Chapter 44: What Kind of Snake is Dad?

A diary written in fairy language.

'It's a beautiful and excellent specimen. The body is healthy and the scales are glossy. Of course, its ferocity is a characteristic of the Medusa Serpent. The spot-like pattern on the nape of its neck was exceptionally beautiful.'

Spot-like pattern. It was definitely there.

What a pervert.

Calling someone else's mother beautiful...

'That child went south, passing through the Arkan Basin to the outskirts of the great forest. It's common for pregnant monsters to move to the safe outskirts, but this time it's too much. It went too far.'

I'm becoming more and more certain that it's my mother.

From what I heard, it's very rare for a monster like the Medusa Serpent to appear in that area.

'Perhaps it's because of the discord with her husband. She was a sensitive individual.'

So there was a father too.

Did she leave home because of a marital dispute?

The most shocking thing is that the Medusa Mom had a tender heart.

'It's been about a month, so if she laid eggs safely, the babies should have been born. Then I'll bring them back...'

The record of my mother ends here.

Part of the diary was burned, probably due to being struck by lightning.

Ahem.

Somehow my eyes are getting teary. Ah, must be sand in my eyes...

Medusa Mom will never be able to return. She won't be able to meet her husband either.

I wonder how they fought that made a pregnant mom leave her husband and set out on a journey alone.

"What a strange fellow. This shadow fairy."

I agree.

Deshnan, this shadow fairy, was definitely a weirdo.

Looking at the diary, it seems he was breeding monsters.

He's setting up his own 'zoo' inside the great forest.

'You said you knew him. And what's a shadow fairy?'

Could it be like a dark elf? Judging by his ashen skin and obviously evil magic.

"Shadow fairies are literally like the dark shadows of fairies. Just as fairies originate from the World Tree, shadow fairies originate from the roots of the World Tree."

'Roots?'

Pelerian gave a brief explanation about fairies and the World Tree.

The World Tree is a huge tree deep in the great forest.

The World Tree sprinkles positive (+) magic, and fairies are born receiving that magic from the World Tree.

They say the World Tree is an incredibly powerful and large tree. I'm not sure how a tree can be powerful, but I know it's enormously big.

If you go up high, you can see the hazy form of the tree from anywhere.

But in fact, its roots are much longer and spread wider than its trunk and branches.

"They spread throughout the entire great forest. And among the roots, there are some that occasionally grow exposed above ground."

Those are the roots of the great forest.

"Those roots emit negative magic in contrast. Shadow fairies are fairies born receiving that negative magic. In other words..."

Pelerian solemnly declared.

"They are low-born. Creatures evil and twisted from birth."

I was impressed.

Pelerian wasn't simply a racist.

He was also a classist.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Can't you see? He's so deranged that he's been enjoying his monster zoo alone for hundreds of years."

That may be true. But isn't that a bit rich coming from a fairy who creates chimeras?

"It's an insult to compare me to someone who sold their soul to the devil. This guy is also a wanted criminal. Take that earring."

The earring was lying where Deshnan's head had disappeared.

──────────────

[Deshnan's Earring]

Proof that he sold his soul to the devil.

──────────────

It didn't look like an ordinary earring.

Maybe it's because of the description, but it seems to exude a gloomy aura.

Why are you telling me to take this?

"The bounty on this guy is enormous. This earring will serve as proof of the hunt. It was an earring he could never take off."

'Ah, you said he was a wanted criminal. How much is it?'

"3000 Radak gold coins."

Wow!

I don't know what Radak gold coins are.

But since they're gold coins, 3000 must be an incredibly expensive amount.

But will I be able to receive the bounty?

Won't I be hunted immediately if a snake enters the place where bounties are collected?

"Don't worry. There's a place where you can collect the bounty too."

Then there's no problem.

But why did this shadow fairy become a wanted criminal? He seems like a bit of a pervert and an unpleasant fairy, but there must be a separate reason.

"He stole countless things for his own purposes and killed many people. And even then, no one could catch him, so the bounty kept increasing."

Pelerian trembled with anger.

"I too had my precious magic catalyst stolen. It was dragon scales that can't be obtained anymore..."

'Dragon scales?'

Somehow my ears perked up. Why did Deshnan steal that?

"He was obsessed with improving monster breeds. He believed he could create the ultimate monster by taking time to crossbreed and train monsters as he wanted. I don't know what he did with the dragon scales, but..."

If you eat dragon scales, can't you gain the power of a dragon?

"It wouldn't be that simple... Anyway, even this Heaven Defier, the great magician, couldn't catch him."

'Was he that strong?' Sёarᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

If I killed an opponent that even Pelerian couldn't catch.

That means I'm now on the same level as Pelerian, right?

Surely that must be the case.

