Interview Begins

I stared at the devil's minion in stunned silence. Devil's minion, huh? Did that mean the devil himself had sent it?

—To think it's bound to the same fairy lineage as me. What a disgrace. Selling your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soul to a devil.

Pellelian's voice dripped with contempt.

'What's a devil's minion?'

—Exactly what it sounds like. The devil must've sent this thing to his house. It's close to a spirit—probably burrowed into the head of some low-intelligence monster to puppet its body...

It must've mistaken me for just another ordinary monster. That's why it dove straight into my mind.

Low-intelligence monster? Then why'd it go for my head?

'Could it control humans or fairies just as easily?'

—No way a low-rank minion could pull that off. It probably thought you were a regular snake. Utterly insulting.

Even without my Unbreakable Will trait, I doubt it could've taken me. Die, you bastard!

I sank my fangs into the devil's minion sprawled dead on the floor. Unlike before, when its tail had sliced right through me, now I could actually bite it.

—What does it taste like?

'Like cheongpomuk jelly.'

Pellelian shot me a look that said, 'More of your nonsensical gibberish.'

Whoa. Predator was always a bit of a mystery skill—its real purpose was hard to pin down. I'd just figured it let me eat a bit more, but now it was suddenly making its presence known.

It didn't taste great, but I devoured the thing completely anyway.

Ah, so that's how it works. Predator seems to produce some output based on what you eat. Not everything gives a reward—probably only rare stuff like this triggers it.

Guess I'll have to become a gourmet snake from now on.

—Quit dawdling and let's search already!

Pellelian urged me on. The dragon scale and the cloak of invisibility—two treasures we'd assumed were in Deshunan's house.

'Right!'

I was excited too. I started ransacking the shadow fairy's home.

* * *

—Why isn't it here!

Pellelian was hopping mad, literally bouncing around. I was right there with him, springing up and down like a coiled toy.

'My cloak of invisibility!'

Word was, Deshunan had a magic tool that could hide his entire body. Strong enough to evade even Pellelian or hero-tier powerhouses.

With that, I'd be perfect. Hell, I might even take down Gunter, the bastard who killed Medusa Mom. But the cloak was nowhere.

Same with the dragon scale. Supposedly, it emitted mystical mana on its own, but no dice.

Deshunan's house was trashed. Drawers and display cases flung open, contents spilling across the floor. Junk everywhere, but none of what I wanted.

At least I'd scored something useful.

'No more worrying about food.'

Sacks stuffed with dried "feed." Monster chow, no doubt. Ground mystery meat and grains, laced with faint mana—probably magic stones ground in too, even if just a little.

Yeah.

—Feed for the monsters in there, probably.

Deshunan's place was huge, but his living space took up only a fifth. The rest? Doors labeled "Indoor Zoo."

The shadow fairy was raising monsters right in his house.

'What's this prosthetic arm?'

Another find: a prosthetic arm. Thought it was a toy at first. Two arm models in a display case, insanely detailed. Joints moved freely, metal top-quality.

—Too big for a human.

The joint had vicious barbs. Stab it into a torso, and boom—new arm.

Vague description—no clue who it was for.

'Too big for me anyway.'

I did fantasize for a sec. A snake with arms? Way better swordplay than with Transparent Hand.

But no—the barbs would pierce right through me. Size issue. Maybe centipede-sized I'd fit.

Pellelian, inspecting with me, spotted something: a tiny artisan's mark.

—Gnome crest. A gnome made this.

Gnomes rivaled dwarves in craftsmanship, or so they said.

—First time I've seen this mark.

'Wait, I think I've seen it recently.'

Pretty sure, yeah. I dug through the junk by the entrance.

There: a letter. The crest was stamped on the envelope.

I slit the seal with my tail and read.

Ah, out for repairs. A gnome craftsman hiding nearby, maybe.

Either way, my invisibility cloak was real. Huge relief.

'Let's track down the gnome and loot him!'

Figured Pellelian would nod eagerly, but...

—What nonsense is that!

He scolded me. I wilted a bit.

—Gnomes are masters of hiding. Better wait for him to show up, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then grab him.

'Ah.'

Classic forward-thinking fairy. Guess we'd hole up here through "fruit week" or whatever festival till then.

On a whim, I scanned every document in the house.

