Chapter 270: Illuwat!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 270: Illuwat!
Humanization!
One could call it the dream state that all spirit beasts aim for.
Of course, there are probably a few spirit beasts who would say, “Not me.”
After all, there are bound to be some who dislike the human form and prefer things with fur or scales.
Even among humans, you get weirdos like that sometimes, so it would be stranger if there were none among spirit beasts.
At the very least, the spirit beasts around me belong to the group that greatly favors humanization.
The world is full of those who have either learned to humanize or, failing that, train every day to become human.
Tus and Pus were receiving lessons from Nephila, and the wolves spent all day spinning in circles, trying to learn the secrets of humanization from Baek Rang.
They were mimicking the foxes from old tales, who would leap and spin their bodies. I wondered if it would be effective for wolves, who weren't foxes, but since Baek Rang was teaching them that way, I couldn't really say anything.
Baek Rang herself had never done anything like that when she transformed, so it was highly likely she’d just picked it up from somewhere.
Given her connection to the Heavenly Fox, she might have seen other foxes do it and gotten the idea.
In any case, it seems spirit beasts instinctively want to resemble humans.
Even Tus and Pus from the past, when they could barely be called spirit beasts, and Ilang to Chillang-i, who were once ordinary wolves, had all desired human forms.
Besides, hadn't the previous Gomodo and Jin-ryong also had connections with humans?
Of course, in Jin-ryong's case, things went quite awry, but he did say he was fond of humans as partners.
Seeing even such high-ranking spirit beasts feel that way, one could say that the human form is a spirit beast's instinct.
But my case is a little different.
Humanization?
I admit, the thought that it would be nice to have has crossed my mind, but…
Should I say that living in a lizard's body has been manageable?
Even if I wanted to humanize, I didn't know how, so I just kept living in this body.
Besides, I never thought that I, who could barely even speak properly, would be able to learn humanization.
Thinking about it now, even though I have the body of a lizard, I'm living a life that no human would scoff at.
Of course, it was hellishly difficult at the beginning.
How could I be comfortable after suddenly being turned from a human into a tiny lizard?
Back then, survival was my top priority, so I didn't show it, nor did I have time to think about such things, but every single day was certainly a struggle.
Above all, my environment was so harsh that I survived by chewing on dried insects and sleeping with leaves over my eyes because I couldn't close them.
If someone had offered to give me my human body back then, I would have done anything.
A Heart Demon?
I would have sold my very soul, asking, “What took you so long?”
But if someone were to make me the same offer now…
I don't think I'd sell my soul.
I might be willing to part with some of Seol-hwa's honey dango, but anything more than that is a no-go.
That's how little importance I place on it now.
The lizard body seemed pretty decent, after all.
The fact that I'd gotten too big could be a problem, but I could solve that with the miniaturization technique I learned from Old Man Compy.
And I also have a feeling that humanizing might not be such a great choice.
I used to vaguely want it, but thinking about it now, there's a fatal problem.
There's a high chance I wouldn't be able to gerorong anymore.
By gerorong, I mean wiggling my tail and burrowing between warm flesh.
Others might see it as some kind of perverted act, but for a cold-blooded animal like me, it's a pretty important matter.
I didn't want to do it either, but I had no choice in order to maintain my body temperature.
Of course, this was only possible because I was a relatively cute-looking lizard.
But what if a grown man did that?
It's highly likely he wouldn't be looked upon favorably.
Wait, a grown man?
If I turn into a human, what would I look like?
The same as in my past life?
Or would I look my current age?
Wouldn't that make me a two-year-old kid?
No, considering Nephila's case, I don't think so.
Nephila is older than me, but not by that much.
At most, a few months' difference.
And yet, she has the form of an adult.
Her chest is a bit lacking, but you could just call that slender.
…Or not?
The age difference between Nephila and me is small, but she was an adult as a spider.
On the other hand, I wasn't even an adult as a lizard.
It's a bit strange that a body this size isn't considered an adult, but the spirit beasts I meet always insist on calling me a baby lizard.
They've probably never seen another of my kind, but I guess in the eyes of a spirit beast, I don't give off an adult vibe.
In that case… would I look like a middle schooler?
If I'm around that age, could I still get away with a gerorong?
Yes.
If so, there's no reason not to learn humanization.
"Huhu… This is my very own technique, one you cannot learn anywhere else."
Taotie spoke with a confident voice.
It feels like I'm getting something from each of the Nine Sons of the Dragon.
From Chodo, the way to handle the power of Wood.
From Taotie, the secret to humanization.
From Gongbok…
Hmm, I should go snatch something from his rocky mountain when I have time.
