Chapter 50: I am a spider

Solaris had separated from Dominic and Shawn, and two hours had passed.

The two of them were hiding in the shadow of a large tree when Shawn’s detection magic sensed the mana of a large-scale magical beast.

“Brother, a large-scale monster is approaching.”

“No wonder, it’s the Demon Forest where monsters dwell. Haven’t seen a large-scale magical creature in a while.”

“The Abyss Witch who lives in a place like this is also a monster.”

“…Indeed, she might be. So, can we get through this?”

“It depends on how close it gets.”

As the two of them held their breath, the sound of rustling grass drew nearer. Dominic relied on the starlight, squinting to identify the approaching figure. Emerging from the darkness was a gigantic spider, about three times the size of a human.

“Is that a Baculas?!”

Next to him, Shawn, realizing who was approaching, swallowed hard and murmured under his breath.

Baculas, a huge spider that possessed paralyzing venom. It would spit its venom at its prey, paralyze them, wrap them in silk, and take them back to its nest to consume them while still alive. It could easily blow away humans with a swing of its arms and was also quite fast in movement. However, it had a weakness to fire.

“Can’t we drive it away with magic?”

“No chance!”

Dominic turned to Shawn, who shook his head. While Shawn excelled in water-based magic, he was weak against fire-based spells. On the other hand, Dominic, resembling his father, preferred physical attacks with an axe and was practically unable to use magic.

Dominic looked back at Baculas and became pessimistic. Noemi could easily dispatch Baculas with a single magic spell, and Carl was monstrously powerful, so he could easily defeat a Baculas. However, for the two of them who still clung to their humanity, Baculas was an unbeatable enemy.

While praying that they could pass unnoticed, Baculas suddenly stopped and changed direction, facing their way.

Did it notice them?! Just as Dominic grabbed the handle of his battle axe on his back, the sound of an engine came from within the forest.

Baculas turned its attention towards the approaching engine noise. After a while, Solaris appeared riding an Aero Bike from deep within the forest. Solaris parked the Aero Bike and approached them, ignoring Baculas.

Run, run! Dominic and Shawn conveyed the message to run through gestures, but she didn’t notice at all and approached them casually.

“I’ve brought food and water. I also came on the Aero Bike… Whoops!”

Before Solaris could finish her sentence, Baculas pounced and sent her flying with its massive forearm.

Why didn’t Solaris fight? During the Ghoul Monkey incident, Dominic and the others were engaged in combat, so she considered them hostile and eliminated them. However, this time there was no battle taking place, and she judged Baculas as a harmless creature. If Solaris had emotions, she might have felt fear of death and eliminated Baculas. But as an emotionless being, she didn’t feel fear when facing Baculas and let her guard down. As a result, she was caught off guard and sent rolling through the grass.

“Solaris!”

“We’ll help!”

Shawn shouted, and Dominic slapped Shawn’s arm before getting up. Shawn began casting magic, while Dominic drew his battle axe and confronted Baculas.

“Guardian of Water!”

Shawn’s magic was activated, enveloping Dominic’s body in a watery film. He had cast a water membrane spell that provided resistance against poison. With this, Dominic could endure Baculas’ poison up to three times.

Dominic attacked Baculas from behind. His battle axe struck deep into its back, causing Baculas to emit a high-pitched scream.

Baculas began to move its legs, circling around the two of them. Having successfully launched a preemptive attack, Dominic continued his assault and severed one of its legs.

Baculas, changing its direction, spewed venomous saliva. This attack was blocked by the watery film created by Shawn’s magic. In response, Baculas spat out silk from its mouth, knowing that its venom wouldn’t work.

“Damn it!”

Dominic shouted as he became entangled in the silk, immobilizing him. Baculas approached, opening its mouth, ready to crush Dominic’s head. But before it could, Solaris, who had revived, appeared from the side and struck Baculas in the abdomen. The impact sent Baculas flying to the side.

“…Solaris?!”

Dominic and Shawn widened their eyes in astonishment as Solaris, with a single punch, sent the gigantic spider flying. As a result, the left side of Solaris’s face, along with the artificial skin and hair, peeled off, revealing glimpses of her skull. Her tattered maid uniform revealed her arms on both sides, devoid of artificial skin and muscles, with an enhanced carbon skeleton exposed.

“I will eliminate it.”

Solaris attempted to transform her arms into a laser gun by extending them forward. However, her hands trembled in the midst of transformation, and they failed to turn into guns.

“Left arm damage rate: 70%. Right hand damage rate: 40%. Unable to switch to sniper mode. Automatic repair initiated. Energy shortage due to repairs. Close-quarters combat mode continues.”

Halting the sniper mode, Solaris grabbed the silk entangling Dominic and swiftly removed it from his body.

“Please wait a moment.”

Without paying any attention to Dominic, Solaris walked towards Baculas.

“Wait! Solaris, are you injured…?”

Observing Solaris’s body, Dominic tilted his head in confusion. Indeed, Solaris was injured, but there was no blood, and she didn’t seem to be in pain. Moreover, why were there metallic components inside her body? The extent of Solaris’s injuries surpassed Dominic’s understanding, as he was unaware of her being a robot.

“I will fight alongside you. There is no problem with me alone.”

Solaris called out to the two of them, confident that she alone would suffice.

“It doesn’t work that way. If something were to happen to you, we wouldn’t be able to face the Abyss Witch.”

“Exactly. Solaris, step back.”

Both Dominic and Shawn stepped forward, determined to protect Solaris.

“No issues. I am more than capable.”

Solaris disregarded their concerns and focused her attention on Baculas.

While observing Dominic and Shawn struggling against Baculas, Solaris pondered.

Earlier, Rudy had mentioned that she lacked kindness. But what exactly is kindness? According to the data of her “Anything-for-You Haruko-chan”, kindness is having a compassionate heart towards others. However, she didn’t understand what that “heart” actually meant. Humans were said to possess that heart, unlike AIs. In that case, was it impossible for her, a heartless being, to acquire kindness?

Dominic and Shawn were fighting against hostile creatures to protect her, an injured and malfunctioning individual. According to her analysis, despite the opponent being injured, the power gap was clearly in the creature’s favor.

Risking one’s own life to protect others, is that what a heart is? Is it kindness?

At that moment, a log that was supposed to be erased resurfaced in Solaris’s memory cache. It was a memory from when she was the AI manager of the cruiser Bianca Flare, where she fought alongside her crew, memories of comrades who trusted and relied on each other.

Baculas, which they were fighting against, became serious. Its eyes turned red with aggressive intent, and green venomous saliva dripped from its mouth. Smoke rose from its severed back as its regenerative ability kicked in, healing the wounds.

Seeing the situation, Dominic and Shawn held their breath.

In that moment, Solaris pushed through between Dominic and Shawn and stepped forward.

“Solaris?”

Shawn, surprised, spoke to Solaris’s back, and she loudly proclaimed to the two of them.

“I am Solaris, the AI manager of the Imperial Special Fleet cruiser Bianca Flare. Though I may be the descendant of the former crew, I will fight alongside you!”

Solaris revealed her true identity with great fervor.