Chapter 179: The Death of Gekgek-i
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: The Death of Gekgek-i
Maybe it was because I’d done a good deed, but my steps felt lighter.
I’d dug up medicinal herbs, treated injuries, and even licked wounds.
How rewarding.
To be honest, my saliva doesn't have any healing properties, but at least it's not poisonous, so it should do something.
...Or is it?
Is it poisonous?
I think it might be.
Still, a small amount of poison might actually be better.
After all, poison can be medicine if used correctly.
Still, it helped me out.
I was feeling drained from being away from my Internal Energy Pouch, but I unintentionally recovered a bit.
“…Gek!”
What’s wrong with my body?
No, is something wrong with my head?
There’s definitely a problem somewhere.
I couldn’t have always been like this.
Could it be the influence of the Heart Demon?
…That Heart Demon bastard. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've seen it.
‘Kroooong…’
What the.
Get back in there.
The true identity of my Heart Demon is a terrifying red dinosaur.
But the truly scary part is that it might not end with just one.
A green dinosaur with ten blades.
A Therizino wearing a school swimsuit, not a maid outfit.
They’re strong candidates.
If both of them attacked me at once, even I would have a hard time overcoming my Heart Demon…
As I continued walking while having useless thoughts unbecoming of Gekgek's Divine Beast, Gomodo-Crushing Dragon, a familiar building came into view.
It was the Snake Queen's temple.
But with some new statues added.
I could see several statues of lizards that looked like me before my evolution.
Wow, they're so well-made, they look real.
…Wait, are they real?
I cautiously poked one, but thankfully, it didn't move.
It seems they petrified my shed skins to make several of them.
I think I could see a few of Swish-Swish's scales, too.
The entrance area looked like a Gomodo museum.
Seeing the followers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult around, I wondered if it was made for cultural exchange.
It had some promotional value, too. Not a bad idea.
That's the Snake Queen for you.
The temple entrance was, as expected, too narrow for me, but a new entrance had been made.
It was a path the Snake Queen had carved out herself, wide enough for me to pass through without any trouble.
I’ve evolved, but my size hasn't changed much.
In contrast, the Snake Queen is still bigger than me.
I could probably catch up if I used Gigantification, but there's no real reason to surpass her in size.
As I carefully entered the temple, I saw a familiar, long creature.
“Doro-rong…”
Wait, are snakes even supposed to make that sound?
The cutest Ball Python in the world was sleeping, making an adorable noise.
I remembered them being unable to close their eyes, but she was closing them naturally.
It must mean she's getting closer to the next stage after eating the Jian Bird's inner core.
If she keeps this up, she might even transform into a human in the very next stage.
…Wait a minute, what about me?
I'm a mid-tier dragon.
A stage higher than the Snake Queen.
Parsil can turn human, though her lower body remains a snake.
Baek Rang could transform into a human, though she still had her tail and ears.
Red Dragon was at a level where she could completely hide her horns and tail.
But me?
The most I could do was run on two legs.
“Geeeek…”
It was deplorable.
Of course, it's not like I desperately need a human body right now.
In Red Dragon's case, she gets weaker when she humanizes.
It only creates disadvantages.
But even so, there's a big difference between choosing not to do it and not being able to do it.
After evolving this much, shouldn't I at least get a human form?
…Of course, I was the one who rejected the offer of metamorphosis, but it's still a shame.
Any other spirit beast would have humanized long ago.
Even someone at Baek Rang's level can turn into a human.
It seems I've been using all the power that would go into humanization for evolution instead.
“Geeeeng…”
That would make sense.
I'm growing at an incredible rate for my age.
Other beasts struggle to go through even one metamorphosis, while I've evolved more than five times.
I’ll save the thoughts on humanization for later.
If I had focused on becoming human, I'd be much weaker than I am now.
I might have lost to enemies I could have beaten and ended up dead.
I'll aim for it after I get even stronger.
“Dorororong…”
For now, let's just watch this cute Ball Python.
