My precious scales and the feathers of the golden phoenix are set to become the weapons of the Snake Queen.

The items I received from Argenta are now sorted out, and all that's left is the elixir obtained from catching the phoenix.

One is for Shweshwe, and the other is for me.

Since this is the first time I've seen this kind of elixir, it will likely be more effective than any elixir I’ve had before.

However, just like with the Cockatrice's elixir, I can't swallow it immediately.

I need to refine the elixir with the help of the Snake Queen.

Of course, my body is a bit different from others, so I should be able to swallow it without much trouble.

Additionally, I’ve opened my dantian this time, so I have a bit more leeway.

But there’s really no rush to eat the phoenix’s elixir.

I can wait until I refine it with her power, and then consume it just before confronting the King of Birds.

The Snake Queen slowly examined the two elixirs.

*Flash!*

Her eyes sparkled.

She must have used the power of her mystical vision.

I don’t know the exact principle, but she probably utilized the power of petrification.

Turning the impure energy into stone entirely, perhaps.

…I’m not sure if that’s even possible.

Shweshwe was clinging tightly to my shoulder, his mouth gaping open.

It seemed he wanted to eat that elixir.

But it wouldn’t be easy to refine the elixir immediately.

It took some time when I dealt with the Cockatrice, and this elixir is of a higher grade than that.

I felt bad for Shweshwe, but there was nothing to do but wait.

*Gulp.*

*Gulp?*

Shweshwe seemed to be swallowing something.

“Gag!”

*Swallow.*

I quickly grabbed Shweshwe’s tail and lifted him up.

“Peep?”

Shweshwe dangled from my grip.

After lifting his head, he had a puzzled expression as if to ask why.

“Gag!”

This isn’t the time for that!

What if you swallow it right away?

Spit it out.

I gently shook his tail.

“Peep!”

Wait, why didn’t the Snake Queen stop him?

“Gag!”

What if Shweshwe's body explodes from this?

I was about to put my fingers into Shweshwe’s mouth to make him open up.

“You don’t need to do that. The refining is already finished.”

“Gak?”

*Slither.*

Shweshwe gently fell to the ground.

“Peep…”

He looked disappointed.

From his perspective, I had teased him by making him grab the elixir I offered as a gift.

“Gag…”

Who would have thought it would be that quick?

Shweshwe curled his body into a ball.

I almost poked him to apologize but stopped immediately.

I guessed the reason he assumed that position after eating the elixir.

*Qi Gathering.*

A snake without legs can’t sit cross-legged.

So he’s curling his body like that to practice Qi Gathering.

…Does the Snake Queen do the same?

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Gak-gak.”

It’s nothing.

“The princess won’t instantly reach a higher realm just because she ate the elixir, either. It’s better to think of it as stored energy in her body. The Qi Gathering she’s doing right now is to prevent her inner energy from getting twisted.”

Shweshwe is still a Ball Python.

While pythons aren’t particularly small snakes, they’re a bit less intimidating compared to the ferocious beasts I’ve seen before.

I’ve also consumed many elixirs, but I can’t use all that power yet.

I naturally became able to handle the inner energy of the elixirs after evolving into a Komodo and then a Komodo-Rania.

Shweshwe will be the same.

The immediate effects may not be significant, but at the moment of evolution, the elixir he just consumed will explosively enhance his growth.

Will he transform like the Snake Queen?

Train hard and evolve quickly.

By the way, the speed at which the elixirs are being refined is incredible.

That means mine is ready as well.

*Roar.*

Then I can’t just sit still.

*Thud.*

“Your turn is still coming.”

Instead of the phoenix’s elixir, the Snake Queen’s hand came toward my mouth.

Still early, huh?

“The princess has a body structure similar to mine, so she can easily refine the elixir. However, your body structure is different from mine. Thus, it’ll take more time to refine your companion’s share.”

Well, if it was going to happen that easily, I would have been fed it earlier.

I felt a bit disappointed, but the elixir isn’t going anywhere, so I can wait.

*Gulp.*

….

I habitually chewed on what was in my mouth.

That is, the Snake Queen’s finger.

The Snake Queen stared at me intensely.

“Gak…”

*Oops.*

“Who taught you such a habit?”

The Snake Queen looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

I quickly spat her finger out.

“If you’re going to do it, do it properly. What’s with your fingers?”

“Gak-gak.”

“Hmmm, it seems I need more time to teach you a proper habit.”

…What does that even mean?

The Snake Queen was saying something that made me feel like I shouldn’t dig deeper.

I quickly stepped back.

“Companion.”

But I couldn’t shake off the Snake Queen.

*Slither.*

The Snake Queen’s tail tugged at my leg.

What’s going on all of a sudden?

Of course, I did bite her finger, but that was an accidental mistake.

“If you’re going to bite, you should bite the neck, not the finger.”

The Snake Queen said something completely out of the blue.

It seemed she was under some misunderstanding.

The reason I bit her finger was a habit formed because of Baek Yeon-Yeong.

What the Snake Queen was implying seemed to be something akin to hunting.

“Gak-gak.”

“Coincidentally, the princess is currently practicing Qi Gathering.”

“Gak…?”

“You were the one who bit me first.”

Are you talking about hunting?

“Can I take that as you started it?”

No way.

That’s not how it should be.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“…If I could, I’d want to correct that habit, but it’s a pity that there’s no time for that.”

“Gak!”

Fortunately, the Snake Queen can distinguish between public and private matters.

