A Snake’s Life Ch 103(End)

Chapter 103

[Child. Child.]

Someone kept calling out to me… Someone was persistently waking me from a deep, sweet sleep. But my body was too weak, and I couldn’t open my eyes. It felt like my consciousness was floating, drifting aimlessly. Amid that fading awareness, I heard a voice saying, “Not today either, huh…”

My eyelids were as heavy as steel, glued tightly shut, refusing to open. And so, a day passed as I lay in a hazy daze, hearing someone call to me again and again. At first, the voice was faint, but it gradually grew clearer, as if signaling that it was almost time for me to wake up.

This time was no different.

[Come on, wake up now. You’re quite the sleepyhead. Hurry and wake up. Aren’t you going back?]

Go back? To where…? At those words, one person’s face flashed through my mind. And in that instant, I jolted awake. The first thing I saw was a field of bright white clouds. Then, I felt a strong snort from beside me. As I raised my head and looked around, a voice of relief reached me.

[You’re finally awake. It seems your body endured quite a bit. You were asleep for a long time.]

I shook my head slightly to drive away the drowsiness still clouding my mind. And then, the face of the Water Deity came clearly into view.

[Water Deity?!]

[Yes, you’ve finally awakened.]

The clouds all around us moved as if at the Water Deity’s command, brushing gently past me like a soft caress. The fluffy texture of the clouds was tender and comforting.

Wait a minute… What’s going on? After the Water Deity took control of my body, I remembered nothing at all. I began to panic, bombarding him with questions about what had happened. The Water Deity calmly soothed me and said,

[Of course, everyone is safe. Those who deserved punishment received it, and all my children were reborn into new lives by my side. Only you remained.]

[Only me? For what?]

The Water Deity smiled gently and met my gaze.

[You deserve nothing less than my deepest gratitude. And so, I intend to honor your choice. Where do you wish to go?]

[……?]

Go? Where would I go? I only had one place I could possibly return to, so I didn’t understand why the Water Deity made it sound like I had several options.

[Do you wish to return to the world you came from?]

[Eh…? But… I…]

I had died… and now, all of a sudden, he was offering to send me back? The thought stirred my heart. There were many people in that world with whom I had deep ties. But then again, I had also formed meaningful bonds here.

I had just woken up, and the sudden situation was so bewildering that I couldn’t come to a quick decision.

[You may take your time. I will always support your choice.]

This wasn’t something that could be decided easily even with time… More importantly, how long had I been here?

[What about Master?]

The person I worried about first and foremost was Zerpell.

[That child? There’s no need to worry. He’s become a splendid Emperor now.]

[That’s such a relief. He became Emperor safely…]

Wait a moment… My brow furrowed. Emperor? He became Emperor?? From what I know, one can’t just become Emperor on a whim. Aren’t there formalities and an official enthronement ceremony and such?

With a trembling voice, I asked the Water Deity,

[Just in case… How long has it been since I collapsed?]

[Just over a year.]

I froze completely at those words. Not a week, not a month—a year?? My mind shut down in shock. I began to panic. I needed to get to him right away.

[Even so, you carried a god within your body…]

[Send me back, now!]

[……Are you saying you wish to live in that world?]

I was a dead person in that world. And yet, suddenly returning as someone who had come back to life felt ridiculous. That was my past life. This was the present. Once I realized I had died, the idea of going back no longer appealed to me. I was someone who valued the present over the past.

I had to go to where someone was waiting for me more earnestly than anyone else.

[Yes, send me now! My master is waiting!!]

Honestly, I had been looking forward to seeing Zerpell’s coronation. Wasn’t that the fruit of my labor? I swallowed my disappointment in tears. I couldn’t even imagine how Zerpell must have spent the time without me… The thought alone was unbearable. Restless, I shouted again.

[Send me to the same place as before!]

