'Small snake – B Rank
A small species of snake. It's length reaches about 25 feet, and its diameter about 8 inches.
Their two main resources used for hunting are their poisonous fangs and their powerful constricting ability.
As most other snakes, their common hunting habits consist mostly of hiding and ambushing their preys. Since their poison has paralyzing properties, after successfully biting their prey, they'll constrict them and break their bones, in order to swallow them whole. That means they usually swallow their preys alive, so if someone from your party ends up inside one of them, do not despair. Defeat the snake and then proceed to rescue them as soon as possible.
The scales covering their bodies are not much of a threat. A beginner level of expression will easily allow you to cut through them.
Small snakes might differ slightly according to the places they inhabit; however, their main characteristics remain basically the same.
Adventurers, watch your surroundings carefully, and pay close attention for any changes in the environment.'
Translation of an excerpt of the 'Starting Adventurers Guide' by Kanade Aki.
…
They call that a 'small snake'… That had at least the size of a freaking python! How big can snakes even get over here for that to be called 'small'!?
Besides, a snake of that size could even die from overeating if it swallowed a whole adult… And there were two of us. Even if it had managed to paralyze Akane, the same thing would have ended up happening to it. The only difference is that I would've had to use an antidote… Why would it even attack us then? It was just being a glutton? Defending its territory? Snakes don't do that!
Do they?
What was it even trying to do that led it to its death…?
…
After a little pause, we were able to regain our composure. So we begin to discuss how to proceed from here on.
"It came from atop the tree… How did you even notice it was there?"
It was written on the book that they would ambush their preys, but I had absolutely no idea it would be from there.
I have no idea where that bad feeling even came from… I could deduce it had something to do with the Demon Lord's soul, but if I simply dump every sort of change I might have on that category, I think my perception of everything will turn quite limited… Also, I can't tell her that.
"Actually, I had no idea it was even there, I just felt like throwing you on the ground." I guess that pretty much sums it up well.
"Hah!?" She turned very angry out of nowhere… Why's that…?
She approaches me with a fierce glint in her eyes… She's going to kill me! Why!?
Maybe if I reflect a little on what I just said…
…
Ah! She must've misinterpreted something due to my phrasing!
"W-wait! What I meant is that, despite the possible consequences, all that happened was due to this growing feeling that rose inside of me. As such, I was left with no other options than to j-jump on you. B-but it's not as if I purposely wanted to simply throw you at the ground and dirty you with soil, just to achieve some sort of petty vengeance or anything…"
I tried using complicated words, but I was nervous.
It got worse.
Way worse than before.
A vein pops in her head. Death is turning inevitable...
Wait wait wait!!! Why did my words just betray me? It's not fair, because of the shock caused by this whole situation I was thrown out of my game. Let me try it one more time!
She's closing in... This is my last chance!
"H-hang on! It's a misunderstanding! I really didn't mean to get any sort of payback against you! Heck, there is no way I would want to do such a thing, ok!? Buuut switching to a different topic, since we were discussing my appearance and attitude before, don't you think a rabid freeloader like you – I mean, there's no need for you to change on my account – but don't you think you could also improve to achieve a better yourself? Maybe you could start with some anger management or something?"
When you don`t know what else to say, turn the table on the other person. 'So what if I ate the last cookie with your name on it? Remember that time when you forgot to water the plants?!'
…
Huh?
Eh?
H-Huh...? What---?
I notice that she suddenly lost all light in her eyes...
"Useless? Hot head? Devil-spawn? Filthy...?" She slowly says.
Even though I don't remember saying any of that…?
She looks at me, and the darkness in her eyes is suddenly overpowered by what looks like the flames of hell...
D-danger!!!
"Ah! Wait wait wait, I was lying, kidding, it was just a joke, you know? I only jumped at you because I-I had a f-feeling--- Instinct! T-to… Throw you at the ground…?"
… Ok, I understood it immediately after saying it that I screwed everything up…
She draws her blade…
Ah... If it serves as any consolation, I don't think she was even listening anymore...
And I'm dead…
…
I've never really thought that I was beautiful before, but compared to the current mosaic my face turned into, I think I used to be handsome…
"A bad feeling you don`t know how to properly explain, just as the snake was about to strike, huh? Now I've come to properly understand the situation, I believe. You should have explained it properly before."
No no no, You're the one who shouldn't have resorted to violence in the first place! Take it as a joke! Please show some more of your sense of humor!
"I'm sorry, I'll properly reflect on my actions…" … But I'm not crazy enough to say that at this time.
"But we can't rely on something as uncertain as instinct… We should test out this formation for now."
Airi would lead, and I would follow from a few steps behind.
