Chapter 177: The Lizard that Resembled a Dragon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177: The Lizard that Resembled a Dragon
After entrusting Mount Hua to Baek Rang and the Red Dragon, I prepared to leave.
I was worried they might fight while I was gone, but since they both joined the Gaegaek Cult, they wouldn't come to direct blows. For now, Baek Rang is the Red Dragon's senior.
The Red Dragon probably wouldn't act as recklessly as before, so I figured it would be fine. They might bicker, but they wouldn't get into a real fight.
Besides, the Gakisu were there too.
While they were no match for the Red Dragon in terms of raw power, they had always managed to do something that exceeded my expectations.
On top of that, the Red Dragon had said she would leave Mount Hua for a bit to find some elixirs, so she and Baek Rang wouldn't be together for very long.
At this point, there was no need to worry.
After giving a good belly rub to Baek Rang, who was cautiously watching me, I set off.
…Damn, that hurts.
Seriously, why does she wag her tail happily when I'm rubbing her belly, only to bite me like crazy the moment I stop?
And using her cold energy, no less.
If you ask me, Baek Rang is more of a feline than a canine.
Seeing how she reacted to catnip last time, I'm pretty much convinced.
…Come to think of it, I haven't met many felines here.
I've run into a few saber-toothed tigers, but it's not quite the same.
In a world like this, you'd expect to see a massive Mountain Lord.
…It's not like I particularly want to see a spirit beast with cat ears or anything. It was just a passing thought.
“Gekgek.”
I felt a weight as I flicked my tail.
A bundle was tied to it.
As for what was inside, I had packed the treasures the Red Dragon brought.
They weren't particularly useful to us.
They might be nice for decorating the nest, but they were nothing more than ornaments.
To humans, however, these treasures would be worth far more than simple decorations.
My Master doesn't seem to be short on money, but I'm sure she'd be happy to receive them.
I should also give a few to Seol-hwa, who's been stealing my dango.
That way, she might buy more dango for me to steal.
Should I give some to that Tang girl too?
No, if Soyeong received something like this, she'd probably run straight back to the Tang Clan.
…I might seem like I look down on Tang Soyeong a bit, but I do have a certain affection for her.
She's an irreplaceable and important talent.
A human physician who can communicate with spirit beasts and animals.
Even I, a lizard, could tell how rare that was.
But if I treat her too well, she'll obviously get cocky, so I can't help it.
…Not that I'd lose anything if she did get cocky, it's just annoying to see.
Giving some to the Snake Queen wouldn't be a bad idea either.
She'd probably treat them as mere decorations too, but seeing the statues in her temple, it seems she has a use for ornaments.
I just hope Swish-Swish doesn't try to swallow them in one gulp.
I was heading toward the Snake Queen's temple with these thoughts in mind.
Then, I caught the coppery scent of blood.
The smell of blood wasn't that unusual around here.
This was the wild, where creatures ate one another.
But this scent was different.
It was less like the blood of an animal or a spirit beast, and more like human blood.
I flicked my long tongue out, tasting the air.
It was to amplify the scent.
I was sure of it now. This was the smell of human blood.
What were humans doing in a place like this?
I considered ignoring it and moving on, but then I changed my mind.
I could only smell human blood, not the blood of their enemy.
That meant the humans were on the losing side, and that they weren't very strong.
Weak doesn't necessarily mean not evil, but at least I wouldn't be in any danger.
I'll just take a look.
Who knows? They might be potential recruits for the Gaegaek Cult.
With that, I headed toward the source of the smell.
“Hyaaaak!”
I saw two men and one woman.
Clang!
The long-haired man swung his sword, but it was blocked futilely.
“Kieeeeeeek!”
The creature fighting the humans was none other than a giant bird.
A Terror Bird.
Wait, why are they still around?
It looked a little different from the ones I knew.
Thicker and blacker.
It was like a Terror Bird clad in steel.
I felt a strangely familiar aura from it, too.
Hiding my presence, I watched the fight unfold.
It wouldn't be wise to reveal myself recklessly.
They might mistake me for an enemy and attack.
I thought the humans might have the upper hand since there were three of them, but as time passed, they were steadily pushed back.
The reason was simple.
