PRKE 60

CHAPTER 60……………………………………………….

Click!

I hastily turned my back to the bed. Jenny peeked her head around.

“Miss.”

“Uh, yes? What is it?”

But do I even need to hide? She can’t see anyway.

I shifted slightly to the side. As expected, Jenny didn’t notice anything and smiled brightly.

“Are you hungry? Shall I bring you something to eat?”

I glanced at the huge snake sprawled across my bed and shook my head at Jenny.

“No, it’s fine. Jenny, I just want to rest.”

“Yes! Get some good rest. I’ll come back in the evening!”

After Jenny left, the room was quiet again. I turned and stared at the bed.

What do I do with that thing?

I tapped its tail with my foot. My foot passed right through its semi-transparent body.

Feeling a chill, I quickly pulled back my foot.

This won’t do.

I took out the aquamarine from the drawer.

I raised my fist to strike but changed my mind, holding it in my hand and extending it out the window.

“If you don’t get up, I’ll throw this away.”

「…….」

“One, two…”

「…….」

“Three…!”

The necklace slipped from my hand. Just as it was about to fall completely—

「Kyaaaah!」

The water snake writhed violently and lunged. In an instant, it was close enough for its pointed face to protrude.

Swish swish.

Its tongue flicked out like a living creature.

「What are you doing?」

“Get up.”

「You dare try to discard my body?」

“Well, it made you get up.”

「Bold, aren’t you.」

Hisssss. The snake opened its mouth, sharp teeth glinting.

“Are you threatening me now?”

I shook the necklace slightly outside the window.

Tap! Tap!

The snake struck the floor with its tail, clearly displeased. Its mouth remained shut.

What a ridiculous snake.

When it burned with hatred, urging vengeance against humans, it had been terrifying. But now, it was almost laughable.

As I stared, the snake suddenly flared up.

「How dare you look at me!」

What a temper.

Even Leo had a bad temper, but compared to this spirit, Leo was an angel.

「Do not even think of meddling with my body. Don’t you feel sorry for Leo?」

“Not really.”

I shrugged, and the snake’s mouth twitched.

“If you promise not to harm me, I won’t throw you out.”

「…….」

“Take it or leave it.”

「Fine.」

Just as I was about to swing and throw the necklace, the snake spoke quickly.

It caught the aquamarine, spinning in a wide circle.

“Smart thinking.”

I returned to the bed and sat down.

The snake’s expression was strange as it watched me.

“Why?”

「I am curious about something.」

“What is it?”

「Who is that person?」

“That person?”

「The big one who was with you.」

“Prince?”

「Prince?」

“The son of the emperor of the empire.”

「Empire, huh. The people of Sun and Fire have founded another kingdom?」

The people of Sun and Fire… That’s from the mythic era, isn’t it?

Seeing my expression, the snake’s lips curved upward.

「Curious, aren’t you?」

“Somewhat?”

「Hmph. I like honesty. I especially dislike humans with schemes. Not that I like you. You’re also a human of this land.」

I couldn’t exactly say I didn’t ask.

「That man is of the people of Sun and Fire, a descendant of fire, the son of Sala. His aura tormented me. He is an extremely hot-blooded one.」

At the mention, the snake shook its head rapidly from side to side.

「Not a pleasant feeling, I assume.」

Strange.

It says it wasn’t pleasant, yet its expression seemed amused. Amused? No, maybe more like glad.

I remembered when Aquamarine touched the great priest Uranus, the scenes that unfolded before my eyes.

Humans rushing at gods or spirits. Then another group of humans, full of rage, appeared.

[You who claimed purity, how dare you…!]

Those must have been the ancient humans.

「At the beginning, there were the people of Fire and the people of Water. Naturally hot and cold. The world is balanced by water, fire, earth, wood, and minerals. Especially water and fire. If either side becomes too strong, disaster follows. You know that, right?」

I nodded.

The recent floods and desert disasters in Liorse came to mind.

「The fire energy that man possesses is beyond what I can endure now. Incredible… a divergence of beings who should coexist.」

The snake’s voice faded like it might vanish completely, leaving a bitter feeling even for me.

「But this is curious. How is he still intact? Even while remaining in this land.」

The repeated word caught my attention: this land?

“The empire… you mean it’s strange that the people of Fire are here?”

The snake stared at me.

「It’s because of you.」

“What?”

