Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Became the Only Reptile in the Gallery
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-Kuhahaha! Here, drink more!
"Excellent! You too, have some."
-Kuhahahaha!
"Uhahaha!"
No matter how one looked at the spread of dishes or the carefully prepared meal, all that filled the view was an endless blue sea.
At the very bottom of that sea, in the depths known as the abyss—a mysterious place unknown to ordinary folk.
Clink.
-What a clear ring it makes!
"This is the finest tribute of the season! Something about using a five-hundred-year-old pearl, wasn't it?"
-Kahaha! So iridescent~ This will make enjoying the liquor even more splendid!
In that mysterious place, enigmatic beings were amicably tilting their cups.
Though both took human form, each bore distinct traits.
The one on the right seemed made entirely of water, from his hair to his skin, all shimmering blue. The one raising his cup before him had long deer-like antlers sprouting from his head.
One was the king of all water spirits, the other the master of this domain, known as the Dragon King.
Gulp. Gulp.
They tipped their cups to each other in perfect harmony, the scene one of utter tranquility.
With a lavish spread of over twelve trays of side dishes filling the table between them, the Water Spirit King spoke first.
-By the way, have you decided who to promote to imoogi this time?
Choosing who becomes an imoogi is entirely up to the Dragon King's whim.
No matter how strong or weak, as long as it catches the Dragon King's fancy, it can become an imoogi.
In response to the Water Spirit King's question, the Dragon King stroked his chin.
"Hmm. No one really appeals to me..."
Munch. Munch.
"Oh, this is pretty good. Maybe I should make the one who made this an imoogi!"
And just like that, a new candidate for imoogi was added in an instant.
The Spirit King chuckled at the absurd spectacle and subtly drew something from his bosom.
-Dragon King, take this.
"Hm? What's that?"
It looked like nothing more than an ordinary flower.
Yet the Dragon King sensed an inexplicable, strange aura from it.
Yes, it felt like the burden he carried had lightened, making his body feel freer and more at ease.
-Since you shared such fine liquor, I had to offer something worthy in return.
"Ho. It may look like a plain flower, but the power it holds is anything but."
-It's a flower that blooms in the Spirit Realm.
A flower from the Spirit Realm.
At those words, the Dragon King's eyes gleamed.
"Could this be a Formless Flower?"
-Exactly. Your insight is as sharp as ever.
"Heh. To think I'd live to see a Formless Flower with my own eyes!"
Formless Flower.
A rare bloom unique to the Spirit Realm. Depending on the color of its bud, it greatly amplifies the surrounding energies. It's a precious item often used to craft elixirs harnessing that power or to create training grounds infused with specific attributes.
The bud here was blue.
Thus, the power expended in ruling this place diminished, naturally easing some fatigue.
"I always thought Formless Flowers were mere legend."
-Kahaha! Legend! Not entirely wrong, perhaps.
Formless Flowers are rare even in the Spirit Realm.
Moreover, bringing items from there causes nine out of ten to lose their power or shatter under interdimensional pressure, reduced to unrecognizable forms.
Preserving one intact, with its effects fully intact, required the skill of a Spirit King like him.
"I got something far too precious for just one bottle of liquor."
-Then bring out more liquor!
"Of course! I have a treasured vintage I've been saving..."
Whoooong.
Elated by the gift of the Formless Flower, the Dragon King decided to bring out one of his prized liquors.
Yes, such a gift deserved pairing with his own treasure to elevate the mood even further!
-So both of you were here.
But the Dragon King couldn't leave his seat.
He had just started to rise when...
An uninvited guest intruded upon their drinking table.
-Huh? What brings you here?
"Ho! If it isn't the Wind Spirit King!"
Yet the two beamed with delight upon recognizing the intruder, laughing happily.
The Wind Spirit King ruled the wind spirits, just as the Water Spirit King before them ruled water—a fellow king.
-Haven't you been busy lately?
"Indeed. Even the rumors suggest as much... but you look even more exhausted than they say."
