Chapter 24 – Snake Den (6)

Rumble.

The chunks of water pouring from the sky began to grow increasingly thicker. It was to the extent that they could be called awls.

“It’s fucking stinging.” Velloc closed and opened his eyes slightly, feeling nature’s wrath piercing his entire body.

Beyond the moisture forming on his retina, he saw the monster looking down at him.

Even in the gloomy darkness that had settled around, what stood out by far were its two eyes.

Snake eyes that looked turbid and ominous, far from clear or clean.

Since the size of the pupils alone was as large as a human head, its body size could easily be guessed.

At that moment.

Kaboom!

Lightning struck. In an instant, the surroundings flashed, revealing the creature’s true form.

As expected, it was a massive snake that looked like several houses put together. Combined with its long tail, it looked much larger.

‘Well, it would have to be that size to destroy the castle. Otherwise, it was just poor construction.’

Velloc threw off his helmet while having such silly thoughts. His pitch-black hair was soaked in an instant.

His face stung because the rain was too heavy. However, at the same time, a refreshing sensation that seemed to clear his head pierced his mind.

Velloc swept back his hair and said,

“Now I feel alive.”

Adel picked up the rolling helmet and asked. Her question also carried the fear of the demon snake that had suddenly destroyed the castle and appeared.

“Master Velloc. Why the helmet…”

“My vision became too narrow. Looking at that guy’s size, taking a hit doesn’t seem like a good option.”

Perhaps to increase protection, the helmet of the plate armor was thick and heavy.

Sometimes it felt similar to wearing a gas mask.

So he took it off. He felt sorry to Luke, but he didn’t think he could block the attacks of the creature he would face from now on with just a few pieces of iron plate.

[Ho. You do not run away even after seeing my true form? A human?]

As Velloc stood still, the two eyes submerged in the darkness curved into arcs.

It was a gaze that looked as if watching the struggles of an ant. Velloc frowned.

Just like the two guys earlier, and that guy who claimed to be their master, all the demon bastards looked down on humans.

How arrogant. He didn’t like it. Velloc intended to cut that guy to pieces as well and turn him into experience points.

[First of all, nice to meet you, weak human. I am Botis, who serves Lord Astaroth…]

“Adel. Back off.”

Was it an exclamation of admiration for a human who piqued his interest? The newly appeared demon was more talkative than expected.

Velloc ignored the voice chattering noisily in his head and gripped his sword.

“Are you… going to fight alone again?”

A muttering sound was heard from behind. Somehow it sounded hollow, yet half-resigned.

Huh? Why are you like this too? When he turned his head slightly, he saw Adel hanging her head pitifully.

Velloc narrowed his eyes. After observing her for a moment, Velloc was soon able to understand the squire’s thoughts.

Adel was infinitely loyal, but she had strong pride. Of course, she also possessed matching skills. Although she was called a squire in name only, her skills were on par with an average knight.

However, how much would that strength work against a non-human, transcendent existence?

She was currently feeling a relative sense of deprivation. Velloc’s guess was mostly correct. However, it was different if viewed deeper. Adel was afraid of being abandoned by her master.

‘At this rate… will I be able to continue serving Master Velloc?’

It was a kind of trauma imprinted because she had already been abandoned by her parents once before.

Wasn’t there no guarantee that the same thing wouldn’t happen again? Velloc did not even think of such things, but that was how humans originally were. They saw what they wanted to believe.

“Master Velloc… Even if I die…”

The moment Adel falteringly tried to open her mouth, Velloc tapped her on the head.

When the steel helmet and the gauntlet met, only a thudding sound echoed, but Velloc’s following words were enough to shake Adel’s heart.

“Once we defeat that guy, I will help you become stronger. I have a strategy guide.”

“Ah…”

The words that he would help hit closer home than the promise of becoming stronger. Foolishly, she felt relieved by that single sentence. She could continue to stay by her master’s side like this.

“Leave this place to me, and you help the villagers evacuate.”

“I will… follow your command.”

Even if tears flowed, they were obscured by the pouring rain and could not be seen properly. However, Adel swept her eyes for no reason, turned around, and ran.

‘She has an unexpectedly cute side.’

After watching her back for a moment, Velloc turned his head again.

