Chapter 12
Interception confirmed.
So… it can’t see me, right?
I wagged my tail, tilted my head, and even tried doing a little dance.
—There might be trash who intrude without permission. Grave robbers, adventurers, hunters—those kinds of people.
Pelerian’s illusion spoke as if having a conversation.
It didn’t seem like he could actually see me.
He probably recorded this long ago or something like that.
Anyway, just from his appearance he seemed eccentric, and his personality matched it.
—If you were startled, I apologize. Security was important, so it couldn’t be helped.
Says the guy who just fired a spear.
Come to think of it, he’s a mage—so why are all his traps so analog?
Is he some kind of spear enthusiast?
—I have created such dungeons all across the Great Forest and the continent. This one is Dungeon No. 008.
That must have cost quite a lot to build.
A rich racist.
—Because of that, I’ve completely exhausted my wealth. I’ve been cleaned out. Dirt poor now, dirt poor! Hahaha!
Haha, very funny.
This elf named Pelerian was completely different from the image of elves I had in mind.
Aside from the long ears, he was just a bad-tempered old man.
Why did he create such a secret laboratory?
And what is this place for?
—This basin in the Great Forest, Arkan Basin, was formed long ago when a meteor struck. Here, I began an experiment that required the power of time. At least 300 years were needed.
So that’s the secret of the basin.
No wonder the terrain was strange—it was surrounded by cliffs on all sides.
Pelerian said he needed 300 years.
—If you are seeing this illusion, then 300 years must have passed. If anyone tried to enter before that, kin or not, they would have burned to death. Hahaha!
So 300 years have passed.
I almost got incinerated, huh.
But still… this place looks like a mess.
I looked around the crystal orb.
Without night vision, it would be impossible to see anything—it was that dark.
Would a mage capable of casting such illusion magic really leave his dungeon this dark?
On top of that, there were signs of collapse and destruction everywhere.
At first I thought it had been looted, but it was too chaotic for that.
It really does seem like an earthquake happened.
—My kin, I have a request.
Pelerian suddenly spoke seriously.
—The elders were divided over the experiment I envisioned. There were many foolish ones who opposed it. This concerns the future of our race. Yet they refused to accept that extinction is the only path left for fairies.
A deep, simmering anger could be felt.
—If we cannot uncover the secret of evolution, it is over. You know this as well—“people” cannot evolve. The same applies to us fairies, as well as dwarves and humans.
Oh? Well, that makes sense based on what I know.
There’s no such thing as a “Great Human,” after all.
—Short-lived races do not matter. But for long-lived races like us elves, we stagnate over time. You can see it clearly from the fact that humans have produced mages stronger than me.
Pelerian’s expression looked deeply offended as he said that.
Old man, even I’m working hard after reincarnating as a Serpent—don’t take it so personally.
—The answer is evolution. Our fairies must become High Elves. And so! I began research to uncover the evolution of magical beasts. I sought to determine the conditions and principles of evolution. …And at last, I achieved results.
Pelerian sharply raised his hand and pointed inward.
A corridor extended further ahead.
—I created a magical beast.
…What?
Using the blue blood of a high-ranking magical beast, a drake, along with a Gray Tarantula from this Great Forest and an underground mole, I synthesized a chimera. Then I studied its evolution process and achieved results.
So he wasn’t just a racist—he was also a mad scientist.
Like some state alchemist creating chimeras for achievements.
Pelerian… you lunatic…
—However, there was a problem.
Pelerian gave a bitter smile.
—To achieve the final condition for evolution, 300 years were required. So I placed the chimera I created into hibernation, to evolve after those 300 years. That is what I ask of you.
Pelerian clenched his fist and said:
—Go inside, awaken the chimera from its slumber. That is all.
No thanks~
—Yes, it may be frightening. But there is no need to worry too much.
Whoa.
For a second I thought he heard me.
