It might sound disappointing to some.
Especially to the three siblings who would be thrilled at the thought of getting a new father.
But I’m not asking the centipede mom out on a date.
I have absolutely no intention of becoming her new husband.
Isn’t that obvious?
I’m a snake, and she’s a centipede.
We’re different species from the start.
It’s true that the centipede mom has a gentle personality, a kind heart, and at times, she’s an attractive older woman with a strong will. She’s also very powerful.
But honestly, her appearance… is not my type.
I prefer the slender type with long, delicate limbs and smooth skin.
Well, the centipede mom’s limbs are relatively delicate for her size.
And while it’s not skin, her carapace is smooth.
…At the very least, there should be no poisonous claws or antennae. That’s non-negotiable.
This is a recruitment proposal.
A proposal for the enemy general, the giant centipede, to join the zoo animals with her subordinates.
If this proposal succeeds, the situation will change.
It will be the completion of a true tripartite division of the world.
Our Shu kingdom, no, our group will have power equivalent to the other groups.
“Still no answer?”
Unfortunately, whether the taming was successful or not wasn’t immediately clear.
The centipede mom was still frozen, just twitching her antennae. She seems to be considering it.
For some reason, I feel like I’m on pins and needles.
Why isn’t she answering?
The centipede mom looks around warily.
Pelerian warned,
“Spider!”
Damn it.
I clearly checked that there were no spiders around.
I wondered where it came from, but surprisingly, it was crawling out of the tunnel I had come from.
Countless pitch-black spiders, each the size of a chestnut, are crawling out.
The centipede mom growled.
“Keeht!”
「You have failed to tame ‘Crimson Teeth Giant Centipede lv60’.」
Oh no!
I’m filled with anger at the spiders who ruined my speech.
I didn’t consider the possibility of the persuasion failing!
It must have been my groundless confidence.
Still, things didn’t become awkward between the centipede mom and me.
She stepped forward as if to protect me.
She doesn’t seem to be afraid of those small spiders.
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Those spiders started to gather in one place.
As if by magic, the cluster of spiders became one giant spider.
Demon Face Tarantula.
The ominous spider I had seen from afar.
It seems to be the rival of the giant centipede.
The giant centipede menacingly flicks her antennae.
The sudden appearance of this spider here means…
“You’ve, planned, an interesting, scheme, Snake.”
The lips attached to its abdomen wriggle.
Oh no, did it hear everything?
“As expected, of, a group, leader.”
Even though it stutters, its tone is gentlemanly.
But doesn’t this spider realize that its polite attitude makes it seem even more villainous?
Right, now that the plan has been exposed, we kill this spider here.
If we can’t kill it, we run away immediately.
I slightly crouched my body.
It seems the centipede mom has the same idea of finishing off the spider here.
The insects under the giant centipede’s control slowly started to gather.
The same was true for the other side.
The tunnel must have already connected to another place, as spiders were crawling out of that hole like crazy.
A powder keg situation.
While I was preparing for the Leap of Heart-eating, wondering where its heart might be located,
“You’re, misunderstanding. I have, no intention, of doing anything, to you.”
The face attached to the spider’s abdomen made a comical expression.
“It’s an, excellent, idea. We weren’t, on, such bad terms, anyway, were we?”
“Keke.”
The centipede mom nodded.
I stepped forward slightly.
‘What, so you’re just going to turn a blind eye?’
“That’s, right.”
Surprisingly, I could communicate quite well with this guy.
0.9 Nanaluk.
But for unlikeability, 1.2 Silver Chimpanzee.
“You know this guy is incredibly suspicious, right?”
How could I not?
I was just curious about its intentions.
So I asked directly.
‘Why? You’re going to turn a blind eye to your comrade’s betrayal because you’re not on good terms?’
“Comrade?”
The spider’s eyes widened.
I see, so the centipede is not a comrade.
“Betrayal?”