Far away, the demon coiled on top of the ruined castle was still chattering.

[…So I followed them and ascended to this land. Among them, Lord Astaroth is the one who truly fits the seat of the true lord…]

“I heard your interesting story well, but how long are you going to keep going?”

At Velloc’s question, the demon asked back instead.

[Do you not know that I am giving you an opportunity right now?]

“What opportunity?”

[The opportunity to harbor my egg. Since you are no ordinary human, if you accept me, you will become much stronger than you are now. Of course, the wealth that comes with it will naturally follow as well.]

Velloc was beyond flabbergasted and could only find it absurd at Botis’s tone, which sounded as if he were doing him a favor.

What kind of crazy person would willingly harbor something like an alien in their stomach? However, the demon’s thoughts seemed slightly different.

[I am merciful. I saved the ruler of this land who was dying of a chronic disease. I also helped a simple young man who lost his parents get his revenge. Both were highly satisfied.]

It was the story of the Snake Lord and Sam. They said demons dug into human weakness or deficiencies, and it seemed this was how. Velloc sneered.

“By becoming monsters?”

[You could call it a difference in consciousness. Just as you do not consider pigs in a pen to be your compatriots.]

“The conclusion is that they’re monsters. You loach-like demon bastard. You talk too much. Come at me.”

Velloc growled while gripping Butcher. At that harsh tone, Botis remained silent for a long time.

Then he spat out.

[How regrettable. Since my adaptation to this land is not yet complete, I thought you would make an excellent vessel.]

With those words, Botis swung his tail.

Crash!

The debris of the collapsed castle wall flew like catapult stones. Velloc threw himself flat.

Several boulders slammed into the spot where he had been standing just a moment ago.

Mud splashed up violently, and dirty water sprayed in all directions, soaking his armor. It was chilling.

Just a few seconds.

Had his judgment been even slightly delayed, he would have instantly become a lump of blood. Of course, he did not dodge by seeing it. It was a night when even the moon had set. He dodged by listening to the sound.

‘The difference in weight class is truly terrifying.’

His blood-red eyes glared like lasers. It was also a signpost pointing out the creature’s location. Velloc charged forward without looking back.

His steel greaves sank deeper and deeper into the muddy ground.

This pulling sensation, which felt like a whirlpool, was sticky like a witch’s and also persistent. However, Velloc never stopped his steps.

Whish!

It was because of the flying stones that flew in at any time. “Fucking unfair.” To see clearly and throw even in the dark. Was it because he was a snake? Was it something like a laser sight?

The sound slicing through the rain and the air grew increasingly closer. Velloc, who drew Butcher with a complaint, swung it roughly.

The water droplets hit by the cold metal shattered to pieces. The incoming stones were the same.

His hands vibrated. He even stepped back a few paces due to the recoil.

However, after a desperate struggle, Velloc finally managed to reach the front of the demon.

Leaning on his sword like a cane and gasping for breath, Velloc said,

“I think I know what it feels like to hate archers.”

[You. Are you really human? Even an elf swordsman or a dwarf warrior would not be able to do this.]

Sitting like a king on top of the castle’s ruins, Botis spoke in an admiring tone.

To approach while smashing boulders the size of his own torso in a situation where he couldn’t even see properly? It was absolutely impossible without considerable courage and skill. However, that was all.

[But what are you going to do now? Stab that greatsword into my head? Do you think you can do that?]

The demon snake laughed in amusement. He flicked his tongue and gently wagged his tail.

It was an obvious provocation and relaxation. Velloc said nothing.

He simply rushed at the demon, treading on the ruins of the castle. Slippery bricks, buried parts of bandits’ bodies, and tables tickled the soles of his feet.

Did luck follow him? Lightning began to strike sequentially. Along with a roaring sound, the surroundings flashed.

The creature thrusting its snout was clearly visible too.

Swsssh!

Velloc threw his body aside. A roaring sound echoed. The creature, which swallowed a mouthful of stones instead of flesh, munched its snout.

That was not the end. It even swung its tail. Velloc had to lie flat on the ground repeatedly. His ears rang with the wind pressure. His hair flew upward.

How many times did he dodge the creature’s attacks like that? Velloc grit his teeth and adjusted his stance.

