"It may be faint, but I can sense the aura of a mystical creature within you. It would be easier to communicate in the human tongue."

The sight of the Queen of Snakes left me stunned for a moment.

She looked like a lamia from myths—her lower half was that of a snake, while her upper half was the form of a beautiful woman, capable of speaking human language.

But the most disorienting part was her upper body.

I had no idea where to focus my eyes.

Of course, a snake wouldn’t be wearing clothes.

Aside from a few strategically placed scales, the Basilisk wore nothing at all.

An overwhelming sight of her internal energy reservoir.

Honestly, it was a breathtaking view, one that made my jaw drop and my mind wander.

However, there was something that bothered me.

The Basilisk’s face bore a resemblance to Baek Yeon-Yeong.

Not exactly identical, but similar enough to make me uneasy.

Seeing my teacher’s face on a body dressed like that… it’s no wonder my mind was in turmoil.

"Eek!"

The Ball Python, noticing my dumbfounded gaze, bit me.

It didn’t hurt much… well, maybe it did a little?

"Geegegek!"

I let out a surprised squawk.

Why did her teeth hurt?

Is this what Tang So-Yeong felt when she complained about Tus and Pus’ body slams?

[The 【Ball Python LV14】 tells you to get a grip.]

Right. Thank you, little one.

Considering I was staring off into space, the Basilisk must have done something to me.

She probably tried to ensnare me with that internal energy reservoir, but it won’t work on me.

"I didn’t give birth to her, but I raised her as my daughter. Seeing her show you sides of herself I’ve never seen before… How should I put this? It’s unsettling."

The Queen of Snakes gazed at me and the python.

So, she wasn’t her biological daughter?

Well, that makes sense. A cute little Ball Python couldn’t possibly be the child of a Basilisk.

“Lizard with legs,” the Queen of Snakes addressed me with a question.

“Do you think dragons are more like snakes or birds?”

It was the same question the King of Birds had asked me.

The answer was obvious.

"Geegegek!"

Of course, dinosaurs are reptiles.

But the Queen of Snakes probably wouldn’t understand my words.

I squirmed and mimicked the movements of a snake as best as I could.

“…There’s no need to go that far.”

Did she understand?

I stopped wriggling.

"Hmm. I sense a faint trace of a bird’s aura on you. So, you met him and managed to escape."

"Geegek!"

I nodded enthusiastically.

Yes, I’m a firm believer in the dinosaur-reptile theory.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone with such resolve.”

The conversation was going well.

Maybe I’d be able to leave this place without any issues.

“But I cannot let you go just because of that.”

Suddenly, the Queen of Snakes doused my hopes with cold water.

“Anyone who enters the temple of the Queen of Snakes without permission must die, regardless of the reason.”

I hugged the python tightly.

Little one, can you shoot another laser for me?

“But… my daughter seems to have taken a liking to you, so I can’t kill you either.”

That’s right.

If you kill me, the python will resent you.

“I’ll overlook the fact that you trespassed in the temple. However, your crime goes beyond that.”

My crime?

If my crime is winning over the python, I’ll take it, but that’s not a crime worthy of death, is it?

“I cannot forgive the fact that you ate the Ten Thousand Year Golden Spirit Fruit.”

Right.

The elixir I took from this place.

The Ten Thousand Year Golden Spirit Fruit.

Since the python seemed to know about the elixir, it must belong to the Queen of Snakes.

So, I ended up eating something that belonged to her.

Stealing an elixir comparable to the Pure Heavenly Elixir—yeah, that’s a serious offense.

…But I already ate it.

It may sound heartless, but to a creature of this level, losing an elixir or two shouldn’t matter. After all, they probably wouldn’t even notice its effects.

On the other hand, I’m a young lizard with a bright future ahead of me. Isn’t it a strategic win for the world if I get stronger by eating it?

“If it had been my own elixir, I might have let you go. But that elixir was not meant for me. It was meant for my daughter when she matures.”

Wait, what?

The Ten Thousand Year Golden Spirit Fruit was meant for the python?

“Squeak!”

The little one nuzzled against me.

So, this tiny snake brought me something that was meant for her?

“In order to become the next Queen, my daughter must unlock her potential through the use of elixirs.”

That makes sense.

The Ball Python’s true identity is the snake princess.

As cute as she is now, she doesn’t seem like she could become the Queen just yet.

She would need a lot more power to ascend to that position.

“There was originally only one solution. Kill the thief who ate the Ten Thousand Year Golden Spirit Fruit, then extract their inner core to feed to the princess.”

“Hissss!”

The python glared fiercely at the Queen of Snakes, who flinched slightly but continued speaking.

“But… I’ve found another way.”

Another way?

“My daughter’s strength has increased dramatically, even though she didn’t consume the elixir.”

That’s true.

The python’s laser beam was much stronger than before.

Even her bites started to hurt more.

She hadn’t eaten the elixir, so why had she grown so much stronger?

Wait.

She did eat something.

My tail.

“My daughter is filled with your energy. While your faith may be insignificant, the fact remains that you’ve helped her grow.”

For some reason, my tail seemed to have worked like an elixir.

Maybe it’s because I’ve eaten so many rare treasures?

