Burglars
—Don't lie, you cunning Serpent!
"It's not true!"
Pelerian scolded me sternly.
—You were definitely planning to enslave the centipedes and even make that mother serve you!
'I said no!'
—I'm not scolding you, I'm praising you. A rational and excellent judgment. A true mage should act that way.
'Let's stop joking. This is getting boring.'
—It's not a joke.
…It had to be a joke, right?
I had no intention of making the centipedes my slaves.
But…
I looked at the baby centipedes.
'They are kind of cute.'
How could a mother and her children look so different?
The babies still had slightly translucent yellowish skin.
And maybe because they'd been eating well lately, they were plump.
They didn't even have that many legs yet, so they weren't creepy.
More importantly—
When I shook my head left and right,
they copied me exactly.
You little mimics.
—The Taming skill probably isn't as all-powerful as you think. Try it if you're curious.
'How?'
—Just give them an order.
Only the eldest had shown a "taming success" message so far.
I looked at all three and gave a command.
'Go over there.'
Hmm.
Then another command.
'Now go that way.'
…Wow.
The result was shocking.
'None of them are listening.'
The baby centipedes just stared blankly at me.
Even the eldest, supposedly tamed, did nothing.
—That's how it works.
There were two reasons:
—Your Taming skill level is low, and their intelligence is low.
Pelerian explained the basic principle of the skill.
It wasn't something that let you enslave creatures outright.
—See? I told you before, using Taming on you wasn't that big of a mistake.
'You said that?'
—I did!
…I don't remember that.
Honestly, I'd sooner believe a spider was kind-hearted than trust his personality.
'Alright, last one—everyone bow.'
The three centipedes bowed along with me.
[Successfully tamed Centipede Larva Lv.2][Taming proficiency greatly increased]
Level 2—that was the second child.
All I did was make them bow. Isn't this skill too easy?
—More importantly, I didn't even know monsters could possess the Taming skill.
So originally, only humanoid races could have it?
If so… maybe this was also due to my Potential 20.
But now there was a problem.
The youngest looked pitiful.
Ah—what if I used the skill directly?
[Using Taming Lv.2][Successfully tamed Centipede Larva Lv.1][Taming proficiency increased]
Nice.
It worked.
I turned to the centipede mother.
The giant centipede seemed to be watching me with a strangely pleased expression.
At least… she didn't look angry.
…
Well.
I couldn't not try it, right?
This kind of opportunity doesn't come often.
I focused and looked at her.
[Using Taming Lv.2][Failed to tame Crimson Teeth Giant Centipede Lv.33]
Goodbye, world.
It was a short life, but I lived fiercely.
I calmly accepted my impending death.
How would she kill me?
Venom claw decapitation? Crushing me under her weight? Splitting me in half with her tail?
I bowed my head, waiting.
…
Nothing happened.
When I looked up, she was just staring at me.
Did she not notice?
I thought so—but then she shook her head.
It almost felt like she was saying, "You're not qualified yet."
—Pwahaha! As if that would work!
Pelerian burst out laughing.
—You're nowhere near strong enough! That's like a cat trying to tame its owner.
This old man definitely held a grudge about failing to tame me earlier.
Also… cats do tame their owners.
—Since I've seen something amusing, I'll give you a good tip.
Pelerian spoke quietly.
—Try giving them names.
'Names? To the babies?'
—Yes. Name the larvae. Doesn't look like their mother will.
Naming is a privilege of intelligent beings.
Medusa Mother gave birth to thousands of children, but named none of them.
The baby centipedes stared at me blankly.
The mother also seemed completely indifferent.
Well… I'd just use the names for myself.
I examined each of their traits and decided.
'The eldest is especially polite—so you're Kkubbaegi.'
'You have big eyes—so you're Big-Eyes.'
'And you… your head is bigger—so you're Big-Head.'
…Now that I think about it, Big-Head sounds kind of pitiful.
But it was too late.
