Chapter 166: Living a Double Life
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: Living a Double Life
The Red Dragon headed for the 100,000 Great Mountains to meet the black lizard Namgung Yeon had told her about.
As a being whose skills were said to rival the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, rumors of her movements naturally spread. With a figure of her stature on the move, a clash with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was also inevitable.
However, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult made an unusual decision.
She permitted the Red Dragon's entry, but with a few conditions.
The Red Dragon was a spirit beast who had reached her current form in the 100,000 Great Mountains.
Therefore, she had a connection with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and was an old acquaintance of Baek Yeon-yeong.
She thought the permission was granted considering this, but the conditions Baek Yeon-yeong set were a bit strange.
It wasn't about using the Red Dragon's power or making her join the cult; the conditions were solely about a certain lizard.
The Red Dragon found it both fascinating and a little amusing that she had figured out her target was that lizard.
What was so special about that mere lizard that the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult herself would get involved?
Moreover, she didn't forbid the meeting entirely, but allowed it with conditions.
Of course, the conditions weren't light.
There were many restrictions attached, but they could be summarized in one sentence.
Do not cross the line.
That was the essence of the conditions.
This only served to pique the Red Dragon's curiosity even more.
The black lizard spoken of by Namgung Yeon and protected by Baek Yeon-yeong.
She began to think it might not just be a pretty-faced creature, but one that could truly become a dragon.
Of course, she would have to see it for herself to resolve her doubts.
After that, the Red Dragon headed for the Dragon Gate.
To be precise, the peak of the volcano.
The Mount Hua of the Mount Hua Sect didn't have much lava.
She, the Red Dragon, had merely forced it to gather there.
Therefore, this place, overflowing with lava, was her favorite spot.
While she was warming herself in the hot spring after easily chasing away the mouse guarding the place, something unexpected happened.
She saw a spirit beast fighting the Fire Rat.
Countless beasts had challenged the Fire Rat, the guardian of the volcano, trying to defeat it.
Soaking in the lava, she watched the fight of the Fire Rat she had chased away.
The Fire Rat, which wielded the volcano's fire energy, did not yield its position easily and incinerated all challengers.
It was no match for her, but it wasn't at a level where any riffraff could win.
But what was this?
A lizard she had never seen before had defeated the mouse.
Despite being a lizard, it walked on two legs and naturally used martial arts with its hands.
It used poison, of course, and even crudely imitated Sky-Filling Flower Rain, a martial art of the Tang Clan.
Furthermore, she discovered that it not only had cold energy but also fire energy deep within its body.
This was no ordinary lizard.
It was a lizard with the status of a spirit beast.
Its black scales were so beautiful that calling them Dragon Scales would not be an exaggeration.
The Red Dragon instinctively realized that this was the lizard she was looking for.
Could this be fate? She had only intended to warm her body, but she had found her target.
She felt a desire to snatch the lizard away immediately, but she couldn't because of the conditions Baek Yeon-yeong had set. Even for her, a direct confrontation with the Demonic Cult Leader was something she wanted to avoid.
Before coming here, the Red Dragon had organized her thoughts about the lizard.
If Namgung Yeon's words were a lie, she would eat it in one bite.
If it was just a lizard with pretty scales, she could play with it for a bit of amusement.
But if it was a lizard with the potential to become a dragon and had pretty scales?
She would see if it was a being capable of melting her frozen heart.
Therefore, she didn't approach the lizard but released her killing intent.
If it was just an empty shell with a decent appearance, it would flee.
It might be satisfied with defeating the volcano's guardian and descend the mountain.
If that happened, the lizard would not be the one she was looking for.
But the black lizard, despite feeling the killing intent, reached the summit of the volcano.
How could this not be fate?
The Red Dragon had a hunch that this lizard would become more precious than any treasure she had ever collected.
Although it was still young and couldn't even speak properly, if it grew to maturity, it could become a being comparable to herself.
Perhaps it could become a true dragon and melt her frozen heart.
Even if not, by taking it, she might be able to walk the path of a dragon once more.
Nothing was set in stone yet.
What was certain was that this lizard was now her property.
And that she would not let anyone take it from her.