"No way. He had an ancient magic tool. It was something like a cloak that could perfectly hide his body anywhere. Thanks to that item, he wasn't caught and could handle dangerous monsters... It doesn't seem to be here now."

Hearing that, my eyes went wild and I searched Deshnan's corpse.

But unfortunately, there was nothing like a cloak.

If only I had that, I could go anywhere.

I could become an assassin prowling in the darkness.

Wait, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

'Now that he's dead... those items must have lost their owner, right?'

"Huh?"

Pelerian and I muttered simultaneously.

'Invisibility cloak!'

"Dragon scales!"

Wouldn't his hideout be nearby?

"Search the diary more."

At times like this, I was in sync with Pelerian, and I was already searching through the diary.

I hoped there might be a clue, and there really was one.

'I moved to the Shadow Forest in the northeast and built a new house. It seems the 'festival' will be held here soon. Judging by the large bright red root of the World Tree sprouting, it's certain. It's safe because it's on a cliff, and seeing the sunset right above the World Tree makes my heart feel grand. There are two types of monster clusters. Insects and primates...'

My heart feels grand.

There were several other clues besides that.

"With these clues, we should be able to find it."

Alright, I'm going to get my invisibility cloak right now...!

"You're awake!"

That's when it happened.

The goblins let out a joyful exclamation.

Turning around, I saw Nanaluk slowly raising her body.

She looked around in shock. The last thing she would remember is being attacked by Deshnan.

The surrounding goblins explained the current situation to her.

Seeing them point at me, it seems they know I took care of it.

Nanaluk ran to me.

I puffed out my chest.

Yes, it's me, I took care of that shadow fairy.

Nanaluk hugged me and spun around.

"You saved me again!"

After spinning round and round, she showered me with kisses.

She seems extremely happy.

Oh my, this is the first time I've been kissed by anyone since I was 5 years old.

And the first kiss partner is a goblin.

I'm too lucky.

Nanaluk was a cat-like beauty from the beginning. She seems to have become even prettier after evolving.

She lifted me up with a jerk.

And then she started to toss me up in the air.

I'm getting dizzy.

A solo toss-up. Nanaluk, toss-ups are usually done by multiple people together.

Looking around, I saw the goblins waving their hands and rejoicing too.

Ah, I can see Centipede Mom in the distance too. She was still waiting without leaving.

Someone shouted my name.

"Ullullullu!"

"Oh Ouroboros!"

Wait, I think someone mispronounced Ullullullu.

Looking closer, it was the Grand Shaman grandmother.

As the grandmother started calling me Ouroboros.

Other goblins also started chanting Ouroboros.

Has she gone senile? Why is she calling me by the wrong name?

To be honest, Ullullullu was a difficult name to pronounce.

"Ouroboros! Ouroboros!"

And then an unexpected event occurred.

Until now, no matter what, I couldn't get a title.

「You have obtained the title 'Ouroboros'.」

Oh my?

Ouroboros.

It's a cool title.

I liked Heart-eating Snake too, but I couldn't help but examine it.

──────────────

[Ouroboros]

Or Ullullullu.

The snake that calls lightning, the snake that devours evil. Or such a snake god.

Currently worshipped by a very small number of goblins.

As this faith spreads widely, the owner of the title will gain appropriate dignity.

──────────────

It's cool.

It's so cool, they say it's a snake god.

It was definitely a different title from Heart-eating Snake.

I'm not sure if there's a clear benefit, but the mention of gaining dignity was stimulating the black dragon inside my heart.

When I told Pelerian about this, he was surprised.

"That is certainly a title for monsters, not humans... Now it's a title that catastrophes transcending the dignity of monsters would have."

Monsters among monsters with the highest dignity.

It seems there are such monsters.

"This is especially a growing title. As your fame spreads, the power of the title will become stronger."

Ouroboros.

Somehow, it was a name I liked.

I felt good.

==

Pelerian's dungeon was discovered once again.

That news was delivered to Iris Selena, who still held the position of Golden Leaf Investigator.

Of course, she came back to the World Tree.

The Elder's residence.

Iris's expression as she ascended there was nothing short of determined.

One defeat.

And one retreat.

She couldn't even find Pelerian, let alone recover the chimera specimen due to the hero Gunter.

It's a shameful thing.

And it's too mortifying.

Even though she couldn't use her full power, it's still the same.

Moreover, even if she had used her full power, she probably couldn't have won against that human hero.

After returning, Iris was filled with regret.

She repeated her training, which she never skipped originally, to the point of being harsh.

She honed both her body and mind sharply.

Now Iris Selena's spirit was no different from a sword.

"Elder, I have come..."

Iris's expression suddenly soured.

It's surprising that a person's expression can change so drastically.

