Chapter 63 Snake Queen
Let’s assess the situation.
First of all, I woke up.
Naturally, I found myself hugging the ball python.
How would I have appeared to that snake?
A black lizard stealing a cherished follower, consuming a rare medicine, and then sleeping together with that follower.
“Sssaaaaaaah!”
Objectively, it was a situation where I deserved to die.
But that couldn’t happen.
Stay calm.
Cold Blood.
Help my brain function properly.
First, the snake queen standing before me.
Her true identity was a basilisk.
Not like the Green Basilisk Lizard, but a real basilisk.
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【Basilisk】
A giant snake from mythology, sometimes referred to as a type of dragon. Its left eye holds the power of deadly poison, and its right eye the power of petrification. It is a top-tier predator with the potential for infinite growth.
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Unlike with the Hydra and the Inmyeonjo, I could see her status window.
Could she be of a lower grade than them?
No, that couldn’t be.
It was simply because my Wild Eyes had leveled up that I could see her.
Even at level 5, I couldn’t see anything beyond species.
I couldn’t see her status or even her level.
She was an out-of-spec monster.
And what about her size?
She was even bigger than the Titanoboa I saw in the Silver Dragon Cave.
Currently, she was a being so powerful that I couldn’t even dare to approach her.
…But how did she get into this temple?
Considering the size of the passageways I’ve been through, there’s no way her huge body could fit in.
Now wasn’t the time to think about that.
I had to find a way to survive.
Think about the cards I have.
“Kekekekeke!”
Strength was meaningless.
The only thing I had was the ball python sleeping in my arms.
This little snake must be precious to the basilisk.
It might be a bit cowardly, but I had to make the most of the python.
The fact that she didn’t attack until I woke up meant she didn’t want the python, who was close to me, to get hurt.
If we stayed this close, even a basilisk couldn’t attack me.
[The Snake Queen is staring at you.]
Staring at me?
Something felt off.
Seeing her right eye flash….
Petrification!
Zzzzzzzing!
A petrification beam shot out.
Zzzzzeerrrr….
I thought she wouldn’t attack since I was with the python, but I made a mistake.
Was this how it would end?
Would my body turn to stone?
Would I become one of the statues guarding this temple?
Zzzzzeerrrr.
My body slowly turned to stone….
But it didn’t transform.
I felt the surface start to petrify, but it reverted to normal in real-time.
What was this?
Did I have some kind of unknown petrification resistance?
Even after the basilisk’s petrification beam ended, I wasn’t harmed.
Only the crumbled stone powder fell around me.
[The Snake Queen finds you intriguing.]
Right.
Even if it looked like this, I was also of basilisk descent.
I could be immune to petrification.
“Kekekekeke!”
Snake Queen.
Let’s talk it out.
“Kekkekek!”
I earnestly appealed to the basilisk.
Using Poison Gathering, I tried to convey that I might be a similar species to the basilisk.
Surely she must have heard of the Green Basilisk Lizard.
[The Snake Queen frowns.]
Failed.
It backfired.
The Snake Queen approached me.
Petrification didn’t work on me.
The basilisk’s poison would be dangerous, but I could neutralize it to some extent with Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity.
But her physical power was something I couldn’t block with any method.
Dodging was the best option.
But there seemed no way to avoid it.
Was this the end?
The basilisk’s head moved closer to me.
Just when I was about to concentrate my inner power for a final struggle.
“…Hiek?”
The ball python, which had been sleeping soundly, woke up.
Considering the commotion, it might be strange that it woke up just now.
You lucky charm.
At least try to escape.
That snake will attack whether you’re there or not, it’s very vicious.
“Kekek!”
But the python didn’t back down.
It wriggled forward and blocked the way between the basilisk and me.
Zzzzip.
The python opened its mouth wide.
…No way.
“Piyek!”
With a cute shout, a beam shot out from the python’s mouth.
Kwaaang!
It was stronger than the beam I saw earlier.
Sssssss….
Of course, the python’s attack couldn’t penetrate the basilisk’s scales.
But it was significant.
Because the basilisk’s gaze changed.
[The Snake Queen is startled.]
“Sssaaah….”
Somehow, she seemed to be mindful of the python.
“Piyayaak!”
The python glared fiercely at the Snake Queen.
…Was such a thing possible?
