Chapter 175: Domain Expansion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: Domain Expansion
It took quite a while to calm Baek Rang down.
Only after an hour-long special Gomodo-style massage course did she seem satisfied and return to her wolf form.
Just as I was about to take a little break, the Red Dragon approached and asked for the same treatment, so I ended up repeating the whole process.
…Still, it was worth it.
Because while stroking the Red Dragon and Baek Rang, I had achieved my initial goal.
And what was that? To get them to join the Gaegaek Cult, of course.
I don't even want to recall the immense trouble I went through to make it happen.
"Grrr…"
"Grrrr…"
The Red Dragon and Baek Rang let out low growls.
A sound like that meant they had now returned to their true forms, no longer human.
The reason I had them revert to their large spirit beast forms was that staying in their human forms would cause all sorts of problems.
One lizard lying down with two women wearing collars.
It was a situation that, whether from a lizard's or a human's perspective, was clearly a bit strange.
I wasn't the one who put the collars on them, but since the ends of the leashes were in my hands, I couldn't make any excuses.
Anyone who saw this would misunderstand me for some fiendish lizard and try to capture me on the spot.
…Of course, they’d be covered in frost and flames before they could.
"Ekkya-hooo!"
I felt like I could hear the roars of the Bicorns from afar.
It was starting to get scary.
What in the world were those things?
Fwoosh.
Crack.
"Geeeeh…"
To think they were so happy seeing a poor lizard sandwiched between fire and ice.
But I didn't feel entirely bad.
Why? Because, as I said before, I had finally managed to get two spirit beasts to join the Gaegaek Cult.
It felt like I’d taken a bit of a detour, but thanks to that, Baek Rang and the Red Dragon's relationship seemed to have improved, at least a little.
"Krrrrr…"
"Arrrr…"
…They were both baring their teeth, but as long as they belonged to the Gaegaek Cult, they wouldn't fight each other directly.
Especially not in front of their Divine Beast.
"Gekgek!"
After letting out the cry of a valiant Gaegaek, I waited for the message from my most cherished status window.
With two spirit beasts having joined the Gaegaek Cult, it was obvious it would give me something.
…It’s a little late today, isn't it?
Fwoosh.
Crack.
At this rate, am I going to become a half-dried lizard?
[The 【Gaegaek Cult】 has been upgraded from a Monitor Lizard-level religion to a Mid-tier Dragon-level religion!]
Finally!
Is it really okay to jump that many levels from a monitor lizard?
But before I could question it, I remembered the specs of the newly joined believers were just too impressive.
Besides, I, the Divine Beast, had also become a Mid-tier Dragon.
[Achieved an unbelievable feat, even for a Tyrant Dragon!]
An achievement, huh?
It didn't give me one when I defeated the guardian of the volcano.
Well, better late than never.
…But, a Tyrant Dragon?
The name alone sounds terrifying.
I don't know who that's referring to, but it probably doesn't mean much.
It's likely just a way to describe the difficulty of the achievement I accomplished, like "a feat that would surprise a Raptor" or "a feat that would surprise an Allosaurus."
I'm not sure, but seeing the word "dragon" in it, it must be a top-tier achievement.
[You have achieved a Mid-tier Dragon-level religion with fewer than 10 members.]
"Gekgek."
The Gaegaek Cult was certainly small for a religion.
After all, there were only four official believers.
[A large amount of divinity will accumulate in your religion.]
Ooh.
Is the reward divinity?
This is a very good reward.
When I fell into the Human-faced Bird's trap and fought the Jian Bird, I was only able to win because I utilized divinity.
Given my trait of fully recovering all my health upon leveling up, divinity was a precious resource that was better the more I had.
But there was no way this was the end of it.
I skipped several stages, so it was bound to give me an enormous reward.
[You can now declare your domain.]
[The power of believers within your domain will be enhanced.]
[Divinity will increase according to the number of believers located in the domain.]
"Gegegek!"
Something major just popped up.
Declare my domain?
[You can declare a domain in your current location.]
[Would you like to declare a domain?]
I don't know what it is, but I have to do it now.
As a male lizard, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
Domain Expansion.
"Gekgek!"
