Chapter 39: The Sichuan Tang Clan
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: The Sichuan Tang Clan
“Listen. It would be good for you in many ways if you came with me, you know?”
“Kieek!”
“Let’s put old feelings aside and think about this rationally. I’m telling you to consider the size difference between you and Hero Go.”
“Kieek….”
“If you come back to the Tang Clan, I’ll take responsibility and help you achieve metamorphosis…”
What are you two even talking about?
Since when were you so close?
“Kiek!”
Tus, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, waved a leg.
“Ah, you’re here…. Huh? That thing in your mouth!”
Tang Soyeong pointed at the Deinonychus in my mouth.
“Th-this is…. I’m sure I saw it before…”
Tang Soyeong began to explain about the Deinonychus, making a fuss.
Her explanation wasn't useful information like my status window provides.
Something about how she ran into the Deinonychus yesterday, how it was incredibly smart, and how she barely managed to escape using a smoke screen.
Yep. Useless information.
“As expected of Hero Gomodo…”
As always, Tang Soyeong’s fuss ended with ‘Gomodo is amazing’.
“Hero Go. Would it be all right if I prepared it?”
I glanced at Tang Soyeong’s body.
She’s going to butcher this huge carcass with that flimsy frame?
There’s a reason they’re called Dragon’s Claws.
“Please, trust me. I’ll repay the kindness you’ve shown me with the finest cooking. Besides, I’m confident when it comes to preparing poisoned meat.”
Tang Soyeong took out a wooden container from her robes.
Clatter.
The sound was somehow familiar.
She opened the lid and showed me the contents.
A colorless, odorless white powder.
Don't tell me it's salt?
“Gekgek!”
Do it immediately!
From this day forward, Tang Soyeong is in charge of all cooking.
I crouched down and watched Tang Soyeong’s cooking skills.
She cut the large Deinonychus into manageable pieces.
Skinning it was hard work, so I helped a little with my Dragon’s Claws.
Now, all I could see were appetizing chunks of meat.
Truthfully, the only way to cook here was roasting. Just sticking the meat in a bonfire and grilling it directly. If you used your head a little, you might manage skewers.
But Tang Soyeong used her head a lot more than that.
Sizzle, sizzle.
Resting over the bonfire was a single sword.
It was the one I’d picked up.
She placed thinly sliced meat on the flat of the heated blade.
Tssssss.
And then, salt like white snow was sprinkled on top.
Because the meat was sliced so thin, it cooked very quickly. Tang Soyeong then transferred the perfectly cooked meat to a leaf bowl.
I flicked my tongue, waiting for the cooking to finish.
Today’s meal?
Deinonychus Salt Mix!
“Gegegek!”
I knew I was a good judge of character.
I made the right choice bringing her along.
Tang Soyeong.
I’ll rank you number two among all the people I’ve met here.
Don’t get too conceited, and keep it up, because that could change at any time.
It was then, as I was enjoying the taste of the salted meat.
“Hero Go. Could we perhaps talk for a moment?”
“Gekgek.”
I nodded my head vigorously.
Of course. She made this wonderful food.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Ah, you want me to extract your poison?
Take it, take it.
I could even give you one of my shed skins if you want.
“Would you entrust these spiders to me?”
Huh?
“Kieek?”
That’s a little different from what I was expecting.
“…I know why these spiders are reacting this way. I should probably explain that first.”
Let’s hear what she has to say first.
“Have you ever heard of Gu-poison?”
I nodded.
“The truth is, these spiders were scheduled to be used as ingredients for Gu-poison.”
I looked at Tus and Pus.
Seeing them wave their legs languidly, it seemed they’d already talked with Tang Soyeong before I arrived.
“I can’t say I had nothing to do with it, but I never wanted to make Gu-poison.”
From the stories I’d pieced together, I could guess what had happened between the spiders and this woman.
Tus and Pus, who were nearly turned into Gu-poison, must have seen Tang Soyeong by chance.
That’s why they’ve been so angry.
