So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

'Is he really dead?'

In my view, the Margrave wasn't that weak.

Even aside from his grip strength when grabbing Obern's wrist, his strength often showed through.

Though he couldn't compare to knights or proper magicians, he seemed to have his own capabilities.

But to die suddenly.

"He-he's dead..."

Obern put his hand on the Margrave's neck and said so.

Then looking at me, he corrected his words.

"Did-did we kill him?"

I killed him!

Hey, I just gave him a light electric shock because you asked me to save you!

'It's not my fault!'

I strongly denied it.

Of course, people can die from electric shock too, but isn't that possibility too low?

'It must be that crazy pet's fault.'

The magical beast that the Margrave cherished bit his neck and ran away.

It was so absurd we didn't even think to catch it.

If we'd caught that murderer, we could have cleared our innocence.

"What do you mean 'our'? It's not us."

'You crazy bastard!'

I slapped Obern's cheek.

Then Obern started crying.

"We're ruined..."

'No, we're in this together.'

"Killing an Imperial ambassador isn't just any small matter. It could even cause a war. Just killing an inspector would warrant a special wanted order, but if we cause a war what do we do?"

'Come to think of it, I don't think it's us.'

Thinking about it, I'm a magical beast.

It's raining too, should I just escape into the forest?

Let's return to the warm, comfortable jungle with Madam Gorilla.

"Get a grip, you idiot!"

Pelerian hit my head.

Of course, his hand just passed through my head.

"Check properly. From what I see, he's not dead yet."

Really?

I quickly got down from Obern and approached the Margrave.

I put my tail against his nape.

There really is no pulse.

"He's alive, fool. There's so much fat on that neck, press harder."

Ah.

When I pressed harder with my tail, I could really feel a faint pulse.

"Saak!"

"Is-is he alive?"

Yes, he's still alive.

Thank goodness. I hadn't realized how important this person's life was.

My heart felt like it dropped.

"First feed him a potion."

I hurriedly took out a potion from subspace.

Since it's quite a high-quality potion, even if it's not an antidote, it should have some effect when fed.

I had Obern slowly pour the potion into the Margrave's throat.

Woong, the Margrave woke... not.

The Margrave's face was still tinged purple.

His breathing was so shallow I was scared it might stop any moment.

"Why, why isn't it working?"

"Strange, seems to be a more potent poison than expected."

I had Obern search the Margrave's room.

Sure enough, there were medicines and potions.

Among them was something like a general antidote which we fed to the Margrave along with the potion.

But still.

The Margrave wouldn't wake up.

"That ferret magical beast that bit him and left. It doesn't seem like an ordinary poisonous creature."

Why did this crazy Margrave keep such a creature as a pet?

And why did it bite and run away right after I knocked him out?

"He probably thought he had tamed his magical beast. But in reality, he hadn't."

'That's not important, isn't there any way to save him?'

"I'm a grand mage, not a doctor."

He's saying even he doesn't know anymore.

Doctor, we need to call a doctor. Where can we find one?

How would we know where to find a doctor.

Moreover, the Margrave just turned this Badangje City's government office upside down.

If we try to find a doctor here, our crime might be discovered instead.

'...Ah.'

I suddenly remembered.

There was one person in our group who could help.

'Obern, let's get Oliver!'

"Ah...!"

Oliver is a skilled hunter.

And a skilled hunter could be considered synonymous with 'decent herbalist,' 'excellent magical beast scholar,' and 'field medic.'

We quietly left the carriage.

Usually either Dana or Rahan would be near the carriage, but today neither was visible.

Could it be because of getting beaten by the Margrave?

More likely because the Margrave was planning to have an intimate date with Obern.

The sleeping Oliver woke up.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

Obviously this wasn't something to discuss here.

We practically dragged Oliver to the carriage.

And after entering the carriage, Oliver.

Looked once at the Margrave with his face swollen and purple.

Looked once at me and Obern.

Again at the Margrave, again at us.

Suddenly he rushed for the carriage door handle.

I didn't miss and wrapped around his ankle.

"Let, let go!"

'Oliver! Save him!'

"I didn't see anything so just let me go!"

As expected of a skilled hunter, his situational judgment is good too.

"What did you do to the Imperial ambass... gasp"

He quickly lowered his voice.

That's how serious the current situation was.

'He's not dead yet. But he's about to die. So please try to save him.'

"Ugh..."

'Think of Rania!'

Oliver looked at me with an incredulous expression.

'How sad would Rania be if Obern and I die.'

"Oh good heavens really..."

Did those words move Oliver's heart?

"You, you're really shameless."

But Obern and I weren't ones to back down from such criticism.

Obern also grabbed Oliver's pant leg and clung on.

"Please help!"

"Pro-Professor."

At least Obern was seen as a 'great mage and Rania's teacher' by Oliver.

'Yes, and we're alumni Oliver. Alumni should help each other.'

"Sir Snake, please keep quiet."

I stopped writing.

Oliver sighed and examined the Margrave.

"Please explain in detail exactly what happened."

Following Oliver's command, I told him in great detail what happened in this carriage.

How the Margrave grabbed Obern's hand and made advances.

And how when the Margrave puckered his lips to kiss him, Obern's face twisted in anguish and he slightly puckered his lips too.

At that point Oliver's eyes went wide looking at Obern.

I explained more.

How Obern couldn't stand it anymore and begged me for help so I gave him an electric shock.

The Margrave falling and hitting his head on the table.

Up to how the ferret magical beast that jumped out from his clothes bit the Margrave and ran away.

"It could be because he hit his head. Not just because of the poisoning."

'What?'

"There might be bleeding in the brain inside his skull. It's generally accepted that potions don't work well on the brain."

I felt my scales standing on end.

Then does that mean I really did kill him! Even if he's not dead yet.

"Hmm, but we can't check that... for now the poisoning seems to be the biggest problem. What was the magical beast's name?"

'Two-Tailed Ferret. The Margrave definitely introduced it as that.'n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

A red ferret with two tails. I hadn't bothered checking its status window since I wasn't interested.

But Oliver said something surprising.

"Hmm, that magical beast normally doesn't have poison."

'...What?'

"As far as I know, it's not a poisonous magical beast."

Well, keeping such a venomous magical beast would be strange to begin with.

But the Margrave is clearly poisoned.

"It must have been a different magical beast, not a Two-Tailed Ferret. Though I don't know what kind."

Whether the Margrave knew or not, that must be it.

"First let's get him on the bed. I'll go find an antidote."

Oliver left the carriage as stealthily as a cat.