Long-Eared Psychos

Ah, what a beautiful morning. The sunlight wasn't particularly warm, and there weren't any birds chirping away sweetly. Even so, it was undoubtedly a beautiful morning. After all, whether a morning is beautiful or not is up to me, isn't it? Even if I were plunged into hell. Even if I were rolling around in a muddy tunnel soaked in chimera blood. As long as I'm happy, it's a beautiful morning.

I truly believed that from the bottom of my heart. Still, it was a shame there was no sunlight. Just imagining how gorgeously my two little horns and scale patterns would gleam under it made me feel great.

That's right. I'd successfully evolved. My horns were still adorably small, but having one on each side felt a bit stylish, symmetrically placed.

Things had definitely changed since the horns sprouted. Who am I? The owner of Borrowing Horn. And at the same time, the owner of Leaping Horn.

Yeah, Leaping Horn. This one's even more nonsensical than Borrowing Horn.

……Hmm. After evolving, I could see even more details. There was a description for Leaping Horn, but it still didn't explain what I was supposed to leap over. Well, I'll figure it out once I use it a few times.

And now, I was no longer just a snake—I was a python. Sure, still a snake, but if someone called me, I'd prefer "python" over "snake." Like how someone from New York doesn't say "I live in the USA~" but "I live in New York~."

A python's defining feature? Its patterns, of course. I couldn't see them clearly even with Implication, but now beautiful apricot-colored patterns floated vividly on my white body. And they weren't just for show—my status window proved that.

Yes, a new trait: Pattern.

So, basically a defensive buff. And it deflects magic? The "certain level" part is vague, but it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was definitely a welcome trait. Jackpot. Now that I'd taken down the chimera too, maybe I could live like a king in this basin, kicking back. This seemed like the edge of the Great Forest—no demons stronger than the chimera in sight.

I chuckled with a soft hiss. But did the world really have gods? Ones who smite the arrogant with divine punishment…?

My patterns trembled. Or maybe my scales did. My survival instinct screamed at me: Flee.

But where? The tunnel split two ways: forward or back. I picked one. There wasn't much gap between the instinct's warning and my reaction—I'd activated Acceleration instantly.

But it was already too late. The tunnel began collapsing. Or so I thought. It wasn't collapsing—the ground was rising.

The tunnel was pretty deep underground. Dirt crumbled from the ceiling, blocking the side passages, while the floor where the chimera and I were shot up fast. This was blatantly unnatural. Like the earth was alive and writhing. Magic?

I tried Mana Detection. Ah, my body shuddered. Torrents of mana raged everywhere. Like Van Gogh's Starry Night. Glowing streams of mana flowed through the soil. If this was magic, it had to be advanced elemental stuff.

Ah, light poured from above. We'd already reached the surface. Damn it—I dove under the chimera to hide.

Splaaash! We hit the surface in an instant. From the shadow of the chimera corpse, I spotted the culprit behind it all.

Long-ears! A textbook fairy stood there. Unlike Pellelian, she was young and beautiful, with long elven ears. Straight out of my preconceptions.

* * *

"Thank you."

Iris offered her thanks. At her feet, a mole-like creature sniffed around, front paws raised. Even to her trained eye, the translucent thing was no ordinary animal—nor a demon.

"You can go now, Clay."

It was a spirit. One of the four elements: earth, or soil. Iris wasn't a master mage, but as a noble elf from a prestigious lineage, she knew how to summon spirits.

But the spirit wasn't hers to own. Even after being told to leave, Clay dawdled, sniffing stubbornly. Iris ignored it. She'd detected Pellelian's cursed creation. Though it was already dead—in a tunnel, no less. She'd sensed it through the spirit from the start.

Pathetic. That was her first thought upon seeing the chimera corpse. She'd crossed battlefields aplenty. As an elite warrior and hunter, she'd fought massive demons more than once or twice. But this chimera's state chilled even her spine.

Legs severed mercilessly. Wounds all over, black blood reeking of poison. It had died mid-crawl, entrails and blood trailing. Who? Who fought this chimera like this—and ended up dead in a tunnel?

No clues. First, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠harvest its blood and any magic stone it might hold. As Iris drew her sword, resolute—

Tap tap.

Clay, the mole-like spirit, nudged her foot.

"What is it?"

The spirit pointed at the chimera corpse. Or rather…

"I see. …Yes."

Then, mind helping for a moment? Iris conveyed the thought. The spirit obeyed its summoner.

Thump! The earth surged. Despite missing legs, the heavy chimera bounced up, spinning wildly. And beneath it, a white snake was revealed, of course.

