Master Of None

Chapter 717: 717. Wise Choices

The party had left the rocky area around the dwarf city for the grassy flats again. They were greeted by a monster stalking them soon after. However, the fire spirit controlling itsʼ dragon style spirit golem was going to take care f the enemy to show off its strength.

The party remained vigilant as they watched the golem whip its tail through the grass clearing a large round area. The attack wasnʼt to defeat the monster hiding near them but so that they could have a better place to battle Forcing a monster that liked to hide and ambush in to the open could give them the advantage or even cause the monster to run away because it did not want to be in the open.

After repeated attacks to the grass, the round area was open and clear for the golem to battle in. The fallen grass was nothing tt could hinder it and Walker would even be able to store it away as tinder for fire later.

With a slight hiss, the rustling sound everyone had picked up on seemed to be getting closer to the golem. The actions of the golem had not scared it away but instead, it had instigated the monster. The loud and blatant attacks were telling it that the golem didnʼt even need to worry about the monster in the grass.

When a yellow scaled snout emerged from the grass and reared up, the party realized it was a snake monster. More specifically a rare snake monster. ”Thatʼs a straw snake. It only comes out in the hotter days of summer to hunt for any prey it can swallow in the grasslands. I didnʼt think we would find one. Usually, they are not territorial but this one looks like itʼs angry for some reason.”

Walker wasnʼt sure why the straw snake would bother to come out and even appeared angry. It was a large snake that couldnʼt swallow the golem but could potentially take the party as a meal. Yet, that brought more questions when Walker realized that the straw snake would rarely attack groups.

”Wait, donʼt attack it. This isnʼt normal. Just keep itsʼ attention.” Walker gave the order and saw the golem lower its head and raise it again. It was the same kind of nod Midnight would do. Walker couldnʼt think about this though, he was using his all around appraisal skills on the straw snake.

ʼFemale straw snake (with child)

The straw snake often avoids groups and prefers to hunt giant rats or cave rats in the rocky and grassy areas. It has no venom but can wrap and crush its prey. The perfect straw color of its scales is highly valued by merchants as high quality crafting material for decorative clothing.

When a female has an egg within them the straw snake becomes incredibly aggressive and will fight any opponent that it poses is a risk to it and the home it is looking for. If one encounters a straw snake in this condition it is safer to retreat since it will fight to the end.ʼ

”We are retreating for now. Let the straw snake go. It isnʼt trying to hurt us if it doesnʼt have to.”Walker would explain the situation later but for now, started t slowly back down the path away from the cleared circle of grass.

Hearing the orders, everyone complied. The straw snake had coiled so that it was ready to bite at any second. It was watching as the golem slowly moved back under Walkerʼs orders. Once the entire party had gotten to a distance that the straw snake could barely see them it sprang forward and slithered away at high speed in the grass. Walker swore he saw a bit of grass move near a boulder.

”I think the area over there has its nest. It is going to lay an egg soon and it was just trying to protect its home and itself. When I used the all around appraisal skill it told me that straw snakes get very aggressive when they are with child.” Walker was breathing a sigh of relief. It may be a monster but he had read that straw snakes were very useful for the extermination of farmland pests.

”Itʼs been years since I saw a straw snake. But I always thought they were tiny. That one is huge. It  must have been an adult.” Gil had only ever seen a very young straw snake which was waved off by his mother when Gil found it. After that, he had never seen it again.

”Clearing the grass was a very good decision.” Su made sure the fire spirit knew that clearing the grass was a wise choice to make when facing an opponent like that. She didnʼt want it to feel like it had let them down since it had not been able to fight the monster.