I'll return it soon

"Hmm, the seal on the ring has been broken. Did someone invade the dungeon?"

It looks like Pelerian has been reduced to an SD character.

The size is barely as big as a human palm, with a large head and big eyes.

It should naturally look cute, but it doesn't.

That's because Pelerian is as ugly as seen in the hologram.

He's also aged terribly. It's not quite bald, but there's a clear M-shape on his forehead.

His face is also full of mischief.

Shouldn't something like that be called a gremlin rather than a fairy?

Only his eyes were a bit clear, making him look like a clear-eyed lunatic. A clear-eyed madman.

"That crazy Iris took my Fafnir, that cute child...."

Pelerian was grumbling, seemingly angry.

More importantly, cute child? That Chimera?

His aesthetic sense must have gone full circle.

Well, it's not strange.

There are various tastes in the world.

Pelerian continued to mutter to himself.

He seemed to be ignoring my existence.

"Why is this snake wearing my ring? Tsk tsk."

'That's a bit harsh. You racist old man.'

I didn't actually say that to Pelerian.

I just mumbled it in my head. Since becoming a snake, I had no way to speak human language.

However, Pelerian's expression changed surprisingly dramatically.

His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open.

"Ack! The snake speaks!"

I was also startled and let out an internal scream.

You can hear me?

"I-Is it an illusion? Yes, it must be an illusion."

What's this? Now he can't hear me again.

What was different from just before?

I tried to put a bit more force into my inner monologue, as if speaking.

'I said, can you hear me?!'

"Ugh! The snake really speaks!"

Pelerian was surprised once again.

For someone who's a mad magician conducting Chimera experiments, he seems to have a surprisingly weak constitution.

"What are you, a real snake? No matter how I look at you, you're just a lowly creature."

'That's rude to say to a person.'

"Person? You're saying you're a person?"

'No, I'm not a person, I am a snake, but....'

"A snake that claims to be a person... This is driving me crazy. Has the world changed?"

Pelerian also looked bewildered.

"Why are you wearing my ring?"

'Well, it just happened that way. I picked it up.'

It's a strange feeling to have a conversation with an illusion.

It seems Pelerian felt the same way.

"This is ridiculous. A mere magical beast wearing my signet ring.... Even speaking as if it were human."

'What about you? Are you really Pelerian?'

"If I'm not Pelerian, who else would I be? Although I'm only a part of that soul, I am indeed the Heaven Defier magician."

His speech suddenly becomes long and solemn when asked about his identity.

What does he mean by 'part of that soul'?

'So can you use magic and stuff?'

"Hmm, ...a low-level question."

'Why is asking a magician if they can use magic a low-level question?'

"Oh, over there!"

Pelerian suddenly pointed his finger in one direction.

It was an obvious attempt to divert attention, but I decided to go along with it.

I looked in that direction.

And all the scales on my body trembled.

A chill ran through me.

It's a shock that can't even be compared to when I saw the Guard Captain again.

Why is that guy here?

The monster who beheaded my mother in one stroke.

The hero Gunter.

He's walking over with his knights.

==

Iris couldn't believe the scene she had just witnessed.

She naturally thought she could cut the snake with a single stroke.

But the strong repulsive force felt from the sword.

Iris barely failed to cut even a piece of flesh.

Well, up to that point, it could happen.

There were plenty of magical beasts with tough skin after all.

But what about after that?

She clearly surrounded her short sword with aura.

And used the skill, 'Hundred Slashes'.

Like the Spine Bone Parrots, it should have been cut into dozens of pieces.

But the snake blocked it by raising its tail.

More precisely, with the ring on its tail.

Her aura could cut even steel armor.

The snake was blown high into the sky as shockwaves exploded.

Looking at the broadsword, the blade was chipped.

This happened just because of a ring.

Why was the snake wearing a ring in the first place?

Above all, the pattern on that ring....

"...Pelerian."

She couldn't be certain at a glance.

That the crest symbolizing Pelerian was engraved on that ring.

