Chapter 80: Mom! Stop trying to sleep with my companion!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: Mom! Stop trying to sleep with my companion!
Swish-Swish was ferociously biting the Queen.
You could tell she was furious by the way her round face had turned into a triangle.
Swish-Swish was much stronger now, strong enough to tear off my dragon scales with her teeth.
Yet, she still couldn't leave a single scratch on the Snake Queen's finger.
Despite this, Swish-Swish attacked relentlessly.
Truly befitting the Snake Queen's successor.
“Pyaaaak!”
Was it a coincidence that this reminded me of when she bit Baek Yeon-yeong's finger?
…First, let's get a proper handle on the situation.
It seems the Snake Queen has meddled with my religion and faith.
【Gaegaek Cult】
A Monitor Lizard-class religion.
This is a religion whose doctrine is the Gaegaek Faith, believed by those who serve Gomodo.
Its members are very diverse and possess strong faith.
Related Faiths: 【Gaegaek Faith】 【Snake Queen's Faith】
Members
First Believer: 【Attercopus LV20】
Second Believer: 【Anthracomartus LV19】
Third Believer: 【Tang Soyeong】
Fourth Believer: 【Ball Python LV18】
Wait a minute.
The spiders’ levels have gone up quite a bit.
They were definitely a lower level than Swish-Swish before.
So they're eating and living well.
That's a relief.
In any case, something strange had been added to my religion.
A "Related Faiths" category had appeared, and "Snake Queen's Faith" was proudly listed there.
【Snake Queen's Faith】
An Allosaurus-class faith.
This is a faith believed by those who serve the Snake Queen, a powerful being who opposes the King of Birds.
Not only those of the Queen's species, but others also believe in this faith.
【Gomodo-Lania】 is recognized as the Snake Queen's companion.
The Snake Queen's believers worship 【Gomodo-Lania】.
The Snake Queen's Faith.
It was safe to assume that all the snakes in this jungle believed in this faith.
The Sword Dragons around the temple were probably related to it as well.
And I had become the companion of such a faith.
Right, I had really become a married man now.
The moment the spiders found out, I'd be tied up tightly in webs.
I felt like I could already hear their kieeeeking.
It was chilling, but not necessarily a bad thing.
Becoming the Queen's companion was basically a paper marriage.
It had no real effect on me; it was just a matter within that faith.
There's a similar story in the Dangun Myth—the story of Hwanung meeting Ungnyeo.
The Dangun Myth is a mythological representation of an alliance between a tribe that worshipped the sky and a tribe that worshipped bears.
This must be something similar.
It was using the term "companion" to signify an alliance between the Snake Queen and Gaegaek.
You could see it as a purely business relationship.
The Snake Queen didn't make me her companion because she liked me, but to give me some nice benefits.
Additionally, she probably intended to use my tail for her own invigoration.
To those who didn't believe in the Gaegaek Faith, my tail was just delicious meat.
But if the Gaegaek Faith and the Snake Queen's Faith were linked?
It meant the effects of my tail could now apply to the Snake Queen.
In other words, this was a deal established for mutual benefit.
All I had to do was shamelessly accept the benefits from my mother-in-law… no, my wife.
“Pyaaaak!”
The Ball Python's triangular face turned towards me.
Chomp. Swish-Swish bit me.
Hey, why did the target suddenly change to me?
Crunch!
“Gekgegegegek!”
Swish-Swish started slapping and grappling with me.
Swish-Swish.
This is just a paper issue.
It's not like I'm cheating or anything.
“Hieeeek!”
…Wait, why am I making excuses? It's not really cheating, after all!
“Ohoho.”
The Snake Queen covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
Hey, don't just laugh, stop her.
Her round face has gotten all sharp.
I feel like she's going to dark-evolve into Skull-Swish-Swish later.
“Princess. Do not be too disheartened. He is not my companion, but the companion of the Snake Queen.”
“…Pyak?”
Swish-Swish tilted her head.
“If you, Princess, succeed this mother and become Queen, would he not naturally become your companion?”
“Shwiririk!”
Swish-Swish's face became round again.
It seemed she finally understood the Snake Queen's profound meaning.
…Was it really a profound meaning?
Hey, I'm just standing here. Why are they deciding this among themselves?
