Goddess! Fuck! Guard Captain! Don't Die!

I'd screamed it in my mind: Goddess! Aaaah, fuck! Guard Captain! Don't die!

Sure, he was once my enemy. Images of my siblings, roasted to crispy perfection, flashed vividly before my eyes. I had every reason to hate this Guard Captain. But did I, really?

Honestly? I didn't give a damn about my siblings. Not one bit.

I'd just been moved by the Guard Captain's sacrifice. But yeah, he'd gone too far—swinging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his sword at me the second he saw me. Thanks to my snake reflexes being top-notch, I'd dodged, then grazed his arm with a bite as I passed.

Still, wasn't that a bit quick to die? Did I really kill him? Wait... thinking back, it was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same with that other time. My brother (Little Green Snake lv3) had mutual-killed with the sword-clawed bat during our fight. I hadn't even finished him off myself, but it still counted as my kill.

This had to be the same. The chimera killed the Guard Captain. Not me. He'd probably have died even if I'd done nothing...

No way I killed a Guard Captain with such a magnificent mustache. No chance.

...But that message rang out crystal clear.

Traits, skills, status—now achievements too? It was like rubbing it in my face that I killed the Guard Captain.

What? Confirmation kill? You're the one who did it? Well...

Is it okay for this to be recorded like that? Isn't this a human rights violation? What if someone sees it?

Guards weren't gonna like me anyway. No immediate use, but not bad either. I'd gratefully accept it as the Guard Captain's legacy.

That's what I'd decided. But actually, his legacy wasn't just that.

Excuse me for a moment.

I rummaged through the Guard Captain's pockets. Plundering loot, plain and simple. Couldn't just leave it, right? Better I take it and use it well than some beast gnawing and discarding it. He'd be happy, surely.

Whoa! This guy's a total fire nut. He had several more oil flasks tucked away. Seemed useful, so I grabbed them.

What's this? Not oil?

The corked bottle sloshed with red liquid. I barely pried it free with my tail.

Pop— A refreshing scent spread, sweet and inviting. I flicked my tongue for a taste—warmth spread through me, and the scratches on my body healed smoothly.

A potion! HP and MP in one—rare stuff. Fantasy world confirmed. And a goddess? I was an atheist back then.

I checked the other soldiers too. Some were bisected, lower and upper halves separated—tricky work. Ugh, guts. Careful not to get the brown stuff on me.

...Huh. Come to think of it, this was my first time properly seeing human corpses like this. Dismembered bodies, and I'm not scared— just worried about the filth.

Shouldn't I be like, 'Urk! Human corpses...!' or 'The shock of killing... ugh.'?

Being this calm seems weird. But it's good? Better than whining. Feels like I've become a proud lone snake.

Mental Strength 20 for the win.

My loot haul was varied: one precious potion, plenty of dried rations—all pocketed. Arrows, blades—gathered up. No hands? Plenty of uses.

Swept it all into the ring's subspace.

The chimera took about half a soldier, leaving four and a half including the Guard Captain. I decided on a modest funeral for them.

Not just sentiment—didn't want the chimera coming back for seconds. Needed it hungry so I could lure and hunt it later.

Dragging corpses with my small body was tough. Luckily, the chimera had shredded them into manageable pieces.

Skipped the armored knight—he was too heavy. Piled the rest near the intact Guard Captain.

Uncorked an oil flask, splashed it around. Beginner Elemental Magic: Fire.

Whoosh! Black smoke billowed as the dead burned.

Not proper cremation, but good enough. Namu Amida Butsu. May they reincarnate happily in the next life—snake life ain't bad, as I've learned.

The one the Guard Captain saved remained. Shame his sacrifice was wasted—he looked dead already.

As I doused him with oil, I froze. He's alive? Breathing faintly. Blood trickled from his mouth—internal bleeding, probably. Chestplate caved in, makes sense.

Whoa, his trait is 'Rookie'? Does he know? Must be embarrassing.

Unlike the Guard Captain, his full name showed—probably from hearing it. Knightly skills I'd never seen: standout ones Aura lv2 and Intermediate Swordsmanship lv5.

Aura—got my manly heart racing. Sword aura stuff, right? Coating my fangs in aura? Unstoppable.

