Chapter 155: Rolling Over
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: Rolling Over
“Gekgegek!”
“One huuus—!”
“—band, many wiiives!”
Contrary to Baek Rang’s description, the Bicorns were acting like perfect gentlemen.
Right. Just because they had two horns didn’t mean they were all Bicorns from the myths.
They were just rhinoceroses with two horns, not the legendary creatures that despised the pure.
It was impossible for ten of those to exist in one place, anyway.
The gentlemen with two horns bowed their heads and greeted me warmly.
“Polygamy!”
“Gek!”
When I responded in kind, the gentlemen nodded their heads wildly in delight.
It was nice that we could communicate.
I felt like we could become sworn brothers.
If it were up to me, I’d have thrown my arms around their shoulders and shared a drink, but this wasn’t the time for that.
I had a job to do.
I didn’t come here to befriend these Bicorns.
Of course, there was no harm in getting friendly, but I couldn’t forget my original goal.
The objective was to make them stop attacking the wolf pack.
Either by driving them out for good or by forging an alliance between them and the wolves.
“Gek.”
But how was I supposed to say that?
“Polygamy!”
I couldn’t very well threaten these creatures who liked me so much.
And even if I did, I doubted these hulking beasts would listen.
Could I communicate with them just by gek-ing?
As I pondered this, I heard a familiar cry.
“Awoong…”
Turning around, I saw a medium-sized gray wolf walking toward me.
Chillang-i?
No, what was she doing here? She was supposed to be in the cave.
Although she was the youngest, all the wolves in the pack were adults.
This meant it wasn’t a problem for them to go out hunting.
Chillang-i must have used that as an excuse to come out.
Either that, or the entire wolf pack had gone out, and she happened to spot me and sneak away.
Well, since she was here, maybe I could have her clear up the misunderstanding with the Bicorns?
Our two-horned gentlemen weren’t such violent beasts after all.
“Grrrrowl!”
“Polygamyyy!”
But contrary to my thoughts, the Bicorns glared at Chillang-i with fierce eyes.
“Hmph…”
“Grrrrowl!”
Snorting, the Bicorns prepared to charge at any moment.
“Gekgegek!”
What’s wrong with you guys?
I stretched out my arms to calm them, but it wasn’t easy.
At the same time, I could feel a cold energy gathering at a single point in the distance.
It seemed Baek Rang had spotted Chillang-i as well.
From her perspective, it must look like the Bicorns were getting extremely agitated at the sight of Chillang-i.
…And it seemed they really were agitated.
The situation was a powder keg.
The Bicorns were on the verge of attacking Chillang-i, and Baek Rang was preparing to counter their assault.
No matter how much they liked me, I couldn’t prevent a fight from breaking out.
The best I could do was mediate before it started, but I couldn’t stop a herd of Bicorns with brute force alone.
Should I just grab Chillang-i in my mouth and run?
At least that way, no blood would be shed.
“Awoong…”
Chillang-i, who had been creeping forward, suddenly flopped onto her back, exposing her belly.
“Pant, pant, pant…”
With her tongue hanging out, Chillang-i gazed at me.
“…One hus?”
“Many wives?”
The Bicorns looked at each other, then back at me.
Their menacing aura subsided.
What was happening?
Ah, right.
Canids have a habit of showing their bellies to their superiors.
It seemed that with that single action, the Bicorns realized there was some kind of relationship between me and this wolf.
In other words, I was Gomodo-Lania, the lizard favored by the Bicorns. And a wolf friendly with that lizard had now become a favored wolf.
“Pant, pant…”
Chillang-i, you’re pretty sharp for the youngest of the pack.
I was wondering how to make peace with the wolves, and a solution like this existed.
But anyone could roll over on their back.
The Bicorns’ suspicions hadn’t completely vanished.
That meant I had to do something as well.
And that something was very simple.
Stroking the wolf’s belly.
“Awoong…”
Chillang-i let out a happy sound, her tongue lolling out.
Judging by her reaction, it seemed Baek Rang, the pack leader, didn’t pet their bellies very often.
How could she resist?
I could do this all day.
As I stroked Chillang-i’s belly, the Bicorns looked at me with eyes full of respect.
“Polygamyyy!”
“Fuur! Fur!”
“Omnivore! Omnivore!”
I wasn’t sure what their cries meant, but I figured it was something along the lines of respect.
The Bicorns grew excited as if they were holding a festival.
And as their hostility subsided, the cold energy that had been gathering around Baek Rang also dissipated.
It seemed she realized the misunderstanding had been resolved.
Great, now that I know the solution, the problem is solved.
“Gek!”
Whitey. You come here, too.
*
Baek Rang couldn’t believe her eyes.
In the distance, weren’t those the Bicorns, dancing?
The same beasts that had charged at her pack with bloodshot eyes were now acting incredibly friendly toward that lizard.
No, it was more than friendly.
It was respect. Or perhaps, worship.
That lizard was an object of worship to the Bicorns.
But why?
Baek Rang asked herself, but no answer came.
Bicorns were ferocious beasts, but they possessed the dignity of a spirit beast.
For such a creature to behave this way?
It was beyond Baek Rang’s comprehension.
