Chapter 30: I Saved Them, and Now They're Obsessed With Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: I Saved Them, and Now They're Obsessed With Me
【Crocodile Monitor LV11】
HP: 398/398
MP: 100/100
【Titles】
「Beloved by the Spider」
「Master of the Silver Dragon Cave」
My level shot up by 6 in an instant.
The level I reached was none other than 11.
Passing level 10 meant the level cap for my evolution had increased.
Caimans and Titanoboas also become ready to evolve only after surpassing level 10. Since I've grown quite a bit, the required level for my evolution must have increased, just like them.
It was probably a good sign.
Evolving quickly would be tough, but it also meant I'd gotten that much stronger.
I was strong enough to hold my head high now.
And then there was this charming message before my eyes.
[You have acquired 「Master of the Lower Swamp」.]
「Master of the Lower Swamp」
You have conquered the lower part of the swamp. When near water, you receive a speed boost and slowly recover health.
Oh.
The effect was pretty useful.
Doesn't this mean I recover health just by being in the water?
That's a pretty good ability.
It hadn't been long since I became the master of the Silver Dragon Cave, and I'd already acquired a new home.
But what's this "lower" part about?
'Lower part,' huh. Does that mean I'm not the master of the whole swamp, just a specific section?
Does that mean there's another master if I go further up?
And seeing as the caiman was here, that master must be stronger than it, right?
Tsk. That's not good news.
Should I go pay my respects?
Nah. As long as I stick to the lower part, I probably won't run into them.
Why would I go to another area anyway?
I'll find my simple happiness here, eating fish and tormenting the toads and turtles that bothered me.
“Gek-gek-gek….”
Alright. Now for the victor's spoils, the crocodile meat... but before I eat.
Let's see some familiar faces.
【Anthracomartus LV3】
【Status】
「Worship」「Hunger」
【Attercopus LV4】
【Status】
「Worship」「Ecstasy」
“Kieeehng…!”
“Kiiiik!”
Yeah. Have you two been well?
“Kieeeek!”
Tus and Pus rushed toward me.
They rubbed their fluffy bodies all over me.
Looking at them like this, they're just like puppies.
If you look closely, you can tell they're spiders, but at a glance, they just look like furry beasts.
You two are cuter when I don't look too closely.
[The faith of 【Anthracomartus】 increases greatly.]
[The faith of 【Attercopus】 increases greatly.]
Right, there was this too.
These guys were worshipping me.
What spider wouldn't worship this magnificent lizard that catches diving beetles and piranhas with ease?
And on top of that, this lizard grew even stronger and took care of their nemesis, the caiman.
If they knew how to write, they'd have published a book by now.
[Your divinity stirs faintly.]
…Huh?
Last time, didn't it say a faint divinity had settled in my body?
Now it's 'stirring'?
What the heck is divinity anyway?
And why is it still 'faint'?
No information popped up.
Then again, what could possibly change just because of two spiders?
Anyway, you two.
Can you stop rubbing against me?
“Keong!”
You're cute for spiders, but still, this is a bit much.
“Keeeehng!”
They backed away slightly with aggrieved expressions.
They're sneakily reaching out to grab my tail, probably thinking I won't notice.
That much is fine. The magnanimous me will let it slide.
Alright, now for the long-awaited moment.
The victor's right.
It's time to feast on crocodile meat.
I peeled off the crocodile's hide with my claws.
Making sure to preserve its shape as much as possible so I could use it as a rug.
As soon as the hide was off, I tore off a small chunk of meat.
It was from the part furthest from where I attacked.
This caiman died from my poison.
Naturally, the meat would be poisoned too.
Of course, I'm fine with poison, but these little spiders aren't.
I set aside the safest part so they could eat too.
“Keong!”
I'm jealous of your small size.
A piece this big should be enough to fill you up.
They hastily took the crocodile meat.
You should know you've got a good big bro.
What other spider gets to eat crocodile meat?
Now it's my turn.
I cut the appetizing crocodile meat into bite-sized pieces.
I should eat leisurely at times like this. I can't keep living like a beast. I need to maintain some dignity.
Snap.
Chomp.
Gulp.
…Huh?
The meat I went to the trouble of slicing just disappeared in a single bite.
Did I do that?
No.
Let's eat slower next time. There's still plenty of crocodile meat left.
Snap.
Gulp.
Delicious!
Incredibly delicious.
It's a muscular cut of meat, but the moment it touches my tongue, it melts away.
It seems my venom tenderized it perfectly.
It's so delicious it feels wrong to even compare it to the bugs I ate in the Silver Dragon Cave.
Is this what a monk who trained in the mountains his whole life would feel if he came down to the secular world and ate meat for the first time?
Chomp.
Gulp.
This thing. What on earth did it eat to grow up so tasty?
Alright. From now on, I'm hunting caimans on sight.
Don't resent me too much. It's your original sin.
I finished off my crocodile course in an instant.
It's a shame it's gone, but it was delicious.
Now that I'm done with the meat, it's time for the main course.
The main course is none other than its inner core.
The source of the high-grade inner core fragment I swallowed.
A black orb tinged with green.
Gulp.
I swallowed it right away.
I felt something hot inside my stomach.
Does my body handle inner cores well?
It went down so smoothly.
I didn't feel an immediate increase in my internal energy.
I feel like I should be using this inner core differently somehow….
Well, if I keep it in my stomach, I'm sure I'll find a use for it eventually.
I've become the master of the swamp, and my belly is full. Shall I go pay a visit to my dear turtles and toads?
