Chapter 8: A Web of Hope?

Chapter 8: A Web of Hope?

Im honestly not sure if it was a good idea to tell her.

Even if Lin is giving me a really excited look. One that screams, I want to swarm someone with bugs.

Wait.

Wasnt she the one that told me to not share things like this with Ai, for this exact reason?

Ai continues oblivious of my thoughts, Okay. With this, we definitely have a stronger chance of holding our ground. However, we will still need to leave here. There will be too many eyes here and would be extremely risky.

With a glance at Lin, they both begin pulling up stones from the center and corners of the hut. They lift out of the respective holes, what appears to be backpacks. Its clearly an emergency pack they prepared earlier.

Lin with a low voice, Ai came up with this idea to keep everything in a bag to hurry, in an emergency. I was hoping we wouldnt have to use this so soon, though.

In the corner of my eye, I can barely read the lips of Ai.

I think she said something like Finally. Im glad she can put this behind her.

As they continue gathering items, I walk out the house.

Welcoming me from the opposite wall is the spider woman, who I assume to be Gong.

Being able to finally to get a good look at her, Im able to see what she really looks like.

She has an angled chin, yellow greenish eyes, a small nose, and pale skin that appears almost greyish. Two lines of black chitin along her face, match her wiry, but shiny black hair.

Honestly, she seems like a combination of dangerously sexy and very, very poor.

Covered in what is essentially ragged clothing, the shape her clothes take reveals she is overly endowed.

Where her human and spider body connects, appears to be connected at the thighs. Her legs are the pedipalps. In fact, her body reminds me of an anime I watched, with an Arachne type character.

Regarding her spider side, her body initially appears to be black, shiny, and smooth, but upon closer inspection appears to have smoothed down fine hairs all along her body.

The size of it is close to the size of a first-generation Hummer.

From the little I can see underneath her body, there seem to be larger hairs. All across her body, both human and spider, there are dense, artistic patches of webbing. It reminds me of tattoos a bit.

As you can probably already tell, this is a pretty enormous deal, but Im not really sure who else to turn to especially being what I am. Ai and Lin faces turn to looks of pity at her. It appears this is also a world where people discriminate against demi-humans. Why did that have the be the aspect held in common with fantasy worlds?

Not only that, but if you actually can tame creatures, that will make my own home safer to live in. So, its really beneficial for us both, if you are willing.

Ai is clearly anxious, quickly responding, That seems like its fair if thats okay with you, she directs the last portion to me. I cant help but smile at her attempt to keep a handle on the situation, but also to keep my opinions in the decision. With a nod, I consent.

Seeing my affirmation, Gong looks to be getting strangely excited about this. Awesome! Lets goooo cough I mean, lets head out.

Thats actually adorable.

Before we head out, Lin sighs and runs up to me, smothering me in a huge, tight hug.

Okay, a little too tight. Shes pretty strong now. Thank you, James. You really dont know how much all of this meant to us.

As she separates slightly from me, her arms still wrap around my back, watering eyes looking deeply into mine, with our faces close, conveying her immense gratefulness.

Almost immediately, I feel soft hands gently pry Lin away.

Ai gives a slight bow and while still holding onto Lin I agree completely. Youve helped far more than you know. Lets bury him and move quickly though; Gong is looking antsy and we are losing a lot of light gesturing at Gong, whose image has shifted from a mysterious demi-human stranger to a happy, but impatient little kid.

In what appears to be a quiet and solemn moment, we open up one hole in the house and place the scums body within. Lin and Ai place a rock on top of the hole, covering it up. I neither push them on this or probe further.

Both Ai and Lin seem to have additional bags, with large amounts of books, from who knows where, on their backs. When I ask them if they want me to carry it, they decline, seemingly happy about their improved strength. They never expected to bring these with them, due to their weight, if they ever had to leave. I can feel Ai and Lins eyes on me as we head out. Its a prickly feeling that I cant quite place.

Soon after, we leave with Gong.

Leading us down alleys, she leads us deeper and deeper into a darker sector of the alleyways.

As we travel through these areas, I see Lins and Ais faces grow more confused. It appears even they arent familiar with this area. Moving next to Ai, who seems to be the information holder of the duo, I ask her some questions. So, where do you think her home is?

Looking briefly at me, she whispers, She has to be living in The Depths oh right, you wouldnt know what that is.

Sighing, The area weve just come from is called the Alleys, with our specific section called the Ways. It is somewhat close to the main commercial and residential areas. The Depths are the areas where most of the demi humans live and work. There are a lot of abandoned housing and workshops out here, since there arent many reasons to come out this far away from the major city centers.

She takes a breath.

For a demi-human like her, she probably has to live deep in the Depths to stay safe. This is a tolerant city, allowing demi-humans to live freely within the city and even expand its borders. Because of that, we have an enormous population of them. However, even now they get crushed as fodder for local gangs or clans. Even we dont go near the Depths when certain groups go hunting.

A little dismal from this piece of information, I cant help but feel for Gong and her people. If this is how they are treated by normal humans in a positive environment, I cant imagine what it is like when cultivators actively go after them. When I become stronger Ill make a place for them. A place they can be safe and not be hunted down.

Live life normally.

I just have to get to that point first.