Seeing the Spider Mother decisively swallow the entire handful of inferior demonic energy crystals, Ren Kuroda froze in astonishment.
He had planned for her to consume them slowly, piece by piece, so that even if side effects occurred, he could manage them safely. Yet, misunderstanding his intent as a demand for loyalty—and fearing he wouldn't trust her otherwise—she had swallowed the entire handful in one go.
The result was immediate. A roaring surge of demonic energy erupted inside her, washing over her body like a tidal wave. Ren had only ever experienced such a flood of power in his own half-demon form—and even then, not at this scale. The sheer courage of the Spider Mother, swallowing the equivalent of what he usually consumed in a single intake, stunned him.
Her once-pale skin now glowed with an ominous purple aura as the overwhelming demonic power tore through her body. Even as a demon, she began to bleed profusely, the corrosive surge of power eroding her flesh. Ren noticed the stench of her blood immediately—a pungent, oppressive scent far stronger than any ordinary demon, reminiscent of Muzan Kibutsuji himself.
The Spider Mother screamed, clutching her shoulders as the searing pain drove her nails into her own skin. Yet beneath the agony, a spark of exhilaration lit her eyes. She could feel her body transforming; if she could endure this, the sun would no longer hold power over her, and she would no longer be bound to the shadows.
Ren observed her gravely. Muzan's influence had been purged from her system, but her demonic energy continued to climb rapidly. While more power was generally good, her body had limits. She had consumed far too many crystals at once, and if this surge continued unchecked, her body might not survive.
"Damn it… this is my first little sister in this other world!" Ren muttered under his breath. "I can't let her die like this. And those crystals were worth hundreds of reputation points!"
He didn't hesitate. Stepping forward, he enveloped her in his arms, stabilizing and draining the excess demonic energy coursing through her.
A few minutes later, the Spider Mother—now fully evolved—walked behind him, her face flushed but her eyes bright. She had taken on a new title in Ren's eyes: the Lady Spider.
Although some time had passed since her transformation, she remained shy in front of Ren. She had once played the role of "mother" in the Spider Family, but beneath her voluptuous figure and mature appearance, she was still a young girl at heart. The experience of being protected by Ren, unwavering and calm, had moved her deeply. For her, this simple act of care had never existed in her life—not from her so-called family, not from anyone.
Ren, walking slightly ahead, noticed her lingering gaze and turned back with a wry expression.
"Shouldn't you be leading the way? Why am I always in front? And you can change back into your original form, right? This feels a bit… strange."
The Spider Mother's transformation was indeed striking. Her upper body remained that of a voluptuous, beautiful young woman, her snow-white skin intact, but her lower body had completely changed. Her legs had become six, forming a giant arachnid frame, much like the mythical Jorōgumo.
Despite these changes, she was not a pure demon. The transformation had removed her vulnerability to sunlight, granted her a weak but reliable form of self-healing, and made her immune to injuries from Nichirin Blades. Limb regeneration was no longer impossible, and her body could withstand considerable punishment.
She had also gained new abilities: controlling others via her silk, venomous attacks, applying intense pressure, and binding enemies with webs. Her demonic power might not rival Ren's, but as a yokai variant of a Jorōgumo, her level was formidable. In terms of yokai hierarchy, she was on par with—or in some aspects, even exceeded—Ren's own half-yokai abilities.
As a high-level yokai, the Spider Mother could revert to her former human-inspired form, but she seemed to prefer her current one. When Ren commented on it, she froze, taken aback.
"Eh… I thought a yokai lord would favor their yokai form," Ren said, amusement in his voice, "but it seems you prefer your human side? No problem—as long as you like it, I can maintain your current form. But before that… I want you to call me by my name properly. You are now the 'Spider Princess.'"
The Spider Mother—now the Spider Princess—paused, absorbing the weight of her new identity and powers. For the first time, she felt a sense of pride and purpose, coupled with trust and loyalty toward Ren Kuroda.
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