"Now, the first step is to transform into a human like this."
What is that supposed to mean?
"Gek?"
They say a good start is half the battle, but isn't this progress a bit too fast?
"What's with that dumb look on your face? You look as if you think you can't humanize."
I swished my tail.
Hey, you said you'd teach me the secret to humanization.
But does it make any sense that turning into a human is the first step?
"Wait, hold on! Stop trying to hit me with your tail and listen carefully. Do you think the technique this body is bestowing upon you is some ordinary humanization? It is a far more advanced technique than that!"
But I want to learn that ordinary humanization.
"Gek gek."
Teach me that first.
"…Hmm, I see now. You've been going around only in your lizard form because you couldn't take on a human form at all, is that it?"
Well, it hasn't been that long since I got to know Taotie, so it's possible she didn't know.
I, in my great magnanimity, will let it slide just this once.
In return, teach me how to humanize.
"Why would you ask me how to achieve your humanization? Hey, wait! Can you stop swishing that tail of yours every time something happens!"
I stared at Taotie with a pointed expression.
If she were in her old man form, I would have already smacked her with my tail.
"I would like to teach you, but our physical structures are different, so I cannot teach you recklessly. It is something that must be taught by one of the same species or realized on one's own. If another teaches you, it will surely lead to death."
…Tsk, now that I hear the excuse, it does sound convincing.
That would explain why Baek Rang is teaching her younger siblings.
And why Tus and Pus are asking Nephila.
And why Swish-Swish is asking the Snake Queen.
It seems it's only possible to teach others of the same species.
Taotie seems to have some lizard mixed in, but I guess she's closer to a wolf.
Since our bodies don't match, she couldn't teach me her humanization.
No wonder the Snake Queen recommended miniaturization to me instead of humanization. So that was the reason.
"Ge-ek…"
…Then would it be possible for the Red Dragon?
No, that would be difficult too.
The Red Dragon is, literally, a dragon from the West.
I'm still treated as a lizard that resembles a dragon.
We might look similar as mid-tier dragons, but we are strictly different species.
Above all, based on our spirit beast forms, the Red Dragon has six limbs while I have four, so we're bound to be different.
And given the Red Dragon's personality, since she enjoys humanization, she would have taught me long ago if she could.
Wasn't she the one who even tried to teach me how to speak?
"Ahem, don't be disappointed, and keep listening. If you continue your training, you'll be able to master something like humanization easily anyway. When that time comes, you will understand the value of the technique I am about to teach you."
Then what on earth is the technique this creature is offering?
"Its name is… Avatar's Descent…!"
After spitting out the name, Taotie glanced at me.
Seeing the expectant look on her face, am I supposed to applaud or something?
"Ahem, ahem. You must know that no matter how strong a spirit beast is, their power naturally weakens when they take on a human form, right? While it's possible to offset the disadvantages or even become stronger by adding human techniques, the fact remains that you cannot utilize the advantage that comes from a spirit beast's overwhelming size."
She continued speaking quickly, as if embarrassed.
"But what about this body?"
What about your body?
"Gerong."
"Yes, ge… huh? No, that's not what I was asking… Watch closely. I am clearly in human form, yet I can exert the physical force of a spirit beast. Unlike other spirit beasts, I am stronger in this form."
That was certainly true.
In the case of the Red Dragon or the Snake Queen, they usually stayed in their comfortable human forms and only took on their spirit beast forms during battle or when facing an opponent that required significant firepower.
But Taotie is different.
Her human form is stronger than her spirit beast form.
To be precise, her power didn't diminish at all even when she took on a human form.
"There is a technique to draw out one's true form even in a small body. And that is the Avatar's Descent."
So this was the technique Taotie was going to teach me.
It was a skill that couldn't hurt to learn.
To be honest, I had to admit that her form was incredibly cool.
I kept my mouth shut because I thought she'd get cocky if I said it.
The image of her spirit beast form shimmering above her head was no ordinary spectacle.
It was a sight that made you want to shout things like, Ora ora, muda muda.
As someone born a male, it was a technique I couldn't give up on.
"Gek gek."
If you'll teach me, I'll learn it gratefully, but…
Can I even learn it if I can't humanize in the first place?
Still, it wouldn't hurt to learn it in advance.
Who knows, maybe my next evolution will include a humanoid form.
It would be stranger if there wasn't a humanoid form as I advance beyond a mid-tier dragon.
Of course, the name "Avatar's Descent" is incredibly cringey, but as long as I don't shout it out, no one will ever know.
"Kuhahat! Yes, this is this body's Avatar's Descent!"