It’s only natural. If I were a spider, I would have bitten her on sight.
It’s actually amazing they’ve let her off this easily.
“Gu-poison… it’s just too painful. No matter who it’s for, it’s an incredibly cruel poison.”
“Kiek….”
“I was against it. I argued that it would be better to raise them naturally and let them become Human-faced Spiders, rather than making Gu-poison.”
A good idea.
But it must not have been accepted.
After all, Tus and Pus were still wary of her.
“It wasn’t accepted. They said it was beyond my authority, or something like that. So, these spiders were scheduled to be put in a jar very soon.”
“Kieeeng….”
Pus trembled, her small body shaking as if remembering that time.
“But then, an intruder broke into the Tang Clan. They stole various elixirs and spirit beasts that the clan was keeping. The container holding these spiders was among the stolen items.”
“Kiek!”
“From the tiger-like spider to these little ones here. Thanks to that, you can’t find any spiders in the Tang Clan now.”
So after being taken from the Tang Clan, these spiders escaped.
They were incredibly lucky.
“And to think I’d run into some of those very spiders here in the 100,000 Great Mountains. I suppose this must be what they call fate.”
They came all the way to the 100,000 Great Mountains?
That’s so far….
Wait, the 100,000 Great Mountains?
This place is the 100,000 Great Mountains?
Why are you only telling me this now?
“That’s why I want to take these spiders with me. Spiders have become rare, so no one would even think of using them for Gu-poison. I’ll take full responsibility for raising them. These little ones have talent.”
So, she’s saying she recognizes Tus and Pus’s talent and wants to take them?
“It’s not easy for an ordinary spider to become a Human-faced Spider. Evolution. No, the term ‘metamorphosis’ might be more fitting.”
Metamorphosis. What a cool word.
“If they form an inner core and continuously accumulate internal energy, the species itself can change.”
Yep. Done it twice.
“…That’s a typical metamorphosis. Ah, that is, for spirit beasts. Humans require a more special process. Something like enlightenment.”
Isn't it just something you do with a click of the status window?
I feel a little bad now.
“If there’s a typical metamorphosis, then there must be other ways, too. You could call it a true metamorphosis.”
“When emotions reach an extreme. Anger, sorrow, joy. When any of these feelings peak, there are cases where a creature transforms into a different species.”
This was pretty good information.
“And the greatest of these is when one desires to protect something.”
Sounds like something out of a shonen manga.
“These spiders are more intelligent than any spirit beast I’ve ever seen. Ah, excluding you, Hero Go. High intelligence means they can feel emotions keenly. In other words, their potential for metamorphosis is extremely high.”
I see what she’s saying.
Spiders are currently rare in the Tang Clan.
Furthermore, Tus and Pus have a high chance of becoming Human-faced Spiders—in other words, they’re spirit beast candidates.
Tang Soyeong planned to take Tus and Pus to the Tang Clan and turn them into Human-faced Spiders.
Her intentions are good.
She might be trying to make up for the mistake of losing the Dilophosaurus, but just from her story, it sounds like a good thing for Tus and Pus, too.
“Grrrrr….”
But I can’t send them away.
I’m the one who raised them.
And what reason do I have to trust her and send my precious Tus and Pus to the Tang Clan?
To put it bluntly, she could just shut her mouth and toss them in a jar the moment they arrive.
Absolutely not.
I’m going to raise Tus and Pus myself.
“Keeeeng!”
Tus and Pus gathered around my forelegs.
They’re so precious I wouldn't feel any pain putting them in my eye… well, it might hurt a little, but still, I can’t hand them over.
You don’t want to go study abroad, right?
This swamp is a great place.
“Kieeeng…!”
Right, right.
“It seems the spiders don’t want to go yet, either. Still, please reconsider. Ultimately, we have to solve the size difference issue…”
Huh?
What does she mean, size difference?
“Kieng….”
Why are you two acting shy?
I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.
I don’t get it. It’s not like they’d understand if I tried to explain anyway. I’ll just eat my meat.
