So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Since Kadam is terrified of the Emperor, he won't lie or hide anything.

Even if he himself did something wrong.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Indeed, Kadam began explaining in detail what they had observed.

He naturally knew less than us who experienced it directly.

"That... The black rabbit rode the white wyvern Raota and escaped the city boundaries shortly after midnight."

That part seemed to be the biggest failure from Kadam and the zoo's perspective.

Above all, an animal they were raising escaped. The Emperor's experiment probably went wrong from there.

"I see. It's not important."

"Ah..."

But surprisingly, the Emperor didn't seem to care much about Raota.

"It was that foolish previous emperor who was obsessed with that wyvern, not me."

When he called the former emperor foolish, Kadam and others lowered their heads pretending not to hear.

Kadam's story moved on to the next part.

Lady Lilah's struggle.

"A gorilla with prosthetic arms... What was the name of the prosthetic maker?"

"Duiman, Your Majesty."

"Never heard of him. Must be some country craftsman. But quite skilled for one. Make note of this."

The Sword Saint nodded.

Kadam continued explaining in detail.

Hearing about Lady Lilah's battle from someone else's mouth made my heart burn.

You fought so hard, Lilah...

It was an epic of magnificent proportions.

The Emperor listened, occasionally asking questions and nodding.

The story reached the part where Kadam intervened after Lilah fell.

Kadam stammered as he spoke about how he beat up Ambejeu.

Ah, my turn is coming up soon.

The tale of how a noble white snake defeated an evil and vicious aspiring calamity of a lion.

The story of how I stood tall and straight while receiving reverent bows from other monsters.

What if the Emperor pays too much attention to me?

I don't like getting attention.

This is a bit troublesome.

And finally the story reached its climax.

"And Abratal Geduin stopped me and conveyed Your Majesty's will. Just then, a trained snake from the zoo arrived."

Yes, and that snake said.

Master Kadam, leave this to me from here.

That's what happened.

I waited with a fluttering heart for Kadam's words to continue.

"Yes, I moved the injured gorilla to headquarters and the snake finished off the lion."

"I see."

...What.

That's it?

No.

"The corpse was eaten by the monsters so nothing remains."

"That's how monster battles are, I suppose."

'The snake finished off the lion,' he says.

It's not wrong but isn't too much being left out?

The Emperor who should be thundering 'Explain in more detail, you trash zookeeper!' just said 'I see' and moved on.

Is this all there is to the ruler of an empire?

"I had hoped Ambejeu would be born as a calamity, but hearing this, that vicious thing fell short of becoming one."

"Your words are most wise."

"However, while it was a sufficiently dangerous monster, it is meritorious that you followed orders and had monsters finish it rather than doing it yourself. Losing two monsters is a fault."

"Yes..."

"Kadam, reflect for two months and focus on zoo duties."

It was a merciful judgment.

At this punishment far lighter than expected, Kadam looked about to shed tears.

"Your grace is boundless."

"What grace? However, to have defeated that lion, it must truly be an extraordinary monster."

The Emperor finally approached us.

Has he finally recognized my greatness?

I raised my head high waiting for praise, but.

"What a noble and beautiful monster."

"Hehehe..."

The Emperor approached Lilah, not me!

"To show such struggle despite having no arms. Even a lowly beast deserves reward for this."

"Thank you!"

"It even speaks. How amusing."

I trembled with rising feelings of betrayal.

Because Lilah was shyly twisting her body.

This traitor!

"Did you say this monster has a different owner?"

That's when.

The stupid Emperor turned his attention elsewhere.

"Yes, someone named Obern Grimoire."

"Hmm, that name sounds familiar."

The Sword Saint came closer and whispered.

"Ah, the magician who served the prince of Solion?"

Obern, who had been mixed in with the crowd, quickly came forward and knelt on one knee.

"You are this gorilla's owner?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Kadam whispered once more.

"And that small snake is the familiar?"

"Yes."

"Having both an extraordinary monster and an excellent familiar cannot be mere luck."

Extraordinary and excellent - which is better?

"I would like to hear more of your story."

The Emperor's eyes sparkled.

==

It happened in an instant.

Obern was practically kidnapped and taken away by the Emperor and Sword Saint.

The Emperor seemed impressed by Lilah (and surely me too).

He wanted to hear the detailed story.

And apparently this invitation was quite an amazing event.

Because Abratal Geduin, who had run off to report to the Emperor like a snitch, made a huge fuss.

"This breaks the record!"

"What... record?"

We had been ordered to wait for a while.

"The time it took for a foreigner to enter the Porcelain Room!"

"Is the Porcelain Room that... impressive?"

Even Obern, who was trying to act cool as usual, nodded.

The Emperor had summoned Obern to the Porcelain Room.

And apparently the Porcelain Room isn't somewhere just anyone can enter.

It's where those with great knowledge or usefulness to the Emperor are summoned.

"It took me 10 years. 10 years after dedicating myself to the empire and building up fame and achievements. Only then was I called to the Porcelain Room, and even that was said to be fast!"

"I see."

Though Obern answered calmly, the corners of his mouth kept rising.

Well, Obern was originally quite ambitious.

I'm too detached from such things to understand.

"But..."

"Want to ask what happens inside and what questions he asks, right?"

"Can't deny that."

"Hehe..."

Abratal said he was so jealous, then added:

"Experience it yourself. Haha."

Then he dashed off.

Despite his magnificent beard, he's quite a frivolous person.

Only then could Obern show his nervousness.

'Whew, what should I do?'

'What?'

'He seems interested in Mr. Snake and the gorilla, but I haven't really done anything.'

That's absolutely correct.

We did everything while Obern just had his lovey-dovey romance with Daisy.

'You'll have to figure it out.'

'Aw, why are you being like this?'

Obern clung on disgustingly.

I played hard to get for a moment before nodding.

'Don't worry, just appearing somewhat extraordinary should be enough.'

There's no need to worry too much.

Don't we have the Pel-mu-wiki?

'Master, it'll be fine, right?'

"So boring, so very boring."

As long as Pelerian and I are around, no one will notice that Obern is all show and no substance.

And finally the eunuch came.

"Lord Obern Grimoire~"

"Yes."

"His Majesty summons you~"

The eunuch guided him to the door, and just as Obern was about to enter. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

"Ah, familiars are also not allowed inside the Porcelain Room..."

"..."

Obern froze.

Cold sweat beaded on his nape in that instant.

"B-But a familiar is inseparable from a magician..."

"It is His Majesty's command~"

The eunuch's eyes narrowed coldly.

Coming so suddenly.

The greatest crisis of Obern's life.

'G-Good luck!'

That's all I could say.

Obern went in with eyes like livestock being led to slaughter.

==

Hmm.

He must be doing well somehow, right?

"He's always been good at appearing capable. He might have managed."

'Right?'

While waiting for Obern, I had such a conversation with Pelerian.

Even without us, Obern isn't a fool.

Plus his acting skills are good enough that I consider him my teacher.

Worst case he might be scorned by the Emperor, but that's not so bad.

As we waited like that, Obern returned surprisingly quickly.

His dignified and arrogant expression unchanged.

'Obern, you succeeded!'

'...'

Despite me clinging to his neck, Obern gave no response.

Only after leaving his seat did he break his silence.

'The Emperor called me an empty piece of trash.'

'Gasp...'

That's too harsh.

But apparently the Emperor had quite a fiery personality.

A single tear suddenly rolled down from Obern's eye.

'He said I'll be executed if I don't prove my worth within three days.'

'?'

Obern, what exactly did you do in there?