Chapter 75: The Lizard Drained of All His Vitality
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: The Lizard Drained of All His Vitality
“As I’ve said before, I do not dislike one with ambition.”
The Snake Queen flicked her long tongue.
I get so focused on her Internal Energy Pouches that I sometimes forget, but seeing things like this reminds me she's definitely a snake.
“However, your ambition is far too great. To think it would be difficult for me to handle alone.”
“Hieek…”
Swish-Swish nodded as if she agreed with her.
But is eating two fish really such a grand ambition?
“Shameless and arrogant.”
Really? For two fish?
“Hieeek!”
Swish-Swish nodded her head furiously.
No, what on earth were these fish?
You just gave them to me to eat.
My only crime was being clever enough to stack them.
“In truth, this was a place created to test you.”
To test me?
A test from the Snake Queen.
It was a phrase that sounded like it would come with all sorts of rewards if I passed.
But eating fish was the test?
“My daughter and I discussed at length what choice you would make. Whether you were merely a somewhat strong lizard, or if you were one with the quality to become a dragon.”
Hearing her say that, it seems I did well.
If I hadn't passed the test, a Destruction Ray might have come flying my way.
“You passed splendidly. You truly have the quality to become a dragon.”
“Hieek…”
The quality to become a dragon, huh.
Well, I suppose I've reached the point where I can start aiming to become a dinosaur.
“Truly a magnificent quality.”
Aw, it's not that great.
But it feels good to be praised.
“Your quality is truly excellent.”
You are talking about my quality, right?
“That quality…”
Snake Queen. And Swish-Swish.
Just where are you two looking? And why do you keep emphasizing ‘quality’!?
“Gekgek!”
Hmph!
Feeling strangely embarrassed, I quickly covered myself.
“Hieek…”
Swish-Swish licked her lips as if disappointed.
This is starting to get scary.
“Ohoho. A jest, it was a jest.”
The Snake Queen said, turning her head away sharply.
The fact that I couldn't see her expression made it even more terrifying.
Is it just my imagination, or do I feel like I'm in more danger now than when I fought the Cockatrice?
“We can't just stand around like this. Today is a good day, so I must bring out the aged liquor.”
The appearance of a word I never expected left me momentarily stunned.
Liquor?
Is it the liquor I'm thinking of?
The Snake Queen smiled and slithered away somewhere.
I'm not a huge fan of alcohol, but I haven't had a single drop since coming to this world.
I sometimes miss the food I used to eat, and alcohol was one of those things.
This is a martial arts world, after all, so of course they'd have alcohol.
…Though I have no idea why a snake would have it.
With the Snake Queen gone to fetch the liquor, I was now alone with Swish-Swish.
“Hiek…”
Swish-Swish stared at me intently.
After a moment of hesitation, she crept over stealthily.
She was trying to place her tail at my head and her head at my tail.
So, is she stretching her body out to measure my size?
I don't really know her intention, but it's kind of cute.
She's probably just comparing since I've gotten a bit bigger.
Yes, Swish-Swish.
Please stay just as cute as you are now.
Just as I was healing my heart by watching Swish-Swish's antics…
“I've been waiting for a day like this.”
The Snake Queen reappeared, holding a bottle and cups in her hands.
I mean, the liquor is one thing, but why does she even have cups?
She may be half-human, but her essence is that of a snake.
“No matter how much of a spirit beast one is, the foundation is still that of a snake. You must be curious as to why I possess such things.”
Her distinctly reptilian eyes stared at me. It was a gaze that seemed to read my mind.
“Gekgek.”
“They were a gift. To be precise, from a certain human far younger than I.”
Gave a gift to the Snake Queen?
And she didn't just swallow them whole and take their belongings?
“They were smaller than me, but their power was so immense it felt insulting to even compare myself to them.”
Where in the world would you find a human like that? …Unless it was Baek Yeon-yeong.
“I thought I was done for, but what do you know? They showered me with gifts like elixirs, divine artifacts, and even liquor like this.”
Yeah, not Baek Yeon-yeong.
With her personality, by now I'd be skewered snake…
No, wait. She does seem strangely favorable towards reptiles, so could it be Baek Yeon-yeong?
Is the resemblance in our faces because the Snake Queen has seen Baek Yeon-yeong?
“Taking a human form was not to my taste, but my mind changed after seeing that human. I realized one could become that strong in a human body.”
Whoever it was, they're a good person.
Thanks to them, I get to see the Snake Queen's Internal Energy Pouches.
If not for that person, I'd be watching a giant basilisk pouring a cup of liquor right now.
“Here, have a drink. I am also curious about its taste.”
I took the cup the Snake Queen offered.
The amount was a little small for me, but it was still alcohol.
Just looking at its brilliant color for the first time in so long made me feel like I could get drunk.
I downed it in one go.
Gulp.
“Gekgek!”
I let out a surprised ‘gek’.
This taste.
The unmistakable taste of alcohol!
The first taste of liquor since I was reincarnated into this world!
An intense sensation, like swallowing a ball of cold fire.
A feeling as if I could trace every part of my insides.
It was strong, but not harsh.
I could tell instantly that it was fine liquor.
“Kuh… It tastes quite good.”
The Snake Queen also seemed satisfied with the taste.
“Ppiyaak!”
