Chapter 185 – The Strongest Serpent (3)

Choi Seol-ah’s ears perked up. Slimy sounds and faint crunches were approaching slowly. There were also ragged breaths mixed in. Just from that auditory information, it was obvious.

It was the sound of a snake slithering across the ground.

“If only it were just a little snake…” she thought for a moment, though she knew it was a hopeless wish.

Her face twisted in horror. Every time that thing writhed, the ground trembled slightly. There was no way something that big could be ignored.

Suddenly, a tingling in her nose alerted her. She quickly covered it with her index finger and looked down. A green mist, rising to their knees, was dissolving the leather of her Louis Vuitton shoes.

Watching a pair of designer shoes turn to rags she was frozen for a second, but then her face turned red. Fear was instantly swept away by rage.

“Damn shitty snake!”

Eyes rolling back, Choi Seol-ah pulled out her revolver. But just as her finger was about to squeeze the trigger, Kang Geom-Ma clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Silence.”

“B-But, sir… These shoes! I lined up at dawn just to buy them! They were limited edition—they cost thirty million won! And now they’re ruined! How can I not be mad?!”

Even with her mouth covered, her glare screamed fury as she waved her foot to show the damage. The shoes looked chewed by rats, with her toes sticking out.

Kang Geom-Ma frowned, clicked his tongue, and declared.

“If your life’s worth only thirty million, go face it alone.”

“……”

“And you—complaining that feeding Horn costs a million a week—and you drop thirty mil on shoes? No. You need another reeducation session.”

“M-My Lord! Have mercy…!”

Just then, the slithering creature revealed itself. A massive brown serpent. Its head brushed the ceiling, and its coiled body looked like a hill.

It was exactly like watching a mouse face a snake.

The snake flicked its tongue, green mist rising from its nostrils. Its slitted pupils blinked as it scanned the humans. Choi Seol-ah quietly holstered her revolver. Shooting those thick scales would do nothing.

Still, the snake didn’t attack. It only tilted its head curiously, observing. Maybe it was the first time it had met humans who didn’t run.

But if it moved, a clash was inevitable.

Choi Seol-ah gritted her teeth.

‘Now’s the time to run.’

She glanced to the side. Unlike her pale and trembling self, her Lord remained impassive. As always.

His indifference made her own fear feel shameful. Would she ever see him surprised?

‘I want to see him scared at least once…’

That twisted desire crept into her pink-stained heart.

‘No, no!’

She shook her head fiercely to drive the thought away. She’d been scolded enough for her villainous habits. If that intent got exposed, forget the poison—what came next was the scent of punishment.

She looked back at her Lord. He squinted at the enemy, his half-hidden pupil radiating sheer disinterest.

Then he spoke to Horn.

“That’s not the basilisk, right? It’s just big. Doesn’t seem like much. Maybe B+ rank at best?”

He evaluated the monster like it was a cut of meat. Horn, surprised by his attitude, nodded reluctantly.

“Yes. It’s my first time seeing it, but it’s probably a basilisk underling. Judging by the size and poison, it’s just a gatekeeper. But it’s not easy. The closer you get, the denser the venom. And it won’t be shoes melting then—it’ll be bones.”

“Then we just kill it without getting close, right?”

Kang Geom-Ma scratched his chin casually. Horn was stunned.

“In theory, yes… but how are you planning to kill something that big from a distance…?”

“You can’t let a mini-boss block your way. If it won’t come to you, make it come.”

Before even finishing the sentence, Kang Geom-Ma stepped toward the serpent and activated the [Blessing of Communication].

— Move.

……?

The green slit pupil narrowed. Its eyes blinked like a traffic light. Kang Geom-Ma spoke again.

— If you won’t move… then die.

The serpent reacted. Its green eyes turned red. It was furious.

“SSSSSHHHAAAAAAAAAA!”

Its roar echoed through the chamber. It opened its jaws wide and lunged.

In that instant, Kang Geom-Ma slightly unsheathed Murasame. Choi Seol-ah shouted, thrilled.

“Is—is that it!? Are we about to see the Lord’s move!?”

The secret technique that had destroyed a berserker ogre.

“The Death Sashimi.”

Between the line of thought and reality, the blade gleamed white.

Slash.

The vertical pupil snapped wide… and the serpent’s body slammed into the ground.

BOOOOOM!

The creature writhed like it was electrocuted, dragging its body across the floor. Stones scattered everywhere. Horn’s dress hem fluttered.

“Ugh! What wind is this…?”

Horn raised an arm to shield herself from the debris. The dust stung her eyes, but she forced them open.

“Eep!”

She cried out and fell back. In front of her, the lifeless eyes of the serpent met hers. They were translucent, grayish. A Y-shaped tongue dangled from its jaw.

It had died without shedding a single drop of blood.

Horn’s head spun. How? Why? A thousand question marks evaporated in succession.

Then she remembered Choi Seol-ah’s words.

‘Have you ever seen someone kill a magical beast with a heart attack using a sashimi knife?’

Click.

Horn stiffly turned her head forward. The shining blade slid back into its sheath.

Kang Geom-Ma let out a small sigh. Despite the volcanic heat, white breath escaped his lips.

