Chapter 20: Kumoko

"Monster? It's a monster!!!" Yi Lin cried out in alarm.

"Yi Lin, don't worry. It's not a monster. At most, it's just a… really big spider."

"A spider demon?" Yi Lin silently began reciting a demon-banishing chant in her head.

"No, not that either. Yi Lin, this chat group connects countless worlds across the multiverse. There will be many more beings from other worlds joining us, so don't be scared, okay?" Kevin Cross offered comfort as he focused back on the photo. He immediately recognized the newcomer.

"A spider? Are you Kumoko? No wait, you're the Kumoko who reincarnated into another world!"

"Eh? Eh? You actually know I'm someone who reincarnated into another world as a spider? Could it be… you're connected to my reincarnation?!" Kumoko suddenly got excited, then quickly started complaining. "But seriously, why did I have to reincarnate as a spider?! Why not a human? Do you know how much I've suffered? How much I've been bullied"

"Alright, alright, calm down! Your reincarnation had nothing to do with me. It's just… before I got isekai'd myself, I read a story about you." Kevin quickly waved her off. If memory served, this Kumoko was quite the chatterbox super bubbly and endlessly optimistic by nature.

"Wait, wait. A story about me? Am I… the protagonist of a light novel???" Kumoko blinked, then lit up with excitement.

"Yeah, you are the main character. Though I didn't read the light novel I watched the anime adaptation."

"Anime?! It got turned into an anime?! My light novel got adapted into an anime?! That must mean I was really popular, right? Haha! I knew it! I knew I'd be a fan-favorite! Hahaha!" Kumoko beamed with pride, completely unfazed by the revelation that she was a fictional character. That damn unshakeable optimism… or maybe she was just incredibly dense.

"You were definitely popular. I remember when your anime aired it caused quite a stir. Especially since not long before that, there was another isekai anime that blew up too… the one where the protagonist gets reincarnated as a slime. Oh, and there was Overlord before that. All part of that non-human reincarnation trend."

"A slime? Someone actually got reincarnated as a slime? Haha, that's hilarious. Slimes are supposed to be the weakest monsters ever!"

"Don't laugh too soon. That slime is completely broken he has this absurd skill system and can absorb anything to gain its powers. In the very first episode, he encounters one of the most powerful beings in that world a Storm Dragon, I think? Anyway, the dragon willingly lets him absorb it, and he instantly jumps to the top tier in that world. I think he even rivals demon lords. The guy never really suffers. Super lucky."

"Wait, hold on. You're telling me… that slime guy? He never got bullied?"

"Correct."

"Had it easy the whole way?"

"Yup."

"And absorbed a dragon? In the first episode?!"

"Mhm."

"And the dragon volunteered?!"

"Exactly."

"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Why?! Why?! WHY?! Why is it that even getting reincarnated as a slime turns someone into a winner in life, but I had to be reborn as a lowly little spider?! Not even a cool kind just the weakest, bottom-tier kind! Right after I hatched, my own mother tried to eat me! I barely escaped, only to run into all sorts of monsters that nearly killed me over and over. And even when I managed to defeat them barely I still got thrashed. I finally managed to build myself a home, and then some random adventurers came and tried to kill me for no reason. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"..."

"My condolences."

"My condolences."

"My condolences."

"My condolences."

Everyone in the chat group couldn't help offering sympathy… mixed with a tinge of schadenfreude. Honestly, compared to everyone else, Kumoko really had it rough.

"Oh, and by the way," Kevin added, "everyone from your classroom reincarnated too. Except for one person who turned into an earth dragon, the rest became human at least human looking. And even that dragon has a pretty high life level."

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Stop! Stop! STOP! I'm gonna cry! Why am I the only one who got the short end of the stick?! Why am I the only one with the nightmare start?! I'm losing it! You don't even know how bad the food is here bitter, sour, totally inedible! I haven't had a proper meal in forever! Wait Group Admin! Hey, Admin! Can you send me some real food? Please? Rice, noodles, bread, burgers anything!"

"No problem at all. Hang on. I had half a pizza left over from yesterday. Was planning to reheat it today, but since you want it, I'll send it to you."

"Pizza?! Long live the Admin! Long live the Admin! Long live the Admin! I want pizza! I want pizza! Thank you, thank you! I'm so grateful I could cry I'll repay you with my life!"

"Repay me with your life? Uh, no thanks. At least wait until you've evolved into a human first."

"Wait, what? Are you saying… I'm going to become human? For real? Really really really?! I can become human?!"

"Yup. You'll eventually turn into a white-haired beauty with an incredible figure."

"Hehehe, really? For real?! I'm gonna become a total babe?! With that kind of body?!"

"Totally. Hang on, I'll pull an image from memory and send you a screenshot."

Kevin posted a picture of Kumoko's evolved human form White, or Shiraori.

"Wow! That's really me? Amazing no, stunning! This is awesome! I knew I'd become a gorgeous heroine someday. Hahaha! I'm gonna be a real knockout! Heh heh heh hahahahaha"

"Okay, don't get ahead of yourself. I've got some bad news too," Kevin popped back into the chat.

"Bad news? What bad news? Don't tell me my story gets worse! The author's not one of those angst-loving types, right? You're not gonna tell me it's a tragedy arc, are you?! Please no, not a misery fest! I don't want any of that! No angst! No suffering!"

Kumoko was on the verge of breakdown again.