Heilit Langrey said with a bright smile:
"Just peel off a little skin. I think it would be good for arm sleeves."
I trembled, afraid that might happen.
What a terrifying human.
Though she didn't look particularly strong, she was clearly formidable.
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[Heilit Langrey lv???]
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That's because I couldn't see her status window.
This woman had already saved my father and Big Eyes, and now she was offering to take me to Silverback Akims and capture that monkey.
From my position, it was difficult to refuse.
What if she really asks for my skin?
It's too much for arm sleeves, maybe we could compromise on enough for one ankle sock.
Yes, let's do that.
Everything for the greater good.
I stoically waited for her request.
"Just pull out a few scales. Two, three, no... five?"
'...'
"...Four?"
I conveyed my intention through Mrs. Gorilla.
"I'll... give... ten."
Heilit Langrey's expression brightened.
"With that many, I could even make a necklace."
I quickly had her take the scales before she could change her mind.
It stung a bit and even bled, but it was a small price to pay.
"I hadn't really thought about making accessories, but I see this is a way to do it."
She seemed very pleased with my scales.
Well, since I evolved into a Crystal Python, my scales might be no different from jewels in some ways.
She must have realized from this that she could obtain byproducts without killing magical beasts.
For my part, I can only hope this experience will reform that poacher.
No matter how cruel she may have been to magical beasts before.
She has been of great help to me.
Even now.
It was a similar position to when I clung to Nanaluk's shoulder, but the ride was incredible.
Whoosh-
It's a sprint beyond that of a track athlete.
The amazing thing is that this isn't on a track, but in a forest strewn with magical beast corpses.
Yet there's not even a slight shake, just the sound of wind.
Does she have excellent suspension?
"Just wait a bit! We'll be there soon. It's strange, ending up riding a magical beast on my shoulder. The world is full of surprises."
She seemed to have a more easy-going personality than I thought, compared to when she was wailing like a madwoman earlier.
"Ah, I feel foolish for crying earlier. Forget about it. I suppose there's no chance of rumors spreading since you're a magical beast anyway."
Despite thinking that, she keeps muttering as if trying to converse with me.
"What breed are you? Something similar to a crystal lizard?"
'I'm a Crystal Double Horn Python.'
I played along loosely.
"Your father looked really cool too. Seeing as you can talk, you must be a high-intelligence upper species. Why can't you speak?"
'Just because my level is still low.'
"After a few evolutions, you'll probably be able to talk too. If we happen to meet again later, make sure to tell me you're that little snake from before. It would be best to say it in advance."
'I'll keep that in mind.'
When you evolve, your appearance changes.
What happens if I don't say anything in advance?
Besides, just evolving doesn't mean you can speak.
I resolved to avoid encountering this woman again if at all possible.
I might as well check my status while replenishing my stamina.
──────────────
[Crystal Double Horn Python lv30+]
[Title]Ouroboros, Heart-eating Snake
...
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My level has reached its limit.
That means I can evolve now.
I should evolve right after finishing this.
How will I evolve next?
Will I finally be able to become a Serpent this time?
Honestly, it still seems unlikely.
The only Serpents I've seen are my father and mother.
Of course, my father, a Polaris Serpent, and even my mother, a Medusa Serpent, seem stronger than I am now.
I really want to become a Serpent by the evolution after next.
While thinking about this, Heilit arrived near the root.
As we got closer, there were clearly many monkeys remaining.
Now that Riokku is dead, the human-faced spider is dead, and the centipede mom has left, the insect army has collapsed.
It seems the monkeys have claimed victory over the remaining insects.
They were gathered around the root as if guarding it.
The monkeys cast wary glances at Heilit and me.
It seems only Silverback Chimpanzee Akims has climbed up the root.
Maybe he went up alone in case his subordinates might covet the fruit.
What a greedy one.
Heilit stopped abruptly at a distance.
'Don't we need to break through?'
I asked, but of course, there was no answer.
Instead, she put down her backpack.
"There's no need to deal with those dregs. We need to go up quickly."
She seems to have understood what I said.
What she took out of her bag was a long, curved rod.
But that rod keeps coming out endlessly.
Pelerian recognized it.
"It's a subspace backpack."
'Oh.'
It must be some kind of magical tool.
'Why carry around an inconvenient backpack? Doesn't she have something like a subspace ring?'
"Foolish snake. Do you think accessories enchanted with subspace magic are common items!"
Pelerian said in a tone that was hard to tell if he was boasting or scolding.
Come to think of it, we should also take that gnome's invisibility cloak.
No, now is not the time to worry about such things.
"It's a great bow."
What I thought was a rod turned out to be none other than a bow. A very large great bow at that.
Its shiny black appearance makes me think it might be made from a magical beast's horn.
She planted the bow in the ground and pressed down with force.
Crack!
She strung the bow and plucked the string to test it.
She also took out arrows from her backpack.
At a glance, they looked like thin spears, iron arrows.
She raised the longbow and aimed upwards.
Creak, creak.
She drew the bowstring with a fierce sound.
She must have extraordinary strength.
Twang!
The arrow flew with a whoosh.
It doesn't seem to have hit Akims, but Heilit grinned.
"Let's go up with this."
With a bow?
How?
Her method was even more daring than I had imagined.