So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

There were many tempting items I couldn't take then.

Should I tell him to request those?

'Well, Prince Phili will probably hate me now.'

'What, just for disciplining him once.'

I felt a bit motivated.

If I could turn that prince into a good disciple like Amain, someday 'that' might be possible.

'Old man, remember the kingdom's emblem?'

"You mean the three-headed eagle holding a snake?"

'Yes, that ugly emblem.'

The kingdom's symbolic animal was an eagle with three heads.

It holding one snake was the national emblem symbolizing the kingdom.

It's an extremely brutal image with absolutely no aesthetic sense.

I should ask to change that.

'To a crystal snake wearing a crown...!'

Then the kingdom's knights would have to wear emblems with my image.

Even Gunter.

It was nothing if not a terrifying plan.

But Pelerian's reaction to hearing my ambitious plan was lukewarm.

"Is that all you want to do after becoming a minister of state... you always exceed my imagination."

'Hehe, isn't it a great idea?'

"...Right, let's say it is."

Come to think of it, Nanaluk will make a goblin kingdom too.

I should ask to put me in that emblem as well.

"Will that prince comply so easily? After such harsh treatment, he might avoid you."

Well, that point makes sense too.

No matter how much Obern cares, what a teacher can do for a student is limited.

Friendships would be very important in academy life, but with his personality, he won't be able to make a single friend.

'Obern, let's have another meeting with that prince tomorrow.'

'Yes... understood.'

So we returned to our quarters.

The next day, when I entered the classroom hanging on the staff.

I couldn't help but be surprised.

The prince wasn't sitting alone.

Two people were sitting beside him, playing around casually without being too intimidated by him.

He had somehow made friends.

Moreover, those friends were people I knew.

Amain and Rania.

'Amain, you lucky kid!'

I did well raising at least one disciple.

==

There's an old saying that the king, teacher, and parent are one.

It means the grace of the king, teacher, and parent are equal.

Though the process was more like 'it just happened'.

I took Amain as my disciple.

That means I took on responsibilities and duties as a teacher to Amain.

Just like 'being forever responsible for what you have tamed'.

Or like a father protecting his child, I must protect and teach Amain.

Although I can't always be by his side since I'm such a busy snake.

But now that fate has brought us together again, shouldn't I pass on the magical knowledge he desires as his teacher?

We haven't even properly greeted each other yet.

After the lecture, I had Obern approach the three musketeers - Amain's group.

"Eek!"

Prince Phili had a fit.

Perhaps the pain of those five strikes to his thigh came back to him.

Amain and Rania were equally wary of Obern's appearance.

"Let's have a brief meeting."

Then the prince had an outburst.

"I will never have a meeting with you again!"

Come on, is there really any need to be this terrified?

I felt a bit hurt, but right now I wasn't looking for the prince.

"Prince Phili, I'm not speaking to you."

"...What?"

"Such an overinflated sense of self-importance."

Obern sneered without smiling.

The prince's face turned red.

Instead, the name that came from Obern's mouth was:

"Amain Riddle."

"Ah, yes!"

Amain answered smartly.

"Let's have a brief meeting."

Saying that, Obern slightly raised the staff I was coiled around.

Amain, who had been puzzled, broke into a bright smile.

"Alright!"

He followed us right away.

Prince Phili and Rania were bewildered and followed hesitantly behind.

What did they think Obern would do to Amain?

When we arrived at the professor's office.

"It's fine that you followed, but meetings are one-on-one. Wait outside."

The prince and Rania were left standing in the corridor.

Only Amain entered Obern's office.

"Professor...?"

"Phew."

Obern sighed and waved his staff.

After using sound-blocking magic to prevent those outside from eavesdropping, Obern flopped down into a chair and leaned back.

"Oh my. How tiring."

Seeing the charismatic genius professor make such an uncle-like sound, Amain was slightly taken aback.

Obern was acting this way because I had told him beforehand.

That we would reveal some secrets to Amain.

I came down from the staff.

Amain's mouth fell open.

"Master!"

"Saak!"

Amain ran to me.

I jumped up to him too.

The reunion of master and disciple was accompanied by a warm embrace.

"It really is you, Master, why did you become so small?"

"Sasak, saak, sak!"

「Using Gigantification lv2.」

I used gigantification to make my body bigger.

"Ah, you could adjust your size."

No, I evolved.

I quickly took out a pen.

'Have you been well, Amain? You've grown a lot.'

"I have grown! I made friends too."

'You mean those two? Well done. How's Roil?'

"Father is now..."

Amain and I chatted pleasantly.

Amain also asked me what he was curious about.

"Why are you... on Professor Obern's staff?"

'Ah, about Obern?'

When his story came up, Obern also took on a tense attitude.

He seemed prepared for his secret to be revealed.

'He's my partner. We agreed to help each other while I'm here.'

"Wow... Master's partner. He must be an amazing person."

I used the term partner instead of slave.

It was meant to save Obern's face, but Obern showed great surprise.

He seemed somewhat touched as well.

'Have you learned a lot of magic?'

"I worked hard! Actually, I wanted to ask you. Could you take a look at my magic skills?"

Amain is my most recent disciple.

Of course I should look.

Then suddenly an idea occurred to me.

It's annoying to keep writing to communicate.

And I had gained a new ability.

'Hold out your hand, Amain.'

"Like this...?"

After canceling gigantification, I climbed onto Amain's hand.

「Using Crown of Connection lv1.」

Though Amain slightly grimaced at the strange sensation.

「Success.」

He accepted without rejection and the connection succeeded.

'Can you hear my voice?'

"Huh, M-Master?"

He seemed quite moved to hear my voice directly.

Just as I was about to examine Amain's magic, looking past his overwhelmed expression.

「Connection target 'Amain Riddle lv14's relationship has been established as 'Disciple'.」

「Crown of Connection lv1's effect is strengthened.」

Oh?