Chapter 69

00069 Vivian La Classider

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Vivian had metamorphosed from a human into a spider. To undergo this transformation, either physical modification or infection was necessary, and both processes required a catalyst called a "core." The core could be any material that contained mana, with the most common example being a mana stone. Although one might think of a mana stone as trivial, Vivian's case was different from the norm.

The mana stone within her body gradually became a core, which could be likened to a heart or the central hub of mana in a human. It was a place that contained mana, was balanced, and through which countless flows of mana passed daily. Over time, the mana stone, now a core, transformed into a kind of inner dantian that held deep mana.

Of course, it couldn't compare to the divine dantian of a divine beast or the spirit dantian of a spirit creature. However, it was better than nothing. I deliberately showed a serious expression as I pondered.

"Hmm. It's a bit lacking."

"Eh? Oh, come on. Just take a look. This is all I have, really?"

"Really?"

"Yup, really, really."

"Really?"

After asking repeatedly, Vivian's face turned indignant, and she shouted.

"Damn it. I'm so frustrated. I really mean it! If you don't believe me, go check for yourself!"

"I want it."

I slowly raised my finger and pointed at her body. Vivian looked at my finger, then followed its direction and turned her head. Soon, she lowered her head to look at her body and stared at me with a puzzled expression.

"Human male. I have a question. Do you have some kind of weird fetish?"

"Fetish?"

"Yeah. Like, mating with spiders…."

"Shut up."

"Hehe. Sorry!"

I immediately cut her off. What is she talking about? As I showed a stern face, Vivian immediately lowered her eyes and trembled. After watching her for a moment, I deliberately raised my sword and twirled it. The more I did, the more intense her trembling became. For some reason, seeing her like this made me want to torment her. Still, given the situation, I calmly spoke.

"I don't mean to have sex with you. I want what's inside you."

"Inside me? I don't have anything useful inside me. Do you want some silk?"

"No, no. That's fine. I mean, you were originally human, right?"

"Uh-huh."

Vivian nodded obediently. I felt even more apologetic for bringing it up, but I gathered my resolve and continued.

"If you turned into a spider, there must be a material that served as a catalyst, containing mana."

"Right. I've noticed that you're really knowledgeable… Wait. Are you talking about the core?"

"Exactly."

"Are you asking me for my core right now? Are you crazy?"

Indeed, she remembered that part, or perhaps she was well-versed in the research she had conducted on her own body. Vivian looked at me with wide eyes. I nodded firmly. After confirming my nod, she looked dazed but quickly regained her composure and continued with a "Huh" expression.

"Joke?"

"It's not a joke."

"Eh? It's so obvious that you're joking. Yo…hehe."

"It's not a joke. Give me the core quickly. If you give me this and the core, I'll let you live. Here, a pinky promise."

As I extended my pinky, Vivian's face contorted. She took a step back and shouted in a high-pitched voice.

"You're crazy! Why should I give it to you!"

"Don't worry. You won't die from removing it."

"I know that, but would you tear out your own heart or mana circuit if someone asked you to? Be reasonable!"

"Of course, I wouldn't give it. Anyway, give it to me."

"Why are you asking so subtly! I don't want to!"

"Give it to me."

"Kill me! Just kill me! I'd rather die than give it to you! If I give it to you, I'll…hehe."

"Is that so? Then, unfortunately, what can I do?"

I took a step forward with my sword. Seeing my approach, Vivian shuddered and quickly retreated. However, this was inside a workshop. There was no place to run. Seeing the passage behind me, Vivian quickly spoke in a desperate tone.

"Wait. Wait! First, put the sword down. Let's talk. Talk. Hey! Don't come closer!"

I am kind, so I accepted her request. After stopping, I spoke clearly.

"Let me repeat. Give me this and the core in your body. Let's call it even for your life."

"That doesn't make sense…."

"Negotiations are over."

Seeing my unyielding stance, Vivian finally burst into tears.

"Yaaaaaah!!! You heartless bastard!!!"

"Ah. You're finally showing your true colors. As expected… Ah, it's troublesome. I might as well kill you and take it out myself. While I'm at it, I'll dissect your body…."

I whistled and took a step forward. Vivian looked at me with a stunned expression. Frustration, anger, and fear. Seeing her face, I wished she would cry sooner… Ah, why am I thinking this? Am I really becoming strange?

I dispelled my stray thoughts and focused, raising my mana. A bright sword aura rose from my sword, and my face turned cold. Sensing the change in my expression, Vivian looked around for an escape route but found none. The workshop was filled with my killing intent.

Still, she didn't give up. As she tried to climb the wall to escape, I moved with lightning speed and swung my sword. It felt like cutting soft tofu, and one of Vivian's legs rolled on the ground. Vivian screamed in pain and fell, rolling on the floor. Ignoring her, I raised my sword above her head.

"Farewell. You were quite an amusing one."

"Uuuuuu! Wait! Just a moment!"

"Hmm? What is it? I'll listen to your last words."

Vivian, who had closed her eyes and screamed at the sight of the sword, opened her eyes slightly at my words. Confirming that I had stopped, she let out a sigh of relief but soon her eyes started to tremble as she realized her situation. Oh. Finally, she's crying… Damn.

Seeing my eyes, she seemed to realize that I was serious. Her small lips opened.

"…I'll give it to you."

"What? Speak up."

"I'll give it to you! Don't kill me! You bastard! Uuuuuuuu!"

Finally, unable to hold back her sorrow, Vivian burst into tears. I smiled slightly. She's quite pretty, I wonder what she looked like as a human. I smiled and lowered my raised sword.

"Good decision. Haha."

"Uuuuuu! Oh, oh. Uuuuuu! Aaaah!"

