Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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Spiritual Beast (靈物).
A profoundly mysterious and spiritual creature, far too enigmatic for humans to comprehend.
A realm attainable only by a select few chosen beasts, and in stories, their mere appearance often turns the tide like a cheat code, providing massive aid in resolving crises.
And it's the very position I'm targeting right now.
But get this.
I truly never imagined this outcome...
Not even once.
No, come on—who would have?
That I might fail to reach the goal I've chased all this time...
That day was supposed to be just another ordinary one.
Wake up in the morning, eat some Amrita. Play with Silpi and Cheong. Browse the gallery. Lunchtime Amrita. Play again. More gallery. Dinner Amrita, play some more, and wrap up the day. The usual routine, nothing special.
But today was different.
Same as always until morning, but the afternoon brought an unexpected addition.
"Hey, you two ultimately want to become spiritual beasts, right?"
It all started with Silpi's question.
I was puzzled by the sudden query, but her eyes held such desperate earnestness that Cheong and I nodded without hesitation.
We weren't lying, after all. That's exactly why we're here—to become spiritual beasts.
"I knew it?!"
Silpi's joy exploded far beyond what I'd anticipated.
I figured the reason was the lifespan gap.
Obviously, the difference between a spiritual beast's lifespan and a regular beast's is laughably vast.
Spiritual beasts possess lifespans beyond imagination, enough to motivate survival until the original story's timeline.
And spirits boast comparable—or even superior—longevity.
Silpi must have been thinking something like this:
If they don't become spiritual beasts, we'll have to part forever soon.
She had to be anxious.
Finally escaping that cave, only to lose her two friends she'd come to call such.
For her, it would have been an agonizing, heartbreaking ordeal.
'But both of us dream of becoming spiritual beasts.'
So Silpi could finally relax.
If we both succeeded, she'd never have to say goodbye to her friends.
"Th-then, want me to help?!"
That must be why.
Unlike our usual eat-and-play routine, Silpi proactively offered her assistance.
'What's this? Sudden change of heart?'
Pondering parting and lifespans out of nowhere?
There had to be a trigger.
I narrowed my eyes, watching her intently, and soon spotted something crumbled in the distance.
'That's...'
The stone tower Silpi had fetched from deep inside before.
Ten stones of varying sizes, meticulously carved by wind and stacked just right.
I'd wondered how long it'd last when she first brought it, but it'd held up surprisingly well.
Guess it finally toppled.
'No way.'
She didn't draw some profound realization from a collapsed stone tower, did she?
No matter how you slice it, that wouldn't spark existential thoughts on life and death.
...Probably?
'Overreacting, or just wildly imaginative?'
Well, since she's offering help, let's call it rich imagination.
Think positive.
"Okay, gather here first!"
Ssssh.
Hop.
We quietly assembled before Silpi.
Our obedience must've shocked her—her eyes went wide.
Makes sense for me, but even prankster Cheong complying? That'd be novel.
Still, the kid's perceptive. Sensing Silpi's unusual seriousness, he held back his antics and followed suit—brilliant call. Deserves applause.
'...Oh right, no hands.'
Mental claps it is. Clap clap clap.
"Alright! First, I'll explain the essential steps to becoming a spiritual beast!"
I already knew.
A body acclimated to mana absorption, and the mind to wield it.
"To become a spiritual beast, you gotta handle mana first!"
Old news.
But I played along, neither zoning out nor correcting her.
Seeing her pour her heart into this for us? We'd all reach the same conclusion.
"Uh... Mana is the energy permeating the world we live in..."
"Meow~."
"Shaa."
Unlike me, Cheong couldn't endure the lecture. As time dragged, he started glancing away and yawning more often.
I'd nudge him back to focus with my tail each time, but even that was hitting its limit.
"So, from what I've seen, your bodies are already nearly fully adapted. You just need to master the sensation of holding mana inside!"
How to keep Cheong engaged...
Lost in that thought, Silpi's words jolted me.
Our bodies already nearly adapted to mana?
I'd figured more time was needed. This was off-script.
"Just moving so freely here like you two already qualifies you fully."
Silpi explained that the bodily adaptation threshold for mana isn't that demanding.
Since you store mana internally, nurture it, and adapt your body in tandem—as long as you can withstand containing it initially, you're good.
"The real hurdle to becoming a spiritual beast is low beast intelligence back then."
If beasts had human-level smarts, we'd see multiples more spiritual beasts.
'Kinda shocking.'
I'd assumed the process dragged due to lengthy adaptation and mana mastery.
Turns out, it's just beasts' wits can't bridge the gap.
"Unlike other animals I've observed, you two are scary smart. Becoming spiritual beasts will be a breeze."
Whoooong.
"Mana ties closely to us spirits. So I'll assess your mana affinity, current state, and the road ahead."
With that, Silpi placed a hand on Cheong's torso first.
A soft breeze stirred the cave as she shut her eyes, deep in focus.
"Hmm. Cheong, you'll become one smoothly like this. Feels like you instinctively know how to wield mana. Makes sense—both parents spiritual beasts, huh?"
"Meong?"
"As expected, Cheong's amazing!"
"Meow meow!"
I'd predicted as much for Cheong.
Hell, if this guy doesn't make it, who would? He's shown prodigy-level prowess.
Plus, dual spiritual beast lineage.
Born super elite, from the seedling up.
"Meow!"
Thrilled by the praise, he rampaged extra hard—meanwhile, Silpi approached me.
"Now for El."
"Shaa."
'Do your best.'
I'm no Cheong.
She'd already graded me once: no special lineage.
Ancient traits, nonstop Amrita since hatching, past-life memories granting human intellect—those lucky breaks got me this far.
Srrrrk.
Silpi's hand glided softly over me.
One second. Five. Ten.
Faint wind accompanied her closed eyes and concentration.
"......"
"Shaa?"
'Silpi?'
Unlike with Cheong, she kept her eyes shut no matter how long.
Cold sweat beaded; her face twisted in agony.
What the hell?
The mood darkened.
Even romping Cheong picked up on it, padding over quietly to await results.
Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty.
Only after another half hour did Silpi stir.
Hand retreating cautiously, eyes quivering.
That vibe screamed bad news. Tense, I hissed,
"Shaaah?"
'That bad?'
Nod.
She nodded silently.
What had she sensed?
"El... You..."
Her lips parted gingerly, voice trembling uncontrollably.
"As is... you won't become a spiritual beast."
Words to crater the situation utterly.
"Shaa?"
'What?'
"El, that poison of yours... Way more dangerous than I thought."
She laid it out.
The reason I couldn't.
"I knew your poison was growing fast before, but this toxic? Unthinkable. You're just a normal snake—how?!"
My poison.
Blocking my path to spiritual beast.
"I'll... find a method."
Silpi hadn't foreseen this.
Neither had I.
Who'd guess my ace weapon was a growth roadblock?
"Shaa."
'So fix the poison, and it's fine?'
"Right. But solving it..."
It's okay.
That's plenty.
I felt grateful toward Silpi.
Learning this crucial truth now.
Discovering it way later? No clue how I'd react.
Ssssh.
I slithered to a spot beyond their view.
Didn't want them witnessing what came next.
"H-hey, where to?"
"Shaa."
'Back soon. Just wait.'
"I'll scout methods! It'll take time, but solvable for sure!"
No telling how long.
The instant the cause surfaced, I'd decided.
'Yeah, doesn't fit anyway.'
A dragon aspirant wielding poison?
Not even Imoogi do.
'Might skip meals awhile.'
Vomiting up part of yourself kills appetite, yeah?
Leaving Cheong and Silpi behind, I plunged deep into the thicket.