The Terror Bird's attacks worked on the humans, but the humans' attacks couldn't penetrate its feathers.
But those humans… they looked somewhat familiar.
…Aren't they from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
I remember them clearly.
They were the ones who tried to catch me when I was small, the ones who gave me food.
I especially remembered the woman in the center.
She pretended to be uninterested, but she secretly petted me when no one was looking.
I recall her internal energy pouch being quite satisfying.
If they were from some other group, I might have hesitated, but since they belong to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it's a different story.
Watch closely. And make sure you only tell my Master!
*
A new wind was blowing through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
A part of the path to the 100,000 Great Mountains had been opened.
This was thanks to a treaty and the beginning of an exchange with the spirit beast known as the Snake Queen.
The terms were simple.
The Snake Queen would be supplied with manpower to exterminate the remaining remnants of the Gaechalgoatal.
In return, the cultists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would be allowed to gather rare elixirs and medicinal herbs from the jungle.
Due to a prophecy, entry into the 100,000 Great Mountains had been impossible for some time.
Moreover, the jungle area had been off-limits even before the prophecy.
With the jungle now open, it was no exaggeration to say that a new wind was blowing through the once-stagnant Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The cultists headed into the jungle, each with their own purpose.
For elixirs and herbs. For real combat experience. Or for something else entirely.
“…Shouldn't we be hunting the remnants of the Gaechalgoatal, or whatever they're called?”
Of course, most members were not allowed to venture beyond a certain area.
To avoid unnecessary friction with the Snake Queen's side, they were only permitted to gather herbs within an approved zone.
Even so, this was an enormous benefit.
They were called herbs, but the area was littered with rare items that couldn't be bought even with a fortune in silver.
“Dream on. Just be content with picking herbs.”
“…Honestly, aren't we a bit too skilled to be just picking herbs?”
Three martial artists, not yet past their coming-of-age, were digging for herbs with sullen expressions.
They had set out for the 100,000 Great Mountains with hearts full of excitement.
Not everyone was allowed to go, so they had been overjoyed just to be able to come here.
But the human heart is a fickle thing.
Now that they were here, they wanted to aim higher.
And for good reason—they were skilled enough to confidently call themselves First-Rate masters.
To break through the wall to the Peak Realm, they needed real combat or precious elixirs.
“What if we go looking for trouble and end up fighting one of our allied spirit beasts?”
“C'mon, what are the chances of that? It's easy. If it has wings and crazy-looking eyes, it's an enemy, right?”
“Easier said than done. And even if they're just remnants, you never know. The fact that the Third Elder came here himself suggests there might be enemies we can't handle.”
“Tsk… Still, there are three First-Rate martial artists here. Haven't you heard that three can take on one?”
The cold-faced girl who had been silent, Seo Wol-ah, finally spoke.
“…That sounds good.”
“Huh?”
“How long are we going to just pick herbs? No matter how strong the enemy is, it's still just an animal. If the three of us attack at once, it won't stand a chance.”
Hearing Seo Wol-ah's words, the short-haired man nodded.
“True, we should at least be able to escape if things go wrong.”
“Escape? Don't be silly. Oh, if we find an inner core, how should we split it?”
Their hands had long since stopped moving.
They put down their hoes and placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.
Their combined attack, honed by their close friendship, would surely be difficult for even a Peak Realm master to handle.
Their confidence, which had its own basis, led them to another place.
*
It didn't take long for Seo Wol-ah to realize.
The reason why the Third Elder had come here.
“…Everyone, be quiet.”
The three martial artists held their breath.
The giant, monstrous bird before them was looking around, searching for them.
It was because of that thing.
No, to be precise, it was because of the bizarre, shimmering red eyes on the monstrous bird's feathers.
Just looking at them instilled a sense of dread.
An indescribable terror that no human could dare to face.
It was too heavy a burden for young martial artists who had not yet passed their coming-of-age.
But they couldn't afford to lose their minds here.
“Can we escape?”
“…At least two of us will die.”
The answer was clear.
“I'll strike first. You two come in from the sides, like we always do.”
Everyone nodded.
As long as they didn't look at those bizarre eyes, the terror from before didn't surge up.
They could do this.
