A Snake’s Life Ch 100

Chapter 100

“Don’t you remember what I said about not avoiding my gaze?”

At that, Shuiren tilted his head slightly in confusion, and the murky light in his eyes began to clear, as if the fog was lifting. But just then, the divine relic glowing above began to emit an even more sinister light, and Shuiren started writhing in pain as black mist gushed out from the relic and began to envelop him.

In that moment, the urgent sound of horse hooves rang out, and the Emperor descended from a lavish carriage. The Imperial Knights swarmed in behind him. The ground trembled as if struck by an earthquake—this was no ordinary occurrence. Even from afar, Shuiren’s figure was clearly visible. A monster had appeared, prompting the Emperor to arrive flanked by the Imperial Knights.

The Emperor, full of bluster, addressed Zerpell the moment he stepped down from the carriage.

“Is this the Crown Prince’s doing?”

The Emperor got straight to the point, causing Zerpell’s brows to furrow.

“Your Majesty. Forgive me, but I don’t have the capacity to deal with you right now.”

“Judging by your reaction, it must be. I treated you with the respect due a divine envoy, and now you seek to bring ruin to the Empire.”

“…What are you saying?”

The Emperor’s sudden intrusion into this urgent situation did not sit well with Zerpell. Then, pointing at Shuiren, the Emperor continued, his lips curling into a sneer, as if relishing the moment. It seemed he was overflowing with long-held resentment toward Zerpell.

“Isn’t that monster destroying the capital the so-called divine envoy? And what is this rain?”

The Emperor shuddered as the rain threatened to touch him, while a servant beside him struggled to hold up a parasol-like umbrella.

“The protective barrier over the sanctuary has vanished, and the forest is withering. If this isn’t the path to the Empire’s destruction, what is?”

Zerpell narrowed his eyes at the Emperor, golden pupils gleaming with a chilling light. His confident smile was genuine. His gaze shifted naturally to the Pope, but the latter hung limply, caught in Shuiren’s tail.

“Surround it immediately!”

At the Emperor’s command, the Imperial Knights began to encircle them.

“Your Majesty, that’s Shuiren.”

“What?”

“The one you’re aiming your swords at is the divine envoy.”

“He’s no longer a divine envoy! Surround him!”

Zerpell could no longer contain his rising fury. He was already upset that the Emperor had appeared just as he was trying to calm Shuiren, and seeing the swords pointed at Shuiren only fueled his anger further.

Maybe it was the rain pounding down on his body, but Zerpell’s emotions surged uncontrollably. He let out a deep sigh and, his voice filled with murderous intent, spoke with a gleam in his golden eyes, causing the Imperial Knights to flinch.

“Lower your swords. Anyone who does not lower their weapon will not be spared.”

“Whose orders do you think you’re defying? I am the Emperor of this Empire. What are you all waiting for? Surround him!”

The knights’ minds reeled from the rapidly unfolding chaos. The tide of power, already shifting, now tilted further in Zerpell’s favor due to the incident with the casino. They began to realize that Zerpell might be the one who would determine their futures.

The atmosphere in the capital was strange. Though it was Shuiren who was rampaging, the surrounding citizens showed no resentment. On the contrary, they seemed to be praying for him to release his anger. The Emperor had not noticed, but the people clearly saw the Pope hanging limply in Shuiren’s grasp.

“Your Majesty, perhaps it would be wise to assess the situation first…”

“Are you defying the Emperor’s orders?”

The Captain of the Imperial Knights, who had at least been concerned for the Emperor’s safety, cautiously made the suggestion but was immediately cut off. Though the knights drew their swords at the Emperor’s command, they remained distanced from the scene. Perhaps displeased at being the subject of their discussion, Shuiren slammed his tail against the ground. A thud echoed, and with a casual swipe of his tail, the knights were flung aside. His threatening tail swings left them trembling in fear.

As the unending argument continued, dark clouds began to gather ominously in the sky, filling it entirely. The divine relic merely radiated light and inflicted pain upon all those near it.

“Your Majesty…”

“Honestly. Watching this, it’s like seeing an unbridled colt running wild.”

The First Imperial Knights declared that, to fulfill the Emperor’s command, and with the Holy Knights needing to rescue the Pope, they must join forces to subdue Shuiren. But Shuiren flung them all away.

“If you had just left him alone, I could have soothed him…”

Zerpell ground his teeth in frustration. Shuiren, who had almost returned to himself, was now provoked by the knights showing hostility toward him, causing him to thrash even more violently and let out increasingly threatening cries.

Zerpell looked behind him. While some of his knights remained, they were fewer in number than their opponents. Still, he didn’t believe for a second that his own knights would lose to those lazy, self-indulgent soldiers.

