After dusk came night. Not even a trace of the sun's lingering glow remained, swallowed entirely by the darkness. Only Moonlight and the stars provided faint illumination.
Within Spider Mountain, enormous branches clawed wildly through the air, intertwining into eerie shadows that seemed ready to tear apart anyone who stepped into the mountain.
Keqing and Makomo moved slowly through Spider Mountain.
Though the light was faint, for Keqing... even in complete darkness, she could still see the path clearly. Even tiny branches and scattered stones could not escape her sight.
After all... the skills she had gained in Kumoko's world had not disappeared. Things like Dark Vision had been retained.
"So many spiderwebs."
Makomo reached out and brushed aside the sticky strands blocking her way.
"No wonder it's called Spider Mountain. Just how many spiders are in here...?"
The branches and leaves of the trees were covered in webs like white gauze. If they had all been woven by spiders, that would be far too excessive.
"..."
Keqing said nothing, but she knew these threads all came from the demons hidden within Spider Mountain.
Lower Rank Five, Rui, and his family.
"Lady Keqing, there seems to be a strange smell in the air." Makomo sniffed. Beneath the earthy scent of the mountain path, there was an unusual odor.
"It's the smell of blood and decay."
Keqing narrowed her eyes and observed the surroundings.
Soon, several rustling sounds came from both sides of the mountain path. They were people—around a dozen or so.
Judging by their clothing, they should have been villagers living nearby...
"Are they the people who went missing in Spider Mountain?"
Makomo looked ahead and prepared to go forward to check their injuries and lead them down the mountain. Her upbringing had taught her never to stand