Chapter 106

Journey to the Capital (2)

The natural world held its breath like a tomb steeped in silent terror. Towering, moss-covered old trees stood at jagged angles with their roots exposed. Water droplets clinging to every branch and trunks twisted like snakes cast dark shadows even in broad daylight.

At the far end of my view lay a round pond, a thin mist hovering over its surface. In the distance, I could hear splashing water and the wingbeats of tiny insects.

Just as unease about what might be lurking here began to creep over me...

'... There it is.'

My senses, bordering on ESP, picked up a presence.

Yet I could see nothing. Then I caught a slight mismatch in color and a minute distortion of light and shade sliding slowly between the branches. Focusing my senses more intently, I could make out something that felt strangely out of place.

When I activated Predatory Instincts[S], text appeared before my eyes, confirming my suspicions.

==<Entity Information>==

Entity: Shameleon

Classification: Monster Kingdom, Reptilia Class, Camouflage Order, Chameleon Family

Sex: Female

Age: 4 years

Characteristics: Assimilation[B]

The entity's name was Shameleon, a rare monster born from a mutated chameleon. Its camouflage abilities had evolved to an extreme degree. Unlike chameleons, which merely adjusted the angle at which they reflected light, Shameleons could use chromatophores to change their body color. They could also alter their color, texture, and even body temperature to match their surroundings.

◆Assimilation[B]

: When this skill is activated, the player consumes [50 kcal] per second to generate [Chromatophores]. The player becomes perfectly [Identical] to the surrounding environment in color, background, and even temperature.

While this skill is maintained, the player cannot be detected through [Visible Light or Infrared].

<This skill can be toggled [On/Off].>

Perfect Assimilation[B] with the environment. An ability that completely concealed its user. It was named Shameleon because it seemed to hide within the shadows.

Indeed, even its faint outline was barely visible. That, too, gradually faded until I could no longer detect it at all. The Shameleon had completely assimilated with its surroundings. In other words, it was ready to hunt me.

Feigning ignorance, I walked toward where it was. Even when I was practically right in front of it, I still couldn't see a thing. Its concealment was truly remarkable. I was already curious about how it would synergize with [Blessing of Darkness], which reduced all noise by [-99%].

Without hesitation, I swung Dragon's Claw[A].

K-KREEEEK!

The scenery tore open, and a scream erupted.

The Shameleon's body, which had blended into its surroundings, rapidly darkened. It was a color change triggered by fear, and it soon revealed its true form.

Two eyes capable of rotating a full 360 degrees. A mouth packed with tiny teeth. A long tongue flicking inside jaws thrown wide in a cry of pain. Its skin was red from bleeding, and its long, supple tail looked capable of coiling around enemies or hanging from trees like a third arm. Sharp claws tipped its four powerful legs, but...

K-KREEE...!

Its independently moving eyes could only dart about in confusion. Clearly, it had never dreamed it might be detected first.

K-KREE...!

The Shameleon promptly began to flee.

That was only natural. Creatures with concealment abilities weren't particularly strong fighters. If they were, they wouldn't need to evolve abilities like stealth in the first place. Ogres didn't hide. They simply tore all their prey to shreds.

Shameleons couldn't do that, so they had evolved concealment instead. Their lack of combat power also meant their hunting methods specialized in ambushes. But what happened when they were spotted first like this? The fight was effectively over.

Of course, they compensated for their weakness by fleeing quickly. Still, they weren't fast enough to surpass my vastly increased Agility. I moved swiftly and swung Dragon's Claw[A], easily ripping out the fleeing Shameleon's heart.

◆You have defeated a Shameleon!

◆You have gained 250 combat experience!

Translucent text appeared before my eyes. That was a respectable amount of experience, though nowhere near enough for my next level-up. I dismissed the text and brought the Shameleon's heart to my mouth.

CRUNCH.

A strange taste spread through my mouth along with the tough texture. How should I describe it?

I chewed noisily. Perhaps it tasted like swamp sludge smothered in mold, suffocating the inside of my mouth. It was still more edible than Avarus's flesh or Kraulgar's Source, but...

"Urgh!"

... This one had zero commercial value, too. Once again, I was reminded that the monsters of the snowy mountains were the best.

Still, I forced down the entire heart without spilling any, consuming it with Predation[S+].

◆5 Sanity has been accumulated.

Sanity determined the power of Berserk[?]. The amount differed from one creature to another, but each use of Predation[S+] accumulated an average of 3–5 Sanity.

◆You have consumed the entity Shameleon!

◆You have acquired the skill Assimilation[C-].

Messages announcing the completion of Predation followed. The ability had been degraded because Predation[S+] was imperfect. Still, I could raise its rank by securing more genetic material.

"Let's see..."

I moved on, carefully studying my surroundings. Throughout the sticky swamp lay small animal bones, insect shells, and scraps of monster flesh, with what looked like human bones mixed in here and there.

"So this was the Shameleon's habitat."

It seemed to have been feeding on travelers and adventurers passing through the area.

"... Hmm?"

But something was odd. The Shameleon footprints and claw marks scattered around—and especially the residue of tongue slime between the bones—looked almost...

