Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 161

161. Moon Caught in a Spiderweb (5)

Hyun-woo frowned.

The names of the human-faced spider sisters?

Of course, they were human, so they must have had names. But Hyun-woo had no interest in those names.

After all, their relationship would end one way or another once this quest was over.

‘If you’re going to say useless things…….’

‘I said I would give you answers to unasked questions equal to the number of questions you asked.’

And Monstreel whispered the two names.

Hyun-woo punched the wall with his fist, BANG. But the roar of the wall collapsing didn’t stop Monstreel’s whisper.

Because she was in Hyun-woo’s head.

Monstreel engraved the two names into Hyun-woo’s head as if branding them.

‘You’re cute when you’re angry.’

“Shut up.”

Hyun-woo muttered with a displeased expression. When he spoke aloud, Monstreel fell silent.

“Get lost. If you talk to me again, I’ll go around telling everyone what you said.”

Monstreel was the only star that could talk to Hyun-woo.

But she didn’t seem to want the other stars to find out about that fact.

So, to screw with Monstreel, it would be good to openly show them talking.

[The Shattering Star, Gaul, is watching you.]

[The Starving Star, Yogulem, is watching you.]

The reaction came immediately.

There was no reaction from Monstreel, but he could feel her bitter smile.

There was no particular change. Perhaps the stars also knew but didn’t care as long as they didn’t do it openly.

‘I’m on your side. Kang Hyun-woo. I’ll be sad if you’re too wary.’

“If you still have something to say……”

Monstreel’s presence slowly faded away. But this time too, she didn’t just disappear.

Monstreel whispered one more word in a faint voice that seemed to disappear.

‘And remember, there’s still one more ‘answer to an unasked question’ left.’

***

“The operation overview is simple. Refer to the scent of the Crystallized Flower as much as possible, enter the Egg Chamber, pluck the Crystallized Flower, and bring the Queen out.”

The strategy meeting for the ‘Widow Queen Spider Rescue Operation’ began.

The Lower Spider first created a giant spiderweb the size of her height before the meeting.

It was white, but it was almost identical to the structure of the building where the Crystallized Flower bloomed. The tilted angle, the parts supported by the crystal moss, and even the protruding and collapsed spots were perfect.

“The part we’re aiming for is here.”

The Upper Spider pointed to a spot about 23 floors up in the 35-story building.

There was a noticeable large hole in the part the Upper Spider pointed to, as if there had been an explosion.

“It’s the largest of the accessible entrances. Among the entrances, it’s also quite close to the Egg Chamber, and the structure isn’t complicated, so it’s also where the Queen entered. Above all, the advantage is that the air circulation is good, so the scent is weak.”

“Did you say that your body weakens if you start smelling the scent of the Crystallized Flower?”

“Yes. Those who stay in the Egg Chamber for a long time sometimes become like mush. So, if you go through narrow passages, your arms and legs are likely to fall off.”

‘Then it’s good to go through the big hole first,’ Hyun-woo thought.

Holding your breath as much as possible is also a method, but you can’t hold your breath forever, and you’ll end up smelling the scent of the Crystallized Flower.

And he had to pluck the Crystallized Flower ‘before he became too stupid.’

“It’s hard to say this.”

Hyun-woo said, retracing the words of the Upper Spider.

“Your queen is already…… I think she’s not in good condition.”

The Upper Spider said that if you stay in the Egg Chamber for a long time, you become like mush.

And listening to the description of the inside of the Egg Chamber, it felt like an inaccessible demonic realm.

The Widow Queen Spider had been trapped there for at least 40 days. There was a high probability that it was already in an irreversible state.

“We’re taking that into account too.”

The Lower Spider answered.

“We’re just doing our best. We can’t just leave the Queen as she is. But she’s a strong person, so I think some of the core parts may remain.”

“My sister is right. If the Queen has prepared enough, there is a high probability that she has spun a cocoon and is protecting her important parts.”

“I see.”

When Hyun-woo understood, the Upper Spider started briefing again.

“I don’t think there will be much change in the internal state, but we will send small spiders to scout one more time. And when it is determined that the passage is okay, you and we will enter.”

“Why you?”

At Hyun-woo’s question, the spider sisters looked at him with strange expressions.

“Of course, you can’t bring the Widow Queen Spider alone.”

“What kind of question are you asking, human? Did you think we would send you alone?”

“No, well. Hmm…… Didn’t you say that you went in last time and lost half of your spiders? You said that if the number becomes more insufficient there, it becomes difficult to maintain the form?”

“Since then, I’ve been a little reckless, but I’ve made up for it. There are also male spiders in us now. It will weaken my identity…… but it will be enough to withstand it. We have to take the aftereffects into account.”

“You could die.”

“If everyone performs their roles well, there’s no problem. If you pluck the Crystallized Flower in time, the effect of the scent will weaken rapidly. At least the worry of becoming mush disappears. Then we can complete the rescue without much damage.”

Hyun-woo quietly looked into the building and fell into thought. The Upper Spider stared at Hyun-woo and asked as if to confirm.

“Do you agree?”

It’s a plan that doesn’t have any particular problems.

The spiders know the passage well, so safety is secured, and Hyun-woo is also prepared enough to withstand going into the Egg Chamber.

If the spider sisters are together, they can shorten the time from entry to retreat much more.

But Hyun-woo shook his head.

“This won’t work.”

“What? Why?”

The Lower Spider glared and spoke sharply.