"Maybe we could pay more attention to the top of the trees? Since they don't seem to have many other places to hide?" I propose.
She thinks for a moment before answering.
"It's a fair point. Taking into account what we've seen of the Forest so far, it's easy to notice there isn't much in terms of undergrowth, only huge trees with many branches and large foliage. Considering the previous ambush, that might be their most common pattern. However…"
She then points at the dead snake.
"Notice how its color blends with that of the trees. Their camouflage makes them harder to spot even if we look up while walking. Besides, the trees in here are tall, numerous and large, which also limits our field of view of the ground. We could be ambushed by the snakes or even different monsters if we're not paying attention to what happens in the ground as well."
What can we even do, then…?
"Hence, I'll walk in front, guiding our path while also paying attention to the top of the trees. Meanwhile, you'll focus mostly on observing the ground."
I can't really call this a good plan, but it's not like we have anything else to go with. We're missing in experience. Then again, that is why we came here.
We might end up being eaten by the snakes. But do I regret my choice? Well, I can`t deny I would probably prefer to get murdered by the goddess--- Obviously not! As if there could be any good way to get killed!
Alternatively, maybe I could just leave and become a farmer or something in this world filled with monsters and in the middle of a war, in which I am one of the main targets… Even if by a miracle that worked, I would still need to conform myself to never meeting my sister again…
… I still think this was my best choice considering what I know.
Besides, we all know I`m a cheater from another world. The freaking Demon Lord! These low leveled creatures shouldn`t even be able to make a dent in my armor.
Bwahahahaha---
!!!
Another snake!!!
…
Ah, no, it was just a shadow…
S-scared? M-me? It must be your imagination…
Either way, we decide to go with that plan since it seemed like the best course of action for now. To tell the truth, it seems the snakes are dangerous mostly because of their surprise attacks and poison. But they need to coil someone in order to cause damage. If we can spot them first, then they shouldn`t be too dangerous. I did kill one without even using mana expression...
Well, I did feel it was... Hard to cut through? Hmmm... Maybe it worked out because we bought the intermediary equipment. Maybe it cuts better than low leveled ones?
I'm not sure. I had never used a sword before. Much less, use one to decapitate a living creature…
More importantly…
I only just noticed, but there is a more pressing problem we need to solve right now...
...
I alternate my vision between the dead snake and Akane.
"What's wrong? You're acting weird--- er than usual…" She says once she notices me staring at her.
"You say it as if I'm always acting weird!"
… Can't deny it. Then again, can anyone even be considered normal these days? I'm okay being my own version of normal.
She grins and lets out a small laugh.
Ah, she was making fun of me again!
Damn you grumpy... One moment she`s beating me up, the next making fun of me. She`s unbelievable…
Wait...
Maybe there is something she can do in order to redeem herself.
"I think I just found the solution to my problem." I say before throwing her an empty bag, one different from the ones we were using to carry our supplies.
"Congratulations! You've just been promoted from an useless freeloader to a loot bag carrier! *clap clap clap!*"
"..."
She pounces at me!
"Heh, predictable." But I dodge her punch.
Unfortunately, I position my legs poorly, and as she goes for a follow up attack, I lose my balance and she throws me to the ground.
We start wrestling at the floor...
…
…
…
*chuiff!* *eyes tear up*
"H-hey... You don't have to cry because of this... I can carry it after all, j-just please stop crying..." She says to me, clearly concerned for once.
"I'm bot crying byou gnow!!! *chuiff!* Bit's just that a dry beaf hit by eye while I was blacing the snake'z bogy inside the bag, og!? *chuiff!* Bezides you were the one who zaid: 'You billed it, so you jould take besbonzibility abterwardz.' While byou beat be up... *chuiff!*" (I`m not crying you know!!! It`s just that a dry leaf hit my eyes while I was placing the snake`s body inside the bag, ok!? Besides, you were the one who said: 'You killed it, so you should take responsibility afterwards.' While you beat me up…)
"Ah... I have absolutely no idea of what you just said. It's just… I didn't imagine you would be that averse to carrying the snake's remains. Is it because you killed it---"
*chuiff!*
"You know what, there's no need for you to answer that. Thinking in retrospect, I understand I might have exceeded myself in the spur of the moment. I… I'm sorry about that… Give me the bag, I'll carry it, alright?"
"Byou zure?" *chuiff!* (You sure?)
"Yes…"
"Og..." (Ok…)
I hand her the bag... Just so we`re clear, I wasn't crying while I removed the skin and sliced the snake I killed, then shoved everything inside a bag and carried it like some sort of Jack the Ripper, ok?! It must have been some sort of allergy...