Chapter 961 Part 2

ShangriLa Frontier Chapter 517: King of the Cave Part 2

「Do you happen to know anything about a “Goldunine with a whole lot of snake servants”?」

「Even if you ask me that, how could I even hear about something like that? It’s not like I’m leaving this place all that often, you know?」

She says that while still wiping and glancing at the still incomplete sculpture, no doubt thinking in what way she should approach this particular one.

「Hachihiki.」

「Huh? Say what now?」

「There is a particular breed of snake that tends to group up around strong individuals and follow their orders. Not that I have ever met some of them personally, but I just know that for a fact.」

…… Hoo, is that so?

「As far as their name goes, I don’t know how it is or where that name originated…… but I do believe that you people would call them “Orochi” or something like that.」

Now, this is some major name that I honestly did not even expect to hear in a place like that, from someone like you…… But it would be really annoying if those enemies really had eight heads. Eight heads means eight possible attacks, each coming from a different direction. This means that it wouldn’t be one on one, but rather a one versus eight type of battle, which would already be increasing the difficulty by a large margin. To put things into perspective, if this was a turn based game, having eight enemies while you are all alone would always end up in you dying. Without any exception.

But does that mean that they have eight heads? Or maybe one for the time being? Could it be that those Orochis may be in an immature state or something else like that?

「I also remember, but really vaguely, that they taste good. Good for a snack.」

「I…… I see…..」

So, the main unit must have realized that her clones would not be having such an easy time surviving out there in the world and decided to grant them followers that could protect them and provide a source of food in time of need? I mean, it wouldn’t be the strangest of tactics used out there to survive, but still……

I don’t have any solid evidence to back that theory up. So it’s best to just keep all of my assumptions to myself for now, and not to mention any of them to other people, lest I want to risk the information getting out.

So it might stand to reason that because of the fact that she was so frail and weak initially, this here Goldunine was given a strong guardian like Sammy-chan just so that her survival could be assured. Sammy-chan sure is strong, her ability to go full stealth is also very universal and powerful, but because she is a snake I guess that this fact also comes with its own set of unique disadvantages.

Especially when we take into account the fact that someone like Goldunine is bound to have some natural enemies. Then it is even more crucial to have her clones protected so that they can survive into maturity. And what better way to assure that than to give her underling the type of poison that can melt solid rock in a matter of seconds? I don’t want to even imagine how that must work against human flesh.

「…… Yeah, I do really get it. What do they get from a cooperation like that?」

And personally, I do not think that defeating the original Goldunine is going to do the trick here. I will most certainly not cause all of the clones to disappear. But then, whatever can be done to……

「…… No, or maybe something like this would be more fitting here?」

No way, could it be that the players will have to cooperate with one another to stop the invasion of Goldunines at some point? Or maybe cooperate with one of them to slaughter all others? …… No, no! Wait, wait just a minute here! I can’t think so excessively right now! I must focus all of my efforts on the Orchestra!

Ok, first thing first. We must do something to make sure that our Sucknine here won’t die because of some stupid reason. But how can we do that? How can we increase her mental fortitude?

「Waterfall……」

「I don’t know and I do not care! It sounds dangerous enough, so no thank you! Bu wait, what do you intend to do!?」

Should we find some waterfalls? Because a drop down the waterfall should do the trick quite nicely here…… Yeah! We might even want to do a little bungee jumping while we are at it!

「You seem to be working quite hard. How about a little break!?」

「W-What are you……!?」

It’s time to do some bungee jumping!

…

………

……………

Normally spices are things that I don’t particularly mind, but at the current moment I did not feel the need to actually stop doing what I was doing in order to get them. Especially since it would require us going out of our way. At the current moment together with Emul we broke through the frontline valley and we were currently going towards the South-West of the continent, renewing the acceleration from time to time.

「Explanation: Should we continue to travel West across the continent, the ecosystem is going to undergo significant changes. Also, the animals and monsters are all going to increase in size.」

「Hooo? That so?」

「For example, enemies such a Quadolinotops will start to appear on our way. It’s usually a docile creature, but quite a formidable one indeed. And one that has kept on growing and existing in the same form almost from the time of Era of the Gods until now. It can also expand its body, so best to watch out for that.」

「But the ones that we happened to come across were all avoiding us thus far. What’s up with that?」

「QuadoLinotops is a species that comprises mostly of male specimens. And once they detect that the creature coming into contact with them is superior in strength to them, they will run away and not try to engage. And it seems that the aura of danger that Master emits is more than suitable enough to strike fear in them.」

The way in which you are putting it right now makes us humans look like villains here.

「However, if there is a female and a puppy involved, the males will typically start showing even greater offensive trends.」

「Ahh…… In other words, it just wants to look cool in front of children and girls, is that it?

「…… I guess that you can say that, but that’s just how it is.」

I’m sorry, I’m not an expert when it comes to biology. When it comes to the future, I intend to pursue the Economics path if it will still be open for me. More specifically, Economics combined with SLG. And you know what would be ideal? War and economy! War economy? Test things in the entire world!

「As usual, Sanraku-san is very optimistic when it comes to various things. Or should I say carefree?」

「Don’t you think that a certain gal with snakes growing out of her head instead of hair is someone better fitted for that description?」

I mean, I have encountered carnivorous monsters on my travels many times before, but something like that is just…… Are those the eyes of someone who would gladly go bury themselves underground, to not emerge from out of there ever again? Or maybe the look that a small fish is giving you once you managed to catch her on your hook?

「Summary: I also think that stomachs are rather nice.」

「Why do I feel this strange kind of humiliation when you said it like that……?」

They may be just the ingredients, but they do have their own pride, you know?