Chapter 74: The Snake Queen's Reward
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: The Snake Queen's Reward
The weather seemed to have gotten even hotter, but the journey back wasn't difficult at all.
It was a return trip to receive a reward after a job well done, so I suppose that was only natural.
My steps toward the temple were light.
The familiar shape of the temple came into view.
The Sword Dragons loitering around it looked at me.
They were an undeniably intimidating bunch.
I felt I could win in a one-on-one fight, but for some reason, I had a feeling that if a battle broke out, these guys would also rise up on two legs, just like me.
And then they would swing their tails like swords.
…Was I getting carried away?
“Krrwaw.”
A Sword Dragon gave a slight nod.
It didn't seem particularly happy to see me, but it didn't attack either.
After all, I was a lizard vouched for by the Snake Queen.
“Gegegek!”
“Krwaw…”
The Sword Dragon pointed toward the temple with its sharp tail.
It probably meant I could go straight in without stopping anywhere else.
Right, you work hard too.
“Gegek.”
I scurried into the temple.
The traps had been disabled long ago, so there was no problem just walking right through.
Of course, even if they were active, I wouldn't have been harmed.
…But why does it feel so cramped?
Perhaps because I’d leveled up a ton, I seemed to have gotten quite a bit bigger.
The hallway I used to pass through with ease now felt narrow.
At this rate, if I evolve, will I not be able to get out at all?
I’m sure the Snake Queen will figure something out.
There are a few holes in the ceiling, so she could just toss me up and out.
I had just passed through the narrow corridor and arrived in the garden when it happened.
KRAKOOM!
A giant mass of light suddenly appeared.
No, it wasn't just a mass of light.
It was a Destruction Ray.
A Destruction Ray of immense power was fired toward the hole-ridden ceiling.
CRASH!
The one who had fired such a beam looked at me and spoke nonchalantly.
“You've returned safely.”
I did return safely.
Except for the part where I was almost swept away by the Destruction Ray the Snake Queen fired as a celebratory salute.
“Pyaaaak!”
Swish-Swish also diligently fired a beam into the air.
Does she even know what that is, just copying her mother?
KRAKOOM!
…Wait, why is it so powerful?
The first time I saw it, it was a tiny little beam.
But now, it had grown to a level where it could probably pierce my Dragon Scales.
Is this what they call a difference in talent?
She truly has the makings of the next queen.
“A religion, you say. You've grown so much in such a short time. Thanks to you, my daughter has been able to grow this strong as well.”
Right.
Swish-Swish's power had been enhanced by the Gaegaek Faith.
With my own level skyrocketing and a religion being founded, it made sense she'd have such explosive growth.
“Pyaaaak!”
After firing her celebratory shots, Swish-Swish rushed into my arms.
No, she doesn't have legs, so she slithered, not rushed.
“Pyak!”
Swish-Swish rubbed her head all over me.
…You've grown quite a bit, haven't you?
She was chubbier and longer.
Her growth is fast.
“Huhu. Are you that happy, Princess?”
Slither.
The Snake Queen also glided toward me.
“You've worked hard. You've accomplished something even more difficult than what I asked of you.”
The Snake Queen reached out her hand to me.
I knew what that meant.
I lowered my head so she could pet me properly.
“Hieeek!”
Chomp!
Swish-Swish immediately bit my foot.
“Huhu.”
The Snake Queen chuckled, stroking my head.
After being thoroughly petted by both of them, she spoke.
“By the way, did you bring the inner core?”
Of course I did.
I presented the supreme-grade inner core that was tucked between my scales to the Snake Queen.
My mouth waters every time I see that thing.
It's only because I'm a good, obedient lizard; a naughty lizard would have gobbled it up and run away.
“This is indeed the inner core of a Gogadurisu.”
The Snake Queen gazed at the core with slightly sad eyes.
Come to think of it, she did say it was once her subordinate.
I didn't know the details, but there was clearly a story there.
The Human-faced Bird had a mind control ability.
It was a powerful ability that I myself almost fell for several times.
Perhaps the Cockatrice fell for it too.
And the Snake Queen had to purge her subordinate with tears in her eyes.
“That damn thing. It wasn't even mind-controlled, it just sided with them. Serves it right.”
Nope, I was wrong.
“In any case, this inner core is of no use to me. The princess might need it, but it contains power far too strong for her to handle right now, so she can't use it either.”
Hey now.
Anyone would think I was suspicious.
I've always trusted you, Snake Queen.
“…So, unclench your hand.”
“Gek…”
I cautiously relaxed my grip.
Is this an aftereffect of the mind control?
I'm not usually this kind of lizard.
“This inner core still contains the poisonous aura and petrification power of the Gogadurisu. Eating it as is wouldn't cause a major problem, but it would be difficult to make its power entirely your own.”
The Snake Queen took the inner core from my hand.
“I'll get rid of what needs to be gotten rid of, and add what needs to be added. I will make it into an inner core perfectly suited for you.”
How reassuring.
I already got the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Spirit Fruit. Am I really allowed to receive another favor like this?
“…You have a strange look on your face. Why are you grinning and drooling?”
“Gek!”
And so, the Cockatrice's supreme-grade inner core passed into the Snake Queen's hands and then into the vessel she called a bucket.
I thought it was just a tool for fetching water, but it really was a type of divine artifact.
“We'll set the inner core aside for now. It's time for your promised reward.”
“Pyak!”
The long-awaited moment had arrived.
The Snake Queen's reward!
