The moment I said this, it exploded in the cramped space like a bolt from the blue.
The faces of the three adventurers before me turned pale as sheets, their eyes bulging out as if to pop from their sockets as they stared at me in sheer disbelief.
“H-How did you know?!” the timid-looking man stammered in a trembling voice, casting a helpless gaze at the other two.
The guy who looked like the party leader also hadn’t anticipated this situation.
Whether it was because his scheme had been exposed or something else, he suddenly drew his sidearm with a sharp metallic ring, pointing the blade tip straight at my forehead as he barked in humiliated rage, “So what if you know?!
Do you really think we’re afraid of you?!
Even if you can speak human words, you’re still nothing more than a Small Elroe Basilisk!”
“I’ll give you two choices right now: either let us name you and come with us obediently, or we kill you right here, skin you alive, and gouge out your eyes…”
Hearing him spout such nonsense, I felt like this guy was a brainless idiot.
Before I could help it, I burst out laughing internally.
On the surface, however, I scratched my head with a small claw as if I didn’t care at all.
Looking at the sword tip right in front of my nose, I interrupted him directly.
『What’s up~?』
『Are you going to advise me to pick the first option?』
『So I can save my little life?』
While conveying my dissatisfaction internally using [Telepathy LV.2], I tilted my head at him while quietly dipping my other claw into a nearby puddle.
『Sigh, making friends is really tough~』
『Are you humans all so greedy?』
『Guess there’s no other way then…』
With that said, I stood up under their stares and nonchalantly pinched the sword blade with my claws.
The next moment, the sturdy-looking iron sword melted instantly.
Just like ice cream meeting heat in summer, it dripped onto the ground like water, turning into a pile of messy, molten scrap.
That guy had never seen such a scene before.
He subconsciously took a few steps back, staring in disbelief at the pool of glowing liquid iron on the ground while his hands remained in the stance of holding a sword.
『So…
what about now?』
『Still want to kill me?』
『Still want to tame me?』
『Hmm?』
My half-smiling words smashed heavily into their hearts like an anvil, suffocating them so hard they couldn’t even catch their breath.
Seeing the other two beside him—one a frail girl and the other a warrior who was somewhat terrified—I paid them no further mind.
I simply closed in on the man before me, step by step.
However, he still seemed unwilling to give up.
Clenching his fist, he took a step forward and swung violently toward my face.
I merely tilted my head slightly to dodge his attack.
Immediately after, I extended my right claw.
Pfft!
I plunged my claw straight through the man’s arm and slashed sideways, slicing off a large chunk of flesh.
I couldn’t care less, stepping forward to look down at him from above before stomping directly onto his head.
As I stepped on him, I didn’t forget to mock him:
『That’s right, I’m not some nice guy.』
『Weren’t you so tough just now?』
『Giving me two choices?』
『Why aren’t you talking now?』
『Hmph…!』
After I had enough fun, I turned around to look at the other two and spoke slowly,
『How about this?』
『I’ll give you two choices as well, sound good?』
I pointed my claw at the man beside me and then at the girl.
『You are a priest, right?』
『Miss Priest, come over here and heal him.』
Even though I said that, the girl remained frozen in place, not moving for quite a while.
Seeing this, another burst of biting killing intent exploded from my body, scaring the girl into a shudder.
She hurriedly ran over to the man, knelt on one knee, extended her hands, and began healing.
『And you too.』
I looked at the other person, a cruel smile surfacing at the corner of my mouth.
『You go over there as well.』
『While the priest is healing him, stab that man repeatedly with your sword until he can’t take it anymore and dies.』
As my words fell, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
That guy hadn’t expected me to pull a stunt like this and stood on the spot in total bewilderment.
『Can’t you understand?』
『This is the choice I’m giving you.』
『Either you go over right now and do as I say, and after it’s over, I’ll let you two leave; or…』
『I kill all three of you right now.』
Swishing my tail lazily behind me, I spoke again,
『I know that guy was the mastermind, and the proposal to kill me was brought up by him too.』
『I, this lizard, have always been very principled and will definitely not go back on my word.』
『So…
hurry up~』
『I can hardly wait.』
Under my urging, the man began slowly shuffling toward the priest’s direction.
Just when I was getting ready to enjoy a good show, something unexpected for a lizard happened.
I looked at this scene somewhat helplessly, casually raising my hand to slap the attack down.
In that brief gap, this guy had actually passed equipment to the other person whose state had been restored!
Hmm?
Who would’ve thought this priest heals so fast!
Now they’re actually thinking of counterattacking?
How interesting~ Adventurers are indeed different compared to those dim-witted monsters!
Just like that, I watched the two fully equipped guys charge toward me…
…
A short while later, I shook the remaining bloodstains off my claws and looked at the three corpses lying on the ground, feeling a bit regretful.
How did it turn out like this…
I originally only intended to eat the fruit and leave…
Luckily, I was cautious.
When I touched that priest to take the fruit, I spread my perception to her via [Contamination LV.2] and happened to overhear these people whispering!
Sigh, to think I actually thought I was pretty popular…
Hmm…
wait, no.
Looking at it from another perspective, I guess I really was pretty popular!
Ah!
Damned fools…
Still, human EXP sure is tasty!
These three guys made me level up several times!
I’m just a tiny bit away from my next evolution!
Not bad at all!
Right at that moment, I inadvertently turned my head to the side and discovered a little spider hiding behind a rock, peeking over here.
After being spotted by me, it quickly turned around and ran off.
By the way…
can spiders clap now…?
Hmm…?
Wait…
wait a minute?
Clapping?!
It’s Kumoko!
That spider is Kumoko!!
No way, I’ve got to hurry up and catch up!
Thinking this, I hurriedly gave chase in that direction…
…
Oh right, right!
Can’t forget this spider corpse…