I helped the spider stand up. She accepted my help but continued to cry. She even hit the ground with her remaining legs, sobbing. I scratched my head. Did I treat her that harshly? Seeing the spider crying and shedding tears, I felt a bit sorry. Moreover, seeing her leaning to one side with three legs missing, I felt even more apologetic.

"Uuuuuu! Uuuuuu!"

"Hey. Be quiet."

My words came out contrary to my true feelings. Still, my threat seemed to work, and Vivian shut her mouth. However, she couldn't stop sobbing and her shoulders (likely her legs) trembled as she cried. Despite this, she looked at me with pleading eyes, as if asking, "Really? Are you really going to take it?"

After a moment, I spoke with a frustrated face.

"Are you stalling? If you're going to give it, do it quickly. Or should I just cut you and take it easily?"

"Fine, damn it. I'll give it to you… Uuuuuu."

Seeing my unwavering response, Vivian, unable to hold back her sorrow, burst into tears again, making her belly bulge. She was trying to push out the inner dantian. Once, twice, three times. As she continued to bulge her belly, she looked at me with a desperate face. I quietly raised my sword.

"I'll give it to you! Sniff! You bastard! Uuuuuu!"

I shrugged in response to her curses. Finally, she pushed out a black, round object, which was about the size of an adult's palm. I quickly checked the information.

『You have obtained the core of the alchemist Vivian.』

After expelling the inner dantian, Vivian collapsed, looking hopeless. She seemed to have exhausted her energy. Tears rolled down her face and onto the ground. I reached out with a satisfied look. Then, I heard a small voice from Vivian.

"Sniff… It's poisonous. Sniff! If you touch it, you'll die."

Even in this situation, she's worried about me. This girl is really amusing. I chuckled and picked up the inner dantian with my hand. Vivian's face changed strangely, and she looked at me with a mix of worry and hope. Wanting to tease her more, I quickly grabbed her hand and shouted.

"Ah! I feel the poison seeping in. Ah, I'm dying."

"What, what? Hey! So, you… Ah… This isn't right. Oh, great! You got me!"

I lightly raised the fire in my hand and blew in my will. The will I blew into the inner dantian removed the poison. Gradually, the color of the inner dantian, which was initially pitch black, changed to its original blue color.

This was the advantage of the Mythical grade. While the Flame grade would simply burn everything, the Mythical grade fire could be adjusted according to the user's will. Vivian watched the process with a curious face. After I put the inner dantian in my pocket, she looked at me with a blank face. When I smiled and said, "Actually, it was a joke," she pouted and burst into tears again. I chuckled at the scene.

After the commotion, Vivian sat on the ground, looking defeated. I spoke to her, having already taken all the items from her bag.

"Congratulations. I'll let you live as promised. Haha. Don't think too badly of me. By the way, I have some information for you… It's best to leave this dungeon as soon as possible. The dungeon information will be revealed soon, and the city's inspection team will investigate."

"I don't care!"

"You'll die if you stay here."

"Without my core, I've lost most of my power! Even if I go outside, the situation will be the same! Whether I die this way or that way… Ugh!"

Vivian, who had been scowling, suddenly grimaced in pain. She seemed to be losing control of her internal systems due to the loss of her core.

"Ugh… Ugh… It hurts… It hurts!"

Vivian looked at me, pleading for help, but I had nothing to offer. The only thing I could do was kill her. I pointed to my sword with a natural expression, and Vivian turned her head, trembling with betrayal.

"Bad guy… Sniff… I gave you my body and my heart… Ugh… Ugh! Ahhhh!"

"What nonsense."

I snorted and watched Vivian. Then, I was surprised by what followed. Vivian's body began to twist forcefully, and her legs started to fall off one by one, like a robot disassembling itself. I was intrigued by the sight. Could this be…?

============================ Author's Note ============================

Hello, I'm Roy Jin. Ah, it's been a while since I've done a daily update. Once I passed 10,000 characters, my head felt like it was on fire… Hahaha. What phenomenon will occur in Vivian's body?

Originally, I planned to kill Vivian after saving her, but I changed my direction because I felt that Suhyun's true personality was revealed to some extent through user Jung Ji-yeon's suggestion. I want to thank Vivian and the readers.

Thus, the long dungeon exploration has come to an end. In the next chapter, we'll return to Muel. Hahaha. If anyone has left a recommendation or comment in the previous chapter, please go back and click again. The 30 seconds of investment from the readers is the driving force that keeps me writing for 30 hours.

『 Reader Comments 』

1. TragicLife: Hahaha. Look forward to the next chapter. Congratulations on being number one.

2. YuWoon: It's been a while! Please leave comments occasionally. Hahaha.

3. GradeRown: Look forward to what happens to Vivian in the next chapter. Hehehe.

4. BiDoMuYeong: Hmm. It's not that I abandoned it, but rather became indifferent. He's not a madman who loves killing, but he can become one if necessary.

5. HumanLife: Honestly, I felt sorry for Vivian while writing. Ahaha. If (she) survives, she might form a duo with Sol…^^.

6. EinTze: Suhyun will likely educate her well to prevent such situations. Hahaha.

7. YuiRana: Vivian is surprisingly popular. Thanks to the sacrifice of user Jung Ji-yeon, Vivian's life was extended a bit. What will happen in the next chapter? Hahaha.

8. Batsu: Hehehe. Vivian's original background is human… Hehe!

9. 3d33d: Hmm. According to the initial setting, the cases of stat boosts are extremely rare. In the next chapter, there will be a detailed explanation of the core. Hahaha.

10. LegendaryUser: That's right. With the Ruins of the Laboratory and the Cave of