A Time for Rest and Bonds
Before my conversation with Arde, I hadn't realized it at all, but just as he said, I was clearly exhausted.
I might have vaguely sensed it.
Lately, I'd felt like I had a lot of stray thoughts, but it didn't seem to be simply because I had more leisure time.
Fights, conflicts, struggles.
A life of nothing but killing and being killed, without any real exchange.
I've always thought this was natural for a monster's existence, but on the other hand, it wasn't.
Even forcing myself to think positively and act upbeat had its limits.
While willingly accepting this current life, I was growing weary of one filled solely with strife.
No—borrowing Arde's words, I was already worn out.
Was it because I used to be human?
Deep down, I'd been continuously seeking someone to talk to, to share emotions with.
Having something I hadn't even noticed myself pointed out—and pierced through at our very first meeting—made a corner of my heart ache terribly.
Was I really that easy to read?
It's been so long since I had any proper interaction that I'm not even sure.
Thinking back to my human days, it felt similar...
It's only been about two years since I became a snake, yet those memories are already growing hazy.
Even though my human life was nearly ten times longer in years.
Is it because I've lived so fiercely these past years?
Every day skirting the edge of death, it's only natural that memories from my relatively peaceful human time would fade.
Still, there are plenty of unforgettable ones, so I guess even back then, I lived a pretty tough life.
Yeah, it's definitely time to rest.
Looking back on those two years, it's all just memories of fighting, killing, and devouring— no wonder I'm tired.
Anyone would be, living like this.
Rest is essential for everything, after all.
This time, I truly felt the need to heed Arde's advice and rest properly.
After parting with Arde, I was guided back to my previous lodging.
The Red Wyvern who escorted me didn't say much, but I suspect it was consideration for my confused state after the talk.
He's quiet by nature anyway, so it wasn't entirely out of character.
In any case, shown to a quiet place to think alone, I continued my reflections just like that.
Curled up, I sat motionless, lost in thought until late into the dawn.
There wasn't any dramatic shift.
I hadn't even had a full day of proper rest yet, and no one changes overnight from mere pondering.
Still, that night's thoughts weren't entirely fruitless.
I realized that relationships between monsters—ones I'd assumed were nothing but struggle—could include something new.
Just that one insight made a corner of my heart feel immensely at ease.
It wasn't limited to the Lizardmen of the 17th floor.
They might be the odd ones among monsters, but fortunately, in this vast labyrinth, they weren't the only weirdos.
There were strange fellows here too.
Subconsciously, I'd longed so desperately for new monster friends, and it seemed I might actually make some.
I figured I could make new friends, but the process was far from smooth.
Even with resolve, turning it into action is always tough.
Especially for someone like me, whose idea of "conversation" over the past two years had been purely physical (i.e., violence).
Showing goodwill and approaching others wasn't easy.
Moreover, even when I mustered the effort to draw near, they kept avoiding me.
For some reason, a significant number of monsters under Arde found me uncomfortable.
Probably because I'd devoured several of their comrades.
It was regrettable for me, but an undeniable fact—no easy fix.
I probably couldn't look comfortably at someone who'd eaten my allies either.
That said, not all of Arde's monsters shunned me outright.
A few didn't care at all, and the prime example was the Red Wyvern who'd brought me here.
His attitude wasn't exactly kind or gentle, but after days of being outright avoided, I was deeply grateful.
For a moment, I nearly teared up— not my usual style.
And so, over the next few days, my main companion was the Red Wyvern.
We had history together, so conversation wasn't the casual sort I'd imagined, but using our prior sparring talk as an excuse, we spent quite a bit of time together.
It wasn't the light chat I'd pictured—purely physical exchanges—but on reflection, that seemed more fitting for monsters.
To me, it felt like we'd reached friend-level camaraderie.
Even if I'd never won a single spar yet.
...It felt a little bad.
Actually, pretty bad, but the rank gap was an insurmountable wall.
Especially seeing the Red Wyvern's smug, twisted grin after every bout—it really drove home what "soul-crushing" meant.
I'll get revenge someday, for sure.
Sparring with the Red Wyvern let me feel emotions I hadn't before, while also hugely aiding my growth.
