Editing/Standardisation: kubor04
Formatting/Extras: APM
Original Translation: Blastron
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As I leveled up, I was informed of something completely unexpected. “Evolution”, was it? Is that… what I think it is…? Like in that one game, where you catch and raise, uh, pocket monsters, right?
<There are multiple options for evolution. Please choose from the following.
Lesser taratect
Small taratect
>
Oh… oh! Ummm, hang on, one sec. Uno momento, por favor.
Okay, let’s think this through. This kind of thing is a huge turning point in a person’s life. I’m not a person, though, I’m a spider. There’s no way I’m going to just pick one randomly.
I’m going to evolve. Well, that’s okay. This world’s basically a game, right? It’s totally not unthinkable for video game evolution to be a thing here. Man, once we start digging, there’s no end to the similarities, is there.
Well, when you say “evolution”, it really makes me think of a powerup. I’m given the option to evolve, but I really don’t have a choice, right? Right. Although… I do remember that there were some games where not evolving was advantageous sometimes. Eh, but those were seriously in the minority of games, so I think evolving is a pretty safe choice.
The problem is, there are two different forms that I have to choose between. [Lesser Taratect] and [Small Taratect]. Going by the names alone, there’s really not that much difference. I’m getting rid of either “Lesser” or “Small” from my species. Aaaaargh, why can’t I use [Appraisal] on what the “Voice of Heaven” says?! I’d be able to find out these differences immediately!
Hmmmmm. Well, let’s just take a stab at it. A [Lesser Taratect] is… probably the adult form of my current species, since I’m just dropping “small” from the name. A [Small Taratect], though, is dropping “lesser”. Does that mean that I’d no longer be an “inferior breed” of Taratect? I’d still be small, though, so I’d still be just a hatchling.
If I’m thinking along the right lines here, and I think I am, my choice is obvious.
It’s gotta be [Small Taratect].
I really don’t think staying as an “inferior breed” is a good idea. Think about it. If I pick [Small Taratect], I’m guaranteed to have at least one more evolution, from [Small Taratect] to a regular Taratect. I don’t know what exactly will change when I evolve, but I know that it’s going to be a good power boost, so I should really pick the option that seems like it will give me the most options down the road. Sure, you might want to think that a [Lesser Taratect] might also have evolution options, but there’s no way I’m going to make such an important decision off of such an unfounded hope.
On top of that, if I become a [Lesser Taratect], I’m probably going to grow larger. This is, quite frankly, terrifying. Adults are, of course, bigger than children, but usually a creature gets bigger gradually. In this ridiculous fantasy world, though, growing up via evolution may work in a “POOF! You’re big now!!” kind of fashion. And, really, since I can’t guarantee that isn’t actually the case, I really, really shouldn’t pick that option. I don’t think I’d get quite as large as that enormous spider from earlier, but there’s a definite possibility that I’d grow too big to fit through these tunnels.
I remember seeing a huge monster, a [Finjegoat], a while ago. It was so big that it had trouble fitting down these passageways, even if they’re three meters wide. Trying to move around while being that large would seriously suck. [Finjegoat]’s probably normally live in a much more spacious part of the cave so, I’d bet that one had gotten lost and wound up in these smaller tunnels.
Since getting big would make it hard for me to move, I’d really rather remain the size I’m at now. So, that’s another point in the [Small Taratect]’s favor.
Right. I’ve decided. I shall evolve… into a [Small Taratect]!!
<Individual Small Lesser Taratect will evolve into Small Taratect.>
Ah, yep. This started really quickly. The Voice of Heaven(???) blasted its way into my head as unceremoniously as usual, even though this is such a momentous occasion! Please, be a little more respectful! I’m trying very hard to ev…o…l…….v………..e………………..
<Evolution Completed.>
<Individual race has become small taratect.>
<All basic attributes have increased.>
<Skill proficiency evolutionary bonus acquired.>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Taboo – LV1] has become [Taboo – LV2]>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Heresy Magic – LV1] has become [Heresy Magic – LV2]>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Rot Resistance – LV1] has become [Rot Resistance – LV2]>
<Proficiency has reached the required level. Skill [Idaten – LV1] has become [Idaten – LV2]>
<Skill points acquired.>
Whoa!? Eh? Heh? Did… did I fall asleep?! Wait, no, that really felt more like my consciousness was shattered apart, with how quickly it faded. Did evolving cause this? Hey! Voice of Heaven!! It would have been just a tiny little bit nice to know that evolution causes sudden unconsciousness!!
Hmm? Wait, am I done evolving? I can’t really see any differences, physically… ah! [Appraisal] got turned off. Let me turn it back on real quick, so that I can confirm things for myself…
{>Small Taratect – LV 1 – no name}
{Status: Weak}
Oh! Ohhh… ohh? Hmmmmmm? The species name changed! Does that mean evolution was successful? …Level one, though? Like, does evolving decrease my level? …Oh no, does it reduce my stats as well?! I have no way to compare! [Appraisal] still only says I’m weak! …Ugh, it still only says I’m weak…
Ah, but, now that I’m looking, I can see that my red general-stamina meter has somehow completely emptied itself. Plus, the sluggishness I was feeling from overeating is gone. …I’m really hungry now. Did evolving seriously burn through all of the food that I had eaten? Well, uh, it’s a good thing that I’d been stockpiling so much.
You know, I’m actually really glad this evolution happened safely, because it’s risky as hell. I lose consciousness and wake up starving. Next time this happens, I’m going to need to make sure I’m well-prepared.
APM - Translation 