No, that’s way too overpowered.

If my tail can do that and it regenerates… wouldn’t that be completely broken?

“Despite being hit by the petrifying gaze, you’re unaffected, and my daughter follows you. While you may have stolen the Ten Thousand Year Golden Spirit Fruit, her growth is progressing. I can postpone your death.”

I almost let out a celebratory “gegegek” but stopped.

Postpone?

“But you must still atone for your crime. If you grant me one favor, I’ll pretend your transgression never happened.”

A favor?

What could the Queen of Snakes possibly need from a mere lizard?

“Before we get to that... I would like you to return my daughter to me now.”

“Geegek!”

No way.

This python is my only means of protection.

“I’m not claiming ownership of her. I just want to know the source of the strange energy inside her. …Fine. I swear on the name of the Queen of Snakes that I won’t harm you, at least while we’re inside this temple.”

What about outside the temple?

That’s a suspiciously vague promise, but I don’t have much choice here.

“Squeaaak!”

But the python refused to leave my side.

Good job, little one.

“…Come, daughter. Return to your mother’s embrace.”

No matter how much the Queen of Snakes called, the python didn’t budge.

It seemed like she preferred me over her mother.

There was no helping it.

If the python didn’t want to go, I couldn’t force her.

“Then you come closer.”

Me?

No way.

What’s going to happen if I get close?

I fully support my princess.

“Come on. Hurry up.”

There’s no way I’m falling for that.

“You’re such a good listener.”

Huh?

Suddenly, her massive internal energy reservoir was right in front of me.

…What?

Oh no, this is an enchantment.

Just like how she has petrification powers, she must also have the power of allure or hypnosis.

What a terrifying ability.

I fell for it without realizing it.

“Squeaaak!”

The python bit me repeatedly, as if to knock me out of it.

…It’s a misunderstanding.

I only approached for the sake of a mother-daughter reunion.

It’s not like opposing the Queen of Snakes would do me any good.

We need to find a middle ground.

Please understand, little one.

Getting along with your mother would be good for you.

“Hoo. So, that’s what was inside you…”

The Queen of Snakes stared intently at the python standing before me.

I had no choice but to stare at her as well.

…Not because I had ulterior motives, but because I needed to be on guard in case she tried something.

It wasn’t because of her appearance at all.

“You… fed a part of your body to my daughter, didn’t you?”

“Geegek.”

I nodded in agreement.

“To think this much power could come from your endlessly regenerating tail. I thought your faith was weak, but it’s stronger than expected. There may be limits, but you pass.”

Good.

Now you understand my worth, right?

There’s no point in us fighting.

“You look delicious.”

The vertical pupils typical of reptiles gleamed as she stared at me.

Her human arms gently embraced me, while her snake body coiled around mine.

Crrrack.

Her movements were slow, but I couldn’t resist.

“Squeaaak!”

The startled python bit her mother’s body repeatedly, but it had no effect.

“If your tail is this good, I wonder about the rest of you.”

Her tongue flickered as she made a strange expression.

A look that seemed both sensual and full of hunger.

"Eek!"

Her internal energy reservoir loomed right in front of my face.

Sssrrr.

I felt my strength draining.

The Queen of Snakes' touch and the movement of her coils were just like a snake’s, making me feel weightless.

I felt drowsy, as if my eyes were about to close.

As expected of a Basilisk.

She pierced through my Absolute Poison Immunity just by touching me.

I can’t let this happen.

Think.

Remember the sensation of slapping Pus’ backside.

Remember when Tus bit my tail.

Remember when Nephila Jurassica hugged me.

Remember when Tang So-Yeong siphoned my venom.

Remember when Baek Yeon-Yeong plucked my scales.

And remember the nightmare I faced.

I opened my half-closed eyes wide.

I locked eyes with the Queen of Snakes.

“Grrrrrr…”

She looked surprised, and then she released her grip on me.

“Oh-hohoho! It was just a joke, a joke.”

The Queen of Snakes returned to her original posture as if nothing had happened.

“How could I interfere with something my daughter has already claimed?”

The python started licking me all over.

Thanks, little one.

If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been eaten alive.

…But can a human body really eat me?

How would that even work?

The Queen of Snakes seemed to find my reaction amusing, resting her chin on her hand with a slight smile.

“It looks like you’re curious. If you want to satisfy your curiosity, feel free to visit me secretly. I won’t stop you from coming.”

“Squeaaak!”

The python shot another beam at point-blank range.

But it didn’t pierce the Queen of Snakes’ skin.

The Queen laughed heartily at her daughter’s reaction.

“It’s been so long since I’ve laughed like this. Ah, yes, this is good. It’s so enjoyable, I’ve forgotten my hunger.”

Well, I guess forgetting hunger is a good thing, right?

“Don’t worry, daughter. I was only joking.”

“Squeaaak!”

“Of course, if you don’t grow properly, I might still swallow you whole.”

"Eeeeek!"

[The 【Ball Python LV14】 is burning with determination.]

As expected of the Queen of Snakes.

She did all of this to motivate the princess.

…You were just trying to motivate her, right?

“This little game should be enough. Lizard with legs, let’s get to business now.”