As an S-rank monster, he'd normally be untouchable.
But in spars, I could charge without restraint— the perfect sandbag.
Problem was, it wasn't a passive punching bag; it dodged every which way and unleashed devastating counters.
If anything, I was more its sandbag.
He'd once said I was ideal for venting since I healed so quickly...
Another reason to get stronger.
Revenge will come.
Our sessions were still mostly me getting pummeled one-sidedly, but they undeniably fueled my progress.
No need for details—my status window showed all stats surging.
The most striking growth was in Durability, but the others were rising steadily too.
At this rate, S-rank evolution didn't feel far off.
Revenge is coming soon.
Sparring took up most of my daily routine, but not always.
No matter how casually I treated it, the Red Wyvern was an S-rank with duties.
He patrolled layers on Arde's behalf or left to handle rowdy hunters at the zone's entrance.
Those times, Arde stepped in as my sparring partner.
After our first meeting, I'd seen Arde several times, chatting about this and that.
His gentle, kindly old man smile had felt off-putting at first, but after some time, it became as comfortable as with the Red Wyvern.
Our talks focused mostly on his life story.
True to his words, Arde had lived an incredibly long time—easily over a century, from what I gathered.
Even skimming, there were endless tales.
His storytelling was masterful, the stories riveting—I'd get absorbed without realizing.
And they weren't just entertaining; from a monster's view, several were practically helpful.
Through our chats, I learned more about Arde: he was a monster utterly unlike one.
Normal monsters—especially area bosses—should be savage and brutal, but Arde was different.
So gentle it made me wonder if he'd once been human like me.
More human than this ex-human, even.
A monster who didn't feel like one.
From his past stories, it seemed he hadn't always been this way...
Even with enlightenment, could a monster be this gentle?
But soon enough, I learned he wasn't always so soft.
No matter how human-like or un-monstrous, a monster is still a monster.
Arde was kindly and gentle, yet also coldly ruthless.
As area boss, he didn't manage every monster in the Lava Zone.
He could have, but chose not to.
He only oversaw intelligent ones who'd willingly sworn loyalty.
An incredibly moderate approach—un-monstrous, really—but it fit him.
By then, that's how I saw him.
Even this moderate Arde had his limits.
When his subordinates were attacked.
Not always—he acknowledged inter-monster struggles, like with me before.
He tolerated some fights and losses, regretting them but not mourning.
He judged situations coldly before acting, but exceptions existed.
Against foes ignoring prior warnings or brazenly defying his authority.
Then, he fully embodied the area boss's dignity.
"Kill them."
His calm, unhesitating voice crushed me entirely.
Hard to believe it was the same being who'd smiled gently moments ago—his aura was utterly transformed.
Just unleashing it without restraint sapped my will to fight.
If his usual self evoked an unchanging, massive mountain of peace, this Arde was an erupting volcano.
They say those who rarely anger are the scariest when they do.
Not even directed at me, yet I instinctively averted my gaze.
Watching him coldly command the S-rank monsters led by the Red Wyvern, it hit me.
No matter how gentle, a monster's a monster.
Not someone to treat like the friendly old man next door.
His fury vanished seamlessly once the monsters departed, but I couldn't interact with him casually anymore.
Arde noticed my reaction and gave a wry smile, but I couldn't muster any words.
I just quietly reflected: had I been too cocky all this time?
I'll be more careful from now on.
Our talk ended like that.
Though things got awkward with Arde after that day, time dulled the tremor and fear I'd felt.
Soon, I could treat him normally again.
He seemed genuinely pleased by my reaction.
Turned out his subordinates feared him so much that few could chat as casually as I did.
Makes sense—if they'd seen that side often, they'd prostrate first, talk later.
Thus, Arde could be mercilessly ruthless to those ignoring his warnings.
Otherwise, he was as kindly and gentle as the grandpa next door.
His anger matched his massive frame—impossible to meet his eyes—but his clear boundaries meant no issues if you toed the line.
In some ways, easier to talk to than the Red Wyvern?
His lifetime-honed storytelling drew out my inner thoughts one by one, unnoticed.
Since meeting Arde, my days in the Lava Zone have been incredibly fulfilling.