Pay Tribute to That Monster.

Thud, BOOM! It was covered in tree bark, so it didn't look like a snake. But it moved far too vividly to be a tree. When it swung its tail, a field mouse monster struck by it spun wildly through the air.

"GRRROOOOAR!"

The roar didn't sound snake-like at all. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If anything, it resembled wind blasting from a massive cave. Was it the volume? The lung capacity? Whatever it was, it was immense—a gale-force wind rushed in. It even reached Lania, who was peeking through the carriage window bars.

Being wind from a living creature's mouth, it naturally carried breath. And that smell was...

'Fragrant.'

Lania suddenly thought so. It was the fresh wind from the forest. The invigorating scent of the Great Forest. Of course, there was a faint bloody tang at the end.

Something odd caught Lania's eye. On the nape of the gigantic tree snake's neck sprouted another head—a small white snake wearing a crown.

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

Lania wasn't the only one fixated on the white snake. Oliver and the knight Zain stared at it in astonishment too.

The white snake fired rays continuously at the ground. They packed the punch of arrows, but why shoot at empty dirt? It made no sense.

Then, something astonishing happened. The massive tree snake chased the rays, spinning in circles. Its speed accelerated rapidly.

Pew-pew-pew-pew-pew!

"GRRROOOOAR!"

The tree snake spun faster and faster, looking like a whirlwind. For a moment, even the monsters couldn't approach. The monster wave slowed to a halt.

Moments later, Oliver shouted imprudently.

"It—it stopped!"

It had. The rays cut off abruptly, and the tree snake tilted its head in confusion. Dizzy, it slammed its head onto the ground with a thud.

With the leader halted, perhaps? Especially the stronger-looking monsters settled in to rest. Those around them lay down one by one, bellies up.

In short, the monster wave had paused locally.

Everyone there knew it: a single small snake, sprouting like a fresh mushroom, had achieved this.

As the chimera snake sprawled out, the little snake straightened proudly. It looked quite majestic.

Then, Hobgoblin Nanaruk leaped fearlessly onto the tree snake.

"To meet again like this!"

They seemed thick as thieves, hugging and making ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a fuss. Could a goblin really befriend a snake monster? A mystery. And that hobgoblin was one too—Lania had never seen such a tall, strong goblin.

Moreover...

"Saaak, saaaak."

"Oh, want some spare potions? Of course! How many? Ten?"

"Shiiit, shiiit."

"Hahaha, really? Puhahaha! You're hilarious as ever."

"Shishit."

"Stop, stop, hahaha!"

Zain thought, 'He can't understand it but is pretending to, right?'

What joke could make him laugh like that? No, wait—something was off.

'How is he even talking to that goblin!'

Realizing that, chills ran up Zain's spine.

Perhaps displeased by Nanaruk mounting her, the chimera lifted its head with a low growl.

Then, the little snake barked.

"SAAAAK!"

"Grrr..."

The chimera dropped its head again with a thud. Clearly, the chimera was subordinate.

'That little snake might be the real body!'

It wasn't unreasonable for Zain to think so.

* * *

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

Whoa, that startled me.

The chimera snake nearly ate Nanaruk. I barked at it, but I didn't expect it to obediently lie back down.

Domination Crown didn't work on it, though.

Maybe after spending so much time together, it finally listens a bit.

Oblivious to her near-death, Nanaruk stroked my back vigorously. I puffed up even more proudly.

Feeling great.

'Success! We did it!'

"What?"

'Nothing! No big deal!'

I'd fully halted the snake. I'd paused it briefly before, but making it rest like this? First time.

Even monster waves need breaks. Made of wood, the chimera rarely rested, but when it did, it slept three or four hours.

Its eyes were closed now (un-snake-like, it had eyelids), so it was definitely about to sleep.

A huge accomplishment.

-Quite the self-praise.

Pellelian snarked, but that's just his twisted personality.

And understandably so.

What the—? I checked immediately.

...Does this even count as an achievement? Well, I did stop the monster wave, even briefly. So yeah, more pride justified.

Plus, tangible gain: three to four hours' breather.

Time to catch up with Nanaruk.

'Hey, Overlord.'

"What, Ouroboros?"

Nanaruk grinned. Felt like we should fist-bump, but alas.

'How'd you conquer the Great Forest so fast?'

Even a mighty tribe like Runka had limited numbers. Only Nanaruk could handle multiple hobgoblins solo.

"Trade secret."

Nanaruk bellowed, summoning her hobgoblin warriors.

"See? Familiar faces, right?"

'Hey, that's your sibling!'

Among them, Nanaruk's sibling, nearly killed by Deshunan. But bulkier now. Muscled, un-goblin-like.

I eyed them intently.

Huh. Name changed.

Yes—the hobgoblins had evolved again. How?

"After sparring with me a few times, they all evolved."

Nanaruk explained: Leading as Hobgoblin King, some warriors evolved to Hobgoblin Warrior.

True 'king' material. If my dad was Unique, Nanaruk was a Special species.

Felt a bit intimidated before her.

'You're more amazing than me...'

I fought hard too, but...

"What're you saying?"

