Chapter 106. Journey to the Capital (2)
The natural world held its breath like a tomb filled with silent terror.
Ancient trees covered in enormous patches of moss stood with their roots exposed—
Moist droplets clung to every branch, while vines twisted like snakes cast dark shadows despite the bright daylight.
At the edge of my vision was a wide, circular pond. A thin layer of mist hung over its surface.
From afar came the splashing of water droplets and the fluttering wings of tiny insects.
Just as an instinctive anxiety arose over what might be lurking nearby—
‘....It’s here.’
My senses, now comparable to Extra Sensory Perception, detected a presence.
Yet I could not see anything with my eyes.
However, something slowly glided between the branches.
Its coloring was ever so slightly out of place against its surroundings, and the contrast of light and shadow was subtly distorted.
When I focused my senses more intensely—
I detected something that gave off a strange sense of incongruity.
When I activated Predatory Instinct [S], a message confirming my suspicions appeared before my eyes.
The creature’s name was Shameleon.
It was a rare monster created by a mutated chameleon. The Shameleon had evolved a chameleon’s camouflage ability to the extreme.
Unlike ordinary chameleons, which merely adjusted the angle at which light reflected from their skin, Shameleons could use chromatophores to alter the color of their bodies.
They could also change their color, texture, and even body temperature to match the surrounding environment.
==<Creature Information>==
Creature: Shameleon
Classification: Kingdom Monstria, Class Reptilia, Order Camouflaga, Family Chamaeleonidae
Sex: Female
Age: 4 years
Trait: Assimilation [B]
◆Assimilation [B] : When this skill is activated, the player consumes [50 Kcal] per second to generate [Chromatophores], transforming their color, background appearance, and temperature into a state perfectly [Identical] to the surrounding environment.
While the skill remains active, the player cannot be detected through [Visible Light or Infrared Radiation].
<This skill can be switched [On/Off].>
Perfect Assimilation [B] with the environment.
It was an ability that allowed the creature to conceal itself completely.
It was named Shameleon because it appeared to hide within the shadows.
I could barely make out even its indistinct outline.
That outline gradually faded until I could no longer detect it at all. The Shameleon had completely assimilated with its surroundings.
In other words, the Shameleon had finished preparing to hunt me.
Pretending not to notice anything, I walked toward the Shameleon. Even when I was practically standing in front of it, I still could not see anything.
It was truly an astonishing Concealment ability.
I was already curious about the synergy it would produce with Blessing of Darkness, which reduced all noise by [-99%].
Without hesitation, I swung Dragon’s Claw [A]—
Shr-Shreeeek—!
The scenery appeared to tear apart as a scream erupted.
The body of the Shameleon that had assimilated with its environment rapidly darkened.
It was the change in color that occurred whenever it felt fear. As a result, it quickly revealed its original appearance.
It had two eyes capable of rotating through 360 degrees.
Its mouth was filled with rows of tiny teeth.
A long tongue flickered inside its open mouth as it screamed in pain.
Its skin had turned red from the blood flowing over it, while its long, flexible tail appeared capable of wrapping around enemies or suspending it from trees like a third arm.
Its four powerful legs were equipped with sharp claws, but....
Shr-Shreeeek......!
Its two independently moving eyes wandered aimlessly.
It was obvious that the creature had never imagined it would be detected first.
Shr-Shree......!
The Shameleon quickly began to flee.
After all, creatures possessing Concealment abilities generally did not have exceptional combat power.
If a creature was already powerful in combat, it had no need to evolve an ability like Concealment.
An ogre did not hide.
It merely tore all its prey apart.
The Shameleon, however, was incapable of doing that, so it had evolved Concealment. Because of its weak combat power, its hunting methods specialized in ambushes.
What happened when it was detected first?
The battle was effectively over.
Of course, because its combat power was weak, it was also exceptionally fast when fleeing.
However, it was not fast enough to surpass my greatly enhanced agility.