She had met a Unicorn once.
Contrary to the rumors of its ferocity, it had been endlessly kind.
So, she had assumed the Bicorns, who looked similar, would be the same.
But how wrong she was. The rumors of ferocity were meant for the Bicorns, not the Unicorns.
She still shuddered, remembering how she had stopped those massive beasts from trampling her pack.
Still, it was a relief.
For whatever reason, the lizard and the Bicorns seemed to share a special bond.
Since she had promised to tell the lizard the location of the Dragon Gate, he should be able to drive the Bicorns out of their territory.
If not that, he could at least stop them from indiscriminately attacking the wolf pack.
As she was thinking this, she saw something familiar walking in the distance.
A relatively small figure.
It was Chillang-i.
“Chillang-i!”
She should have been in the cave or out hunting with her other sisters. Why was she here?
She called out urgently, but Chillang-i didn’t answer.
Baek Rang moved closer to follow her.
And as Chillang-i neared the herd of Bicorns, the once-docile creatures began to get agitated all at once.
They were docile toward the lizard, not toward wolves.
At this rate, Chillang-i would surely be hurt.
She was just about to draw her internal energy from her dantian to counter the Bicorns’ attack.
“…Awoong.”
Chillang-i let out a soft cry and rolled onto her back.
The Bicorns’ menacing aura faded.
Baek Rang roughly understood the situation.
The moment Chillang-i proved she had some sort of relationship with the lizard, the Bicorns became docile.
So, to solve the problem, she had to prove herself to those Bicorns.
Look at that. The lizard was stroking Chillang-i’s belly, and the Bicorns were trembling their horns with joy.
She understood the solution to the problem.
However, Baek Rang’s pride wouldn’t allow it.
No matter what, how could she do that for a lizard?
Chillang-i was still young and naive.
But a mature wolf like herself, a wolf with the dignity of a spirit beast, could never do such a thing.
It was then that she heard it.
“Gek!”
That clueless lizard was calling her.
“One hus…?”
She had been about to retreat and wait for another chance, but the Bicorns had noticed her presence as well.
This meant that if things went south, Chillang-i, who was in the middle of the Bicorns, could be harmed.
Just the Bicorns rampaging in their excitement would be fatal for Chillang-i.
Baek Rang made her decision.
She would save Chillang-i.
She walked slowly toward the black lizard.
“Grrrrowl!”
“Polygamyyy!”
The Bicorns were wary of her.
Wolves take only one mate in their lifetime.
That was a major conflict with the Bicorns’ beliefs.
Moreover, she was a wolf with the dignity of a spirit beast.
Like a Unicorn, she could be a being that would annihilate those who chanted “polygamy.”
The Bicorns’ wariness toward her was instinctual.
“Polygamyyy!”
Baek Rang drew closer to the black lizard.
And then, she used her trump card.
A way to calm both the wicked lizard and the Bicorns.
Flop.
Just as Chillang-i had done, Baek Rang rolled onto her back.
“Gek.”
The lizard looked at her with an expression that said, “What are you doing now?”
If Baek Rang hadn’t been covered in fur, her face, flushed bright red, would have been visible.
“Awoong…”
Making a sound a spirit beast should never make, Baek Rang wagged her tail gently.
Despite this, the foolish lizard just stood there blankly, as if he didn’t understand her intentions.
No.
Baek Rang knew just how cunning that lizard was.
Look at that face.
He was clearly holding what she had said against her and was now getting his revenge.
“Awooo…”
Even when she made that sound, the lizard remained still.
“Polygamyyy!”
“Fur! Fur? Fuuuur?”
The Bicorns were arguing amongst themselves, debating how to deal with the wolf that had just appeared before them.
Baek Rang gritted her teeth.
Look at that lizard’s blue eyes.
It was as if they were saying, Say it yourself.
But Baek Rang had no other choice.
“Quickly… pet… my belly…”
To think she would ever say such words.
She felt like she could die of shame.
But to ensure the safety of Chillang-i and her pack, it was an unavoidable choice.
Baek Rang closed her eyes.
The lizard’s large hand began to stroke her body.
Only then did the Bicorns retract their threatening aura.
“Fur fur fur…”
“Omnivore omnivore.”
Listening to the Bicorns’ discussion, Baek Rang spoke, her voice laced with resentment.
“…I may have let you touch my body, but that doesn't mean you have my heart.”
It was her last shred of pride.
Being petted wasn’t a promise of love, so it shouldn’t be given too much meaning.
It was simply a choice made to overcome the current situation.
Baek Rang consoled herself, thinking she had only said it in case the lizard misunderstood.
Thump, thump, thump.
Her fluffy white tail was wagging furiously, but that was just Baek Rang’s acting.
Or so she thought.
Because being petted by the lizard didn’t feel good at all.
“Awoong…”
Realizing she had unconsciously let out the cry of a wolf pup, Baek Rang quickly clamped her mouth shut.
*
…It’s okay to pet her, right?
She’s not going to bite my hand, is she?
I’m not worried about Chillang-i, but this one is pretty big, so I’m a little scared…
Ah, whatever.
She asked for it herself, so she can’t complain.