【Argentavis lv70 (-15)】

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【Argentavis】

A massive bird of prey, around 3.5 meters in body length and with wings spanning over 6.5 meters. It primarily hunted small ground animals, but its large frame and sharp talons allowed it to make even larger creatures its prey. Truly, the title "King of the Skies" suits this apex predator.

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The creature was so large it was hard to believe it was a bird.

The status window only provides a general idea of its typical size.

Some creatures above a certain level are even larger than what the status window suggests.

It was massive enough to rival the Man-faced Bird.

However, it seemed just a bit below the Snake Queen’s level, allowing me to see its stats.

Its level was a staggering 70—the highest level I’d observed.

Judging by the negative sign, it seemed weakened, likely from an injury.

“Keeaaah!”

Argentavis, flying swiftly, stopped right in front of the Snake Queen.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Hovering mid-air, Argentavis fixed a piercing gaze on the Snake Queen.

The Snake Queen stared back, unwavering.

It was a true standoff.

Flash!

As light erupted from Argentavis’s body, a mist surrounded the Snake Queen’s form almost simultaneously.

It had begun.

Their showdown.

The massive bodies shrank rapidly.

A middle-aged man with brown hair, dressed sharply, appeared.

His wings, instead of arms, revealed that he was indeed the bird king I’d just seen.

“You didn’t come here just to kill me, did you?”

If the Snake Queen resembled a mythical Lamia, then Argentavis was more like a Harpy.

Wait, shouldn't Harpies be female?

I swallowed my unspoken objection.

The Snake Queen, too, had transformed into a human form at some point.

“Quite a delay in your hospitality.”

She gave Argentavis a hard stare with her usual unexpressive face.

Good thing we were on the same side—otherwise, I’d be left quaking in my scales with no choice.

Argentavis sat on an outcropping of rock.

“Hoo.”

He crossed his legs and let out a sigh, as if holding back words he wanted to say.

“You break in here, and now you talk about hospitality?”

“Who are you trying to deceive? You already knew from the message.”

“I hear the Snake Queen is storming somewhere; who wouldn’t prepare for that?”

Despite his words, they didn’t seem entirely hostile.

They seemed able to hold a conversation, at least.

…Perhaps it was because the Snake Queen had declared her intentions with a devastating beam of light.

It was Argentavis who withdrew first.

“How is Elder So-ryong doing?”

They had some sort of connection.

So the elder was more formidable than I’d thought.

“Why you’d ask me that is beyond me.”

The Snake Queen said, glancing briefly in my direction.

“…He’s still alive. Quite tenacious.”

“That’s good to hear.”

An awkward air hung between them.

This didn’t seem like the time for me to interject.

I decided to play with Shik-shik from a safe distance.

“I heard a rumor you’ve found a partner.”

Wait. Why was I getting dragged into this?

The Snake Queen gave a light nod and, grabbing my tail, yanked me closer.

“Gaek…”

Let go, please.

I struggled, but her iron grip was unbreakable.

Helplessly, I found myself with my head resting on the Snake Queen’s knee like a pitiful little lizard.

“So you really did find a partner. I thought your temperament seemed to have softened.”

Softened?

That entire mountain range had just split in two!

Perhaps it’s “soft” like a toxic substance?

“It’s foolish, but I couldn’t let them go.”

The Snake Queen gently scratched between my eyes.

My eyelids drooped.

But I couldn’t fall asleep—not with Shik-shik nibbling at my tail.

“Hiyek!”

That hurt, Shik-shik.

Argentavis watched my disgruntled self in silence before steering the conversation back.

“You didn’t come all this way just to flaunt your partner.”

“Indeed.”

“Did you come as the Snake Queen or as So-ryong’s daughter?”

“I came with my partner and successor. Does that not clarify it for you?”

“…What business does the Snake Queen have in such a lowly place?”

So-ryong’s daughter.

I’d suspected, but it confirmed that the old Compy was indeed the Snake Queen’s father.

Of course, he wasn’t her biological father.

“It’s a proposal for an alliance.”

“An alliance?”

“Gechalgoatal has crossed the line.”

Argentavis closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

He had lost to the Man-faced Bird.

Stripped of his title as the Bird King, he was forced to hide out here instead of roaming the vast jungles.

To him, Gechalgoatal was someone he’d seek revenge against.

“You plan to take him down? I’d heard rumors that the tide of battle had turned in your favor.”

“My partner has accomplished a great feat.”

“I agree with going after him. However…”

Argentavis touched his right shoulder.

“I’ve grown old. I wouldn’t be much help.”

It seemed his injury from losing to the Man-faced Bird had yet to heal.

But we had anticipated that.

The Snake Queen held out an object wedged between my scales with both hands.

It was a massive horn, requiring both hands to hold it.

I seized the chance to escape her knee.

The Snake Queen grimaced slightly but handed the item to Argentavis without a word.

“This… This is…!”

Argentavis’s wings quivered.

The object she gave him was the horn of a unicorn.

Whatever injury he’d sustained, that horn would undoubtedly heal it.

“How… How did you get this?”

“My partner went through some hardship.”

The Snake Queen and Argentavis began discussing their alliance in earnest.

The available forces, Gechalgoatal’s power, and the time needed for the unicorn horn to complete its healing.

Honestly, much of it went over my head.

Being an adult discussion, I figured this was a good time for a good lizard to step away.

