Blocks clattered onto the floor, arms full.

Daeban dusted off his hands.

“Didn’t bring them because you like them or anything.”

“……”

“We’re not playing with them anyway. They suit someone immature like you.”

“……”

“Don’t get any weird ideas; I brought them because it’s too bothersome to throw them away.”

Daeban quickly explained and turned around abruptly.

The door slammed shut.

‘What…’

He scratched his cheek and looked down at the piledup blocks. He had often played with block toys, but it seemed Daeban had noticed.

‘Did he give it to me for helping him earlier?’

He had prevented the twins from getting scolded by the Duke and Clements.

There were a lot of blocks that Daeban had brought. Sorting through them, he thought back to what the Silver Snake had said.

‘Every time I interfere with someone else’s life, it affects me.’

He supposed that was why the Silver Snake had suddenly become arrogant. If it directly affected him, he must have thought there was no choice but to make a contract with him.

‘All the more reason why I can’t make a contract with a divine beast.’

He was fortunate to have found the divine beast again. He had no idea what the repercussions would have been if it had contracted with Eliza again.

‘…It probably wouldn’t have ended with just a nosebleed.’

It would take approximately a week to come by horse from Hesera’s water capital, and this was without stopping day and night.

‘It usually takes about a fortnight.’

If he had used teleportation, two days would have sufficed.

However, the teleport in Hesera was shut down due to the royal family’s request.

The inspection team sent by the royal family to Hesera had all died from a magical accident while using teleportation.

‘There’s a lot of suspicion to just call it a magical accident.’

The culprit was never identified. With no evidence left, the incident was concluded as an unidentified magical surge.

As a result, the royal family blocked the teleport due to safety concerns.

This time, the Duke would have to travel by horse or carriage.

The Duke heading to the capital would have to meet the Emperor.

He was planning to personally deliver the divine beast to Eliza by following the Duke then.

‘As soon as the two meet, they’ll make a contract on their own.’

“Silver Snake, come out.”

As he quietly called, the Silver Snake slowly slithered out from under the table.

[You were saying…?]

The Silver Snake spoke slowly, its voice lacking energy.

[If I tell you everything honestly, will you make a contract with me?]

He looked completely disheartened now, as if all his cards were on the table.

He sat on the sofa after cleaning up the blocks, facing the Silver Snake.

“There’s no need for that. I’m even more sure now.”

[?]

“That I shouldn’t make a contract with you.”

[……]

The Silver Snake’s body slumped for a moment, then it hesitantly began to speak.

[But, Young Master, what I said earlier is true. Right now, you might be okay, but who knows how much you’ll interfere in the future. As you do, your body won’t be able to handle it.]

He shrugged his shoulders. He had no choice in the matter. Having given its last warning, the Silver Snake started to slither away toward the window, evidently giving up.

Watching it intently, he was reminded of the time the Silver Snake had run away.

“Wait, hold on!”

The Silver Snake looked back, sullen.

“Are you planning to leave again?”

[I’m going somewhere else.]

“Where to, exactly?”

[I don’t know, just wandering around like before. Well, it’s not like I have a particular place to go.]

If it weren’t for the previous auction incident, he might have let it go.

But having witnessed the Silver Snake nearly becoming snake soup, he couldn’t possibly let it go.

“Stay with me instead of leaving.”
“Why? You’re not going to make a contract with me anyway.”

I let out a short sigh. True, but,

“Instead, I’ll find someone you can contract with.”

“No.”

“You might change your mind if you see for yourself.”

I gently coaxed the silver snake. Showing no interest, the snake turned its head away.

The snake’s eyes, which had paused for a moment, rolled back towards me. Then it squinted at me.

Its expression seemed as if it were scheming something.

“Well, since you insist.”

The snake gave a short, fake cough. It slithered towards me leisurely and asked,

“So, I should stay by your side for now?”

“Yes, I just said so.”

“Alright then.”

The snake comfortably coiled in the middle of the room.

Why is it asking again? I was puzzled but relieved that it decided not to leave immediately.

‘Most likely, the outside world is already buzzing that a white snake possesses an elixir.’

Someone might still be strenuously searching for it.

“Fine, I’ll stay with you since you want it!”

“Don’t you want to ask anything? Aren’t you curious who the person I mentioned is?”

“Oh, yes! Do tell! I’m super curious!”

I tilted my head. Why was this person, or divine beast, so uninterested?

‘Must be my imagination.’