‘Was that BloodShade’s past?

Ugh! This f*cking headache!’

After the pain had subsided a bit, Elysian slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw were the serpent's eyes fixed on him. It wasn’t the gigantic snake in his vision, but it was still big, roughly five times larger than a normal one. “Damn!” he muttered, taken aback by the sight. Despite a smaller version from before, he was certain it was the same creature. With its two heads sharing a single body, what else could it be?

Instead of fleeing, Elysian’s curiosity was enough to overcome his panic. He turned back and looked at the creature, observing it while it did the same to him. In this silent exchange, time seemed to stop—well, not stop entirely, but just slow down as they were lost in their own little world.

Though similar, the boy noticed that it lacked the same formidable power that emanated from his vision. The creature before him bore only a faint trace of that terrifying power, and its smaller size showed it. Moreover, its eyes lacked the malevolence that radiated from that colossal serpent. Instead, they held a hint of innocence akin to that of a child. However, this did not mean that the creature before him was harmless; only fools would entertain such a notion.

“Hi,” Elysian said softly, breaking the silence. The creature simply looked at him, tilting its head while its tongue flicked in and out.

‘Surely it won’t bite me, right?’

When he received no response, Elysian glanced at Eye, who was still staring at them and watching. Interestingly, the serpent also mimicked his actions, its two heads turning upwards to curiously study the giant eye.

‘Can you help me here? What am I supposed to do with it?’

Elysian sighed when he did not get any reaction. What did he expect? He should just be thankful that the b*stard helped him out of this previous predicament. Left with no choice, he glanced back at the snake, which returned his gaze.

‘It’s safe, right? It won’t bite me. If it were going to, I’d have been bitten already, so it’s probably safe.

Yes, I’m confident, it’s safe.’

Elysian smiled, aiming to appear as non-threatening as possible, as he slowly reached his right hand toward the closest head, the one with the crimson eyes. “You won’t bite me, right?” he softly muttered, cautiously extending his arm forward, ready to quickly retract it at the slightest sign of danger. “Good. Good, both of you seemed to be docile.”

Just as he predicted, the creature didn’t react. It simply stared at his hand as it drew closer, seeming curious about his movement. When his hand was near its head, he paused, observing its response. The creature continued to stare before it got bored and returned its gaze to Elysian. Seeing this reaction gave the boy some courage, so he gently touched the head of the snake. “What a nice little snakey you are,” he said, a smile spreading across his lips. Observing the snake seeming to enjoy his touch, he patted it more vigorously this time. “You’re very cute, aren’t you? You like it, huh? Yes, you do.”

‘What the hell? Am I treating this dangerous creature like a dog now? It won’t get angry at me, right?

Hmm…

Well, whatever. It doesn’t seem to be insulted by it. And maybe… Maybe it will become my pet. Yes, that would be nice.’

“What about you, my little friend?” Elysian said, glancing at the other head, which was just observing them. “Would you like me to pat you too?”

When the other head just stared at him, tilting its head, Elysian gained enough confidence to extend his hand toward it as well. So, the young noble slowly withdrew his right hand. Smiling at the creature, he asked, “Are you ready now, my boy?”

‘Is this creature even male? Are both of them?

Well, I don’t even know if they have sexes since they don’t have tails but are connected to one body.

Whatever. It’s a problem for later.’

As his right hand started to move toward the other head, the one he previously patted shrieked. This instantly made him pause. Instead of fear, his smile turned into a grin. “Are you jealous?” he asked, enjoying himself. “Don’t be. I’ll pat you again after this.”

This somehow calmed the envious snake, soothing its displeasure.

‘Do they even understand what I’m saying?

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It did calm down. Maybe it can. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Just thinking about the possibilities makes me giddy already.’

Like before, Elysian was able to pat the other serpent’s head without any issue. “You’re also a good boy, huh? Like your brother… or sister,” he said, scratching the lower jaw. “What will I even call you? Hmm… I’m really not good with names. Well, I will pick a nice one for both of you later,” he remarked as he slowly withdrew his hand while staring at Eye.

‘Hey, Eye. Look, both of them are so nice and gentle. Why can’t you act like these two? As the older one, you should be a good role model.’

“Isn’t that right, my cuties?” Elysian said, glancing at the serpents while grinning so exuberantly that it might actually hurt his face. When he was halfway through pulling back his arm, the two heads suddenly lunged forward, biting his wrist on both sides. With his small arm, their entire mouth easily bit a sizeable section of it. He froze, stunned by what had just happened. Too shocked to speak, his smile slowly drained like water in a sink. He couldn’t believe it; he couldn’t believe they had just bitten him like that.

‘Damn it! Me and my big mouth!’

image [https://i.imgur.com/DmoXvts.png]

‘F*ck! Are you happy now, you b*stard?! Enjoying yourself?’

“Ah!” Elysian screamed in agony. This wasn’t just any ordinary pain; it was similar to what he had felt with the orb earlier, as if his soul were being ripped apart. He immediately rose to his feet while trying to yank the serpents off him. No matter what he did, they wouldn’t relent in their grip. “Get off me, you b*stards! I thought you liked me. Why the hell are you doing this?!”

