Chapter 34: If It's Not There, Nothing Can Be Done

The goblins of the Lunga tribe were divided into two groups.

A minority of fools who thought I was the incarnation of the legendary snake 'Ulluullullu'.

And the majority who thought that was nonsense.

The ratio was about 2 to 8.

Actually, even 20% is a higher ratio than expected.

This is because the Ulluullullu described in paintings was a flying black snake.

The only similarity with me was that it was a snake.

"Ulluullullu!"

"Ah, Ulluullullu."

The goblins who thought I was Ulluullullu would shout that name and clasp their hands in prayer whenever they saw me.

It feels like I've become a street-side Buddha statue.

I investigated why this misunderstanding occurred.

The old shaman goblin woman I first met clearly said that 'snakes are mystical creatures'.

The goblins of this Lunga tribe actually didn't treat snakes carelessly.

It might be natural.

Thinking of snakes as evil creatures is just a prejudice of some ignorant people.

In some places, snakes were even worshipped as gods of abundance.

In fact, on Jeju Island in Korea, they used to worship a snake god called 'Chilseong (Seven Stars)'.

This place was similar.

The shamans pray to various goblin gods.

Among them, there is a powerful snake god called Ulluullullu.

A powerful snake god who defeats the evil god 'Red Headless Snake'.

I asked why they thought I was that snake god.

Of course, when I say 'I asked', it wasn't an easy process at all.

I pretended to be interested in the shamans' scriptures, so one shaman read them to me all day long.

That's how I got a rough idea. Sёarch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

First, the mystical snake god Ulluullullu understands goblin language.

It's natural that ordinary monsters or animals can't understand speech. But Ulluullullu, who understands goblin language, is kind and gentle.

A grateful being who stays with the Lunga goblins and defeats their enemies.

Yeah, that fits me.

I can't deny it, it's just me.

I'm kind, I'm gentle, I've even eaten the hearts of several enemy tribe goblins.

Second, Ulluullullu spits out the water of life.

The water of life heals the injured and those who drink it live long and healthy lives.

What's this water of life?

There were goblins who shouted Ulluullullu when I made potions. This must be why.

To goblins who don't know what potions are, it must have looked like the water of life.

But I didn't spit it out, I made it by boiling with Nanaluk's help.

It's too disgusting to drink water spit out by a snake.

The claim about living long and healthy is also funny.

Pelerian's potions don't have that effect. They just heal wounds.

"Well, there's something I didn't explain to the buyer when I sold the potion recipe."

'What is it?'

"Long-term use can cause disease."

'...?'

When I asked what disease, he said:

"Ahem, it's azoospermia."

That's terrifying.

So does that mean women can drink it without worry?

Pelerian, who sold it while hiding this fact, is also impressive.

"They probably won't even know they have the disease. I only discovered it by chance while researching chimeras."

It was a claim of fraud by willful negligence.

More than that, did you even research chimera sperm?

He really lived up to the name of mad scientist.

"A breedable chimera was my dream."

Ah.

So that's why you researched it.

A breedable chimera, now that I think about it, it's certainly amazing.

It's almost like creating a new species.

It seems we've gone off on a tangent.

Anyway, I'm not Ulluullullu.

I'm not particularly happy about being mistaken for such a mythical snake.

"Why not? It's a good opportunity. Hehe...."

Seeing Pelerian's lecherous smile makes me even more uncomfortable.

And for good reason. According to the legend, Ulluullullu eventually dies.

He defeats the headless red snake, but in doing so, becomes exhausted and wounded.

In the end, he leaps into the flames and ascends to heaven.

In other words, he dies.

'What if those goblins throw me into the fire alive?'

There's nothing scarier than fanatics.

I actually met fanatics in my previous life.

I had a friend who approached me first, despite my extremely limited social circle.

I wondered why they were so kind.

They were so kind that they even worried about my ancestors.

Apparently, my ancestors were clinging to me with grudges, causing things to go wrong.

When they told me that a 5 million won exorcism would make things better, I told my father and got beaten severely.

When I apologized to my friend, they suddenly turned serious and dragged me to a prayer house in the mountains.

I escaped barefoot but got in trouble because I didn't have taxi fare.

'Anyway, I don't like it.'

"It would be good to make those foolish goblins your followers and use them as meat shields."

I ignored Pelerian.

At least Nanaluk and the normal goblins didn't mistake me for Ulluullullu.

"Um, Snake God."

When I ignored the goblins who called me Ulluullullu, the goblin who approached me used the title 'Snake God'.

Okay, let's allow this much.

"My child is sick."

The goblin mother thrust her child at me.

The child's condition didn't look good at all.

It seemed to be ill.

"Please... sob."

No, what am I supposed to do?

Go find a doctor or shaman.

But my heart was too soft to ignore a crying mother.

"It's clearly dehydration. Probably got diarrhea from drinking dirty water and couldn't eat properly."

However, I had PelGPT by my side.

His remote medical diagnosis was excellent.

"If you boil some clean water with meat and drink it, it should get better."

Did you hear that, ma'am?

"Sob sob."

But I had no means to convey that message.

I couldn't share potions either.

Oh well, whatever.

I swung my tail with the ring on it.

My spatial backpack contains various things.

I couldn't fit much because the space was limited, but there were emergency rations in there.

A chunk of alligator tail meat popped out.

"This, this is...."

Both the baby and its mother were equally skinny.

Even though goblins get along well, there are still those who starve.

「Using Basic Elemental Magic: Water lv1.」

I didn't shoot a water cannon at the pitiful goblin.

A stream of water starts to trickle from thin air.

The goblins opened their mouths in surprise.

"When Ulluullullu howled, rain fell from the clear sky...."

"It's Ulluullullu!"

