6th - Am I Powerful? Am I Magical? Am I... Oh

What do I do now?

Speaking out from that awkward moment, I asked the spider if it has a name, and surprisingly, it was actually a she! Her name was Sandy and she was the smarter one out of many spiderlings born between an arachnie and a human; I didn't know that was possible and apparently neither did she at first. Wait, why did she thought it was impossible? Oh well, it doesn't really matter does it? It's spider logic I guess, just like with the...*shudder* key incident.

("What about you?")

Not sure if brave or stupid, Sandy asked the core about its background. Although I get she's curious since I am too, but Isn't she scared of its aura or force? Is it just me? I know the core was nice enough to let go of the stong force that held me in place just so that I could explain to Sandy that I'm a mimic, but still, couldn't it could use the same force on her? Is it because I'm weak? Is that it?

As I contemplated my lack of strength and ranted pessimistically in my mind, the core began to explain himself.

("As you both know, I am the dungeon core. I have lived for a couple decades and I've gain enough knowledge to understand and communicate with other beings.")

He told us about how a dungeon core was born. It's formed naturally by a concentration of mana over decades and it could be anywhere from underground to the skies; there's also apparently floating islands in this world and a dungeon core is the reason they exist in the first place as they are the heart of the islands.

As he continued on, we - Sandy and I - both became absorbed into his stories of his years as a dungeon core. He expanded from a single cave to a large structure of monsters and treasures, even though most of the treasure had already been looted by a human. When he talked about the human though, Sandy seemed angry and, a bit embarassed? Could it be the human was her father?

Nah, that can't be right. This can't be the work of a single human. the treasures must be slowly looted over time by different humans that wondered into the dungeon. Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, why would he need all these treasure if he's living with an arachne? Well, I guess trade?

Ah, I missed what we were talking about. The core is now talking about some troublesome monsters that just won't obey his orders. Hm? Wait a second.

("By the way, I have to ask first: what was that force you used on me?")

Well, since the core kindly responded to Sandy, I guess it can't hurt asking about the specific of what happened before right? I want to know how the force work so I could avoid it next time.

However, it seems the core knew what I was thinking and destroyed my expectations.

("Since I've built this dungeon by myself, the entire dungeon is under my command. Therefore I can forcefully control everything born within as well, including you, mimic.")

Ah! This is not fair! This is slavery from birth! I demand equality among beings!

("Even if you don't like it, it's just how it is.")

("But then what about Sandy? Why didn't you use that force on Sandy? This is injustice! Prejudice! Sexist!")

("You have a sex?")

Eh, I think I do? I just randomly shouted out several opposing phrases, sorry.

("Anyway, for some reason, I cannot force her by my will at all despite my efforts. It's like she's exempt from my power.")

("Ah, it might be because I'm not born from within the dungeon?")

I felt like the core just looked at Sandy weirdly, even though it doesn't have eyes. Was it just me?

("Hey, if you can forcefully control being in this dungeon, why didn't you just control me to this room in the first place?")

("Well, it wouldn't be any fun, would it?")

He's just messing around isn't he? Just how bored are you?

...

We continued to talk about ourselves before Sandy had to go. From what she said before, she has a very accurate biological clock in her and it's currently telling her it's dinner time. As if an alarm rang from within her head, she stood up in mild surprise.

("It seems it's dinner time for me, so I have to go.")

("Ah, I see.")

("Dinner time?")

This reminded me, I feel like I could tell it's almost night time. Could that be my biological clock or some sort of mental clock from my subconscious? That's pretty cool actually, the feeling of being about to tell the time at anytime, anywhere.

("Well, I'm sad that I found out that my supposed treasure is actually just a mimic, but at least I've made two friends who are not from my family finally!")

("And I'm happy that I won't have keys inserted into me for the time being again.")

("Well, I was going to try and eat both of you, but it seemed more interesting to keep you guys around instead.")

Both me and Sandy looked at the core, I was looking with fear while she seems to be looking at a pervert instead. Do we still have some misunderstandings? I feel like we do, don't we?

("I'll be going then. Don't actually eat him when I'm gone though. I'll be back tomorrow.")

("Don't worry. I already said I won't.")

The exit opened for Sandy and she left just like that, leaving me and the core in the room alone.

...

("So, what now?")

("Well, I did say that I'm interested in you, since you somehow resisted my beast attraction runes.")

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Oh, that's right. He did ask me how I resisted that rune thing when we first met. I completely forgot about it until he brought it up just then.

("Although I could guess, what exactly are those rune things anyway?")

("The short version is, they are common magic-related writings that are engraved to perform specific tasks.")

Oh boy, I wonder what the long version is going to be if the short version is going to be like that. I have a feeling I should never ask the core to explain really complicated things. What? Did I ask about the long version? If course not!

("Then how did I resist the rune if it's meant to attract beasts?")

("That's what I want to know. The only three ways for someone to resist runes is if they use anti-magic items, they are so powerful that their mana exceeds the rune's power, or if they have absolutely no mana in them at all which is impossible.")

("Why is the last one impossible?")

("Because theoretically, nothing is absent from mana. Everything has at least a sliver of mana in them.")

("So, do I have an abundance of mana?")

Hang on, doesn't that mean I'm pretty powerful? It did say that the more mana you have the more powerful you are right? Am I quite OP?

The core went silent for a few second.

("I just tried to sense how much mana you have, and the result is that I can't sense much in you.")

("Huh, what?")

Wait. Then what does that mean?

("You know, I think it might be the first possiblity. Maybe it's because you are a mimic, you somehow inherited an anti-magic item's property to dispel mana.")

("Is that even possible?")

At least, it kind of makes sense? But I don't remember seeing any items that could be anti-magic. Actaully, I don't really remember seeing any items at all... except...

