Chapter 139: To the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: To the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
My big, beautiful body.
My dragon-like scales.
My sharp teeth.
My mighty tail.
…It was all gone.
“Geeeek!”
As I let out a sad cry, Swish-Swish slithered over, as if to comfort me.
“Shhh-ri-rik…”
Her gaze was strange. I didn't know what she was thinking, but her tongue flickered out, dripping saliva…
“Gekgek.”
I had a feeling I was about to find out what Swish-Swish's internal organs looked like.
I quickly looked away.
At my current size, I was probably nothing more than a nutritious snack for her.
“Kekekek.”
A small dinosaur that could save me cackled.
It was Little Dragon, the expert in miniaturization.
As expected of an old man, he seemed to know something.
Old man. Fix this for me.
I looked at the Compy with that expression.
“Kh-hek. Kekekek.”
I don't know anything about that. I just came to laugh at you. That was the look on his face.
“Gegek!”
Get lost, old man.
Just in case, I tried performing that strange dance in reverse, but nothing changed.
“Geeeeng…”
I collapsed with the expression of a lizard that had lost everything.
“Hmm…”
Baek Yeon-yeong grabbed my tail and lifted me up.
“Gek.”
Does she know something?
“Your belly fat is quite charming.”
“Geeek!”
Stop indulging yourself and check my condition!
After fiddling with my belly for a good while, Baek Yeon-yeong turned me over and over, examining my body.
“Is this a side effect of using too much power?”
It was the same conclusion I'd reached.
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only explanation.
I had drawn out enough power to land a significant blow on a Quetzalcoatlus borrowing the power of Tai Sui, so side effects were inevitable.
But still, how could I shrink this much?
“Don't worry too much. You'll naturally return to normal over time.”
That's a relief.
Now that the Queen of Birds was dealt with, there's no need for any more dangerous battles. I can manage daily life just fine in this body.
“Of course, I don't know how long that will take.”
“Gek?”
That's a bit of a problem.
Even in this small body, I could probably take down most enemies. I'm not just any lizard; I'm a lizard who has inherited Little Dragon's martial arts.
And there's no reason to fight any extraordinary enemies.
Thinking like this, it seemed I could just live a relaxed life, but it wasn't that simple.
A lizard's pride wouldn't allow it.
The dignity of Gomodo, the Divine Beast, would be dragged through the mud.
Look.
Isn't Baek Yeon-yeong fiddling with my hand right now?
“Gegegek!”
I tried to bite her, but in my current state, there was no way I could pierce her finger.
“Of course, if a skilled physician were to examine you, the recovery period could be shortened.”
A skilled physician!
That's Baek Yeon-yeong for you.
She had a plan all along.
“However, physicians who can treat spirit beasts are rare.”
Why did you even bring it up?
“Though we do have one at our cult.”
“Gegek!”
That's my Baek Yeon-yeong.
“But they might not be used to treating a spirit beast this small, so the side effects could worsen.”
My snout seemed to lengthen in a pout.
“However, we've just had some outside talent arrive who is perfect for the job.”
I don't believe her.
“Gek.”
She's probably just teasing me again.
“What is it? I feel like your snout keeps getting longer.”
“Gekgek.”
“Do you not believe my words? You saw her yourself.”
I saw her? Wait.
Outside talent.
Spirit beast expert.
Small size.
…That Tang what's-her-name!
The daughter of the Tang Clan, skilled at handling spirit beasts, with a small internal energy pouch.
“Gegek!”
Tang Soyeong's own martial prowess isn't that great.
But she must be recognized within the Tang Clan, as she was in charge of managing a Dilophosaurus. And a Dilophosaurus that used the Sky-Filling Flower Rain, no less.
It was proof that she excelled in other areas to make up for her lack of martial strength. In fact, she was the one who saved Nephila's life.
Besides, aren't I a Gomodo, highly valued by the Tang Clan? My species might have changed a bit, but there was a high chance Tang Soyeong knew more about my body than I did.
