EP.57
【Ball Python LV14】
【Status】
“Feigning Death,” “Relaxed”
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【Ball Python】
A type of python that can grow up to 180 cm in body length, characterized by its relatively thick body. When frightened, it curls up like a ball to protect itself. It is non-venomous and its teeth are not particularly sharp.
__________________________
When it comes to pythons, one usually thinks of huge snakes. Some species can rival the Anaconda in size, and there are even larger species out there.
Yet, this snake seemed to be wasting the name of python.
It was fat, but short in length.
Still, with a level that suggests it might exceed 2 meters, considering that it’s a snake that invests solely in growth size, it couldn’t be called long.
Small, without venom, and with weak teeth.
What, then, is the significance of this snake’s existence?
…Is it because it has a cute face?
I hate to say it, but it really does look quite adorable.
There’s a chance that my eyesight has been warped after turning into a lizard or hanging out with spiders, but even as a human, I would have thought it was cute.
At least for a snake.
Most snakes I’ve seen so far have been terrifying creatures like Titanoboa, but this one felt different.
Should I say its snout resembles that of a puppy? Its round shape gives it a very gentle appearance.
Moreover, its eyes tell a similar tale. If you look closely, the vertical pupils typical of reptiles can be seen, but they’re slightly blurry. In other words, its eyes are round as well.
“Gegegegek.”
Did it read my thoughts? Its tail started to move slightly.
Like a puppy that meets its owner, it was wagging its tail gently.
Ah.
The reason you’ve survived up until now is indeed because you’re cute.
With such a cute appearance, it seems like it would also taste quite good.
Unlike other snakes, it probably doesn’t have many bones.
It must have a decent amount of flesh considering its plumpness.
Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
“Hieeek!”
Seeing the drool dripping from my mouth, the snake jumped up.
Can snakes even jump?
Those tail muscles must be impressive.
It appears to be coiling like a spring to leap.
It must be a delicacy, for sure.
“Shhhrik…”
Realizing that its act of feigning death had been exposed, it began to change its posture.
That was…
An unbelievable stance.
It curled up, resembling a ball.
A manifestation of its will to block all of its enemy’s attacks.
Does it really think it can defend itself like that?
【Ball Python LV14】
【Status】
“Calm”
Why is it feeling calm?
Does it really think that this will stop me from devouring it?
All I can think is that I can swallow it whole.
That snake is level 14 as well.
It has managed to survive here for quite some time, but how would it have done that?
This jungle looks to be far tougher than the lower area of the swamp.
With the terrifying birds lurking about, and the Human-Faced Bird shooting destructive rays from its mouth.
There’s no way such a snake could endure in this kind of place without some sort of trick up its sleeve.
Has it survived purely because it’s adorable?
Still, I need to do what must be done.
If I don’t eat it, I’ll be in danger.
I opened my mouth wide.
Waaang.
“Hieeeek…”
The snake’s posture crumbled.
The Ball Python was trembling all over.
Given that expression, it can’t be helped.
…
Looking at it makes me think of Tooth and Fangs.
Alright.
Eating it wouldn’t even satisfy my hunger slightly.
It would be wiser to look for a different prey rather than waste time and energy on this nutritionally empty snake meat.
Just as I turned my head to leave for another direction,
“Hieek…”
The Ball Python peeked its head out.
Nodding its head and glancing at me.
Eventually realizing that I had no intention of harming it, it stealthily inched closer to me.
…Isn’t that a bit too relaxed?
The Ball Python, which had been inching closer, slightly opened its mouth.
I stayed still, wondering what it was up to.
Was it trying to eat me?
There was no way those tiny teeth could pierce my scales.
Waaang.
The Ball Python opened its mouth as wide as possible and bit my front leg.
So this is what happens when I showed it a bit of leniency.
It really wants to enter my belly.
Just as I was about to replicate its mouth-opening gesture,
[HP is slightly restored.]
Huh?
*
There’s a saying that if you apply saliva to a wound, it heals.
While it does have some antiseptic effects and can expedite healing, it isn’t recommended as a treatment method due to the risk of infection.
But what on earth is this snake doing?
Its status window revealed that it was a healing snake.
Of course, it wasn’t particularly effective.
It only restored about 10 HP.
But the pain had indeed subsided.
…Could it be something like anesthesia?
Was this clever snake planning to numb my pain before swallowing me whole?
I thought about it, but a quick glance at its information revealed that wasn’t the case.
【Ball Python LV14】
【Status】
“Dependent,” “Hungry”
Hungry.
That much was evident.
It had a plump body, yet appeared somewhat frail.
It seemed it hadn’t eaten for quite a while.
Dependent.
That was the problem.
“Hieek…”
The Ball Python was coiling around my leg.
For some unknown reason, it seemed intent on staying close to me.
Why is it depending on me?
It must know I was thinking of eating it.
I put my clever lizard brain to work.
First of all, the Ball Python is level 14.
Despite raising Tooth and Fangs, they didn’t even surpass level 10.
