"I said I'll return it soon."
—Hmm… the seal on the ring has been broken. Did you enter the dungeon?
He looked like a chibi version of Pelerian.
Barely the size of a human palm, with a big head and big eyes.
He should have looked cute—but he didn't.
Well, of course.
Pelerian looked just as ugly as he did in the hologram.
He was completely wrinkled with age. Not exactly bald, but his M-shaped hairline was unmistakable.
His face was full of spite.
At that point, calling him a fairy felt wrong—he was more like a gremlin.
His eyes alone were oddly clear, which somehow made him look even crazier. A lunatic with clear eyes.
—That idiot Iris… she killed my Paphnachia. My precious little one…
Pelerian muttered angrily.
More importantly—precious little one? That chimera?
This guy's sense of aesthetics is completely warped.
Well, I guess that's not that strange.
People have all kinds of tastes.
Pelerian kept muttering to himself, acting like I didn't even exist.
—And why is some Serpent bastard wearing my ring? Tsk.
"That's a bit harsh. You racist old man."
I hadn't said that out loud.
It was just a thought. Ever since becoming a Serpent , I had no way to speak.
But Pelerian's expression suddenly changed dramatically.
His eyes widened, his mouth fell open.
—Aaaah! The Serpent is talking!
I was just as shocked and screamed internally.
You can hear me?
—W-was that my imagination? Yeah… must be.
What? Now he can't hear me again?
What was different just now?
I tried focusing more, putting force into my inner voice—almost like actually speaking.
"Can you hear me?!"
—Gah! The Serpent is really talking!
Pelerian jumped in surprise again.
For a mad mage who experiments with chimeras, he sure is timid.
—What are you? Are you really a Serpent ? No matter how I look at you, you're just a lowly creature.
"What do you mean 'lowly creature' to a person?"
—A person? You're a person?
"Well… not exactly a person. I am a Serpent , but…"
—A Serpent claiming to be a person… what is going on with the world?
Pelerian looked just as bewildered.
—Why are you wearing my ring?
"Well… it just kind of happened. I picked it up."
Talking to a projection felt strange.
Apparently, Pelerian felt the same way.
—Unbelievable. A mere monster wearing my signet ring… even speaking like a human.
"And what about you? Are you really Pelerian?"
—If not me, then who would be Pelerian? Though I am but a fragment of his soul, I am indeed the mage who defied the heavens.
The moment I asked about his identity, his tone suddenly became long-winded and solemn.
A fragment of his soul? What does that even mean?
"Then can you use magic and stuff?"
—Hmm… what a low-level question.
"How is asking a mage if he can use magic a low-level question?"
—Over there!
Suddenly, Pelerian pointed in a direction.
It was an obvious distraction—but I decided to play along.
I looked.
And my entire body froze.
My scales trembled.
A chill ran down my spine.
This shock was incomparable to when I saw the guard captain.
Why… was he here?
The monster who severed my mother's head in a single strike—
Hero Gunter.
He was walking this way, accompanied by his knights.
***
Iris could not believe what she had just witnessed.
She had assumed she could cut the Serpent in a single stroke.
But the strong resistance she felt through her blade…
She couldn't even slice through a mere piece of flesh.
That alone could be explained.
There were plenty of monsters with tough hides.
But what about next?
She had clearly infused her sword with aura.
And used the skill "Hundred Slash."
Like the spiked bone parrot before, it should have been cut into dozens of pieces.
But the Serpent blocked it—
with its tail.
More precisely, with the ring on its tail.
Her aura could cut through steel armor.
A shockwave burst, sending the Serpent flying high into the sky.
Looking at her broadsword, the blade was chipped.
All because of that ring.
To begin with—why was a Serpent even wearing a ring?
And more importantly…
That ring's emblem…
"…Pelerian."
At a glance, she couldn't be certain.
But the symbol engraved on the ring resembled Pelerian's insignia.
And considering a chimera of Pelerian was here—
"…Could that Serpent also be a creature created by Pelerian?"
If so, it would be something even more extraordinary than the chimera.
She needed to pursue it.
First, she had to retrieve the chimera's corpse using spatial magic—
As Iris bent down, she suddenly straightened up.
Then turned around.
There was no attempt to conceal their presence.
The heavy clanking of plate armor echoed loudly.
This was an open clearing under the sky.
And from the western brush, a group emerged.
Knights in full plate armor.
None of them were ordinary.
Each had a roaring lion engraved on their shoulder plates.
Anyone knowledgeable would recognize them—
The Iron Lion Knights.
Iris was knowledgeable.
She immediately recognized the short-haired man leading them—
One of the Eight Heroes.
They approached with heavy steps and formed a line.
All the knights stopped.
Only Gunter continued forward.
He approached Iris directly.
Then stopped and spoke.
"I am Gunter Prihansen. Commander of the Iron Lion Knights."
"…Iris Selena. Investigator of the Golden Leaf."
Iris responded.
She did not sheath her sword.
Gunter didn't seem to mind.
"So you are the envoy of the fairies. I've heard of the Selena family. A pleasure."
"This is hardly a pleasant situation. Being surrounded by knights."
"We are not surrounding you. Given this is the Great Forest, we merely maintained formation."
"So, what business do you have with me?"
Iris's clear eyes fixed on Gunter.
Gunter glanced at the chimera's corpse.
"Did you kill it?"
"…No. It was already dead."
"Then that's convenient. Since it wasn't your prey."
"What do you mean?"
"We need to retrieve the chimera's corpse. I ask for your cooperation."
Iris frowned.
"That is an absurd request. Do you even know whose creation this chimera is?"
