Chapter 300: Myriad Demons Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 300: Myriad Demons Return
“Guh… Ghk…”
All of the Thunder Bird’s sharp feathers were gone. Before me, a pathetic-looking bird simply staggered about.
“How… could the Tailed Death… wield the power of the Buddha…”
The once-mighty dignity of the Thunder Bird had long since vanished.
“Guuuh… Gwaaaaaah…”
The Thunder Bird let out a pained groan.
Its body, like that of a plucked chicken, was turning purple.
The aura of black slaughter had seeped into its body, and because it had been struck by the Buddha’s Palm, it couldn’t defend against it. That must have been why.
“S-save… me…”
In its final moments, it shamelessly begged for its life.
I walked slowly toward the creature without a word.
The arrogant expression of the Thunder Bird became stained with terror.
“W-Wait! Aren’t you… more curious about Gomodo! A-And about Jin-ryong…!”
I picked up the sword I had dropped.
“Ah.”
An expression of despair, realizing that no matter what it did, it could not escape death.
Fshaaaaaa!
That was the last expression the Thunder Bird ever made.
I had killed the Thunder Bird.
Even in a fierce battle, all that mattered was that I emerged victorious in the end.
After all, I could level up by defeating enemies, and when I leveled up, I could shed my skin and recover my physical condition.
But that was impossible now.
I had reached the maximum level.
…So this was the side effect of not evolving.
Once this is all over, I suppose I’ll have to look at my options, no matter how rushed.
My body was in terrible shape.
It was only natural, having used so much power.
But the battle wasn’t over yet.
Fire and ice energy continued to clash.
The Red Dragon was still fighting.
Dragging my exhausted body, I headed toward her.
Just a little more, and I could rest.
So, I would squeeze out my last bit of strength for the Red Dragon…
Thump.
The strength in my legs gave out.
To think I’d almost fall just from tripping over a loose stone.
Fortunately, I didn’t fall.
Something soft had supported my body.
“B-Baby? Why do you look… No, first, are you okay?”
This warmth, this fire energy, and that Gerorong sound.
It was the Red Dragon.
Her presence here meant only one thing.
The Red Dragon had defeated the Ice Dragon.
【Flame Dragon LV160】
…Right, she’s finally on the path of a high-tier dragon.
I opened my mouth slightly.
“Yeah, I’m listening, so just say anything!”
Lizamone’s eyes welled with tears, thinking I was about to die.
“Ghk… Take… care of…”
To reassure her, I uttered the words that had to be said right now.
“Take care of what? I got it! I’ll definitely take care of our Divine Beast’s body…”
“The inner core… take it…!”
“Huh?”
I might not care about anything else, but I had to get their inner cores.
And while I had used a lot of power, my own realm had risen, so I wasn't on the verge of death.
I closed my eyes, looking at the Flame Dragon’s dumbfounded face.
You went through a lot, but I think I had it worse.
I’m leaving the cleanup to you.
*
I saw a lake, vast as an endless sea.
This was my mental scape.
Yes, I knew I’d end up here.
—You’ve come.
A giant dinosaur with red scales.
The Heart Demon in the form of a Spinosaurus.
No, my eyes met with the previous Gomodo.
—To think you defeated the Thunder Bird without my help.
Just before the battle, Gomodo had extended a hand to me.
He had offered the sweet reward of killing the Thunder Bird for me if I surrendered my body to him.
To break through that situation, perhaps handing over my body was the right choice.
But I couldn’t do it.
And I didn’t want to.
The information the Thunder Bird spoke of was likely true to some extent.
That my arrival in this world was something Gomodo himself had planned.
That if it weren’t for him, I would never have come here.
—…So, do you resent me?
No.
I don’t resent him.
Because I don’t hate my life here.
Because I cherish the connections I’ve made here.
But there was something I couldn’t understand.
The Thunder Bird had definitely called me a vessel.
A vessel necessary for Gomodo’s plan.
A vessel he had crafted with his own hands.
But how could I believe that?
In my past life, I was just an ordinary human, nothing special.
Why on earth would I be his vessel?
—That Thunder Bird fellow, spouting such nonsense.
The previous Gomodo bared his teeth.
Ruuuumble.
A great ripple spread across the vast, sea-like lake.
Just as I had grown stronger, the Heart Demon’s size had also become immense.
—Crafted a vessel… How could I, a being without a physical form, create a human? It would be more fitting to say I made a choice.
…Right.
I didn’t just fall out of the sky, so Gomodo couldn’t have created me.
But I couldn’t understand the part about him choosing me either.
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to choose someone with advanced scientific knowledge, or someone who had learned modern martial arts?
I was just an ordinary human with a slight interest in reptiles.
Why in the world did he choose me?
—Because I had no other choice.
…No other choice?
—I could not choose anyone other than you.
…
What was that supposed to mean?
If that was the case, the word “choice” didn’t even apply.
I was born irrespective of Gomodo’s will.
And Gomodo had no choice but to choose me.
How could I possibly be his vessel?
—Do not trouble your little head. It is something you cannot understand at your current level.
…
Right.
