So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Phili looked at the map while clutching his bottom.

Oliver's eyes held gratitude looking at me. Come on, this much is nothing.

"To properly read a map, you need to learn map reading skills. But well, no need for that now, just memorize the whole map. Until you can draw it."

There's something noteworthy here.

That is, the three's heads worked better than expected.

It's actually quite difficult to perfectly memorize a map.

However, they became able to roughly draw the map in less than an hour.

Rania was worst, and Amain was best.

Surprisingly, Phili was in the middle. Even that showed quite good memory.

Until now, it seemed meaningless whether a hunter taught or a village farmer taught.

From here, Oliver's true value showed.

"Good work. From now on, I'll teach you hunter's techniques."

First, how not to get lost.

"If you know the terrain features in your head, and can know your position and direction, you won't get lost."

What Oliver showed was truly fascinating.

"Look at this tree and rock. Can you tell north, south, east and west from these?"

"How would you know that."

When grumbling Phili gets shown a slight tail raise, he shuts up.

"Just looking at this tells you half. See how there are notably more branches on one side up there? That's from receiving sunlight well. That side is likely south."

"..."

"Looking at the rock, there's moss growing on one side. Moss grows well in damp and dark places. This side is likely north."

"...Oh."

"Jarein."

When called, Jarein drew his sword as if he'd been waiting.

And as aura gathered on that sword.

Slash!

He cut down a not-too-thick tree in one strike.

"The tree stump has annual rings."

Everyone gathered like middle schoolers at science lab.

"This dense part is north, the sparse part is south."

There were many ways to tell direction.

"However, these aren't exact. It's good to verify using multiple methods together."

His explanation had no gaps.

"Using about 10 minutes of time lets you know more accurately. See this shadow?"

He marks the end of the cut tree trunk's shadow.

After waiting 10 minutes, the shadow moved.

He draws a line connecting where the moved shadow's end was first marked.

"The start point is west, and the end point is east."

Confucius said.

If three people are walking on a road, one of them must be capable of being a teacher.

Even as a monster born and raised in forests, there were things to learn from Oliver.

Listening diligently to class with the children.

「Acquired Pathfinding lv1.」

I even acquired such a skill.

If I'd had this skill earlier, it would have been really reassuring in the great forest.

Thank you, Teacher Oliver!

For several days after that.

Oliver diligently passed on his knowledge.

==

'Phew, what a relief.'

About a week after being called by Rania to teach the children including the prince.

That was the thought of Oliver, the battle-hardened hunter who inherited the dagger technique of the 'Great Thief Ferang.'

Who could have known he'd meet 'that snake' here.

It was surely divine fortune that they survived that terrible monster wave and saved Rania.

But there was still something he couldn't be certain of.

Whether to be grateful to the snake that didn't kill them.

Or whether that snake, who seemed to lead the monster wave, was the root cause of everything.

That's why he froze stiff like a mouse when facing the snake.

Though it was a bit confusing since it had become smaller than then, it was definitely that snake.

Zain and Oliver entered House Martein with Rania.

Just as Rania diligently trained in Martein-style combat techniques, they too honed themselves.

Zain could emit much larger aura.

Oliver too became strong enough to not lose against such a Zain.

But this snake seemed far more terrifying than back then.

Just look at how it handles that intimidating Emerald School professor like a servant...

'It seems not to have noticed.'

Moreover, actually, Oliver had something to hide from the snake.

Fortunately, the snake seemed not to have noticed.

Because during the week given to teach the children, it never brought up that story once.

"Up to here, I've passed on everything I can pass on. The Grand Festival starts the day after tomorrow, so I hope you rest well until then."

The three's bodies were covered in dirt.

The snake too was the same.

Whatever kind of creature it was, the snake overflowed with will to learn.

The snake too memorized the map perfectly.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"Sasasak!"

They finished greetings together.

Enjoy more content from empire

Finally I can leave now.

As Oliver thought this feeling relieved.

Suddenly, the snake climbed onto Rania's shoulder familiarly.

As if trying to secure itself, it lightly wrapped its tail around Rania's neck.

While Rania was indifferent, Oliver's heart sank knowing the snake's danger.

Suddenly, the snake produced a dagger.

"Oliver. I have something to ask."

It was Rania who spoke.

"Ah, I'm relaying Snake Teacher's words."

"What? Uh, yes."

The snake could now transmit its voice to those it touched.

"Everyone else step back, I have something to talk about with Oliver."

The snake said this through Rania's mouth.

Surprisingly, even the professor and prince withdrew without a word.

It meant the snake's authority was high here.

"What is it you want to..."

"I recently met someone, you see."

While listening tensely to the snake's words.

"Pandan, you know him?"

Ah.

Oliver couldn't hide his shocked expression.

Why would that name come from the snake?

"He was a fellow student, meaning... someone who learned the Ferang Dagger Technique together."

Rania seemed unaware how dangerous the current situation was.

Warning bells rang in Oliver's head.

"I heard the Ferang School Dagger Technique I learned was incomplete? I said that couldn't be true but."

That's right.

Before, when the snake requested transmission of the dagger technique, Oliver only passed on the first half, excluding the final three forms.

It was because he didn't want to give secret dagger techniques to an unknown monster.

Who knew that monster would notice.

The dagger slowly rotated in mid-air.

The snake grips Rania's neck.

Now, the snake was making threats.

Questioning the crime of deceiving and insulting it.

Shirilit, its tongue flicks out.

"Well? Isn't that an absurd story...?"

Oliver squeezed his eyes shut.

How foolish he was to think this was a relatively harmless monster.

Rania is now precious to Oliver too.

He had only one option left.

==

"I have committed a mortal sin!"

Suddenly Oliver fell to his knees before me.

Both Rania and I were startled.

What's wrong, Teacher Oliver!

"I will pass on all the latter forms of the Ferang Dagger Technique. Not only that, I'll tell you all the secret techniques I possess! Please, don't harm the young lady!"

"Saah!"

Why would I harm Rania!

'Wait.'

But what did he say?

Were there really latter forms?

Well anyway, this is good!