I didn't expect there to be another shaman among the onlookers.

Sigh!

I didn't howl, and this wasn't rain falling.

The goblin mother looked back and forth between me and the water stream, then took out a leather water bottle and filled it.

"Holy water... Thank you."

It's just water.

But it's probably a hundred times better than drinking muddy water.

It should be clean.

"Ulluullullu spits out the water of life to heal the sick...."

"Ulluullullu! Ulluullullu!"

That crazy shaman.

I wonder if I'd get experience points if I ate him?

It might not be bad to try that experiment.

I fled from the gathered crowd.

But once a preconception takes hold, it's scary.

After that, there were several more events where I was mistaken for Ulluullullu.

Snakes have something called the Jacobson's organ.

It's another olfactory organ in the mouth that can smell chemical substances on the tongue.

That's why snakes keep flicking their tongues.

I, born as a monster, also had a Jacobson's organ.

And that Jacobson's organ gave me a special ability.

The ability to sense rain before it falls.

It was a time when I was lazily basking in the sunlight to raise my body temperature. The goblins were also hanging out laundry because the weather was nice.

But I smelled rain.

Since snakes are cold-blooded animals and get in a bad state when rained on, I hurriedly took shelter under a roof.

Rumble-

Right after that, a thunderstorm poured down.

"They say Ulluullullu commands lightning and rain...."

"Ulluullullu!"

It was ridiculous.

Why would a snake that commands storms hide under a roof to avoid rain?

Pelerian chuckled with glee.

He seemed to enjoy being revered.

It's me being revered, not actually him.

There was another incident.

Before going to find a dungeon, I went hunting to level up.

I managed to catch a big bear.

It was an Owl Bear that looked just like an owl.

It was too heavy to move alone, so I called the goblins to help move it.

One of the goblins wailed when he saw the Owl Bear.

"Aaargh, aaah!"

I was startled.

It turned out that the Owl Bear had eaten that goblin's father.

"It's that one, that's the one!"

"Ulluullullu!"

"Thank you. Thank you so much!"

Is it really that same Owl Bear?

I can barely distinguish goblin faces, I don't know why they're so certain.

I was a bit tired.

I seriously asked Pelerian why they were acting like this.

"That's just how the goblin race is."

It was a racist statement, but I listened quietly.

"Goblins are a race that instinctively seeks someone to believe in and rely on. They're as obedient as they are diligent, born to be the ruled class."

'That's a bit harsh.'

"I'm not insulting them, that's just how it is. The world is always two-sided. Goblins are a faithful and loyal race, even better than humans in that regard. They just need someone to believe in and follow. Poor things...."

That's what he says.

Anyway, I have no intention of reigning as their snake god.

The day to leave was approaching.

"Good idea. It would be best to enslave those goblins, but if you don't want to do that, we should get to my dungeon as soon as possible."

My level had already exceeded 5.

I still couldn't use Heavenly Thunder Spirit, but I had potions prepared. It was time to set out.

What if the goblins really raid the dungeon?

I returned to my home.

Yes, I had a home here where I stayed.

It was none other than Nanaluk's house.

I climbed up the pillar and slipped in through the window.

Nanaluk's siblings welcomed me.

"Whitey!"

"You're back."

Maybe Whitey is better than Ulluullullu?

These kids didn't bother me by calling me Snake God.

Is your sister not back yet?

"Sister is being scolded by father. She'll be back soon."

I was surprised by the answer that seemed to penetrate my thoughts.

Nanaluk's father was the chieftain of this place.

If you really think about it, she was probably of princess-like status. I couldn't imagine it because she fought so well with a sword.

But it seems she doesn't get along well with the chieftain.

It was when the day was growing dim.

Nanaluk returned.

"Retch, Riandal, Kadiram, I'm home."

Nanaluk had three younger brothers.

Retch and Riandal were still kids. Kadiram was a warrior who had evolved into a hobgoblin.

She greeted me too.

Oh.

Nanaluk's face was slightly swollen.

Had she been crying somewhere?

Her insensitive siblings didn't seem to notice.

Nanaluk didn't show any different signs from usual either.

This house was complete with just Nanaluk and her siblings.

We all shared dinner together. It was a stew of unidentifiable monster meat.

After filling our stomachs, it was time to sleep.

In one room, something like straw was spread out thickly, and blankets were placed on top for everyone to sleep together.

Nanaluk's younger brothers fell asleep instantly.

Moonlight poured in through the window.

This is the last day of my stay here.

Pelerian also went into the ring to rest.

Actually, he spent more time in the ring than awake.

I enjoyed the rare moment of quiet.

Honestly, I was almost tempted.

It didn't seem bad to just stay here.

The goblins treat me well, and it's comfortable.

But that wouldn't do.

You never know when the fairy trackers might come.

Then the goblins here might be in danger too.

I needed to become stronger.

I looked at Nanaluk.

She was sound asleep.

I'm grateful to you too.

Take care.

I'll leave as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

I hope I have a good dream tonight.

But I didn't have a good dream.

My goodness, I met that crazy elf woman in my dream.

The elf woman took out a short sword and chopped me up like grilled eel.

'It was a dream! Phew....'

When I opened my eyes.

My body was fine.

Only my heart keeps pounding.

That's when I realized the cause of the nightmare.

Survival Instinct, my friend, was warning me of danger.

There was a hobgoblin standing in the room.

An assassin with his face covered by a mask, holding a knife.

Trying to stab Nanaluk to death.

I moved reflexively.

「Using Stealth lv6.」

「Using Acceleration lv5.」

Approaching quietly and quickly.

I bit his ankle hard.

"Huh!"

The assassin goblin looked at me with a startled gasp.

Hello.

Do you happen to have poison resistance?