I entertained myself with Shik-shik, waiting for their conversation to end.

“Tweet!”

A small bird landed atop my head.

It was a white, round little bird.

【White-Headed Bushtit lv25】

Known as a “Beopse,” this cute bird was adorable.

“Gegeek!”

How cute.

It’s on par with Shik-shik.

“Hieek!”

Shik-shik made a slightly offended sound.

No, it’s not that one of you is better; you’re both cute.

The little bird perched atop my head right off the bat.

Could this be what they call selection?

A grin crept onto my face.

“Tweet!”

Aw, so cute.

I couldn’t see it well from atop my head, but even its tiny, visible feet were adorable.

“Saak!”

Shik-shik, seemingly upset, smacked the ground with his tail.

Was it… jealousy?

With his triangular face, it seemed plausible.

It was a “scowl” face.

Having double the cuteness was doubly delightful.

Grrr.

Couldn’t resist.

“Chirp!”

“Hieek!”

I scooped up Shik-shik and Chirp together, hugging them both.

No grand reason—just wanting to hold both cuties in one place.

“Saaa!”

Shik-shik opened his mouth wide as if waiting for this.

Don’t eat someone you just met, please.

“Chirp!”

Surprisingly, the bushtit opened its mouth wide too.

Aren’t you a bird?

Even though Shik-shik looks dimwitted, he’s still a snake.

Maybe they’re just too young to know better.

I petted each of them in turn.

Now, now, get along, you two.

“It seems it will take a bit longer than I thought.”

“Right. Not immediately. But I promise support as soon as my body recovers.”

“Hmm… Right. Having aerial forces is crucial.”

The Snake Queen and Argentavis’s conversation was wrapping up.

“…What is your partner doing over there?”

“Gegek.”

“Gegek?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what ‘gegek’ is?”

What does that even mean?

Argentavis looked at the Snake Queen with an expression that said, “Are you serious?”

That should be the normal reaction.

“…Grasping high ground. Deep.”

Wait, he understood that?

“Gegeek.”

The little bird slipped out of my grasp, showing interest in my teeth.

A good eye.

We looked like a crocodile and a plover.

Sorry, but the Snake Queen cleaned me, so no debris there.

Nonetheless, the bird kept peering at my teeth.

“Hieek!”

Shik-shik, spurred by competitive spirit, also lingered around my mouth.

“Our talk’s nearly done. Since you brought your partner and successor, I must show courtesy as well.”

“That was quick.”

“It’s not something I could have prepared ahead of time. For all I knew, you might’ve come to kill me and take my core.”

“Empty words.”

The Bird King pulled out a flask from between his feathers.

“This is nameless wine. Since we’re formalizing an alliance, how about a toast?”

Wine!

Seems every powerful creature keeps a bottle of something.

Guess they can brew it themselves if they can take human form.

“Let’s have a drink for your partner, and one for the successor too.”

The little bird and Shik-shik seemed to argue.

Perhaps they were debating my teeth.

Shik-shik and Chirp now tried to climb into my mouth.

Their

 effort was endearing, so I just opened my mouth for them.

I only hoped they wouldn’t go for my uvula.

“And to introduce my daughter as well.”

“A daughter? So you have a successor.”

“Yes.”

With that, I truly felt like I was part of a social gathering.

If Argentavis’s daughter could grow into the Bird Queen…

The Snake Queen and Argentavis’s successors.

And a lone lizard who appeared out of nowhere.

It felt like a legendary gathering, like the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

“I raised my daughter in this place, ensuring she was safe from harm.”

I felt anticipation growing.

Honestly, seeing Argentavis’s human form had been a bit of a letdown.

It was cool, but he’s a Harpy.

And Harpies should traditionally be female.

If Argentavis had a daughter, I might finally get to see a female Harpy.

…Not that I’m interested; it’s purely intellectual curiosity.

“White feathers, a plump body… Watching her always brings a smile.”

White feathers.

What might she look like?

“Every morning, she chirps away, and lately, I feel like that’s all that keeps me going.”

Oh, I’d love to hear that myself.

“Tweet.”

Hm?

White feathers.

A round body.

A chirping sound.

…Could it be you?

“Hm. Odd. She should’ve followed me here.”

So, the rare daughter is in my mouth?

I can’t let him find out.

If he does, my partnership here will be over.

Not to mention, Shik-shik is here with me.

“Hmph. You couldn’t even manage your successor?”

“Well, I don’t expect any threat to her here.”

“Pour the wine. Look at my partner, practically drooling in anticipation.”

No.

That’s not why I’m drooling.

“Oh, drooling, indeed. And white feathers….”

Argentavis stopped mid-sentence.

“…White feathers?”

“Tweet!”

“Hieek!”

Even if bitten by a Tyrannosaurus, staying conscious would keep you alive.

Let’s stay positive.

“Gewehhek…”

Three months is long enough for a lizard!

 

Report on Potential

The Mirror of Possibility within the Snake Queen’s temple.

Though shattered into pieces, the Snake Queen hadn’t discarded the mirror.

It still retained a faint trace of its power.

However, it no longer served its original purpose.

Naturally, this was expected given that the mirror was broken.

Yet, it developed a new function unknown even to the Snake Queen.

It now held the ability to reflect the potential of someone else, rather than the person reflected in it.

For a brief moment, an image appeared in the mirror—a glimpse of someone who had entered the vision of the one who broke it, the black lizard.