So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

It made sense why 24th place only had 8 coins.

"But even if a prince gets first place, they can't enter the Mirror Room, so why go this far?"

Rania was bewildered.

But Phili just gritted his teeth.

"Brother has always been someone who wants first place."

"...How about we give all our coins to Rania? We can get more later, I think."

Amain suggested that but I stopped him.

'Don't do that.'

Passing the preliminaries is more important than the Mirror Room.

We don't know how many more coins we can collect now, that would be disadvantageous.

Rather, another method... what method should we use?

That's when.

"Ah right."

The Principal's voice rang out once again.

"Everyone, you must have been curious about not seeing the 3-point coins. The 3-point coins that have been hidden until now will reveal themselves."

This Principal knows what he's doing.

In group games, it's most fun to only give 10-point problems and then give a 100-point problem at the end.

"The sweetest rewards are in the most dangerous places."

After saying that, the voice cut off.

But the Principal had more showmanship than I expected.

Wheee- Bang!

A familiar sound was heard.

The sound of fireworks.

'Rania!'

Rania was quick on the uptake.

As soon as I called her, she started climbing up the tree nimbly like a squirrel.

"Ah!"

Fireworks exploded in the sky at one corner of the forest.

"That must be where the 3-point coins are."

Even Pelerian, who had said he wasn't interested in these childish games, spoke up.

'That way, where the dead tree and flower garden are.'

"I think you're right."

Since I had memorized the map thoroughly, I knew what was over there.

Rania landed on the ground with a thud.

Talking about the fireworks, Amain and Phili seemed excited too.

"Let's run there right now, it's not that far!"

Rania nodded and just as everyone was about to run.

"Shhhk!"

I stopped them.

No, we can't do that.

"Master...?"

Putting all your eggs in one basket is something only those with three or four eggs do.

We have a lot of coins.

Rather, we need to think in reverse.

'Rania, give all your coins to them.'

"What?"

'That's right.'

Though Rania was surprised, she did as told.

Amain, as expected of the eldest, seemed to understand my plan right away, while Phili had a dumbfounded expression.

After confirming there were no wild birds around, I wrote to explain.

'Only Rania goes that way. You guys guard this side. Someone needs to protect the coins.'

"Then... rather, I should stay alone and one person should help Rania..."

'Phili and Amain stay together. That's the right balance.'

To be honest, Phili isn't much help. But if we take Amain, Phili alone might lose the coins.

Realizing this, he nodded.

'Rania, let's go!'

We can't waste time.

The fireworks exploded not too far away. This was our chance.

Rania started running swiftly.

'At maximum speed!'

The wind whistled past, and tree leaves hit Rania's face.

Despite getting scratches on her skin, Rania didn't stop.

They say she once lived as the reckless girl of House Greyrim.

I don't know how she became this fast and strong.

She seems to move better than most knights I've seen.

And finally, we reached where the fireworks had exploded.

It was a flower garden.

Maybe because the flowers absorbed all the nutrients from the soil, but all the dead trees among them were dried up and dead.

And in the middle, the largest dead tree.

A bright red pouch was hanging from its branches.

"That's it!"

The one who shouted that wasn't Rania.

Another student jumped out from the opposite side.

Wearing a second-year badge.

Rania and the second-year's eyes met.

Without anyone signaling, they started running simultaneously.

They must be an aspiring knight too. Their speed was fast.

I noticed the danger.

'Rania, above!'

Fortunately, Rania saw 'it' too.

She quickly stopped and bounced back.

Whizz-!

But that attacker was persistent.

Rania kicked away the thing that flew swiftly.

Crack!

A horrible noise rang out.

"Eek!"

Rania let out a strange scream.

What burst and died at her toe tip was a hornet as big as two fingers.

"Kuaaaaaah!"

The scream came from the student running from the opposite side.

Looking at them, they seemed to have been stung by the hornet.

They were running away with a severely swollen face.

'B-bees!'

It was obvious without saying.

Moreover, looking around, there wasn't just one or two nests.

──────────────

[Red Bottom Hornet lv14]

──────────────

Dozens of hornets are hovering in front of their nests, buzzing.

They're definitely guarding against approach.

Well, I thought it was too conspicuous a place for 3-point coins.

The poison seems quite potent.

One sting might be okay, but several could be dangerous.

No matter how quick Rania's movements are, it would be difficult to pass through the hornet swarm without getting stung.

'Rania, can't you use protective ki?'

'W-what's that?'

'Never mind, forget it.'

She doesn't seem to be at that level yet.

As Rania was trying to retreat stealthily, students had gathered before we knew it.

'The Second Prince is over there!'

The Second Prince had brought nearly ten lackeys.

And he seems to have noticed the hornet colony instantly.

He immediately analyzed the situation and gave orders.

"Advance quickly in deep formation. Those who can use magic, use fire magic from the sides as you go! Don't get stung!"

Then they started forming ranks efficiently.

Not bad.

'W-what should we do?'

Rania and I were caught in a dilemma.

We can't retreat, but we can't advance either.

'Kuk...'

Actually, I could step up.

Those bees probably couldn't pierce my hard crystal scales.

I could just go get it.

'There are too many eyes.'

There are too many watching eyes for me to step up.

I can't just wipe them all out here either.

...No, should I do that?

While I was pondering for a moment.

Something flashed in my mind.

'Rania, how well do you handle gross things?'

'I don't want to get stung!'

This is disappointing.

Surely she didn't think I would ask for such a thing.

After hearing the explanation, Rania nodded as if she had no choice.

'T-then I'll trust you and run!'

'Yes!'

Rania started running.

The hornets in front all rushed at her.

The Second Prince's group watched with bewildered expressions.

"Martein, what foolish thing..."

"It's practically suicide."

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They sneered while advancing slowly, and.

Rania swatted away hornets as she ran, but eventually several hornets clung to her body.

"Ah, it's gross!"

Though she screamed like that.

She didn't fall.

Her face didn't swell up either.

That's because I had found it.

A way to ignore the hornets through Rania without having to step up myself.

「Sharing Black Scales lv3 through Crown of Connection lv2.」

Rania didn't have scales.

Instead, her skin turned pitch black.

Though it consumed tremendous magical power.

Well, that much distance is nothing.

The hornet stings couldn't pierce Rania's skin.

But having hornets clinging to her face was horrifying.

"Uhuung!"

Rania ran while crying.

And seeing this, the third-years shouted in surprise.

"W-what is this!"

"M-Martein has gone dark!"

Go forth, Black Lightning Rania.