shiro burst into tears, letting her emotions out without a care for her image. Shirazawa, standing nearby, was completely stunned.
"What's wrong...?" He felt helpless. Though he didn't quite understand why she was crying, he reached out a small claw and gently patted her back.
"Wooo... I-I don't know, I just really want to cry."
Shiro threw herself into Shirazawa's embrace, sobbing pitifully as she wiped her tears and snot on him.
Shirazawa: "..."
Perhaps after enduring so much misfortune, this sudden, small bit of happiness was the breaking point that allowed her to vent all her inner sorrow and bitterness. In this moment, Shiro looked incredibly fragile.
After a long while.
Shiro finally stopped crying. She cautiously raised her head to peek at Shirazawa, a blush visible on her face. *You're a spider; can spiders even blush?*
"Ahem." Shirazawa cleared his throat, patting Shiro's head in a mock-serious manner to comfort her. "It's okay. Life is only going to get better from here."
"Mm..." Shiro nodded obediently, her face turning even redder. "...Thank you," she whispered.
That "thank you" made Shirazawa freeze. He stared at her, dumbfounded. Shiro's voice was soft and tender, barely a whisper, yet it gave him a strange sensation. In that split second, Shirazawa even had a delusion... *maybe we should name the kid Shiro-lo, works for both genders.*
"Munch, munch... so good... munch, munch..."
The emotional cleansing brought Shiro back to her true nature: a massive glutton. Seeing her eat with such gusto, Shirazawa's own appetite was whetted. He loved the expression of pure joy she made while eating; no matter the situation, seeing her enjoy a meal made him feel at peace.
*Burp!*
Shiro patted her rounded belly and let out a satisfied burp, leaning contentedly against Shirazawa to enjoy a rare moment of leisure.
"Shirazawa." After a silence, she spoke softly. "Tell me... what is the point of us being reincarnated in this world?"
Shirazawa fell silent for a few seconds. He raised a small claw to scratch his bald head, thinking deeply.
"Hmm, the point..." He frowned in thought before coming to a conclusion. "...To find some fun!"
"Fun..." Shiro pondered. But for so long, aside from eating catfish, what was there to be happy about?
Shirazawa sighed. "Fun belongs to 'someone' else. We are like actors on a stage, treated as entertainment for others to watch."
Shiro stiffened, then a look of determination crossed her face. "I don't want to be someone else's entertainment!"
"See? Haven't you found your purpose now?" Shirazawa looked at her with a smile. "Before, our goal was just to survive at all costs. Now, it should be to live freely."
"No one can stop us, even if that 'someone' is a God."
As Shiro looked at Shirazawa's determined eyes, her heart began to race.
"Taking control of our own destiny... that is the purpose we're chasing."
"So, don't give up hope. Don't give up on freedom!" He spoke earnestly, his dark eyes shining with brilliance.
Shiro watched him, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes grew moist. "Mm..." she choked out a response, lowering her head to hide the sudden rush of emotion. In this moment, all the gloom, suppression, and pain seemed to fade away, leaving only Shirazawa's handsome side profile.
Shirazawa's voice was soothing, like a gentle stream. He was like a youth full of sunshine—warm and bright.
"...You're right. We should live life on our own terms."
Shiro tilted her chin up, her eyes flashing with a dazzling, proud light. She grinned, her smile sweet and radiant, as if she possessed the entire world.
This time, it was Shirazawa's heart that skipped a beat. He stared at her, forgetting to look away. *When Shiro smiles, she's actually really sweet.*
*Dame! Dame!*
*Shiro is still a small spider right now! Stop those dangerous thoughts immediately!*
Shirazawa felt his breathing hitch. He abruptly jerked his head away, staring into the rolling heat of the magma. He cursed himself for being so pathetic—how could he be mesmerized by a spider? He needed to go slay a couple of monsters to cleanse his mind! Otherwise... he felt like he might become a deviant criminal.
*Splash!*
As if on cue, a massive figure rose from the lava lake.
[Monster]: Elroe Gunerave
[Level]: 4
[HP]: 1470 / 1470
[MP]: 530 / 530
[SP]: 998 / 998 (928 / 928)
[Average Ability]: 1000
[Skills]:
[Description]: Commonly known as the Eel. A mid-rank Wyrm species that looks like an eel with limbs. The evolved form of the catfish. Danger Rank: B.
"Whoa, a big one showed up. Shiro-chan, time to work!"
"An eel? Is it tasty?"
"..."