[If your will is firm…]

The Water Deity smiled with satisfaction, as if he had known what choice I would make from the beginning. Without hesitation, he blew out a breath. Wrapped in that breath, I was swept away somewhere.

As I drifted away on the wind, the Water Deity said something about always watching over me, and something about taking care of the child. The words didn’t make much sense, but that didn’t matter.

I had to go to my master!

Carried by the wind, I was suddenly dropped somewhere. The place I landed in was very familiar. Before I could even feel the rush of nostalgia, I began crawling forward, trying to recall where to go. I crawled eagerly in my snake form.

Thanks to what had happened before, I could now even speak. As I called out for my master while crawling, there was only silence. Only my own voice echoed back. But soon, I saw the familiar palace. I picked up my pace.

But something felt off. The palace, which should have been bustling with people, was completely deserted. Not even an ant was in sight. Where had all the attendants gone? Surely someone should have heard me—but no one responded.

A wave of anxiety swept over me. Could it be… had he moved elsewhere? If he had become Emperor, it made sense to think he would have moved to the imperial palace…

I drooped my head in despair.

[Master… Where are you.]

A terrible thought crossed my mind—had I come back too late? Had he already forgotten me? I tried to brush it off as needless worry, but the anxiety only grew. I had never been to the imperial palace and had no way of getting there. All I could do was wait for Zerpell to come.

But then, after a short while, I heard footsteps. Quite a few people, it seemed, judging by the variety of footsteps. I quickly hid in the grass just in case. The blades of grass blocked my view, but I could still make out a man in a golden cloak embroidered with a dragon, surrounded by many people.

I recognized him immediately.

The Water Deity was right. He really had become Emperor. He looked more fitting for the role than I had imagined. A proud smile formed on my lips, and I found myself dazedly admiring him. Zerpell let out a deep sigh.

Was he tired? Now that I looked, his complexion didn’t look good. His expressionless face seemed drained of spirit.

I burst out from the grass. There was a rustling sound, and Zerpell’s entourage came to a sudden halt.

“Wasn’t the order given that no one is to be allowed into this place?”

Zerpell’s icy voice made me flinch, but I crawled out of the grass anyway. Those who saw me gasped. Yet Zerpell continued to stare straight ahead, not turning around. I quietly called out to him.

[Master…?]

His body visibly jolted at my voice. Slowly, he turned his head. To me, it felt like I had only seen him yesterday, but the year that had passed had left its mark. His more mature appearance made me feel a mix of bittersweetness, pride, and guilt.

Zerpell’s eyes trembled, as if unsure whether what he was seeing was real. At his side stood Cedric, still faithfully beside him. Smiling, Cedric stepped aside to make way. As the people parted, I looked around nervously and awkwardly crawled toward him.

Zerpell used to kneel and scoop me into his arms whenever I came to him. But now, it was different. Then again… a year was not a short time. Feeling guilty, I lowered my head and said,

[I’m sorry… I tried to come back sooner…]

At that moment, a droplet of water fell onto my head. Huh? I looked up and saw Zerpell, head lowered, crying. I panicked.

[D-Don’t cry. Why, why are you crying?]

I had once seen his eyes grow red, but never had I seen him actually cry. Yet now, he made no move to wipe his tears, simply staring at me with tears streaming down his face. I blinked.

Though tears fell from Zerpell’s eyes, the corners of his eyes curved gently into a smile.

“…Welcome back.”

The words were heavy with emotion. For some reason, I felt tears prickling at my own eyes too.

[Master. That outfit… it suits you perfectly.]

“I’m glad.”

At last, Zerpell lifted me into his arms and nuzzled his face against mine. I licked away the tears flowing down his burning cheeks. Perhaps it tickled, because I felt his chest tremble as he laughed. I smiled brightly and looked at him.

[Let’s stay together now.]

The wind that had brought me back circled us gently, as if blessing our reunion, and then disappeared. Somehow, I thought I could hear the Water Deity’s voice from far away.

 

The End