Crunch, crunch.
*
After the meal, the four of us—no, the three beasts and one human—were sunbathing at our home.
The bonfire is nice, but nothing beats the sun.
“Yaaawn… Hero Gomodo’s training methods are hard to understand, but they seem to be quite effective…”
Tang Soyeong let out a big yawn.
Tus and Pus, also feeling drowsy, were dozing off next to her.
When the hell did they get so close?
Wait, could this be Tang Soyeong’s scheme?
She wins over the spiders while I’m away, then takes them later.
She’ll say she’s giving them the choice, Tus and Pus will choose her, and I’ll become the sad monitor lizard who lost custody.
How despicable.
Thump.
“Kyaak! It’s c-cold and wet! …But it’s also kind of comfortable.”
After plopping down on Tang Soyeong, I rolled my body around.
A pleasant smell was coming from somewhere.
A bit like honey.
Flick.
I flicked my tongue, amplifying the scent.
“Mmm…. that smells so nice…”
“Keeng….”
It seemed Tang Soyeong and the spiders smelled it too.
It was a pleasant scent that made one feel drowsy.
My belly is full, the weather is warm... maybe I'll take a nap.
They say you get fat if you lie down right after eating, but to put it another way, it's a way to bulk up.
No reason not to.
…The smell really is nice.
I want to keep smelling it forever.
….
[「Crisis Detection LV7」 has leveled up.]
A sensation like every scale on my body was standing on end.
I snapped my eyes open.
【Dilophosaurus LV35】
【Dilophosaurus】
A medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur, about 7m long and weighing around 400kg.
Compared to its sharp, long teeth, its gums are small, but its wide roots make its dental structure sturdy.
It is a ruthless hunter that slaughters its enemies with its long arms and sharp teeth.
“Krawr!”
I let out a loud cry, but Tang Soyeong and the spiders showed no signs of waking.
Did she say it uses poison?
So that sweet smell from before was poison.
If it weren't for my All-Poison Immunity, I would have fallen for it too.
…It doesn't seem to be a life-threatening type.
Should I think of it as a kind of sleeping agent?
Its goal was to make us lose consciousness.
Was it so it could eat us alive?
“Grrrrr….”
I let out a low growl at the creature.
“Krrrr….”
Its red eyes glared fiercely at me.
My heart was pounding.
I had completely misjudged the Dilophosaurus until now.
The ones in the movies were the size of a Deinonychus at best, so I never paid them much mind.
Seeing one in person, I realized that was just a movie.
This thing shouldn't be compared to a Deinonychus, but to a Baryonyx.
“Kiek….”
The creature pointed at Tang Soyeong with its tail.
Then it shook its head a couple of times.
“Krrk-krrk….”
I think it’s trying to talk to me.
Predators don't fight each other.
Even if they win, an injury could mean their own death the next time.
In its eyes, I wasn't some pushover it could take down without getting hurt.
And since I had neutralized its main weapon, its poison, it would be even more eager to avoid a fight.
“Krrrrrk….”
The Dilophosaurus kept pointing at Tang Soyeong.
It seemed its business was with the woman, and it was telling me to just go on my way.
That there was no reason to shed blood.
That she was just prey, anyway.
…I don't want to fight it either.
It's undeniably strong.
Strong enough to remind me of that Baryonyx I saw from a distance.
Strong enough to bring back the feeling I had when I first saw the Caiman.
If I could just grab Tus and Pus, retreating wouldn't be a bad option.
After all, Tang Soyeong and I don’t have a deep relationship.
We’ve only known each other for a little over a day.
If I were to weigh my life against hers, mine would obviously come first.
Abandoning her would leave a bad taste in my mouth, but nothing is more important than my life.
But.
I cannot retreat.
It’s not because I want to save that woman.
It’s to uphold my vow.
The vow I made to never run away again.
“Grrrrrrr….”
And besides.
I am the master of this swamp.
Dilophosaurus.
I’ll teach you your place.