Quick-to-Fall Arrogant Monkey

My scales bristled involuntarily, rattling with a charrruk. It wasn't on purpose—I was just pissed. What a reckless bastard. He thought he could wipe us all out by himself? Me and Dad? Did he really believe he could pull that off?

This wasn't just Dad here, either. The Crystal Crown Python who smashed a baby chimera and charred a mad shadow elf to a crisp was hiding its fangs right here. If I could just spot an opening, that monkey would get a hole punched straight through its heart, no question.

Should I burrow underground and slip under its legs? A bit messy, but the crotch is always a weak spot. Hit it with Predator Leap there, and even that monkey wouldn't walk away unscathed. Stirring up a water splash to blind it might help, too. Or maybe its fur wouldn't catch fire easily...

As I crept closer, scouting for a gap, something grabbed me. Dad's tail.

"Reckless fool..."

His gaze stayed locked on the monkey, but it felt like he was talking to me. Activating Black Scale seemed to make ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him a bit more emotional. Tsutsutsu... The darkened scales faded back to normal. My anger hadn't cooled, but this was weird.

—That bastard's eyes are spinning and its ears are plugged, huh? Hey!

Pellelian suddenly snapped at me.

'Why?'

—Why ignore what I'm saying!?

'Huh?'

Apparently, he'd been yapping at me nonstop. I'd been too focused on how to take down that monkey to hear him.

—That monkey's sly as hell, from what I see. A good student reads between the lines of their teacher's words.

He was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠playing teacher, so I mulled it over.

'...Yeah, you're right.'

Did the Silverback Chimpanzee Akimus really think he could solo Dad and me? Hard to say. But it didn't feel like pure bluffing. I'd seen him fight Grand Riok. Plus, Dad wasn't at full strength. So, was fighting Dad no big deal for him?

Nah, that couldn't be right. If it were easy, he'd have killed Dad and leveled up ages ago. If it were hard, he wouldn't bother coming alone.

'Coming solo is suspicious.'

Yeah, no reason to come alone. His minions outnumbered us, and some were elite monsters. So why ditch all that advantage?

—Exactly. That guy's...

'Testing the waters.'

Gauging us. A sneak attack would've made sense, but showing up like this, flexing and stalling? Shady as hell.

'Gotta show him we're not pushovers.'

One sharp jab, and he'd know he picked the wrong fight. Perfect timing, too. Last time the stars didn't align, but now I'd borrow a skill.

Still hard to see details. Being closer helped a bit compared to last time, maybe. No time to waste. I focused with super-snake concentration.

And finally, I found a skill worth borrowing.

Drawing from my Gunter experience, amp Borrowing Horn first.

The monkey, poised to charge, flinched and froze.

"Snake...! What did you do?!"

Like Gunter, the strong ones sense when I borrow skills. But it thought Dad did something. Dad just glared silently, eyes flashing like Polaris. The vibe was intense. Probably just didn't get it, but looks matter.

I zipped up onto Dad's back. Plan set.

"Doesn't matter... You're dead anyway."

Still stalling like a badass. Time to show our power exceeded his imagination. I told Dad,

'Dad, Destruction Beam!'

Not sure if he'd listen. Just in case,

'Max output!'

"Arrogant monkey."

Dad obliged his kid. Light gathered in his mouth.

Piiiing!

The beam fired. And the cocky chimp didn't dodge.

Testing Dad's power, huh. Bad call. Full-throttle Destruction Beam, no mana spared. Its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face twisted at the overwhelming output. I half-hoped it'd turn to ash.

But it had its tricks. It thrust out both arms, blocking the beam.

Kwa-kwa-kwa!

The beam refracted off its palms, shooting skyward.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

Even the physical force was insane. It dug its feet in, but gouges formed as it slid back.

"Urgh—aaaah!"

Roaring, it held. Tough bastard. Dad burned all his recovered mana in that instant, just as I asked.

The beam cut off, revealing Akimus. Alive, but arms charred black, blood dripping from palms. Impressive block—or impressive hit by Dad?

"Hah... heh."

A smirk crept on its face. If this was chess, Dad made multiple moves at once, and the monkey blocked one, thinking it evened out.

To shatter its confidence, I climbed onto Dad's head. Eye contact with the chimp. It looked baffled at my entrance.

Then, roar time.

With Overlord lv2 too.

Gale winds howled, air turning frigid. A thunderous cry exploded from my mouth.

"SAAAAAK!"

The monkey's fur puffed up instantly. Spooked for sure—its twisted grimace said it all.

"My son."

Dad dropped the perfect line.

Monkey, your foe isn't just one.

'Dad, tail smash.'

And he did. As his tail whipped in a shockwave, I charged.

My speed shocked even the chimp. It braced against me—then spotted Dad's incoming tail.

"Kuh!"