*
“Then again, if I keep you with me all the time, that would be a problem in its own way, wouldn't it?”
I was eating the food she had brought me, as usual.
“Gek?”
“You're strong enough to catch that mouse, so keeping you like this feels like I'm disrespecting you, baby.”
“Gek gek.”
Disrespecting me? That kind of life wasn't so bad.
“And my baby must have things he wants to learn from me, so he won't run away.”
“Ge-ek!”
Does she really have a Dragon Eye? How does she know my heart so well?
“Since I've come to the volcano after so long, I want to warm my body…”
The Red Dragon glanced toward the top of the volcano.
“This place isn't bad, but it gets quite cold at night.”
Cold? This place is so hot it could catch fire just by standing still.
But surprisingly, the Red Dragon's words were partially true.
She had installed some sort of device to store her treasures, and the temperature here had dropped to a level where a lizard could survive.
It was still hot for me, but for the Red Dragon, who literally goes into the lava, it must feel lukewarm.
“Or, does my baby want to come in with me?”
“Ge-eeek!”
I shook my head violently. She was saying something terrifying, like she wanted to boil me alive.
“Hmph. A bit of a shame.”
What's a shame? I'd die if I fell into a normal lava hot spring.
But the Red Dragon was looking up as she spoke.
This place is already near the summit, and she's looking up?
The place she was talking about must be the volcano's crater.
“Then let's do this.”
“Gek?”
“We'll stay together while the sun is up. It's bearable then.”
“Gek gek.”
“But when the sun sets, I'll go into the crater over there.”
“Ge-gek?”
I looked at the Red Dragon with suspicious eyes.
She didn't want to be apart from me for even a moment, so what's with this sudden change of heart?
Lately, a chilly wind had been blowing from time to time. Was it because of that?
“Haaam… This way, my baby will have time to train alone, and during the day, he can learn from me. Is this what they call killing two birds with one stone?”
The Red Dragon let out a huge yawn.
Seeing that, she seems as thoughtless as usual…
I was a little suspicious.
“Well, if you get really lonely, I can endure the cold and hug you.”
“Ke-ge-ge-gek!”
The Maillard reaction would occur.
Anyway, she was offering me some personal time, so there was no reason to refuse.
Her reasoning was plausible, and I needed some time to myself as well.
Seeing this, it doesn't seem like she's trying to hold me captive. If I just 'gek-gek' later that I'm leaving, will she let me go?
“But you know what will happen if you try to run away secretly, right?”
…I guess not.
*
After the Red Dragon's declaration of separate rooms, I finally got to enjoy some freedom alone for the first time in a while.
It's temporary freedom, but who cares?
I had decided to stay here until I found a clue to becoming a Crushing Dragon anyway, so I was grateful for even this much.
The Red Dragon went into the crater.
I thought I heard something like, “Ahh, so refreshing,” but I erased it from my memory for the sake of the Red Dragon's image.
Now, time for myself!
I could finally do all the things I couldn't while worrying about the Red Dragon watching me.
Is this how a married man feels, always wary of his wife?
“Gek gek gek.”
Just as I was about to enjoy my little deviation, a cold breeze blew past.
“…Hey.”
The source of that breeze was, of course, Baek Rang.
I'd actually seen her a few times from a distance.
Each time, I had to work so hard to keep the Red Dragon from noticing.
I had to distract her by burying my head in my internal energy pouch.
Anyway, it's good to see her after so long.
“Gek gek.”
Baek Rang slowly approached me.
Thwack!
She smacked my chest once with her front paw.
“Ge-ek?”
“How could you not even say hello?”
She seemed to be scolding me for not coming to her after I caught the Fire Rat.
But I couldn't help it.
I was being held captive by the Red Dragon.
“Gek gek.”
“Is that the face of a captive? You were grinning from ear to ear.”
“Ge-ek…”
“Don't make excuses. I saw everything.”
…But wait, how does she seem to understand what I'm saying?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Gek!”
“…Anyway, let's go back quickly.”
Baek Rang nipped at my foreleg.
I can't go back to the cave, but I can probably hang out for a little while.
We can't keep talking here, so let's go down to a suitable spot.
