So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

'Black Snake King? Puhaha!'

The snake laughed before even finishing the joke.

Lady Gorilla picked up on the joke.

"Sh-shield not snake king~ U, hohoho."

"Sasasasak!"

The snake and gorilla looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Obern couldn't understand the meaning.

Setting aside how terribly unfunny the joke was, wasn't it enough to tell it once or twice?

The problem was that the snake and gorilla had already repeated this joke dozens of times.

Moreover, they laughed like that every time they told the joke, which was just surprising and astounding.

Did they not know what boredom was?

So Obern asked the gorilla.

Did she understand what the joke meant?

"Don't know..."

When he then asked why she laughed.

"Because boss laughs... When boss laughs, I also, like it. Uhoho."

Even Obern couldn't help but feel touched by that.

What amazing loyalty.

Surprisingly, Obern came to feel respect for the monster gorilla.

After that, he would force a laugh whenever the snake made unfunny jokes.

But now.

Now even Obern couldn't possibly laugh.

Because of the duel letter before his eyes.

Crackle.

Unknown magical power flowed through the letter paper.

The contents written were:

「As one who walks the path of magic with you, I have been admiring your lofty realm.

Thus, I carefully wish to engage in serious academic exchange...」

Though decorated with proper etiquette and flowery words.

It was indeed a duel letter.

Of course, it wasn't a duel like knights or fighters who risk their lives.

It was the mages' way, more elegant and less bloody than theirs.

In short, an invitation to compete in magic.

However, regardless.

The fact remained that Chancellor Balanyar, a real great archmage, had challenged Obern, a mere genius upstart, to a magic duel.

Why on earth!

'He must have heard about your impressive performance.'

The snake, who had read the letter together, commented so.

'By the way, the Chancellor is really shameless, letting people die like that. Even if no students died, it's too much.'

The snake spoke as if growling.

Though usually indifferent to people dying, it deeply cared about the students it had taught.

Anyway, Obern sympathized.

Who would have thought that Chancellor who always acted like an ignorant boy with his constant giggling had plotted such a huge conspiracy.

'Let's punish him, let's completely crush him, Obern.'

'No, how could I...'

'If I help... No, that still wouldn't work.'

Though there was that time when the snake's help let him save face in front of the Chancellor.

That great archmage didn't seem to realize the snake on the staff had used tricks.

But this time the situation was different.

Though magic duels have various forms, they're basically head-on confrontations.

It would be hard to match up against Balanyar who had already reached the realm of great archmage.

'Then just refuse, man.'

'Ah, that would work.'

How about that.

The snake said something right.

Just as Obern felt distressed that he hadn't thought of what the snake had thought of.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

The gorilla hurriedly tried to hide, but there was no way that bulk could hide behind the sofa.

Who could it be?

"You read the letter! It's me, the Chancellor. I'm coming in."

"You can't!"

"Eh?"

"I'll come out."

Obern barely managed to stop the Chancellor from opening the door first by going out himself.

"Didn't I write 'No Entry'?"

"Well, I thought we were close enough that I could enter."

Close? What kind of relationship did we have?

"Don't worry. I didn't enter before either. That's why I just slipped the letter in."

"Yes... About that duel letter."

"You're not going to refuse, are you?"

He was planning to refuse.

"Refusing is not allowed."

"...I lack the skills."

"What nonsense is that? I heard everything. Your performance in the circular arena."

Then the snake muttered, 'Wow, completely shameless.'

Obern agreed. Hadn't he abandoned the students and escaped with just the royalty?

"You think I'm incredibly shameless, right?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Hit the nail on the head.

Obern maintained his poker face.

"I don't know what the Court Count told Professor Grimoire, but surely you don't believe everything that old fox said?"

"..."

Was the Court Count lying?

Then which parts were lies?

"I prioritized evacuating the royalty, but that was unavoidable due to my contract with the royal family. The same goes for the children. I made arrangements so they wouldn't die. Actually, no one died, right?"

"That's hard to believe."

"You lack faith, young Obern. Anyway, refusing is not allowed."

Chancellor Balanyar almost whined.

It wasn't strange given his boyish appearance, but the snake commented 'ugh' from the side.

"Let's do spear and shield style. And I'll only use one hand. Spells under 1 minute for me, under 3 minutes for Professor Grimoire. If I win, nothing happens, if Professor Obern wins, I'll grant a wish."

You might think what use is a wish from a gnome, moreover an old gnome inside.

But a wish from Great Archmage Balanyar was no ordinary matter.

"Well, I'm not afraid of the Court Count either. You know what I mean?"

"...I understand."

Obern reflexively nodded at those words.

"Great! Then let's meet at Laurel Square at noon tomorrow!"

"Haah..."

The Chancellor disappeared with quick steps.

'Well, even if there's no chance of winning, there's nothing to lose.'

'True.'

'As long as we keep it quiet. We'll just have to try our best...'

With the snake's help, he might avoid major embarrassment.

But Obern soon recalled an important fact.

'Wait... Did he say the location was the square?'

'He did?'

'If it's the square, spectators will...'

Having spectators was not welcome - especially the wide-eyed gawkers who seemed to materialize from thin air whenever conflict erupted, their eager faces hungry for entertainment at others' expense.

If they duel in the square, students and professors will gather in droves, pressing against each other like fish in a barrel, their whispers and speculation spreading through the crowd like wildfire. The cobblestones would become a stage for their unwanted performance.

Obern clutched his head as he realized, his fingers digging into his temples while cold sweat beaded on his forehead. The weight of impending disaster settled heavily on his shoulders, making his stomach churn.

He was in danger of public humiliation - the kind that would echo through the halls for months to come, following him like a shadow and coloring every interaction with snickers and sideways glances. His reputation, carefully maintained over years, could shatter in moments.

That's when.

'Obern.'

The snake spoke seriously.