Could you keep it down?
*
I was taught the technique called Avatar's Descent by Taotie.
If I ever have to tell someone, I'll call it Avatarization instead of Avatar's Descent.
It wasn't a skill I could use directly, so I only heard the theoretical parts, but there shouldn't be a major problem.
Because I have the Reverse Scale.
It's no exaggeration to say it's the most outstanding skill I possess.
After all, both the Gaegaek Death Beam and the Nine Yin White Bone Claw started from copying others' techniques with the Reverse Scale.
Of course, the Reverse Scale has its limits.
I need to have some understanding of the technique, and I can't copy skills that are physically impossible for me to perform.
For example, I can imitate the Iron Head Dragon's Lion's Roar, but I can't copy his spinning headbutt with the Reverse Scale.
Humanization is the same.
I have no idea how it works, so I can't copy it with the Reverse Scale.
However, I'd heard ad nauseam about how to use a spirit beast's power while maintaining a human form, so I gained a baseless confidence that if I just learned how to humanize, I'd naturally be able to use this "Avatar's Descent."
After being taught the technique by Taotie, briefly dunking her in the river, and finishing up the cleanup of the Black Cloud Faction, I was finally able to return to the nest.
Seol-hwa said her goodbyes while escorting the Black Cloud Faction's hostages with the members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
She left after we made a very gerororororong-like promise to meet at a hot spring when we had time.
I'll be sure to remember that, if nothing else.
And "next time" refers to when my tail has sufficiently ripened.
I've been continuously collecting elixirs without digesting them, and my tail keeps getting plumper. If I cut it off for my Master, there's a high chance of side effects.
Even for me, a little recovery time would be necessary.
At a hot spring with my recovered Master and a grateful Seol-hwa…
"Kkerong… kkerororororong…"
"My child, what are you thinking about so hard?"
Oops, I showed an unseemly side to the kind centipede on my shoulder.
"Gek gek."
Most of the poisonous insects from the Black Cloud Faction followed me.
After all, most of them had been captured by the Black Cloud Faction and held a deep hatred for them.
Naturally, they had no choice but to follow me, the one who destroyed the Black Cloud Faction and saved them.
"Pyoong…"
"Pyeong!"
Among them were some spiders. I hope Tus and Pus don't get territorial, right?
I don't think beings of their spirit beast class would get jealous of mere poisonous insects, but you never know.
Still, Nephila will probably mediate things well, so I can rest easy.
In the first place, I wasn't planning on placing the poisonous insects under the Guardians, but under Soyeong.
I had no doubt that the poisonous insects, with their potent venoms, and the Tang Clan's Soyeong would create a great synergy.
This journey was quite successful.
Although I'm just storing them in my tail, I swallowed a great many elixirs, and I managed to give Jin-ryong a huge middle finger.
As I returned triumphantly, the first ones to greet me were…
"Hehehe… huh?"
"One… one hus… one husbaaaand… two wives? One husband, many wiveeees?"
"Beyooond the staaaaandard! Black Suuuun! Hehe…"
Unsurprisingly, it was the Bicorns.
The way they looked at me with eyes full of reverence felt a bit strange, but they're looking at me favorably, right?
"One hus… one wiiiife…"
After passing the hehe-ing Bicorn and a Unicorn crying in the corner while covering his crotch, another person appeared to welcome me.
"Hero Go!"
Surprisingly, it was Soyeong!
What? The kid who usually just scratches her belly and sleeps even when I come back is the first one out? What's gotten into her?
Well, the Bicorns were the very first, but they're beyond the standard, so they should be excluded.
Just as I was about to praise her, thinking Soyeong had finally become a proper person,
Soyeong waved her hand languidly and reached into her clothes.
I wasn't sure if you could call that a pocket, but when she put her hand in, something did come out.
What emerged was a single coin tied to a string.
Is she trying to show me what she learned from Tang Muyeong?
"Hero Go, look at this."
The coin on the string swung back and forth.
…Why is she doing that?
"How are you feeling?"
Tang Soyeong made a face that was trying very hard to be deadly alluring.
"Gek?"
By the way, what's with your way of talking?
"Hero Go will serve me for life. It is decided. Is it not nice?"
…Hey, what on earth did that Tang Muyeong teach her?
"Huh? What? R-Really?"
Tang Soyeong jumped in surprise when I just stood there.
"Hu… huhu… I'm sorry, Hero Go. It must be because I've belatedly realized my talent for hypnosis…"
Tang Soyeong ran towards me, her hands waving in a strange pattern.
"This time for sure… Illuwat!"
Of course, what I had to do was already decided.
Clang!