Tried Borrowing Horn on aura.

Tried a few times—burned mana, failed. Borrowing Horn proficiency too low. Bummer, but oh well.

Already borrowing one skill from Pafunacha anyway. Nearly barbecued him alive.

Hmm... honestly, I hesitated a bit. Chance to off a knight. Just a nibble—neurotoxin would finish him cleanly.

But nah. I chose differently.

The man I'd acknowledged—the Guard Captain—died saving this rookie. Worth it or not, I'd honor his will.

Plus, I felt bad for accidentally finishing the Captain, and at max level, no XP from knights anyway.

A little disappointing...

Huh. Something shiny on his neck.

Huh, is this why he's alive? Nah, probably not. But fair trade for his life.

As victor, I'd claim it proudly. Damn, tough to remove—no tail finesse for necklaces.

Then I froze. He'd cracked his eyes open.

Startled me—nearly sank fangs into his neck.

He just lay there, oblivious to almost dying. Unconscious, probably.

Scared me good. Pluck. Necklace off. I'll take good care of it.

Then—Smack. He kissed my ring.

"...Ugh. Eh... ...Nim."

Crazy bastard. Instinctively tail-slapped his nose.

Blood gushed, but he grinned like an idiot.

Oh, Guard Captain. You gave your life for this nutjob.

Paid my respects again and slithered off. Next chimera encounter: hunt and evolve.

* * *

Zain's armor was custom-made in the kingdom's capital. Full plate mail commissioned by Gunter the day he became his squire.

Not every knight gets such gear—costs a fortune in gold.

It was his lord's grace. And that grace saved his life.

Chainmail would've split him. Plate just dented.

Zain flew back, lost consciousness. Agony like death.

Unfinished squire dreamed in fading mind. A recurring nightmare since knighthood: death dreams.

Unwinnable battles, unbeatable monsters—always dying, blood from mouth.

This time too. Gut pierced? Strength drained, blood endless. Dream or reality? Felt real.

Trembling, bloody hand to neck—necklace there.

Zain faithful to Hearth and Fire Goddess. Priests said: death brings her embrace. Would it for him?

Swallowed tears. Saaak. Chilling wind—death's messenger?

Saaak! Something soft brushed his face.

He cracked eyes in delirium. 'Goddess?'

Flames everywhere. Dead burning. Hearth Temple always had such fires. That incense smell.

Am I dead? Zain thought.

Body immobile. "Goddess... nim."

In haze, he called her. Cold, slender something stroked his forehead. Ringed finger.

He knew: goddess's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand. "Goddess..." Faith reignited.

Devoutly kissed her ring.

Saaak! Wind blew. Something slapped his face.

Consciousness sank again.

Much later, Zain's eyes snapped open. "Hngh! Kk!"

Unlike dream, body leaden. Mouth bloody. Chest throbbed. Dented plate—lucky to live.

"...Ah, Guard Captain!"

Memories flooded. But surveying surroundings paled his face.

"All... ugh!"

All dead. Corpses piled, burned to ash.

"Who... did this?"

Vaguely recalled goddess dream. But why cremate others? No clues for Zain.

Fist clenched. Defeat. Mission failure. Back to Grayrim alone—survivor's shame.

Heart heavy. * * *

"So, you woke to find fires around?"

"...Yes."

To the lord's question, Zain answered haggardly.

"Guard Captain and soldiers all dead."

"Yes, confirmed before blackout."

"They might not be?"

"Throats slit, waists severed, chests pierced."

"Heh, that chimera so strong? Even with detection scroll?"

"Wasn't at first. Molted suddenly—speed exploded."

Lord sighed deeply, troubled. "Tricky, very tricky."

"Shamefully survived alone. Give me a chance—I'll slay that chimera."

Zain knelt on one knee, resolute.

"Rise, Zain."

Not the lord—towering man beside him. True axe-spear master. One of Eight Heroes.

Epithet: Steel.

Gunter Freihansen had returned.

"Intriguing. Chimera tale... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and goddess."

Back in Grayrim so soon, yet gearing for another outing.

"You'll go with me. Need rest?"

"No, sir!"

"Prepare then."

"Yes, sir!"

Zain bellowed back.