So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

While making preparations for tomorrow's match.

Phili spoke up.

"But I think the mantis might be more manageable than expected."

What?

Everyone turned to look at Phili.

Seemingly flustered by the attention focused on him, he muttered.

"Well, bugs have thin joints, right? Their skeleton too. Just, like this."

Phili made a motion as if swinging a sword.

"Wouldn't it cut off with a snap? Or if I push hard with my body like this, it should crack and break."

There is such a thing.
Your next journey awaits at empire

The realm of sword-tongue where you can rule the world with a three-inch tongue.

It seems Prince Phili Aden Solion has reached such a realm.

Even I couldn't beat him in a debate about swords.

I wrote swiftly on paper and exclaimed:

'Go!!'

"Go...?"

'You don't know how terrifying mantises are.'

"Have you fought mantis monsters before?"

'You bet I have.'

I answered Rania's question.

'Long ago, in the great forest, I fought a named monster called the Insect King.'

Obern made a face that said 'More boasting...'

But this was the unvarnished truth.

'The Insect King Riokku was an incredible monster. Would you believe me if I said it was about the size of this building?'

"No."

'But it's true.'

It wasn't a lie.

'At that time, there were three monster factions in the Shadow Forest. Like the Three Kingdoms.'

If Shu was obviously us.

And Wei was the group of creatures with hands led by Silverback Akims.

The last Wu would be the Insect King and his bug legion.

'The Insect King led tens of thousands of bug monsters.'

The children still seemed unconvinced but slowly began getting drawn into the story.

'Among them were several executive-level monsters. The evil Face Spider, and General Centipede Mom.'

"Cen-centipede what?"

'There was a kind-hearted lady.'

And among those bugs, of course there were mantises too.

Though I didn't face them directly, they were opponents that gave my "Zoo Beasts" crew quite a hard time.

'There's something a Sword Master once said. If a cat's weight was dozens of times heavier. If it became the same weight as a human. It would take several knights to hunt it.'

"Which Sword Master?"

'Similarly, imagine a 100kg mantis.'

"No but which Sword Master... okay."

'When the body becomes huge, the skeleton also becomes solid to support that weight. Bugs have tremendous strength relative to their body weight. Even as weight increases, that strength remains.'

In reality, a mantis not even weighing 100kg easily caught wild boars weighing several hundred kilos.

'I should show you. How terrifying gigantified monsters are.'

「Using Gigantification lv2」

I grew my body.

Just enough to weigh 100kg.

That is, like an anaconda, standing about 6m in length looking down at the children.

Phili shrank back.

"Uh, uhhh..."

I raised my intimidation.

I had already acquired quite a lot of dignity through Obern.

And from what I realized, when dignity increases, my intimidation seems to become stronger too.

You could say it adds a bonus to my formless presence.

Soon, even Rania and Amain's expressions stiffened.

And I.

"Sasasasat!"

Laughed heartily.

'How is it, scary?'

Only then did the kids seem to deeply understand my lecture.

"Sir Snake's words are completely correct."

Oliver, who had been watching, nodded.

He even clapped.

"Bug-type monsters are very scary. The particularly threatening element is their exoskeleton."

A mantis's exoskeleton isn't originally that hard.

It would crumble if pressed with a hand.

"If it was a beetle-type monster, only Miss Rania could break through that armor. But even mantises become very solid when they're huge."

He drew out a dagger and longsword simultaneously.

"Swords, such flimsy weapons can't do anything against the exoskeleton. So you'll use different weapons."

Originally, weapons like morning stars are best against bug-type monsters.

It's a blunt weapon with a spiked metal ball on a chain, using recoil and centrifugal force you can easily crush bugs.

"Morning stars are the best, but they're very difficult to master."

Putting away his swords, what Oliver took out instead were hand axes and shields.

"You'll use these."

He distributed hand axes and shields to Phili and Rania.

He didn't give anything to Amain.

"What about me?"

"Amain, you'll use fire magic. Bugs are weak against fire. And Lady Rania and His Highness will take the front line to protect the magician."

As expected of an experienced hunter, he knew how to hunt bugs.

"Saak!" (Alright!)

Now let's start special training.

The time given was just one day.

Actually, it was barely enough time to get used to the axe and shield.

However, something became clear during the special training...

Because of just one person, much of what I and Oliver had earnestly taught became useless.

'Hey!'

Phili scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

'Why are you so strong?'

He broke two axe handles in less than an hour.

What kind of variable this would create in facing the mantis was something to look forward to.

==

"Come on, registration closing soon! You can bet on wins/losses or guess the winner! The odds for guessing the winner are..."

Despite princes participating in the Solarian, gamblers walked around soliciting customers.

No, rather, the fact that princes were participating made gambling even more prevalent.

Obern quietly cultivated his patience.

'I want to bet.'

He wanted to bet.

He wanted to bet all his meager fortune on Phili and his team's victory.

Though Obern appeared to be a wealthy noble on the outside, he was actually little better than a beggar.

However, he couldn't do that.

It would be conduct unbecoming his position. An Emerald School professor betting on students' matches.

'Still, please win...'

Though he couldn't bet, he desperately wished for his disciples' victory more than anyone.

Ninety percent was because of the Court Count's threats to make Phili win, but the remaining ten percent was the personal desire of Obern who had somehow become a teacher.

"Entering-!"

With the announcer's shout, three participants entered.

Phili, Amain, and Rania.

When they entered the circular arena, the audience gave tremendous cheers.

After all, the first match of the finals was beginning.