Never Underestimate a Snake
Don't underestimate snakes. One day, I fell into this other world as a snake. My mother, Medusa Mom, had her head chopped off by a knight, and my siblings fought each other until they burned to death at the hands of humans. Born pure white all alone, I flowed into the forest and scraped by like that. Gnawed by bugs, then chewing up those bugs in turn, meeting the centipede couple, nearly dying from a cockatrice bite. That's how I survived, evolving bit by bit.
How many friends could a guy like that have made? The closest things to relationships were... the goblin tribe and Nanaruk, centipede mom, gorilla lady, the shadow forest beasts, Dad, Pellelian, the dwarves and Royle... Wait, thinking about it, that's actually a lot. Who knew I'd end up with so many acquaintances like this? My snake connections feel broader and deeper than my human ones from my past life.
Anyway, Zain and Oliver are among the humans I know. Truth be told, the number of humans I know is pretty small. There's that old saying: even brushing sleeves creates a bond. Meeting once is a grand connection, but running into each other again in this distant land? Clearly, the threads of fate connect Zain and Oliver too.
Saaak! So that's why I greeted them so warmly.
Hueeek!
"......"
Zain, a knight no less, let out a scream, while Oliver froze stiff. They must be thrilled, right?
"Wh-why-why are you here?"
Even the relatively calm Oliver stammered that out, repeating why three times. From the looks of it, Lania must not have mentioned my existence yet.
'I'm teaching kids here at Emerald School with Obern.'
"I see......"
'Lania's one of my excellent students.'
Oliver squeezed his eyes shut.
"Th-that's... truly wonderful news."
I turned to Zain, who was whispering with Lania. His expressions were a riot. Watching them together, these two uncles clearly doted on Lania.
Time to greet Zain too. As I slithered over, he leaped back at the sight of me. Leaping with joy, huh? I hopped right along with him.
"O-oh, long time no see."
'Yeah, good to see you too, Zain. But why do you keep calling yourself Jarein?'
"Ah, that's because in the Iron Lion Knights..."
Zain answered as if entranced, but suddenly Oliver dashed over like lightning and smacked his side.
Ugh!
"Hahaha, Jarein, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Ah, got it. I'm not that oblivious. Zain, formerly of the Iron Lion Knights, was hiding his identity. Since Knight Zain supposedly died swept away by beasts there, he's playing the role of a wandering knight named Jarein.
'Nice concept.'
"Ah... y-yes."
Still, punching him over it? Knights are basically nobles, and hunters are wild folk no matter how skilled. Guess they've become buddies. I remember my middle school friends smacking me around like that.
The two, a bit riled up, soon calmed down, thankfully. This wasn't playtime, after all. Oliver cleared his throat and spoke.
"You wanted to learn forest scouting methods, right?"
Only then did they realize they hadn't paid respects to the prince.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Hunter Oliver."
"Knight Jarein."
The old Philly might've thrown a tantrum over the delayed bow. But thanks to gold nugget training methods—or maybe their over-the-top reactions—he meekly accepted it.
"Ah, yeah, nice to meet you."
"Ahem, well, if I may add one thing."
Oliver spoke with regained charisma.
"You've found the perfect man for the job."
A chorus of oohs rose at his confidence.
"I'm not with Black Den, but as a hunter, I pride myself on matching their best."
Black Den—none other than Hairit Langrei's hunter guild. Oliver claimed he was their equal.
"Tepperi Forest isn't that harsh or dangerous. But as an ancient woods, it'll be brimming with spots to stash a few gold coins. Beasts lurk, sure, but it's no demon realm. Feeling confident yet?"
Oliver grinned. The trio grinned back. Then he barked.
"One, two, three!"
His smile twisted viciously.
"You three just died."
"Wh-what......"
"Your Highness got stung to death by dozens of bees in a rotten log. Miss Lania starved lost in the woods. And young Master Amaen got gored by a wild boar!"
The trio gaped in bewilderment, but Oliver's intensity silenced them, frozen solid.
Once the mood chilled sufficiently, Oliver smiled warmly.
"Never underestimate the forest. What I said could totally happen. Personal strength doesn't guarantee survival. Even aura-wielding knights drop dead untrained. Right, Sir Jarein?"
"Oliver's correct."
"Exactly. Time's short, so I'll teach the essentials crash-course style."
Whoa. I was impressed. I'd felt it learning Perang school dagger arts before, but this Oliver guy's lecturing skills were solid. Honestly, better than Obern's. Obern, learn from Oliver.
"Three key points: not getting lost, finding your way, making a path."
Oho, sounds legit.
"Get lost in the forest, you're dead. Especially failing to find night shelter in a demon realm ups your death odds by half. Conserve stamina, or even senses dull. Follow my lessons, you won't get lost. I guarantee it."
Full SAT perfect score vibes. And there was reason for that confidence. He pulled multi-folded paper from his pack.
"Tepperi Forest map. Memorize it cold by exam day—draw it blind."
