So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Whether you're a hunter or a rogue.

These are professions you can't succeed in without developing strong survival instincts.

When the snake said it would assassinate Oban VanKloss, Oliver immediately retreated.

But that wasn't enough.

The moment he saw the magic missile created in the air—though it might not be appropriate to call it a magic missile anymore—glowing with white incandescence, Oliver revised his calculation.

He retreated further.

Far enough that Oban VanKloss was no longer visible and only the snake could be seen in the distance.

Then he wedged himself between rocks, soaked a white cloth with water, and covered his head.

Whoosh-

At the moment of explosion, the wind rushed out due to the momentary vacuum.

Oliver closed his eyes and curled up even more.

Soon the explosion's shockwave arrived.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

It was as if dozens of thunderclaps erupted inside the cave.

Hot wind and physical force vibrated everywhere.

Oliver unconsciously shouted, "Aaaaargh!"

But even his scream was swallowed by the explosion sound, so that even he couldn't hear it.

Despite being wedged in, he floated up into the air.

And his body slammed against rocks and stone pillars.

Oliver felt the fear of death.

In fact, how long had it been since he developed trauma from explosions?

It was an ill-fated connection that continued since his wife died in an explosion.

'...I'm a mouse, a mouse.'

As he was flung around, Oliver thought this way.

He was a mouse. And his wife must have been a mouse too.

A mouse born and raised on the damp floor of the sewers.

Foolish creatures waiting for sunshine to reach the mousehole and eventually trying to crawl out of it.

But only punishment falls upon mice that come out into the sun.

Outside, there are giant elephants.

The Emperor is an elephant, the Sword Saint is an elephant, and even Oban VanKloss who opposes him is an elephant.

And the quarrels between elephants are no different from disasters for mice.

The mouse struggles desperately not to be crushed under enormous feet.

Then splat! It gets stepped on and dies.

That's what happened to Oliver's wife, Heal.

She became bright red flesh pieces. While carrying an unborn daughter.

Oliver wanted to forget that he was a mouse.

That was actually why he ran away.

But what about now? He was still in the position of a mouse.

A small, miserable mouse being flung here and there, caught in the kicks of elephants.

After the explosion that felt eternal despite being just a moment.

Oliver felt pain as if something in his body was broken.

"Urgh..."

He forced himself to get up.

But it seems the ordeal wasn't over yet.

Another elephant appeared. One named Sword Saint.

Why? Oliver almost ran away without realizing it.

The Sword Saint didn't know Oliver's face.

He simply swung his sword at a sewer commoner who turned his body toward him.

He cut the ankle instead of the neck in order to hear information by making him speak.

Swoosh-

The left foot was separated.

"No!"

Obern's scream came a bit late.

"Argh!"

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"Th-this person is our companion."

The Sword Saint's expression didn't change at all.

"I see, sorry."

An apology, he received an apology.

At that moment, Oliver felt like he might burst into laughter.

You've moved up in the world, haven't you? A mouse receiving an apology from an elephant.

"Is Oban VanKloss over there?"

"Yes, yes, he's over there..."

Oliver didn't even feel anger toward the Sword Saint who had cut off his ankle.

He could only hope that this elephant would catch that elephant.

Blood gushed from the cut ankle.

Obern took out a potion from his pocket and sprinkled it.

Whether it was received from the snake, it was a high-quality potion. It couldn't reattach the severed ankle, but at least the wound closed.

"Are you alright?"

Obern's voice trembled as he asked.

Though he always pretended to be calm, Oliver now felt he understood somewhat about the person called Obern.

"I'm fine. It's not like I can't walk with just one leg."

"Let me support you."

"No need."

Oliver pushed Obern away.

Oliver's blood stained Obern's clothes.

"Go. Go to Rae."

One mouse in this elephant hell was enough—Oliver.

"Go and tell her to hide."

"..."

Obern hesitated, but Oliver forcibly pushed him away.

With his leg that only had one foot left, he crawled.

Following the Sword Saint.

==

An unknown force pulled me toward Oban VanKloss.

I thought it might be Invisible Hand, but it doesn't seem like it.

My struggles would have been able to break free from Invisible Hand.

'Is it some kind of higher telekinetic magic?'

I stopped right in front of Oban VanKloss.

He muttered.

"What kind of monster is this?"

It was only when I got close to his face that I noticed something strange.

Oban VanKloss's body was semi-transparent.

Just like Pelerian.

"It was an attack strong enough to kill me. Why would such an incredible monster be in the sewers..."

He must have been surprised by the assassination too.

The expression "incredible monster" is a bit flattering.

'Let me go!'

"You want me to let you go?"

I was startled for a moment.

He understood my thoughts exactly without me wearing the Crown of Connection.

Moreover, Oban VanKloss really did let me go.

"This is a mysterious encounter. But I have no connection with you. Go."

Oban VanKloss was cooler than expected.

He just released me, telling me to go.

'You're letting me go even though I attacked you.'

"Your magic was impressive, but it caused me no harm."

'How is that possible?'

He answers my questions well, so I just decided to ask.

The assassination just now was truly formidable.

So how could he be unharmed like that?

"I am already a dead body. How can you kill someone who is already dead?"

Oban said calmly.

His words snapped me to attention.

The 'Astral Projection' status I saw in his status window earlier.

It wasn't that he left his body behind and departed.

Does it literally mean his current state is 'astral'?

"By dying, I have temporarily bound my spirit form here. So that no one can stop me."

Oban VanKloss was in a semi-transparent spirit state.

That's why physical force couldn't eliminate him.