Chapter 82 [Side Maia & Teti] - The Case Of Two Girls, Part Ii
A white snake discovered with Teti's guidance.
Maia crouches down, sharpening her senses to not lose sight of the snake.
"Alright, I'll go."
According to the information she had previously researched, the Astrapias is considered an extremely rare snake.
Most humans go through their lives without ever seeing its form, making it a rare species whispered about in urban legends.
Determined to capture it without fail for Rick's mother, Maia carefully takes out the vial she received from Sicily.
Then, using the job skill (Presence Concealment), she calmly takes aim. Ironically, this was a trait Maia had cultivated as a member of an assassin clan.
"――Hah!"
After taking a breath, Maia dashes towards the Astrapias.
By exploiting a gap, she approaches without the target noticing, quickly sprinkling the red liquid from the vial.
"Haahh!"
Maia pulled a dagger from under her skirt and, with a swift slash, precisely struck the astrapius, successfully slicing it in half.
"First stage cleared. But this can't be the end."
She murmured, holding her dagger at the ready, her guard up.
Suddenly, a gas began to rise from the severed astrapius and started to coalesce.
From the gas a giant white serpent emerged.
"This is the curse of the materialized Astrapias..."
"Maia! Me too!"
Teti leaped out from the bushes, instantly activating the job of [Divine Wolf (Vanargand)]
A silver light shimmered like flames, enveloping Teti's petite body.
――Hissssss.
As if designating the two who stood before it as enemies, the white serpent extended its tongue in a threatening manner.
"Teti-chan, be careful. This pressure is the same as or even greater than the Black Dragon we fought at the Vandale Palace."
Maia crossed her daggers and lowered her hips.
And with a kick off the ground, she accelerated towards the snake's throat, delivering a sweeping blow.
――Swish!
Astrapias twisted to dodge the attack and then struck back with a tail swipe towards Maia.
"Ugh!"
Maia also evaded the attack and backed away, but the sharpness of Astrapias' attack that grazed her arm made her not want to imagine being hit directly.
"Even though I'm using the ability of (Presence Concealment), it's being countered... Just as Sicily-san said."
Earlier, Sicily had talked to Maia and Teti about points to note when fighting Astrapias.
According to her, the snake called Astrapias has an abnormally developed "tongue" that can sense various information.
It seems to be able to detect the location of those around it from subtle changes in air vibrations and smells, and react accordingly.
"Then, I'll be the one to draw attention."
This time, Teti leaps forward, aiming to strike with full force.
Clad in silver light, the attack with sharp hooked claws had definite power.
However, Astrapias smoothly evades Teti's attack and wraps her long body around the off-balance Teti in midair.
"Ah..."
"Teti-chan!"
Maia tries to rescue Teti, but Astrapias uses her extra tail to deter and hinder Maia from approaching.
――Hisssss.
Astrapias continues to tighten her grip around Teti's body. Despite Teti's pained expression, she resists and attempts to forcefully break free.
"This... is tough!"
Although there was a significant difference in size, Teti, being the owner of a special job, manages to widen Astrapias's entwining hold and successfully escapes the predicament.
"Are you okay, Teti-chan?"
"Uh, yeah. But that was incredible strength... If I get caught again, I might not be able to break free the same way."
Adel never mentioned having both of them around.
Even after hearing Sicily's words comparing the threat of Astrapias to an S-rank dangerous magic beast, Adel sent them off without any doubt, just by looking at their determination. If he can't believe in those feelings, what else can he believe in?
Maia and Teti decided in their hearts to confront the white giant snake once again.
"Teti, can you buy me some time?"
"Huh?"
While saying that, Maia removed the headband she was wearing. Then, she pulled something out from the headband, stretched it out with both hands, and straightened it.
It was a shining wire that looked like Maia's hair color.
As Teti watched Maia winding the wire around her hand, she nodded.
"Got it. I'll handle it, Maia."
Leaving those words behind, Teti faced the giant white snake alone.
While the battle between the two continued, Maia ran through the trees, setting up the wire around.
Now, Teti and Astrapias were surrounded by a "cage" made of barbed wire.
――Hisss!?
Astrapias, trying to avoid Teti's attack and create distance, screamed as it touched the barbed wire set up by Maia, causing red blood to gush from its body.
"You can't go that way."
Suddenly approached by Maia, Astrapias was pushed to a corner of the cage surrounded by barbed wire as Maia swung a dagger at her.
"Teti-chan, now's the time!"
In response to Maia's shout, Teti leaped once again.
With no escape route, Teti delivered a powerful blow from above the head of the trapped serpent.
"It's over now!"
――Hisss!
As if being crushed by a giant hammer, the serpent sank into the ground.
After Astrapias convulsed her long body, it fell completely silent and motionless.
"We did it! We did it, Teti-chan!"
"Yeah!"
Maia ran over, and Teti raised her hand in response.
Together, the two successfully obtained Astrapia's body.
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