-Hmm, the seal on the ring's broken. Someone must've broken into the dungeon.
Pellelian looked like he'd been shrunk down into an SD character. He was barely the size of a human palm, with a big head and huge eyes. It should've been cute as hell, but it wasn't. And for good reason—Pellelian was just as ugly as he'd appeared in the hologram. Hell, even more so now that he was super old. His forehead had a sharp M-shaped hairline, not quite bald but close enough. His face was packed with spite, too. That wasn't a fairy; that was a gremlin. Only his eyes were clear, giving off a mad glint instead. The gleam of a clear-eyed lunatic.
-That damn Iris bitch messed with my Papfnapcha, my precious little darling...
Pellelian grumbled, pissed off. Precious little darling? That chimera? His sense of aesthetics must've done a full loop. Not that weird, I guess. World's full of all kinds of tastes. Pellelian kept muttering to himself, completely ignoring me.
-What's this snake pup doing wearing my ring? Tsk tsk.
Harsh words. Racist old geezer.
I wasn't talking to Pellelian out loud. Just mumbling in my head. Ever since becoming a snake, I had no way to speak human words anyway.
But Pellelian's face changed dramatically. His eyes went wide, mouth dropping open.
-Gah! The snake's talking!
I freaked out too, screaming internally. You can hear me?!
-Ch, must be my imagination. Yeah, imagination.
What the—now he can't hear? What changed?
I tried again, putting more force into my inner monologue, like I was actually speaking. Can you hear me?!
-Urk! The snake's really talking!
Pellelian jumped again. For a mad chimera-experimenting magus, he sure had a weak heart.
-What are you, really a snake? You look like just some dumb beast.
What's that supposed to mean, calling me a dumb beast?
-A person? You're calling yourself a person?
No, not a person, but yeah, I am a snake...
-A snake claiming to be a person... This world's gone mad.
Pellelian looked just as stunned.
-Why do you have my ring?
Eh, just kinda happened. Found it and put it on.
Talking to a hallucination felt weird. Seemed like Pellelian felt the same.
-Unbelievable. Some lowly monster wearing my signet ring... And talking like it's human.
You're one to talk. You really Pellelian?
-Who else would I be? Though just a fragment of his soul, I am the Reverse Heaven Magus.
His tone suddenly got long-winded and solemn when questioned. Fragment of a soul? What?
So you can use magic and stuff?
-Hmph... A low-level question.
Why's asking a magus if he can use magic low-level?
-Over there!
Pellelian suddenly pointed off to one side. Obvious misdirection, but I played along and looked. Then my scales shivered all over. A chill hit me hard. Worse than seeing the Guard Captain again. Why the hell was he here? The monster who'd sliced my mother's neck in one stroke. Hero Gunter. He was walking over with his knights.
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Iris couldn't believe what she'd just seen. She'd assumed she could cut the snake in half with one swing. But the sword met massive resistance. Iris hadn't even sliced through a chunk of flesh. Fine, that could happen. Plenty of monsters had tough hides.
But after that? She'd wrapped her shortsword in aura and used the skill White Flash. Like with the thornbone parrot, it should've shattered into dozens of pieces. But the snake blocked with its tail. Or rather, the ring on its tail. Her aura could slice steel plate. The impact blasted the snake sky-high. Looking at her broadsword, the blade was notched. All because of a ring.
Why was a snake wearing a ring anyway? And more importantly... that ring's emblem was...
"...Pellelian."
She couldn't be 100% sure from a glance, but the signet symbolizing Pellelian was engraved on it. With Pellelian's chimera right there...
Could that snake be one of his creations too?
If so, more impressive than the chimera. A true masterpiece. She needed to chase the flying snake. First, recover the chimera corpse with subspace magic.
As Iris bent down, she straightened up and turned.
"..."
He wasn't hiding his presence. The heavy plate armor clanked loudly. This was open ground under the sky. A group emerged from the western brush. Knights in heavy armor. None looked ordinary. All had roaring lions engraved on their shoulder pauldrons. Anyone with knowledge would recognize the Iron Lion Knights.
Iris knew. She spotted the short-haired man leading them as one of the Eight Heroes. They approached with clanking steps and lined up in formation. All knights halted; only Gunter moved. He approached her alone.
Stopping, he spoke.
"Gunter Freehansen. Captain of the Iron Lion Knights."
"...Iris Selena, Golden Leaf Investigator."
Iris replied. She didn't sheathe her sword. Gunter didn't seem to care.
"A fairy envoy, then. I've heard of House Selena. Pleased to meet you."
"Not exactly a pleasant situation, surrounded by knights."
"Not surrounding you. Just maintaining discipline in the Great Forest."
"So, business with me?"
Iris's clear eyes fixed on Gunter. He glanced at the chimera corpse.