“I can be resurrected even if I die. But if you guys die in this plan, it’s over.”

“Human, are you worried about us?”

“Please keep the stupid talk to yourself. It’s because if you guys die, I won’t have another chance.”

Hyun-woo pointed to the spiderweb in the shape of a building and said.

“What if something unexpected happens while doing it according to this plan and you guys stay for a long time? From then on, I have to bicker with a pile of spiders? Adding two more mush to the Egg Chamber doesn’t do me any good.”

“Then you’re going to go in alone?”

The Upper Spider stared at Hyun-woo calmly and asked.

“Yes.”

“Nonsense……”

“I didn’t say I would jump in without any preparation. I have my own subordinates and supplies. This plan is completely invalid. Execute my plan first. It’s not too late to do this plan if my plan fails.”

Hyun-woo went around to the side of the miniature of the Crystallized Flower building. Then he pointed to one part.

“Here. The entry angle I thought of is here.”

The Upper Spider frowned at the spot Hyun-woo pointed to.

“It’s closer to the Egg Chamber than the original passage…… but there’s no passage there.”

“We can make a passage.”

Hyun-woo said that and poked his finger into the building miniature.

The Lower Spider shouted, “Hey!” but he ignored it and continued.

“I have some explosives, and that’s enough to make a passage. And before I go in…… I have subordinates who have finished some modification work. I’m going to let those guys in. Ah, you don’t have to worry about dying. They’re just guys who will happily perform their roles. They’ll probably beg me to send them first, right?”

“……You’re sacrificing your subordinates?”

“If you think about it, they’re guys who gave up being subordinates first. I’m just letting them go. Anyway, after pioneering the passage like that, I’ll enter alone. And I’ll go into the Egg Chamber and pluck the Crystallized Flower. I’ll send a signal when the scent of the Crystallized Flower weakens, so come in then. Do you understand?”

“This is a part supported by crystal moss and at the same time receives the most weight from the tilted upper floors. It could collapse if you’re not careful.”

“I’ll adjust the amount of explosives well. This big building won’t collapse just because that much hole is made. Besides, what I’m blowing up isn’t a load-bearing wall or a pillar, but a partition wall and a glass window.”

The Lower Spider looked at the Upper Spider with a bewildered expression.

Hyun-woo’s opinion sounded plausible.

If it’s a passage created by an explosion, there won’t be any crystal moss or monsters, and if other monsters pioneer it, there won’t be any delays. Except for the last part, the spider sisters don’t even need to step in.

“Sister.”

But there was no answer from the Upper Spider. Hyun-woo waited for her answer, then crossed his arms and glared.

“Hey, spider. I’m not stingy about consuming me and my resources to rescue your queen. But why are you hesitating? This is much safer and easier than what you said, right?”

“Our role is too small.”

“Is the contribution too small?”

“No.”

The Upper Spider stared at Hyun-woo and said.

“If it’s a plan that’s possible even if you’re alone, it’s a good plan to do after we die in the first place.”

“Sister!”

The Lower Spider shouted in surprise at the unexpected words.

A plan that can be done after they die.

But the Upper Spider was receiving a stronger ‘sense of incongruity’ from Hyun-woo than ever before.

In the first place, was that human, Hyun-woo, such a kind human?

Is he the kind of human who would do ‘free service’ to them even while wasting his assets?

It seemed like they had become quite close, but she still couldn’t know Hyun-woo’s true intentions.

What was certain was that Hyun-woo was by no means a kind human.

The Upper Spider was sure. There is something intentional in this plan.

Hyun-woo crossed his arms and looked at the floor without saying a word. The Lower Spider anxiously looked back and forth between Hyun-woo and the Upper Spider. Finally, Hyun-woo opened his mouth.

“Okay. I wasn’t going to say this.”

Hyun-woo frowned and looked at the Upper and Lower Spiders.

“I don’t want you guys to die.”

“……What?”

“I’m serious. Originally, I wouldn’t have felt that way unless you were my subordinates, but you’re also my teachers, and I’ve grown fond of you while bickering. If it weren’t for you guys, I might have been struggling inside that building without even picking the Crystallized Flower. In that sense, you’re also benefactors.”

“……”

“In the first place, I wouldn’t have been able to come up with this plan without hearing about the building structure from you guys, learning how to control the spiderwebs, and learning how to endure the scent of the Crystallized Flower, etc. I’m just executing it, but in fact, you guys are the center.”

Hyun-woo sighed and continued.

“Well, I wanted to say thank you after collecting the Crystallized Flower and rescuing the Widow Queen Spider, but since it’s come to this, I can’t help it. Thank you.”

Hyun-woo calmly looked at the Upper Spider.

The Upper Spider couldn’t tell whether Hyun-woo was telling the truth or not. The sense of incongruity was still there, but this could really be Hyun-woo’s goodwill.

She would be lying if she said that she hadn’t grown fond of Hyun-woo in her own way.

“Sister.”

The Lower Spider pulled on the Upper Spider’s sleeve. Her heart seemed to be completely tilted.

The Upper Spider hesitated for a long time before letting out a sigh.

More than anything else, she didn’t want to sacrifice her sister’s life even in the worst-case scenario. So, she had no choice but to be persuaded by Hyun-woo’s voice.

“……Okay. Let’s do that for now.”

“You thought well.”

Hyun-woo answered with a satisfied smile.

“Because this is the way to protect your lives.”