So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

The commotion must have been too loud.

There was movement outside the door.

"Is everything alright?"

"Nothing's wrong!"

Rania answered in a scream-like voice.

Anyone who heard that would think something happened, Rania.

"...Okay, time will be up soon. Just letting you know."

"..."

After the presence disappeared, Rania whispered to me.

"What should we do?"

When she asks so seriously, as her teacher, I feel quite sorry but...

I don't know either.

Help us, Peleremon!

'Should we do that now?'

"What do you mean?"

'Operation: Palace Takeover!'

Since we're inside the palace anyway.

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We strike first before getting caught as national treasure destroyers!

"Hmm, that might work."

Plus, even Pelerian thinks it's not a bad idea.

Alright, let's take over the kingdom...

Knock knock knock.

"Time's up. Please come out."

But time ran out before we could even make a plan.

"What do we do!"

'For now, let's hold out!'

Rania blocked and held the door.

What an obedient student.

But that probably wasn't the best choice.

"You must come out. Oh, oh oh, open the door!"

"Just a moment!"

"Time is up. Open the door right now!"

The maid tried to force the door open.

Since we were preventing that, she was clearly looking at us suspiciously.

'Rania, let's let the maid in and take care of her. We'll destroy all evidence.'

'What nonsense are you talking about!'

Such harsh words to your teacher, saying it's nonsense.

But the chance to implement my suggestion never came.

Drrrr-

Hearing that sound, I looked at the door.

There was a small window at the top for looking inside.

The maid surveyed the room.

And of course, the broken mirror too.

"Gasp."

Druk, tak.

Then with a short cry, she closed the window and left.

Rania screamed.

"Kyaaaak!"

What else would be the reason for the maid's departure?

She's clearly gone to call the guards.

'Let's make our last stand here.'

'No! Please surrender!'

'No! You do it!'

Since Rania is a duke's daughter, she probably won't be executed. Probably.

But even if I hadn't broken the mirror, I'd be executed right away if caught.

I can't surrender.

"I shouldn't have come, really, I'm ruined, really."

'You're rapping now?'

I was losing it too.

Anyway, I can't just get caught and die like this.

I need to use my wits somehow.

"Take hostages. Somehow take hostages."

'Yes!'

And indeed.

The sound of someone running could be heard.

From what I can hear, hmm... two? Just two?

The guards didn't break down the door with a bang.

Knock knock knock.

Instead, someone knocked politely and spoke.

"Please calm down. I'll come in alone."

That voice was clear like a bird's chirping, or like silver beads rolling on a tray.

Plus, it had a tone that seemed both whispering and poetic.

"It's okay. Everything will be fine."

"Ah, uhh..."

Even Rania, who had unconsciously been using the Martein Fighting Style, lowered her guard.

And the one who entered wearing a veil was a young woman.

"Grab her!"

"Saak!"

Just as I was about to jump.

Rania firmly grabbed my tail.

Ping, I stretched straight in mid-air.

The startled girl flinched, and her veil flipped slightly.

"Kyaak."

"Saak!"

What a shock.

I was startled too.

And for good reason, as the face under the veil was severely distorted, perhaps from burns.

She hurriedly fixed her veil.

"I'm sorry."

"Ah, no, Your Highness."

Rania quickly dropped to one knee.

Your Highness? So she's a princess.

"Damn it, we should have taken her hostage."

Despite Pelerian's words, I felt a bit sorry for this princess.

Maybe I was too startled by her burned face.

We're the ones who should apologize, yet she's the one saying sorry.

I apologized too.

"Sasasak..."

"A-a snake?"

Ah.

I greeted too obviously.

The princess looked back and forth between me and Rania.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Ah, hahaha. I'm sorry. This is my pet snake..."

Was Rania a genius?

That's good quick thinking. I quickly climbed up Rania's arm.

And put on a blank expression like a really stupid pet snake.

"It looks quite dazed and cute. Is it making that expression because it's surprised?"

"It always looks like this. Cute, right?"

"So cute. What's its name?"

"Name...? Ur... Ur."

"Ur, is it."

Isn't it normal for princesses to scream "kyaa" when they see snakes?

"How cute. Ur."

But she even carefully stroked my head.

I tried my best to act like a normal snake.

'Stupid expression, as stupid a face as possible...'

"That's just your normal face though."

Even though she must have seen the broken mirror, the atmosphere wasn't as bad as expected.

"What an angelic child. My name is Lily."

"Saak."

"Oh my, it seems to understand what I'm saying."

Rania quickly explained.

"Ur is quite intelligent. Ah, let me introduce myself properly. I am Rania Martein."

"I knew that. Though I didn't expect to meet like this."

The princess glanced at the mirror.

Rania panicked, not knowing what to do.

"Um, this..."

"Congratulations."

"Pardon?"

Through the semi-transparent veil, the princess could be seen smiling.

"You met eyes with yourself in the mirror, and then it cracked, right?"

"Ah..."

From behind the princess, I signaled Rania to nod.

"Yes, that's right."

"That happens quite often."

"Really?"

Was that how it was?

Then it wasn't my fault?

What a relief. I let out a deep sigh.

"Yes, and those people always become great heroes. Oh my, why is the snake suddenly dancing?"

That's right.

You mean I'll become a hero snake.

"But then what should we do? The mirror is broken..."

"It can be restored. Just need to sprinkle some water."

Saying that, Lily took out something like a spray bottle.

She brought a ladder as if familiar with the process and sprayed water.

Amazingly, the crack slowly healed with a click.

"See? It fixes well, right?"

She has the confidence of someone who's done this before.

I became curious.

"Has anyone else broken the mirror recently besides me?"

When I had Rania ask this.

"Ah, the last person to break the mirror was Sir Gunter."

I was surprised.

"Ssat!"

"Oh my!"

He did that too?

As expected, Gunter...

You truly are my rival.