I moved swiftly and swung Dragon’s Claw [A], effortlessly tearing the heart from the fleeing Shameleon.
◆You have defeated the Shameleon!
◆You have gained 250 combat experience!
A translucent message appeared before my eyes.
It had granted a respectable amount of experience. Even so, it was nowhere near enough for my next level-up.
I dismissed the message and brought the Shameleon’s heart to my mouth.
Crunch.
A bizarre flavor spread through my mouth along with its tough texture.
How could I possibly describe this taste?
Chew, chew.
Perhaps it tasted like “swamp residue covered in mold and suffocating the inside of my mouth”.
Still, it was more edible than Avarus’s flesh or Craulgarr’s Source....
“Ugh—!”
….This one also had absolutely no commercial value.
Once again, I realized that the monsters of the Snowy Mountains were the best.
Nevertheless, I forced myself to consume the entire heart with Predation [S+] without spilling any of it—
A message appeared, announcing that Predation was complete.
The ability had deteriorated due to the imperfections of Predation [S+]. However, I could increase its rank by acquiring additional Genetic Factors.
“Let’s see....”
◆5 Sanity has been accumulated.
Sanity determined the power of Berserk [?].
The amount differed depending on the creature, but a single use of Predation [S+] accumulated an average of 3 to 5 Sanity.
◆You have consumed the Shameleon through Predation!
◆You have acquired the skill Assimilation [C-].
I moved onward while carefully examining my surroundings.
The landscape consisted of a sticky swamp.
Scattered throughout it were the bones of small animals, insect shells, pieces of monster flesh, and even what occasionally appeared to be human bones.
“Was this the Shameleon’s habitat?”
It seemed the creature had been preying upon travelers and adventurers who passed through the area.
“....Hmm?”
However, something was strange.
There were Shameleon footprints and claw marks throughout the surrounding area.
More importantly, traces of residue from a Shameleon’s tongue were smeared between the bones.
They suggested—
“There was more than one?”
A single creature could not have left all these traces.
Shameleons were solitary creatures by nature.
However, when the breeding season arrived, two individuals would sometimes live together until their offspring were born and raised.
The individual I had hunted earlier had been female.
“Is there a male nearby?”
There was a high probability that a male individual was somewhere in the vicinity.
The instant I reached that conclusion, my tension rose sharply.
A male Shameleon could have already completed Assimilation [B] somewhere nearby and might be waiting for an opportunity to attack me.
Just as I heightened my senses again, a sudden commotion reached my ears.
It sounded like a mixture of shouting and clashing metal....
“The campsite?”
Those urgent sounds were coming from the campsite.
When I hurriedly returned, the first thing I saw was the soldiers thrown into confusion.
“Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-That thing......!”
“G-Good heavens!”
The maids were also covering their mouths with both hands, their eyes wide open.
Even the horses pulling the carriages were no exception.
Snort! Snort!
The horses were so startled that their nostrils flared wildly.
The soldiers, the maids, and even the horses were all staring at one place in utter astonishment.
I followed their gazes and turned my head—
There, I saw a Shameleon frozen solid by a razor-sharp chill, its entire body completely covered in ice crystals.
The Shameleon had been frozen with its long tongue extended.
It was a Shameleon at the moment just before a hunt, a sight said to be exceptionally difficult to witness.
Its two eyes were filled with the thrill of anticipation and absolute confidence in its successful hunt.
In other words, the Shameleon had become like ice without even realizing when or how it had died....
No, it had become ice itself.
It looked no different from an intricately carved ice sculpture.
And in front of that ice sculpture,
“Haha....”
Seraphia was scratching her cheek. Her face and expression were awkward.
She looked embarrassed, as though someone had discovered something she had intended to hide.
Then she noticed me—
“Eek...!”
Her small body flinched.
“I-It suddenly jumped out at me, and I was so startled...!”
She waved both hands frantically, as though attempting to explain herself to me.