("I did ate an entire guy. He might have something that is anti-magic?")

("That's possible.")

("Is there a way to know? Can I check myself if I have any anti-magic properties?")

The core went silent to think about what to do.

("Have you seen any blue boxes floating in front of you before?")

("Ah, yes. When I ate the guy there was a bunch of them popping up everywhere.")

("Then think of the words 'Inspect self' in your mind.")

("Inspect self?")

Suddenly, I became more confused, and yet almost everything seemed to make sense as I read the most important status info box appear that appeared in front of me.

Status Information Box Name: N/A Race: Mimic Type: Chest Alignment: Error  Titles:

Reincarnator (Hidden), Blessed by the Grim Reaper (Hidden), Newborn Mimic, Clean Eater, Deceptive Bastard, Subconscious Murderer, Cannibal (ERROR;Hidden)

 Abilities:

Mimicry, Mimicry Natural Adaption (I), Info Windows, Mimicry Movement Mastery (III), Pain Resistance Mastery (I), Instinctual Prediction Mastery (I)

Mimic Properties:

Extra life, Treasure Chest Form, Hard Casing (Wood, Metal,), Corpse Form - Male Human, Dagger Form, Potion Form, Cloth Form, Soft Casing (Leather, Wool) Mana Mitigation

Currently Active: Extra life (Cannot be inactive, one time use), Treasure Chest Form, Hard Casing (Wood), Mana Mitigation

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I arrived back home, our large cave of webbings everywhere. I didn't see any of my siblings until I went inside and then I knew why they weren't outside. I walked in to see dad splitting the corpse of several large lizards among my excited siblings, all scrambling for a piece to eat. It's quite scary too see, if only I wasn't a spider as well.

What's the occasion for the large pile of food though? It's not someone's birthday or something is it?

I went towards dad and he gave me a larger piece out of the ones he cut with his personal skinning knife. Damn, this is so delicious. It tastes like chicken. I wonder if it's because chicken was originally evolved from a dinosaur? I'm pretty sure I read that from somewhere online before. Eh, I don't remember. It doesn't matter anyway, since this is delicious.

"I'm going to be away for a couple days from tomorrow onward."

Although the smaller spiderlings either didn't catch what he said or didn't care, me and the other intelligent spider stopped. A business trip? Wait, if dad's not going to be here for a couple days, what will happen to our lessons?

You have a bad feeling

Oh god no.

"Your mother already knows about this and she said she'll be fine teaching you by herself."

We are going to die.

We just stood there with our mouth open as we stared at dad. Some of the more cheekier spiderlings took a couple bites at our piece of the lizards as we were stuned. We didn't even care about that, at least I didn't. We have more important things to worry about.

Dad seemed to know what we were thinking about and continued.

"Don't worry, you'll survive before I get back."

Doesn't that mean we'll die if you don't!? Oh god we are so going to die!

...

We ate the rest of dinner in silence. Dad sighed at our miserable looks of dejection but didn't do anything help improve it. Damnit dad! You've practically abandoned us with a monst- I mean, mother!

'Well, mother is technically a monster...'

The next day, dad disappeared. Replacing him as our tutor for language, mother stepped forward.

"Already everyone, your father should have told you already last night, but if not I'll tell you."

I'm pretty sure he told everyone about this already. Mother, you're just tormenting us by reminding us about his absence, isn't that right?

"For the next few days, I'll be the one to teach you everything your father teaches for the time being, since he has some very important... jobs to do."

Ahhh, just kill me now.

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Alexander double-checked his luggage for any missing items that the spiderlings might have taken out of curiosity. He's not strict with how to raise his children, but even so, right now he can't afford to miss any items before taking off.

"Ah you sure you don't want me to go instead?"

His arachne wife, the love of his life, watched him with a sorrowful expression. She wanted to trade places with him, keeping him with the kids and away from harm. She knew it's useless to ask but still voiced it out loud.

"I'll be back. I promise."

He kissed her lightly and lept ahead. There was no way to change his mind now that he was set on going. She knew that. She knew everything about him and she loves him.

Alexander kept going until he saw a group of dark figures.

Twenty humans rested by a cliffside, hidden from view unless one was an expert scout. They were citizens of the empire, more accurately, they were elite soldiers loyal to the emperor and the publically exiled general. Each person dressed in a cloak that covered the bodies and heads of the soldiers, signs of weapons barely visible from the outlines from the bulges of the cloth.

As soon as they spotted Alexander approaching, they came out of their hiding spot and saluted him.

"General Alexander sir!"

"No formality, I'm publically exiled already so I'm not one of the empire's general anymore. Since we're moving in secret, we should also keep our talks short, so just address me as Alex."

With strict trainning, they immediately accepted his request and followed him.

"Our, mission I suppose, is to kill anyone entering the dungeon. Remember to leave one alive in the end and lay the bait for the immortals. Any questions?"

No one spoke up. They had all been informed of the plan and agreed. The talk Alexander gave was only a last comfirmation.

"Then Iet's go. We've already got a target."

The group moved as one with Alexander in front, heading towards the same entrance where he had killed the three players. They stopped by rough terrain, crouching within the shadows away from the opponent party's eyes.

The other party was a raiding group consisting of two dozen people, a total of four official player parties each with their own leading member. They moved in a diamond formation - a forward party, two side party and a rear party, imperfectly covering their surroundings.

With a single signal from Alexander, the soldiers moved in. Taking one person each, the soldiers assassinated almost all of the members of the entire raid group. The three surviving players absentmindedly stared at their fallen teammates, before two of them were killed by the nearby soldiers.

"You are not acknowledged by Ashenhilt. You do not possess his permission to enter. Come back when you do!"

As the last word left his mouth, Alexander executed him coldly.

"The first bait has been set. Let's go. There's still more coming."