I let out a powerful lizard cry.
[The Dragon Gate (Volcano) has become your domain.]
Awesome!
…Actually, I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but it probably won't hurt to have it.
Just the effect of strengthening my believers makes it quite useful.
And the believers on this volcano are Baek Rang and the Red Dragon.
They were already strong spirit beasts, and now they've gotten even stronger.
…What would happen to me if the two of them started fighting?
For now, I'll put that worry aside and take a closer look at what I've gained.
A Mid-tier Dragon-level religion, a large amount of divinity, and a domain.
Now that I'm becoming more like a dragon than a lizard, it seems the time has come to delve seriously into this religion thing.
I don't know much, but aren't dragons revered as gods in the East?
Perhaps having a religion is one of the conditions for becoming a true dragon.
"…Gek."
Gektaechang. [A play on Zhuge Liang's name, meaning something like "Gek the Great Strategist"]
【Gaegaek Cult】
A Mid-tier Dragon-level religion.
A religion followed by those who serve Gomodo, with the Gaegaek Faith as its doctrine.
It is closely related to the Little Dragon Faith and the Snake Queen Faith.
Though its members are few, their faith and combat power are extremely high.
Members
First Believer: 【Attercopus LV30】
Second Believer: 【Anthracomartus LV30】
Third Believer: 【Tang Soyeong】
Fourth Believer: 【Ball Python LV30】
Fifth Believer: 【Baek Rang LV75】
Sixth Believer: 【Red Dragon LV135】
At first glance, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference.
By the way, the Red Dragon's level is 135?
No wonder she was so damn strong.
Being a Mid-tier Dragon species with a level that high, it was inevitable.
…Then what does that make me, who fought her to a standstill?
For now, let's see if there are any other changes.
Since this "domain" thing is probably related to the religion, something else must have been added.
Just as I was examining the status window.
[A large amount of divinity has been accumulated. The effects of the 【Gaegaek Cult】 will be enhanced.]
[You can reconfigure the 【Gaegaek Cult】.]
[Would you like to reconfigure the 【Gaegaek Cult】?]
Reconfigure?
As a lizard, I should think this through with a cool head.
What does "reconfigure" mean?
Well, this status window has never done me any harm so far.
The worst it did was when I recruited Swish-Swish, maybe?
…No, even that turned out to be a huge benefit for me in the end.
Let's trust it this time too.
"Gekgek!"
Fwaaat!
The message in my vision blurred for a moment, then reappeared in a new form.
An incredible number of messages suddenly began to appear before my eyes.
"Ge-ek…!"
Is it because too much information is flooding in?
My head hurts.
[The 【Gaegaek Cult】 is lacking divinity.]
…Huh?
So my head hurts because my divinity was suddenly drained.
"Gegegegek!"
Don't tell me it used divinity to reconfigure?
"…Ge-ek."
Oh, my head.
"…Why have you been staring into space like that?"
Baek Rang looked at me with a worried expression.
"Ge-ek. Gee-ek!"
Because it's so unfair!
My precious divinity was drained in an instant.
Hey, if you're going to use my divinity, shouldn't you tell me beforehand?
…Still, if the status window did this, there must be a reason.
First, I need to check the facts.
【Gaegaek Cult】
A Mid-tier Dragon-level religion.
A religion followed by those who serve Gomodo, with the Gaegaek Faith as its doctrine.
It is closely related to the Little Dragon Faith and the Snake Queen Faith.
Though its members are few, their faith and combat power are extremely high.
[Domain]
Swamp (Lower Reaches), Temple of the Snake Queen, Dragon Gate (Volcano)
[Members]
Priestess: 【Nephila Jurassica LV30】
Right Guardian: 【Attercopus LV30】
Left Guardian: 【Anthracomartus LV30】
Snake Princess: 【Ball Python LV35】
Divine Physician: 【Tang Soyeong】
Believer: 【Baek Rang LV80】
Believer: 【Red Dragon LV140】
I'm not sure what happened, but a lot seems to have changed.
First, the domain.
I thought only this volcano was my domain, but it seems other places are being treated as my domain as well.
The lower part of the swamp is a place I conquered, and the Temple of the Snake Queen is…
Is it treated as my domain because we're allies?
