A Snake’s Life Ch 96

Chapter 96

We headed straight for Aiden’s palace. The atmosphere there was as if they were holding a funeral. Zerpell hadn’t exaggerated in the slightest. The maids and attendants were so busy they didn’t even notice Zerpell’s arrival.

A woman who appeared to be the head maid was yelling at the top of her lungs to bring warm water and towels, and only belatedly did she notice us. It seemed she had been informed in advance, as she greeted Zerpell politely without any sign of surprise.

“Your Highness. You’ve come.”

“I’ve come to see Aiden.”

“…This way, please.”

Her expression looked troubled, but surprisingly, she allowed us to enter without resistance. As we got closer to Aiden’s room, we passed by many attendants. They glanced at us timidly as if intimidated and shrank away as they passed.

“I apologize for the disorder.”

“It’s fine. I heard Aiden is ill. Has there been any improvement?”

The head maid shook her head cautiously. Her face bore a resigned expression, as if the time had come. It was as if she had already accepted Aiden’s death. As the person in charge of the palace, she had likely watched over Aiden for a long time.

When we arrived at Aiden’s room, she offered a word of caution before opening the door.

“…Please do not be startled.”

Once Zerpell nodded, she opened the door. A chill swept over me. Though the room was covered in gold, to my eyes it looked entirely blue.

It was as if the inside of the room mirrored the deep sea, filled with serpents slithering about.

“It hurts… Let me go!”

Aiden was screaming that he was in pain, his body convulsing violently as if in seizure. Zerpell’s eyes widened at the sight. He, too, must not have expected it to be this severe. Aiden’s face was flushed bright red from fever, and the heat seemed to have spread through his body. His entire body was beet red, and the fever looked life-threatening.

Priests stood in a line around him, all stretching their hands toward Aiden to share their energy, but it wasn’t enough.

A brown figure was wrapped tightly around Aiden’s flailing legs—it was Kir. Kir was struggling to pin Aiden down. Without thinking, I called out to him loudly.

[Old man!]

[You… What took you so long!]

Kir turned his head sharply at the sound of my voice. I tapped Zerpell’s neck, and realizing what I meant, Zerpell carefully set me down. I quickly crawled over to Kir.

[What on earth happened?]

[I don’t know. He suddenly started convulsing… The children are rampaging.]

‘Could it be because I answered them…?’

I didn’t know for sure, but guilt slowly crept in. Aiden’s condition was visibly severe. The energy gathered in his body was running wild like an untamed colt. Kir was doing his best to transmit energy to keep Aiden’s body from collapsing under the strain and to suppress the rampaging power.

[At this rate… he really will die.]

Aiden clearly couldn’t withstand the power. Kir muttered hopelessly. He too looked pale, perhaps from expending too much of his own strength. There was one method I recalled upon seeing Aiden’s condition, though it was one Kir had opposed.

[Wait, don’t tell me you’re also…]

As expected, it was hard to hide anything from Kir; he trailed off in a voice laced with suspicion. The same power that had run wild inside me after I responded to the voices at the casino.

In my case, I’d had the Water deity’s help, but Aiden had not. And to be fair, Aiden might die, but I wouldn’t. As long as I held onto my sanity and didn’t lose control, I would be fine.

[There’s no other way. Better me than him.]

Unexpectedly, I had another ally. I didn’t particularly like it, but there were many priests in the room pouring holy energy into Aiden.

Surprisingly, Kir didn’t say a word. I looked at him curiously and asked,

[Aren’t you going to stop me?]

[…It’s your decision. And in a state where the curse has already taken hold, it’s the same either way. Besides… I believe you’ll do fine.]

Kir’s face moved closer, brushing against mine as if to give me courage. I smiled faintly and climbed onto Aiden’s chest. The priests seemed to think I was interfering and raised their voices.

“You’re in the way!”

“Leave him be.”

“But—”

“He possesses more divine power than you do. He is the Divine Envoy.”

At Zerpell’s words, the priests fell silent. They glanced at me warily but resumed their duties. I felt emboldened by his trust in me. Looking back, I saw Zerpell watching over me.

I truly felt sorry toward him. Zerpell seemed to be gripping his arms tightly, his hands clenched with tension. Otherwise, the veins bulging on the back of his hand wouldn’t have made sense.

Since I had been the one to vaguely explain the situation to him, he likely had some idea of what I was about to do.

I took a deep breath and lifted my head. Then I turned to Kir.

[Kir. Focus only on healing Aiden. I’ll calm the power inside him.]

[…Understood.]

‘Honestly, I had planned to use the divine relic, but…’

I couldn’t let the wheezing Aiden be for even a moment. I could always use the divine relic after absorbing the power.

The Water deity had said that a divine relic is something that can contain divine power. I could also be called a vessel that had directly received the Water deity’s power.

