Bear the Weight of the Crown

I often think about it, but these descriptions are pretty useless most of the time.

What am I supposed to do just because it contains the World Tree's essence? How nice it would be if I could immediately know what effects it has.

Well, maybe asking for that much is being too greedy. Being able to learn even this partial info is a privilege not everyone gets.

Still, the smell is amazing. My mouth is watering. I hold back the urge to chomp it down right away and store it in my subspace pocket instead.

'You must obtain the fruit.'

That's what Dad said. For the usually taciturn him to emphasize it multiple times, it must be something incredibly important.

Maybe it's a healing potion that can fix his body...

...Come to think of it, is Dad okay now?

His chronic mana shortage seemed to stem from constantly maintaining Giantification. There might have been a real reason he had to keep it up. Maybe he has some illness that forces him to stay giant...

I entertain all sorts of wild guesses.

In any case, this filial snake heads back to his father with the fruit in tow.

In the meantime, Dad has grown giant again.

I lash out in fury. His wounds aren't even fully healed—what the hell is he doing? Why keep using Giantification when his mana is so low?

As I bounce around venting my anger, Dad responds in his usual way: pretending not to hear and ignoring me.

'Then why do you keep using Giantification? At least tell me the reason!'

Normally, I wouldn't get a reply. But surprisingly, Dad answers.

「...Later.」

Later? After eating the fruit? Tomorrow? After sleeping for ten nights? Who knows. For now, I pull out the fruit.

'Here, just as you said. Eat it.'

But Dad shakes his head again.

「You eat it.」

'You said I had to get it, so I went through all that trouble.'

Just like always, Dad refuses to eat the fruit. All magical beasts have an instinct to grow stronger, so why does he keep doing this? I wonder if this is his indirect way of showing love, like "You eat the chicken leg."

「I've already eaten one.」

'Dad doesn't like chicken legs anyway.'

For a split second, I misinterpret it that way. But he means it literally.

「Last time.」

'Pardon... what?'

Dad says he's eaten a Brilliant Fruit before. At a purple festival somewhere else in the Great Forest, he claimed one.

「...And evolved.」

What was he before? A Polaris Python, maybe? Or just a plain White Serpent.

I never imagined he had such a flashy history, since he's not stronger than the chimpanzee or Riok.

Then again, maybe that's why the beasts drawn to this 'festival' were especially powerful.

「So eating another fruit... won't help.」

Seems the fruit's effects are one-time only.

「So you eat it.」

Dad emphasizes once more.

Well, if you insist... I'll eat it.

-A fruit that influences evolution? How exciting. Another evolution secret revealed.

I agree with Pellelian's sentiment.

Dad evolved into a Unique species. Being Unique doesn't mean it's automatically superior. But they're rare, and often come with exceptional abilities.

Many named beasts are Uniques, and even among calamities, there are plenty.

'Will I become a Unique if I eat this too?'

-The odds aren't low...! But I can't say for sure.

Pellelian tends to hyperfocus on evolutions. And so do I.

I want to evolve right now. Gotta eat the fruit and find a safe spot.

"Lea... der."

That's when the gorilla approaches.

Gasp, is she demanding a share of the fruit? Despite my petty suspicion, she grins broadly.

Why so innocently? I glance over my subordinates. Even all gathered, we don't hit sixty. We fought fishing for stragglers as much as possible, yet nearly half died in battle.

My stomach churns.

'You're responsible for what you've tamed, forever.' Recalling those words, I went alone to save the centipede family. Dad probably thought the same when he saved me.

But even so, not all my tamed beasts could survive.

Maybe reciting that line is just self-satisfaction, self-deception.

"Than... ks."

'What?'

But the gorilla says something unexpected.

"We fought. But... not much help."

'Well...'

True enough. Dad and I handled everything today. Even rational, cool-headed me doesn't voice it. Still, without you all, the three-way split wouldn't have worked.

"Snake... and Dad Snake fought hard. But we... survived."

'Yeah...'

"And levels... up. Got... way stronger."

The gorilla thumps her chest with both fists.

True, the EXP from our kills went straight to the group.

"Without leader... all dead."

Saying that, she raises her hand to her brow.

"Loyal... ty...!"

That's the salute I taught her on a whim. She actually remembers.

The other beasts just stare blankly. Dotbakyi flails a paw imitating her, at best.

Still... something tugs at my heart.

'That's a left-hand salute, use your right.'

"Ah, aaah...!"

Thinking it over, I've been underestimating my beasts too much. Tamed or not, they're not kids. Each is a warrior fighting endlessly to grow stronger, to evolve.

I pull the fruit from my subspace.

'Thanks for everything so far...'

As crew leader, I toast like it's a speech.

'Let's keep doing great, guys!'

"Waaah...!"

Amid the gorilla lady's cheers, I pop the Brilliant Fruit into my mouth.

Crunch!

The texture was obvious from the look. Chewing the crisp flesh floods my mouth with juice. I gulp down the sweet fruit.

My insides warm up—must be the effect kicking in. Wonder what the Brilliant Fruit does exactly.

I'll check the effects, then head back to the cliff to evolve.