But if that's the case, the Snake Queen's domain should be half the jungle.
…Tsk, I'm not sure about this.
In any case, I've learned that I'm not limited to just one domain, but can have several.
Of course, there must be conditions.
Just because I go to the Dragon Gate guarded by the ice-wielding bird doesn't mean it will become my domain.
I'll probably have to defeat it to have my ownership recognized.
…Should I visit the other Dragon Gates when I have some time?
It seems the more domains, the better.
It wouldn't be bad to make the place where the spiders stay my domain either.
Since that's where Tus, Pus, Nephila Jurassica, and Miss Tang are.
…But that would be difficult.
It's the territory of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so I can't just declare it my domain.
It would obviously cause friction with Baek Yeon-yeong.
She might let it slide if I wagged my tail and acted cute, but Baek Yeon-yeong isn't the only one in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The terrifying Cult Leader that Tang Soyeong mentioned is an obstacle.
He's a dangerous fellow who could supposedly rip a lizard like me in half, so it would be best not to do anything to get on his bad side.
For now, this is all I can confirm about the domain.
My believers' abilities are enhanced, and I also receive those benefits.
I can see that the levels of Swish-Swish, Whitey, and Yongyong, who reside in my domain, have all increased by 5.
It feels like the efficiency increases the higher their level.
And under certain conditions, I'll be able to expand my domain.
If I expand my domain or move the spiders into it, they'll receive the benefits too.
Having seen that, let's look at the members.
…Why do they all have such plausible-sounding titles?
I can understand Nephila Jurassica being the Priestess.
…But why are Tus and Pus occupying the positions of Right and Left Guardian?
I recalled an old memory.
When I first practiced Qi Cultivation, Tus and Pus stood by my side, protecting me.
Right.
You two deserve it.
Swish-Swish has a title that can't be argued with.
Since she's actually the Snake Queen's daughter, the title of Snake Princess doesn't feel awkward at all.
Let's look at the Tang-whatshername below that.
…Why is she the Divine Physician?
I can let the others slide, but I can't accept this.
"Gekgek."
My precious divinity was used for something like this?
I'll acknowledge Tus and Pus taking the Left and Right Guardian positions.
They were my first believers, after all.
But Tang Soyeong as the Divine Physician?
That's too much.
Maybe if it were something like "Physician," I'd understand.
[Divine Physician, 【Tang Soyeong】, will be demoted to Physician, 【Tang Soyeong】.]
No, I was just saying, you don't have to do that to our Soyeong…
[The divinity used on 【Tang Soyeong】 will be returned.]
"…Gek?"
So, this is how the system works?
"Gekgekgek."
I let out a sinister lizard laugh.
It seems this is a system for investing the Gaegaek Cult's divinity into its believers.
My divinity wouldn't be consumed by a name with no effect.
Like my own titles, it must have some kind of effect.
And it must be a very good effect, enough to consume a large amount of divinity at once.
My mind started racing.
The value of the resource known as divinity has just skyrocketed.
It's no longer limited to just raising my level; I can do so much more with it now.
For example, if I appointed the Red Dragon as the Great Guardian, her combat power would increase dramatically.
And I would receive that benefit in its entirety.
What if I just recruited some random beast off the street and gave it a suitable title?
That could also be beneficial to me.
It seems the time has come to actively utilize the Gaegaek Cult.
I looked around.
Although it was a volcano, flowers bloomed instead of flames.
No matter how you looked at it, it was a good place to live.
The rank of my religion has increased, and I've gained reliable believers.
"Gekgekgekgek…"
What if I build a magnificent nest, move my believers here, and start with Baek Rang's siblings and the Bicorns loitering around here to continuously gather regular believers?
Divinity would naturally accumulate, and that divinity might just be what allows me to ascend to a High-tier Dragon.
"Gegegegegek!"
A plan was set.
I'll move as many of those I have a connection with here as possible.
And if I conquer the three surrounding Dragon Gates one by one and gradually expand my domain, I will be able to become a true dragon.
"Gehehehek."
A pleasant laugh already escaped my lips.
"…Are you sick somewhere? Should I freeze you a little?"