—Once it awakens, it will immediately evolve. The evolution process will automatically be recorded and transmitted to the World Tree. After the evolution is complete, you simply pull the lever and incinerate the chimera. A simple task.
Why would I do that?
—Brave deeds are rewarded. If you complete everything, a great reward will follow.
With a booming voice, Pelerian pointed to the right this time.
—That vault will open after the chimera is incinerated. Inside are various magical equipment and artifacts I possess. It will be more than sufficient as a reward.
Oh, I see.
—Then, for the eternal victory of the fairies.
Pelerian’s illusion disappeared.
He kept going on about fairies until the end—hard to relate when you’re a Serpent.
I am curious about the reward, but I have no intention of following that old man’s orders.
A chimera? Just thinking about it is terrifying!
And more importantly—
The vault… is already open.
It really seems an earthquake happened.
The sturdy iron door had warped, leaving a gap.
It was too narrow for a human to enter, but for a Serpent like me, it didn’t matter.
Honestly, for a mage, he could’ve made a magical vault or something.
Instead, just an iron door—thanks for that.
I slithered through the gap.
And inside… there really was a reward.
Wow! A shining full plate armor!
A gorgeous sword that truly looks like something an elf would use!
Gold and treasures!
He was better than I expected.
Of course, the problem is that none of it is useful to me.
What a waste.
Especially this short sword.
【Elven Broadsword】
It looks incredibly beautiful.
And extremely sharp.
It’s small enough that I might be able to hold it with my tail.
I grabbed the hilt with my tail—and it actually worked.
I don’t know what material it’s made of, but it’s light.
Should I become the world’s first sword-wielding Serpent?
(“Sa” as in Serpent.)
I swung the sword around a bit.
Then it slipped—and almost cut off my tail.
Never mind. Better not use a sword.
That was truly unpleasant.
Just as I was about to leave the vault in disappointment—
Something caught my eye.
【Pelerian’s Signet Ring (Sealed)】
What’s that?
Unlike the other flashy equipment, the ring looked plain.
It was placed on a shelf, and it even looked worn—as if Pelerian himself had used it.
It had a cross-shaped ornament. It seemed to be made of gold, but there were unfamiliar metals intricately embedded into it.
What caught my attention most was the word: sealed.
A sealed magic ring… for some reason, it made my heart race.
I tried slipping the ring onto my tail.
It was actually too small for that—
But then—
Whoosh.
It expanded.
Wow! Size-adjusting magic.
The ring grew large enough to fit three fingers and snugly settled around the middle of my tail.
When I tried to pull it off with force, it came off—but it wouldn’t fall off just from shaking.
This thing is pretty.
But the ring wasn’t just a simple ornament.
The moment I wore it, I could understand its function.
【Pelerian’s Signet Ring (Sealed)】
- Subspace Storage Magic
- Other functions are sealed
I was captivated by the word “magic.”
A Serpent that can use magic.
Come to think of it, that’s obvious. I read it in Harry Potter.
Serpents using magic is common sense, right?
And “subspace storage magic” was pretty self-explanatory.
Even a Serpent like me, who can’t carry a backpack, could store and transport items.
Maybe like this?
I sent mana into the ring like when using a skill—
Whoosh—gold coins were sucked into the ring.
Nice. Just getting this ring made coming here worth it.
It seemed there was a limit to how much I could store.
I took some gold coins and the broadsword.
I hadn’t completely given up on my dream of becoming a swordsman.
Feeling reassured, I left the vault.
Now I just had to go back the way I came.
Hmm… Pelerian really is a terrifying old man.
After moving for a while, I reached the stone door again—but it was firmly shut.
There was no way to open it from the inside.
With no other choice, I returned to the chamber with the crystal orb.
There was only one path forward—the room where the chimera was supposedly in hibernation.
Well, as long as I don’t wake it up, it should be fine, right?
I carefully passed the crystal orb and moved down the corridor.
This corridor didn’t seem very long.