"Your kill?"
"...No. Already dead."
"Good, then. Not your hunt."
"What do you mean?"
"We need that chimera corpse. We'd appreciate you yielding it."
Iris scowled.
"Ridiculous demand. Do you know whose creation this is?"
"Reverse Heaven. That magus's legacy, right?"
"...You know. Then you know it's the fairy's duty to handle it."
Iris raised her sword. The Iron Lion Knights behind drew theirs in unison.
Ching ching ching!
The chorus of metal rang grandly. Gunter raised a hand to halt them. The disciplined knights sheathed again.
Iris hadn't raised her sword to fight. She used her sword hand's wrist to brush back her bangs. A long scar ran from one eye to her forehead.
"A wound from Pellelian."
"..."
"I'm his direct avenger. Officially appointed by the Elder Council. If you're a kingdom man, respect Elvenwood's will."
The kingdom was naturally friendly with the fairies. Iris pressed Gunter with that.
That explanation should make him back off, she thought.
"Sorry. We need that chimera corpse."
But things didn't go easy.
A chimera corpse made by Pellelian. What value to humans?
"Can you handle it?"
Final warning. Gunter laughed.
"I've always handled it."
He drew his halberd. No choice but to fight. Gunter gestured for his knights not to interfere.
Iris glared at Gunter. Her scarred eye was cloudy gray. It gleamed strangely. In this baffling situation, she tried piercing Gunter's gaze. Why would a righteous knight rob a fairy?
"...You."
She judged.
"Villain."
Unlike the public view, Gunter was a cold-hearted monster.
"Ho, some kind of piercing sight skill?"
"..."
"Judge's Eye? Scales? Doesn't matter."
The beautiful fairy's judgment didn't faze the Iron Lion Knights.
"Who cares about a soon-to-die fool's verdict."
The halberd tore through the air. Iris swung to meet it.
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇-What the hell with those human knights. They posture like shit.
As I trembled at Gunter's presence, Pellelian judged.
-I especially hate knights. They act all cool, but most are cowards.
...
-When death comes, they drop the act and beg, "Please spare me, magus!" Seen dozens like that.
Old folks get chatty, huh? Must be from living centuries. Pellelian rambled unasked. Damn. My mom's killer shows up, I wanted a dramatic moment. He's ruining it.
I hid behind a rock, peeking at Gunter and the fairy's standoff. Not slacking—my body's wrecked. Neck still bleeding, mana drained. Needed recovery bad. Pulled a potion from the ring's subspace with my teeth, uncorked carefully, sipped. Could split into three doses.
-Holy shit. You use subspace too? Incredible mutant... Drinking potions.
Pellelian's gaze shifted from worm to prized specimen. Creepy, but whatever.
Wait. In webnovels, this is when you get a spirit pet or something.
So Pellelian's my pet now?
-What? Pet? Me, your pet?!
Pellelian fumed in disbelief. Muttered too loud? Hard distinguishing thoughts from inner speech.
Sigh, potion's kicking in. Felt alive. Wound knitting, mana refilling. Great. Survived again.
Run now? Lame. Watch Gunter vs. elf? Pro gamer move.
-Huh, why they acting up?
Pellelian was already peeking. I poked my head out. Shocked. They were facing off with weapons drawn. Why fight suddenly? Elf had her sword, Gunter his halberd. That halberd—I'd seen it cleave Medusa Mom's neck up close. Sliced flesh and spine like tofu. And it's wieldable by a human.
-This ain't good...
Psycho magus Pellelian didn't like it. Fairy solidarity? I'd prefer mutual destruction. Maybe luck out for the finishing blow... Cough. Hero Slayer achievement's tempting. But mutual kill unlikely. Elf clearly outmatched.
-Filthy humans. Wait, isn't that knight Zain I spared? He's pale—back already after that beatdown?
Suddenly curious. What's Gunter's status screen like? Bit far, but worth trying. Focused, strained my eyes.
──────────────
[Hero Gunter lv???]
...
──────────────
Ugh, flickering in and out. Evolution boosted piercing power, but still hazy. Level's question marks.
──────────────
[Traits]
[Hero], [Knight], [Iron Blood], [???]…
──────────────
Traits partial too.
-Hey, beast, what're you doing?
Ignored Pellelian, focused.
──────────────
[Skills]
[Vallarian Halberd Art lv50], [Lead from Front lv10], [???]…
[Heavenly Thunder Command lv10]…[???], [Single Moon Slash lv10]…
──────────────
Argh! Lost focus, screen vanished. But my heart raced. What? Skills aren't just slash, hold breath? Heavenly Thunder Command? Single Moon Slash? What if... Use Leap Over Horn. Combine with Borrowing Horn. Could I borrow Hero Gunter's top skills? Not steal, just borrow.
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