Chapter 122- Custom Dungeon (Part 2)
Then, Rin quickly threw his dagger up in the air. The weapon reached the ceiling and pierced a particular point of it that Rin chose beforehand.
The moment the dagger was plunged in there, a series of cracks spread from that place as it quickly traveled across the whole ceiling. The cracks swiftly connected with other cracks to create bigger and deeper cracks. The moment every part of the ceiling was turned into a fragile mess, a loud explosion took everything by storm.
*BOOOOOOOOM*
The whole ceiling collapsed on the tunnel, burying everything in tons and tons of rocks. Huge boulders and chunked-up hard rocks rained down on the clueless spiders as they screeched loudly.
The pain of their bodies getting crushed turned into hellish screams of pain that could make anyone lose their mind. The sounds were so ominous and unpleasant that Rin could only close his ears and his eyes.
Blood mixed with flesh and other fluids splattered everywhere, coating the tunnel in a weird blue color. The horrible smell of their blood-filled Rin's nostrils and made him squint slightly.
However, that squint turned into a smile when he saw that almost every one of them was killed. Well, except for one that was able to avoid collapsing at the last second.
The monster dragged its body away from the spot where all of its kind died painfully. Its cold eyes scanned them silently as it ignored Rin. Then, with slow steps, it approached a particular one of them and looked at its crushed body. Then, Under Rin's curious gaze, it extended its leg and touched its face, tracing it gently.
The way it touched it so softly and carefully as if it was trying to not break it. The contrast between the spider's previously violent nature and its current attitude took Rin by surprise.
'The spider is… griefing over its death? But, why is it that spider in particular?' Rin thought.
His answer came when he looked at the dead spider's crushed stomach. There, he could clearly see them, the crushed eggs of the spider. Bits and pieces of small spiders were also thrown around the eggshells.
It instantly clicked for Rin.
'These are… it's children? Then, if that's the case… then that dead spider is a female spider?'
The male spider kept caressing the female spider's face as it stared silently at it. The scene was so complicated that Rin didn't even try to finish off the last spider. It wasn't pity or unwillingness but actual shock. He never realized this before. He didn't even question it at all as he killed these creatures left and right.
Do beasts have feelings? The question was quite rhetorical but it was still something that could be asked out of curiosity. Do these beasts actually feel sadness, love, happiness, and such emotions? Could they actually be like humans in that department?
Well, Rin has gotten his answer in the form of this weird scene in front of him. A monstrous spider that could only think about killing and spilling blood was actually grieving over the death of its partner even when Rin was near.
It had given up on life as it completely relaxed near its dead partner. Rin could now easily kill it with a swipe of his dagger.
"Finish it off…" Emilia suddenly spoke out of somewhere.
"I know…" Rin said as he clenched his dagger and approached the spider. When he was close enough, he looked at it for a few seconds as if he was contemplating something. Then…
*Swish*
Its life ended as it fell down next to the female spider. Their blood mixed with each other as it trailed down the cracked stones.
"Sigh…" Shaking his head, Rin looked around and then walked away.
'There is no point in trying to think about this. It's either kill or be killed.'
He knew that fact and he also knew that these spiders would've killed him if he didn't do that first. But, that small bitterness of knowing that even the most savage of creatures still have feelings made his mood sour a little bit.
He knew how painful it was to see someone you cherish die in front of your eyes. It was painful, crushing, and dark. The sense of helplessness when he sees them dying in his hands was still etched in his mind, never leaving.
No matter how much he smiled or tried to show a bright face in front of people, the constant pain of living a life without those he loved dearly was still haunting him day and night. He still has nightmares and he still remembers them whenever he's alone. But, Rin was trying to keep that part of him as hidden from the other people's eyes as possible.
Even those closest to him aren't aware of what he was feeling. He doesn't want them to see that dark side of him, no matter what. He only wants them to see the bright, energetic side. He could easily turn cold, unfeeling, and ruthless. But, would that help him? No, it will only push anyone that wants to love him away and keep him inside a shell of solitude. A place where he can suffer alone far away from any loving warmth.
Rin didn't want that. In fact, the desire to feel the love from other people grew bigger and bigger in his heart. In a sense, he was very similar to that spider. He was a broken soul that tries to attach its broken parts again and keep them stable just for the sake of moving forward.
Whether that was the right thing to do or whether it was ignorance on his side to try and be the same person he was before, Rin wasn't sure. But, even if he was wrong, for him, he would rather die knowing that people will remember him rather than be completely forgotten by everyone he loved.
"Don't let it get to your head, Rin. It's how this world works. Creatures kill each other for food, power, and control. If you will lament every monster you killed and every family you destroyed, you will never progress."
"I understand."
"Good. You better close your heart on such things and keep your eyes forward." She advised.
'Keep my eyes forward….' He repeated those words in his head as he quickly started running deeper into the tunnel, ignoring the bloody massacre he committed a few moments ago.
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Meanwhile, as Rin was dealing with the custom dungeon, Elise found herself in a complicated situation.
Picking up the cup of coffee from the table, she sipped a little bit of it, enjoying the bitter taste and the strong aroma of the hot coffee. Then, she asked.
"What is it that you need from me, Mr. Lindell?"
The person sitting on the other side was none other than Malza Lindell, the same person that was meant to meet Rin a few days from now. He had basically sent one of his maids to invite Elise over for a cup of coffee in the student council building.
Elise was going to refuse but when the maid said that the matter concerned her and Rin, she could only accept. She knew about Malza more than Rin did so she knew that that cunning man would never really reach out to them unless he was looking for something.
As far as she knew, Malza was a very materialistic person. However, the thing he loved more than money and power was 'pleasure'. He was obsessed with doing anything that could bring him pleasure. Whether it was women, money, power, fame, and even something as small as a good massage. He was a seeker of personal pleasure.
That does make him a very arrogant person. But, for better or worse, his character was considered good as he was the main protagonist's best friend and so he wasn't going to be an enemy for both of them… hopefully.
"Why all this tense atmosphere, Ms. Elise? Shouldn't you enjoy that coffee and the great weather we have on this beautiful day?" He asked with a relaxed smile.
"I have no time for such idle relaxation and simple talks, Mr. Lindell."
"So cold of you to say that, Ms. Elise. I was hoping that you will spend this evening with me."
Sighing, Elise put the coffee down and looked at him coldly.
"Cut to the chase and say what you want, Malza."
Seeing her change of attitude, he smiled amusedly.
"That's more like it, Ms. Elise. I'm not a big fan of pleasantries, you see."
After that, he stood up from his chair and walked to the window before he added.
"You see. You and Rin had caught my interest. Both of you are so mysterious and incomprehensible that it could only stimulate my curiosity. I find you both a sight for sore eyes."
"And?"
"Fufufu! Well, I was hoping that I could build a connection with both of you. While Rin is going to meet me soon, you are the only one I had basically never talked to before."
Then, shifting his gaze towards her, he pointed his finger at her.
"How about I give you an offer that will benefit both of you?" He asked.
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