"The one who defied the heavens. That mage's legacy."
"…So you do know. Then you must also know that it is the fairies' responsibility to deal with it."
Iris raised her sword.
At that, the Iron Lion Knights behind Gunter all drew their weapons at once.
Clang!
A grand metallic chorus echoed.
Gunter raised his hand to stop them.
The disciplined knights immediately sheathed their weapons again.
Iris had not raised her sword to fight.
With the hand holding her sword, she brushed her hair back—
revealing a long scar running from one eye across her forehead.
"A wound I received from Pelerian."
"I am the appointed agent of direct vengeance, sanctioned by the Elder Council. If you are a man of the kingdom, then respect the will of Elvenwood."
Naturally, the kingdom maintained friendly relations with the fairies.
Iris used that fact to pressure Gunter.
That should be enough explanation for him to back down.
That was what Iris thought.
"I'm sorry, but I need that chimera corpse."
But things didn't go so easily.
A chimera made by Pelerian—
what possible value could something like that have to humans?
"Can you handle it?"
A final warning.
Gunter smiled at the question.
"I always have."
He raised his halberd.
At this point, there was no choice but to fight.
Gunter gestured to the Iron Lion Knights not to interfere.
Iris glared at him.
The eye marked by the scar was dull gray.
Yet it glimmered strangely.
In a situation she couldn't understand, she tried to see through him.
Why would a so-called righteous knight try to rob a fairy?
"…You."
She reached a conclusion.
"You are evil."
Contrary to public opinion, Gunter was a monster with a cold heart.
"Oh? Do you have some kind of insight ability?"
"…."
"Eye of Judgment? Scales? Doesn't matter."
Even after being judged by a beautiful fairy, the Iron Lion Knights didn't react at all.
"The opinion of someone about to die is irrelevant."
The halberd tore through the air.
Iris swung her sword to meet it.
***
—What's with those human knights? They sure love putting on airs.
While I was trembling at Gunter's overwhelming presence, Pelerian scoffed.
—I especially hate knights. They act all cool, but most of them are worthless.
—When they're about to die, they drop the act and start begging, "Please spare me, great mage!" I've seen dozens like that.
They say people talk more as they age…
Maybe that's because he's lived for hundreds of years.
Pelerian kept rambling about things I never asked.
Seriously…
My mother's killer has just appeared.
I was trying to feel something dramatic—but this guy keeps ruining the mood.
I hid behind a rock and watched the standoff between Gunter and the elf.
It wasn't like I had the luxury to relax.
My condition was terrible.
Blood was still pouring from my neck, and my mana was completely drained.
I needed to recover.
I took out a potion from the ring's subspace.
I pulled out the cork with my teeth and drank carefully.
Looks like I can split this into about three doses.
—Oh ho. You can even use subspace? Quite the mutant.
Pelerian looked at me with growing interest.
Honestly, his gaze felt uncomfortable—like he'd gone from seeing me as a worm to a valuable test subject.
Wait.
In web novels, isn't this usually the point where you get something like a spirit… or a pet?
"…Does that mean Pelerian is my pet?"
—What? A pet?! Me, yours?!
Pelerian looked outraged.
Did I think that too loudly?
It's hard to distinguish between thinking and "speaking" internally.
Anyway…
After drinking the potion, I felt much better.
The effect was incredible.
My wounds slowly closed, and my depleted mana began to refill.
Good.
Potion—check.
Once again, I survived.
If I turn around and run now, I'm a rookie.
If I stay and watch Gunter and the elf fight, I'm a pro.
…Huh? What's going on with them?
Pelerian was already peeking over the rock.
I lifted my head slightly to look—
And was startled.
They were facing each other with weapons drawn.
Why are they suddenly about to fight?
The elf held her sword.
Gunter raised his halberd.
That halberd…
I had witnessed, right before my eyes, the moment it severed Medusa Mom's head.
It was effortless.
The halberd sliced through flesh and spine like cutting tofu.
And yet—it was still just a weapon a human could wield.
—This isn't good.
Even the psychopathic mage Pelerian didn't like the situation.
Is this because they're both fairies?
From my perspective, it'd be great if they both died.
If I'm lucky… maybe I could even steal the last hit again…
Heh.
Can't pass up an achievement like killing a hero.
But mutual destruction seemed unlikely.
Clearly, the elf was at a disadvantage.
—How dare a human.
Oh—that guy…
Among them was the knight I had spared—Zain.
He looked pale. Did he really recover and come back here already?
Suddenly, I got curious.
What does Gunter's status window look like?
The distance was a bit far, but it might be worth trying.
I focused my mind and sharpened my gaze.
Then—
[Hero Gunter Lv. ???]
Ugh… I can almost see it.
Almost.
After evolving, my ability to perceive had improved…
but it still wasn't enough.
Even his level was hidden.
[Traits]
[Hero], [Knight], [Ironblood], [???]…
I could only see part of it.
—You insignificant creature, what are you doing?
I ignored Pelerian and kept focusing.
[Skills]
[Valarian Halberdsmanship Lv.50], [Frontline Command Lv.10], [???]… [Heavenly Thunder Command Lv.10]… [???], [Moon-Splitting Slash Lv.10]…
Ghh—
My concentration broke, and the status window shattered.
But my heart was already racing.
What is this?
Aren't skills usually just things like "Slash" or "Hold Breath"?
What are things like Heavenly Thunder Command or Moon-Splitting Slash?
Wait…
If I use Leaping Horn…
And combine it with Borrowing Horn…
Could I borrow one of Hero Gunter's high-level skills?
I wouldn't be stealing it permanently—just borrowing it for a moment.
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