Since her internal energy pouch is small, she'll be good at treating a small-bodied creature like me.
“I plan to take you to the cult, both to give you Odusa's inner core and to deal with the Human-faced Bird's core.”
She's taking me to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
“What do you think, Hui?”
Of course I have to go.
It's not just a visit—I get to recover and eat inner cores. Plus, I can see the spiders again after a long time. And while I'm there, I can eat some delicious food.
I wanted to rush over right away, but there was something holding me back.
“Bbiek…”
Swish-Swish was looking at me.
“Hui.”
And the Snake Queen.
Another person had been added to the list of those who call me Hui.
“If it weren't for you, I would not have been able to sever my ill-fated connection with the Queen of Birds.”
The Snake Queen stepped forward, and Baek Yeon-yeong stepped back for a moment. It seemed she was giving us space to say our goodbyes.
“I have no idea how to express my gratitude.”
She reached out and stroked my head.
“You are my benefactor.”
I briefly set aside the question of whether one could call a lizard a 'benefactor'.
“Your treatment should take priority over my words of thanks.”
“Geeeeng…”
“In this state, you can't do much of anything.”
Huh? I don't know what she means, but it is hard to move my body.
“Besides, it will take at least a month for us to have a 'conversation'.”
What kind of conversation takes a month?
…It is a conversation, right?
“Bbiyaak…”
Swish-Swish slithered toward me.
Ssssk. She coiled around my body.
“The princess also doesn't want you to leave, but since it is necessary for you, she will gladly send you off.”
“Shhh-rik…”
She flicked her tongue, smearing saliva on my body. But she wasn't crying, so it seemed she had prepared herself to let me go.
Swish-Swish had been in Little Dragon's territory for the past week. It had been a while since I'd seen her, but now I had to leave again.
“Bbiyaaaak!”
In the end, Swish-Swish burst into tears.
It was a sight that couldn't be watched without tears. Even the Snake Queen turned her head away.
“How am I to soothe this heart…”
She must not want to let me go either. Even if it's for my treatment, the duration is unknown.
“Sorry to interrupt, but our cult does not ostracize spirit beasts.”
“Bbi-yak?”
Swish-Swish stopped crying and tilted her head.
“If you wish, you can stay at the cult.”
“D-does that mean…?”
“There's no need for such a grand and emotional farewell. If you want, you can come to the cult with us. Even if not, you can visit anytime.”
The Snake Queen's face turned red.
“I have things I must do here…”
It would look strange if she came along after saying such embarrassing things.
And it wasn't a lie that the Snake Queen had things to do. Now that the Queen of Birds was defeated, she would have more than a few things to take care of.
“Bbi-yak!”
Swish-Swish wagged her tail. It seemed she understood her master's words and was excited at the thought of going with me.
“The same goes for you, Princess. Don't you need to prepare to accept the Rakshasa Bird's inner core?”
“Bbiyaaaak!”
Swish-Swish bit the Snake Queen's hand and dangled from it.
It's a shame, but it looks like Swish-Swish has to stay here too. Still, she can come and go whenever she wants, so I'm not too worried.
If I bite and hang onto Baek Yeon-yeong's finger, she'll probably bring the Snake Queen and her daughter over in an instant. If not, I could just fly over there myself.
While the Snake Queen and Swish-Swish were bickering, a middle-aged man entered.
“Judging by the atmosphere, it seems I should offer my thanks as well.”
It was Argentavis.
“Gekgek.”
Nice to see you, Argentavis.
“You fought very well. I, on the other hand, let that Bifang fellow get away.”
So you do know. I even got you the unicorn's horn, shouldn't you at least give me the Bifang's inner core?
“Gegegek.”
“Hmm. I'm not sure what you mean, but I'm sure you're thinking the same thing as me.”
Don't pretend you don't know.
“Gekgekgek.”
“If you ever need my strength, come find me anytime.”
This is good.
Argentavis is a winged bird, so he can make up for what I lack. For example, he could lift my body and we could show them a terrifying sight, firing a Gaegaek Death Beam from the air.
