98. Big spooder

While following Kumokaru Tomoka noticed many eyes watching her. All of them were shiny beady black eyes hidden in the mess of webs all around. Presumably these are Kumokaru’s sisters, that is to say, other giant spiders. Another thing Tomoka notices were the many large cocoons of spider webs here and there. Probably trapped beasts that will act as food.

The walks took a while but soon enough they reached their destination: a large cave’s entrance over ten meters tall and wide covered all over in white spider webs. Looking around Tomoka saw small spiders crawling here and there. Then she felt something landing on her left shoulder. Looking at it she saw a palm sized spider standing there looking at her curiously. 

“Oh? Aren’t you a cute one” With a smile, Tomoka began petting the spider. Its smooth chitin felt nice to the touch. As for the spider she seems to be enjoying the attention. A while later Kumokaru stopped walking. 

“Mother, we have a guest” Kumokaru sounded both respectful and fearful. Not long after she spoke a new voice was heard. This one sounded dignified and authoritative.   

“A guest? It has been a very long time since the last time we had any. Is it that lazy slug Tsuyu? or perhaps those old toads? If it's one of the snakes I don’t want to talk to them unless they have come to apologize.” As the voice sounded a huge spider began crawling from deeper within the cave. 

“No mother, it’s uhm-”

“A human? No, wait! I am deeply sorry ancestor I had no clue someone of your status would be visiting today” At the beginning the giant spider felt disappointed seeing a simple human. However, as soon as she saw the human’s eyes she felt an extreme pressure. It was like she was looking at an ancient spider with unlimited power.

“A-ancestor!?” Kumokaru for her part felt puzzled and scared. She had never seen her mother acting so deferential to anybody else! 

“Sorry miss…” 

“Right! Where are my manners!? I am Kumoki. And there is nothing for the ancestor to be sorry about” 

Tomoka felt a little conflicted. It seems that this giant spider named Kumoki had mistaken her for someone else so she wanted to rectify the mistake. 

“The thing is Kumoki-san I am no great ancestor or something like that, I am a hundred percent human” 

[Bullshit! No human has such a ridiculous body as you! Not to mention that arm and eyes of yours] Kurama had to comment about this. He would never believe that Tomoka is just a simple human. At most he would say around sixty percent or less. 

“You say that but those eyes of yours hold the dignity of an ancient and powerful spider. Not to mention that even though your body is mostly human I can still feel  some spider factors from you” Kumoki didn’t believe Tomoka either. 

‘Looks like you two are in sync’ Tomoka laughed at the notion of the giant fox and spider thinking the same thing. 

“Well, I don’t know what to say. I was born twelve years ago by two human parents.” Tomoka really didn’t know what to do. She also felt a bit conflicted about this information. Could it be that the third entity Oditomnia had talked about is some kind of spider?

“Ahem, leaving all of that aside for the moment I would like to ask the reason behind the ancestor’s visit.” 

“Please call me Tomoka. Being called a great ancestor feels a bit weird. Anyway, I came here mainly to investigate this area since my clones couldn't get in. The reason behind that is that I am searching for an adequate place to make my base of operations” Tomoka revealed her reasons without hiding anything. 

“I see, in that case it would be an honor if the great ance- ahem, if Tomoka-sama were to make her base here. However, Even if Tomoka-sama is the great ancestor there is a tradition that needs to be upheld.” Kumoki felt nervous saying this. She had held this tradition ever since her mother passed the role of matriarch to her. Now she felt like this tradition would be the end of her. 

“Alright, What tradition?” Tomoka felt curious. 

“It's a simple yet dangerous tradition. You see Tomoka-sama, whenever a human manages to pass through our illusion threads we have to test them. If they pass they will be able to leave with the knowledge we hold of the sage mode. If they don’t they die-.” After explaining this much Kumoki felt like crying. 

“-Tomoka-sama is still pretty much a human despite being some part spider so…” 

“So I have to go through this trial as well right?” Tomoka felt a little amused but she wouldn’t refuse. After all, despite the danger she would get the sage mode! 

“Y-yes” 

“Alright! Bring it!” Tomoka’s face contorted into a madened grin full of excitement and greed.