He turned around. To Horn, he seemed far more imposing than the slain serpent. His presence was awe-inspiring. Even the air respected him.

As the poisonous mist cleared, he spoke.

“Let’s rest here for a bit.”

“……”

“We should eat, too.”

Horn silently nodded. They had been walking for almost three hours. It was the perfect time for a break.

…Besides, it wasn’t a suggestion she could refuse. And so, the three lit a campfire beside the monster’s corpse.

***

Crackle, crackle.

Sparks rose gently from the campfire. Kang Geom-Ma seasoned three hanwoo steaks with salt and pepper—premium Korean beef bought using Choi Seol-ah’s card.

He skewered the cuts on branches and held them over the flames. Soon, the fat began to sizzle, releasing a rich, mouthwatering aroma.

They had anticipated a grueling journey, so eating inside the dungeon at least once was necessary. Even if they were about to face an S-rank magical beast, skipping a meal was out of the question. A full stomach ensured better performance in combat.

Kang Geom-Ma had faced all kinds of monsters. He’d learned most weren’t worth even a drop of preemptive worry. Being nervous ahead of time was useless—it was better not to think at all.

But it wasn’t enough for him alone to stay calm. His companions also needed to stay focused to support him.

Basilisk was an S-rank beast with the fearsome Petrifying Eye. Choi Seol-ah maybe not, but with Horn—a dragon—by his side, the odds of victory were real.

That’s why he splurged on top-grade hanwoo. To boost morale and replenish energy.

Definitely worth it.

On either side, his companions were staring at the meat without blinking. Maybe worry wasn’t necessary. Especially Horn’s eyes—they glistened with reverence. Even her nostrils flared, as if unwilling to miss a single trace of the aroma.

The accumulated tension melted along with the fat. As the poisonous mist was replaced by woodsmoke, Choi Seol-ah timidly broke the silence.

“Um… Sir. This might be a bit late to ask, but… won’t this smell attract other beasts? I’m sure you’ve already thought it through, right?”

Kang Geom-Ma answered while turning the meat.

“Yeah. So decide either stare at the meat or keep being nervous. Horn’s getting anxious because of you.”

“Ah, yes, sorry, hehe! By the way, how much did this beef cost? That marbling looks insane. Must’ve been pricey.”

“100,000 won per cut.”

“Ooooh! You went all out! Wow, that’s class! That’s how it’s done, Sir!”

Choi Seol-ah raised both thumbs and bounced excitedly. Kang Geom-Ma glanced at her with disinterest.

‘She doesn’t know it wasn’t her money.’

He’d made Horn swipe her wallet. After all, his surname was Kang, from the Seo-ri clan.

Unaware of that truth, Choi Seol-ah scratched her temple and returned her gaze to the fire.

A while later, Kang Geom-Ma handed each of them a piece of meat.

“Eat.”

There were no knives or forks. They ate with their hands. That rustic feel made it even more appetizing.

“Thanks for the food, Sir!”

“You’re welcome.”

Horn and Choi Seol-ah bit into the meat. Their jaws tingled. They froze for a few seconds.

Plop. Tears of joy fell onto the meat. More than just flavor—it was emotion made edible.

Just salt and pepper. But the taste was so profound, it felt like a spiritual experience.

The doneness was perfect. You could chew it with your gums.

Horn and Choi Seol-ah exchanged silent glances. They were still chewing, meat in their mouths.

‘This is insane, right, Horn?’

‘Maybe my whole dragon life led to this moment, Choi Seol-ah.’

Their eyes spoke volumes. Then, almost in unison, they devoured the meat mercilessly. Choi Seol-ah chewed with her cheeks puffed out.

“Sir, this is nuts. Seriously! How can it taste like this with just salt and pepper? Have you ever thought of opening a steakhouse? You’d make a fortune! Wow, it’s amazing! Why doesn’t it ever taste like this at home?”

“When you’re hungry, even dirt tastes good. Also, are wood fires and gas the same?”

Despite the words, Kang Geom-Ma gave a faint smile. It was dark. But amid that darkness, the warmth of the fire and the people softened the air.

However, even in light, pests can creep in.

Slither. Slither. Slither.

Shadows slid in spirals through the dark. Jaws stopped chewing. Laughter ceased.

Choi Seol-ah turned her head. Brrr. Goosebumps. At a glance, over a hundred snakes had surrounded them on all sides.

They weren’t as big as the last one, but each was at least twice the size of a person. Choi Seol-ah’s grease-covered lips trembled.

“Si-Si-Sir…”

“Don’t make a scene.”

Kang Geom-Ma didn’t react at all. He glanced briefly and silently walked toward the large snake’s corpse. His eyes were completely calm.

“Well, snakes do have a good nose for hanwoo. Looks like every damn thing in this dungeon came crawling.”

He kept chewing meat. To him, this situation was ideal.

He extended a hand and touched the dead snake’s scales. His eyes gleamed with a dark glow.

“Rise.”

A flash passed through the serpent’s dull eyes. Its massive body began to lift slowly. Kang Geom-Ma bit off another piece of meat and spoke.

“You’re ruining my meal. Kill them all.”

Before he finished the command, the resurrected serpent exhaled forcefully through its nostrils. The toxic breath swept away the horde of invading snakes in seconds.