Chapter 136: White Snakes

Seven white snake people appeared on the opposite side of the room.

They must have concealed their presence—everyone here didn’t notice their existence until they saw them.

Taken aback by their sudden appearance, Touya quietly gave instructions.

“… About the same number as us. Everyone, slowly retreat. Let’s fight while securing our retreat. Village Chief, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Understood, I’ll do it right away.”

For some reason, they didn’t immediately attack us. I quickly appraised them and conveyed the results to everyone.

—

Snapenir 

Level: 125  

Race: Snake People  

Skills:  

– Spear Technique Level 4  

– Self-regeneration Level 4 (Instantly regenerates a part of the body using magic)

—

“Snake people? This one doesn’t seem to be a monster… and Level 125—this is a pretty bad situation.”

“According to my appraisal, Snapenir seems to be the highest level. But the rest are all over Level 110.”

“Their appearance is similar to the one we saw earlier, although the color is different. At first glance, they could be mistaken for monsters…”

Despite the race, names, and other details, I honestly didn’t care at the moment. What mattered was whether we could overcome this situation. The crucial question was whether we could escape safely; that was everything.

“But why aren’t they attacking us? They’re not even holding weapons and just staring at us.”

“Rather… have they only been looking at Keisuke-san since earlier?”

“…Hey, Village Chief, try talking to them for a moment. They’re not monsters, so maybe we can communicate.”

While having this conversation, we continued to gradually retreat. However, the opponents were also closing the distance accordingly. Their reluctance to make a move was eerie and unsettling.

Finally, we reached the corner of the room. With the ability to escape into the passage at any time, we steeled ourselves and initiated the conversation.

“I am Keisuke, the village chief of Nanashi Village.―Do you understand these words?”

Their expressions were unreadable, but the snake people seemed momentarily surprised or twitched. After exchanging glances with each other, they all looked at Snapenir.

Then—

“Yes, I understand. My name is Snapenir, and I am the leader of the snake people.―Are you surface dwellers? We harbor no hostility; if possible, could you sheathe your weapons? We want to talk.”

It seemed that communication was possible. Since it appeared that this was a language understood by Drago and the others, I sent a mental message saying, “You can obey and be ready to escape anytime,” and had everyone put away their weapons.

“We have no hostility either. If this is your territory, we will leave immediately.”

“No, this layer is not our dwelling. However, about what you hold in your hands… where did you acquire it? If you don’t mind, could you tell us?”

In my hands were two white scales. It seemed that they had been observing me because of these.

“I don’t mind telling you. But, this won’t lead to us being attacked, will it? If possible, could you first tell us what this is to the snake people?”

“…Very well. It is called the ‘White Snake Scale.’ It has the effect of suppressing our descent into monsters. It is the most crucial thing for our snake people.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me. Just one more thing—Is the Black Snake Warrior an enemy, or an ally?”

“Hmm… a difficult question. But well, we also came here to hunt them. In that sense, they are enemies.”

It was dangerous… I was on edge, thinking about what I would do if they were of the same kin. Although the phrasing was a bit off-putting, as long as they were considered enemies, it should be fine.

After that exchange, I explained about the battle with the Black Snake Warrior, obtaining the scales, and transforming them with my magic power. I also provided information about the village and the Earth Goddess.

“I see. So, Keisuke-dono, are you the apostle of the Earth Goddess?”

“No, it’s just a skill I happened to receive. There’s been no divine revelation from the Goddess, and I haven’t received any mission.”

“I see—. You’ve told us this much. We must also let you know about us.”

Snapenir then proceeded to calmly explain about their clan. Of course, this was all within this room. If the Black Snake Warrior appeared, they would likely be instantly defeated.

<Snake People>

They live on the 30th floor of the dungeon. A clan that has been protecting a large village for generations.

Their object of worship is the “Earth Goddess,” just like us and the dragon-kin. Since ancient times, their ancestors received a divine revelation and have been living underground ever since. Going above ground is considered taboo and the most severe crime.

There is a saying that if snake people go above ground, they will die immediately, but since no one has tried it, its authenticity is uncertain.

Here’s one shocking fact that emerged.

The dungeons in this world apparently consist of 30 floors, and moreover, all dungeons are connected on the 30th floor.

However, it’s not like there’s a vast space underground throughout the entire continent. In terms of size, it seems to be roughly the size of the large forest that used to be Nanashi Village’s territory.

On the 30th floor, there are countless ascending stairs, each connecting to a different dungeon. The snake people have been aware of all of them and have been using them as hunting grounds for many years.

The main purpose of their hunts is to obtain “Black Snake Scales.” Occasionally, they also hunt giant Bulls and minotaurs. This is done to obtain meat and leather.

The obtained “Black Snake Scales” are purified by dedicating them to the Goddess’s altar, and they transform into “White Snake Scales.” This apparently takes about a year.

They seemed surprised and attempted contact because I had one with me.

“Is it true that without these scales, one will turn into a black snake monster?”

“Yes, it’s true… I’ve witnessed my brethren turning into monsters several times with my own eyes. They all transformed into that black snake.”

“But, if you attach the white scales to your body, you can prevent it, right? Why didn’t you do that?”

“Hmm. First, take a look at this—this is the proof of contamination.”

With these words, the clan leader exposed his bare skin. When he removed his armor, blue-black tattoo-like patterns emerged from his toes to around his knees. According to him, this spreads throughout the body and eventually, when it reaches the head, the person becomes a monster.

“Originally, it takes two years for the erosion to progress completely, and even the fastest ones take at least a year. However—very rarely, there are cases where it suddenly spreads throughout the entire body. And if it turns into a monster before you can do anything, that’s the story.”

“I see… If you had the luxury to carry ‘White Snake Scales’ with you, you could prevent it.”

“Yes, and the purification period at the altar is not constant. You always need a considerable amount stored.”

“By the way, are those wandering around the dungeon former brethren, or are they just monsters?”

“They are all monsters. Those who have fallen into monsterhood disappear immediately.”

With this information, we’ve grasped the general picture. Well, assuming they aren’t lying… Their desperation when talking made it seem like it wasn’t a made-up story. At least, the main points should be true.

For now, it’s confirmed that the snake people are not hostile. Of course, what they desire is undoubtedly these ‘White Snake Scales.’

If that’s the case, even if we present our conditions… it shouldn’t lead to conflict.

“I understand your story. Our goal is to hunt monsters and, by extension, to level up. In return, we’d like to offer ‘White Snake Scales’… What are your thoughts on that?”

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