Her long body puffed up like a balloon, and then…
“Puru-ru…”
…it deflated again.
Just looking at Swish-Swish calmed my heart.
Maybe it's because I have a lizard's body, but I think I prefer scales over fur.
As I watched Swish-Swish for a while, she seemed to notice something and flicked her tongue out.
“Shyuririk…”
For a reptile, flicking its tongue is the same as smelling.
“Shyurik… Ppyak?”
As if she caught my scent, Swish-Swish opened her large eyes.
She raised her plump, long body and met my gaze.
“…Hiek?”
Swish-Swish had gotten quite long, too.
As far as I know, Ball Pythons don't grow much longer than two meters, but Swish-Swish looked to be at least four meters long.
She swayed her long body back and forth, like a dancing cobra.
It seemed like she was trying to figure out if the lizard in front of her was really me.
And for good reason, since I had evolved.
“Gek gek.”
Hey, Swish-Swish.
“Ppyyaaaaak!”
Startled, Swish-Swish stiffened her body.
“Hieeeeek…”
Then she flopped back down onto the floor.
“Heeek…”
Then, moving only her head slightly, Swish-Swish looked up at me.
“Gek gek gek.”
Yeah, it's been a while.
Actually, maybe it hasn't been that long.
“Ppyyaaaaaaaaak!”
Flicking her tongue, she wrapped her body around my leg.
“Swish-Swish!”
After licking my scales clean for a good while, Swish-Swish unwrapped herself.
Then she scurried off somewhere.
Chwajajak!
With a loud rustle, she reappeared, wearing a maid outfit.
“Swish-Swish!”
Wagging her tail, she rushed back to me.
How did she put that on by herself?
I decided to put that thought aside for a moment and enjoy the sight before me.
These plump scales really are the best.
Hehe, scales, hehehe…
“Gekgek!”
I acted like a pervert without even realizing it.
After enjoying my reunion with Swish-Swish for a while, I looked around to see if the Snake Queen was there.
“Gek gek gek.”
Swish-Swish.
Where's the Snake Queen?
“Shyuririk…”
Swish-Swish stopped licking my scales and looked toward a part of the temple.
It was the room where the Mirror of Possibilities was.
But it looked like something had been added.
I could see a large stone door.
“Gek gek?”
She's in there?
“Swish!”
Swish-Swish nodded.
“Ppiik…”
Then she glanced around nervously.
It was strange.
I was playing with Swish-Swish, but the Snake Queen didn't come out to see me?
It would be one thing if she were somewhere else, but she's in the temple.
Is she sleeping?
“Geek.”
After putting Swish-Swish on my back, I headed toward where the Snake Queen was.
“Gek gek!”
I stood in front of the door and made my presence known.
There was no response, and just as I was about to open the door myself, a voice came from inside.
“…Who dares trespass in the Queen's domain?”
It was the Snake Queen's voice.
But was she in a bad mood? Her voice was much lower than usual.
“Geeeng…”
I exchanged glances with Swish-Swish, trying to read the situation.
“Hieeek…”
Swish-Swish tucked her tail, as if she'd never seen her mother so angry.
She was usually playful, but you have to know when to back off when someone's truly mad.
But what was she so angry about?
“Geeeeeng.”
I gently scratched the door with my claw.
Chak chak.
I could probably open it, but I was sure the Snake Queen's destruction ray would come flying at me if I did.
“What are you doing? Leave at once.”
This is bad.
I don't know why, but she seems furious.
“Gek gek!”
Maybe she doesn't realize it's me?
“…My companion. I know it is you.”
“Gek gek!”
Then why are you acting like this?
“But even if you are my companion, I cannot easily forgive you for breaking our promise.”
Promise?
What are you talking about?
“I told you to behave yourself, yet you went and added another one.”
“Ppyak?”
Swish-Swish tilted her head as if she'd never heard her mother say such a thing.
“Saaaak!”
