Shikshik’s tail wagged rapidly.

She was probably imagining a fun family outing.

Did she think of me as her father?

"Piiak!"

…Technically, I’m her dad on paper, but given her personality, I doubt she sees me that way.

More likely, she thinks of me as some kind of mate that her mom “stole” from her.

A rather absurd notion, but perhaps it’s not so bad from a reptile’s perspective.

…Is it really okay, though?

Shikshik seemed thrilled, entirely unaware of these complicated thoughts, excited simply because she was going outside.

Understandable—she’s usually stuck in that temple.

According to the Serpent Queen, the last time Shikshik escaped and found me, it was because she was tired of staying cooped up.

How restless she must’ve been to take that risk, especially given how easily she gets scared.

I should suggest to the Serpent Queen that we raise Shikshik with a bit more freedom.

I turned to glance at the Serpent Queen, then quickly looked away.

“Saaah!”

She was currently in her Basilisk form.

She wasn’t roaring for any particular reason, just exercising her lungs. But it was terrifying.

Look at the other animals—they were all trembling.

Drip.

Hiss…

A few drops of her saliva hit the ground, burning little craters into the earth.

She casually pushed through trees, shoving them aside with her massive body.

When she’s in her true form, she seems rougher than in her human form, as if her mind adapts to her body.

It makes sense. Even if she can assume a human shape, she isn’t human by nature.

Unlike me.

Look at me, maintaining my full human intellect even in a lizard’s body.

“Piiik!”

Ah, Shikshik.

That little gem-studded stone around her scales looks adorable.

Accentuating her already chubby tail like that…

One day, I worry she’ll grow up to be quite the femme fatale.

Between Tus, Pus, and now Shikshik, all I can hope for is that they grow up well.

If Nephila reaches the peak of her evolution, I’d be satisfied even with just that.

Pus has the potential to be big and strong.

And Tus—small but with a slinky elegance like Nephila.

"...Gek!"

Am I really maintaining my human mindset?

It feels like I’m slipping into a lizard’s way of thinking.

"Piiak!"

Oblivious to my thoughts, Shikshik bounced with excitement.

I should stop questioning the absurdity of a snake that hops.

Her chubby tail muscles made such feats possible.

She looked eager to climb onto my back, so I lowered myself to let her on.

“Hieek!”

Looking content, Shikshik settled herself near my neck.

Since I was no longer in my miniaturized form, she could cling tightly for a comfortable ride.

To be honest, I would’ve preferred to stay miniaturized.

I had this urge to wrap my tail around hers and climb onto the Serpent Queen’s back for a free ride.

It was convenient, and there’s a certain romance to it.

Riding a giant snake, no less.

And not just any giant snake—a mythical Basilisk.

But the Serpent Queen didn’t allow it.

To be precise, she preferred I walk beside her in my full size rather than cling onto her.

I couldn’t quite understand her reasoning.

And honestly, it’s hard to wrap my head around her decision to abandon her human form in the first place.

The reason? The King of Birds.

The Serpent Queen and the King of Birds are currently locked in a cold war.

Though they haven’t declared war on each other, the Serpent Queen has already decided to confront him.

The King of Birds dared to target me, her declared consort.

Their clash could happen at any time.

If it were up to me, I’d stay shrunken down.

Traveling in her full Basilisk form, the Serpent Queen would be impossible to miss, making it clear she was on her way to the former King of Birds.

But she knows the King of Birds better than anyone.

Maybe she’s trying to provoke him, to make him or his subordinates slip up.

If he sends anyone to interfere, we’ll be ready with the Serpent Queen, Argentavis, and myself for a swift attack.

And if he sends mere underlings, it would just be a pointless sacrifice.

With all that in mind, I could see the logic.

"Saaaah!"

…You do have a plan, right?

I cautiously matched my steps to the Serpent Queen’s, watching her moves closely.

“Gororong…”

Meanwhile, Shikshik was happily napping, snoring softly.

It really did feel like we were a family outing.

A furious, snake-like wife.

A child who falls asleep first, even though she’s the most excited.

And a husband under his wife’s thumb.

Sometimes, this isn’t so bad.

The jungle’s creatures were watching us as we passed by.

Even the animals in the jungle would feel a sense of peace from seeing this tranquil scene, healing their wounded bodies and spirits.

This was bound to earn me some divine merit, right?

---

Thud.