But given that Pelerian's Chimera was here.

'Could that snake also be a magical beast created by Pelerian?'

If so, it must be an incredible masterpiece, even more so than the Chimera.

She needed to pursue the snake that had flown away.

First, she had to recover the Chimera's corpse using spatial magic.

Iris, who was about to bend down, straightened her body.

And turned around.

"...."

They weren't even trying to hide their presence.

The clanking sound of heavy plate armor was loud.

This place is an open field with the sky visible.

And a group emerged from the bushes to the west.

They were knights in heavy armor.

None of them had an ordinary presence.

All had a roaring lion carved on the shoulder part of their armor.

Those with discernment would recognize them as the Iron Lion Knights.

Iris had discernment.

She also recognized that the short-haired man leading the Iron Lion Knights was one of the Eight Heroes.

They approached with a clanking sound and lined up in a row.

All the knights stopped, with only Gunter moving.

He approached Iris alone.

He stopped and opened his mouth.

"Gunter Frihansen. Captain of the Iron Lion Knights."

"...Iris Selena, Golden Leaf Investigator."

Iris answered as well.

She didn't put away her sword.

Gunter didn't seem to mind.

"So you were the fairy's envoy. I've heard of the Selena family. Pleased to meet you."

"It's not such a pleasant situation. Being surrounded by knights and all."

"We haven't surrounded you. We're just maintaining discipline given that we're in a large forest."

"So, do you have business with me?"

Iris's transparent eyes stared at Gunter.

Gunter slightly nodded towards the Chimera's corpse.

"Did you kill it?"

"...No, it was already dead."

"Then that's good. Since you didn't hunt it."

"What do you mean?"

"We need to recover the Chimera's corpse. I ask for your concession."

Iris frowned.

"What an absurd request. Do you know whose creation this Chimera is?"

"Heaven Defier. It must be that magician's legacy."

"...So you know. Then you must also know that it's rightfully the fairies' duty to handle this."

Iris raised her sword.

At this, the Iron Lion Knights behind her all drew their weapons at once.

Clang clang clang clang-!

The grand chorus of metallic sounds was magnificent.

Gunter raised his hand to stop them.

The disciplined knights put away their weapons again.

Iris hadn't raised her sword to fight.

She brushed her bangs with the wrist of her sword-holding hand.

A long scar extending from one eye to her forehead was revealed.

"This is a wound inflicted by Pelerian."

"...."

"I am the direct agent of revenge. An official investigator appointed by the Elder Council. If you are a person of the kingdom, respect the will of Elvenwood."

Of course, the kingdom was on friendly terms with the fairies.

Iris was using this to pressure Gunter.

She thought he would back down after this explanation.

"I'm sorry. But we need that Chimera corpse."

However, things didn't go as smoothly as she thought.

A Chimera corpse created by Pelerian.

What meaning could such a thing have for humans?

"Can you handle it?"

A final warning.

Gunter smiled at the question.

"I've always handled everything."

He raised his axe spear.

At this point, there was no choice but to fight.

Gunter gestured to the Iron Lion Knights not to interfere.

Iris glared at Gunter.

The eye with the scar was cloudy and grayish-white.

That eye shone strangely.

In this incomprehensible situation, she tried to see through Gunter.

Why would a supposedly righteous knight rob from a fairy?

"...You."

She made a judgment.

"You're an evil person."

Contrary to public opinion, Gunter was a monster with a cold heart.

"Oh? Do you have some kind of seeing-through technique?"

"...."

"The eye of judgment? Scales? Well, it doesn't matter."

The Iron Lion Knights' expressions didn't change at all at the beautiful fairy's assessment.

"The assessment of someone about to die doesn't matter anyway."

The axe spear flew through the air, tearing it.

Iris also swung her sword in response.

==

"What's with those human knights? They're putting on quite a show."

While I was trembling at Gunter's imposing presence, Pelerian made such an assessment.