And betrayal as well.
“Both, are incorrect. We are, a colony. I don’t, need, that centipede and her insects.”
Well, that makes sense.
From its perspective, the centipede mom must be a thorn in its side, sharing the experience points that Riokku would share.
Moreover, the bad relationship between spiders and centipedes seems to be common sense in this world.
“So, it would be good, if they left, of their own accord.”
‘But that Riokku wouldn’t think so, right?’
“You mean, the swamp monster.”
As expected, there was not a hint of respect or affection when mentioning its own leader.
It’s easy to read its expressions because it has a face.
In fact, mentioning Riokku was meant to test it.
I wonder how intelligent Riokku is.
Does it at least try to protect its subordinates, or at least have some sense of possession?
“You’re, right. It would, be angry.”
That’s not good.
If it didn’t care, we could have easily taken the centipede mom.
“So, I propose, a deal. To you, Snake.”
The spider raised its front legs cunningly.
“I’ll, turn a blind eye. Take, the centipede. But in return…”
‘In return?’
“Not now. Soon, a fight, will start. Between the swamp monster, and the silver monkey. Take her, after that. I’ll, turn a blind eye.”
That was the spider’s proposal.
It would turn a blind eye to the centipede mom’s recruitment if we waited. Until Riokku and the monkey fight.
At first glance, it seemed like a proposal with no downsides.
I raised my tail to indicate that I would consider it for a moment.
Then I quietly discussed with Pelerian near the centipede mom.
“There’s nothing to lose by listening.”
‘Disappointing.’
“What?”
‘You don’t know the basics of negotiation.’
Pelerian made an indignant expression.
“Explain.”
‘You can’t negotiate if you’re so soft.’
This is something I learned through direct experience in my previous life.
When negotiating, you shouldn’t show weakness.
‘Spider.’
The humanoid spider looked at me.
‘That’s not enough.’
“What, do you mean?”
‘A deal isn’t just about receiving. Isn’t this extortion? Suddenly showing up and telling us to do as you say.’
“What’s, extortion?”
‘You don’t care whether Riokku gets angry or not anyway. So if it’s a deal, there should be an exchange.’
The spider’s expression became puzzled.
As expected, although it speaks like a gentleman, its intelligence doesn’t seem very high.
I can tell by how confused it looks when I speak complexly.
‘Let me make a proposal. After you quietly retreat with the centipedes, attack the monkeys first.’
“And then? When the monkeys die?”
‘Then you’re on your own.’
“That’s… reasonable.”
‘You need to give something in return too. Whether it’s material or… personally, I…’
I said lightly, as if just throwing it out there.
‘Do you happen to have any inner cores to give?’
“…How did you know?”
‘Know what?’
“That I… make inner cores…”
The spider showed wariness.
How did I know…
──────────────
[Demon Face Tarantula lv65]
[Traits]
[Mimic], [Artisan]
──────────────
The Artisan trait.
It was something that the dearly missed centipede couple had.
Moreover, isn’t it a rule in martial arts novels that human-faced spiders originally have inner cores?
The spider flicked its front legs as if pondering.
“Alright, please, wait, a moment.”
As the humanoid spider turned its body, small spiders covered its body.
It looks like it’s hiding something.
When the small spiders retreated again, it brought out something that looked like a pitch-black bead.
“Hooh!”
The magical energy is extraordinary, it really is an inner core.
Having already eaten two, I knew immediately.
‘I’ll take it.’
“Keep, your promise.”
I looked back at the centipede mom once more.
‘Then, I’ll see you in a little while.’
“Keke.”
It must be my imagination that the centipede mom looks shy.
The tunnel I came through will be crawling with spiders.
And it’s impossible to return by land.
I looked at the spider one last time.
It seemed to expect me to enter the tunnel.
‘I’m warning you. Don’t get any funny ideas.’
「Using Emergency Return lv20.」
I returned to my group.