A Horror Novel’s Supporting Character Wants to Live as a Human

Chapter 245

'Sleeper of N'kai.'

At the unfamiliar name, the snake-people attending the ritual were confused, not knowing what it was.

Only the priest-level snake-people who directly served Ig and had heard about various ancient beings widened their eyes and roared.

[How dare you before the great Serpent King!]

[Has that great Serpent King done anything for us since falling asleep beneath Yoth? What protection and blessings has he bestowed upon the prayers of snake-people shivering in the cold?]

[Insolent, insolent! Do you not know from whom you were born?]

[I know clearly. I am a being born from Ig, called the Serpent King. But the same goes for the Vormi we created. Do the Vormi serve snake-people as parents? We are all Vormi to Ig, merely livestock with convenient intelligence!]

[Blasphemous! Put those blasphemous ones on the altar! Make them regret defiling the Serpent King!]

Fruit baskets and fragrant stones that had been placed on the altar fell with thuds.

Fruits rolled down the stairs and were crushed, but no one paid attention to them.However, despite the angry priest's command, no one moved.

The mutated scientist who now served the Sleeper of N'kai shouted to the snake-people around him.

[Listen, beloved kinsmen! You are being deceived! They know that Ig, who was our origin, will not awaken. Yet they deceive us as if he will soon awaken and solve all our problems!]

[That's a lie! The Serpent King will awaken soon! Look at their vile appearance - they intend to blaspheme Ig!]

[That is rather the lie! Kinsmen, I and the snake-people scientists have been feeling it all along. Ig's absence and the approaching end of our race, the result of irreversible wrong choices!]

Vormi near the altar were pushing through the snake-people and approaching.

But the mutated snake-person's claims did not stop.

He now pointed threateningly at Ig's utterly detestable priests with hands bearing thin claws.

[Because of complacent fools like you! That's why we left Yoth and headed to the volcanic region. There we risked the danger of cold and entered the highest mountain, the deepest valley. There we met the 'Sleeper of N'kai'.]

[Not only leaving Yoth but meeting beings other than the great Serpent King!]

[He was sleeping. No, he seemed to be sleeping and then awakened the moment we entered. He received fitting offerings from us and bestowed blessings upon all of us. Do you see, kinsmen? Do you see this change?]

The mutated snake-person pointed to his own body.

The sparse brown fur sprouting on his hands, back, and legs resembled that of Vormi,

But it grew much denser and thicker.

[This is the blessing he bestowed. We can now move even at dawn and do not submit to cold. Night and day are all ours. This is the blessing bestowed by the 'Sleeper of N'kai'!]

[Seize that blasphemer, crush his boastful mouth!]

[The Serpent King's blessing? A ridiculous story. He has abandoned us! Why didn't he bestow such simple blessings? He has left us. The only remaining method is to abandon Ig and newly serve the 'Sleeper of N'kai'!]

The Vormi drooled and let out strange cries.

Black liquid was sprayed over the faces of the Vormi who had tried to capture the mutated snake-people on the priest snake-person's command.

The Vormi behavior control agent the mutated snake-person had been researching was a drug that could temporarily impose restrictions even without using dominance serum on the Vormi.

What had just been used was only a prototype level, but it was sufficient to cause temporary confusion among the Vormi.

When the Vormi's stiff bodies crushed nearby snake-people,

Ordinary snake-people began fleeing one by one.

[Come back! Return to the sacred ritual!]

[No one will do so.]

[This will not be forgiven. The Serpent King will not forgive today's events!]

[What can the blind Serpent King do? The 'Sleeper of N'kai' has promised our prosperity as long as we offer tributes. Let me show you what he has given me!]

On the altar where the priest snake-people stood, morning sunlight shone behind their heads.

The mutated snake-person raised both hands and shouted.

[Nakmatika Tsath- Tsath-! Lord of N'kai, look down upon this body from deep sleep! Akundaranita Tsath- Tsath-! Protect me and drag my enemies to the bottom of hell!]

The incantation ended,

And with a thunderous earth tremor, the ground split and revealed the sight of crimson hell through the cracks.

*

[It's become quite a mess,]

"I thought it would turn out like this."

The ritual that had been held hoping for the end of Ig's hibernation had become a disaster.

The hellish monster with blazing red flames had solid bronze wings and a sharp beak.

The monster that devoured Vormi and snake-people falling through the cracks in one bite spat lava and clawed at the steep ground.

At that sight, the priest snake-people fell into complete terror and fear.

The terrible cries the monster made as it gradually climbed up were enough to make one collapse on the spot if heard without mental preparation.

The shaking ground, the giant bird-shaped monster crawling up from hell.

In a scene that would make one's legs give out just from looking, some priest snake-people tried to drag their weakened legs and flee to Yoth,

But they were caught by mutated snake-people under the protection of the Sleeper of N'kai and forcibly dragged up to the altar.

The mutated snake-person who had placed the struggling priest snake-people on the altar, where fruits, flowers, and statues had all disappeared due to the earthquake, shouted.

[Sleeper of N'kai, I offer new tributes for you! Receive fresh blood and flesh and come to the surface!]

Thick blood flowed down the stone.