Considering that the criteria for leveling differ by species, this snake would have had a tougher time leveling up than Tooth and Fangs.
If Tooth and Fangs were Gecko lizards, this snake would be akin to a Green Basilisk or a Komodo Dragon.
And yet, it reached level 14.
Especially in this treacherous jungle.
One conclusion can be drawn.
This snake must have been raised under someone’s protection.
If it still seemed weak now, it likely had until recently.
Then by some chance, it got separated from its caretaker.
It was akin to being treated like a princess and abruptly thrown into the wild.
And now, it encountered me.
That explains the current situation.
It thought I would eat it but likely clung to me out of hope when I didn’t.
Its caretaker was likely another snake, hence it may feel a sense of kinship with me, a similarly shaped lizard.
…Still, even so. I was planning on eating you.
“Hieek…”
Even now, it was scared but refused to let go of my body.
No matter how cold-blooded reptiles are, how could I possibly eat a snake in this state?
If this is a strategy, it’s incredibly frightening, but it doesn’t seem that way.
So what should I do?
Leaving it alive is one thing, but moving around with it is quite another.
How long has it been since I departed from Tooth and Fangs when I’m ending up carrying another one?
At least those two were my followers, but this snake is…
Wait a moment.
Right, a follower.
I had the Gegeok Faith.
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【Gegeok Faith】
A faith comparable to that of Gecko lizards.
This is a belief among those who worship the legendary spiritual creature, the Komodo Dragon.
It’s still too early to label it a religion, but it has immense potential for development.
The faith among its followers is remarkably strong.
Components of the belief system include:
First Follower: 【Artercopus LV9】
Second Follower: 【Antracomartus LV8】
Third Follower: 【Tang So-young】
The name might sound a bit peculiar, but the Gegeok Faith was quite a beneficial one.
Currently, this faith has a total of two effects.
One is a slight boost in the stats of believers in the Gegeok Faith.
And the other is that when the followers gain experience points, a portion of it is also granted to me.
In other words, automatic hunting.
As the number of followers increases, the amount of experience points I receive will grow as well.
Moreover, I suspect that this snake might belong to a prestigious lineage.
If I take it along, have it serve me, and later introduce it to its presumed parent snake?
It could eat the food provided by its parent and grew robustly, donating experience points to me in return.
This would be an experience point duplication bug.
If this snake has friends, I could recruit them under my command as well.
Snake!
You’ve hit the jackpot!
“Gegegeck!”
“Hieek!”
Is it imitating my cries?
Perhaps it’s more aligned with me than I thought.
Still, there’s something urgent to address.
First, I need to find something to eat.
It’s likely this creature has been starving, so I doubt it has any food to offer, but it might know where some decent prey is.
Using my tail and hands, I asked it a question.
I patted my belly and opened my mouth wide to convey that I was hungry.
“Shirrik!”
The snake nodded vigorously.
Right.
It should know this jungle better than I do, so I can trust it.
The snake coiled around my neck and lifted its head to indicate a direction.
…It feels a little suffocating, but it’s probably just a coincidence, right?
Alright. Snake.
Let’s get along from here on out.
Remember, by joining the Gegeok Faith now, you can move up to the fourth rank.
Just as we started walking in the direction the snake indicated,
[The level of “Crisis Detection LV9” increases.]
Huh? Why is the level of this skill suddenly rising?
The only way for the skill level to increase is through repeated use to enhance proficiency. That means Crisis Detection has been activating continuously…
But my senses were denying that.
The real crisis was when I encountered the Human-Faced Bird earlier.
Is the proficiency gained back then being reflected now?
[You’ve acquired “Killing Intent Detection LV1.”]
Killing Intent Detection?
Does it trigger because Crisis Detection reached level 10?
I appreciate it, but it feels unsettling.
The moment I received Killing Intent Detection, a chilling sensation washed over me.
From a great distance, I could feel a swirl of emotions directed towards me.
[First Follower, 【Artercopus LV9】 is displeased.]
[Second Follower, 【Antracomartus LV8】 is tense.]
[Third Follower, 【Tang So-young】 is observing cautiously.]
Suddenly, I received updates on the state of my followers.
Tang So-young’s cautiousness is probably because she joined the Cheonmasin religion.
But why are Tooth and Fangs acting that way?
I hope nothing is amiss.
By the way, it’s strange.
With the timings like this, it feels as if they are sending a killing intent from over there.
[??, 【Nephila Jurassica LV30】 is extremely enraged by the appearance of a rival.]
What’s going on with you?
You’re not even a follower. What’s that question mark in front?
And what do you mean by the appearance of a rival?
Are you talking about this snake?
And how do you know about it!
I lowered my head in response to the unknown killing intent sent by the four sisters of the Tang family.
[??, 【Nephila Jurassica LV30】 is extremely angry at your shameless actions.]
“Ge-eek…”
I didn’t mean to!
I can explain everything.
…Wait a minute, why do I need to explain?
Maybe it’s the lack of HP that’s messing with my thought process.
“Gegegeck!”
I need to fill my belly quickly.
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