「You, the people of Water, forcibly took our power and drove out the people of Fire. Drawing water’s energy violently and disrupting harmony—this land must be inhospitable for the descendants of Fire.」

It was the same logic as what was said in the temple.

Humans—ancestors of the kingdom—stole the spirits’ power and expelled the empire’s ancestors who lived alongside them.

If true, that’s a horrible history.

「But why are they unharmed? Given their strong aura, they should be affected more.」

It pondered deeply. Even in its snake form, it didn’t move, head lowered.

「Ah, yes. If he’s a blessed guardian, that’s possible.」

“Guardian?”

「The people of Sun and Fire were originally guardians who protected us. Some favored clans bestowed the blessing of water. Strange, though. That blessing shouldn’t persist. All clan powers have been sealed.」

The snake’s eyes, puzzled before, suddenly turned cold.

「But what does it matter now? In the end, even they failed to protect us. Humans are useless. Whether the people of Water monopolized water or the people of Fire were exterminated, it no longer concerns us.」

Giovanni even came to the kingdom for the empire’s people.

Would he be heartbroken if he knew this?

I asked the snake without thinking.

“Is there no other way? A way to help the empire—like transmitting water’s power to them?”

「No such thing!」

The snake thrashed angrily.

「A greedy people who committed the accursed act of swallowing a spirit’s body. To monopolize our power, did it feel good? If a human who holds a spirit dies, the power will pass to the next human born on this land. A bloody succession that eliminates chance. Wicked!」

“I can absorb another priest’s power—wouldn’t that work?”

「Nonsense.」

The snake snorted. When I stared blankly, its expression changed.

「What did you say? You can absorb ‘power’?”

I nodded, and its aura shifted again.

Why is it acting like that?

I only mentioned it because it couldn’t see anyone but me.

Maybe I shouldn’t have…

I fell silent in the tense air.

The snake stayed quiet for a long while, curling up on my bed.

It wasn’t doing anything, just sleeping. But somehow, it felt like its will had vanished.

Weak, wilted… like a sick snake.

Honestly, I was relieved it became quiet because I still felt uneasy about it—but the problem was that it was occupying my bed.

Why should I, the room’s owner, be crammed on the sofa?

I looked ridiculous trying to explain this to Jenny, who stared curiously.

The real problem is how little I know. I don’t even know if the old stories the snake tells are true. Is there a way to verify? Or a person…

The first person that came to mind was Armand Dupin, a theologian and famous author.

But he’s mystical and hard to meet, so scratch that.

Next, the desert sorcerer group Giovanni mentioned.

[Unlike the kingdom, the empire doesn’t care much about myths. But the sorcerers are different. The prophet who predicted my fate was one of them. Only, all except Ritchia have left for the Tower of Sorcery.]

Ugh.

I couldn’t just go to the desert chasing myths.

After a full day of these worries and discomfort, I fell asleep on the sofa as usual.

When I woke, I nearly screamed at the snake’s head floating right in front of me.

A strangled noise escaped my throat.

Gripping my pounding heart, I widened my eyes.

The snake had been hovering in the air, staring at me, and now opened its mouth.

What could it want to say?

「I am called Tyryn.」

Sudden self-introduction.

“Ah… okay.”

I answered half-heartedly, and it narrowed its eyes.

「Is that all?”

“What else should I say?”

「Don’t you feel memories or strange sensations?”

“…Not really?”

Tyryn’s snake face twisted.

Definitely twisted. The eyes squinted.

Even as a snake, its expressions were remarkably varied.

「Not at all…？」

Tyryn tilted its head.

What is it thinking while looking at me?

It feels… unsettling. Its gaze is nothing like when we first met. It’s like it’s looking at something curious…

Curious cat?

One thing is certain: it’s not the hatred that had given me chills before.

“What do you mean it’s not?”

Frustrated, I asked first. Tyryn narrowed its eyes.

「The treacherous people of Water used dark magic. A blood-based seal of power.」

“….”

「It’s hard to break unless it’s the sanctuary’s power. But as you said, you absorbed the power. That means it’s been broken. Not via blood succession, but another way.」

“….”

「Impossible. Hard to believe.」

Tyryn’s small eyes glowed bright blue.

「So, prove it.」

Prove it?

Thunk!

The drawer opened on its own. The aquamarine necklace floated slowly and stopped in front of me.

「Catch it.」

“….”

「Catch it.」

Why the order…?

The aquamarine tilted as if it might fall.

“….”

「…….」

It seemed Tyryn clenched its teeth.

Ah, its power is insufficient.