Chapter 150: The Snake and the Mae-i-du
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 150: The Snake and the Mae-i-du
My secluded training (walks allowed) continued.
When Baek Yeon-yeong was around, I learned Sword Qi directly from her. When she was away, I continued training on my own.
Using Sword Qi was important, but it was just as crucial to manage my internal energy through qi circulation whenever I had the time.
After all, Sword Qi was just a manifestation of internal energy.
Occasionally, Tang Soyeong and the spiders would visit to bring me food from the outside.
Tang Soyeong insisted that the outsiders—the cultists—must not find out that someone from the Tang Clan was here.
To be honest, I think her presence was discovered long ago.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult disciples who were trying to catch me often talked about the Tang Clan.
I wanted to tell Tang Soyeong, but it would be difficult to convey all that information with just gek-ing sounds.
Of course, someone like Tang What's-her-name might be able to guess, but the meaning could get distorted.
Tang Soyeong’s presence has been discovered, but no one really cares.
If that information got twisted into, The cultists have realized a spy from the Tang Clan has infiltrated!, it would be a huge problem.
So, I decided to just keep my mouth shut.
“Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to get here? I had to be on guard the whole time…”
Besides, it felt a bit wrong to shatter the delusions of Tang What's-her-name, who was so proud of her infiltration skills.
And so, I ate the food they brought, bonded with the spiders, and sometimes went outside.
Only after getting Baek Yeon-yeong’s permission, of course.
Normally, leaving during secluded training is forbidden, but that’s for humans.
I’m a lizard.
And lizards are creatures that can’t regulate their own body temperature.
Sure, Baek Yeon-yeong had provided various things to keep me warm, but fundamentally, sunlight was the most important.
It would be all for nothing if I awakened my Sword Qi only to become a frail, sickly lizard.
With her permission, I would go outside to a spot prepared just for me.
There was a small sign and a crude fence around it.
It was just the right size for my body, so I would lie there and bask in the sun.
While I was there, cultists below the First-Rate realm would gather around me.
“I-I’m going to be the one to tame it!”
“I looked it up. It’s a spirit beast called a Gomodo. It’ll be tough if you don’t have poison resistance.”
“Then we can just muzzle it…!”
I wasn’t sure of their intentions, but I accepted snacks from the cultists who came bearing muzzles, leashes, and treats.
It must have been a sign of reverence for a majestic spirit beast.
When I fired a death beam into the air for the onlookers, Baek Seol-hwa would sometimes appear with an oddly angry expression.
I would run from Baek Seol-hwa, sometimes managing to sneak away with her snacks in the process.
“Hey, you lizard! How could you take the whole drawer!”
When night fell, I returned underground.
After training alone for a while longer, my master would arrive, hug me, and fall asleep. That inevitably marked the end of that day’s training.
She would snore softly as she slept, and when morning came, I would begin my training anew.
How much time passed like that?
It happened during a session of combat-like training under Baek Yeon-yeong’s tutelage.
Srrrng.
A blue aura enveloped my front paw.
My very own energy, a mixture of cold and fire.
It was only for a brief moment, but my Sword Qi had definitely manifested.
“You’ve finally reached it.”
After that day, my training came to an end.
“You’re still a long way from using it freely, but this should be enough for now.”
“Gekek!”
“You have more than enough skill, so you’ll get used to using Sword Qi soon enough.”
I wondered if it was right to call it Sword Qi when it came from my claws, but I decided to just go with her words and consider it as wielding ten swords.
With my training complete, my next task was set.
My whole body was itching for a fight.
It wasn’t just about power; I was incredibly curious about my next evolution.
After accumulating this much strength, what on earth would I evolve into?
All preparations were now complete.
It was time to go to the Dragon Gate and evolve.
*
“Hero Go, are you leaving again?”
“Keeeehng…”
The spiders and Tang Soyeong looked crestfallen.
I gave a slight nod.
“Gekek.”
“I knew it. I overheard you’re going to a place called the Dragon Gate?”
She has sharp ears.
Or maybe my master just told her.
“If I could, I would love to stay by your side and assist you, Hero Go, but…”
It’s not like you’d be much help…
“Wh-what’s this? I’m getting a strange feeling!”
Leaving the rambling Tang Soyeong, I conversed with the spiders.
“Keehng…”
“Kiooong…”
We just met, and you’re already leaving?
That’s probably what they were saying.
Tus and Pus whimpered as they clung to my tail.
Were they asking me to take them with me?
I could probably carry them on my back.
They had gotten a bit bigger, but I had grown much larger.
I could even have them build a house out of webbing and carry them around in that.
But my destination wasn't a swamp or a jungle.
It was the Dragon Gate, the very place Baek Yeon-yeong had insisted I train for until I at least awakened my Sword Qi.
The spiders could get caught up in unnecessary trouble.
“Kiek.”
Unlike the whimpering spiders, Nephila approached with a calm cry.
Then, her two long legs gently grasped my front paw.
“Kieeeek.”
Be safe.
I’ll be waiting.