Couldn't ignore that. It swung a fist to bat the massive tail first.

Jeeeng!

Shockwave erupted. Chimp held again. I closed in during that gap.

No greed for heart-bites or fangs. Not feasible. Summoned a sword midair and swung. Master of sword skills, plus slash technique.

Thunder Swordsmanship Form 2: Heart Rend.

Impressive. Its flayed, red-raw hand shot out.

Kwak!

Caught my blade in its palm. Blade dug in, but stopped. Must hurt like hell—tenacious freak.

"Kuhk."

Let's see how long you smirk. Thunder Swordsmanship is perfected with lightning.

Lightning struck. On me.

Jjeojeojeong!

Current surged through me into the sword, then its pinned palm. It arced through sticky blood and veins, electrocuting the chimp.

"Kaaaaak!"

Stubborn. Wouldn't release the blade. Couldn't? My Elven Broadsword shattered under the grip.

Kwang!

Shards nicked me too.

"Gut snake..."

Tougher body than Deshunan's, at least. Steam rose from the chimp as it glared.

Then.

"Keeik!"

Whoosh—gone.

—As expected. Ate one too, huh. Emergency Mobilization Fruit.

Guessed the monkey had one. Came alone to scout, skipping his horde.

'Knew it.'

My body throbbed. Gulped a potion. No potions for him—he'd suffer. Shame I couldn't finish it.

Passed Dad a mana potion.

—Sword broke, so no more sword-nut complaints.

Pellelian sounded relieved, but I felt down.

'My sword...'

Monkey smashed it. Served me well for ages—such a light, sharp blade's rare.

—Kekeke, forget it! Magic suits you. No hands anyway.

But Pellelian's glee was premature.

Uh. What?

—What's up?

'New achievement...'

Check it.

Not amazing, but the heavens spoke. Don't abandon the sword path.

Damn.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Hero. Taxidermist, Hairit Langrei.

She'd finally entered the Shadow Forest outskirts.

Even in this perilous demon realm, Hairit strolled leisurely. Weak monsters were no threat, and she could hide from real dangers.

Leather pants hugged her glossy long legs as she patrolled the boundary.

"Guess they really can't get in."

Fruit Week, Purple Banquet, Festival. It started after she entered. A dome enveloped dozens of kilometers. Semitransparent walls blocked passage both ways.

Ting-ting!

Dagger pommel test—insane rebound. A grand spell might crack it, maybe.

"Hey, kiddos. What's so tasty in here that you're sniffing around?"

She peered from inside out. Beyond the clear wall, monsters lurked. Drooling glares at Hairit. Some gnawed the wall, others headbutted it.

"Lucky for you there's a wall."

True enough. Plenty of big game outside. But to her, just prey.

After 3km along the edge, she confirmed during her stroll.

"It's really gonna happen."

Monster Wave.

Hordes gathered nonstop. Massed monsters trigger waves. No clue on the mechanics—not a mage tower wizard—but enough density, and they swarm like a hive.

Toward human lands. From demon realm to continent heart, tidal waves of fangs.

But no threat to Hairit Langrei here. She headed to the forest core. For prey. Jacket materials. Kill Shadow Elf Deshunan, lop ears for bounty.

Light steps. Her skill let her move silently. Not full magic, but fooled average monsters. Maintain distance, assume no attack—scout and observe.

First target: silver monkey.

'Ooh, nice.'

Shiny silver chimp. Strong-looking. But she hunted, not fought. Traps and gaps—doable.

'Wasn't planning fur clothes.'

But wasting that silver pelt? Note to mental ledger.

Next: massive bug, Riok.

'Pass.'

No desire. Not strength—useless. What to do with a swamp-dwelling behemoth? Not her taste. Can't make clothes. Building material, maybe. Skip.

Then, Deshunan's traces. Cliff house. She scaled it effortlessly.

Never expected the giant snake.

"...Ah."

Slipped out. Nearly busted.

Hairit's heart raced.

'Wh-what is that.'

Most beautiful, massive monster she'd seen. Heart stolen. First love, kinda.

Her monster love always went one way.

'And that size... lifetime wardrobe sorted.'

Starry leather jacket. Starry wallet. Starry pants. Starry coat. Mind flooded with desire. Cheekbones to sky, silver chimp appeared.

'Jackpot—fisherman's gain!'

Starry leather coat with silver fur trim? Watched the fight thrilled.

Then spotted the little snake behind the big one.

'What's that...?'

Her face shifted wildly. Little snake raging, big one reining it. Little climbs big's back, big fires beam. Monkey deflects. Little fearlessly leaps, summons sword.

Flash. Lightning.

Little repels chimp. Little strikes proud pose.

'Ah...'

Hairit's eyes held lightning afterimage and the little snake. Five minutes after first love.

Hairit Langrei. Met her second love.