Glancing downward, the freshly trampled leaves on the ground showed clear signs of recent activity. Aria nodded in understanding.
Although they had encountered other adventurers several times yesterday without incident, it was still wise to remain cautious when meeting strangers without knowing the full situation. After all, it never hurt to be wary of others. Both of them slowed their pace slightly.
Sure enough, after advancing a short distance, the sound of raised voices reached them from afar. Gauss even caught a faint whiff of a familiar scent. Following the noise, they stealthily approached and peered out from behind a ruined building.
The commotion originated in front of a three-story ruin where two groups stood in confrontation - more precisely, four humans facing off against a single half-snake person.
When Gauss recognized the half-snake person's figure, he immediately understood the source of that familiar smell. This was the same individual they had encountered at the inn two days prior. However, unlike before, the creature now wore slightly worn protective armor and wielded a wooden staff, looking every bit the proper adventurer.
"Hand over that magic bracelet!" roared the lead human, a burly man. "Our group found it first."
"Ssss—" The male half-snake person responded unhurriedly, lips curling into an unpleasant smile. "I must refuse. I picked this up fairly, while your companions arrived later."
"Don't listen to his lies!"
"This monster's just a dirt priest. If he won't surrender it willingly, we'll take it back by force!"
Hidden behind the building, Gauss and Aria exchanged glances. What luck - they'd stumbled upon a treasure dispute.Priests were similar to clerics and priests, all being professions skilled in healing spells, buffing allies, debuffing enemies, or employing other special techniques. No wonder this four-person team - composed of one two-star and three one-star adventurers - dared confront a three-star adventurer. They'd likely discerned the half-snake person's profession through some means.
However, since Gauss and Aria didn't know the full story, they had no intention of intervening. Besides, this conflict had nothing to do with them.
Soon, the four-person team organized themselves. Their warrior leader, bolstered by his teammates' blessing spells, launched a fierce charge.
Sss— Curse you!
The half-snake person reacted swiftly. As the enemies initiated their attack, pale purple energy blossomed before him, spreading to envelop the entire four-person team.
The mage preparing to cast suddenly sneezed, then lost control of his magic. The Grease spell he'd been channeling wobbled erratically before landing at the charging warrior's feet.
"Whoa!"
The warrior slipped, his attention focused behind him. Caught completely off guard, he slid several meters before barely regaining his footing.
"Wen! What the hell are you doing?!" The 2nd-level warrior roared without turning his head as he struggled upright.
"Sorry boss! That snake bastard's magic messed me up!" The mage named Wen defended himself pitifully.
"Everyone stay sharp!"
Only then did the warrior notice subtle discomfort in his body, though his level advantage meant he suffered the least effects. Clearly, the cunning half-snake person had primarily targeted his teammates.
Sss! Magic weapon!
Seizing their momentary disarray, the half-snake person calmly cast again. A long whip shimmering with ghostly green light materialized in his hand.
Following this, he enhanced himself with some buffing spell. His golden-scaled serpentine body twisted nimbly, avoiding the Grease-covered area as he charged toward the team's rear like a golden-green whirlwind.
"Crack! Crack!"
The magic-infused whip lashed through the air. The three at the rear couldn't dodge in time, howls of pain ringing out one after another. Though they wore armor, the whip's magical attacks penetrated straight through to their skin.
"Impressive priest," Gauss murmured to himself.
He could tell the half-snake person wasn't going for lethal blows, holding back somewhat. Even so, facing a full team's assault, he appeared completely at ease. His movement speed proved particularly remarkable.
The three 1st-level professionals floundered under some Cantrip's interference. The lone warrior who could barely keep up, lacking teammate support, struggled to catch the agile serpentine figure.
Level advantage, spell superiority, plus racial physical benefits?
"Friends hiding back there! Fellow human adventurers, please help us deal with this snake monster! We'll reward you handsomely afterward!"
One female among the four suddenly called toward Gauss and Aria's hiding spot. Though Gauss was certain they hadn't been spotted directly, the accuracy with which she pinpointed their location and numbers showed this wasn't mere bluffing.
However, he had no intention of getting involved. He remained silent, offering no response.
"You two, that snake monster stole treasure we found first! After dealing with us, it won't let you go either!" the same adventress continued shouting.
Gauss still didn't react.
First, this matter didn't concern him. Second, while they kept calling their opponent a "snake monster," the fact he'd registered as an adventurer proved his legal status - he wasn't an actual monster. Finally, though unclear who had stolen from whom, the only thing Gauss could see for certain was that the half-snake person, despite holding the advantage, wasn't resorting to lethal force.
Seeing no response from Gauss - not even a glimpse of movement - the four exchanged glances.
"Retreat!" the warrior commanded decisively.
They hadn't expected this half-snake person to be such a formidable fighter - a serious miscalculation.
The half-snake male watched as they slowly withdrew, making no move to pursue. His serpentine eyes tracked them until they completely vanished from view.
Only then did he slowly turn toward Gauss and Aria's direction, lips parting as his forked tongue flickered out in a smile blending scrutiny with peculiar goodwill.
"We meet again, you two," his hoarse voice rasped.
Aria instinctively tugged Gauss's sleeve.
"It's fine."
"He probably smelled us," Gauss said, unsurprised the half-snake person had pinpointed their exact identities.
Snakes could detect minute scent particles in the air to identify targets. Even hiding, familiar odors wouldn't escape his perception.
"What a coincidence." Gauss stepped forward openly but maintained distance.
"Thank you both for your righteous conduct, sss—" The half-snake person dismissed his magic weapon, the green glow of his whip dissipating as he offered sincere thanks.
"We didn't do anything," Gauss replied calmly.
"Sss! That was enough." The half-snake person nodded.
He sensed clear threat from Gauss. Had the human joined the assault earlier, he'd have faced serious trouble today.
"Here, this is for you."
A small cloth-wrapped object landed at Gauss's feet. The fabric fell away to reveal an ancient-styled bracelet radiating magical energy.
Seeing the bracelet, Gauss raised an eyebrow in surprise. Judging by the foursome's earlier claims, this was likely the source of their conflict.
To give it away so casually? Simply because they hadn't joined the attack? Then why fight over it so fiercely earlier? Gauss admitted that if it were him, he probably couldn't have surrendered a magic item so readily.
As if reading his thoughts, the half-snake person explained, "Sss— Earlier, I refused because I wouldn't let those dishonorable thieves succeed. This bracelet isn't something I urgently need anyway."
"Giving it to you feels appropriate."
Having presented the bracelet, he twisted his serpentine body to leave without ceremony.
Truthfully, he had another unspoken reason - Gauss was that rare sort of human who made him feel inexplicable kinship.
"Sss! May we meet again if fate allows!"