“Hold them back. Until I can calm Shuiren.”

“Yes, sir!”

At that command, his knights drew their swords and raised them against the Emperor and the Holy Knights. The Emperor raged, shouting that this was treason, but Zerpell paid him no mind.

“Who has angered you so?”

“Don’t you remember what I said about not avoiding my gaze?”

When did I ever avoid it!! Startled by Zerpell’s warning growl, I opened my eyes—then silence fell.

Where is this? Who am I?

Everything was pitch black, and I couldn’t even see myself. I blinked slowly. Hmm… judging by the fact that I couldn’t move my arms or legs, I must be in snake form. The total darkness made me a little uneasy, and then I heard several people crying in the distance.

[Sniff… sob…]

Cautiously, I slithered toward the sound. Though I couldn’t see anything, I somehow felt like I was close.

[Sob…]

[Um… hello?]

As expected, there was no visible form. My tail swished through empty air. The murmured wish to go back came in a familiar voice. I remembered the Pope using the divine relic to summon rain, and even the scene where the grudges I absorbed flowed into the relic.

Did I faint again?? Should I be taking tonics or something… I sat blankly for a moment, then shook my head. I had to get out of this bizarre spiritual realm.

[Hello? Excuse me? Can you hear me??]

When I shouted in frustration at the silence, the surrounding space seemed to ripple. Was it just my imagination, or did it flinch in fear? The crying sounds continued, but one voice finally responded to mine.

[Wh-Who are you?]

[That’s what I want to ask. Why are you crying here?]

At that, the voice abruptly stopped. The tone was different from the confused sobbing or the anger-filled shouting I’d heard before. Maybe I’d reached deeper into this place…

[We… just want to return to the Water God…]

[That’s right. But we’ve been tainted… because we gave in to our anger…]

[Some still hold onto their grudges, but we just want to rest.]

[We were once friends and comrades… but now we’re trapped by resentment, unable to move on.]

They said they’d felt resentment when they died, but had since let it go. However, some among them still burned with anger, and that lingering rage had bound them in place.

[What about those guys??]

When I asked, a scene appeared before my eyes like a television screen. My master?? It was Zerpell. He stood with his arms spread wide.

[Wha—Why is he there?]

[He’s trying to use the envoy’s body to exact revenge.]

[What??]

Behind him, I saw my little ones fending off the Imperial and Holy Knights. Was this a battle caused by me… I felt a lump rise in my throat.

At the edge of the screen, the tip of my tail came into view… why did it look as big as a person? Was there something wrong with my eyes? That’s when I finally realized—I had grown enormous. No wonder Zerpell had been looking up at me!

And to make things worse, drool was dripping dangerously close to Zerpell. My drool, of course. Damn it. I cursed under my breath.

[Stop that right now!!]

I shouted at them. But the answer I got was full of despair.

[Even if we can’t do anything, at least the envoy still can.]

I panicked, shouting for Zerpell to run, but he came toward me instead. His voice, calling out to comfort me, and the words of concern he uttered moved me—but they couldn’t ease my worry.

I tried to scare him away, but instead, Zerpell softened his eyes and said gently, “Come here.” He was using the kindest tone possible. I screamed at him inwardly, “Are you an idiot?!” But his hands didn’t lower. That look in his eyes clearly said he wanted me to nuzzle into them.

Still fixated on Zerpell, “I” lunged at him. It wasn’t me moving—it was “them” controlling my body. Were they trying to get themselves killed?! I meant that for both Zerpell and myself. “I” charged at Zerpell like I was about to sink my teeth into him. I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed. That body belonged to me. There was no reason for me to be locked away in this dark place.

[That’s right. The envoy doesn’t belong here.]

The voice echoed my inner thoughts. It felt eerie, as if my mind had been read. Then it said something strange.

[Please stop the rain quickly. The only thing we can do is send the envoy back. If we don’t hurry, even we will fall under its sway. And if that happens, the rain will put the entire world to sleep.]

[What do you mean?]

Before I could hear an answer, I felt as though I were being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. When I opened my eyes with a start, the same scene as before appeared before me. But Zerpell was nowhere to be seen.

[Master?]

“Shuiren?”

The voice came from beneath me. Then I felt a hand gently touching my neck. Zerpell… was inside my mouth. Um, let’s not say that out loud. No wonder my jaw felt sore… I hastily pulled my face away. I wanted to scold him, but when I saw his gentle smile, my heart melted.

I quickly licked off my drool from his face. What a humiliation.

Still, I cautiously approached him, who still stood with his arms wide open, and rubbed my head against him. Just my face alone nearly filled his embrace to the brim. I could feel his chest rising and falling clearly.

“Are you finally back to your senses?”