[Centipede Larva Lv.3 has been named "Kkubbaegi"][Centipede Larva Lv.2 has been named "Big-Eyes"][Centipede Larva Lv.1 has been named "Big-Head"]
Wait… the names I gave are officially recognized?
[Centipede Larva Big-Head Lv.1 likes its name][Bond with tamed monster deepens][Taming proficiency increased]
So this is how bonds deepen.
Good thing it likes the name.
I checked the others' status.
[Centipede Larva Kkubbaegi Lv.3]
The names were actually displayed.
For some reason, I felt deeply moved.
So this is what a "name" is.
It feels completely different from a title.
—Done?
"Yes."
—Wow… that actually worked.
'What do you mean?'
—I didn't think it would. Maybe being the same type of monster affects affinity.
For someone who sounded so confident, even Pelerian hadn't been sure.
—Do you know the three elements required to tame a monster?
He explained:
—Affection, respect, and fear.
Makes sense.
If they like you, they follow.
If they respect your superiority, they follow.
If they fear you enough… they follow.
'Then they must respect me.'
…Heh.
Pelerian ignored me.
—Any method works. Get closer to them. Even their mother doesn't seem to mind.
'Why?'
—Something interesting might happen.
Maybe.
But we were already heading deeper into the Great Forest.
Based on Deshnan's journal, we were getting close to the destination.
'No. I don't have time for that. I need to get stronger. And to do that, I need to train.'
I answered coldly.
—Admirable. Magic?
'Swordsmanship.'
What was my goal?
To become a Serpent no one would dare touch.
Not heroes, not elves, not even monsters.
In other words—
To become an absolute being.
—
It had been three days since I began traveling with the centipede family.
At last, I found the very cliff described in the journal.
If I hadn't been riding the giant centipede, it would've taken at least ten days.
Deshnan must have had some other way to travel quickly.
"Ukki! Ukkikki!"
Above me, a monkey was dancing on a tree.
[Long-Legged Monkey Lv.17]
[Trait]
[Traits]
[Long Legs], [Ferocity], [Pack]
This monkey I'd never seen before had no fear.
It danced while looking at me—and threw something.
I easily dodged.
Splatt!
What landed where I'd been… was poop.
That bastard just threw poop at me.
"Ukkit!"
It clapped, delighted.
It was acting like that because it believed a ground-crawling Serpent had no ranged attacks.
Earlier, it had tried to kidnap Big-Head, but I stopped it.
Seems like it held a grudge and was now pestering me.
I focused my mind.
"Kke-kke-kke-kke!"
I know you're angry, Big-Head—but hold it in. I'll handle this.
I couldn't afford to make mistakes in front of the kids.
My mind sharpened like a blade.
The long-legged monkey prepared to throw another piece of poop.
At that very moment—
A sword appeared right in front of its face.
The sword rose slowly.
And a monkey that had spent its entire life in the jungle—how would it recognize something like an Elven broadsword?
Mesmerized by the shining blade, it even reached out toward it.
Then the floating sword swung.
[Using Slash Lv.2]
A superior skill to Cutting—Slash.
The blade cleanly severed the monkey's neck.
The flailing body dropped lifelessly.
[Magic: Transparent Hand Lv.2 proficiency increased]
In the end, I trained both magic and swordsmanship.
Now I could summon a transparent hand and wield a sword.
To others, it would look like a sword moving on its own.
In other words—
I had become a transcendent swordsman using flying sword techniques.
When I used to swing a sword with my tail, I never gained a swordsmanship skill.
But now, I finally had.
Proof of my effort.
[Crude Swordsmanship Lv.1 proficiency increased]
…Though I wasn't entirely happy about getting such a clearly inferior skill.
"Kke-kke-kke!"
"Kkee!"
The centipedes rushed the fallen monkey and started beating it up.
If I translated their intent, it was something like: "Die!" and "You arrogant bastard!"
Now that I'd grown closer to them, I could almost understand their feelings.
Maybe that's why the giant centipede seemed to understand me too.
The baby centipedes feasted on monkey meat, and I finished the last of the food Nanaruk had given me.