If there's time left, I'll do some Qi cultivation too.
“Grrr.”
Tus, Pus.
You two rest here.
“Kieeng!”
Tus and Pus crept gently toward me.
Do they know that right beside me is the safest place to be?
My body has gotten much bigger, so I wouldn't mind sparing a scale for them.
“Hiong!”
Making a cute sound, they waved their front legs.
Yeah, are you that happy?
And yet, the two spiders kept rubbing against me.
I could understand Tus. She seemed to be approaching me because he was happy to see me.
But Pus was a little different.
How should I put it... more forward?
Nah, no way. Why would a spider do something like that? It must be my imagination.
There must be some spider culture I'm not aware of.
…But Pus.
Why are you sticking your butt out toward me?
“Kioong….”
And what's with that shy-sounding cry?
“Kiii….”
Tus.
Why are you licking your lips while looking at my tail?
What's wrong with you two?
I'm not interested in spiders!
At least come back after you've turned into humans.
“Kieeng!”
“Kiiik!”
[The effect of 「Beloved by the Spider」 is enhanced.]
…This is insane.
*
Beads of sweat formed on Baek Woon's forehead.
Was it because he had been climbing this treacherous mountain for days?
No, a First-Rate martial artist like him wouldn't struggle from something like this.
The reason he was sweating was the man who had appeared before them.
Black hair.
A divine footwork that left his steps unseen.
Movements like a shifting shadow.
The Shadow Sword Ghost, Woo Jin-woon.
If it were just that man alone, they might have stood a chance.
But the man was not alone.
An aura, gentle as flowing water, yet powerful as a tidal wave, could be felt.
The man with blue hair and noble eyes held a single blade.
The Blue Sea One Blade, Dan Cheong-ho.
They were the Left and Right Guardians of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“S-Sir Namgung. How…”
“…We're done for.”
And their presence here meant only one thing.
She was coming.
The Left and Right Guardians knelt on one knee in unison.
Her black hair, cascading down like a waterfall in a majestic ink wash painting, was more beautiful than any scenery in the world. In contrast, her snow-white skin was so pristine it looked as if it had never once been touched by sunlight.
But no one could afford to be captivated by her beauty.
“Left Guardian, Woo Jin-woon, greets the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!”
“Right Guardian, Dan Cheong-ho, greets the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!”
For she was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
One of the ten great masters, and one who held a seat of honor among them.
The greatest woman under the heavens, who had long since surpassed the Peak Realm, revealed herself.
“For what reason have you visited this lady's garden?”
Baek Yeon-yeong gazed at Namgung Yeon's expedition with cold eyes.
Everyone trembled at her expression, which was devoid of any emotion.
“If you came seeking to join our cult, I'm afraid you've taken the wrong path.”
“I-Is that so? W-We seem to have lost our way…”
The man who was speaking could not continue.
He had noticed Baek Yeon-yeong's eyes narrowing.
He realized that woman could kill him with a flick of her finger. No, even without moving at all.
“Were you so covetous of our cult's spirit beast?”
Baek Woon was sweating profusely.
She was not an opponent he could hope to face.
How did things turn out like this?
We've only just entered the foothills of the 100,000 Great Mountains, yet the leader of the Demonic Cult has come in person.
Baek Yeon-yeong scanned the crowd. Her gaze was like a snake's.
Thirteen Third-Rate, eight Second-Rate, four First-Rate.
One hiding his strength.
And one whose identity was unknown.
“A strange one is mixed in.”
Baek Yeon-yeong's gaze fell upon the Dilophosaurus trapped in a wheeled cage.
A voice echoed in Baek Woon's ear.
[I will count to three. Close your eyes and cover your ears!]
It was a sound transmission.
There was no time to wonder who had sent it.
The moment they all closed their eyes, a white flash erupted.
KABOOM!
A Thunderclap Bomb.
It was an item modified to reduce its explosive power in exchange for producing an immense flash of light and smoke.
[Now! Run!]
Baek Woon realized who had sent the transmission. It was Namgung Yeon.
The moment he threw the Thunderclap Bomb, he had bolted in the opposite direction faster than anyone else.
In this chaos, they could escape.
Baek Woon, and the others, thought the same.
They scattered in different directions.
The smoke cleared, revealing Baek Yeon-yeong.
She was counting silently to herself.
Finally, judging that enough time had passed, she opened her mouth.
“Left Guardian, and Right Guardian.”
It went without saying, but Baek Yeon-yeong was a master who would never lose track of them over a mere flash and smoke.
“Herd them.”
The reason she hadn't pursued them immediately was that she had another objective.
Baek Yeon-yeong added further conditions.
The Third-Rate martial artists first.
Herd the Second-Rate ones into a deep area and let them find their own way out.
As for the First-Rate, injure them or trap them somewhere deeper, taking measures to ensure it takes them longer to escape.
“As you command!”
The Left and Right Guardians leaped in different directions.
For just two people to handle over twenty enemies—and not to kill them, but to herd them into specific areas as intended—was no easy task.
But they were the Left and Right Guardians of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. For them, such a task was something they could do with their eyes closed.
Besides, the 100,000 Great Mountains were teeming with powerful spirit beasts that could naturally isolate them.
Baek Yeon-yeong turned her head.
She looked in the direction of the Silver Dragon Cave.
Gently raising her right hand, her gaze fell to her fingertips.
Recalling the memory of a small lizard nibbling on her finger, a faint smile graced her lips before she knew it.