“On the condition that you maintain a good relationship with my daughter, I will lend you my strength.”
“Gegek!”
Of course… huh?
“Chirp…”
Chirpy flew toward me with a wistful expression.
Hello, Chirpy.
“Chirp, chirp.”
Chirpy flapped her wings and plucked a feather from her chest.
“Chiiirp…”
Then, Chirpy landed precisely on my necklace, which had fallen somewhere.
As her feather touched the necklace, an image was engraved upon it.
A single white feather, attached above the drawing of a lizard.
“Chirp…”
What's that supposed to mean?
“Bbiyaaaaak!”
Swish-Swish raged. If the Snake Queen hadn't stopped her, Chirpy would have ended up in Swish-Swish's stomach.
Various images were now engraved on my necklace.
The Snake Queen's token.
A drawing of Nephila Jurassica.
A drawing of Swish-Swish, and now Chirpy's feather.
Why is everyone leaving their mark here? Is it a way of calling dibs?
It must be a symbol of our cooperative relationship.
Just then, I saw a momentary illusion.
A single, scrawny lizard.
In contrast, a snake, a spider, and a bird, all sleek and glossy.
“Geeeeek!”
….
Is my body weak? I'm seeing strange hallucinations.
“Hah. To think my disciple has become such a playboy.”
Baek Yeon-yeong looked a little shocked.
I don't know what she's thinking, but I'm about 90% sure it's a misunderstanding.
“Gekgek.”
I finished saying my goodbyes.
The Snake Queen, still trying to hide her red face with her tail, stroked me.
“My dear, next time we meet, please make sure that size of yours…”
My size is important, after all.
“And clear a lot of time…”
That means she wants to see me for a long time, right?
I said my farewells to both the Snake Queen's party and Argentavis's. It seemed everything was settled.
“One-loooove…”
What's with you?
“One-loooooove…”
A single horse walked over from the distance. No, it was closer to an ox.
The form it had shown during the battle with the Rakshasa Bird was long gone. The sprouting of the blue horn must have been a temporary phenomenon.
“One… love…”
The Unicorn stroked the spot where its horn had been cut.
No. Since the blue horn was gone, it would be correct to call it a Unicorn now.
“O-one… love?”
Wait a minute, that thing. Its horn has grown back a little?
It's growing back faster than I thought. Is it like hair?
…But something's strange.
“One-love… many…?”
On top of that small horn, something even tinier was sprouting. It was too small to be sure, but it looked like another horn was growing.
“One-love-many…?”
The Unicorn shook its head violently.
“One-love… one-maaaate!”
It seemed to be having an identity crisis. It still seemed to believe it was a unicorn, a creature of one horn, but in time, it would realize.
It was walking the path not of one horn, but of two.
What do I do if it becomes a 'duo-corn'? It would become an enemy then.
It was a worry only a pure lizard could have.
And so, with the unicorn, I finished saying goodbye to everyone.
“Huiya. Are you ready?”
“Gek.”
I nodded.
“Come here. We're going to the cult now.”
I gave one last bow to the Snake Queen and then burrowed into Baek Yeon-yeong's arms.
“I don't know why you so naturally come here.”
“Gek.”
“What will you do if you get all sweaty?”
Baek Yeon-yeong sighed once and then bid farewell to the Snake Queen.
“It won't take long. Hui's recovery might even be faster than your business here.”
“Benefactor. Please take good care of Hui.”
“Gekgek.”
I'm not a child.
“I understand. I'll be sure to keep his playboy tendencies in check.”
“Ah, and about the clothing I mentioned earlier…”
“I'll prepare a few outfits. I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I must admit, I'm intrigued.”
What on earth are they talking about?
As a small act of revenge against Baek Yeon-yeong for falsely accusing me, I snuggled deeper into her embrace.
“Gegegek.”
“…This won't be easy.”
Receiving everyone's farewells, we left the hideout.
It was time to meet some familiar faces.
“Huiya. Are you ready?”
“Gaegaek!”
Let's go, to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.