Have you heard of the hugely popular novel "So I'm a Spider, So What?"? It became a hot topic for its shocking storyline in which the protagonist, "I," lives a normal high school girl life in Japan but is reincarnated as a spider. In addition to being made into a comic book, it is also soon to be made into an anime, which is creating even more excitement. The world of "So I'm a Spider, So What?" is not just a story of reincarnation in another world, but is also attracting attention for its complex intertwining. In this article, we will introduce the "System," which plays a very important role in the story, with spoilers included. We will explain what the "System" is and what it is like, so be sure to check it out before the anime adaptation!
What Exactly Is the "System"? Spoiler Alert!
The "System" is a general term for laws. In the other world where "So I'm a Spider, So What?" is set, it is the entity that makes up "skills" and "status." It was created by an entity known as "Evil God D," who used the goddess Sariel as a human sacrifice. The "System" has become an indispensable part of the other world, but since the inhabitants of the other world spend their time largely unaware of it, they unconsciously benefit from it.
What kind of entity is "Evil God D," the creator of the "System"?
Evil God D is a mysterious woman. She describes herself as "the world's worst evil god." She suddenly appears before the protagonist and communicates with him via voice only, via smartphone. She is beautiful, yet somehow mysterious and eerie, and one of the most powerful figures in the world of gods. In addition to being called an "evil god," she is also known as the "Grim Reaper" and the "Final God." She appears before the protagonist at every opportunity, enjoying treating him like a toy to pass the time. To her, this other world is like a game, and the system itself is designed to resemble a game, due to her personal preferences.
A Very Mysterious Being
More information about the evil god D is gradually revealed as the story progresses. Mysteries such as why he is so supportive of the protagonist and why the protagonist was reincarnated as a spider are also revealed.
The Origin of the "System"
How does the "System" work in this other world? It's thanks to this "System" that "magic" is relatively easy to use and that even large monsters can move freely and with ease. Normally, magic isn't something that can be easily wielded simply by possessing magical power; it requires complex processes, and even large monsters can barely support their own weight. This "System" allows us to do all of this so easily, but it's so obvious that few people living in the other world even realize it.
What is the purpose of the "System"?
This "System" is based on the goddess Sariel, who is used as a human sacrifice. Its specific purpose is to restore the planet's MA energy, which was once wasted by the original humans, and to regenerate it. This MA energy is originally accumulated through the reincarnation of the original humans, but the "System" is designed to recover it from the soul.
It's all made possible by the "System"! What exactly are "Skills"?
"Skills" are useful in various areas of combat, such as using magic, improving stats, and strengthening attacks against specific attributes. "Skills" have levels, and you can increase your "skill level" through combat, gaining experience, and consuming skill points. While "skills" make the otherworldly civilization possible, there is a limit to the number of skills a person can possess.
How to Increase "Skills"
"Skills" are increased in different ways depending on their type. For example, repeated consumption of poisonous substances increases poison resistance. Skills increase through repeated training and behavior. Mental skills also exist, acquired through repeated thoughts and emotions. (An example of this is "Rage.") Most skill levels have a maximum of 10.
What are "Skill Points"?
You can sometimes acquire "Skills" by spending "Skill Points." They are added when you level up, and as long as you have enough "Skill Points," you can instantly acquire "Skills" without having to train.
For Energy Recovery
Skills in this other world are designed to make it easier to recover MA energy. The more "Skills" you acquire and accumulate, the more MA energy you use, and the more is recovered from the "System." When the souls of monsters and other creatures lose their skills or are reincarnated, the amount of skill they possess is calculated as MA energy and recovered by the "System."
The Soul is on the Verge of Collapse
In other words, it's no exaggeration to say that "skills" exist solely for the "System" and are used by it. Souls affected by the "System" are unable to ride the gentle cycle of reincarnation. Instead, they are equipped with "Skills" solely for the purpose of recovering energy. They are then ripped away at death, and reincarnation continues at extremely short intervals solely for the sake of circulation. Now, quite some time has passed since the "System" began operating, and souls have become so overworked by it that many are no longer able to reincarnate, becoming exhausted and on the verge of collapse.
Spoiler alert: "Ruler Skills," which have a major impact on the "System"!
Among the "Skills," there exists a class of skills known as "Ruler Skills," which are incomparably more powerful than any other. There are 15 types of these skills: the "Seven Deadly Sins" series, the "Seven Virtues" series, and "Wisdom." In addition to significantly stronger stat-boosting effects, these skills grant the owner titles such as "Ruler of Wisdom" and allow them to acquire cheat-level skills. Possessing these "Ruler Skills" allows them to interfere with appraisals by others and even pass requests to the administrator.
What are the "Seven Deadly Sins Skills"?
The "Seven Deadly Sins Skills," also known as the "Seven Deadly Sins," have a significant negative impact on the owner's psyche. Because they are such powerful skills, possessing them can lead to self-destruction. For example, "Pride" can significantly increase experience points, proficiency, and growth, but it can also make the user overly aggressive, leading to them accumulating experience points beyond their capacity and often resulting in self-destruction. "Sloth" is a skill that significantly increases the HP, MP, SP, and other costs of all characters except the player's own. While it doesn't affect the player's mental state, it slows down those around them and makes the player themselves lazy.
What are the "Seven Virtue Skills"?
The "Seven Deadly Sins Skills" are quite difficult to use, but what about the "Seven Virtue Skills"? For example, "Compassion" has the ability to "Resurrect the Dead." This is a skill unique to the system and consumes a significant amount of MP. It also loses its effect a few minutes after death and cannot be used if the corpse is too damaged. However, its biggest drawback is that simply using it increases the "Taboo" level by one.
Spoilers for the "System"!
The above is a summary of spoilers about the "System," which plays a very important role in "So I'm a Spider, So What?". What did you think? We learned about the "skills" and "status" that accompany the "System," but we also learned that the "System" itself is overworking us. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this intricately intertwined worldview will be portrayed in the anime!