"Hmm."

Horns on its head. Horn-type demon.

White specimen. Albino.

Albino demons stood out. Most got eaten before growing much. Yet this one had reached adulthood. Double horns, even. Impressive.

Iris gazed down at the snake. She never imagined it had killed the chimera.

The snake moved fast, trying to flee. Reflexively, she tried to pin its neck.

Whoosh—but it dodged her foot. Not just dodged—it leaped with astonishing speed, counterattacking. Those fangs were razor-sharp. Surely laced with deadly venom.

Iris tried to retreat. Then earth rose, binding her feet. Not the spirit's doing.

This snake…!

Trapped, facing a venomous strike. If Iris were a young fairy, she'd be done. But a Golden Leaf Investigator blocked by basic earth magic? She shook it off and leaped back. The snake bit empty air and fell.

Iris let out a small gasp.

"It knows magic."

Demons sometimes learned magic naturally. But a tiny thing like this? A mere snake?

"It'll be dangerous once grown."

Best to nip it in the bud. Iris judged swiftly—her decisiveness renowned even among elven elders. She swung her broadsword at the leaping snake.

Snap—no decapitation.

Clang! Sparks flew instead.

* * *

Crazy long-ear. Nearly died. Suddenly trying to stomp me, then swinging a sword!

My tiny heart pounded. My neck was split open, wounded. Blood trickled. But not severed.

Huff, huff. Alive.

Adrenaline—or whatever surged through me. My body tingled, floating lightly.

That sword: Elven broadsword. I'd used one before. Incredibly light, insanely sharp. Yet it only sparked off my neck.

Thanks to realizing Leaping Horn's use in that instant.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword came. I sensed I couldn't dodge. So block. No armor skills. Just patterns. Could I use the Pattern trait? That thought flashed in under a second. I wished desperately.

Yes. Leaping Horn transcended limits. That's why it ended with just a neck gash. Dizzying in hindsight. If I hadn't found another chimera stone, no new horns—my head would've been off.

Somehow survived. The fairy looked shocked too, mouth agape, eyes wide.

Hey, I'm more shocked.

"……."

The psycho murder-fairy didn't give up. Brilliant light wreathed her elven broadsword. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Aura, clearly. Brighter, clearer than that squire Zain's.

Hit by that? Instant death. I bolted.

Thud! Damn it. Earth surged; I floated up. There—a mole spirit giggling behind a paw. I added it to my mental hit list. Right under the crazy psycho elf bitch.

Ah, life flashing before my eyes. Nothing much. Mosquito rat bites. Neighborly chats with centipede newlyweds. First evolution. Scenes flickered.

No way to block that glowing sword. Leaping Horn drained most mana. Farewell, world. Potential 20 worthless. Mental Strength 20… well, never giving up till the end suits it?

A memory flashed: Golem stepped on my tail—thought it'd crush, but safe. Ring's doing. Instinctively, I curled my tail.

Honestly, even the ring couldn't block that sword. In that split second—the elf's eyes widened at my ring. Then aura met ring.

Craaaack! Thunder right in front? Shockwave exploded. No mere metal clash.

Wait—blackout.

Eyes open: clouds beside me. Crazy—sky. I'd been blasted away at insane speed. Far off: flustered elf, chimera corpse.

Whiiiiiistle! Air battered me wildly. Akham Basin sprawled below. Clear sky; tail nearly touched sun. Ah, tail and ring intact. What is this thing made of?

But gravity doesn't quit. I arced down. Surely dead. Survived aura sword, die to fall? Laughable.

But luck held. Ground rushed up. Branches snapped under me. Then surface.

Splash! Water exploded; plunged into puddle. Bone-chilling cold. Body ached like bursting. Freshly evolved, yet bones cracked.

Can't pass out. Cold-blooded—I'll stiffen fast. Thrashed madly. To shore, land.

Oh, thanks~ But I'm already out. Huff, huff. Nearly died for real. Whole body freezing. Far off: elf by chimera. Hid behind rock quick.

Today, I vowed: Long-eared races—elves, fairies—all crazy bastards. Won't trust 'em.

Aaah, rage burns.

-That crazy bitch.

-Totally insane.

-Swinging sword on sight? Temper's filthy vicious.

Who? Agreeing from behind? I whipped around.

Eh? Not shocked by seal release. A translucent old fairy hovered ahead—shrunken to about a handspan, human-sized.

Familiar face. Only two fairies I knew. Not the crazy bitch far off.

Pellelian? The real deal?