It was the test site's map. The reveal felt underwhelming; the kids groaned ehh. Philly especially snorted.
"That's what you were bragging about? Just a map?"
This punk hasn't ditched his habits. I was about to smack his butt when Oliver said gravely.
Whiiish—thwack!
"Wh-what."
"Recognize that sound?"
Oliver deadpanned.
"Your Highness flunking dead last. No map memory, sluggish build—you're out in round one."
"Tch."
"Second Prince passed, FYI. He'd have studied the map too."
"You done talking?!"
I burst out laughing. To shut Philly up, I whacked his rear.
Tail Whip lv3
Philly yelped and toppled.
"Wh-why just me?!"
Saaak!
The others were already studying hard. Philly clutched his butt and joined in. Gratitude shone in Oliver's eyes toward me. No biggie.
"To read maps right, learn 독도법. But skip that—memorize the whole thing, reproducible on paper."
Notable fact: these three kids' brains turned quick. Perfect recall's tough, but under an hour, they sketched it roughly. Lania lagged, Amaen excelled, Philly middling—still impressive memory.
Up to now, hunter or farmer teacher wouldn't matter. Here's where Oliver shone.
"Good work. Now, hunter techniques."
First: not getting lost.
"Know terrain in your head, your position and direction—you won't stray."
He showed something amazing.
"See this tree and rock. Can you tell cardinal directions?"
"How?"
Grumbly Philly shut up at a tail nudge.
"This alone gives half. See branches thick one side? Sunlight side. High odds that's south."
"......"
"Rock has moss one side. Moss loves damp dark. High odds north."
"......Ooh."
"Jarein."
Zain drew his sword on cue, aura flaring.
Slash! Felled a modest tree in one stroke.
"Stump shows growth rings."
They crowded like middle school science class.
"Dense side north, loose south."
Methods abounded.
"Not precise alone. Cross-verify multiples."
Flawless explanation.
"Ten minutes for accuracy. See this shadow?"
Marked the felled stump's shadow tip. Waited ten; it shifted. Connected marks with line.
"Start west, end east."
Confucius said: three on a road, one fit to teach. Even forest-born me learned from Oliver.
Studying eagerly with the kids...
Pathfinding lv1
...earned that skill. Would've been gold in Great Forest. Thanks, Teacher Oliver!
Days passed; Oliver poured knowledge freely.
'Phew, dodged a bullet.'
Week one teaching Lania's group including the prince. Veteran hunter Oliver, heir to legendary thief Choin Perang's dagger arts, thought that.
Who'd guess meeting that snake here? Surviving monster wave and saving Lania was sheer luck. But uncertainty lingered: thank the snake for sparing them? Or blame it as wave leader and culprit?
Freezing like a mouse facing it stemmed from that. Smaller now, but definitely it.
Zain and Oliver entered Martine house with Lania. Like her honing Martine arts, they sharpened too. Zain's aura surged stronger; Oliver matched him.
But this snake seemed far deadlier now. Treating Emerald School's professor like a servant...
'Hasn't noticed.'
Plus, Oliver owed the snake—hiding Perang arts' back half. Snake hadn't mentioned in the week, so safe?
"That's all I can teach. Festival starts day after tomorrow—rest up."
The trio was dirt-covered. Snake too. Oddly eager learner; memorized map too.
"Thanks for your hard work!"
Sassasak!
Parting greetings. Finally leaving. Oliver felt relieved—till the snake cozied on Lania's shoulder, tail lightly coiling her neck.
Lania unfazed, but knowing the danger, Oliver's heart dropped.
Suddenly, snake drew a dagger.
"Oliver. Got a question."
Lania spoke.
"Ah, relaying Teacher Snake."
"Pardon? Uh, yes."
Snake could now transmit voice to touched targets.
"Everyone else step back. Got business with Oliver."
Via Lania's mouth. Shockingly, professor and prince retreated without protest. Snake held sway here.
"What did you want to say......"
"Ran into someone recently."
Tense, listening...
"Pandan, know him?"
Ahh. Oliver couldn't hide his fluster.
Why that name from the snake?
"Fellow disciple, apparently. Shared Perang dagger training."
Lania seemed oblivious to danger. Alarms blared in Oliver's head.
"Heard my Perang arts are incomplete? I denied it."
Right. When snake demanded arts before, Oliver taught only front half, skipping final three forms. No way pass secret arts to unknown beast. But it noticed?
Dagger spun slowly in air. Tail gripped Lania's neck tighter.
Snake was threatening. Demanding payback for deceit and insult.
Shiriit, tongue flicking.
"Ridiculous, right......?"
Oliver shut his eyes. Foolish to think it harmless. Lania precious to him now. One path left.
"Forgive my grave sin!"
Oliver suddenly knelt before me. Lania and I startled. What's wrong, Teacher Oliver?!
"I'll teach Perang dagger arts' back half fully. All my secret techniques too! Please, spare the young miss!"
Saaak!
Why would I harm Lania?!
'Hold on.'
Wait, what? There really was a back half?
Whatever—great news!