Poor Noble Nord’s Adventure

32.2. Endless Summer 1

“…That thing?”

After spending the night at the campsite, Nord set out at dawn.

Though the forest remained dim, it was bright enough to begin moving.

A quick breakfast from yesterday’s leftovers was eaten, and the camping gear was swiftly packed away.

The stones of the campfire were scattered, confirming the fire was completely extinguished before departure.

Hours of walking passed, and as the sun climbed higher, the forest gradually became illuminated.

It was then, bathed in the morning light, that Nord spotted it in the woods.

A large spider web drenched in morning dew.

The white mesh, stretched like a curtain between trees, held something large, tightly bound, stuck within it.

Wrapped entirely in spider silk and concealed from view, it was likely some unfortunate prey.

Knight spiders, known as “Night Spiders,” had a habit of storing their captured prey as preserved food. This was undoubtedly one such case.

Knight spiders were large monsters that directly attacked their prey, binding them tightly with silk to capture them.

The preserved prey remained alive, stored fresh as live rations for the knight spider.

These preserved rations were attached to webs used exclusively as storage, separate from the spider’s home nest.

The name “knight spider” came partly from their method of capturing prey alive, resembling a knight taking prisoners.

The presence of a storage web meant a nest was nearby.

Knight spiders centered their activities around their nests, suggesting one was likely close.

Nord shifted his mindset, preparing for combat at any moment.

Newt, seemingly aware of this, adopted a serious expression—a hunter’s demeanor.

The pair advanced cautiously deeper into the forest.

§

Nord silenced his footsteps as he moved carefully further into the woods.

Despite its knightly name, the knight spider was a hunter and assassin that claimed the forest as its territory.

It found prey from the slightest trace and attacked.

Although spiders lacked ears like animals, their body hairs could sense vibrations in the air, pinpointing locations by sound.

To avoid detection by wingbeats, Newt ceased flying and quietly crept forward on his four limbs.

(“…Found it.”)

After some exploration, Nord began searching for locations likely to house a knight spider’s nest based on prior knowledge of its preferred habitats.

While waiting near a storage web to ambush it was an option, the uncertainty of when it would appear prompted him to seek it out instead.

It seemed they had found another storage site. A web spread across the area, with prey being attached to it.

Even from a distance, the spider’s thick body and eight legs supporting its massive frame were clearly visible.

Its antennae twitched near its mouth as it extruded white silk, which it deftly manipulated with its two front limbs to wrap its prey.

Focused on storing its catch, the knight spider had yet to notice Nord and Newt.

When Nord glanced at Newt, the green-scaled creature gave a small nod, signaling his understanding.

§

The knight spider sensed vibrations through the body hairs covering its form and turned its eyes toward the source.

Its eight pitch-black simple eyes caught sight of a green figure flying through the forest.

It resembled a bird but was unlike any prey the knight spider had encountered before.

──Capture it.

With that thought, the knight spider aimed to ensnare the green creature. However—

“Gyao!”

“!?”

The strike of its raised front limb missed completely.

The green creature in flight effortlessly dodged the attack, flapping its wings to evade the swift, forceful blow.

The knight spider, recognizing the agility of its opponent, abandoned its storage work to focus entirely on the fight.

Leaping into action, the knight spider used the strength of its many legs to launch its massive body from a standstill, accelerating with bullet-like speed.

“Gyao!?”

The green creature, narrowly avoiding the sudden attack, let out a cry that sounded almost like a shriek.

But the knight spider’s assault did not end there.

It swung its limbs, accelerated when dodged, and closed the distance.

Spitting silk from its mouth, slashing with its front limbs, charging for collisions, pouncing, biting—it unleashed a barrage of attacks.

Though it desperately evaded, the green creature was gradually cornered.

As intended by the knight spider, it was driven toward a web stretched out behind it.

The next strike would either land or force the prey into the web.

This was the end.

So thought the knight spider as it prepared to spew silk from its mouth.

But pain and a sudden, strong impact from the side sent it flying.

§

Using Newt as a decoy, Nord had waited for the perfect opening to strike from the side.

At the very moment the knight spider felt assured of its victory, when Newt was cornered before the web, Nord delivered a powerful blow.

The jadeite blade of his sword dug deeply into the knight spider’s body, carving it apart.

At the same time, Nord struck with his shield, then withdrew the blade.

The massive spider was hurled sideways as the sword came free.

Unlike the red blood of animals, blue bodily fluid dripped from the blade.

“Kyui! Kyui!”

“You did well, Newt.”

Newt chirped loudly, narrowly saved.

Though cornered, Newt had played his role as a decoy perfectly.

From the knight spider’s movements, it was clear it had been fighting at full strength.

While Newt had only been able to evade and not counterattack, this might change with further growth.

“Now then…”

“G… Gigi…”

The knight spider, struck down by Nord’s ambush, tried to rise but failed.

From its mouth spilled white foam, likely silk, like bubbles frothing from a crab.

The critical blow had sapped its life force.

(“Time to finish this.”)

Though its death was imminent, Nord had no intention of letting it suffer unnecessarily.

He shook the spider’s blue blood from his sword and approached to deliver the final blow.

“!”

“Kshaaa!!”

With a snapping sound of breaking branches, another knight spider suddenly attacked from behind. Nord leaped to the side, narrowly evading the strike.

(“Another one!? A second one!”)

The battle was far from over.