EP.60
The snake-shaped statues, definitely crafted by someone, were staring at me with their mouths wide open.
How obvious. Even a fool could guess that something would spring out of those mouths.
Pishung!
Metal arrows shot out all at once.
So predictable.
Whoosh.
At the same time, flames swooshed overhead.
This is quite impressive.
If I jump to avoid the arrows, I would fall victim to the flames, and if I try to dodge the flames, the arrows would hit me.
Seems like some thought went into this.
For an intruder completely ignorant of this place, that one trap alone could drive them away.
But it won’t work on me.
I know the perfect strategy.
That is simply to stand still.
Tidi Didi Ding!
The metal arrows couldn’t pierce my scales and bounced off.
No wonder I’m labeled a Dragon.
“Hieeeek!”
[The faith of the 【Ball Python LV14】 is increasing.]
Of course, had those arrows been in good condition, there’s a chance I would have sustained damage.
However, the state of those arrows was quite poor.
They had clearly been neglected for too long; rust was abundantly visible on them.
If they had been made of wood, they would have completely rotted and become useless, but since they were iron arrows, they at least maintained their shape.
Regardless of anything, that doesn’t change the fact that they couldn’t pierce my body.
The device shooting the arrows was also failing to function properly.
I gave the statue a slight push, tilting it, causing it to topple over.
Crash!
“Hyek!”
Shik Shik was startled.
I passed through the entrance trap like this.
After walking a bit further, I came upon a fork in the road.
A fork in the road, indeed.
This problem couldn’t be solved with my body alone.
Hey, Python.
I’m counting on you.
“Shik!”
The Python lifted its head high, then pointed to the left.
Is that where I should go?
The Python nodded.
It then tilted its head upward.
Shik Shik had taken on a strange appearance.
Clearly, this unusual posture meant it wanted to convey something to me.
This didn’t even require the aid of a status window.
It was a warning to be cautious of what was above.
I activated my sprint once more.
This was to pass through that section at high speed.
As I dashed using the Little Dragon Ascending Step, I heard a clanking sound!
A mechanical device was whirring.
Something was going to fall from the ceiling.
A familiar scent filled the air.
A savory yet slightly fishy smell.
…Oil!
This was something I absolutely had to avoid.
Using the Wall Climbing Technique, I sprinted along the wall to gain even more speed.
Tatata!
No matter what, even I would become a fried lizard if boiling oil was poured on me.
Pabats!
At the last moment, I pushed hard with my legs and jumped as if I could fly, managing to barely escape the trap’s range.
Whew…
As soon as I leaped out, a torrent of oil poured down all at once.
Thud!
…Thud?
Why is there a thud sound?
I turned my head to check the path I’d just crossed.
Oil had indeed spilled.
It wasn’t boiling oil, though; it had cooled to the point of solidifying.
…No, how poorly has this place been maintained?
Various other traps awaited me.
Most of the traps hadn’t even activated, and the few that did were nowhere near lethal enough to actually kill someone.
The trap that should have sent logs flying merely had the rope that held the logs snap loose.
“Saaak!”
A somewhat threatening trap finally activated.
Various poisonous creatures like the Bug, House Centipede, and Giant Scorpion charged at me.
At least there seemed to be food within; somehow, the insects managed to survive without dying.
Kwaka Chak!
The bugs’ attacks mercilessly struck my body.
“Hieeeek!”
The Python was startled and was trying its best to shake off the bugs beneath it.
How commendable.
As expected, it was ranked third.
Much more useful than the useless beast, Do So-young.
But that’s not necessary.
There’s no way those bugs could pierce my scales.
Even if there weren’t any Dragon scales, I still couldn’t be harmed by poison due to the White Poison Immunity.
I slowly began to assess the types of insects around me.
House Centipede, Bug, Giant Scorpion, and Bees.
There were no spiders.
In other words, I could deal with all of them without worry.
The bugs were trying to crawl up my body.
If I hesitated any longer, the Python might get bitten.
Time to deal with them.
Dragon Waft.
Chaaaarge!
With rapid speed, I swung my hind legs.
Not only did the insects clinging to my legs fall off, but those trying to climb up also got smashed.
Having removed the ones on my body, I now needed to take care of the rest.
I exerted strong force in my legs.
Slow but unavoidable strikes.
Dragon Shockwave.
Kwahhhhh!
The bug legion was engulfed in shockwaves, all swept away.
“Hieeeek!”
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 respects you.]
What’s with this?
…But isn’t this a bit too easy?
The dangerous traps hadn’t even activated, and the ones that did couldn’t inflict any harm on me.
It felt as if this place was a training ground set up specially for me.
Is that why Baek Yeon-young sent me here?
To take my opportunity safely and easily?
If there’s a sect named Yeon-Young, I should join immediately.
I worship you, Yeon-young.
…Though that’s how I feel, I couldn’t actually do it.
After all, I am the protagonist of a faith with four followers.
And upon reflection, this place wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
Getting to this temple was quite the challenge.
Without charming this plump snake, I would never have found it.
If I had seen the black dragon wandering nearby, I likely would have been too scared to approach.
Even if someone else found this place, a common lizard would have died from the rusty arrows at the entrance.
Continuing to carefully navigate the traps, I eventually stumbled upon a different space.
