"Hehehe."

Hehehe?

That was a laugh I never imagined the Serpent Queen would make.

And Shikshik was just as stunned as I was.

So, I mean…

“Gehehe.”

“Hiiie.”

This justified a bit of teasing.

Honestly, there’s always been a hint of fear toward the Serpent Queen.

It’s only natural—she’s a mystical creature whose level I still can’t gauge.

Her first impression was enough to make anyone’s knees go weak, so it’s understandable.

Of course, living close together, I’d grown less afraid of her.

She turned out to be gentler than I’d expected, even generously sharing her precious elixirs with me.

Her internal energy was extensive too.

She even spent more time in her human form than her true form.

Maybe it was more comfortable, or maybe she did it to make Shikshik and me feel more at ease.

Either way, it worked well for me.

Yet, even in her human form, that serpentine air lingered.

When she looked at me with those snake-like eyes, flicking her tongue, I knew what it felt like to be a mouse staring up at a giant serpent.

But look at her now.

Even the coward Dang So-Yeong would feel safe enough to squeeze her cheeks if she saw the Serpent Queen like this.

Though, to be fair, there’d probably be a Dang So-Yeong-shaped statue left in the temple if she tried.

“Didn’t I say it was a misunderstanding?” the Serpent Queen muttered, her voice shaky.

But she couldn’t hide her round, softened eyes.

Shikshik, as her daughter, shares some of her looks, but they’re distinct in a way.

While the Serpent Queen has a face that anyone would think belongs to a snake, even in her human form, Shikshik has a more rounded, puppy-like face that somehow suits a lizard.

Yet that difference between them had nearly vanished.

If anyone saw them together, no one would question that they were mother and daughter.

Who could doubt she was Shikshik’s mother?

All soft and round.

It makes me wonder if even a basilisk could have evolved from a ball python.

“Gehehe.”

I mimicked the Serpent Queen’s laughter, letting my body sway.

“Hieek!” 

Shikshik wagged her tail, joining in.

The Serpent Queen, clearly with no tolerance for teasing, flustered, lowered her head in embarrassment.

Her ears had turned bright red.

How can I resist when she looks like this?

“Enough,” she said, her voice weak.

Teasing others is truly one of life’s great joys.

“Gekhek!”

“Hiiiek…”

Suddenly, Shikshik’s voice changed.

I turned to look at her, or rather, where she’d been.

Where did she go?

Before I could make sense of what was happening, I was lifted into the air.

The Serpent Queen had grabbed me by the scruff of my neck.

“Ge-geek!”

Let me go!

I opened my mouth wide, ready to nip at her fingers, but all my strength faded as she held me by the scruff.

“Hiiiek!”

Quick-witted as ever, Shikshik was wriggling away to escape.

Hey, my Shikshik…

“Stop wiggling.”

The Serpent Queen gritted her teeth.

“Gek.”

Y-yes.

I nodded vigorously.

Okay, I’ll stop teasing.

With a sigh, the Serpent Queen set me back on the ground.

She then grabbed Shikshik’s tail, dragging her back to us before speaking in a calm tone.

“…I just wanted to show how dangerous Okbong’s honey can be.”

Shikshik and I exchanged a look.

There’s no way anyone would believe that.

But if we objected, we’d probably be turned to stone on the spot.

“Surely, you don’t think I made that sound over something as trivial as a tasty dumpling?”

Of course not.

“Gek gek.”

“And what’s with that look?”

What’s wrong with my face?

“Do you think that someone as esteemed as myself would let one honey dumpling sway me?”

I mean, maybe not that much.

“Honestly, Okbong’s honey doesn’t affect me at all. As I said, it was just to demonstrate the potential effects.”

Nodding along, I felt a mischievous urge spark up.

The Serpent Queen’s gaze was almost back to normal.

While she claimed not to care for Okbong’s honey, she’d eaten one with much delight.

Now, what if I offered her another?

I had saved my share.

“Gek gek.”

“Yes, I don’t need any more of Okbong’s honey…”

The Serpent Queen’s eye twitched, catching sight of the dumpling in my tiny hand.

“Ahem! Hmph! Hurry up and eat it yourself.”

I shook my head.

“Gek.”

Then I nudged the dumpling toward her.

Want another?

She glanced at Shikshik, who was busy finishing her dumpling.

Once at Shikshik.

Once at the dumpling.

Once at me.

Then back at the dumpling.

Gulp.

“…If you insist on not eating it, I suppose I could help you finish it.”

“Gek gek.”

Oh, welcome back, the one who’s weak to Okbong’s honey.

“Fine then,” she muttered, finally accepting the dumpling I handed her.

Nom.

She bit into it.

The Serpent Queen’s face melted with delight.

