LIGHTNOVELSTORY EP.62
Let’s assess the situation.
First of all, I’ve just woken up.
Naturally, I found myself snuggled up against the Ball Python.
How must I have looked to that snake?
A black lizard that stole my cherished Follower, now sleeping together with it after stealing the elixir.
Objectively speaking, I should be dead in this situation.
But that can’t be.
Stay calm.
Cool-headedness.
Help me think clearly.
First, in front of me stands the Snake Queen.
Her true identity is a Basilisk.
Not some Green Basilisk lizard, but a genuine Basilisk.
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【Basilisk】
A colossal serpent from mythology also referred to as a type of dragon.
Its left eye is imbued with deadly venom, while its right eye possesses the power of petrification.
An apex predator with limitless potential for growth.
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Unlike with the Hydra and the Human-Faced Bird, I can see the status window here.
Is she a being of lower rank than them?
No, that can’t be right.
It’s just that my wild instincts have leveled up, allowing me to see it.
Even at level 5, I could not see anything outside my race.
Not even status or levels were visible.
This means she’s a non-standard monster.
What about her size?
She was more enormous than the Titanoboa I saw in Silver Dragon Cave.
Right now, she is a being so strong that I couldn’t even dare to compare myself to her.
…But how on earth did I get inside this temple?
Considering the passage I’ve traversed, there’s no way that enormous creature could have entered.
But this isn’t the time for such thoughts.
I need to find a way to survive.
Think about the cards I have.
“Ggegegekk!”
Strength is of no consequence.
The only thing I have is the Ball Python sleeping in my embrace.
This little snake must be a precious being to the Basilisk.
While it may be a somewhat cowardly method, I had to utilize the Python as much as possible.
The fact that it didn’t attack until I woke up likely means it doesn’t want the Python harmed in the process.
If we’re snuggled up like this, even a Basilisk wouldn’t attack me.
[The Snake Queen is watching you.]
Watching, you say?
That feels ominous.
With her right eye glowing brightly…
Petrification!
Shoooowwwweee!
A petrification beam was emitted.
Shooosh…
I thought being so close to the Python would prevent an attack, but I was mistaken.
Is this how it ends?
With my body turning to stone?
Am I to become a statue guarding this temple?
Shooosh…
My body slowly started to turn to stone…
But it didn’t.
There was a feeling that the surface was petrifying, but it was reverting back to normal in real-time.
What is this?
Do I have some unknown resistance against petrification?
Even after the Basilisk’s petrification beam ended, I took no damage.
Only fine dust from shattered stone fell around me.
[The Snake Queen finds you intriguing.]
Right.
Even though I may appear this way, I’m also of the Basilisk lineage.
I might be immune to petrification.
“Ggegegekk!”
Dear Snake Queen,
Let’s communicate.
“Ggekkgekk!”
I earnestly appealed to the Basilisk.
I expressed that, through my venom gathering, I might be a being similar to her.
Have you ever heard of a Green Basilisk lizard?
[The Snake Queen furrows her brow.]
Oh no.
This backfired.
The Snake Queen approached me.
The petrification doesn’t work on me.
The Basilisk’s venom might be dangerous, but I can neutralize it to some extent with my White Venom Resistance.
However, there’s no way to block that physical power.
Avoiding is the best option.
But I see no way to escape.
Am I really going to die like this?
The Basilisk’s head drew closer to me.
Just as I was about to concentrate my energy for a final struggle,
“…Hieck?”
The Ball Python, which had been sleeping soundly, finally woke up.
Given the chaos, it’s rather odd that it woke up just now.
Lucky Charm.
Just try to escape, will you?
That snake is a vicious creature, whether you’re here or not.
“Ggekk!”
Yet the Python did not back down.
It squirmed and positioned itself between me and the Basilisk.
Swoosh.
The Python opened its mouth wide.
…No way.
“Piyak!”
With an adorable battle cry, a beam shot out of the Python’s mouth.
Kwang!
It was a stronger output than I had seen earlier.
Chiiing…
Of course, the Python’s attack wasn’t enough to pierce the scales of the Basilisk.
But it mattered.
Because the Basilisk’s gaze shifted.
[The Snake Queen looks flustered.]
“Saahh…”
It seemed like the Basilisk was wary of the Python.
“Piyahhh!”
The Python glared fiercely at the Snake Queen.
…Is this even rational?
It feels like even a hundred Pythons wouldn’t stand a chance against that tail.
What in the world is this Lucky Charm’s identity?