Realizing what it meant, Swish-Swish's head turned into a triangle.
She glared at my necklace.
I realized why the Snake Queen was angry.
“What would have happened if I hadn't given you the holy relic?”
It may only be on paper, but I am the Snake Queen's companion.
It makes sense she'd be angry that I formed a bond with another female in this situation.
The problem is, it's not just one.
Judging by her mention of my necklace, she must have found out about my unintended affair when Baek Rang was repelled last time.
Since only Baek Rang was detected in that situation, she thinks it's just one.
I guess that's fortunate.
If she knew there were seven wolves and another dragon, a destruction ray would have come flying before any conversation.
“I should have dealt with that furball sooner.”
“Geeeeeng…”
I made the sound of a lizard testing the waters.
“Well, it would be too cruel not to see your face now that you've come all this way.”
“Gek!”
Drrrk.
The stone door began to open slowly.
That's the Snake Queen for you.
She's so generous.
“Of course, that doesn't mean I forgive you.”
The Snake Queen slithered over, her expression cold.
Hearing her icy voice, I suddenly started to recall my wrongdoings.
Honestly, it's not a big deal, but her expression and voice make me feel like I've done something terrible.
“First, after I inspect the holy relic, I will…”
The Snake Queen trailed off.
Was she looking at the numerous marks engraved on the necklace?
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
What kind of punishment awaited me?
I hope she goes easy on me.
I waited for the Snake Queen to continue.
“……Ehehe.”
Suddenly, I heard a cute laugh.
Wondering what that was, I lifted my head.
“…Why are you making that face?”
The Snake Queen wore a calm expression, as if insisting she was definitely not the one who made that sound.
“You're not mistaken in thinking that sound came from me, are you?”
Right.
It's not easy to believe that the ruler of the jungle, a lower-rank dragon, and the queen of snakes would make such a sound.
But I had heard her laugh before.
The unguarded laugh she showed after eating the dango made with Okbong's honey.
It was the same sound as just now.
When I stared at the Snake Queen without a word, she stealthily avoided my gaze.
“…Do you think my accumulated anger would vanish just from seeing your face once? You are gravely mistaken.”
I didn't say anything.
“…It's hard to look at that face. Would you mind turning it away? …I-It's because I'm so angry. Yes, that's right.”
Rambling, she grabbed my head with her hand and turned it slightly.
I had a feeling my neck would snap if I resisted, so I obediently let her move me.
“A-Ahem… Yes. You finally succeeded in your metamorphosis.”
The Snake Queen's hand stroked my head.
“You even grew two horns… Hmmm…”
She seemed flustered, which was unlike her.
“Having fur isn't so bad. It feels nice, and it's warm…”
At some point, the Snake Queen's hand was stroking my foreleg.
“Your arm… is very thick…”
Drip.
Suddenly, a cold liquid dripped onto the scales of my arm.
Wondering what was going on, I turned my head and met the eyes of the drooling Snake Queen.
“Ehehe… Your arm is thick…”
Her eyes looked a little crazed.
“Geek…”
As she stroked my arm for a while, the Snake Queen's tail began to move.
Ssssk.
“…My companion.”
Swish-Swish also began to coil around my body at high speed.
“Ppyyaak…”
“You cleared your schedule before coming, I trust.”
The Snake Queen continued, without even wiping away her drool.
“I was trying to save you for later, but if these mayflies keep buzzing around…”
Kududuk.
The tails of the snake mother and daughter wrapped around my body.
“Ppyyaayaaak…”
Swish-Swish was also smiling wickedly, unlike her usual self.
“I have no choice but to take the pleasure of clouds and rain first.”
“Ppyyaak…”
Kududududuk.
Your Majesty.
Swish-Swish.
Your eyes look a little strange.
“Gek gek…”
I was wrong, so let's stop with the welcome greetings now.
“Ppyyaaaak…”
“Uhuhut…”
…This is a welcome greeting, right?
“GEEK! GEEEEEEEEEK!”