At the end, there was an open door. That must be where the chimera is.
On both sides of the corridor were crumbling statues.
Seems like there really was an earthquake—one statue had no right arm, another had no legs.
On top of that, vines had grown over them.
Poor things.
Just as I thought that and stepped into the corridor—
—Magical beast intrusion detected.
…What?
Is there a speaker or something?
Why is it only now detecting that I entered?
So this side, where the chimera is, is a restricted area?
Or maybe it was meant to stop the chimera from coming out through this corridor.
Yeah, but what are you going to do about detecting a magical beast?
What can you even—
—Activating interception golems.
Oh. So it can do something.
Interception golems.
That already sounds terrifying.
Where are they?!
Creak—crack.
It was the sound of vines snapping.
Those crumbling statues… were the interception golems.
They looked incredibly dangerous.
【Pelerian’s Guard A】
【Traits】
[Guardian], [Golem]
【Skills】
[Smash Lv10], [Durability Lv10], [Shockwave Lv10], [Mana Resistance Lv6],
[Slash Resistance Lv10], [Heat Resistance Lv10], [Threat Detection Lv3],
[Self-Repair Lv2], [Destruction Beam Lv6],
[Intermediate Elemental Magic: Fire Lv10], [Basic Elemental Magic: Fire Lv10]
【Status】
[Half-Destroyed], [Malfunction]
What the hell, that’s insanely strong!
And what is “Destruction Beam”?!
The golem looked strong enough to toy with a cockatrice by itself.
The other one, Pelerian’s Guard B, seemed just as strong.
Though that one used a different element—solar or light-type magic.
Crack—finally, the vines covering them tore apart.
From their single eye, a crimson glow burst out.
They clearly intended to intercept me.
But then—
The legless golem suddenly collapsed forward.
【Pelerian’s Guard A】
【Traits】
[Guardian], [Golem]
【Skills】
[Basic Elemental Magic: Fire Lv10], [Heat Resistance Lv10]
※ Unusable due to ‘Half-Destroyed’:
[Smash Lv10], [Durability Lv10], [Shockwave Lv10], [Mana Resistance Lv6],
[Slash Resistance Lv10], [Threat Detection Lv3], [Self-Repair Lv2],
[Destruction Beam Lv6], [Intermediate Elemental Magic: Fire Lv10]
【Status】
[Half-Destroyed], [Malfunction], [Fallen]
…Wow.
The overwhelmingly powerful interception golem instantly became a pathetic one with only a single usable skill.
And then, the pitiful golem lifted its head and spat out flames.
Fwoooosh—
Ah! My scales almost burned!
I hurriedly dodged and barely survived.
Wait… the floor feels soft?
I leapt using Leap—
Boom!
The stone floor plates clapped together, smashing the space where I had been.
Looking to the side, it was the armless golem.
This is dangerous.
I retreated immediately.
The moment I stepped outside the corridor boundary—
—Interception confirmed.
With a mechanical whirring sound, the glow in the golems’ eyes softened.
They returned to where they had originally been embedded.
Hey, the interception isn’t even done yet.
After thinking for a moment, I cautiously stuck my head back in.
—Magical beast intrusion detected. Activating interception golems.
The golems sprang up again.
I pulled my body out of the corridor.
—Interception confirmed.
I poked my head in again.
—Magical beast intrusion detected.
—Interception confirmed.
…This is kind of fun.
After making the golems stand up and sit down about ten times,
I realized something important.
So I immediately tried it.
Hey, Guard B.
…
【Pelerian’s Guard B】
【Skills】
…[Basic Elemental Magic: Solar Lv10]
Let me borrow that for a second~
- [Using Borrowed Horn Lv2 to borrow Basic Elemental Magic: Solar Lv10.]
- [Success. You have temporarily obtained Basic Elemental Magic: Solar Lv1.]
If I do this right…
I might actually be able to learn real magic here.