I didn’t know what she was planning to do, but it wasn’t the right time for that.

Saving a bit of time will be beneficial, whatever the reason.

“Once I start, I won’t be able to move for over a month.”

Huh?

What exactly was she planning that made her say something like “over a month”?

That’s almost a whole month.

“After catching the Great Arhat, I need to catch a day.”

That was strange.

I saw a withered lizard floating in the air.

It’s an image unrelated to me, but somehow it felt unsettling.

…It’s unrelated, right?

“Don’t worry about the elixir. I’ll refine it according to the date.”

In my eyes, I still saw the dry Komodo.

“To build stamina to endure a month….”

Increasing stamina, huh?

That sounds good.

Whatever it is, if it can help me endure for a month, there’s no reason for me to refuse.

Even if the dry Komodo-Rania spirit was shaking its head vigorously, I didn’t care.

What could possibly go wrong?

It’s something beneficial for my body.

*

I am currently on an important mission.

I’m heading out with Shweshwe.

“Shwesh….”

Shweshwe, coiled around my head, seemed displeased that I was out and about with my shiny bald head.

I should have dried my hair earlier.

But seeing him flicking his tail happily, he seems to be in a good mood.

He’s excited about the thought of going out just the two of us.

However, Shweshwe, we’re not just going out for fun.

“Shweshwe.”

Soon, a full-scale battle with the King of Birds will begin.

The Snake Queen had her tasks, and I had mine.

Her tasks included refining the feathers of the golden phoenix, refining the elixir I would consume, and gathering the remaining troops.

At first glance, it was no ordinary task.

In contrast, I had very little to do.

My only mission was to ensure Shweshwe’s safe evacuation.

And that safe place was the territory of Old Kompi.

For some reason, it seemed the Snake Queen couldn’t enter the domain of the young dragon.

I could move around just fine, and since I had some familiarity with Old Kompi, I could be considered the ideal candidate for this task.

And I was also moving a stone tablet that I couldn’t decipher.

It was likely about alliances.

Considering that I was leaving Shweshwe with Old Kompi, it might be that the young dragon would unexpectedly not participate.

However, if the Great Arhat were to target Shweshwe, it would be troublesome in many ways.

It would affect both me and the Snake Queen, and if Shweshwe was taken hostage, we wouldn’t be able to attack.

Therefore, using the young dragon, a high-level personnel, to protect Shweshwe seems like a reasonable choice.

Of course, Shweshwe had no idea about this.

Now that he had

 eaten the elixir, he seemed determined to participate in the battle while clinging to my shoulder.

While Shweshwe’s abilities shouldn’t be underestimated, I couldn’t bring him to the battlefield.

“Peep!”

Shwooo!

Seemingly filled with leftover energy from the elixir, Shweshwe shot rays into the air.

I worried about what would happen if he got into trouble with other beasts, but given Shweshwe’s inherently gentle nature, he wasn’t targeting any living beings.

Although occasionally, he did make holes in some poor trees.

“Peep!”

Shwooo!

He seems quite excited.

If I had to name two things Shweshwe loves, one would be going out, and the other would be me.

Going out with me.

A combination of his favorite things.

I could understand why Shweshwe was so thrilled.

“Peep!”

*Shwoom!*

But let’s keep it moderate now.

So far, it’s been fine, but someone might get hit.

“Gak-gak.”

“Peep.”

Shweshwe nodded, as if he understood.

“Peep!”

*Shwoom!*

Then he shot one more small ray.

Given its diminutive scale, he probably thought that was the last one.

It was like shaking off the remaining energy.

This should be a suitable conclusion.

Shweshwe used up his excess energy and didn’t seem to cause any trouble around.

“Partially….”

I thought I heard someone sobbing far away, but it must have been my imagination.

Thus, I walked with Shweshwe toward the territory of the young dragon.

“Gak!”

As soon as we arrived at the entrance, I let out a *gak* sound.

“Gak-gak!”

“Gegak!”

Geckos sprang out and greeted me.

Shaking their plump tails, they welcomed me.

“Gak.”

Have you been well?

“Gegak!”

“Gak-gak!”

A gecko stretched out its short legs, showing off its curves.

Some of them climbed onto my claws, rubbing their tails against me.

This is a bit over the top for a welcome.

“Zzss…”

Shweshwe glared at the geckos with his triangular face.

Though they were gentle creatures and didn’t need to be wary, it was understandable that Shweshwe would react this way since it was their first meeting.

“Gegak!”

“Zzss…”

The geckos also took on a defensive posture.

But they only glared at each other; nothing more happened.

The geckos clung to my legs, while Shweshwe slithered near my neck.

“Gak.”

I spoke to the geckos.

Enough with the warm welcome; could you call Old Kompi for me?

That was the implication.

“Gek!”

I heard a familiar cry.

Old Kompi was hopping toward me from a distance.

Wow, even though I’m happy, there’s no need for such an exaggerated entrance.

“Gak-gak.”

Good to see you, Old Man.

I brought your granddaughter along.

“Gak.”

Shweshwe, say hello.

“Peep!”

Old Kompi’s eyes widened.

Is it the first time he’s seeing my granddaughter?

“Grahhh….”

How happy could he be to let out a dragon’s roar?

…Huh?

Why did that old man’s face suddenly turn triangular?

“Grahhh!”

Old Kompi, unable to contain his anger.

No, why is he getting mad?

What did I do wrong?