I Got Possessed, But the Monster Beast Is Adorable - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#23

“…Children. Become my strength.”

Squelch, crunch. The sound of flesh being chewed echoed throughout the space.

Witnessing this horrific scene of Arachnid flesh scattered on the floor and fresh red blood splattered everywhere, Zoe froze in place.

“Ugh, urgh.”

Violent nausea surged up from deep within Zoe’s stomach.

Soon, red demonic energy began pouring out from Arachnesia’s body after she had devoured all her children, and that energy rippled around Arachnesia like massive waves.

[【System】 Arachnesia is attempting to evolve into a higher species.]

‘That’s impossible. A higher species?’

Along with the light from the system window, Zoe’s breathing became constricted once again.

Feeling like she might lose consciousness at any moment, Zoe gasped for breath with difficulty while looking at Arachnesia.

“Zoe, you can’t lose consciousness!”

Quintilla, who had appeared at some point, shouted toward Zoe with a pale face.

“Now Zoe, look into my eyes. That’s right, just like that.”

As Zoe stared into Quintilla’s large obsidian-like pupils, the shape of an Antragorn rune was carved and glowed on Zoe’s forehead.

Zoe soon felt her dizzy mind clear rapidly as if fog had lifted.

This was ‘Mental Resonance,’ an ability that only Quintilla, the queen who ruled the Antragorn Clan, could use.

“Just for a moment, I’ve distorted Arachnesia’s time. If it’s now, we might be able to reverse it.”

With those words, the flow of time slowed dramatically.

No, to be precise, only Arachnesia’s time had been distorted.

‘Is this also Quintilla’s ability?’

Zoe looked at Arachnesia, whose movements had become drastically slow, and drew out Aqua Mystica.

“Temptation!”

Thorny vines that burst from Aqua Mystica covered Arachnesia. From the fresh green stems that wrapped around her without gaps, red roses resembling Arachnesia’s hair bloomed one by one.

Soon, Aqua Mystica’s body glowed vividly red after absorbing Arachnesia’s demonic energy.

“Why am I…”

“Mother?”

As Arachnesia’s distorted time returned to normal, the Arachnids that had been absorbed into her body regained their original forms.

Then, a system window floated up before Zoe’s eyes.

[【System】 Congratulations! By successfully taming monsters consecutively, you have discovered a new ability of Aqua Mystica. To use the ability, shout the activation word.]

Though Zoe was clearly flustered by the suddenly appearing system window, she soon recited the activation word in a calm voice.

“…Invoke.”

[【System】 Extracting the absorbed memories of Arachnesia.]

When Zoe shouted the activation word, blindingly bright light spread from Aqua Mystica’s body.

As a large red rose that emerged from that brilliant light was absorbed into the system window, the system window appeared again.

[【System】 Playing back the memories of the monster, Arachnesia.]

…Playing back memories?

With the system window’s words, Zoe’s vision soon went dark.

* * *

Those were Arachnesia’s memories.

The tragic childhood memories of her mother devouring her siblings, memories of humans driving Arachnesia away and destroying their habitat, memories of wandering from place to place while facing death multiple times, and finally all memories up to the present were played back before her vision returned to normal.

“…”

Caught in an indescribable feeling, I looked down at Arachnesia with a complicated expression.

To think that the starting point of all this was because humans had taken away the monsters’ habitat…

Of course, that wouldn’t serve as absolution for all the sins Arachnesia had committed, but having been briefly synchronized with Arachnesia’s memories, I felt pity and my gaze toward Arachnesia became much more lenient.

“…Quintilla, what do you want to do with Arachnesia?”

But the decision isn’t mine to make.

I looked at Quintilla and asked carefully.

“Hmm. Is Arachnesia being so docile because of your ability, Zoe?”

Instead of answering, Quintilla looked at Arachnesia, who was sitting quietly crouched on the floor as if the previous events were just a dream, and asked back.

“Yes, there won’t be any more chaos in Antragorn’s Territory.”

Since Arachnesia’s demonic energy belongs to me now, she won’t be able to refuse my commands either.

“Then, first, Arachnesia. Could you please release our children?”

Ah, right! I need to ask her to release them quickly before Ruan gets all his life force drained!

At those words, Arachnesia stared at me blankly.

“Release them immediately. That’s an order.”

“Yes, Zoe.”

Arachnesia nodded at me, then bit through the transparent spider silk wrapped around her fingers with her sharp fangs to cut it.

…I wonder if Ruan is okay?

I nodded at Quintilla and hurriedly ran to the food storage.

“Ruan, I’ll get you out soon!”

My hands trembled incessantly as I tore through the giant cocoon covered with Arachnesia’s tough and sturdy spider silk. Soon, after extracting Ruan from inside the cocoon, I hurriedly examined his face.

‘…He is alive, right?’

Ruan’s face was so pale that you could believe he was a corpse.

I hurriedly laid Ruan, whose face looked peaceful as if he were just sleeping, on my lap.

“Ruan, please wake up…”

I tried poking Ruan’s face with my fingers and pinching him, but Ruan wouldn’t open his eyes.

I widened my eyes and shouted desperately.

“Ruan! Please open your eyes, please!”

If Ruan never opens his eyes again…

Just that momentary thought made my head go dark.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had pushed Ruan into the abyss of death.

How long was I planning to live that I ran away alone…

Struggling to suppress the overwhelming guilt, I reached out and carefully supported Ruan’s head.

Then I carefully brought my ear close to Ruan’s nose. It was to check his breathing.

“…Phew, thank goodness.”

Though somewhat unstable, I could clearly hear Ruan’s faint breathing.

Only then did I stroke my anxious chest and let out a deep sigh.

“Mmm…”

Then, with a faint groan, Ruan’s languid purple eyes, as if he had just woken up, met my face.

“R, Ruan? Are you conscious?”

“Zoe, are you safe? Are you hurt anywhere…”

Who’s worrying about whom right now.

Ruan’s voice, asking about my well-being as soon as he opened his eyes, was terribly hoarse.

“Ruaaan!”

I immediately hugged Ruan’s face tightly and burst into tears.

Thank you. Buddha, God, Dike, Eirene, all the gods anyway…

Sending infinite gratitude that my prayers were answered, I hugged Ruan’s face even tighter.

“Sob, sniff, I really thought Ruan was going to die!”

“Z, Zoe… At this rate, I really might die.”

Ruan desperately tapped out.

Only then did I realize that I had hugged him so tightly that Ruan was on the verge of suffocating to death.

“S, sorry.”

As I quickly pulled away from him with an embarrassed expression, Ruan looked at me and murmured softly.

“How does such strength come from such a delicate body…”

“I, I’m really sorry. Are you okay? You didn’t reopen any wounds, did you?”

“I should listen to what Zoe says from now on.”

“What, what did you say?”

I frowned one eyebrow at Ruan’s absurd words.

Then Ruan suddenly hardened his expression and reached his hand toward my face.

When Ruan’s warmth touched my cheek, the scratched area from the battle with Arachnesia stung, making me squint one eye.

“You’ll have a scar.”

“I-It’s fine. Something like this will heal if I just put some spit on it.”

Besides, I have the healing handkerchief anyway.

Then Ruan furrowed his brow deeply and this time gently caressed my hair.

Wh-what. Why does he keep making my heart flutter… Ugh, don’t fall for that face, get a grip!

Ignoring my flustered expression, Ruan tucked my fallen hair behind my ear and spoke quietly.

“Thank you for saving me, Zoe. I mean it.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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