What?! To evolve, I've always had to sleep in a safe spot. Why start now, right here?

What's going on? Crunch-crunch— Suddenly, World Tree roots sprout from the ground. Delicate, pure white ones. Like ivy tendrils, fine roots wrap around me.

I jolt in surprise, trying to escape, but lock eyes with Dad. He who rushed to save me from Riok now looks serene. He nods as if it's fine.

He must have gone through this too. I stop struggling against the roots.

Thankfully, they don't bind—they gently cradle me.

'We'll talk later about what you couldn't say!'

I tell Dad. So many questions. About Giantification, how he became Polaris Serpent. How he met Mom, why he fled like that. His level's 100—maybe he's about to evolve? If so, I want to help. And I need to tell him about Gunter. If he truly loved Mom, Gunter's a future revenge target.

Dad doesn't reply. My vision fades under the roots. Like a silkworm in its cocoon, I'm fully encased in the World Tree's white roots.

What? But trapped in this pure white space, I can't tell.

-Huh?!

Pellelian lets out a short yelp and ducks into the ring.

Transparent, sticky mucus begins filling my space.

* * *

Hairit Langrei gazes up at the sky. The atmosphere thick with demonic essence had tinted it purple. With the Brilliant Fruit fallen, the festival should end. The dome-like barrier protecting this place has vanished.

But the demonic essence seems even denser now. The sky is blood-red.

'The waiting beasts are swarming in?'

She eyes the monsters salivating beyond the barrier. Some might rival Silverback Akimus or Insect King Riok.

She didn't get the 'clothes' she wanted, but her visit brought an entertaining experience. The little snake and his father's struggles touched her heart.

The little snake now looks cocooned. World Tree's white roots guard him.

Hairit draws her sword at light speed, slashing the cocoon's edge.

Clang!

Her blade vibrates wildly. But the white root is unscratched.

"Good thing."

Polaris Serpent lowers his tail slightly. Sensing no hostility from Hairit.

Knowing the little snake is safe, she now focuses on the big one. The gorilla and others? Whatever.

"Snake mister."

Not that old, but experienced in life. She senses it. He's been radiating "time to leave" vibes.

"Leaving... right away?"

Somehow, honorifics slip out. Surprisingly, Polaris Serpent nods.

He can speak telepathically yet stays taciturn. His voice matches his cool look.

"Wanna evolve more, huh."

Evolution is every beast's instinct. Even those at evolution's end crave it endlessly. Second only to "don't wanna die."

Struggling to maintain Giantification, he's surely not content.

The snake nods again.

"Know how to evolve further...?"

Higher species sometimes intuit their path. She doesn't expect an answer, but...

「Reach the stars.」

"Ah."

Hairit admires how fitting. Polaris—such a starry evolution condition. Romantic too. Though impossible.

"Say bye to your kid first. Kids get twisted if dads vanish without a word."

With that, Hairit spins and dashes off fairy-like. Gotta flee before beasts swarm.

Polaris Serpent stays silent. A hint of hesitation.

Cautiously, he lifts his tail to caress the white cocoon. Pondering words for his son.

「...Thanks.」

He couldn't even bid his wife farewell.

「Someday... again... meet.」

With that, Polaris Serpent turns his massive body. Toward the Great Forest's depths. Quietly, slowly. Seeking solitude once more.

The beasts, gorilla included, stand dumbfounded. A sickly sweet scent wafts from somewhere, disorienting them.

* * *

'Where goin'!'

Even in the cocoon, I hear the outside talk. I bang the walls to escape.

'Daaad!'

But the interior is filled with transparent, sticky mucus. My tail swings weakly.

'Dammit!'

Frustrating as hell. When mucus fills my nostrils and lungs, I think I'm drowning.

But miraculously, I breathe. Or rather, don't suffocate. What is this, not LCL solution?

'Dad!'

But Dad's gone. Off to find stars. Snakes know zero astronomy, huh. Stars are too far to reach—you'd burn up. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at level 100 heat resistance.

Thud.

The cocoon won't break.

'...Fine.'

There's a saying: "Those who meet must part." Farewells follow meetings. And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Those who part shall meet again" if both survive.

I text in my mind to soothe the ache.

Then, my vision glows faintly. Light from outside? No—my body glows.

The voice rings. Evolutions always meant dark, floating dreams—but this is opposite. Wonder what options this time. My heart races.

But no choices appear.

Just the voice. Because of the Brilliant Fruit?

Right, I'm a python, after all.

Horns on my head. Saved me from countless perils.

Devoured tons of magic stones for the "Crystal" prefix. Pellelian said their value could buy a territory. Each scale might as well be a gem.

Zoo beasts, legendary crew boss. Victor of the festival.

Also Ouroboros. Come to think, did Nanaruk unify the Great Forest goblins?

My deeds seem to shape this evolution. And potential too.

Wonder how I'll evolve. Maybe me too...

'Unique!' Lineage.

The voice continues, my head tingling. Horns like my two sprouts grow, merge, align—reshaping.

Like... a snake wearing a crown.

An all-purpose skill, this Crown. And finally, my evolution name.

Evolution begins.