Especially for the calm Iris to show such a sudden emotional change was rare.

But it was inevitable.

Because there was a human woman lying sprawled on the sofa, munching on fairy snacks with a crunching sound.

It was the human Iris hated the most.

"Oh, the loser is here!"

It was an intense greeting.

The woman casually waved her fingers covered in butter.

She had tied her flame-like orange hair in two ponytails, and wore a tight jacket as her top.

What covered her long legs was a pair of pitch-black leather pants.

And she had carelessly dropped a backpack as big as her body at her feet.

"Elder, why is this woman here?"

"I don't know."

The Elder evaded the question and sipped his tea.

Something caught Iris's sharp gaze.

A fancy tea leaf container was placed on the table.

It's a luxurious item decorated with metal. It was human tea leaves, not elven.

Iris realized the inside story.

Finally, this woman has bribed the Elder with a bribe.

"Langrey. Why have you come all the way here?"

"Is there a problem with a hunter entering the great forest? And I told you to call me by my name, not my surname."

Hunter.

The human woman's job was clearly a hunter who catches monsters.

But Heilit Langrey was more famous as one of the Eight Heroes than as a hunter.

In terms of fighting great monsters, she's one of the top contenders among the Eight Heroes.

An unbelievable power for someone still in their 20s.

Iris wanted to ignore this rude and barbaric human.

"Elder, about why you called me..."

"I heard you got beaten by Gunter and ran away? Crying, they say."

"..."

But Iris wasn't skilled enough to completely hide her emotions.

The mask she forcibly put on cracked.

"...I didn't cry. Did the Elder say that?"

"Who knows~"

When she glared at the Elder, he pretended to be busy.

"I asked why you came to the great forest, Langrey!"

"Is this the Elder's house or yours? Well... okay, if you ask, I'll tell you."

Langrey twirled her hair with her buttery hands.

"The magic tower asked me for information. They say a 'festival' will be held in the great forest soon."

"Hmm."

Is it already that time?

Iris frowned.

Of course, the 'festival' wasn't an annual event held by elves.

More precisely, it's a natural phenomenon that happens once every few decades for monsters.

The magic of the World Tree becomes saturated and blooms flowers, and its roots bear fruit and tempt monsters.

The gathered monsters devour each other, and in the process, they repeat evolution and named monsters are born.

"They say the scale will be quite large this time. So there might even be a monster wave."

"Do you believe those foolish doomsayers?"

Monster waves do not occur in the great forest.

That's common sense.

But there were scholars who claimed that someday the monsters of the great forest would pour into the inland.

They said that the terrors and calamities that the continent's civilization had long forgotten would sweep through the kingdom.

Of course, such a thing had never happened during Iris's lifetime.

"Well, I don't care either way. I'm just here to catch some monsters this time, and hunt that wanted criminal shadow fairy."

"Deshnan?"

"Yeah, I'll take care of that bastard too and collect the bounty."

"Are you short on money?"

"If you're jealous, why don't you give me some pocket money, grandma."

"...!"

Iris clenched her fist and trembled.

Although she's in her youth by elven age, Langrey often teased her by calling her grandma like this.

"Aren't these pants pretty?"

Langrey stood up and showed off her pants.

The pitch-black leather is extraordinary.

"I caught a Black Shadowling and skinned it to make these."

"That's barbaric."

"You should change your clothes too. Always so unfashionable. I'm thinking of making a jacket this time. If possible, hmm..."

Heilit Langrey, who makes and wears her own clothes from the monsters she hunts.

"With snake skin. I like snakes."

"..."

"I heard there was a snake wearing Pelerian's ring. You couldn't catch that either in the end."

The Elder quietly got up and left the place.

I wonder how much this woman has heard.

"But really, why did you fight with Gunter? I told you he was dangerous. You can't beat him with your half-baked swordsmanship. You should use the magic you learned from Pelerian instead."

"..."

"Oh my, don't tell me you still have your memories sealed? You're really miserable."

Iris could only tremble her fists without saying anything.

She's not good at verbal arguments.

She's the type who always thinks 'Oh, I should have said that' after the fight is over.

"Anyway, I'll go ahead first... What, what's this?"

Langrey, who was grinning, stopped abruptly.

She was greatly surprised.

What had gathered in Iris's eyes was... could it be...

"Get lost."

"Th-then I'll be going."

At Iris's cold dismissal, Langrey quickly nodded.

She left in an instant. As expected of one of the Eight Heroes, it was a swift exit.

"Ahem, um..."

The Elder cleared his throat and pretended to tidy up the table.

"Elder."

"Oh, did you call me?"

"Pelerian's dungeon... where is it?"

"Right, I should tell you. I should tell you, of course."

The Elder deliberately pretended not to notice the sparkle in Iris's eyes.