That fierce onslaught coming from the giant body had a tendency to drain a person’s spirit.

However, he could tell instinctively. That he would be defeated if he was just swept away like this.

There was always only one way. Just as he had always done since falling into this Medieval Land.

Snatching his own life by swinging the sword.

Grip!

Velloc, gripping Butcher tightly, swung it roughly. Botis also answered with his tail. He intended to crush him completely or, depending on the situation, eat him whole. The demon possessed that much confidence.

[What…]

However, Botis let out a flustered voice at the burning sensation felt in his tail.

The human he thought he had crushed was standing perfectly fine on top of the castle’s ruins.

From the giant greatsword the guy held, purple blood dripped, mixing with the rain.

“What. I got scared for nothing. Compared to those two guys earlier, you’re not even that tough.”

The moment he cut through the creature’s skin and flesh, Velloc could tell. It was definitely tough.

Since a heavy resistance struck his hands and dulled the tip of his sword. But he could cut it. No, if he had applied just a bit more strength, he would have severed it entirely.

It was his intuition as a knight who had experienced battles between life and death multiple times.

Startle.

At that calm voice, the demon snake momentarily felt fear. An emotion he had never felt since ascending to this land.

The fear of death. Soon, it returned as a huge blow to the pride he possessed. “Me, to a mere human? Nonsense!”

“Graaaah!”

Botis even forgot to speak directly to the human’s mind and let out a bizarre shriek with his actual voice.

Not only that, he began to pour out surging flames from his pit-like mouth.

It was the authority of fire that had burned the church members to death.

Whoosh!

The pillar of fire followed wherever the demon snake’s head turned. The darkness retreated in an instant, dyed in orange.

It was a heat so intense that even the falling rain lost its momentum. The liquid evaporated in an instant, and thick steam surged.

Hiss!

“Grrrr.”

Botis growled as he swallowed the remaining flames around his snout. Foolish human, how dare you say such nonsense? Not even ashes would remain.

Just as Botis smiled with satisfaction.

At that moment.

Stab! Botis screamed at the intense pain felt in his lower belly.

Velloc, who had buried himself in the ruins of the collapsed castle, seized the opportunity and stabbed his sword.

From the tender lower belly, the demon’s blood poured out like a faucet. Velloc, an experienced knight, was not one to miss this gap.

The sword light flashed in the rain.

Butcher, swung once again, tore through the demon’s flesh, deepening the wound.

Boom!

The demon snake rolled on the ground, screaming as if tearing apart. Stones flew in all directions. He also spat fire as if struggling.

Perhaps thanks to the brilliant fireworks, Velloc was able to closely observe the creature’s condition.

The appearance of a wounded prey fearing death. It was the same struggle as the goat-head last time.

Whether the guy went wild or not, Velloc gathered his spirit with a deep breath.

He began to concentrate all his body’s strength into his arms and legs, just like when he split the troll’s club with his longsword before.

His muscles writhed dynamically, and his body, which was enduring the inner power, began to scream. But contrary to that, an explosive momentum was erupting from Velloc.

Did he feel something unusual? Botis’s gaze turned toward Velloc.

The blood-red snake eyes glared intensely at the small human.

This damn bastard was preparing something. Besides, this… was dangerous! Even before being a demon, his instinct as a living creature sounded an alarm.

[I admit it! You are strong! Yes, you won the contest of physical strength. But can you block even this?]

Botis’s vertically slit pupils stared long at Velloc. Along with a sinister energy, a mysterious glow flashed several times.

It was the Evil Eye. It was also the authority Botis was most confident in among his powers.

Confronted with this, Velloc’s body came to a sudden halt.

[Die!]

Just a few seconds. Even that was enough. Throwing away his elegant way of speaking from earlier, Botis thrust his head forward.

He intended to chew him up and swallow him whole. He would use that ridiculous sword as a toothpick.

The guy’s weak body drew closer and closer.

However, something was strange. The human guy suddenly closed his eyes and muttered something.

‘Did he give up?’

It was when Botis was thinking that. Through the sound of the pouring rain, Velloc’s voice could be heard clearly.

“I raised the skill level.”

Velloc grinned, and Butcher in his hand split the demon’s head.