Chapter 61: Sleeping Together
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Sleeping Together
“Hieeek!”
Lucky Charm was coiling around my tail, happy as a child.
Seeing you so happy makes me happy too.
But, Lucky Charm.
[The Snake Queen is observing you.]
Could you do something about this?
I think there’s been a misunderstanding.
We’re not in that kind of relationship yet, are we?
What’s so special about my tail that you’d give your body and soul for it?
I get that it looks delicious enough to make you drool, but it’s just a tail.
I know you’re a snake who lacks social experience, but still.
You can’t just fall for something like this.
“Ssshaaa….”
After flicking her tongue and admiring my tail for a good while, the Ball Python’s mouth opened wide.
So wide it was a little scary. Her mouth began to slowly swallow the severed tail.
I mean, I gave it to her to eat, but actually watching it is a strange feeling.
Seeing that cute face open its mouth that wide… should I say it’s a bit creepy? It was slightly terrifying.
But what does her appearance matter? She’s the princess who will offer me a precious elixir.
Before I knew it, the Ball Python had swallowed my entire tail.
Her belly bulged into the shape of my tail, then quickly subsided.
She must have some kind of digestion-related ability.
“Ssshaaa….”
Lucky Charm flicked her tongue.
Alright, are you satisfied now?
She looked at me and wagged her tail.
[The faith of 【Ball Python LV14】 has increased further.]
Right.
Now that you’ve had your fill, it’s time to get to work.
I sent the Ball Python a meaningful glance.
Lucky Charm understood the meaning in my eyes and her plump body began to wiggle and squirm.
The place she headed for was a corner of the room.
To be precise, it was a tiny, mouse-hole-like crack in the wall.
A hole so small not even my hand could fit through.
But a thin, long snake should be able to.
I believed in you, Ball Python.
Lucky Charm began to pass through the hole majestically.
Good girl.
Go bring me the elixir hidden on the other side.
“…Hiek?”
A sudden, flustered sound.
Wondering what was going on, I took a closer look.
[【Ball Python LV14】 is in a predicament.]
She was stuck in the wall.
She had become a snake stuck in a wall.
“Hieeek….”
It seemed she never imagined she would get stuck.
No, even if her belly went down quickly, she just ate my tail. Of course she’d get stuck.
…Or did she just get fat?
“Ssshaaaaak!”
Lucky Charm let out what she probably thought was a terrifying sound, as if angry.
But it wasn’t scary at all.
The only scary thing was the thought of not getting my precious elixir.
Just try a little harder.
Maybe if I push her right about here, she can get through?
The moment I gave the area above her tail a little push…
“Hieeeeeeeeeek!”
[【Ball Python LV14】 is extremely embarrassed.]
Where did I even touch?
[【Ball Python LV14】 shudders at a sensation she has never felt before.]
I don’t know what that was, but it wasn’t my intention.
[【Attercopus LV9】 clacks its fangs.]
What’s with you?
Still, it seemed like we were making progress.
After I kept patting her rear, the Ball Python was finally able to pass through the wall.
“Hiek….”
After she wiggled her way in, how much time had passed? Lucky Charm’s cute face appeared from inside the hole.
She was holding a golden tree fruit in her mouth.
Yes, that must be the elixir.
Unlike before, the Ball Python was able to get out easily.
Did she lose weight in that short time?
“Hieeeek….”
The Ball Python gently placed the tree fruit in front of me.
Good job.
After patting her head a few times, I examined the fruit closely.
【Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit】
【Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit】
The fruit of the Golden Spirit Tree, which only grows where human hands cannot reach.
It is an extremely rare fruit, said to grow only once every ten thousand years, and is called a supreme elixir on par with Gongcheongseokyu. It is of great help in driving out the Heart Demon.
Effect: Expels the turbid energy within the body to greatly enhance potential. Additionally, it improves the performance of a random skill.
This was the jackpot of all jackpots.
Compared to the black Gongcheongseokyu, its performance might be slightly inferior.
Gongcheongseokyu drastically improves a skill’s performance, while the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit simply improves it.
Since the word “drastically” is missing, it’s probably a step down in that regard.
But the sentence before that was what mattered.
Greatly enhance potential.
An increase in potential might not mean much right now.
But later, when I’ve grown stronger, that’s when its true value will shine.
I could become a Golden Mecha Tyranno overflowing with potential.
I glanced around.
This place was spacious, but besides me and the Ball Python, there was no one else.
In other words, it was safe.
Alright, let’s give it a try.
I swallowed the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit.
Sweet juice burst inside my mouth.
[You have consumed a supreme elixir.]
The same message as with the Gongcheongseokyu appeared.
Last time, Ten-Poison Immunity evolved into All-Poison Immunity.
As a byproduct, I gained poison fangs.
Thanks to all that, I was eventually able to evolve into a Gomodo.
I was disappointed at the time, but looking back, it was a pretty good result.
So, which skill will change this time?
The one I want most is Reverse Scale, and after that, my other martial arts.
I wouldn’t mind if a completely different skill was chosen.
After the Ten-Poison Immunity incident, I learned that it would eventually help me one way or another.
[The level of 「Wild Eye LV2」 increases by 3.]
…Tsk.
Well, since it wasn’t a drastic improvement, I guess I should be satisfied with a skill level increase.
If it had been Gongcheongseokyu, Wild Eye would have evolved completely.
Into something like Dragon Eye.
It was a little disappointing, but not too bad.
Wild Eye was a difficult skill to level up, after all.
