So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

When the vault opened, stale air rushed out.

It smells like an old library, but with a more mineral-like coldness.

The inside was very dark.

"Please wait a moment."

The employee guiding us lifted a lamp from his waist.

It wasn't operated by fire but by magic.

Makes sense, if a fire accidentally broke out inside it would be disastrous.

When he turned the button, the light came on.

Kiing.

The small light is quite bright.

The spreading light revealed the contents inside the vault.

"We do provide basic delivery service... but since there aren't many items in the vault, let's take a look."

Indeed.

Unlike the vault's massive size, there were only two things inside.

A metal cube and.

In an ebony case...

"A staff!"

The contents in the case became visible.

Too long to be a wand but too short to be a staff.

A walking stick that would be appropriately called a 'cane'.

'Oh! A magic staff!'

A proper mage naturally needs an excellent magic staff.

In that sense, maybe I should have made a staff before swords.

'Do you remember what kind of staff this is?'

"I don't. Damn it, how much of my memory was erased?"

Only after going to Delfram's dungeon did Pelerian realize more of his memories were deleted than expected.

It was the same this time. He had no remaining memories of that staff or the cube beside it.

I focused my eyes to examine the staff.

The identity of the staff through the crystal...

──────────────

[Sovereign's Arachne]

──────────────

It has an ominous name.

Isn't Arachne a spider?

A black rod gleaming like ebony, with silver filigree decorations on the handle in the shape of a spider.

Though I dislike spiders, it looks quite impressive.

No, it must be an undoubtedly impressive staff. Otherwise there'd be no reason to hide it away in such a vault.

"If this is what I meant to give to Caspian..."

There are things one can know for certain even without memories.

"It surely isn't just an excellent item."

Even without being told, I can tell because.

The lock part of the case is sealed with something like a bright red talisman.

Ominous, so ominous.

"It doesn't look light, shall we move it to the destination for you?"

"It's fine."

We can't let someone else's hands touch that.

Obern picked up the staff and case as if carrying a baguette.

And the mysterious cube beside it too.

"Oh."

But the banker suddenly became flustered.

"That item wasn't on the list."

"You mean this cube?"

"Yes..."

What's this?

An item not on the list being mixed in, it's extremely suspicious.

"Does that mean I can't take it?"

"No, everything in this vault belongs to whoever brought the key. That is our bank's rule."

"Then it doesn't matter."

Obern put the cube in his jacket pocket.

We'll have to examine that back at the hotel.

"I'll be going."

"Yes, then I'll close the door again. The vault's usage period has over 100 years remaining, so please feel free to visit."

The banker closed the vault door again.

"This way..."

While passing by the underground vaults.

Now that I had peace of mind, I looked at the names written on the vaults.

There were various names.

Then I found a familiar name and called Pelerian.

'Old man!'

"Hmm, there's Caspian's vault too..."

Wonder what's inside there.

Could there be vaults belonging to Gunter or other people I know too?

That might be the case, but I couldn't find any more familiar names.

We returned to the hotel with the staff.

Alright, finally obtained a unique staff!

==

Emerald School, 7 days before semester start.

New student dormitory move-in had already begun.

All first-years were required to live in dormitories.

Though Emerald School's educational style isn't strict, there are basic principles.

The principle that 'All academy students are equal except royalty.'

Within the same year, social status and age are not considered.

A simple but actually very difficult principle to maintain.

However, that rule definitely exists and must be upheld.

That's what Amain had heard.

But he couldn't help feeling somewhat nervous.

The dormitory was two per room.

He didn't know yet who he would live with.

If it was some noble house's arrogant young master, it might be burdensome.

Worrying about such things, he opened the door and entered.

"Hmm..."

There was no one in the room yet.

'Hi, my name is Amain Riddle, let's get along well...' he had prepared such a self-introduction, but it fell a bit flat.

After pondering briefly, Amain chose the left bed.

He unpacked his bag and slowly organized the closet.

"The room is really nice."

Amain and Roil, the two who had wandered the world in one carriage, became rich in just a few months.

Though they now had a fairly decent house, Emerald School's dormitory was even better than Amain's house.

The bed was fluffy with goose feathers stuffed in, and the closet was clearly luxury quality.

The rug on the floor was so soft he wanted to rub his face on it.

After finishing unpacking, Amain sat on the bed.

Who would his roommate be?

It would be nice if they were kind - could he make friends here?

Having wandered all his life, Amain naturally had no friends his age.

Therefore, after being accepted to Emerald School, both expectations and worries came.

Even now his heart beats a little faster.

'I'll be able to learn a lot of magic too.'

He had entered magic with just one book.

But he properly learned magic only after meeting his master.

Though he was a monster and a snake, he was truly a controller of magic.

What he learned from his master actually worked in Emerald School's entrance exam.

How many times he was called a 'genius'.

He wanted to boast to everyone about who taught him magic.

But his father strictly forbade telling anyone...

'Where could master be?'

He said they would meet again before long.

For Amain, it was a heart of endless waiting.

While dangling his feet on the bed like that, he suddenly stood up.

"I should go for a walk."

Better go explore the dormitory before it gets completely dark.

Amain put on his student robe and left the room.

The first-year dormitory was very beautifully decorated.

Though the buildings and garden had an old-fashioned charm, they were never old or dirty.

Perhaps true dignity really comes from tradition.

Unknown spring flowers bloomed in the flower beds.

Birds chirped while sitting at the fountain drinking water.

As sunset approached, the sunlight beautifully shattered on the birds' wing feathers.

To think he would live in a place with such a pretty garden.

Amain felt pure joy.

Having his mind wandering like that, bumping into someone was inevitable.

"Ow."

"Ouch."

A boy slightly bigger than Amain.

With dark hair above his lip, maybe about 2 years older.

Amain quickly apologized first.

"Ah, sorry!"

The other boy instantly looked Amain up and down, then also apologized.

"I'm sorry!"

"No, I was distracted too."

He thought he might pick a fight but instead apologized formally.