“As I’ve said before, I don’t hate those with ambition,” the Queen of Serpents flicked her long tongue.

I often forgot she was a snake because I focused more on her internal energy reserves, but moments like these reminded me that she definitely was a snake.

“But your ambition is quite large. It might be too much for me to handle alone.”
“Hieeek…”

Even Shik Shik nodded in agreement with her, as if supporting her statement.

Was eating two fish really such a big ambition?

“Shameless and arrogant.”

Seriously? Just for eating two fish?

“Hieeek!”

Even Shik Shik kept nodding fervently.

What on earth was up with these fish?

You told me to eat them. I only wisely chose to eat them together!

“Actually, this was all set up to test you.”

A test for me?

A test from the Queen of Serpents… The word alone promised all kinds of rewards if I passed.

But eating fish was the test?

“My daughter and I debated a lot about what choice you would make. Whether you’re just a somewhat strong lizard or someone with the potential to become a dragon.”

Judging by her tone, it seemed like I passed the test.

If I hadn’t passed, maybe they would’ve just hit me with a beam of destruction.

“You’ve passed admirably. You truly have the potential to become a dragon.”

“Hieeek…”

The potential to become a dragon, huh.

Well, it’s true I was already aiming for something akin to a dinosaur.

“Truly extraordinary potential.”

Nah, it’s not that big of a deal.

Still, it felt nice to be complimented.

“Your potential is truly remarkable.”

We are still talking about potential, right?

“Potential…”

Queen of Serpents.

Shik Shik.

Where exactly are you looking?

And why are you emphasizing potential so much?

“Geggek!”

Ugh!

For some reason, I felt embarrassed and quickly hid myself.

“Hieeek…”

Shik Shik clicked her tongue, looking disappointed.

This was starting to get scary.

“Hoohoo. Just teasing you,” the Queen of Serpents said, turning her head away sharply.

The fact that I couldn’t see her expression only made things more frightening.

Why did this feel more dangerous than fighting the cockatrice?

“We can’t just sit around like this. It’s a good day today, so I should bring out some aged wine.”

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected word.

Wine?

Is she talking about the wine I’m thinking of?

The Queen of Serpents smiled and slithered away somewhere.

I wasn’t a huge fan of alcohol, but ever since I came to this world, I hadn’t had any at all.

Sometimes I missed the food I used to eat, and alcohol was one of those things.

I mean, this is a martial arts world, so of course they’d have wine.

…Though I still wasn’t sure why a snake had it.

Now that the Queen of Serpents had gone to get wine, I was left alone with Shik Shik.

“Hieeek…”

Shik Shik stared at me.

She slowly inched closer, putting her tail on my head and trying to position her head next to mine.

She was spreading herself out, as if to measure her size compared to mine.

I wasn’t sure what she was trying to do, but it was kind of cute.

Maybe she was comparing herself to me since I’d grown bigger.

Yeah, Shik Shik.

Just stay cute like that forever.

As I watched Shik Shik’s antics, my heart felt a bit healed.

“I’ve been waiting for this day.”

The Queen of Serpents reappeared, carrying bottles of wine and cups in both hands.

Wait, wine is one thing, but why cups?

She’s half-human, but she’s still a snake at her core, isn’t she?

“No matter how much of a mystical creature one might be, the essence of a snake remains. You must be wondering why I have this.”

Her reptilian eyes stared at me.

It was as if she was reading my mind.

“Geggek.”
“It was a gift. To be exact, it was from a human far younger than me.”

A human gave the Queen of Serpents a gift?

Not a stolen possession after eating them?

“He was smaller than me, but his power was so immense that it put mine to shame.”

No way.

…Unless it was Baek Yeon-yeong.

“I thought I was going to die, but instead, he showered me with gifts—elixirs, artifacts, even this wine.”

Never mind, it’s not Baek Yeon-yeong.

If it were her, the Queen of Serpents would’ve ended up as snake kebabs…

Wait, could it actually be Baek Yeon-yeong? She does seem oddly fond of reptiles.

Maybe the resemblance is because the Queen of Serpents met her?

“I didn’t care for taking on a human form, but after meeting that human, I changed my mind. I realized that even in a human body, one could become that strong.”

Whoever this person was, they must’ve been incredibly nice.

Thanks to them, I get to see the Queen of Serpents’ “internal energy pouches.”

Without them, I’d be watching a giant basilisk pour wine into a cup right now.

“Here, have a drink. I’m curious about the taste myself.”

The Queen of Serpents handed me a cup.

It wasn’t much, considering my size, but still, it was alcohol.

I hadn’t seen something so shiny and alluring in a long time.

I downed it in one gulp.

Sip.

“Geggek!”

I let out a surprised Geggek.

This taste.

It was definitely alcohol!

The first taste of alcohol since I reincarnated into this world!

It was as if I had swallowed a ball of cold fire, a burning yet refreshing sensation coursing through me.

I felt like I could sense every part of my body.

The alcohol content was strong, but it wasn’t harsh.

I could tell right away that this was high-quality liquor.

“Ahh… This tastes quite good.”

