So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Chapter 285 Just Set It On Fire (2)

He didn't run to Amain and send him flying with a push.

There wasn't enough time for that.

Instead, he swung his axe at the mantis charging toward Amain.

With all his might, he struck with the axe...

Crack!

The axe embedded.

Simultaneously, the axe handle broke.

Phili stared dumbfounded at the handle-only axe remaining in his hand.

The mantis didn't stop.

The shield was in tatters and he'd lost his axe.

What should he do now?

Then, his conversation with Teacher Snake flashed through his mind like lightning.

'If it becomes a really desperate situation, just throw your body in.'

'What? How can I do that against a monster...'

'Your strength is incredible right now. Punch it, strangle it, whatever.'

'Yes...'

Though he answered, he had neither the confidence nor intention to do so.

Fighting hand-to-hand with a monster.

But when the situation actually came, his body moved quite easily.

Because he felt he had to, had to protect Amain.

Phili swung his fist as Rania had taught him.

Drawing an arc from bottom to top.

Bang!

A sound like a bomb exploding rang out.

For a moment, the heavy mantis's body lifted slightly.

The impact from his fist made his whole body shake.

Now with his right hand.

Bang!

Another explosion-like sound.

Something like fluid burst from the mantis's mouth.

As these fatal attacks landed, the frenzied mantis instinctively targeted Phili.

It was half luck that Phili ducked to dodge its foreleg.

Whoosh!

But such luck would be hard to maintain.

Knowing this, Phili tackled the mantis while still ducked.

Following Teacher Snake's advice.

'Mantises have weak lower bodies. So just tackle them like this, shashasak!'

This really worked, he thought.

Since the mantis rolled right over.

'Like you said the joints are weak, so either break the joints like this or rip off its head.'

Due to the fluid it spat out, as it rolled on the ground.

The fire on the mantis's body went out.

But it was still scorching hot.

When he grabbed the mantis's head firmly, his palm felt like it was being stripped off from the heat.

"Nnnngh!"

As he applied full force, Phili's face turned bright red.

Crack, crackle.

After these grotesque sounds briefly rang out.

Riiiiip!

Phili actually succeeded in ripping off the mantis's head.

A hot sensation flowed through his entire body.

It was the sensation of reaching a new level, of leveling up.

He had absorbed the mantis's mana by killing it.

"I, I did it."

As he muttered in disbelief...

Soon cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaah!"

"Woooah!"

It was the moment of victory.

==

It was an incredible match.

Moreover, these cheers and shouts reverberating throughout the arena were mostly directed at Phili.

"My, to think the Third Prince had such strength."

Even Imperial Ambassador Marquis Magan Sareb marveled thus.

Obern looked toward where he had just left.

The Marquis's subordinate was frantically writing something.

"They're openly evaluating the princes."

Someone cut in with an elderly voice.

Obern turned around startled. Find exclusive stories on empire

It was a familiar voice and a familiar person.

The Court Count had suddenly appeared.

"Court Count, I pay my respects."

"It's fine, just keep clapping."

"Why did you come down here alone..."

"Why, I saw you having such an interesting conversation with the ambassador so I came to see."

"..."

Of course he knew.

Obern's conversation with the ambassador was too obvious.

Though that might have been part of the ambassador's plan too.

"Don't think unnecessary thoughts. You have me, don't you? After teaching Prince Phili so excellently. Hahaha..."

The Court Count patted Obern's back.

"You're my man. Right?"

"Y-yes, that's right."

The Court Count smiled like a kindly old man.

Then he dropped a sudden statement.

"Today, many things will be decided, do you know that Solion's national fate now hangs by a thread?"

"Hangs by a thread..."

"Yes, we who were originally a great power even the Empire feared are gradually declining. You can see it just by how that ambassador struts around. There are four problems facing the kingdom, care to try naming them?"

What a headache.

Obern barely hid his irritation and said:

"Please enlighten me."

"Since you ask so nicely, I shall tell you."

The Court Count raised one finger.

"The Empire gripping and shaking royal authority is the first problem. They take a prince hostage saying they'll educate him and let him meet the Emperor. And it's the Crown Prince at that. Truly nothing short of national disgrace."

"Yes."

"The second is our shrinking military power. We have many enemies to face like those northern barbarians and the Empire. But every time we try to increase military spending, the Empire intervenes to block it, and those so-called moderates rise up, this has been going on for years."

"Indeed."

"And the kingdom's people have lost their fighting spirit. No one thinks about fighting and protecting anymore. They've even forgotten how to feel anger."

Setting aside the last one, the first two were definitely problems plaguing the kingdom.

But the fourth one sent chills down Obern's spine.

"And the king is dying."

"..."

"His Majesty the King has developed a condition where tumors are excessively proliferating in his internal organs. Every method of treatment has been attempted, but he has exactly 3 years left. Seems like both a long and short time."

In three years the princes will still be young.

The king's health being itself a state secret.

He had learned burdensome information.

"Am I not the Court Count, a patriot like no other? So I pondered if there was a way to solve all of this at once. At least the first three seemed manageable. Aren't you curious what that method is?"

"...I shall listen carefully."

Though honestly he didn't want to hear it.

Obern asked out of courtesy.

"Impact. Impact."

The Court Count raised his withered fist.

"An impact that changes everything in one go."

His eyes with little white showing glinted.

At that moment Obern felt fear.

The Court Count's eyes were clearly those of someone who saw human lives as mere numbers.

'Ooh, now it's the next match!'

Just then, such a cheerful voice rang in his head.

It was Snake.

Snake didn't seem to care much about what the Court Count was saying.

He was only interested in the next match.

It was the Second Prince's match.

Obern also gave a slight bow to the Court Count before looking down at the arena.

The Second Prince was in the arena with his teammates.

Grrrng-

And the door for the monster's entrance began to open.

'Fighting a gorilla, these guys will have it tough too.'

Snake muttered thus.

It seemed the Second Prince's opponent would be a gorilla monster.

And the moment that gorilla monster appeared.

'...Huh?'

Snake was shocked.

==

I wasn't on great terms with primate monsters.

I had fought a named monster called Silverback Akims, who led the primate monsters.

But at the same time, one of my most trusted subordinates was a gorilla.

A monster who could communicate and had a kind heart.

I called her Mrs. Gorilla, but I remember her exact name was probably 'Strong Arm Gorilla'.

The monster facing off against the prince down there has a different name.

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[Iron Arm Gorilla lv21]

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And she didn't speak.

"Kruuuung!"

She roars like a mindless monster.

But I recognized it.

The sadness hidden in her eyes.

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[Traits]

[Gentleness], [Loyalty]

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The traits that remained unchanged.

And above all.

The iron prosthetic arm that I had given her was still there.

'Mrs. Gorilla!'

Why on earth are you here!