Nanaruk laughed it off as nonsense.

"You're leading this monster wave, aren't you?"

'...What?'

No way. Commanding the rampaging horde? This chimera.

'I got kidnapped.'

"Huh?"

Huh what?

"Obviously you're controlling it."

'Why think that?'

"This tree snake listens to you. And... you're wearing a crown."

This glorious crown? Nanaruk said it matter-of-factly.

I realized something crucial. Did Gunter and the mage see me as the wave's mastermind?

-Could be continent-wide infamy.

Pellelian—already a wanted man—spoke with authority. I trembled in fear.

-Why worry?

'If they set traps everywhere to catch me...'

-Nonsense. If so, they wouldn't have let the goblins worship a snake god first.

Pellelian explained: Evolving that goblin girl to Hobgoblin King? Me too.

'I did that?'

-Once those goblins expand on the continent, you'll be famous fast.

Nanaruk gazed innocently. Yeah, it was you. My foreshadowing seed.

-Monsters get hunted anyway. Don't freak.

'Y-yeah...'

-Look at me. Public enemy, but eventually no one dared challenge. Get strong enough they can't. Be confident, like you were.

'...Right.'

-Become the hegemon!

Yes, he's right. Embarrassed I panicked. Ditch the small-minded thinking!

Then Nanaruk had her minions fetch potions—twenty in bamboo flasks.

"Your potions saved dozens. Need more? Take 'em all."

Post-Great Forest, harder to brew. With their numbers, she'd use sparingly. Twenty? Grateful.

I used Transparent Hand to snag one, then had Nanaruk extend her hand and poured a bit.

"This'd heal with spit."

Tough with a pierced hand.

"P-Potions?!"

Someone yelled. Two humans stood there. Girl hiding in the carriage too.

'Huh.'

-What?

'Familiar faces.'

The young armored one... Seen him before? Racking my brain, the half-wrecked carriage door flew open. Out tumbled a bleeding kid.

"S-Snake-nim!"

She slid to her knees like a soccer celebration, bowing.

"Save us!"

Fluid prostration. Exemplary etiquette.

"Share potions. Oliver and Knight Zain are badly hurt."

Eh? Unexpected. Kid begs snake not for herself, but for the uncles?

'Hmm...'

Honestly, tugged at my heartstrings. Pitiful.

"Insolent human!"

But Nanaruk barked.

"Shameless. Kids, clean 'em up... Eh, why?"

Panicking, I bit her hem and tugged. True overlord—no mercy.

'Wait, don't kill yet.'

"Handle personally? Ah, to absorb demonic essence."

'No, not that...'

Pellelian tsked. But he didn't seem eager to kill humans either.

-I don't care if they die.

Ignored. Nanaruk stared wide-eyed. Needed something monsterly to say.

I had her relay.

She played interpreter gleefully.

'Got questions.'

"The Monster King Ouroboros asks."

'...'

Dramatic flair.

'Uh... First, kid, what's your name?'

"State your name before begging mercy!"

Pellelian loved it.

-Splendid! Kingly dignity.

Elves love pomp anyway.

The girl answered calmly.

"I-I'm Lania Grayrim, daughter of Viscount Grayrim..."

Ah. Noblewoman from the territory we steamrolled. So many corpses.

"That bastard Gunter... Took my father, locked Mom in a tower... Was heading to Grandpa's."

Gunter's pure evil confirmed. Saw a ruined tower there...

Lania teared up.

'Don't cry. Breaks my heart.'

"Shut it. No whining."

'...'

Fine, go full monster.

'Can spare one potion. Got tribute?'

First human chat. Noblewoman clueless, but knight and uncle know stuff. Info... Armor tempting too.

Eh! Knight's armor—same design as Gunter's lackeys.

Remembered: The psycho knight who kissed my tail. Guard captain died saving him. Tough life.

'Questions, and got spare swords?'

"Tribute for mercy: Valuable knowledge or fine gear."

'Hah, Nanaruk's gold.'

Fun now. Thought spider-human was 0.9 Nanaruk? Nah, she's perfect interpreter.

If not for goblin kingdom dreams, I'd keep her forever.

Asked 'cause Elven Broadsword broke. Goblin blades crude.

Humans huddled seriously, nodding.

"Miss, you sure?"

"Yes. Family treasure or not, we must live."

Knight offered a dagger cautiously.

"Grayrim's treasure..."

Whoa. Sleek curve like a kukri. Blade gleamed white—love it.

"Dawn's Ashira. Silversteel dagger, but..."

Ashira. Pretty name.

Transparent Hand lifted it. Light! Daggery, lighter than Elven Broadsword.

Ahh, cool grip. Been ages since wielding a blade.

I danced sword forms. Blade traced beautiful arcs.

Didn't look clumsy. Knight gawked, puzzled.

I asked why. Nanaruk translated.

"Blasphemous gaze."

"Ah, s-sorry."

"Something wrong?"

"Swordsmanship motions, not dagger..."

Different? I peeked his status.

Average joe. But skills caught eye.

Oho! Checked the uncle too.

Drool escaped. Jackpot. Valuable knowledge for tribute.