Instead of responding or showing any mercy, both heads not only bit down, clamping hard on his arm, but also began to burrow into it, akin to moles tunneling through the earth. “Are you crazy?!” he screamed, totally losing his reason as panic took charge. He ran around, shouting profanities, all the while attempting to dislodge the creatures. When that failed, he resorted to punching the snakes; in a last-ditch effort, he even bit them, with the same result. Yet, despite all these efforts and even with all the aura he could muster, it did nothing; the serpents persisted, burrowing deeper into his flesh. “Let go, you b*stard! Get off me! Ugh!”

‘What the hell?! Both of these b*stards have already burrowed a third of their bodies on my thin arm! How can this be possible?

Are they trying to gain control of my body?

No. No, not again. Sh*t, sh*t!’

Elysian immediately halted his frantic scrambling, casting a glance upward. The colossal eye loomed above, doing nothing. Perhaps it even found amusement in the spectacle, like watching some play and laughing. “Hey, you! Hurry up and help me, you b*stard!”

image [https://i.imgur.com/pG8aZdG.png]

“Sh*t!” Elysian cursed, staring straight at the response he got. Suddenly, his vision darkened. “Huh? What… Not again,” he muttered as everything faded to black.

----------------------------------------

“Fulk here says that you haven’t paid your dues, Landon. Is that true?” Lysander asked, staring intensely at the younger man on his right. The merchant squirmed under the glare, fixing his gaze instead to the floor. “I’ve given you the rights to the trade for timber already. Isn’t it just fair that you give us the rightful share of the barony? How can we continue to keep this place running if you refuse to pay your taxes?” he questioned again, but it seemed the man had lost the ability to speak, engulfed by fear. Who could blame him, though? The custodian was simply terrifying, especially when it involved money. “Why are you treating me like this?” he asked, his voice showing frustration as the merchant continued to hold his tongue. “Answer me!”

The poor merchant jerked back in panic at the sudden, loud voice of the noble. “I’m… I’m sorry, m-my lord,” Landon stammered, glancing meekly at the angry eyes of the custodian. “Fulk… I’ve already told Fulk that Alderwick had imposed numerous fees, resulting in significant losses from the trade, my lord.”

‘Fees? Those vermin!’

“Is that true, Fulk?” Lysander asked, scowling as he turned to the treasurer. “Didn’t we have a free trade agreement with Alderwick?”

“Yes, we do, my lord,” Fulk responded, nodding his head before sighing. “I’ve heard complaints from other merchants regarding that. I’d already sent a letter to their representative to ask for an explanation,” he continued, his voice serious. “Knowing them, it’s likely true. They’ve taken advantage, fully aware that our main army is currently deployed in the war. With our present predicament, they felt emboldened to capitalize on this.”

“Those vermin! They think they can just take advantage of us like that?!” Lysander growled as his aura flared furiously, raging like a flame, intent on burning anyone who dared defy its will. “Do they think I’d let this slide?”

‘I’ll make them pay for this!’

As the tension intensified in the room, the office suddenly fell silent. Both men sat uneasily, watching the custodian’s reaction. Despite frequently accompanying the noble, they still couldn’t get used to his aura flaring like that. It was quite suffocating, especially when his fury blazed like fire—a reflection of his uncontrollable temper. They wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his wrath, and they felt sorry for anyone who was. He could be so vicious and cruel to anyone he deemed an enemy. So, they waited patiently, wary of causing any displeasure to the tyrant among them.

When the rage of the custodian seemed to mellow down a bit, Landon saw an opportunity and seized it. “That… That’s why, my lord. I-It wasn’t my fault,” he stammered, trying to get his point across. Noticing Lysander’s gaze shift toward him, he quivered as his confidence abandoned him. He was left with no choice; only desperation kept him going. “Ah, hmm... Those d-damn bas… bastards! It’s Alderwick’s. It’s their fault!”

‘What’s this fool trying to say?’

“You’re right, Landon. It's the fault of those c*nts from Alderwick,” Fulk agreed, nodding at him before he snickered. “However, why were you the only one with such a huge loss? Most merchants didn’t pay and just refused to trade with them,” he stated, raising his brow. When he saw him grow pale, the treasurer snorted. “Just as I thought.”

‘Tsk, useless!’

“What are you trying to say?!” Landon exclaimed, annoyed by the sudden insinuation by the older man. Turning to the noble, he quickly said, “My lord, don’t listen to him. It’s not my fault this time. I’m the one…”

“Shut up!” Lysander screamed, his gaze blazing with rage. What did you expect? Not only was he dealing with a problem involving another barony, but he was now confronted with an idiot who lost his money to their rival. “If it wasn’t for your father, I wouldn’t have given you this contract. Or any contract. I don’t care how you do it, but you must give us our share. If you…”

As Lysander was castigating the younger man, he heard a knock on the door, making him more upset. “What?!” he shouted, his irritation evident in his voice. Sighing in resignation, he added, “Come in.”

‘Why am I surrounded by fools? Ah!’

The door suddenly opened, and a tall, burly man with a large scar on his right cheek entered the room. “I’m sorry to disturb you, boss, but…” Humphrey stopped for a moment, glancing at the other two men. “There’s an incident that needs your attention.”