At last—this pleasant companionship was coming to an end.
"Kkee…"
The centipede mother let out a quiet sound.
Was it just my imagination, or did her eyes seem a little lonely?
—Which eyes are you talking about? The fourth one?
Pelerian ruined the mood again.
When I asked her to come with me to the cliff, the giant centipede shook her head firmly.
Then she gathered her children, who were trying to follow me, back into her embrace.
This was where we parted.
It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped.
Raising children wasn't easy—and following me would only lead them down a blood-soaked path.
After finishing our meal, it was truly time to say goodbye.
The baby centipedes didn't even seem to realize I was leaving.
When I stood still, they thought I wanted to play and tried to climb onto my back.
…The problem was, I found that cute now.
Back when I was human, I would've started a breakdance panic the moment a centipede touched me.
When I gently pushed them away with my tail, the three siblings looked dejected.
'We've gotten pretty close, but nothing's really changed, huh?'
Pelerian had given me a challenge—
to earn the loyalty of the three siblings I'd named.
We'd definitely grown closer over the past three days.
Hmm…
Maybe the problem was that we were too friendly?
That couldn't be it.
I called down lightning and used flying sword techniques to kill a monkey—how could they not respect me?
Right, guys?
Even if words don't connect, hearts do.
We exchanged our farewells.
And finally—
I patted each of their heads.
Take care.
If we meet again someday—
Kkubbaegi, Big-Eyes, Big-Head—
I hope you've grown into magnificent giant centipedes by then.
At that moment—
[Bond with Centipede Larva Kkubbaegi Lv.4 has deepened]
Oh?
[Centipede Larva Kkubbaegi grows under your influence]
Something definitely happened.
Though what that "influence" meant… I couldn't tell.
After one last bow, I left.
A truly cool Serpent never looks back.
…
But after walking for quite a while, I turned around.
They were gone.
The giant centipede family had already disappeared.
So I kept moving forward.
'The color of the sky is strange.'
On clear days, the sky above the Great Forest was blue and transparent.
But here—
It was an ominous violet.
'Is the Shadow Forest always like this?'
That was the name of this place.
Apparently, it had nothing to do with shadow fairies.
—No. It's because the concentration of dark mana in the air increases before the Violet Banquet. Light scatters, giving it that color.
That explains it.
The air even smelled different.
A faint… rotten stench.
—That smell seems to be coming from that house.
Climbing around the cliff was exhausting.
But it was worth it.
At the top—
There really was a house.
'What is this…?'
From below, it hadn't been visible.
I thought it would be small—
But it wasn't.
It looked as if a massive structure had fallen from the sky.
Not very tall, and crudely built from wood—
But enormous in area, like a giant warehouse.
Was this the "zoo" the shadow fairy created?
At this size, it could easily house monsters.
—Hurry up and go inside!
Pelerian urged me.
I wanted to.
—But there could be traps. Check carefully before entering.
What kind of contradictory demand is that?
I cautiously examined the surroundings.
Using mana detection, and with Pelerian's help, I searched for traps.
—Doesn't seem like there are any.
Conclusion reached.
I carefully opened the door.
Click.
Perhaps they weren't worried about thieves—the door wasn't locked.
I slowly slithered inside.
Tap… tap.
Something was inside.
A black…
Ghost?
Some shapeless entity lurked in the darkness and lunged at me.
It didn't look like a living creature at all.
A servant of a demon! Dodge!
"Ki-ki-kik!"
It definitely laughed.
I tried to strike it with my tail—
Swish—
It passed right through.
Then it lunged at my face.
It entered my head.
No doubt about it.
Because an eerie laughter thundered inside my mind.
Some kind of ghost?
Before fear could even set in—
[Kikak, kikikak.][Trait "Indomitable" grants immunity to mental attacks]
…Huh?
The dark, demonic thing popped out of my nostril.
It trembled—
Then froze stiff.
[Defeated Lesser Demonic Servant][Level increased]
…What the hell was that?
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