Fortunately, the Shameleon’s sudden attack ended as nothing more than a minor incident.
“We are moving immediately. Pack everything quickly and prepare to depart.”
At Adrian’s order, the soldiers and maids hurried into action. They extinguished the braziers and busily loaded their belongings into the carriages.
* * *
Amid all that commotion.
“Um…. Big Brother.”
Seraphia courageously called out to Adrian.
Adrian’s footsteps abruptly stopped.
However, she could not bring herself to meet his face when he turned around.
Seraphia glanced from side to side before speaking.
“Well, you see.... The carriage I was riding in ended up like that....”
Seraphia pointed toward the carriage with her index finger.
The carriage had been frozen solid along with the Shameleon.
It was far beyond anything that could be repaired simply by thawing it.
To put it bluntly, it was completely wrecked.
Adrian silently stared at the frozen carriage. He then climbed into his own carriage without saying anything.
Seraphia remained where she stood and lowered her gaze.
“Get in.”
“....Wh-What?”
Startled, Seraphia hurriedly looked around.
Had another carriage been prepared for her?
However, the only other carriage she could see was the one prepared for the maids and soldiers.
Because the journey to the kingdom’s capital was so long, Adrian had prepared a separate carriage specifically for them.
Surely he was not telling her to ride with the maids and soldiers...?
“W-Where...?”
Seraphia asked nervously.
Instead of answering, Adrian gestured with his eyes toward the seat across from him.
“In your carriage, Big Brother...?”
“If you would prefer to walk, I won’t stop—”
“No! I’ll ride with you!!”
Afraid that Adrian might change his mind, Seraphia immediately climbed into the carriage.
Adrian stared through the window, deep in thought.
The solemnity of his profile was almost suffocating. Seraphia fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.
She searched her mind for an opportunity to begin a conversation. However, her thoughts were as blank as a pristine sheet of paper.
An inexplicable tension filled the carriage.
Then, at that moment,
“How did that happen?”
Adrian’s indifferent voice broke the silence.
When Seraphia turned her gaze toward him, Adrian’s eyes had left the scenery outside and were now focused upon her.
“....What?”
Inside the rattling carriage, Seraphia secretly stole a glance at Adrian’s face.
She was bewildered, but at the same time—
‘He spoke to me first...!’
Her heart pounded with excitement.
“How did you do it?”
“What are you referring to?”
“I thought you couldn’t use your ability recklessly.”
“Ah! About that!”
Seraphia briefly calmed her excitement before answering.
“It’s thanks to you, Big Brother.”
“Thanks to me?”
“Yes!”
Seraphia answered energetically and extended her hand. Ice crystals gradually formed at her fingertips.
She lightly turned her wrist, spreading the crystals through the air.
“Ever since you treated me, Big Brother, I’ve been able to control my ability. I still need a great deal of practice, though.... What do you think?”
Seraphia gazed at Adrian with eyes filled with anticipation.
However….why had Adrian’s face and expression suddenly become so terrifying?
His face did not merely twist into a deep frown.
He looked as though he were staring at a creature so loathsome that it inspired outright Hatred.
His expression resembled that of someone confronting a vicious demon.
Even if every negative emotion in existence were gathered together and used to sculpt a face, it would probably not look that terrible.
Seraphia hurriedly dismissed the ice crystals she had created. However, the cold already filling the carriage did not subside easily.
When Seraphia lightly curled her hand into a fist, the floating ice crystals scattered, blooming into tiny ice flowers in every direction.
Her control over the ability was still clumsy and difficult.
Adrian’s face contorted even more violently. Seraphia drew both shoulders inward as far as she could.
Grit!
For some reason, it seemed she had made him despise her.
* * *
Seraphia could now freely wield the power of frost.
The interior of the carriage was filled with icy flowers formed from the lingering cold.
‘Iliana, just what the hell did you turn her into?’
What was she thinking, Awakening Seraphia instead of merely treating her?
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