Perhaps thinking I had already grasped a certain amount of the truth, Gomodo was being cooperative in his own way.
All I had to do was listen to the truth from his mouth and judge for myself.
—I am sorry, but I cannot say any more than this.
Was he messing with me right now?
—Even if I told you, you would not be able to understand. You must realize it for yourself.
This again.
But there was no need to worry about it.
Whatever kind of being I was made to be.
Whatever the relationship between me and the previous Gomodo.
I would focus on my precious ones.
Finding my roots could wait until after I defeated Jin-ryong and Al-Yu and could live a peaceful life.
If I killed Jin-ryong, the previous Gomodo would be satisfied too, I supposed.
It was an uncomfortable cohabitation, but I couldn’t just exclude him entirely.
—Hmm… Well, do as you please. If you truly defeat Jin-ryong, there will be no reason for me to take your body.
Even so, I shouldn’t trust him completely.
He had a record of stealing my body once; what’s to stop him from doing it a second time?
He might also decide he wants to kill Jin-ryong with his own hands.
—Khahah! Yes, well. I shall look forward to it.
The previous Gomodo laughed thunderously.
The water of the lake began to churn violently.
As if he was done talking, the Heart Demon seemed ready to kick me out.
…Did he really call me here just to tell me this?
Something felt a little off.
Was I missing something?
The Heart Demon seemed to be in a suspiciously good mood.
—Still, since you have accomplished the feat of defeating the Thunder Bird, I shall give you a piece of information.
I knew instinctively.
This was what he had really wanted to tell me.
I focused and listened.
—I did not bear any descendants.
…What?
He didn’t have any descendants?
What did that mean?
The Ice Dragon and the Thunder Bird had definitely exterminated Gomodo’s descendants.
And wasn’t I the last offspring born from a descendant with diluted blood, which was why he was able to possess me?
But now he was saying he had no descendants?
—I can give you no more information than this. Now, try to figure it out on your own.
The form of the previous Gomodo, a slight smirk on his lips, gradually faded.
Leaving behind another riddle before disappearing.
Was he some kind of pervert who enjoyed watching me struggle?
…I’ll think about it later.
It was about time to wake up.
*
I awoke from the mental scape.
“…I’m telling you, I need to see him now!”
“B-But, even for you…”
“Agh, you want a taste of my plum blossoms?”
I heard a commotion.
The Red Dragon, no.
I should call her the Flame Dragon now. That must be her voice.
“Look! His body is trembling right now!”
“Then we should send him to a physician…”
“Ah, just be quiet and open the door, will you? You want me to start a fire with my body heat?”
Hmm, who on earth was she talking to?
I thought she had mellowed out a bit after staying quietly with the Gaegaek Cult, but she was still as fierce as ever.
Still, she was doing it for me, so I wouldn’t say anything.
My head was dizzy.
Maybe it was because I’d lost a lot of blood, but my body temperature felt like it was dropping.
As they continued their squabble, I heard the sound of a door opening.
Screeech.
“What is all this commotion?”
It was a familiar voice.
The Flame Dragon was saying something to her.
I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
My mind was completely focused on the owner of that familiar voice.
A familiar aura, just like the familiar voice.
I could see a space that looked warm at a single glance.
A space that looked like it would fit my body perfectly.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I leaped toward it and immediately buried my head inside.
For a moment, a body flinched.
“Hehe… Master…”
To bask in the warmth, I let out a Gerorong sound and snuggled into my Master’s embrace.
…Huh?
Something feels a little strange.
That wasn’t a Gerorong sound.
My vision seems a bit off, too.
Wondering what was happening, I turned my head and met the eyes of the elders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who wore expressions of disbelief.
“C-C-Cult Leader?”
“How dare an outside man embrace our Cult Leader!”
…
Huh?
I think I just heard two strange things.
My mind is hazy, so maybe this is just a dream.
Just because I left my mental scape doesn’t mean I’m fully conscious.
I rubbed my face all over my Master’s chest.
Something a human couldn’t do, but something I, as a lizard, could do anytime.
“Keoheok…!”
“How… could he do something so irreverent…!”
The elders coughed up blood.
You mad?
Too bad for you, no one can punish me, a lizard.
“I heard my disciple was not in a good state… and it certainly seems to be true.”
My Master reached out and stroked my head.
Hmm, this must definitely be a dream.
Normally, she would have grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and lifted me up, but instead, she was pulling me closer.
A Gerorong-kkerurung sound escaped me automatically.
“Myriad… Myriad Demons Return… pouch… hehe…”
…But why have I been speaking in human language this whole time?
“You foolish disciple. If you act like this in front of so many people, I will have no excuse to offer.”
My Master gently patted my hair.
“You are even taller than me, so why do you try to nestle in my arms like a child?”
…
Taller?
You don’t usually use the word “tall” for a lizard, do you?
A strange feeling washed over me, and I pulled my head out of that comfortable embrace.
The moment I looked down at my own body, I knew this was not a dream, but reality.
I was embracing the Cult Leader in front of all the elders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And not as a small lizard, but in my human form.