Signing a Contract with the Snake Princess! (Continued)

That would be

a slap in the face to Ryūchi Cave.

"Sage Art: Serpentine Shifting!"

Ichikishimahime's figure

suddenly vanished.

Several flashes of blue-green light flickered through the air,

and in an instant,

she appeared beside Aogetsu Hyuga.

Her speed was impressive,

but in Aogetsu Hyuga's eyes,

she was barely faster than a turtle.

Whoosh!

Ichikishimahime opened her mouth impossibly wide like a snake's

and lunged to bite Aogetsu Hyuga.

Aogetsu Hyuga frowned

and punched her in the face. "Too ugly. Can you keep your human face, with just the snake eyes and tongue?"

Ichikishimahime went flying,

crashing through several stone pillars.

She scrambled to her feet and glared at Aogetsu Hyuga, her eyes nearly bursting with rage.

You're making demands now?!

Still,

her face

instinctively returned to that of the cute little girl from before,

perhaps because she was afraid Aogetsu Hyuga would punch her face again.

"Human, you—"

But

before Ichikishimahime could finish,

Aogetsu Hyuga charged at her ten times faster than she had moved!

So fast!!!

That was Ichikishimahime's first thought.

Her second was—

That hurts!!!

Aogetsu Hyuga had struck

her soft belly with a simple punch.

"Mmgh..."

Ichikishimahime doubled over.

Her delicate, cute face twisted,

and drool ran from the corner of her mouth without her noticing.

Ichikishimahime looked up,

her eyes full of disbelief,

as though to say,

If you're already that strong, what are you doing in Ryūchi Cave?!

Aogetsu Hyuga reached out and squeezed her cheeks.

They pushed her soft, rosy lips into a pout, making her look remarkably cute.

"Stick out your tongue."

Aogetsu Hyuga spoke flatly. It sounded like an order.

Ichikishimahime's eyes widened. He's ordering me around?!

"I, Ichikishimahime, am one of the three great snake princesses—"

But

before she could finish,

Aogetsu Hyuga punched her again,

right

in her soft