Chapter 81: Bear the Weight of the Crown (2)

Heilit Langrey looked up at the sky.

The sky that had been purple due to the high mana concentration in the atmosphere.

The festival should end now that the radiant fruit has fallen.

The barrier that had been protecting this place like a dome disappeared.

But the mana concentration in the atmosphere seems to have become even denser.

The sky now was red like blood.

'Are the monsters that were waiting going to rush in?'

She saw the monsters that had been drooling outside the barrier.

Among them, there might be beings as strong as Silverback Akims or Insect King Riokku.

She didn't get to make the 'clothes' she wanted.

But she had an interesting experience coming here.

The struggle of the small snake and its father touched Heilit Langrey's heart.

Now the small snake looked as if it was trapped in a cocoon.

The white roots of the World Tree are protecting it.

Heilit drew her sword at the speed of light.

And she struck the edge of the roots forming the cocoon.

Clang!

The sword vibrated crazily.

But not even a scratch was left on the white roots.

"That's a relief."

The Polaris Serpent slightly lowered its tail.

It realized that Heilit had no hostility.

Now that she knew the small snake would be safe, the only thing she needed to care about was the big snake.

She didn't care what happened to the gorilla and the rest of the monsters.

"Mr. Snake."

Although not that old, Heilit had rich life experiences.

She had a feeling.

It seemed like he had the atmosphere of someone, no, a snake about to leave.

"Are you leaving... right away?"

Somehow, formal speech came out.

Surprisingly, the Polaris Serpent nodded.

A taciturn monster that can speak through thought transmission.

Like its appearance, the voice felt through thought transmission was also cool.

"Looks like you want to evolve more."

Evolution is the instinct of all monsters.

Even monsters who no longer see a path to evolution endlessly desire it.

Isn't it the most intense instinct after 'not wanting to die'?

Seeing how he struggled even to maintain gigantification, he probably isn't satisfied with his current state.

The snake nodded once more.

"Do you know... how to evolve again?"

In the case of higher species, there are instances where they realize their path in advance.

She didn't expect an answer, but.

「Must reach the stars.」

"Ah."

Heilit admired that harmony.

Polaris. An evolution condition worthy of that name.

And it's romantic too.

Although it seems impossible to achieve.

"Say goodbye to the kid before you go. Children become twisted when their fathers disappear without a word."

Saying that, Heilit turned around swiftly.

She runs away with fairy-like movements. She needs to escape before the monsters rush in.

The Polaris Serpent didn't answer and remained silent.

A slight hesitation can be felt.

And he carefully raised his tail to stroke the white cocoon.

Contemplating what to say to his son.

「... Thank you.」

He couldn't even say goodbye to his wife.

「Someday, let's, meet again.」

Saying that, the Polaris Serpent turned his gigantic body.

Towards the deeper parts of the great forest.

Quietly, slowly.

Seeking solitude again.

And the gorilla and other monsters remained there blankly.

A sweet scent from somewhere made them dizzy.

==

'Where are you going!'

Even inside the cocoon, I could hear the conversation outside.

I hit the wall trying to escape from the cocoon.

'Dad!'

But the inside of the cocoon was filled with transparent and sticky liquid.

Even if I swing my tail, no strength enters it.

'Damn!'

It's frustratingly suffocating.

When the liquid entered my nostrils and lungs, I thought I was going to die drowning like this.

But strangely, I could breathe.

To be precise, I should say I didn't suffocate. This isn't LCL fluid or anything.

'Dad!'

But in the end, it seems Father has left.

Saying he's going to look for stars.

As expected of a snake, he must have no knowledge of astronomy.

Stars are so far away that you can't reach them, and if you touch them, you'll burn to death. Even with level 100 heat resistance.

Thud.

The cocoon showed no sign of breaking.

'... Alright.'

There's a saying, "All meetings must end in partings."

There must always be a farewell in meetings.

And "those who part shall meet again", if we're both safe, we might meet again someday.

I consoled my aching heart by writing characters in my mind.

While doing so, the space in front of me started to glow little by little.

I thought light was coming in from outside, but that wasn't it.

My body was emitting light.

「You can evolve.」

A voice was heard.

When evolving, I always had a dream of floating in darkness, but now it's the opposite.

I wonder what kind of choices will appear this time.

My heart was pounding.

But there were no choices this time.

「Considering your actions and potential.」

I only hear the voice.

Is it because I ate the radiant fruit?

「You are a python.」

That's right, I am a python.

「You are a horn-type monster.」

There are horns on my head.

I've overcome numerous dangers with those horns.

「You possess crystal scales.」

I ate an enormous amount of magic stones and gained the modifier 'crystal'.

According to Pelerian, the value of those magic stones could buy an entire territory.

In that case, one of my scales might be no different from a real jewel.

「You were a leader.」

I was also the leader of the zoo animals, that legendary crew.

The one who finally won at the festival.

「You are receiving worship from some goblins.」

I'm also Ouroboros.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Nanaluk united the goblins of the great forest.

It seems my actions are determining this evolution.

And my potential as well.

「Judging potential.」

「Due to the trait 'Perseverance', you are not restricted in evolution.」

I'm curious how I'll evolve.

Maybe I'll also...

「Gaining unique series 'Crown'.」

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「Gained trait 'Crown'.」

「Trait 'Horn' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

「Trait 'Pattern' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

「Trait 'Scales' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

The continuing voice made my head tingle.

The two horns that had grown and similar horns grew out.

They clumped together, aligned, and changed shape.

Like... a snake wearing a crown.

「Gained skill 'Crown'.」

「'Billy's Horn lv4' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

「'Leaping Horn lv2' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

「'Taming lv10' is integrated into 'Crown'.」

Crown is an all-purpose skill.

And finally, I learned the name I would evolve into.

「Evolving into 'Crystal Crown Python'.」

The evolution began.