And Swish-Swish's too!
This was why I'd held off on evolving.
Receiving a reward might open up new evolution options.
“Now, close your eyes.”
Close my eyes?
What kind of reward is this?
“Gegek…”
I felt a little uneasy, but I did as I was told.
KRAKOOM!
BOOOOM!
The earth-shaking roars started again.
It sounded like the Queen and Swish-Swish were doing something with their Destruction Rays.
I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking that if I opened them, the trajectory of the rays might change.
How much time passed? I heard the Snake Queen's voice.
“You've waited long. The preparations are complete. You may open your eyes.”
What in the world did they prepare that would make such a noise?
“Gek?”
What came into view was a scene quite different from what I had expected.
I saw a wooden table.
And on it were various kinds of meat.
Seeing as they were slightly charred, I could tell they had tried to mimic cooking with their Destruction Rays.
It looked like a full-course meal filling the table, but the peculiar thing was that it was all meat.
Wait, snakes can do this?
…But, is this it?
No elixir or anything?
“This is what the princess and I prepared together. We also have things we prepared separately.”
Right.
The elixir!
“Well? What do you think? Isn't it a truly appetizing fish?”
The Snake Queen brought over a platter with two fish on it.
…Fish?
How did she even get something like that in the jungle?
It was certainly a reward I didn't expect…
but I was a little disappointed.
“This is a fish on par with an elixir. I prepared the large one, and my daughter prepared the small one.”
Now that changes things.
“Gegek!”
First, I shoveled the prepared food into my mouth.
I had used a lot of energy, but since the Cockatrice turned to stone, I hadn't been able to fill my stomach.
The meat prepared by the Snake Queen and Swish-Swish was perfectly to my taste.
It was perfectly rare and the texture was quite good.
“Does it please you?”
“Gegek!”
Of course, if this was all there was, I'd be wearing a sullen expression.
But as the Snake Queen said, the main course remained.
Two fish on par with an elixir!
They were probably a species similar to the Ten-Thousand-Year Hwari.
…They also kind of looked like black piranhas.
After finishing the meat, I was about to reach for the fish.
“Wait.”
It was the Snake Queen who stopped my hand.
She restrained me, then tore a piece of flesh from the large fish with her clean, white fingers.
“Fish, meat, and the like. You know that the older they are, the more delicious they become, don't you?”
Is that so?
“There may be some who prefer young fish. But it cannot compare to the true taste of a mature fish.”
“Pyaaaak!”
Swish-Swish seemed angry for some reason.
The Snake Queen was holding her back with her other hand.
“Say ‘ah’.”
I have hands and feet, you know.
Chomp.
Munch.
“How is it?”
…This fish.
It was incredibly delicious.
The flesh was firm but not tough, which was impressive.
“Rich, yet firm flesh. It must be a delicacy of the heavens.”
She was right.
“This fish is the mother of that fish. What do you think? The mature fish is certainly more delicious, is it not?”
I nodded my head vigorously.
I had never tasted a fish this delicious.
The Snake Queen smiled with satisfaction.
“Here, there's more. Continue…”
“Pyaaaak!”
Swish-Swish's furious beam struck the Snake Queen's finger.
“…Right. It's the princess's turn now.”
The princess's turn?
Swish-Swish quickly approached me.
She took the small fish next to the large one in her mouth, then tapped me with her tail.
It seemed she wanted me to try this one too.
Right, I ate the big one, so I should eat the small one too.
Chomp.
Munch.
…This taste.
[Ball Python LV18 looks at you with expectant eyes.]
Delicious.
Incredibly delicious.
The tender texture of the flesh melted away the moment it touched my tongue.
Combined with the unique sweetness of a young fish, it was truly a taste of heaven.
“Gegek!”
I let out a "gegek" of extreme deliciousness.
“Pyak!”
The Ball Python wagged her tail.
I could eat this fish forever.
Just as I was about to put more of it in my mouth, the Snake Queen stared at me with a chilling expression.
…Why the sudden change?
It's scary.
“Is it that delicious? More so than that large fish?”
“Gegegek…”
Well, not necessarily.
“Hieeeek!”
But that doesn't mean the small fish isn't delicious either.
“Did you like the large fish? Or if not…”
“Pyaaaak!”
[Ball Python LV18 asks if you liked the small fish.]
What is this?
I feel like I've reached some kind of turning point.
My danger sense was sending out a massive warning.
The Snake Queen and Swish-Swish were staring holes into me.
That wasn't a metaphor; I really felt like my body was about to be pierced.
Why are they being like this?
It's like they're telling me to choose one of them…
Ah, screw it. I don't know.
Chomp.
Munch.
I put both fish in my mouth at the same time.
“Hoh.”
Do I really have to choose just one?
No, eating them together like this solves the problem.
I want to praise my own brilliant mind.
I don't know why, but it seems the Snake Queen and the Snake Princess were having some kind of bet with the dishes they prepared. Well, it's probably just a trivial family matter.
They tried to make me solve their problem, but my flexible judgment allowed me to move past it.
Family problems should be solved by family.
They shouldn't pass them on to an outsider.
“Gegegek!”
The Snake Queen slithered toward me.
So did Swish-Swish.
[Ball Python LV18 is extremely embarrassed.]
Right.
I'm glad you two seem to be reflecting on your actions.
I'll let it slide since the fish were good.
You should talk to each other and solve your problems.
“You truly are a greedy one. To think you would take both at once…”
…Huh?
“Gegegegegegek!”