So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

It wasn't about whether Pelerian's words were right or wrong, but the fact that I heard such words from Pelerian was the problem.

'Tsk.'

"This brat."

Daisy took me and Madam Rila to the monster research institute.

Monsters walking in voluntarily without any restraints like us must be rare.

The researchers looked at us with curious faces.

"Boss..."

'Don't be scared. We're just trying it anyway.'

Madam Rila was wearing her distinctive attire - a patchwork ensemble crafted from rough brown cloth that had the sturdy, practical look of well-worn workwear. The fabric had the telltale weave pattern of standard keeper uniforms, though transformed into something uniquely her own.

It was Madam Rila's special keeper uniform, painstakingly constructed by carefully dismantling and reassembling pieces from five different keeper uniforms. The seams were expertly matched, creating a garment that moved naturally with her movements while providing the durability needed for her work.

By the way, she always follows strict safety protocols by removing it when entering monster enclosures to avoid contamination, but wears it proudly whenever she's working outside with the regular animals. The other keepers had come to see it as her trademark.

Daisy made me a separate one using one cut sleeve from a keeper uniform.

Madam Rila took off her uniform and got on the machine.

"Beginning magical energy conductivity measurement for Iron Arm Gorilla."

Madam Rila carefully grabbed the two sticks placed in front.

"Place both heels at the edge of the crystal plate and spread your arms so your armpits don't touch."

The empire's advanced technology could measure monsters' or people's levels.

Madam Rila flinched at the tingling magical power running through her fingertips.

"Current level 34. Evolution possible level estimated at 40."

The results came out.

After beating up several monsters, Madam Rila's level had become 34.

Moreover, we could know when she could evolve.

Though it's quite expensive to operate once so we can't measure often, it was a very nice technology.

'If we work hard, you can evolve before long!'

"Woohoo!"

I and Madam Rila high-fived.

Next was my turn.

"Uh, both heels... Place your body at the edge of the crystal plate."

Since I had naturally increased my size a bit beforehand, I could get on the crystal plate below.

"The sticks under your armp... ah yes, bite them like that please."

Snakes don't have armpits.

I bit one stick in my mouth.

"Beginning magical energy conductivity measurement for Obern's familiar."

I didn't reveal that I was a Little Prince Serpent.

Since I'm a unique species, they couldn't find out by looking in guidebooks anyway.

They seemed to think I was something like a Little Crystal Snake.

'Oh.'

I can feel the tingling magical power flowing through my body.

Soon, the results came out.

"Obern's familiar, level 21. Evolution possible level cannot be estimated yet."

Ah, disappointing.

It means there's still far to go until the level threshold, probably need at least lv40 before being able to evolve.

Isil or Madam Rila would definitely evolve first.

"Mr. Obern."

Your journey continues at empire

Next was Obern's turn.

He also took position and measured his level.

Of course I had already seen and could tell him, but my ability to read status windows was secret from others.

"Level 63."

Since humans can't evolve, no evolution possible level showed up.

Obern clenched his fist in a victory pose.

Daisy said something about him being cute.

Phili's measured level was 51.

All thanks to hunting monsters as part of the cleaning squad.

They say there's also a machine that can estimate evolution trees.

I want to try using it secretly someday.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Today is 'Black Day.'

The day to clean the area where black monsters live.

Black monsters and white monsters are forbidden from being cleaned by humans.

So today is a day for just Madam Rila and me to shine.

'Let's go on a date just us too!'

"Woohoo!"

We entered the black monsters' area.

==

The black monsters' numbers are overflowing.

The monsters we were going to clean this time were none other than bat swarms.

Since the zoo's vast grounds had natural caves.

We found an entrance pierced in the middle of a hill.

It was around sunset.

Fwooooosh-

The sound of bats trying to come out echoed from inside the cave.

'Here they come!'

I signaled Madam Rila and stayed still.

And soon, bats as big as eagles started rushing towards the entrance.

'Now!'

Madam Rila immediately jumped down from above the cave entrance.

She held a large net in both hands.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Screeeee!"

"Screeech!"

The bats fluttered and got tangled in the net.

I and Madam Rila beat up the tangled bat monsters earnestly.

Using the bowgun.

Biting them.

Above all, using magic to roast them all at once.

When dealing with black monsters, there aren't even human supervisors.

So I could act relatively freely.

「Your level has increased.」

Oh, good news after a while.

After taking care of dozens of bats, Madam Rila caught one and started dissecting it.

It was one that was crisply roasted by the fireball.

As we were about to toast with bat leg roast each.

Click.

Madam Rila quickly turned around and aimed her prosthetic.

I also turned my head.

Gulp, after swallowing the leg roast in one bite.

"Saak." (Who's there).

I was on guard.

What appeared was a black rabbit.

A rabbit with a horn on its forehead.

Though a bit large, still seems like an ordinary rabbit.

But what is this.

This pressure.

That rabbit is undoubtedly strong.

The moment I thought that,

"...The Elder, is looking for you."

Surprisingly, it spoke albeit clumsily.

In other words, it's a monster with intelligence high enough for conversation.

Madam Rila asked warily.

"Elder?"

"Yes, safety is, don't worry."

And the rabbit said something not funny.

"Black ones have, loyalty."

So, it seems they want to take us to their group.

Why us?

"Saaak!"

I expressed my refusal.

"Uh, why should we go."

Madam Rila translated.

Tell the Elder to come himself if he wants to meet us, you rookie rabbit.

That's when.

The rabbit said something I couldn't imagine.

"You weren't called. Whitey."

Then spits.

"Whitey who can't even, talk. Not needed."

'Wh-what...'

"Come with me, cool, gorilla."

What did you say!