—
Even if I brought a hundred pythons, they wouldn’t measure up to even one segment of her tail.
What on earth was the true identity of this lucky charm?
With a hopeful heart, I activated my enhanced Wild Eyes.
【Ball Python LV14】
【Characteristics】
「Princess」「Tomboy」「Paralysis Immunity」「Poison Immunity」「Gaea Faith」
【Status】
「Anger」「Annoyance」
Wait a minute.
Princess?
A princess?
[The Snake Queen is flustered.]
Was my joke true? Was this python really her daughter?
“Piyaaak!”
The ball python hissed angrily, unable to contain her fury.
“Saaaah….”
The basilisk’s terrifying face gradually retreated.
Well done, lucky charm.
Drive your mother away.
[The Snake Queen glares at you with resentment.]
Why are you looking at me like that?
Of course, from the basilisk’s perspective, it might seem like her precious daughter fell for a strange black lizard she just met.
Seeing her cherished daughter get angry at her parents after listening to a pitch-black lizard.
If I were in the basilisk’s shoes, I would be furious too.
But it was what it was.
I had no one but this python.
“Hiek….”
[【Ball Python LV14】 feels embarrassed.]
[The Snake Queen glares at you.]
Damn it.
Whatever happens, happens.
Python, you can do it.
“Piyaaaak!”
The python coiled her chubby body around me and snarled at the basilisk.
Look at that basilisk’s expression.
No matter how formidable the monster, they become weak in front of their offspring.
“Piyaaaaak!”
“Saaaah….”
The basilisk’s fierce momentum gradually diminished.
Parents can’t win against their children.
Well done, python.
“Piyaaaak!”
After scolding the basilisk sufficiently, the python turned to me with a silly smile.
No, now’s not the time for that.
“Kekekek!”
That snake could kill me if I gave her an opening.
However, contrary to my expectations, the attack didn’t continue.
“Saaaaa….”
The basilisk kept her distance and merely observed the python and me.
…Was she planning to watch for now?
Okay.
Since the python had helped, I petted her diligently.
“Hiek….”
The python moved around with her tongue flicking out.
Good job.
…But, mother-in-law, your gaze is too intense.
It seemed like petrification rays were seeping out a bit.
The basilisk looked at me quietly.
[The Snake Queen wants her precious daughter back.]
“Kek!”
No way.
If I gave her back, who knew what would happen to me.
I was going to take your daughter with me.
“Hiek….”
The python seemed to be in a good mood and wiggled her tail.
“Saaaah….”
The basilisk flicked her tongue and glared at me.
It was a bit scary, but I realized that as long as the python was on my side, she couldn’t attack me.
Even if she could kill me, she’d be resented by her precious daughter forever.
If she cared so much about her daughter, she should have kept a better eye on her.
Thinking such lowly thoughts, I held the python’s tail tightly.
“Saaaah!”
The basilisk’s eyes wavered.
[The Snake Queen wants to talk to you.]
Alright.
If you had acted this way from the start, things would’ve been much easier.
Instead of shooting petrification rays at me.
Your name as a basilisk would cry out in shame.
“Kekekeke!”
Let’s resolve this through conversation.
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.
There was no guarantee the snake could understand my gekkering, and the brief information from the status window wasn’t enough to grasp all of her intentions.
[The Snake Queen is contemplating.]
Could the Snake Queen not speak human language?
The Bird King could, albeit awkwardly.
Well, the Bird King had a human face, so it was possible.
With a snake face, how could she speak human language?
I had managed to communicate with spiders and snakes.
The basilisk was just a bigger snake.
I could definitely have a conversation with her.
“Kek.”
When I tried to gekker to start a conversation, a dense fog formed around the basilisk’s body.
Through the faint silhouette, I could see the Snake Queen’s size gradually shrinking.
Right.
It was strange how she got into this temple.
She could reduce her size.
Otherwise, she must have used gigantification earlier.
Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.
With her size reduced, my safety was guaranteed.
“It’s been a while since I’ve shown this form.”
I like the smaller form better.
…Wait, didn’t I just hear a voice?
A human voice, no less.
Unlike the Bird King, it was quite fluent.
A slightly dry voice that reminded me of Baek Yeonyeong.
No way.
The fog surrounding the basilisk gradually dissipated.
“Taking my daughter away, you really are a wicked creature.”