"I especially dislike the breed called knights. They try hard to act cool, but most of them are actually cowards."

'....'

"In the end, when it's their time to die, they stop putting on airs and beg, 'Please spare me, Magician.' I've seen dozens of such guys already."

Is it because he's hundreds of years old that he talks so much? They say people become talkative as they age.

Pelerian was rambling on about things I didn't even ask about.

Ah, really.

The enemy of my mother has just appeared.

I was trying to feel solemn, but he's ruining the mood.

I peeked at the confrontation between the newly arrived Gunter and the fairy while hiding behind a rock.

It's not that I'm being leisurely. My physical condition was terrible.

Blood was still trickling from my neck, and my magical power was also depleted.

Recovery was urgent.

I took out a potion that I had stored in the ring's subspace.

I carefully removed the cork stopper with my teeth and drank it.

I should be able to drink it in about three portions.

"My goodness. You can even use subspace? What an incredible mutant.... Even drinking potions."

Pelerian's gaze at me was filled with interest.

It's unsettling how his eyes seemed to change from looking at a worm to looking at a precious experimental subject.

Wait a minute.

In web novels, isn't this usually when you get some kind of spirit? Like a pet?

'So is Pelerian my pet?'

"What did you say? Pet? Me, yours?"

Pelerian was incredulous and angry.

Did I mutter too loudly? It's a bit difficult to distinguish between thinking and speaking internally.

Haa, I feel a bit more alive after drinking the potion.

The effect was excellent.

The wounds slowly healed, and the depleted magical power filled up.

Good.

I survived once again.

Turning tail and running away right now would make me an amateur.

And watching the meeting between Gunter and the elf would make me a pro, right?

"Oh, why are those guys doing that?"

Pelerian was already watching beyond the rock.

I also slightly poked my head out to look.

And I was surprised.

The two were facing each other with weapons drawn.

Why are they suddenly trying to fight?

The elf was holding a sword, and Gunter had drawn his axe spear.

That axe spear.

I had directly witnessed the moment when that axe spear sliced through Medusa Mom's neck.

It couldn't have been easier.

The axe spear cut through Medusa Mom's flesh and spine as if slicing tofu.

Even though it was just a weapon that could be wielded by a person.

"This is not good...."

The psychopath magician Pelerian didn't seem to like this situation.

Is it because they're both fairies?

From my perspective, I'd prefer if both sides were annihilated.

If I'm lucky, maybe I could deliver the final blow this time too... Ahem.

I can't resist an achievement like hero slaying.

But mutual destruction seems unlikely.

Because the elf was clearly at a disadvantage.

"How dare a human."

Oh, isn't that the knight?

Among them was the knight Zain whom I had saved.

He looks pale, did he return here so quickly after being defeated?

Suddenly, I became curious.

What would Gunter's status window look like?

The distance is a bit far, but it might be worth trying.

I focused my mind and strained my eyes.

Then.

──────────────

[Hero Gunter lv???]

...

──────────────

Ugh, it's barely visible.

It's barely visible.

It seems like my ability to see through has improved after this evolution, but it's still hard to see.

Even the level is a question mark.

──────────────

[Traits]

[Hero], [Knight], [Iron Blood], [???]...

──────────────

Only some of the traits are visible.

"What are you doing, lowly creature?"

Ignore Pelerian and concentrate.

──────────────

[Skills]

[Valarian Axe Spear Technique lv50], [Vanguard Command lv10], [???]... [Heavenly Thunder Spirit lv10]...[???], [Crescent Moon Slash lv10]...

──────────────

Urgh.

Huh!

The status window scattered the moment my concentration wavered.

But, my heart had already started racing.

What the.

Weren't skills supposed to be things like Cutting, Breath Holding, and such?

What are these Heavenly Thunder Spirit and Crescent Moon Slash?

Maybe.

If I use Leaping Horn.

If I combine that with Billy's Horn.

Couldn't I 'borrow' Hero Gunter's higher skills?

It's not stealing, just borrowing for a moment.