It was an open area akin to a garden.
Light streamed in through a slightly cracked ceiling, and unknown weeds grew tall on the ground.
Here, without fail, was another snake statue waiting for me.
The difference was that this time, it had its mouth closed.
A very spacious courtyard.
Surely this was the central area of the temple.
Something must be hidden here.
“Shik Shik!”
The Python held its head high.
It seemed to be gesturing towards the center.
Following the Python’s lead, I headed toward the center.
In the middle stood a stone structure surrounded by unreadable Chinese characters. The only recognizable one was probably just the character for sky.
But there was nothing I desired here?
Clearly, a complex mechanism was hidden, one that I couldn’t comprehend with this lizard brain.
I glanced at the Python.
Shik Shik tilted its head in confusion.
It slithered up and positioned itself in the center of the structure.
It seemed to know something!
Indeed.
I’m counting on you, my adorable one.
The Python opened its mouth wide.
Perhaps being a snake, it could open wider than I expected.
Chaaaarge.
…That’s quite wide!
Chaaaarge.
“Peep!”
With a chirp reminiscent of a chick, a white beam shot forth from the adorable creature’s mouth.
Kwah!
…You could do that too?
Isn’t that what the Human-Faced Bird used to shoot?
Destructive Beam?
Of course, it was on a different scale than what the Human-Faced Bird used, but I couldn’t deny that it resembled that.
The Human-Faced Bird is a creature of imagination, so anything it did could be justified. A beam shooting from its mouth might be plausible.
But this cute little one before me is a snake.
A Ball Python, which exists in reality.
And now it was shooting light from its mouth?
As I pondered the identity of this adorable creature, something dropped in front of me.
【Low Qi】
【Low Qi】
【Intermediate Qi】
What this was turned out to be Qi.
Though the grades were rather low, their numbers were plenty.
Moreover, even if it was intermediate, it wasn’t so low after all.
What does it matter what the identity of this snake is? It’s a lucky charm, a symbol of fortune.
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 feels proud.]
I gently petted the Python’s head. It seemed to be in a good mood, coiling its body around happily.
I felt like my own tail might coil up too.
To think I obtained three Low Qi in one go.
Pausing for a moment before gulping them down, I wondered if it was alright for me to consume them all.
“Gagagak.”
Would you like a bite too?
“Shik!”
The lucky charm shook its head, burrowing deeper into my arms.
Today, that plump body looked particularly lovely. It wasn’t because of the Qi, of course.
Thud.
I swallowed the three Low Qi in front of me.
My inner energy began to stir dramatically.
Kuguung…
Normally, consuming a large quantity of Qi at once would be something to avoid. They could clash with each other.
But I was no ordinary lizard.
I was a Qi-thieving lizard that had even consumed Gong Cheong Stone Oil.
Three Low Qi below intermediate level were nothing to me.
I could stash them away for now and slowly absorb the energy later.
“Shik!”
The Python nudged its head against my leg, waving its tail playfully like a puppy.
“Gagagak.”
But, lucky charm, do you have anything else?
I felt that even after receiving three Low Qi, I still wasn’t satisfied.
“Hieck…”
The Python was glancing around timidly, adding to my suspicion.
There must be something more.
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 hesitates.]
Come on, why are we being like this with each other?
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 is restless.]
The lucky charm took a discreet glance at my face before quickly lowering its head.
Three Low Qi was indeed a fine spiritual medicine, but I felt it wasn’t the best offer.
This was the place that Baek Yeon-young had mentioned, where my opportunity awaited.
There must be something at least on par with Gong Cheong Stone Oil.
“Hieeek…”
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 insists that this is unacceptable.]
Should I give it a light pat on the backside?
The spiders liked that sort of thing.
…But would that even work on a snake?
I didn’t even know where its backside was.
Sigh, what should I say…
It feels like we’re almost there…
The Ball Python was desperately keeping its head down, seeming reluctant to meet my gaze.
It must have been weighing its options inside its mind.
Should I really hand over the deed to my house to a mischievous lizard I just met today?
I had no choice but to resort to my trump card.
‘Tail offering.’
Swish!
Though it feels a bit inappropriate for me to say, the women around me loved my tail.
Not only the spiders, but even Dang So-young and Baek Yeon-young seemed to like it; there must be some invisible charm in this plump tail.
Having turned into a spiritual being, it was no surprise that my tail could hold some enchanted efficacy.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense that both spiders and humans liked it.
This snake would likely love my tail too.
It was a little concerning to gain spiritual medicine by selling my body, but what mattered was the process.
I offered my severed tail to the Python, which was looking down at the ground.
“Hieeeek!”
The surprised Python froze.
After glancing between me and the tail repeatedly, it suddenly collapsed in awe.
“Hieck!”
Then it quickly got back up and gently coiled its body around the tail I offered.
The round eyes of the Python stared at me for quite a while.
“Hieeek…”
The Python lowered its face shyly.
A message arrived on my status screen.
[The 【Ball Python LV14】 declares that it will give both its spiritual medicine and its body and heart.]
Great!
…Wait?
[The Snake Queen is furious about your lewd actions.]
Not good.
No, that wasn’t what I meant.
I didn’t mean to ask for its body and heart.
[The Snake Queen is very curious about your face.]
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