The Wind Spirit King, sporting dark circles like he might collapse any moment, waved dismissively at their words.
-The smell of liquor is overwhelming.
Whoosh.
"Refreshing!"
-Mm!
With a casual gesture, the Wind Spirit King dispersed every trace of alcohol.
Evidently not planning to stay long, he addressed them with a stern expression.
-I came because I have a question for you two.
-What could our dear Wind King possibly wonder about!
"Ugh. He even cleared the buzz completely."
Forced into sobriety against his will, the Dragon King grumbled but listened attentively.
To hear the purpose of this visit.
-The reason I came is you, Dragon King.
"Me?"
Nod.
-Do you know about the child I cherish?
"Ah, that Silpi or whatever her name is?"
-Isn't she the one you praised so highly? The prodigy you said would succeed you as Wind Spirit King.
The Wind Spirit King nodded at that.
Yes, among countless spirits, the one he pinned his greatest hopes on.
Though currently a lower spirit, she was destined to surpass mid-tier, upper, supreme—and become a Spirit King.
-But lately, she's holed up somewhere strange and won't come out, they say?
"Haha! I heard about that too! Folks are joking she's not a wind spirit but an earth one, stuck in a cave!"
-The earth spirits have been buzzing about it!
"Oops, I misspoke!"
These guys.
Openly teasing him right to his face: 'Your genius spirit turned hikikomori, huh?'
The Wind Spirit King, a vein nearly popping on his forehead, recalled his reason for coming and calmed his anger.
Fuuu.
Yes, endure it.
Solve this issue well, and he could cure Silpi's hikiko... no, her desire to rest idly.
If he could resolve it, he could overlook even this blatant mockery.
-That child spoke to me directly.
-...Huh? Isn't she just a lower spirit?
The Water Spirit King furrowed his brow.
"Is that a problem?"
Perhaps due to the Water Spirit King's expression, the Dragon King asked curiously.
The Water Spirit King nodded matter-of-factly, explaining why it was an issue.
-Of course it is. The system doesn't allow lower spirits' words to reach a Spirit King in the first place. We're not lounging around all day. With so many spirits under us, do you think we'd hear every single message? They naturally get filtered out along the chain.
To the higher-ranking spirits above them, that is.
Of course, messages aren't completely ignored.
Merely handled by a different responder.
Typically, mid-tier spirits answer lower ones.
If the mid-tier doesn't know, an upper-tier; if not, a supreme-tier responds.
-What on earth did she say to reach you directly?
To that question, the Wind Spirit King lightly waved his hand, letting them hear it themselves.
The frail girl's voice spread on the wind.
It was Silpi's exact message to the Wind Spirit King.
-Heh. This question made it all the way to you?
"Hmm."
Both beings doubted their own ears at the content.
No, really? This got through?
Shouldn't they be reprimanding their subordinates for failing to handle such a query properly?
But the Wind Spirit King smiled proudly instead.
Yes, they probably thought it had gone through the proper channels step by step.
But the truth was different.
-A few days ago, this message came directly to me. Bypassing everyone else.
Twitch.
The Water Spirit King flinched at those words.
His fierce glare demanded no jokes, but the Wind Spirit King shook his head lightly to affirm it was true.
-Heh. This is a true prodigy. Even more than the rumors.
For a mere lower spirit to pierce through mid, upper, supreme tiers and contact the Spirit King directly.
It was shocking.
The lavish praise from the Wind Spirit King now made perfect sense—a talent so extraordinary it bordered on terrifying.
"So, you came to us about that lowly creature aspiring to become a spiritual being?"
-Well, you could say that.
-That hikikomori spirit made friends? They must be no ordinary bunch.
Indeed. They were anything but ordinary.
While handling Silpi's query amid his busy schedule, the Wind Spirit King had investigated her and her surroundings.
-I was shocked too. To think she'd befriended a tiger descended from divine bloodlines and a snake who attained wisdom transcending its race.