Chapter 11: Under the Web

Chapter 11: Under the Web

Deep breaths.

Okay. I can do this. Me complimenting her work has probably gotten her interest. Shes clearly part of a group that is discriminated against, so she may be curious why.

Okay, remember.

Shes curious, Im curious.

People mistake curiosity as attraction all the time.

Focus on that.

Even if I am attracted to her, she doesnt need to know that. Better to let a relationship progress naturally.

I got this.

Clearing my throat, Im very grateful for the hospitality and to be honest, am curious about you. You are the first demi-human Ive ever met, s

She cuts me off, as she leans forward, T-thats not what I mean. Are you attracted to my body? As she says that, the squeezing together of her arms causes a large crevasse to form, just visible through the top opening of her clothes. I gulp, as my eyes unconsciously drift to Ah dang, that doesnt help my stance, does it?

She has a wide smile on her face. In a barely discernable whisper, she says, I knew I smelled it.

Oooooookkaaaayyyy.

Looking more confident, she wiggles around to show off her spider abdomen and spinneret is revealed. While still a little wary about her spider side, it doesnt frighten me now, especially since she just seems like a regular woman.

Well, one that could instantly kill me with a thought.

She looks back at me, staring for a little. Then she twists around so I can see her human butt, positioned just above the connection between the two portions of her body.

Then she slaps it crisply.

It ripples magnificently. I gulp. She sniffs again.

Oh. Wait a second. When she was sniffing earlier, was she was testing the air for pheromones?

With a sure smile, she turns back around and comes close to me.

Okay, you are definitely attracted to me. Youre weird.

Okay, fair but ouch.

Her face twists, as it seems she realizes how that could come off wrong. She raises her arms and flails a bit in defense, I mean different! From the others, people, I mean

She exhales, recollecting herself.

So you know, I can tell peoples emotions based on their smell. She pauses.

When you look at me, I can smell that you are attracted to me, with a tad bit of cautiousness.

Most humans just feel automatic disgust when they see me. Not only that, but they tend to be dismissive. At best, wariness. Only if I display myself as a genuine threat to them, do they feel any fear. Its not their fault, though. Theres a curse on all of us demi-humans, where any human can automatically know that we are a demi-human and gives them a deep feeling of disgust.

She looks down.

That pretty much fits what I was thinking. Shes probably wondering why I dont feel that way about her.

Going back to you. If it was only the attraction, that would be one thing. While its extraordinarily rare, there are perverts who get off that feeling of disgust.

For example, there is a long thick line of web at the area separating her spider and human form. Previously, I thought that was just a design choice. Looking closer, it is clear someone hurt her deeply, acting as if they were severing the two halves of her body. My question is, why havent these healed? Let me do a quick scan:

Gong

Female, 32

Cursed Spiritual Root - 0

Proficient Languages: Common Speech (English)

Literate Languages: Common Speech, Street Signs (Demi-Human)

Demi-Human Spider Traits

Conditions:

Racial Curse Demi-Human

Cannot cultivate or use qi Automatic recognition response from humans

Deep Chronic Lacerations - Thighs

Mental Instructions on how to direct healing

Deep Chronic Lacerations - Back

Mental Instructions on how to direct healing

Abdominal (Spider) Rupture Sealed (temporary)

Mental Instructions on how to direct healing If not healed, will lead to depressurization

172 Additional Entries/subentries

Wow. Thats a lot of entries. Though it makes sense, considering the number of wounds she has. Also, shes bigger. So, more surface area I guess. Not only that, but some of my questions have been answered with this. It really looks like Demi-Humans, as a whole, have been cursed by humans.

Coming out of my scanning mode, I can see that Gong looks embarrassed by my intense looks at her body.

Most humans automatically feel a strong revulsion toward me, while I felt nothing from you Are you really human?

Oh no. Another weak point. That curse affects everyone, not always with revulsion but some kind of feeling. Maybe it doesnt affect me because Im not from this world How can I word this so it doesnt sound suspicious?

A little uncomfortably, I hope so though I remember little. I feel like I maybe different from other people, at least in terms of how I view things. Though I think everyone should hang out with Demi-humans more, if you represent other spiderfolk. Her face reddens, and she goes quiet. Alright, I think I passed.

Changing the subject, I direct her attention to the wounds just below her hips. Gong, sorry if this brings back bad memories, but when did you get these wounds? Automatically, I can see stress lines forming across her face.

I hurry to add, If you dont want to talk about it thats fine, I was hoping to get some context so I can heal them better.

She is clearly masking her stress and trying to relax, keeping her voice low and steady.

When I was basically a hatchling, I was caught by some humans. They wanted to see if they could separate my upper half from my lower half, as a joke. Luckily, I was able to get away before they could finish the job, though they managed to cut other parts of me as well from it. I still remember the knives they used, ripping into my skin as they sawed back and forth I tried to fill it with webbing, which helped a bit, but they just turned into giant sores.

Looking away, she continues, I wouldve used medicine, if anyone would sell them to me. I cant even get medicine through black market channels now from humans, since I dont have enough money. Humans make most medicine and it is kept out of the hands of demi-humans, She had her head down the whole time she said this.

Raising it to look at me, Now you can probably see why I wanted your help so badly. Demi-humans wont get healed by humans and cant get access to anything to heal themselves, so we typically just try to manage as best we can Until we cant.

She falls silent, but has a hopeful look on her face.

Well.

If I was going to heal her before, now I really cant deny that I want to help.

Alright.

This doesnt change anything. Time to focus.