Swish-Swish, demanding a drink for herself.
Sorry, but you're still young.
“…Yes, I suppose it's about time the princess had a drink.”
Right, she was older than me.
The ball python lightly touched her tongue to the cup the Snake Queen offered.
“Hieeek!”
The ball python, startled by the taste of the liquor.
Why would anyone drink something this bitter?
That's probably what she's thinking.
But even so, I saw her tongue flick out again.
“…Hiek!”
That's how it always starts.
“How wonderful. Good food, good liquor. And…”
The Snake Queen trailed off, staring intently at me.
“O, legged snake. Do you know why I brought out this liquor?”
Well, you brought it out because today is a good day, right?
Because it's the day we subjugated the Cockatrice.
You've found a very reliable business partner.
One who listens well. And even cuts off his tail for you sometimes.
“This liquor is called Daughter's Red Wine. Even if you've had dealings with humans, you probably wouldn't know what kind of drink this is.”
No, I know it well.
Daughter's Red Wine was a staple in martial arts novels.
And it often appeared as an incredibly expensive liquor.
In fact, it's not quite right to call Daughter's Red Wine expensive.
You could buy it with money, I suppose, but you could say there's almost no one who sells it.
That's because Daughter's Red Wine is brewed to commemorate the birth of a daughter.
“This is the wine I buried in the ground when I accepted that child as my daughter.”
It was a liquor whose value could not be measured in money.
You often see scenes in novels where people order it at the local tavern, but in reality, you'd be lucky not to get cursed at and thrown out.
This Daughter's Red Wine is meant to be drunk when the daughter comes of age and gets married.
It is absolutely not a drink one can have just because they have a lot of money.
“I've opened it sooner than I expected, but I suppose this too is fate.”
…But why are we drinking that wine now?
“Here, have another cup.”
No. You said it's Daughter's Red Wine. That's something you bring out when your daughter gets married.
“There is delicious meat here, so why do you not continue to drink? A cup of Daughter's Red Wine with this rich meat. Does the mere thought not make your mouth water?”
Gulp.
“That's right. Now, hurry and have a drink.”
…Then, just one more cup?
Sip.
Kuhh.
It really is delicious.
“You've eaten food strong in yang energy, so you must balance it with liquor like this.”
The Snake Queen placed another piece of meat in my mouth.
Munch, munch.
“Here. Have another cup.”
I readily opened my mouth and accepted the liquor the Snake Queen offered.
Was Daughter's Red Wine always this delicious?
My whole body feels like it's on fire, yet I can also feel a strange cold energy.
Yes, a chill.
Should I say it feels like the fire energy in my body is harmonizing with the cold energy in the liquor?
She said the fish were comparable to elixirs, but no matter how I look at them, they resemble black piranhas.
In other words, there was a high chance they were just ordinary fish that were good for the body.
To think she could create such a flavor with just ordinary fish and liquor.
As expected of the Snake Queen.
“Here, drink up.”
Hmm, but I think I'm drinking too much.
With All-Poison Immunity, don't you usually not get drunk?
Why does my body feel so sluggish?
Maybe I should stop drinking.
“Ppiyaaak!”
Swish-Swish wrapped her tail around a cup and offered it to me.
“Hoh. What are you doing? You will embarrass the princess's tail.”
Alright. I'll just drink the one Swish-Swish is giving me.
“Gekgek…”
Sip.
Kuhh.
It is tasty.
If only I were in better condition, I'd drink more.
“Now, now. Keep drinking.”
No. That's my limit.
…Just one more cup?
“What a man. Here, there is still plenty of liquor left.”
Right. If not now, when will I ever get to drink again?
Just a little more…
Thud.
My head is spinning.
“One more cup…”
I feel inexplicably good, and sleepiness is creeping in.
“…He's finally asleep.”
*
I felt something pressing down on me.
It was hard to breathe.
It felt like something was constantly entering my throat.
…
Gasp!
I shot my eyes open.
I must have dozed off.
“You're awake already?”
Before my eyes were the magnificent Internal Energy Pouches.
Normally, I would have thought it was a great sight to wake up to.
But things were a little different now.
Because the Snake Queen and Swish-Swish were wrapped around my body.
I could feel the touch of their smooth, slick skin.
“You could have slept longer, you know.”
“Ppiyaaak!”
This must be a peculiar sleeping method for snakes.
Something like coiling around each other to maintain body temperature, that sort of thing.
…But for that to be the case, both of their eyes are wide open.
Their skin also seems strangely glossy.
What on earth did they do while I was asleep?
“Do not worry. I have my principles. How could I covet one who is sleeping?”
“Ppiyaaak!”
“…Though I did consider it quite a bit.”
“Hieeek!”
You did nothing?
You think I'd believe that?
“Gegegegek!”
I must have been taken by the snake mother and daughter.
I've become a lizard completely drained of his vitality.
Look, I don't have any strength in my body…
Wait a minute.
Why am I overflowing with energy?
[You have consumed the 【Thousand-Year Fire Carp】.]
[You have consumed the 【Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng Wine】.]
[You have consumed the 【Supreme-grade Inner Core (Yellow)】.]
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Snake Queen.
I apologize for doubting you.
“If you are truly grateful, then without my daughter knowing…”
“Ppiyaaaaak!”
I take it back.
“Gegegek!”