Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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Yeouiju.
If I were to rank the things I needed right now, it would proudly claim the top spot without question.
And now.
The Wind Spirit King had sent the Yeouiju as a gift through Silpi.
'Since when did he notice?'
There was no way he'd just casually send over something like the Yeouiju without any reason.
He must have figured out our connection somehow... probably using the wind, the domain he rules over. Specifically, he noticed my existence.
If it were just a friendly gesture meaning "let's get along," a real gift, that'd be one thing. Unfortunately, this wasn't something you could brush off lightly.
"Shaa. Shaaa."
'Did the Wind Spirit King ask for anything else?'
If my suspicions were correct, he must have made some demand of me—or Silpi—in exchange for this.
'So he's planning to ask later, then.'
He's trying to leave me in his debt.
If I use the Yeouiju like this, who knows what kind of favor he'll call in down the line to settle the score.
'But......'
It was too tempting to refuse.
Is this what they mean by a poisoned chalice?
Even knowing it might bring danger in the future, my possessiveness toward the Yeouiju right in front of me wouldn't fade. If anything, it grew stronger, fueling greedy thoughts.
Yeah, like sacrificing Silpi and Cheong, for example...
I froze.
"Shaaaaak!"
'Shiiiiiit!'
"Myaak?!"
Did I suddenly swearing out loud startle them?
Silpi and Cheong jumped in surprise and stared at me.
But I ignored their gazes and kept glaring at the Yeouiju.
Daring to plant those impure thoughts in me?
"Shaa."
'Silpi.'
"Shaaak."
'Smash that thing. Right now.'
Daring to make me think like that.
That's the Yeouiju?
I narrowed my eyes, realizing the influence it was having on me.
'What kind of cursed item is this?'
What kind of item debuffs its own owner!
And it's the Yeouiju, of all things!
'This won't do.'
I had my suspicions.
Is this even the real Yeouiju?
I needed to confirm it.
With the heroes in the gallery across countless dimensions.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding.
Still, it would take a while for the answer I wanted to show up.
Hm. Yeah, Yeouijus are rare to even glimpse.
Not like you see dragons in the original timeline either.
But I believe.
In a hero who'll give a cool answer to my question.
Ding.
Yes! That's it!
I knew you'd come through!
Records of the Past!
That place records data on past visitors and lets you simulate battles with them.
In the game, it was just an event spot, but apparently it's real in reality too.
'More importantly, the Yeouiju is different.'
I looked back at the Yeouiju in Silpi's hand.
Unlike the comments said, it was still a transparent orb with nothing inside.
But I couldn't outright dismiss it based on that comment alone, because there's a key difference: imoogi don't wield Yeouiju—dragons do.
Imoogi create Yeouiju, and dragons wield them.
Maybe this Yeouiju was blank because it had no owner yet, no energies infused into it.
Ssss.
Could I even take that Yeouiju?
That thing tempting me with impure thoughts—could I really claim it?
"Shaa?"
'Huh?'
Whoosh.
"Mya mya mya! Myaaang!"
Something wrong...
'Sigh.'
Sparkle sparkle.
"Shaaa."
'This is driving me nuts.'
What choice should I make?
Please, give me an answer!
Ding.
I froze.
Resist it? And find a counter item?
I quickly replied to the new comment.
Sigh, knew it.
I shook my head and focused on the Yeouiju in front of me.
It was just me and the Yeouiju now.
Silpi and Cheong had realized my odd behavior was because of it and kindly left it with me while stepping aside.
'Seriously. Does it have a passive curse or something?'
Just looking at it whispers "take me." And the tone felt even more pushy than before.
Roll roll roll.
Like Cheong rolling an Amrita with her paw for fun, I rolled the Yeouiju with the tail that had regrown after she nibbled it.
So, what to do with this guy?
Too awkward to eat, too awkward not to. A total hot potato.
"Shaaa."
'Hey. Can you hear me?'
Given how it kept egging me on, maybe it had a personality? But sadly, talking to it just brought more bizarre thoughts, same as before.
'The Five Elements needed to create a Yeouiju.'
Fire. Water. Wood. Metal. Earth.
And additionally, wind and lightning.
Could I sense those seven energies in the Yeouiju? Honestly, no clue.
Where the hell were they in this orb?
Touching it just felt like smooth glass.
But Silpi recognized it as a Yeouiju the instant she saw it.
'How?'
Could she sense the energies inside? Like how she immediately knew I had earth and metal auras.
'If so.'
Maybe this approach would work?
'Hmm......'
Honestly, even I thought this was a bit insane.
But I had no confidence in handling the Yeouiju properly otherwise.
Carrying around a cursed item like that until I became a dragon? I'd go mad.
No way I was keeping it long-term.
A few suspected alchemists and engineers chimed in, and I took heart from the ones saying the odds weren't zero percent.
And yeah, one said it too.
Assembly is disassembly in reverse.
Snap.
'Alright. Let's do this.'
If I couldn't use it properly and might end up tossing it, better to go reckless and make use of it this way.
Snap.
I opened my mouth as wide as possible.
Wide enough to swallow Cheong's head whole.
Rip.
'Ow, that hurts!'
Obviously, at my current size, that wasn't feasible.
Even with my flexible jaws, going beyond the limit tore the corners of my mouth. Expected.
'But I can tough it out!'
It hurt. But this pain?
Compared to pulling teeth, it was just a tickle.
Thud.
My mouth finally reached max stretch and lunged at the target, slowly pushing the round thing down my throat.
'Assembly is disassembly in reverse.'
So, disassemble this nasty Yeouiju, absorb the energies inside, and make my own.
Yeah. Better a fresh one I craft myself than some used hand-me-down.
...Gulp.