So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Even if they're students, making them fight monsters...

Though thinking about it, magic schools did typically hold such competitions.

'What's a bestiarium anyway?'

"It refers to matches between monsters and humans. Usually something done in gambling dens or the empire. That gnome is quite bold."

The bestiarium Pelerian mentions seems to indeed be a gladiatorial match.

Making them fight monsters when even a prince is involved.

I looked around at the monsters imprisoned here.

The merchant guild's animal welfare doesn't seem very good.

Blood and filth were caked onto the iron cages. Well, it would be difficult to clean and maintain while transferring those monsters between cages.

But their conditions were terrible.

'They could at least feed them properly.'

Most had hollow bellies. It seemed they weren't even being fed properly.

Are they starving them to increase their aggression?

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[Galita Ghost Turtle lv23]

[Trait]

[Long Legs]

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Unlike normal turtles I know, there was one with long legs that looked quick...

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[Black Long Neck Wolf lv30]

[Trait]

[Long Neck]...

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And there was a wolf with a somewhat long neck.

Why are there so many long things here?

The common point is they all have status effects like [Filthy] or [Starving].

Tsk tsk tsk.

As I was looking around at them, I felt Pelerian's gaze.

He was staring at me with strange eyes without saying anything.

'What?'

When I asked grumpily like that, Pelerian spoke.

"How does it feel?"

'Feel?'

"Your impressions. Seeing monsters imprisoned so miserably."

'Ah...'

Impressions?

I gave him an honest answer.

'...They probably wouldn't taste very good, that's about it.'

"They probably wouldn't taste good...? Well, it is rare for a monster to feel kinship with other monsters. But you... Hmm."

'If you have something to say, say it clearly.'

"No, never mind."

Pelerian kept his mouth shut. What an absurd fairy.

While I was confident in my ability to eventually make him talk by pestering him, I let it go.

Indeed, as he said, I didn't feel any particular sympathy for the monsters.

I was only concerned about how Amain and the others would deal with these creatures.

But as I was moving between the cages, something ridiculous happened.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

"Grrrr, quack!"

These monsters were baring their teeth and barking at me.

This is shocking.

'Hey guys, is that right?'

When you've lived as a monster for a while, you generally can sense other monsters' levels.

Unless they're insect-type monsters with tiny brains.

These guys are no match for me.

They're clearly monsters that even Rania could handle, but they seemed to view me as prey.

Moreover, as I was passing in front of that turtle.

"Pwak!"

Acting like it thinks it's a chameleon, it shot out its pink tongue.

It's fierce and fast.

But I've become a snake that can catch even arrows in my mouth.

I can easily deflect a tongue like this with my tail and...

Spinning a dagger with a whoosh and stabbing it into the ground with a thud.

"Gwaaaark!"

That's how to subdue it.

The ghost turtle screamed.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

But with its tongue tip pinned to the ground, it couldn't even cry properly.

Kids.

Calm down.

As I released my aura.

The noisy monsters all fell silent at once.

"Sss."

You just got a bit wild because you're hungry, right?

I pulled out the knife.

The turtle quickly pulled its tongue back in and hurriedly retreated to a corner of its cage.

Your adventure continues at empire

The long-necked wolf and the boar-like ones also whimpered and backed away.

I had a good idea.

Why don't I tame these guys in advance?

I glared at the terrified turtle.

「Using Crown of Domination lv1 to dominate 'Galita Ghost Turtle lv23'」

This should...

「Failed」

Huh?

Is my domination power too weak?

Then maybe taming...

「Using Crown of Domination lv1 to tame 'Galita Ghost Turtle lv23'」

But that didn't work well either.

「Failed」

「This monster has an owner. More domination power is needed.」

It has an owner?

Did the humans actually tame these monsters?

'No... that doesn't seem likely.'

That would be extremely...

Extremely difficult.

Unless the chancellor personally tamed each monster, no way.

Then it would make more sense if there was a leader among them.

Where is the boss monster?

"Saak!"

I called out asking who's the boss here!

But no monster stepped forward boldly.

Looking around the cages, now none would even make eye contact with me.

There couldn't be a leader among these guys.

Oh.

Then, I noticed an iron door in the back.

Strangely, it had no lock or handle.

Just a keyhole in the sturdy iron door.

'Could the leader be inside there?'

It seems quite heavily fortified, but how to open it...

While I was contemplating how to open it...

"Mr. Snake!"

Obern called me in a very tense voice.

"It's about time."

Ah, right.

Our infiltration had proceeded quite methodically.

It would be very troublesome if Obern's intrusion was discovered.

We need to leave before the guard shift changes.

Though it's disappointing, we found out what the test content is, so let's stop here.

I slithered out.

While doing so, something caught my eye.

'What's that!'

There was a key hanging on the wall.

Could it be the key to that iron door inside?

It seems too small for that though.

I considered stealing it but had another thought.

'Let's make a copy.'

「Using Intermediate Elemental Magic: Earth lv1」

If someone stole the key, changing the lock would be the natural thing to do.

I just need to quietly make a copy.

I firmly packed earth to make an exact copy of the key.

"Mr. Snake!"

"Saak!"

I quickly climbed onto Obern's urgent wrist.

I could clearly feel his thumping pulse.

Such a scaredy-cat.

"Just once, I'd like my life to go smoothly..."

'Idiot, don't say things like that.'

"Huh?"

'When you say things like that, something always goes wrong.'

'No way...' Obern muttered but kept his mouth shut.

Fortunately, we were able to quietly escape from the merchant guild's secret warehouse.

==

"Inspector Jabern, here's the corpse that came in today."

"Ugh."

Inspector Jabern of the Capital Security Force frowned.

Solion Impel is a big city.

Several unidentified corpses come in every day.

Unfortunately, because the capital's security is quite good... such corpses always need to be confirmed by an inspector-level officer.

This is unfortunate for Jabern who just had a nice lunch.

"Are you kidding? Why are you showing this to me?"

"It's procedure, isn't it?"

The mortician said with a sullen face.

While better than a half-rotted decomposed corpse, this was still too much.

"What am I supposed to do with just bones!"

The body laid on the processing table was actually just a skeleton.

One that had been soaked in water so long it was covered in mold.

"At least it's still wearing underwear."

"That underwear is important."

The corpse only had underwear remaining.

Loosely attached to the pelvic bone.

What could be important about that?

"Seems noble."

"What...?"

"It's silk material with initials embroidered."

Inspector Jabern's expression changed.

"...Where did you find this?"

"In the beggar village under the bridge connected to the sewers."

"Well now."

Jabern gave a hollow laugh.

A noble's corpse dumped in the river?

This was a case worth taking on.