So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Oliver brought me the Fire and Earth Elemental Stones.

I swallowed them in one bite.

「Absorbing the fire energy of the elemental stone.」

「Absorbing the earth energy of the elemental stone.」

I could feel the energies of fire and earth filling my body completely.

The harmony of fire and earth. It was as satisfying as eating charcoal-grilled meat.

That must have led to the new option of "Meteor Prince Serpent."

Meteor Prince Serpent should be better than just Prince Serpent.

Having an extra modifier is always better, as long as it's not something like "Sewer."

Someday, I'll become a cool snake with 3 or more modifiers.

「Evolving into Meteor Prince Serpent.」

I wondered how I would evolve.

Changes beyond my imagination occurred.

「Heat Resistance lv14 has increased to Heat Resistance lv20.」

「Heat Resistance lv20 has evolved into Flame Immunity lv1.」

Wait, weren't Heat Resistance and Flame Resistance the same thing?

I withstood flames well with Heat Resistance, but Flame Immunity must be different.

It's probably like the difference between Fiery Fruit and MagmaMagma Fruit.

Come to think of it, what Isil had was Flame Immunity.

Indeed, who knows how long this foreshadowing has been in place...!

「You have gained Earth Resistance lv1.」

Earth Resistance is something I've never heard of before.

Is it resistance that makes being buried alive no big deal?

The increase in resistance was just the beginning.

「Intermediate Elemental Magic: Fire lv4 has evolved into Advanced Elemental Magic: Fire lv1.」

No way.

「Intermediate Elemental Magic: Earth lv5 has evolved into Advanced Elemental Magic: Earth lv1.」

There's no way magic skills would increase just by eating one elemental stone.

It must be the harmony of evolution.

But still, isn't this amazing?

Even for a talented snake like me, mastering magic takes a lot of effort.

Yet simply evolving has raised my magic skills.

'I should brag to Pelerian.'

This was a chance to flex my (non-existent) shoulders to Pelerian, who always nags me to practice magic.

Come to think of it, it's not that strange.

Didn't they say there are monsters that use magic too?

Those monsters couldn't possibly have proper teachers or study magic books.

Acquiring magic through evolution makes more sense.

First resistance, then magic.

Lastly...

「Seven scales begin to glow.」

What could that mean?

Without a mirror, it was difficult to see myself properly.

Besides, I couldn't bend to check now.

That's because I'm currently evolving, with only my consciousness floating.

「You have temporarily gained Unique Elemental Magic: Meteor Strike lv5.」

That was eye-popping news.

I suspected it, and it's true!

Unique Elemental Magic refers to special magic that's different from Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Supreme levels.

And when you say meteor, it's obviously a magic that's the crown jewel of grand magicians.

The word "temporarily" is concerning, but it's still satisfying enough.

「You can call seven meteors.」

I recall the message about seven scales beginning to glow.

It must be a related perk.

And the leftover mana essence.

I should upgrade skills with the accumulated mana essence marked with +.

...Ah, I think my body is growing.

My consciousness scattered with a whoosh.

==

When my mind snapped back.

My eye level had changed.

"Oh!"

Oliver, who had been sitting down instead of escaping, jumped up.

"You've grown a lot."

"Ssassat~"

My size has increased.

It would be difficult now to disguise myself discreetly in someone's sleeve.

Perhaps I could disguise myself as a belt or scarf.

While I'm still not as large as the name "Serpent" suggests, I'm satisfied with this much.

I quickly went to the water's edge to observe myself.

First, my size had increased, and the crown on my head remained the same.

My scales still sparkled beautifully, but...

"Ssaak!"

Ah!

I understood what it meant that seven scales were glowing.

It was literal.

Like a Big Dipper tattoo, seven scales flickered in different colors. They seemed golden, and also shimmered in five colors...

'This is a tattoo!'

A Big Dipper tattoo that wasn't in my destiny.

I suddenly worried that my father would scold me if he saw it.

'Old man!'

"Yes."

'I can now use advanced magic and meteors.'

"?"

Pelerian's expression distorted.

Since he looked like he didn't believe me, I demonstrated.

「Using Advanced Elemental Magic: Earth lv1.」

Just like what I felt when transitioning from basic to intermediate.

The gap between intermediate and advanced elemental magic was also tremendous.

The solid bedrock caved in like tofu.

"It's true..."

Pelerian groaned with frustration.

"Magic shouldn't be learned so easily..."

He seems to believe that magic should be learned through hard work.

But right now, at least, it was fortunate to have acquired magic this way.

"We can escape!"

The tunnel dug instantly with advanced elemental magic was sufficient for Oliver to enter.

Since I even solidified the surroundings to prevent collapse, escape was nearly guaranteed.

"So that's how the Eastern incense worked."

'What do you mean?'

"No matter how lucky you get, a path wouldn't open by itself in collapsed ground. Instead, luck flowed in the form of you coincidentally obtaining elemental stones that aided your evolution, and then helping him."

'Ah...'

So that's it.

Indeed, my help could be considered lucky for Oliver.

Now, shall we escape!

That's when.

"Snake."

Oban VanKloss held me back.

He had become much more transparent than before my evolution.

It seemed like he would scatter if even a breeze blew.

"You possess infinite potential."

'You recognize it.'

"I don't know how you will change the continent's fate. But you will certainly have influence."

Oban VanKloss must have been deeply impressed by my evolution.

And he's certainly right.

"So... I'll tell you a part of it."

He seems to be attempting to assassinate the Emperor.

Whether he'll succeed or fail is uncertain, but is he considering the possibility of failure?

"Stay away from the Emperor..."

Oban VanKloss's words became slower.

His body rippled as if about to scatter into dust at any moment.

"He will kill half the continent."

'Half?'

"Yes... if the Emperor's plans succeed, 600 million will die..."

600 million!

So the continent's population is about 1.2 billion?

But the Emperor killing so many humans?

Setting aside whether it's possible, I don't understand why he would do that.

Isn't the Emperor the closest thing to the master of the continent? Why would someone like that do such a thing?

"Someday... you might understand too... this is both a warning and advice..."

Without telling the detailed reason, just dropping mysterious hints.

Oban VanKloss scattered.

"Ah..."

Oliver let out a sigh.

In the end, his revenge was complete.