The ground trembled.

Massive trees, failing their purpose, collapsed in defeat.

The sudden disaster sent animals fleeing in terror.

"Saaaah!"

All the creatures of the jungle had no choice but to pay homage to this being.

Whether they were uninterested in territorial conflicts or resided within Kachalgatal’s domain, all had to respect this presence.

The one who transcended the limitations of snakes.

A legendary creature of myth: the Basilisk.

The ruler of the western jungle, also known as the Serpent Queen, had appeared.

Her sheer size was overwhelming.

Yet, the jungle’s inhabitants seldom saw her.

Most assumed she was hidden within her domain.

Rumors abounded—perhaps she was preparing for war with the King of Birds, or hiding to avoid him, or simply rearing a successor within her temple.

But here she was.

“Kaaak! It’s the Queen! The Serpent Queen has appeared!”

The parrots flew quickly, spreading the news.

The Serpent Queen had emerged.

It shouldn’t have been such a shocking revelation, though.

It was remarkable, yes, but not impossible.

After all, it would have been more unusual if she had never emerged at all.

“Kaaak! The Serpent Queen is heeere!”

The parrots circled the sky, squawking in astonishment at what they were witnessing.

The Serpent Queen, once the lofty ruler who’d refused Kachalgatal’s proposal and established her own realm.

Had she accepted, the jungle would’ve likely been ruled by a single faction.

She’d even turned down the offer from the King of Birds.

Yet now, beside her, was another.

A four-legged serpent.

A creature known as Su-Gung, Seok-Chung, or Four-Legged Snake.

In other words, a lizard.

But he was more than an ordinary lizard.

Though smaller than the Serpent Queen, his size was still intimidating.

And his entire body was covered in sleek black scales, like the hide of a mythical dragon, utterly pristine.

A lizard, yet beautiful.

A lizard, yet holy.

It was hard to call him just a lizard.

“Grrrr…”

Flames and frost flickered from the black lizard’s maw.

Beautiful black scales like those of a dragon, glistening.

Huge teeth, with fire and ice swirling between them.

More than any creature seen in the jungle, he looked like a dragon.

As if his mere existence wasn’t surprising enough, there was something even more astonishing.

Around the black lizard’s neck hung an ornament.

Clearly a mark of the Serpent Queen.

She would never give such a token to another creature.

She hadn’t even granted it to the King of Birds.

If anyone were to take it, they’d have to defeat her and forcibly steal it.

But this black lizard hadn’t fought the Serpent Queen.

If they had, they wouldn’t be walking side by side.

So, what did this oddity mean?

The Basilisk’s tail gently brushed the black lizard’s.

“Kaaak!”

The parrots, observing the scene, let out cries of shock.

It dawned on them why this lizard bore the Serpent Queen’s mark.

The Serpent Queen’s consort.

There was no other way to explain the affectionate flick of her tail.

And upon closer inspection, there was a small snake curled around the black lizard’s neck.

Its expression sullen, as if it had just woken up, it glared at the Serpent Queen.

That must be the Serpent Queen’s heir.

The Snake Princess, too, brushed the black lizard with a loving tail flick.

The atmosphere felt strange.

“Kaaak!”

Parrots are known for their fussiness, but in this case, no one could blame them.

“The ultimate charmer!”

A legendary lizard that had won over both the Serpent Queen and her princess had been born.

“Kaaak!”

Their words carried on the wind, spreading throughout the jungle.

To the lands ruled by the King of Birds, the Serpent Queen’s realm, and even So-Ryong’s domain.

The Serpent Queen’s consort had appeared.

All in the jungle now knew.

And that consort had also enchanted the Snake Princess.

That fact, too, spread throughout the jungle, though few would believe it without seeing the spectacle themselves.

“This… this shameless creature…”

From afar, the unicorn, missing its horn, shed silent tears.

That lizard, that shameless cad, had finally done it

.

He had stolen the hearts of two pure maidens.

The unicorn regretted not dealing with that dastardly lizard when he had the chance, but it was too late now.

And somehow, his precious horn had ended up in that lizard’s possession.

The horn he had gifted to a pure maiden now belonged to that lizard.

In that short time, he had seduced her as well.

“One true love only…”

Fat tears rolled down the unicorn’s face.

He cursed the lizard.

But the black lizard, scratching his head, simply laughed thoughtlessly.

“Gegegegek!”