Let’s assess the situation.

First of all, I just woke up.

Somehow, I ended up cuddling the Ball Python.

How would this look from the perspective of that snake?

A black lizard that stole away its cherished follower, gobbled up an elixir, and then slept alongside that follower.

“Hissssssssss!”

Objectively speaking, I should be dead by now.

But I can’t let that happen.

Calm down.

Cold blood.

Help me keep my mind sharp.

First, let’s focus on the Queen of Snakes standing before me.

Her true identity is a Basilisk.

Not some Green Basilisk Lizard, but a real Basilisk.

【Basilisk】

A mythical giant snake, sometimes considered a type of dragon. Its left eye holds the power of venom, and its right eye holds the power of petrification. It is a top-tier predator capable of limitless growth.

Unlike with the Hydra and the Jinmyeonjoo, I can see a status window this time.

Could this mean it's a lower-tier creature than them?

No, that can't be it.

It’s probably thanks to my leveled-up Wild Eyes skill.

Even at level 5, I can’t see beyond its species information.

No stats, no levels, nothing.

It’s an extraordinary monster.

And its size...

It’s even bigger than the Titanoboa I saw back in the Silver Dragon's Lair.

This creature is way beyond my current strength.

…But how did it even get inside this temple?

Judging by the size of the passages we passed, there’s no way a creature this large could have fit.

But this isn’t the time to wonder about that.

I need to figure out how to survive.

Think of the cards I have at my disposal.

“Geegegegek!”

Force is meaningless here.

The only card I have is the Ball Python sleeping in my arms.

This little snake must be precious to the Basilisk.

It might be a bit underhanded, but I’ll have to use the python to my advantage.

It hasn’t attacked me since I woke up, probably because it doesn’t want to harm the python that's close to me.

As long as we stay like this, not even the Basilisk would dare attack me.

[The Queen of Snakes is watching you.]

Watching me?

That’s strange.

Her right eye is glowing...

Petrification!

Craaaack!

A beam of petrifying light shot toward me.

Crackle… crackle...

I thought being close to the python would stop it from attacking, but I was wrong.

Is this how it ends?

Will I be turned to stone?

Will I become a statue guarding this temple?

Crackle, crackle...

My body slowly turning to stone...

Did not happen.

I felt the surface of my skin start to petrify, but it immediately returned to normal.

What’s happening?

Do I have some unknown resistance to petrification?

Even after the Basilisk’s petrifying gaze had ended, I was left unharmed.

All that remained were some crumbling stone fragments around me.

[The Queen of Snakes is intrigued by you.]

Right.

Even if I look like this, I’m still a Basilisk by origin.

I could be immune to petrification.

“Geegegegek!”

Queen of Snakes.

Let’s talk this out.

“Gekgegek!”

I tried my best to communicate with the Basilisk.

I even mimicked the gathering of venom to show that I might be a kindred species.

Ever heard of a Green Basilisk Lizard?

[The Queen of Snakes frowns.]

Damn.

It had the opposite effect.

The Queen of Snakes started advancing toward me.

Petrification won’t work on me.

The Basilisk’s venom might be dangerous, but my Absolute Poison Immunity can neutralize it to some extent.

However, her raw physical power is something I cannot defend against.

Dodging would be the best option.

But there’s no way to avoid it.

Is this the end?

The Basilisk's massive head loomed closer and closer toward me.

I gathered my internal energy in preparation for one final desperate move.

“…Eek?”

The Ball Python, who had been sound asleep, suddenly woke up.

Considering all the commotion, it’s more surprising that it didn’t wake up sooner.

Little one.

Run away if you can.

That snake doesn’t care whether you’re here or not; it’s a ruthless monster.

“Gekek!”

But the python didn’t retreat.

It wriggled forward and placed itself between the Basilisk and me.

Thwack.

The python opened its mouth wide.

…No way.

“Squeak!”

With a cute little battle cry, the python shot a beam of light from its mouth.

Boom!

The beam was much stronger than the one I saw earlier.

Ssssss…

Of course, the python’s attack didn’t penetrate the Basilisk’s scales.

But it had meaning.

The Basilisk’s expression changed.

[The Queen of Snakes is flustered.]

“Hissssss…”

She seemed to be watching the python nervously.

“Squeaaak!”

The python glared fiercely at the Queen of Snakes.

…Could something like this even be possible?

Even if I had a hundred pythons, they wouldn’t match even a single segment of her tail.