Besides, the skill enhancement was just a bonus; the main effect was enhancing my potential.
Alright, bring it on.
A golden aura began to ripple from my body.
At the same time, a wave of fatigue washed over me.
I instinctively knew what I had to do.
When you consume an elixir, you must make its energy your own.
I could handle something like an inner core without much effort, but a treasure like the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit couldn’t be absorbed so easily.
I immediately sat down in the lotus position.
“Ssshaak!”
The Ball Python circled around me.
Is she trying to stand guard for me?
Heh, how reassuring.
I closed my eyes and began my Qi cultivation.
The Small Heavenly Cycle.
I’d done this breathing exercise countless times, but it still felt unfamiliar.
Every time I evolved, my body’s structure changed, so it was only natural that the location and configuration of my meridians would change as well.
If Baek Yeon-yeong hadn’t corrected my posture, I might not have been able to perform the Small Heavenly Cycle in this Gomodo body.
But I had trained with Baek Yeon-yeong for a week.
The internal energy originating from my dantian circulated throughout my body.
My mind grew calm, and a certain mental image colored my vision.
A dark space, as if drawn with ink.
This was my mental landscape.
Drip.
A single drop of water fell.
It made the vast lake ripple with just one drop.
Drip, drip.
A few more drops fell.
But the lake only rippled; its waters never overflowed.
“Kraaaaaaaargh!”
A mighty roar echoed.
Driving out turbid energy was the same as defeating one’s Heart Demon.
The sound I just heard was my Heart Demon.
My adversary.
An ill-fated connection from my past life.
The Spinosaurus.
In my current body, defeating a Spinosaurus is impossible.
But this is my mental landscape.
A place where my will is my body.
Krrrr-unch.
My body grew endlessly larger.
An overwhelming size truly worthy of being called the king of dinosaurs.
That’s right.
In the space of my mind, I can become a Tyranno.
Come at me, my Heart Demon.
The moment I raised my head to greet my inner demon…
Skin that was nearly red.
A body that rivaled my own in size.
Thin, long teeth that seemed optimized for catching fish.
And encompassing it all, a frilly black and white outfit.
…An outfit?
My body froze for a moment at the shocking sight.
The roaring Spinosaurus gave an awkward smile.
Why are you wearing clothes?
And a maid outfit, of all things?
I posed the question.
And immediately came to regret it.
This thing called a Heart Demon was a truly vicious bastard.
It maliciously interpreted my question, leading to a horrifying result.
Rustle.
The Spino’s clothes began to slowly disappear.
Hwaaaaaaaargh!
[「%! Cu■□ LV2」 has been activated.]
[「%! Cu■□ LV2」 has been activated.]
[「%! Cu■□ LV2」 has been activated.]
[「%! Cu■□ LV2」 has been activated.]
Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack!
Shatter!
[You have overcome the Heart Demon!]
[You have fully absorbed the energy of the 【Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit】.]
Pant…
Hooo…
That was a truly horrifying Heart Demon.
Thanks, mysterious Jareugi.
I managed to drive it away this time, but I don’t know about the next.
I have to do my best not to fall prey to my Heart Demon.
I returned to reality.
The Ball Python was looking at me with worried eyes.
“Hiek….”
It’s okay, it’s all over.
I could feel the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit all over my body.
The Heart Demon was truly terrible, but the power was worth it.
However, fatigue continued to wash over me.
Normally, I should drive away fatigue with Qi cultivation, but as a lizard, I still found sleep more comfortable.
It’s safe here, and I’ve accomplished my goal, so maybe I’ll just sleep for a little bit?
Yes.
That’s better than forcing myself to leave and fainting midway.
I curled my body into a ball.
Resting is also part of the strategy.
When a large amount of energy suddenly enters the body like this, rest, including Qi cultivation, is the most important thing.
And sleeping was one of the best forms of rest.
Let’s just sleep for a little while and then get up.
“Krrrr… Huk?”
I woke up, startled by my own snoring.
My surroundings had grown dark.
The amount of light seeping through the ceiling had decreased significantly.
I only meant to sleep for a bit, but it seems I slept for quite a while.
“Gekgegek.”
Where did the Ball Python go?
“Hyororong….”
She was coiled up in my embrace, making a strange sound.
You must have been tired too.
I could feel her cool body temperature all over me.
There’s no real reason for us to be this close.
Still, she’s sleeping so soundly, I shouldn’t wake her.
[??, 【Nephila Jurassica LV30】 is indignant.]
…No, you should get some sleep too.
I yawned and stretched.
Today turned out to be a pretty good day.
I almost died meeting the Human-faced Bird, but during my strategic retreat, I ended up meeting Lucky Charm.
I was able to eat not only an inner core but also a supreme elixir like the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit.
This was a hugely profitable venture.
Now, all I have to do is escape this place safely and avoid running into the Queen of Birds and the Snake Queen.
That’s right.
I won.
So what if the Snake Queen put a mark on me?
I’ve already achieved my goal.
[The Snake Queen is looking at you.]
No way, it feels like even the Snake Queen can read my thoughts.
But what can you do?
If I run away with Lucky Charm, you’ll just…
[The Snake Queen is looking at you.]
…There’s no way the Snake Queen can read my thoughts.
So far, that message has only appeared when I did something to the Ball Python.
For the message to keep appearing right after I woke up means…
[The Snake Queen is looking at you.]
【Basilisk LV ???】
Mother-in-law.
I can explain everything.
I’m a Basilisk too.