We couldn’t speak the same language, but that was probably what she meant.
“Kehng!”
“Kiong!”
As if realizing something from Nephila’s words, Tus and Pus let go of my tail.
They headed for my head.
To be precise, they went for the accessory around my neck.
I knew they’d been eyeing it ever since they first saw it.
It was obvious what they were going to do.
Tus used her sharp fangs to leave a mark on the accessory.
Pus then filled it in with webbing, completing the picture.
Now, the images of two fluffy spiders were added to the design.
“Kiooong…”
I had no idea why everyone insisted on leaving their mark on this accessory, but I had come to accept it.
“Kehng!”
It must be their way of wishing me a safe journey.
“Gekek!”
You guys be safe too.
…Though seeing how plump they’d all gotten, I’m sure they’d be just fine.
I left the spiders behind and set off.
I bid farewell to my master and stole Baek Seol-hwa’s snacks.
I set out for the Dragon Gate.
But first, I had a place to stop by.
*
My master had told me about the Dragon Gate.
Where it was located, how to get there, and what was there.
Of course, my master is terrible at explaining things, so I didn’t understand properly.
But that was fine.
Knowing this herself, my master had told me there was someone who could help.
A spirit beast who knew the way to the Dragon Gate.
A spirit beast who had a connection with both me and my master.
“…Companion.”
Her identity was none other than the Snake Queen.
“It has been a while.”
The Snake Queen slithered over and stroked my body.
“Shuririk…”
And behind her was a cute little snake.
Plump and…
Huh? This one looks a little different.
“Peep!”
The peeping sound confirmed it was Swish-Swish.
But she acted as if she didn’t even see me.
The Swish-Swish I knew should have been wrapping herself around my leg by now.
Also, her body seemed to have gotten longer overall.
Could it be that she forgot me in the short time we were apart?
The shock was immense.
It hurt more than being hit by my master.
“…Do you know how long the princess has waited for you?”
“Gek?”
I took a closer look at Swish-Swish.
She seemed to be avoiding my gaze, but her tail was wagging furiously.
This little one. She’s pouting.
Still, the Swish-Swish I knew would have ignored all that and rushed over to me. She must have hit puberty.
Her longer body was probably part of it.
“I was planning to visit once things were settled, but you came to us first.”
The Snake Queen untied the bundle on my tail.
It was a bundle my master had tied for me.
It seemed that as part of their alliance, there was something to be delivered to her.
“Hoh…”
The Snake Queen examined the contents with interest.
I wasn’t sure of the specifics, but there was probably a letter explaining my situation.
And there was also an item that Baek Yeon-yeong had strictly warned me not to open.
“…So many dango? I wonder if I’m dreaming.”
I had also stolen a ton of Baek Seol-hwa’s dango.
She complained a lot, but what could I do?
I was Baek Yeon-yeong’s favorite lizard.
The Snake Queen slowly read the letter.
Should I learn Chinese characters? I could understand spoken words, but I couldn’t read what was written.
At best, I had to interpret them with my limited knowledge, and the characters here looked a little different from the ones I knew.
I should probably study a bit after I evolve, if I have the time.
A lizard proficient in both martial arts and literature might unlock a new evolution path.
“Hmm, I see. So you are indeed heading to the Dragon Gate.”
“Gek gek.”
“You are more than qualified. I will tell you everything I know.”
As expected of the Snake Queen, she gets straight to the point. I like that.
“But there is something we must do first.”
“Gek.”
“Companion, would you mind closing your eyes?”
Close my eyes?
I didn’t know what it was about, but I did as she asked.
“No. Actually, could you turn around completely?”
“Gekek.”
There was no way the Snake Queen would harm me.
“Hoh… So this is what it was…”
I heard some rustling sounds.
“Princess. Stay still for a moment.”
“Peep!”
“Hmm… Is this for the head? Princess, lower your head for a moment.”
“Shirik…”
What on earth are you two doing?
I was curious, but I waited patiently.
“There. You can turn around now.”
The Snake Queen gently tapped me.
As she said, I opened my eyes and turned around.
No way.
A maid.
To think I’d see a Mae-i-du outfit!
I remembered whining a little to my master before leaving the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
I knew for a fact that she was making a Mae-i-du outfit that would fit Baek Yeon-yeong’s figure, but she never showed it to me before I left.
I had been mistaken.
Excluding their lower halves, the Snake Queen and Baek Yeon-yeong had the same body type.
“To think you like such a bold outfit. Hmm, it’s a little embarrassing to show to anyone.”
The outfit Baek Yeon-yeong had been making was for the Snake Queen.
At the same time, a certain memory flashed through my mind.
‘Of course, I still don’t understand why I have to make an outfit for a plump little snake!’
Those were Tang Soyeong’s words.
The outfit made so far was for the Snake Queen.
Then what about the plump little snake?
“Shirik…”
No, my Swish-Swish!
To see her dressed like that!
…She’s cuter than I thought?
“Gekekek!”
What was that thought just now?
Get out of my head!