Chapter 302: Investment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 302: Investment
“Then again, it was always strange that a spirit beast like you, Hero Go, couldn’t take human form yet.”
Soyeong spoke while holding Tus, a new bump on her own head.
One might wonder how she was holding Tus, who was now bigger than her, but the truth was that both Tus and Pus had learned miniaturization.
It was something the old Tus and Pus could never have imagined, but now their names were followed by ‘Ananse.’
Since their species description said they could copy my skills, it was only natural they’d be able to mimic miniaturization.
It seemed like it would be quite useful.
If they miniaturized and hid within my scales, they would be completely unnoticeable.
Of course, miniaturization was one thing, but seeing them nestled so calmly in Soyeong’s arms was quite a surprise.
The Soyeong, Tus, and Pus I knew weren’t this close.
It seemed they had grown quite fond of each other during their time together.
“Hehe. It’s really fascinating. Most of all, I like that I can hear your voice directly, Hero Go.”
“Kkyong!”
“Kkyeeng!”
Tus and Pus nodded in agreement.
To be honest, I was still a bit dazed myself.
It was the human body I had longed for, and yet, my only thought was, So I finally became human. That was about it.
“Personally, I think your lizard form is cooler, but this form is cool too.”
For once, Soyeong was complimenting me.
A cool lizard and a cool person gave off different vibes.
If asked which I preferred, it was obviously the cool lizard.
“I have to get a good look at you before you turn back into a lizard.”
“Kkyong.”
Tus and Pus nodded again.
Huh?
“What do you mean by that?”
Why would I turn back into a lizard?
Now that I had a complete human form, was there any reason to go back?
In terms of combat power, I could just use Avatar Transformation to borrow the lizard’s strengths.
“Pardon?”
“Huh?”
Soyeong had assumed I would naturally return to my lizard form.
“Umm… well, that’s up to you, Hero Go… but didn’t you say you collapsed twice on your way here?”
“I did, yes.”
“And there’s nothing seriously wrong with your body.”
“Probably?”
Soyeong’s small face drew a little closer.
“Don’t you feel dizzy or dazed right now?”
“Dizzy?”
I did, actually.
Of course, after living as a lizard for so long, it was only natural to feel awkward now that I had regained a human body.
“A little?”
Soyeong’s eyes narrowed as she examined my bandages.
“Then what do you think the problem is?”
“…Don’t tell me it’s my body?”
“That’s right! It’s your fault for having a body like that, Hero Go.”
Huh?
Something felt off.
Well, it probably didn’t matter.
“Now, look. This is something only a competent physician like me would know… but your internal energy is constantly leaking out right now, you see?”
“What?”
My internal energy is leaking?
No wonder I felt a bit dazed.
“Of course, since your realm is high, it’s recovering, but not enough to completely offset the loss.”
So, she was saying that my internal energy would gradually decrease over time.
…It wasn’t that I couldn’t accept it.
After all, the true form of spirit beasts was their animal form, not a human one.
My human form was just a transformation, much like when I used miniaturization to shrink my size.
My excitement was short-lived.
I had wanted to maintain my human form, but it seemed that wouldn’t be possible.
Fainting didn’t undo the transformation, but the drawback of draining my internal energy was too critical.
If this were a completely peaceful era, it might be different, but I couldn’t afford to deplete my internal energy when I could be called into battle at any moment.
“And this is just my personal opinion… but I have a feeling that if you continue to walk around in human form, something big is going to happen.”
“Right, right.”
Nephila, who had been quietly twirling my hair, chimed in.
The physician and the priestess of the Gaegaek Cult were in agreement?
I could dismiss the words of some Tang family member, but listening to Nephila’s words was enough to make a Gerong appear in your sleep.
But what on earth did she mean by “something big will happen”?
“A feeling that the believers who have been holding back won’t hold back anymore?”
What a Gek-like thing to say.
For some reason, it reminded me of a half-dried lizard.
Ah, since I’m human now, should I say mummy?
This wasn’t a situation where I could just dismiss Soyeong’s words as nonsense.
The case of the Snake Queen was a perfect example.
She was a snake who had only licked her lips, lamenting that I wasn’t old enough.
But what about my current form?
A healthy, adult male.
Of course, my lizard form didn’t seem like that of a young lizard, but since every spirit beast I met said I wasn’t an adult, I was able to get by.
But now was different.
A complete adult.
Besides, my mental age was that of an adult from my past life.
In other words, I was in the optimal state to become the Snake Queen’s prey.
I had a feeling the Snake Queen’s temple would be noisy with thumping sounds for four straight weeks.
What a Gek-like situation.
“And… well, if you have a form like this, there are certain responsibilities that come with it, aren’t there?”
“Responsibilities?”
“You know, that thing you do. Making cute noises and letting the believers hold you.”
…That was also true.
A small lizard burrowing into someone’s embrace is just a cute act.
Even a stranger would just wonder, Why is this lizard doing this? They wouldn’t actively try to stop it.