The Queen of Serpents seemed satisfied with the flavor.

“Biyaaaak!”

Shik Shik also demanded some wine.

Sorry, you’re still too young for that.

“…But perhaps the princess is old enough now.”

Oh right, she is older than me.

Volpython stuck out her tongue and gave the wine the tiniest lick.

“Hieeek!”

She recoiled in shock at the taste of the wine.

Why is this stuff so bitter?

She was probably thinking that.

But then I saw her tongue dart out again.

“…Hiek!”

That’s how it starts for everyone.

“This is wonderful. Good food, good wine, and…”

The Queen of Serpents trailed off as she stared at me.

“A snake with legs. Do you know why I brought out this wine?”

Well, isn’t it because today is a special day?

We took down the cockatrice, after all.

We made a solid alliance with a powerful partner.

One who listens well.

Sometimes even chops off their own tail.

“This wine is called Yeoahong. Even though I’ve had interactions with humans, you might not know what this is.”

No, I know exactly what it is.

Yeoahong is a famous wine in martial arts stories.

And not just any wine—it’s often portrayed as one of the most expensive.

In fact, it’s considered priceless.

You could buy it if you had enough money, but hardly anyone sells it.

Yeoahong is brewed to commemorate the birth of a daughter.

“This wine was buried when I accepted her as my daughter.”

It was a wine that couldn’t be priced.

You often see it casually ordered in taverns in martial arts stories, but in reality, you'd probably get kicked out for doing that.

The custom was to open the Yeoahong when the daughter grew up and got married.

It wasn’t the kind of wine you could just drink whenever you wanted.

“I had to bring it out sooner than I thought, but that must be fate.”

…So why are we drinking it now?

“Here, have another drink.”

Wait. This is Yeoahong.

You’re only supposed to drink it when your daughter gets married.

“There’s delicious meat here too. Why aren’t you drinking more? Just think about it—rich meat paired with a cup of Yeoahong. Doesn’t that make your mouth water?”

Gulp.

“Right? Now, hurry and drink up.”

…Okay, just one more cup?

Sip.

Ahh.

It’s really good.

“You’ve had food rich in yang energy, so this wine will balance it out.”

The Queen of Serpents fed me another piece of meat.

Nom nom.

“Now, have another drink.”

I opened my mouth obediently, accepting the wine she handed me.

Was Yeoahong always this delicious?

It felt like my whole body was burning up, but at the same time, there was this strange coolness.

Yes, that’s it. Cool energy.

The heat inside my body seemed to harmonize with the cold energy from the wine.

The fish they said was as good as an elixir was actually just a regular black piranha lookalike.

A regular fish, and yet this wine made it taste so incredible.

The Queen of Serpents was truly amazing.

“Drink up. Keep going.”

Wait, isn’t this a bit too much?

I thought you couldn’t get drunk with Baekdok Bulchim.

Why was I feeling so drowsy?

Maybe I should stop.

“Biyaaaak!”

Shik Shik handed me another cup with her tail.

“Oh? Why are you hesitating? Don’t make the princess feel bad.”

Alright. Just one more from Shik Shik.

“Geggek…”

Sip.

Ahh.

It’s really good.

If only I were in better shape, I’d drink more.

“Keep drinking.”

No, I’ve hit my limit.

…Maybe just one more?

“You’re a true hero. There’s still plenty of wine left.”

Yeah.

When else would I get to drink like this?

Just a little more…

Thud.

My head started to spin.

“One more drink…”

I felt strangely happy, and sleep began to take over.

“…Finally, you’ve fallen asleep.”

I felt something pressing down on me.

It felt hard to breathe.

Like something was continuously filling my throat.

……

Gasp!

I woke up with a start.

I must’ve fallen asleep.

“You’re awake already.”

In front of me was the majestic sight of the Queen of Serpents’ energy reserves.

Normally, I’d be pleased to wake up to such a view.

But today was different.

Both the Queen of Serpents and Shik Shik were wrapped around me.

I could feel the slippery texture of their skin.

“You could’ve slept a bit longer.”

“Biyaaaak!”

This must be some weird snake sleeping habit.

Maybe they coil up together to maintain body temperature or something.

…But they weren’t sleeping, their eyes were wide open.

Their skin seemed oddly smooth and shiny.

What did they do while I was asleep?

“Don’t worry. I have my pride. I wouldn’t take advantage of someone while they slept.”

“Biyaaaak!”

“…Though I did consider it.”

“Hieeek!”

You’re telling me nothing happened?

You expect me to believe that?

“Geggegek!”

There was no doubt in my mind.

I had definitely been taken advantage of by the snake mother and daughter.

I was now a lizard who’d had his energy completely drained.

Look, I don’t even have any strength in my bod—

Wait a second.

Why do I feel so strong?

[You have consumed the Thousand-Year Fish.]
[You have consumed the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng Wine.]
[You have consumed the Superior Core (Yellow).]

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Queen of Serpents.

I apologize for doubting you.

“If you’re truly grateful, then perhaps… secretly…”

“Biyaaaak!”

Never mind.

“Geggek!”