Just in case the Red Dragon notices.
The place Baek Rang took me to was a cave on the volcano.
Is it because she's a wolf? She's uncannily good at finding places like this.
Compared to other places, the fire energy is weaker, and it feels like a cold breeze is blowing in.
“…So, how have you been?”
“Gek gek.”
How have I been? I've been living as the Red Dragon's captive.
I diligently drew pictures on the ground to explain my situation to Baek Rang.
“So you did defeat the Fire Rat in the end.”
“Ge-ge-gek.”
“Then can't you come back now?”
“Ge-eng…”
I want to go back too, but I can't because of the Red Dragon.
There's no telling what she'll do.
And personally, there are things I want to learn from her.
Besides, this place is the Dragon Gate, so I might be able to meet the evolution conditions for the Crushing Dragon.
“Gek gek gek.”
But explaining all this won't be easy.
I don't know how to write, and my drawing skills aren't that great.
“…So you're going to stay here?”
“Gek?”
What, how did she understand?
“Is this the first or second time I've seen you? I can tell just by looking.”
I don't think we've seen each other that often.
“So during the day, you have to be with that red lizard?”
“Ke-ek.”
“And you can only move around like this at night?”
“Gek.”
Come to think of it, how did Baek Rang get all the way up here?
It must be hard to move around because of the fire energy.
“…Those weird guys with two horns helped me, so it's fine for now.”
Those two-horned gentlemen, as expected.
If that's possible, they should have done it for me too.
“Things are complicated… For a creature like that to suddenly appear.”
“Gek gek.”
That's what I'm saying.
“Ah, don't get the wrong idea. I didn't come because I missed you or anything. It's just that Chillang-i was whining so much.”
“Ge-gek gek.”
“…What's with that sly look?”
“Gek.”
What did I do?
“Anyway, I've confirmed you're okay, and since you want to be here even if you're ‘captured,’ I guess I don't have to worry.”
“Gek.”
Baek Rang comes to a clear conclusion.
Right, tell Chillang-i I'm okay. I'll come back down once I've achieved something satisfactory.
“Whatever. As long as I know you're alive, that's enough. It's not like we're that close.”
Something seemed to have upset her, as Baek Rang whipped her head away.
A sudden silence fell.
Is it just my imagination, or did it suddenly get colder?
“……Hey.”
It was Baek Rang who broke the silence.
While looking away, she nudged me with her front paw.
“…Did you like it that much?”
What is she talking about?
“What, I saw you sitting on her lap with your tongue hanging all the way out.”
You saw that too?
“Gek gek.”
That's a lizard's instinct, I can't help it.
“…Hey.”
Baek Rang called me again.
“You know I did that for you first, right?”
…The lap pillow?
“……Just so you know.”
Her actions were incomprehensible.
She seemed restless, then suddenly got angry.
She seemed to sigh, then got annoyed.
Baek Rang looked at me as if she couldn't help it.
“I don't know what's so great about a guy who's only got scales.”
Is she talking about her younger siblings?
Well, it's true they liked me.
“Come here.”
“Gek?”
Am I that kind of lizard who comes and goes as she pleases…
A white light shone, and Baek Rang's form changed.
Snow-white hair and golden eyes.
Baek Rang's slender hand pulled me closer.
“Is this what you like?”
She gently stroked my head.
“…I really can't understand it.”
And yet, she smiled faintly.
“Hey.”
Baek Rang called me again.
“…I have to stay with the pack, so I can't stay here all the time, you know?”
Her face turned red as if she was embarrassed about something.
“So, come here when the sun sets.”
I stared at Baek Rang.
“I need to know if you're dead or alive. I'm fine, but Chillang-i is just so fussy…”
I didn't say anything, but she kept muttering excuses to herself.
I found it quite amusing and let out a small laugh.
Though I'm not sure how she'd take a laughing lizard.
“……I really can't understand it.”
Well, a laughing lizard is probably a hard thing to comprehend.
Does it look a little scary?
“What's so great about something that's only got scales.”
She must have a lot on her mind.
Her wolves are following an outside lizard, after all.
Thinking about it that way makes me feel a little sorry.