I wasn’t afraid of receiving that power. After all, the children were pitiable beings. Some had already entered me—what difference would it make to accept a few more? What mattered was whether Aiden’s body could withstand it.

Fortunately, I was currently drained of all power. Wasn’t this the optimal condition for absorption? I made sure not to draw it in all at once. I kept repeating to myself, “Just a little, slowly,” careful not to put strain on Aiden.

[Why are you doing this?]

[Yeah, why? Weren’t you angry? Didn’t you hate it? Didn’t you want it all to disappear?]

[We listened to you…]

The voices of the children, suppressed by the Water deity, rang louder in my head. I steadied my shaken heart.

[Yes. I was angry. I did hate it. I did want it to all disappear. But it’s over now. What I wanted has come to pass. So that’s enough from you.]

Their voices sounded both sorrowful and eerily amused.

[Why?]

[Why? Why?]

[Our anger hasn’t ended yet. There’s more to be done.]

[If you want revenge, do it properly! Don’t kill the wrong people! The real ones who killed you, who used you—aren’t they elsewhere? When the time comes, I’ll call for you. So for now, go back!!]

As I soothed the resisting children, I forcibly suppressed the surging power. For a moment, silence fell, and voices of agreement began to echo. Among the many children, not all were overwhelmed by rage. Some even mistook me for the Water deity.

[…Very well. If that’s the case.]

As the rampant power began to subside, Aiden’s labored breathing calmed as well. His body, which had been flushed bright red, began to return to its normal color.

Instead of being filled with power, I felt it drain from me. Luckily, I didn’t pass out, though my vision grew blurry. In that blur, I could see Aiden’s complexion improving. Thank goodness… I felt a sense of reward, and my shoulders rose in pride.

As Aiden’s intermittent breaths steadied, a priest hurried over, grasped his hand, and closed his eyes. Surprise filled his slightly opened eyes.

The priest glanced sideways at me and said,

“It appears we can relax now.”

“Do you mean…”

“Yes. He’s passed the critical point.”

The attendants joined hands and gave thanks in relief.

“The messenger’s power has had a positive effect. Just moments ago, there was no hope… Let us give His Highness some peace and leave the room.”

At the priest’s words, the warm atmosphere began to settle as they hurried to clean the bed. They wiped Aiden’s sweat-soaked body and replaced the damp sheets and blankets with fresh, dry ones.

The head maid turned to Zerpell and spoke.

“Your Highness, I have a request. Would it be possible to leave the messenger at His Highness’s side for a while? I know it’s an unreasonable request, but…”

Though her plea was purely out of concern for Aiden, the circumstances weren’t ideal. This room was already crowded with priests and visited by the pope—there was no way Zerpell would leave me here. The maid flinched under his cold stare.

“I—I misspoke.”

As Zerpell delivered his icy rebuke, I, though too weak to move much, slowly approached him.

When I neared him, he picked me up and held me gently. He softly stroked me as if to comfort my exhausted self. I liked his touch, so I rubbed my face against his hand.

[Still, it’s good that Aiden’s better now, right?]

Zerpell looked at me with an expression that said he couldn’t handle me.

“Your Highness.”

The sound of the door opening came from behind, and a servant approached Zerpell. He whispered into Zerpell’s ear—news that Ian would arrive soon. Zerpell told the servant he’d be there shortly and instructed that the guest be treated comfortably.

I’d heard Ian had gone to the Tower. But the person Zerpell was telling to be treated comfortably… didn’t seem like Ian. A magician, perhaps?

It was clear Zerpell had to go. I glanced back at Aiden to check his condition. Then I turned to Kir with a quiet hiss.

[Do you think Aiden will be okay now?]

[…Yes. If anything, you’re the one in danger. Are you all right?]

[I… think I’m okay?]

Aside from the clashing voices earlier, I felt unexpectedly fine. Almost strangely so. Was it thanks to the Water deity’s power? Is that why it’s quiet now?

To be honest, I’d acted fully prepared to burn myself out. But now that it ended so easily, I felt both hollow and relieved—though part of me feared this might be the calm before the storm. A creeping sense of dread stirred within me.

[Anyway, take care of Aiden. I’ll go now—my master’s busy.]

Zerpell watched me quietly as I hissed at Kir, not urging me to hurry. When I turned to face him, he asked if I was finished, and I nodded.

Leaving Aiden’s palace behind, we returned to Zerpell’s palace.

Upon arriving at Zerpell’s office, we found Ian hurriedly rising to his feet. Next to him sat an old man sipping tea and grumbling bitterly.

The man looked as if he’d come straight out of a secluded forest—his clothes were covered in black soot or burn marks. His clean-shaven face, in contrast, made the disparity all the more striking.

The old man leisurely stroked his beard, then reached out his hand toward Zerpell.

“Pleasure to meet you.”