“Hiek…”
Swish-Swish relaxed her bite.
“There will surely be other trials, but if you become Queen, you will be the official companion.”
“Hieeek…”
Wagging her tail, Swish-Swish wrapped it around my leg.
She was such a simple snake.
She is simple, right?
“Princess. I shall consider this sufficient motivation. If you do not wish for this mother to take him from you, you must strive even harder.”
“Pyaaaak!”
“If I feel the Princess's growth has stopped, I don't know what I might do.”
“Hieeek!”
What might you do?
“I might just have to show you exactly what a companion is for.”
“Pyaaaaaaaak!”
You're just trying to motivate her, right?
The Snake Queen gently wrapped her tail around my other leg.
“If I had my way, I would want to perform a sacred ritual until the moon changes its shape and returns to its original form.”
A sacred ritual?
Was it related to the faith?
“Since our species are different, doing it for that long might be difficult. I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with about half a month.”
What on earth was this ritual that it took so long?
“Princess. How many little brothers and sisters…”
“Pyaaaaaaaak!”
Kwaang!
Swish-Swish's Destruction Ray cut off the Snake Queen's nonsense.
Thanks, Swish-Swish.
“…It was a jest. A jest.”
No, saying that with such a face wasn't very convincing.
“I can't very well enjoy myself all alone while leaving my daughter out.”
Sssss….
The Snake Queen's tail gently pulled at my body.
My body had grown enormous, but I couldn't resist.
It wasn't a matter of strength.
That sleek snake's body clearly possessed an intangible power that was impossible to resist.
“Therefore, my companion.”
Ssssss….
The Snake Queen wrapped herself around my body.
And Swish-Swish, trying her best to stop her, wrapped herself around me too.
I could feel the cool body temperature unique to reptiles.
“You must find Honhwi and receive his teachings.”
Right, Honhwi.
This whole conversation was happening because of my miniaturization problem.
“That one owes me a debt. Therefore, if he sees you, whom I have declared my companion, he will try to repay it.”
As expected of the Snake Queen's insight.
I never once doubted her.
“Of course, he is a being whose eccentricities even I cannot comprehend, so you must not judge him by common sense. Even if you meet him, you may not be able to learn the profound principles of miniaturization.”
I didn't need to be taught directly.
The Reverse Scale I possessed.
Its effect was to copy skills.
If I was lucky, I might be able to copy it just by seeing it.
“There are a few places presumed to be his abode… but he wanders all over, so you'll have a hard time.”
A hard time? Not likely.
At my size, if I used my footwork to travel through the trees, I could find any being in no time.
“Ah, and take this.”
The Snake Queen handed me something.
It was an accessory shaped like a rather fancy jewel and a seashell combined.
“With this, even the most insignificant creature will know you are my companion.”
As expected of the Snake Queen.
She's so generous.
It must be something like an official pass.
【Betrothal Gift Filled with the Snake Queen's Love】
…The name is weird, isn't it?
*
“We were lucky.”
“…Indeed, we were.”
Baek Woon and Jang Bong were talking about the strange lizard they had seen earlier.
It was a creature of a tiny size, barely a foot long, yet it possessed the terrifying power to finish a giant monster in a single blow.
If that creature had wanted to, it would not have been easy for Jang Bong and Baek Woon to escape alive.
But what do you know, that little lizard had helped Baek Woon and Jang Bong get out of the 100,000 Great Mountains.
"Helping" just meant pointing them in the right direction and subduing a few attacking dinosaurs, but even that was a huge help.
Baek Woon and Jang Bong were forced to reconsider their views on spiritual beasts.
If Gomodo was the catalyst, Tusulisu was the confirmation.
At the same time, they were ashamed.
To think they had tried to kill such spiritual beasts just to covet their power.
Baek Woon found himself ridiculous.
He was pathetic for having such thoughts, and ashamed that he didn't even possess the power to kill a spiritual beast in the first place.
“To be helped twice by a mute beast… no, a spiritual beast.”
“Indeed.”
“…They’re better than people.”
Jang Bong felt a pang at those words but didn't show it, as he was reminded of the Bloody Lion incident.
He, too, was reflecting on his actions and planned to return to his hometown to live quietly.
“You there. What do you think of the being known as Gomodo?”