I activated the enhanced Wild Eyes just to check.
【Ball Python LV14】
【Traits】
“Princess,” “Tomboy,” “Paralysis Immunity,” “Poison Immunity,” “Doodle Worship”
【Status】
“Anger,” “Irritation”
Wait a minute.
Princess?
Did you say Princess?
[The Snake Queen is flustered.]
I jokingly mentioned it, but could this Python actually be a daughter?
“Piyahhh!”
The Ball Python hissed, unable to contain its anger.
“Saahh…”
The fearsome face of the Basilisk began to retreat.
Good job, Lucky Charm.
Drive your mother away.
[The Snake Queen glares at you with reproachful eyes.]
Hey, why are you looking at me like that?
From the Basilisk’s perspective, it could think that her precious daughter completely fell for a black lizard she’s never seen before.
Seeing that her cherished daughter is raising a ruckus against her parents because of a black lizard she’d grown up around.
I can understand why it might be angry if I were in the Basilisk’s shoes.
But that’s beside the point.
I only have her.
“Hieeck…”
[【Ball Python LV14】 is embarrassed.]
[The Snake Queen glares at you.]
Darn it.
I don’t know anymore.
Python, win this!
“Piyahhh!”
The Python wrapped itself around me, raging at the Basilisk.
Look at that Basilisk’s expression.
Even if it’s a monster whose level can’t be measured, it becomes incredibly weak in front of its child.
“Piyahhh!”
“Saahh…”
The ferocity of the Basilisk began to wane.
There are no parents who can defeat their children.
Well done, Python.
“Piyahhh!”
As if it thought it had sufficiently scolded the Basilisk, the Python smiled broadly at me.
No, not yet.
“Ggekk!”
That snake could kill me with just a little opening.
But contrary to my expectations, the attack didn’t continue.
“Saahh…”
The Basilisk merely observed me and the Python from a distance.
…So you’re going to wait and see for now?
Alright.
Since the Python put in the effort, I should give it some affection.
“Hieeck…”
The Python, sticking out its tongue and moving around, seemed pleased.
Good job.
…But, my dear mother-in-law,
your gaze is quite piercing.
It feels like the petrification beam is gradually seeping out.
The Basilisk stared at me blankly.
[The Snake Queen wants to reclaim her precious daughter.]
“Ggekk!”
No way.
If I give you that, I can only imagine what would happen to me.
I’m going to take your daughter.
“Hieeck…”
The Python seemed to be in a good mood, wagging its tail.
“Saahh…”
The Basilisk licked its tongue and glared at me.
It was a bit frightening, but I realized that as long as the Python was on my side, it couldn’t attack me.
Even if it could kill me, it would hear the resentment of its precious daughter for a lifetime.
If it’s a precious daughter, it should have been better taken care of.
Thinking such second-rate thoughts, I held tightly onto the Python’s tail.
“Saahh!”
The Basilisk’s eyes trembled.
[The Snake Queen wants to talk to you.]
Good.
It would have been great if this had happened earlier.
If only it had started shooting its petrification beams from the beginning.
The name Basilisk would be echoing.
“Ggegegekk!”
Let’s try to resolve this through conversation.
Of course, it won’t be easy.
There’s no guarantee that that snake can understand my ggek sound, and with the fragmented information from the status window, I wouldn’t be able to discern its true intentions either.
[The Snake Queen is pondering.]
But can’t the Snake Queen speak human language?
The Bird King spoke human words, albeit awkwardly.
Then again, the Bird King has a human-like face.
How could a creature with a snake’s face speak like a human?
I, who had managed to communicate with spiders and snakes somewhat effectively,
believed that the Basilisk was ultimately just a larger snake.
We should be able to converse just fine.
“Ggekk.”
Just as I was about to commence with the conversation,
a hazy mist began to envelop the Basilisk’s body.
From the faint silhouette, I could see the Snake Queen gradually shrinking in size.
Yes.
It was indeed strange to be inside this temple.
So it can reduce its size.
Unless it just performed some kind of giant transformation a moment ago.
Whatever it is doesn’t matter.
As long as its size is reduced, my safety will be ensured.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve shown this form.”
I prefer this smaller version.
…Wait a minute, didn’t I just hear a voice?
A human voice, unlike the Bird King’s.
It was quite fluent.
Somehow, a bit monotonous, reminiscent of Baek Yeon-young.
Could it be?
The mist enveloping the Basilisk gradually thinned.
“To think you would take my daughter. You are quite a bold one.”