What is this little one’s true identity?

Curious, I activated my enhanced Wild Eyes.

【Ball Python LV14】

【Traits】 「Princess」「Tomboy」「Paralysis Immunity」「Poison Immunity」「Devoted Faith」

【Status】 「Anger」「Annoyance」

Wait a minute.

Princess?

It’s a princess?

[The Queen of Snakes is at a loss.]

So... that joke about it being her daughter turned out to be true?

“Squeaaak!”

The Ball Python hissed angrily, unable to contain its fury.

“Hissssss…”

The once fearsome face of the Basilisk began retreating.

Good job, little one.

Chase her away, back to where she came from.

[The Queen of Snakes glares at you with resentment.]

Why are you looking at me like that?

I guess from the Basilisk’s perspective, it must seem like her precious daughter fell under the spell of some strange black lizard.

A cherished daughter, now scolding her parent for the sake of some dark lizard she just met.

If I were the Basilisk, I’d be angry too.

But that’s beside the point.

I’ve got no one else but this little one on my side right now.

“Eek…”

[The 【Ball Python LV14】 is embarrassed.]

[The Queen of Snakes glares at you.]

Oh, whatever.

I don’t care anymore.

Go for it, python.

“Squeaaak!”

The python, with its chubby body, wrapped itself around me protectively, glaring at the Basilisk.

Look at that Basilisk’s face.

No matter how monstrous she is, no parent can stand against their child.

“Squeaaak!”

“Hisss…”

The Basilisk's fierce demeanor gradually faded.

No parent can win against their child, it seems.

Well done, python.

“Squeaaak!”

Satisfied that it had scolded the Basilisk enough, the python turned back to me with a proud smile.

No, now's not the time to be smiling.

“Geegegek!”

That snake could still kill me the moment it sees an opening.

But contrary to my fears, no further attack came.

“Hissss…”

The Basilisk maintained some distance, simply observing me and the python.

…So it’s waiting and watching for now?

Fine.

The python did well, so I patted it affectionately.

“Eek…”

The python flicked its tongue and squirmed in delight.

Good job.

…But, mother-in-law.

Your gaze is a little too sharp for comfort.

It feels like petrifying rays are leaking out a little bit.

The Basilisk silently stared at me.

[The Queen of Snakes wants her precious daughter back.]

“Gekek!”

No way.

If I give her back, I’ll be dead for sure.

I’m taking your daughter with me.

“Eek…”

The python wagged its tail happily, clearly in a good mood.

“Hissss…”

The Basilisk flicked her tongue, glaring at me.

It’s a bit scary, but I’ve realized she can’t attack me as long as the python is on my side.

Even if she could kill me, she’d be resented by her daughter for the rest of her life.

If she truly cherished her daughter, she should’ve taken better care of her.

Thinking these lowly, rebellious thoughts, I grabbed the python’s tail tightly.

“Hissssss!”

The Basilisk’s eyes trembled.

[The Queen of Snakes wishes to speak with you.]

Finally.

Why couldn’t you have done this from the start?

Instead of immediately shooting petrifying beams everywhere.

What a disgrace to the name of Basilisk.

“Geegegek!”

Let’s resolve this through conversation.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

There was no guarantee the Basilisk could even understand my noises, and the fragmented information from the status window wasn’t enough to fully grasp its intentions.

[The Queen of Snakes is contemplating.]

Can’t the Queen of Snakes speak?

The King of Birds could speak in a rough way, so why not her?

Then again, the King of Birds had a human face, so that’s probably why.

But I’ve managed to communicate with spiders and snakes before.

A Basilisk is just a bigger snake.

I’m sure we can communicate somehow.

“Gekek.”

Just as I tried to initiate communication…

A thick mist began to form around the Basilisk.

I could vaguely see her silhouette, and it seemed like her size was shrinking.

So that’s it.

It was strange that she could fit inside this temple.

She can change her size.

Or maybe she had been using some kind of giant form this whole time.

Either way, it didn’t matter.

With her shrinking, I’d be a lot safer.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve shown this form.”

I like the smaller form better.

…Wait a second, did I just hear a voice?

A human voice?

Unlike the King of Birds, it was quite fluent.

It reminded me a bit of Baek Yeon-Yeong, a slightly dry voice.

No way…

The mist around the Basilisk slowly dissipated.

“You dare take my daughter? You’re quite the audacious one.”