The horror of priest snake-people witnessing their kinsmen's death before their eyes could be heard vividly.

The 'Sleeper of N'kai' served by the mutated snake-people, Tsathoggua, needed edible offerings.

Not rustling plants or sculptures honoring him,

But fresh meat and blood freshly squeezed from beating hearts had to be offered.

The extremely greedy yet lazy god secluded himself deep underground and instead of finding food himself,

Bestowed surprisingly generous magic and protection upon his followers while urging them to procure sacrifices and prey.

Such methods seemed to have been maintained until now.

Judging by how the mutated snake-people were faithfully offering blood and flesh for him.

He thought the seven well-trained believers wouldn't be envious of seven sons and daughters.

He could understand why they acted so blindly,

But even considering that, it was quite violent behavior.

Right there in front, while watching the red shadows rippling from the split ground and the altar soaked in blood, Aphoom-Zhah spoke.

[When are we going? The fourth priest is climbing onto the altar.]

"Already? I need to go right now."

Simply putting on the dirty white cloak again completed the disguise.

Aphoom-Zhah seemed to walk a few steps with him, then soon dissolved into the air.

With each step toward the altar, the unpleasant smell and screams grew louder.

Thanks to all the snake-people who had fled, the area was clearly empty.

Looking up from below, the altar had a crude but sacred quality.

But now it was merely overflowing with the blood of those who had become sacrifices to heretical attacks.

When he climbed the sticky altar that had been washed once with blood, the eyes of seven snake-people turned toward him.

[-You are!]

[The prophet,]

[The prophet sent by the Sleeper of N'kai has returned!]

The mutated snake-people put down their sharp stone swords.

From those approaching him with their hands covered in their kinsmen's blood came the thick scent of primitive savagery.

Ah, he wondered where the intelligent beings who had pursued mysteries and science had gone.

Where had all those who had boldly promised they could overcome even cold with reason and logic disappeared to?

"You read the last letter I left. I'm glad you safely reached the 'Sleeper of N'kai'."

[Prophet, we followed your revelation from his prophet. The prophet sent by him opened our eyes. We are no longer cold, and night is not frightening.]

"If you are satisfied, I too am pleased. However, you must not stop here."

[What do you mean?]

"The being you have come to serve possesses endless greed. You must not neglect offering tributes. So it would be better to have as many as possible who join together in purpose."

[I understand. Do you mean to gather others besides us?]

"Exactly. Return to your city, Yoth. Persuade those who are frightened to serve him and help them endure the cold. You will prevent the extinction of snake-people with your own power."

If one only heard this, it would sound like an incredibly heroic act,

But in reality, it was no different from passing troublesome work onto them.

But wasn't this exactly what the mutated snake-people had been dreaming of?

Saving everyone through extremely logical choices.

The mutated snake-people, intoxicated with heroic psychology, descended from the altar and rushed to Yoth.

The matter ahead could now be left to them.

Turning around, there were several snake-people corpses lying on the defiled altar.

The white robes symbolizing priesthood were stained red, and cold drops of blood dripped from their drooping fingertips.

Among the corpses, the one placed highest, a priest whose gasping breath still remained, rolled his yellow eyes.

[You... are...]

"A race you've never seen before in your life. I've become acquainted with them, but this seems to be the first time seeing you."

[Snake... people... what... deed...]

"I've had a debt to snake-people from long ago. I'm just collecting it from you descendants instead, so don't feel too wronged. Still, I let you save your lives if you serve Tsathoggua, didn't I?"

[...What... exactly.]

"What exactly am I going to do from now on? I don't want to tell you that. You might die while I'm talking."

Even amid the blood-stained scene, he managed to find a place to sit.

Leaning on his staff and resting his weight on it while watching those dying, he felt newly tense.

"If Ig had been awake now, you might not have come to such a state."

[......]

"Even so, I don't know what use there is in assuming the past."

[......do...]

"Even if he didn't abandon you, if there are those among you who think so, you're essentially abandoned anyway. They will be reborn as snake-people with new faith under Tsathoggua. Ah, perhaps they might come to hate the irresponsible Ig."

[......]

"Well, anyway, it's not a relevant matter. Because in the end, Ig is..."

[......]

"...Why no answer? Already dead?"

He had been talking to himself. No wonder it tasted bitter.

He dusted off his clothes and stood up, looking in the direction where the mutated snake-people had disappeared.

Ig, in deep sleep, doesn't wake easily by ordinary methods.

However,

When the blood of faithful priests praying for him soaks the ground and countless snake-people turn their backs on him and withdraw their faith.

When he is betrayed by those he had long carefully raised.

Shouldn't even the Serpent King, who could grasp the earth with both hands, have to rise?

-Rummmmmmmmmble.....

An earthquake occurred.

But it wasn't the mutated snake-people who had become Tsathoggua's followers opening the ground.

From a much shallower place, through cracks in the earth's skin, the serpent's lair could be glimpsed.

Yoth was collapsing.

The new kingdom of snake-people that resembled the glory of Valusia crumbled futilely,

And the Serpent King who had been supporting the city from underground opened his eyes.

Beneath the thick dust and heaving ground, a thunderous roar echoed loudly.

[You bastard-!]