"There was more than one?"

A single creature couldn't have left all these traces.

Shameleons were generally solitary. During breeding season, however, pairs would sometimes live together until they had produced and raised their young. And the one I had just hunted was female.

"Is there a male?"

There was a very high chance of a male nearby.

The moment that thought struck, I went on high alert. A male might have already completed its Assimilation[B] somewhere and be watching for a chance to strike.

Just as I sharpened my senses again, I suddenly heard a commotion. That mixture of shouting and clanging metal...

"The campsite?"

The urgent sounds were coming from none other than our camp.

* * *

I rushed back to the campsite. The first thing I saw was a group of bewildered soldiers.

"Th-th-th-th-th-that...!"

"M-my god..."

All the maids stood wide-eyed with both hands over their mouths. Even the carriage horses were no exception.

SNORT! SNORT!

They must have been badly startled; even their nostrils were flaring.

Soldiers, maids, and even horses—all were staring at one spot in utter shock. I followed their gazes and saw a Shameleon frozen solid by a vicious chill, completely encased in ice crystals.

It had frozen with its tongue fully extended. A Shameleon on the verge of catching its prey—a sight said to be exceedingly rare. Its two eyes shone with elation and certainty that its hunt would succeed. In other words, it had become like ice... no, solid ice, without even realizing when or how it had died. It was indistinguishable from an intricately carved ice sculpture.

And in front of that ice sculpture stood Seraphia.

"Haha..."

She was scratching her cheek, looking thoroughly sheepish, as though she had been caught doing something.

Then she spotted me.

"Eep...!"

Her small frame gave a start.

"I-it suddenly jumped out and startled me...!"

She flailed both hands, flustered, as though trying to make excuses to me.

* * *

Fortunately, the Shameleon's sudden attack ended as nothing more than a minor incident.

"We're moving out immediately. Hurry and pack everything. Prepare to leave."

At Adrian's command, the soldiers and maids hurried into action. Amid the busy sounds of the brazier being extinguished and luggage being loaded onto carriages, Seraphia worked up the courage to call out to him.

"Um... Brother."

Adrian stopped in his tracks. But when he turned around, she couldn't bring herself to face him. Her eyes darted left and right before she spoke.

"Well, the carriage I was riding in has ended up like that..."

She pointed at it with her index finger. The carriage had frozen solid along with the Shameleon. It was beyond thawing out and repairing. To put it bluntly, it was shot.

Adrian silently regarded the frozen carriage, then climbed into his own without a word. Seraphia remained rooted to the spot, her gaze falling to the ground.

"Get in."

"... P-pardon?"

Startled, she looked around. Had another carriage been prepared?

But the only ones she could see were those provided for the maids and soldiers. The journey to the royal capital was so long that Adrian had arranged separate carriages for them. Surely he didn't mean for her to ride with them...?

"W-where...?"

She asked anxiously. Rather than answer, Adrian indicated the seat opposite him with his eyes.

"In your carriage, Brother...?"

"If you'd rather walk, I won't sto—"

"No! I'll get in!!"

Seraphia promptly climbed aboard before he could change his mind.

* * *

Inside the rattling carriage, Seraphia stole a glance at Adrian's face. He was gazing out the window, lost in thought. Even in profile, his presence felt suffocatingly weighty.

She fiddled with the hem of her clothes, searching for an opening to speak. Yet her mind was as blank as a white sheet of drawing paper. Only an indescribable tension lingered in the carriage. Then—

"What happened?"

Adrian's voice was casual. When she looked up, the eyes that had been gazing out the window were fixed on her.

"... Pardon?"

Seraphia was flustered, but at the same time...

'He spoke to me first...!'

Her heart fluttered with excitement.

"How did you do it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Weren't you unable to use your ability freely?"

"Oh! That!"

She briefly settled her excitement before speaking.

"It's all thanks to you, Brother."

"Thanks to me?"

"Yes!"

Answering enthusiastically, she stretched out a hand. Ice crystals slowly formed at her fingertips. With a slight turn of her wrist, she spread them through the air.

"Ever since you treated me, I've been able to control my ability. Though I still need a lot of practice..."

She gently curled her hand closed. The suspended crystals scattered, blooming into tiny ice flowers in every direction.

"What do you think?"

She looked at Adrian expectantly. But...

... For some reason, his expression had turned positively murderous?

His features had gone beyond a deep frown and twisted into a grimace. He looked as though he were staring at a creature he not only despised but hated—as though confronting an evil spirit. Even a face sculpted from every negative emotion in the world couldn't have looked that bad.

Seraphia hastily dispelled the ice crystals. But the chill that had already spread wouldn't readily subside. Her control over the ability was still clumsy, and wielding it was difficult.

Adrian's face twisted into an even more savage expression. Seraphia's shoulders hunched tightly inward.

GRIND!

... For some reason, she seemed to have made him hate her terribly.

* * *

Seraphia, freely wielding her bitter cold ability. Ice flowers coating the inside of the carriage with frost.

'... Iliana, what the hell did you make for me?'

What was I supposed to do if she'd awakened Seraphia instead of curing her?