The first time she laughed like that, I could’ve chalked it up to an accident.

“Hehehe…”

That silly laugh escaped her lips once more as she covered her mouth, failing to hide her relaxed expression.

I could forgive the first time—it’s possible to lose control.

But now, even after being on guard, she still let out a hehehe?

Okbong’s honey must be exceptionally dangerous.

But no, that can’t be true.

Even Shikshik, who’d squealed in surprise, didn’t react as strongly as the Serpent Queen.

She just really liked sweet treats.

Watching the Serpent Queen giggle with a silly expression, I noticed a slight frown of concern creep into her gaze.

“I don’t think I can go back to the way I was…”

Don’t say things that could be easily misunderstood.

“It feels like I’ve missed out on half of my life.”

…And should she even use the term ‘life’?

---

The Serpent Queen carefully stored the remaining dumplings.

Judging by her wistful glances, she’d likely sneak one out soon, but that was her choice.

I didn’t particularly need the dumplings.

My status display didn’t even recognize them as elixirs, and I’d found plenty in the Silver Dragon’s Lair before.

Besides, the Serpent Queen seemed to enjoy them so much that I was happy to let her keep them.

The Serpent Queen has given me far more than I’ve ever offered her.

One could say she’s a Basilisk who gives generously.

Not that I did any of this with expectations, but if she offers more, I won’t decline.

Once she’d stashed the honey dumplings, she lifted the unicorn horn she’d set aside earlier.

“Yes. Now that we have the unicorn’s horn, it’s time to visit the previous King of Birds.”

This was precisely why we needed the unicorn horn.

To request an alliance with the former King of Birds.

To go into further detail, the former King of Birds had been defeated by a face-winged bird.

The unicorn’s horn would help heal his wounds, making it easier to secure the alliance and bolster our strength by reviving the Argentalvis.

“Still, since he was once a king, the Queen herself should probably go.”

Despite losing to the face-winged bird, he remains the former King of Birds.

It’d be best for her to go personally rather than sending some subordinate.

“Princess, prepare to leave.”

It seemed she planned to bring Shikshik along.

She probably couldn’t leave Shikshik behind, and by bringing her, it’d show how important this mission was.

A sound decision.

“And you as well, consort.”

“Gek?”

What?

“If, by chance, the King of Birds is killed, you’ll be the one left in charge of the skies. It’d be wise to leave a good impression.”

In other words, she’s helping me build some connections?

If that’s the case, there’s no reason to decline.

If I’ve gained this much from the Serpent Queen, who knows what I could gain from someone called a king?

“Gek gek!”

I let out a sound of eager agreement.

Oh, I’m already drooling.

“Good decision. With you along, this should be over quickly.”

The corners of the Serpent Queen’s mouth lifted in a smile, closer to her usual “ohoho” than the “hehehe” from before.

“I’ll show them what I’m holding.”

“Gek?”

“It’s fairly well-known that Gogaduri defected. Quite a few cowards assumed the balance in the jungle had shifted.”

“Gek gek.”

“But now, I have an ace stronger than Gogaduri. A creature powerful enough to punish traitors has joined me. The Serpent Queen stands strong. In fact, she’s stronger than ever. It’s time to let those fools know.”

So, here’s the point.

Komodo-Rania was like a rising superstar.

Most creatures probably didn’t know of me yet.

The Serpent Queen intended to announce the addition of a new mystical beast to her faction.

Am I finally being recognized?

Sure, I’d seen monstrous creatures like

 Baek Yeon-Yeong early on, but in my own right, I’m still a formidable beast.

I have my own faithful following that few others can claim.

I possess an internal energy technique I developed myself.

I wield both fire and ice, opposing attributes.

I naturally have expertise with poisons.

With dragon scales, my defense is unmatched among creatures my size.

I can block attacks from enemies twice my weight with little trouble.

Does this mean speed is my weakness?

Not at all.

So-Ryong Ascending Steps is one of my strongest techniques.

My enemies must have cursed inwardly whenever they faced me.

Dodge fire, and I hit them with ice; dodge ice, and I poison them.

Get close, and they’re struck by my deadly Palm of White Bone.

Keep your distance, and I’ll blast you with Kaek Death Beam.

…Yeah, even I admit it’s pretty merciless.

But hey, what can they do?

Come back after downing ten inner cores, a Thousand-Year Fiery Peach, a Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng Wine, some Clear Blue Dragon Elixir, and the Golden Spirit Fruit of Ten Thousand Years.

“Now then, consort.”

The Serpent Queen’s voice turned serious.

Gone was her cheerful expression, replaced with her usual regal tone.

“Prepare yourself for a bath.”

What?

“Gek?”

That’s a strange conclusion.