At the same time as my level-up, I was told something absolutely ridiculous.
Evolution, it said?
So that means... what exactly?
Like that game where you raise those pocket Monsters or something?
《There are multiple evolution candidates. Please choose from the following.
Lesser Taratect Small Taratect》 Uh, oh. Okay.
Hold on a sec.
Just a moment.
Let me think about this carefully.
This is a major turning point in my life.
Well, not life exactly — in my spider life.
Either way, I absolutely cannot make a hasty choice.
Evolution.
Well, that part's fine.
I'll just accept that in this game-like world, stuff like this is to be expected.
If I start picking apart every little thing, I'll never stop.
Anyway, if it's called evolution, then I'm probably getting a power-up, right?
If I can evolve, then I should — that should be obvious. Probably.
Hmm. This is just based on game knowledge, but depending on the case, there are times when it's actually better not to evolve.
Well, that type is pretty niche, so I think it's safe to lean toward evolving.
The real question is that there are two evolution options.
Lesser Taratect and Small Taratect.
Just going by the names, they don't sound that different.
It's only a matter of Lesser versus Small.
If only I could use Appraisal on the Voice of Heaven.
Then I'd know the difference for sure.
Hmm.
Well, I can probably make an educated guess.
The Lesser Taratect option probably means I become an adult.
The word "Small" is gone from the name, after all.
Conversely, the Small Taratect option has "Lesser" removed, so that would mean upgrading from an inferior species to a higher one?
But the word "Small" is still there, which means I'd stay as a larva.
I'm pretty sure that's the right interpretation.
If I think about it that way, the choice is pretty obvious.
Small Taratect, no contest.
Evolving while still being an inferior species doesn't seem like it'd lead to anything good.
Plus, if I become a Small Taratect, there should be one more evolution stage remaining, right?
Where I lose the "Small" and become just a regular Taratect.
I don't know how much each evolution changes things, but at the very least, evolving will definitely make me stronger.
In that case, picking the option with more evolution stages remaining is obviously the better choice.
Maybe the Lesser Taratect path can evolve too, but I can't bring myself to pick that on pure wishful thinking.
Besides, if I choose Lesser Taratect, I have no idea how big my body would get, and that's scary.
Becoming an adult probably means my body gets bigger too.
I don't think evolving would instantly make me huge, but I can't rule it out completely.
This is a fantasy world, after all — for all I know, an "Evolution complete — boof, now I'm enormous!" scenario could happen.
As long as that possibility exists, I can't make that choice so casually.
I doubt I'd end up the same size as that giant spider, but if I can't still move around comfortably in these corridors, I'd be in trouble.
Earlier I saw a Monster called a Finjigoat — that thing was a massive body that completely filled this three-meter-wide corridor.
It looked like it could barely move in there.
I'm guessing that Monster normally lives in a much wider area, and that particular individual just happened to wander into a narrow passage.
Thinking about it that way, becoming a giant and losing all mobility is a real possibility.
So staying the same size would be better.
That's another reason to pick Small Taratect.
Yeah.
I've decided.
I'll evolve into a Small Taratect!
《Individual: Small Lesser Taratect will now evolve into Small Taratect》 Oh, okay.
So evolution just starts like that, huh?
The Voice of Heaven always chimes in so abruptly — couldn't you put a little more... feeling into it or something? Show a little sensitivity?
I was right in the middle of evolving, you know... and... just like... that...
《Evolution is complete》 《Species has become Small Taratect》 《Various base stats have increased》 《Skill Proficiency Evolution Bonus acquired》 《Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Taboo LV1" has become "Taboo LV2"》 《Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Heterodox Magic LV1" has become "Heterodox Magic LV2"》 《Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Corrosion Resistance LV1" has become "Corrosion Resistance LV2"》 《Proficiency has reached a threshold. Skill "Idaten LV1" has become "Idaten LV2"》 《Skill Points obtained》 Whoa!?
Wait— huh?
Did I pass out just now?
No — it's more like my consciousness suddenly faded and everything just... clicked off?
This is definitely because of the evolution, right?
Hey, Voice of Heaven, if I'm going to lose consciousness during evolution, could you at least warn me in advance?!
Hm?
Is the evolution done?
It doesn't really look any different, though?
Oh — Appraisal got deactivated.
Alright, let me run an Appraisal on myself just to check.
『Small Taratect LV1 Name: None Status: Weak』
Oh! Oh, oh?
Hm hm hm?
The species name changed, so the evolution was successful, I guess?
But LV1?
Wait — do you lose levels when you evolve?
No way, but... my Status didn't drop or anything, did it?
My Status is "Weak," same as before, so I can't really tell.
Actually, it's still Weak...?
More pressing is the fact that the red overall Stamina bar is nearly empty.
So that's why I've been feeling strangely sluggish, and why I'm absolutely starving.
I used up a ton of energy on the evolution, I bet. Good thing I had a huge stockpile of food on hand.
The evolution seems to have worked out, but doing this without prep is seriously dangerous.
I pass out, I get ravenous...
If another chance like this comes up, I really need to prepare properly beforehand.