Steeling her resolve, Seo Wol-ah swiftly drew her sword.
Fwip.
At the same moment, her companions closed in from the flanks.
We can do this.
With this combination attack they had practiced countless times, they should be able to inflict a fatal wound on an unsuspecting enemy.
Kaaaaang!
But contrary to her expectations, the monstrous bird took no damage at all.
“Everyone, be careful! Its feathers are like steel!”
“…We know!”
Her right hand, which had swung the sword, trembled.
The blade of her sword was completely chipped after striking the steel-like feathers.
The swords of her companions who had struck from the sides had met the same fate.
“Hyaaat!”
But she couldn't give up.
Shouting a war cry, she continued to swing her sword.
If she stopped this barrage, she and her companions would be the ones to fall.
Clang! Kaaang!
“Kigigigik!”
The monstrous bird let out a bizarre laugh, as if it found the situation amusing.
Fwoooosh!
The Terror Bird swung its wing once.
Spurt!
The short-haired man suffered a deep gash.
“Keoheok!”
“No!”
The other man rushed in, but his attack was also ineffective.
Spurt!
Blood gushed once more.
A meaningless death was about to arrive.
They had fought an enemy they should never have challenged.
No. Seo Wol-ah hadn't given up.
Thanks to her companion who had just thrown himself at the beast, an opportunity to strike the back of its head had appeared.
A single sword strike.
She had to make the most of the chance they had all created.
Drawing internal energy from the depths of her dantian, Seo Wol-ah swung her sword vertically.
Swiiish!
Shatter!
But her sword couldn't even pierce a single feather and simply shattered.
“…No way.”
Seo Wol-ah stared at the monstrous bird with a look of despair.
“Kigigigik!”
It was truly a monstrous bird worthy of the name "terror."
Where did it all go wrong?
Should they have been content with just picking herbs?
Or should they have chosen to run instead of fighting?
…Thinking about it now, that seemed to be the right answer.
With her sword broken, there was nothing left she could do.
She couldn't abandon her injured companions and run.
No, there was one last thing she could do.
Call the name of the god she believed in.
“……Oh, Heavenly Demon.”
At that moment, the Terror Bird stopped moving.
The Terror Bird, which had been mocking them just moments ago, now radiated a furious aura.
“Kigigigigik!”
Simultaneously, the red eyes on its feathers opened.
A dark energy gathered.
It looked as if it wanted to tear Seo Wol-ah's mouth apart right then and there.
Seo Wol-ah sensed her own death.
The Terror Bird seemed to dislike the word she had spoken, becoming unnecessarily enraged.
“Kieeeek!”
It shrieked and charged at Seo Wol-ah.
And in that instant.
FWOOOOSH!
A sound of something moving at high speed came from the distance, and before the Terror Bird could even register it, a giant black lizard charged in.
Pababat!
With a movement as natural as flying through the sky, it pounced on the Terror Bird.
“Kieeeeee!”
The monstrous bird tried to react to the sudden appearance of an enemy, but it couldn't.
CRACK.
Its neck was snapped before it could even respond.
Seo Wol-ah couldn't believe her eyes.
The monstrous bird that three First-Rate martial artists couldn't even scratch had been killed in a single blow.
But she couldn't relax yet.
Just because it killed the bird didn't mean it would spare her.
Massive forelegs that looked like they could make her body explode with a mere touch.
Scales that looked incomparably harder than the monstrous bird's feathers.
Two black horns reminiscent of a dragon.
And on top of that, the beautiful white fur covering its back.
It was a breathtakingly beautiful and majestic sight, but at the same time, it was terrifying.
Before this being, she was nothing more than an insignificant creature.
Thud.
The black lizard placed the dead Terror Bird on the ground.
Its blue eyes stared at Seo Wol-ah.
Gulp.
Seo Wol-ah swallowed dryly.
The dragon-like lizard's mouth slowly opened.
This lizard would decide her fate.
“Gegegek!”
Seo Wol-ah let out a sigh of relief.
“…What a strange dream.”
Common sense dictated that a lizard with a face like that couldn't possibly make such an adorable sound.
Therefore, she dismissed the situation as a dream.
With those last words, Seo Wol-ah lost consciousness.