I knew this well.
I had experimented with it a few times within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But a human form would be different.
A handsome man burrowing into someone’s embrace?
That day, I’d be disqualified as a human and qualified as a non-human.
If someone were as open-minded as my Master, they might embrace me, but unfortunately, not all humans were like her.
Let’s run a simulation.
Since I was at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, I would naturally enter Seol-hwa’s room, steal my share of dango, and when she found me, I planned to brazenly demand compensation for past events.
I could receive the comfortable reward known as Gerorong.
But in a human body?
First of all, just entering Seol-hwa’s room would be trespassing.
I thought the human body would be perfect, but to think it had such a flaw!
No, I am the divine beast of the Gaegaek Cult.
Now that I have escaped my lizard body, how could I be captivated by such desires?
I won’t die just because there’s no Gerorong.
“If you do it to others, it could start rumors, so just be satisfied with doing it to me and Lady Jiju here.”
Soyeong said proudly, puffing out her chest.
I’m grateful for the offer.
Right, for now, Soyeong and Nephila…
…
This lizard is going to starve…
“Gerong… Gerurung…”
“My disciple’s growth is truly remarkable.”
A full lizard is better than a hungry human.
I had given up my human body and was savoring the life of a lizard.
“Kkerung… Kkerururung…”
“That cry of yours is fascinating every time I hear it. Do you like my embrace that much?”
“Gegegek.”
Some might call this a shameless act, but in truth, my Master seemed to enjoy it when I did this.
Seeing as she used me as a bamboo wife every time I visited the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, I figured it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
I resolved to use my human body only when absolutely necessary.
The constant drain on my internal energy was a critical issue, and this way, I could still utilize the advantages of being a lizard.
Since my Master had publicly acknowledged me as her disciple in front of the elders, I would only need to be human in special situations, like when facing them.
Or it could be a good way to create a variable during battle.
Jin-ryong wouldn’t know I could transform into a human, so I could land a solid blow on him.
My Master gently stroked my belly, then lightly pressed the area I presumed to be my dantian.
“Geeeek…”
“Hmm, you have certainly attained enlightenment. You’ve entered the complete Transformation Realm.”
“Gekgek.”
It’s all thanks to you, Master.
“Moreover, you obtained two inner cores from this battle, so you now possess a total of four high-quality inner cores. And all of them from Profound Realm spirit beasts, I presume.”
“Gegek.”
“But no matter how talented you are, my disciple, it will be difficult for you to digest all of them.”
Huh?
What did she mean by that?
Was she perhaps asking for a heartwarming donation, since I couldn’t eat them all anyway?
My Master has a cute side to her.
I wouldn’t mind giving them to anyone else, but I certainly didn’t mind giving one to my Master.
“Gekgek.”
“I am fine. I have already received so much, how could I possibly accept more?”
Huh?
She wasn’t asking for an inner core?
“You are a being with your own faith, disciple. So, do not give them to me just because I am your master. The right thing to do would be to bestow them upon your own believers.”
Since I couldn’t eat all these inner cores anyway, I should share them with my believers.
That was my Master’s will.
“Lizamone. That one seems to have ascended to a new level. A being that powerful will be invaluable in the wars to come.”
The Red Dragon’s realm hadn’t risen, but her species itself had evolved by a stage.
From a Red Dragon to a Flame Dragon.
She was now a being who would be called a high-tier dragon, not a mid-tier one.
She had surpassed Chodo and Taotie, and it was no exaggeration to call her the undisputed strongest sword of the Gaegaek Cult.
“And if you use those inner cores… you could make your other believers grow to be just as powerful.”
I had a total of four Profound Realm spirit beast inner cores.
I planned to eat one myself, which meant I could strengthen a total of three believers.
Should I invest in the Red Dragon to draw out even more of her power?
Or would it be better to make others as strong as her?
It was a happy dilemma.
When my believers grew stronger, it was the same as me, their leader, growing stronger.
But there was a problem.
If I gave inner cores to some believers, wouldn’t the ones who didn’t receive any feel left out?
“As a leader, you must make a careful decision. It cannot be helped if some feel disappointed. Besides, is it necessary to give them inner cores?”
“Gek?”
“If they are the believers I know, they are beings whose hearts would melt even if you gave them a gift other than an inner core.”
Of course, all my believers are wonderful, but I still felt they would be disappointed if they didn’t get an inner core.
No other gift could compare to an inner core.
“In my opinion, it might be the ones who receive the inner cores who feel a sense of loss.”
Huh?
What does that mean?
My Master was staring intently at my lower body.
“…Gek?”
“Hmm, well, however you choose to pay, it is your decision, my disciple.”
What do you mean by that?
…I feel like I’ll get hurt if I think about it too deeply.
For now, I’ll think about other rewards later.
I guess I could just lie on my back and tell them to take what they want.
The task at hand was to decide who to invest the inner cores in.