So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Everyone.

A moment of silence for the deceased Blue Beard.

However, he wasn't really a person worthy of a moment of silence!

Only after the situation was somewhat settled did we find out.

When I sprinkled a potion on Dunkel, whose palms were all scraped, Rozena suddenly came over and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Dunkel."

"...Pardon?"

Surprisingly, Dunkel was Blue Beard's son.

So he was sort of a prince-like figure.

However, the fact that he carried Blue Beard's blood was a hidden fact, and there was a reason why Rozena suddenly apologized.

"About how I used to view you negatively."

"Ah... Well, it's not like you did anything to me specifically."

"Still, children are more sensitive than adults think. You knew I didn't like you, right?"

"...Everyone's like that anyway. So."

"Your mother wasn't a dwarf from the Red Anvil Mine. She was an outside dwarf."

"..."

It seems Dunkel knew that much.

"When Blue Beard returned from his travels outside, he brought you with him. Said you were his child. That's why I broke up with Genzero."

It's a shocking story.

Blue Beard was really something else in many ways.

"And then he abandoned you. Even I should have pitied you. But it seems I hated you too."

"Haha..."

Dunkel gave a bitter smile.

That smiling face seemed to make Rozena's heart even sadder.

Rozena hugged Dunkel tightly.

"I don't have a son. But I'd like to think of you as my son."

Dunkel stood still, not knowing what to do.

That looks nice.

As I was patting Dunkel's calf, Rozena suddenly hugged me too.

"You come here too. Do you want to be my child too?"

"Shh."

Ugh, no thank you.

I'll pass on having a dwarf mom (who has a beard and is very strong).

The plan to kill the flame demon by pouring water on it was successful.

Blue Beard jumped into that boiling water pit while on fire and died.

I heard the message of defeating Blue Beard too, so it's certain.

However, whether it was because he jumped in himself or not, I didn't receive as much demonic energy as expected.

Or maybe his soul was already sold to a demon or something.

Anyway, I just got a new achievement.

None other than 'Demon Slayer'.

From Guard Captain Slayer, to Hero Slayer, and now Demon Slayer.

The achievements are getting more and more glamorous.

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[Demon Slayer]

You have slain a demon for the first time.

You gain resistance to mental attacks when facing demons.

You are not easily corrupted by demonic energy.

You gain favor with celestial beings.

You draw the attention of demons.

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But unfortunately, those benefits were disappointing to me.

I'm already immune to mental attacks anyway.

And the last part is a bit concerning...

"Hmm, Paimon, Paimon..."

Pelerian kept muttering.

He seemed to have his pride quite hurt after his magic on Blue Beard was broken.

My trust in Pelerian might have crumbled a bit too.

"Snake."

So Pelerian seemed to want to restore his dignity.

'Why?'

"You need to take risks to get greater rewards."

'Suddenly saying such things.'

It seemed like we just needed to forge the Cloudiron Sword, but Pelerian said something ominous.

"If that flame demon was really a subordinate of Paimon, there will be aftershocks. Paimon is a demon noble who particularly often intervenes in the mortal world."

'Then... Wait!'

I went close to the lava lake (which used to be one).

The water that had clearly stopped boiling was gradually cooling down, but suddenly it started bubbling again.

"Saaaaaah!"

I warned the resting dwarves.

But things progressed faster than expected.

「The Western King Paimon is watching the Demon Slayer.」

Oh, me?

I felt like something was watching me.

And a creepy chill...

「You are immune to mental attacks due to the trait 'Perseverance'.」

It came and went.

Instead, the water that had pooled below suddenly vaporized.

And something made of flames rose up.

"Uh, uhhh!"

It was like a monster made of flames in the shape of a lizard.

The terrible part was that its head looked like Blue Beard's face.

There's also a long horn on its forehead.

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[Paimon's Fire Lizard lv140]

[Traits]

[Madness], [Time Limit]

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This is the second time-limit trait after the Chimera Snake.

It climbed the cliff at an astonishing speed.

The dwarves who came to their senses screamed.

Fortunately, they weren't entranced by the fire again, but even without that, it's a terrifying monster.

"What the hell is this madness again-!"

Rozena shouted and threw her warhammer.

It had enough power to crack its skull.

Thud!

The warhammer stuck deeply into the lizard's temple area.

But its skull didn't crack and spill brain matter.

It doesn't seem to have taken any damage at all.

Rather, the hammer stuck in its head slowly melted and only the handle fell off.

It was emitting tremendous heat.

I ran to Dunkel.

Even though I didn't say anything, Dunkel knew what he had to do.

He spun and threw the bucket made of Celestium.

Thunk!

It wrapped around the fire lizard's horn once and got caught.

I and the dwarves quickly grabbed onto the chain.

As expected, the Celestium chain with excellent heat resistance didn't melt.

"Argh!"

But the problem was that the fire lizard's strength was stronger than expected.

The dwarves holding the chain were dragged along with the lizard.

In the end, most of them let go.

"Chase after it, all of us together!"

Led by Rozena, we all chase after the lizard.

And I, of course, was holding onto the chain tightly by myself.

These weak dwarves.

How should I catch that fire lizard?

As I was considering various methods, Pelerian said,

"Leave it be. Leave it for now! Let it go outside first."

'Is that okay?'

"Anyway, messing with it now will only increase the damage here. If that thing starts rampaging in this enclosed space, it's over!"

That made sense too.

"Just leave it for now, trust me!"

Pelerian said firmly.

The fire lizard, indeed, started climbing up the mine hurriedly as if trying to go to the surface.

But that process wasn't peaceful at all.

Dwarves screaming and running away.

The fire lizard spat flames here and there as it passed.

The fire was so strong that the mine's buildings and facilities melted instantly.

'What about that?'

"For a greater cause, some sacrifices must be made."

Well, that's true.

And finally, it reached the collapsed entrance of the mine.

The fire lizard opened its mouth and-

Kwaaaaa-

A pillar of fire from its mouth blasted open the mine entrance.

Sunlight pouring in brightly.

The moment the fire lizard leaped outside.

I felt déjà vu.

This is similar to when I was kidnapped by the Chimera Snake.

"Now!"

And one such experience is enough.

「Using Gigantification lv1.」

As big and heavy as possible.

As gigantic as father.

Bigger than that mere fire lizard.

I grabbed onto the blasted mine entrance tightly and held on.

The iron chain tightened and pulled on its horn.

Clang!

The fire lizard's head was jerked back and it fell to the ground with a thud.

"Demons' subordinates should originally be faced under the sun."

The lizard resembling Blue Beard roared at me.