Eyes burning, stomach growling—jackpot on the dragon scale.

A book labeled "Breeding Log."

'Ground dragon scale and mixed into feed for Medusa Serpent. Fed her mate too—good luck for a meaningful variant next generation.'

Pellelian gaped.

'......'

—......

He stared at me. I looked away.

—F-fed... into feed...

'......'

—That precious magic catalyst...!

'Wasn't me. The shadow fairy...'

—That idiot! Wasted as shit—what "meaningful variant"! Breeding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monsters like this? Peak idiocy!

Pellelian fumed like he was spitting fire.

Even I, who slept through high school bio, knew that. Acquired traits don't pass on genetically. Eating dragon scale won't make baby scales dragon-tough.

Science aside, magic might differ. Maybe my white scales were a dragon-scale mutation.

—Then you'd be an upper-rank mutation, not a sub-species.

'......'

Ouch, my turn to hurt. Fine, maybe dragon blood flows in me somewhere.

Anyway, the log hinted Dad was around here somewhere. Outside? Or indoor zoo? Nah, too massive.

'Time to check inside.'

Dragged still-fuming Pellelian along. Front door unlocked, but zoo door? Solid iron.

Explains why the minion skipped it.

Knock knock. No answer.

Undid the bolt. Creaaaaak— heavy door groaned open, stale air rushed out.

Assaulted by stench: feces, fishy rot, musk, blood.

'Zoo, my ass...'

Expected something decent, not a kids' park, but still.

Central path, barred cages lining sides. Varied habitats, sorta—but corpses everywhere. Starved? No, diseased or cannibalized.

'Why are the monsters...'

Thought empty at first. Nope—they bolted to corners as I entered, cowering in fear.

Starving for days, yet terrified of me? Fair—Crystal Double-Horn Python, thrice-evolved elite with glittering scales.

—Not you. They're scared of their owner.

Pellelian sniped. Sadly, true—monsters peeked out, approached the bars.

"Arf arf! Woof!"

"Awoooo!"

"Whiiiine."

Barking mad, rattling bars. Embarrassed by their fear?

'They look hungry.'

Yeah, touchy without food. Hyena-type shook empty feed bags, begging.

Feed outside overflowed. Mercy time?

Splat.

Dodged a projectile. Familiar-looking thrower from a cage.

It chucked again. Dodged—splat! Splatter hit me. Shit.

"Arf arf arf!"

"Whiiiine!"

Others laughed. My mercy evaporated.

Tsssss—

Unbelievable. Black Scale, which wouldn't activate before, triggered on its own. Scales darkened; battle mode engaged.

Monsters faltered.

"Eek!"

But shit-thrower rallied them with cries.

Fine, you first. Dragged a feed sack over, stomach rumbling.

Grabbed a handful, dangled it. Monkey's eyes bulged.

"Eeeeek! Kyaaak!"

Reached through bars—too short. Tantrum time: rattling, screeching.

Chomped its wrist.

"Kk! Eek."

It flailed, collapsed.

Decent EXP from the level. Good boy now.

Next. Mood chilled.

Cages spacious: nests, pools. Used Transparent Hand on feed, moved to the whiner.

Approached cautiously—saw the monkey die, no rash moves. But no food without coming close.

I waited; it waited. Then—whoosh! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Spike from forehead, like poison spray ambush.

Ting ting ting!

Not one pierced my scales. Cunning one, huh. Neat skill.

Something grew in my mouth. Ptoo! Hit fleeing hedgehog's butt.

"Whiiiine!"

Its last howl.

Easy and tasty. Silence fell. Berserkers backed off, drooling at feed.

That's when it hit: their lives were mine. Levels, skills to borrow...

Buffet time. Approached the barking hyena.

Tougher-looking. How to cook? Then—flop. Belly up.

"Boss! Boss!"

Obvious submission.

'Got good instincts.'

Tossed feed. Leapt, caught it mid-air. Tail wagged like a propeller, drool flying.

Pushed forward—shoved head in. "Saaak!" Blocked—sat, drooling, watching.

'Could it be...'

Tested the idea.

That easy? Lv31, dude.

Bonus harvest. Your name's Dotbakyi now.

Follows humans—no, snakes—too easily. Hyena a dog breed? Looks the part.

Anyway, plan set: "selection process" for these monsters from now on.