“He is, of course, the divine spiritual beast I worship.”
Baek Woon clicked his tongue.
That wasn't what he was asking.
“I'm asking how you'll treat him after we return.”
“How will I treat him? Why, I will spread the word of Gomodo's great deeds far and…”
“Don't.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Baek Woon let out a small sigh.
“The Central Plains are currently obsessed with spiritual beasts. What do you think will happen if we speak of the one we met?”
Jang Bong finally understood his words.
“A second expedition force will come here…”
“Exactly. If we've received a favor, we shouldn't cause harm in return.”
“I understand. I nearly made a grave mistake.”
“Well, if you really want to praise his deeds, you could add a little adaptation.”
“Adaptation. That's a fine idea.”
Conversing like this, they continued to walk.
Finally, the entrance to the 100,000 Great Mountains came into view.
Once they crossed that boundary, they could return to the Central Plains.
“Hoo… Still, I’m glad we were able to get out one way or another.”
“Indeed. The fact that the small spiritual beast has disappeared must mean there are no monsters around here that can threaten us.”
It was then.
Rustle.
A sound came from the bushes.
Baek Woon reflexively put his hand on the sword at his waist, and a figure emerged from the bushes at almost the same time.
“Baek Woon!”
“…Brother Namgung?”
It was Namgung Yeon.
But even though Baek Woon knew it was him, he didn't stop his sword.
Shing.
His blade was aimed at Namgung Yeon's neck.
“What is the meaning of this, Baek Woon?”
“Brother Namgung. I recall you were being pursued by the Demonic Cult's Left Guardian.”
It was none other than the Left Guardian who had been chasing him.
The Namgung Yeon that Baek Woon knew could never have escaped his pursuit.
Following the path Namgung Yeon had guided them on, they had run into the core forces of the Demonic Cult, including the Cult Leader himself.
And Namgung Yeon had survived that situation.
Baek Woon couldn't dismiss this as a coincidence.
“How did you escape?”
“Honestly, are you saying I should have been caught?”
“Just answer the question.”
“…Fine. You may not believe me, but I met a spiritual beast.”
“A spiritual beast?”
“Yes. A spiritual beast that is friendly to humans.”
Baek Woon slightly lowered the sword aimed at Namgung Yeon's neck.
He had a personal liking for Namgung Yeon.
Even setting aside his skill as an information broker, Namgung Yeon's value was exceptional.
“You believe me?”
“If you had other intentions, you would have ambushed me instead of calling my name.”
“Heh heh. That's Baek Woon for you. I'll buy you a glass of Shaoxing wine later.”
“Never mind that. Shouldn't we be thinking about getting out of here first?”
Baek Woon, Namgung Yeon, and Jang Bong began to walk the path together, talking about what had happened to each of them.
“Ah, by the way, judging from your reaction earlier, it seems you two also met a spiritual beast?”
“A spiritual beast?”
“A spiritual beast friendly to humans, I mean. You met one too, didn't you?”
“Komo…”
“What spiritual beast are you talking about! Sir Baek Woon and I simply struck out, that's all.”
Jang Bong quickly cut into their conversation.
Baek Woon frowned.
What was this?
He was supposed to tell Namgung Yeon about the spiritual beast.
…….
Baek Woon felt a sense of incongruity.
Why had he been about to tell Namgung Yeon this story?
“I don't think that's it. Baek Woon, tell me quickly. Is it true you met a spiritual beast friendly to humans? One that perhaps walked like a human, and did things only a person could do.”
Look at that expression.
“As if a human were inside a spiritual beast's shell.”
The way he waited for his words, wasn't it just like a demon waiting for the information it craved?
“Tsk. What nonsense is that? If I had seen a spiritual beast, do you think I would have just stood by? All we did was fight some monstrous birds.”
Namgung Yeon asked for the information again, but the answer didn't change.
“Hmm. Is that so. I understand.”
Their conversation ended there.
“Ah, by the way. I know this amazing inn…”
As if nothing had happened, Namgung Yeon began to steer the conversation to another topic.
He was acting like a completely different person from a moment ago.
Baek Woon hoped the sense of incongruity he had just felt was merely a groundless fear.
He didn't want to cut down Namgung Yeon with his own sword.
As time passed, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Except, for some reason, the number of birds flying around them had increased.