Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: I Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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Death Tyrant, the Lich King until reaching paradise: 1 hour remaining.
"First, all of us should cooperate..."
"But considering the forces he commands..."
"That's why we..."!
"But at that point..."
"If things go wrong..."
I quietly stepped back and watched the Spirit Kings' meeting.
I wasn't expecting much, but surely some solution would come up.
Tick. Tock.
"...How much time left?"
"He'll arrive in 30 minutes."
Already half the time had passed.
Yet no solution had emerged.
Having waited in place for those 30 minutes, I looked at the Spirit Kings with eyes full of disappointment.
Yeah, I didn't want to admit it, but now I had to.
"It's not just me who's disappointed."
How could these kings let their emotions sway them like this?
Throughout the meeting, the Spirit Kings kept glancing at the Water Spirit King, interrupting the flow several times.
You can't imagine how furious that made me.
"Wind Spirit King. And Lightning Spirit King, you're no different."
Even the two who had chatted with me and left a decent impression weren't much better.
A single cough would halt the conversation, and the slightest movement drew all eyes, stopping the meeting cold.
You have no idea how much I held back from cursing them out.
"Anyone would think she was their lover or something."
No, even lovers wouldn't act like that.
Their behavior was so ridiculous I couldn't even give them a thumbs-up.
"Those fools probably haven't faced real danger since the day they were born. Even if they did, it was always something they crushed right there on the spot, always claiming victory without a scratch. You're expecting solutions from a bunch of idiots soaked in peace, too dumb to know defeat? Hell, I'd applaud your optimism. How can you hope those morons will save this land?"
Scathing.
Tam delivered a brutally harsh assessment of the Spirit Kings.
Who else would dare call the Spirit Kings morons?
"I hate to admit Tam's right!"
But this time, I agreed with him completely.
...Anyway! What kind of brilliant ideas could come from guys who couldn't even focus?
I never thought I'd say this, but honestly, the time felt like a total waste.
"So, what's your plan now?"
"...No choice but to handle it myself."
"You know his location?"
"Now I do."
I hadn't sensed it an hour ago, but now I could clearly detect the Lich King's presence.
An alien aura, utterly unlike any normal lifeform.
He was heading straight this way, and if we stayed put, he'd enter Ceres's domain soon enough.
"Yes, Father."
Ceres's voice sounded even more exhausted than before, as we watched the meeting together.
Feeling sorry for her, I decided to step up and resolve this myself.
"Surely you're not thinking of going alone?"
I'd planned to just spectate, but somehow things had escalated.
"Better this way."
This was a chance to firmly imprint our presence on them.
Honestly, even though Keter had received their blessings, they probably still saw us as beneath them.
"That's why they're trolling around here."
But what could we do?
We just looked too ridiculous to them.
"We'll be holding meetings here often from now on. Can't have Ceres tiptoeing around them."
So, time to flip the dynamic a bit.
Make all the Spirit Kings mind Ceres.
And by then, give her a cool nickname.
"The tree that supports a world where all Spirit Kings watch their step."
"World Tree."
So, move aside already?
I addressed the Fire Spirit King blocking my path.
"Wait. The meeting isn't over yet."
Wait until that pathetic meeting ends?
"Am I crazy? Why would I?"
"Your emotions are flaring. I thought you were calmer, more composed."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Just that you look much better like this."
I ignored Tam's praise echoing in my mind and doused the fireball in front of me with water.
Even the Fire Spirit King, who could evaporate regular water, would suffer bad matchup against pure water essence.
Sizzle...
"Ack! Hot, hot!"
As expected, my water stream visibly weakened his flames.
"Lord El. There are procedures to follow."
"Hey! We can't focus because the Water Spirit King is hurt...!"
I ignored him and stepped forward, speaking to Keter who tried to follow.
"Grandpa, I'll go too."
"But I...!"
I whispered to Keter very quietly, adjusting my voice so no one else could hear.
"But then you'd be moving alone."
"You talking about me?"
Yeah, you.
You know it well.
"Fine. I have to stick with you anyway."
With that, I left Keter and Cheong behind to deal with the Lich King alone...
Grip.
"I'm going too."
"I'll help."
The problem was Cheong refusing to stay and insisting on following me.
But bringing Cheong meant worrying about Ceres and Keter left behind.
With my trust in the Spirit Kings gone, I couldn't leave just the two of them in that place.
At least with Cheong there, I could move with peace of mind to hunt the Lich King.
"Really?!"
Wish coupon.
A bit childish, but effective.
Cheong, who had been puffing her cheeks and glaring, now waved happily with a bright smile.
"Come back safe!"
"So simple."
I hated to admit it, but I somewhat agreed with Tam.
But thanks to that, I could move alone.
Oh, and I deliberately didn't involve Silpi.
"She'd flip out."
Not blocking me, but I could feel the Spirit Kings' gazes fixed on us.
"Silpi's our friend, but the situation's complicated."
Silpi was, after all, a Wind Spirit.
And here were her king, the Wind Spirit King, plus the others.
Would she even side with me against them?
"No way."
Even if she did, rumors in the Spirit Realm would paint her badly.
We couldn't ruin her spirit life because of us.
Oh, grab that first.
"What an excellent environment."
The Lich King leisurely surveyed his surroundings, offering his appraisal.
The previous Earth Spirit King's domain had been so steeped in earth spirit traits that there was nothing but rocks to see. But this place truly deserved the name paradise, with its stunning natural beauty.
"Behold the life force infused in the air. How utterly beautiful. It whispers that this is our true destination."
Grrr.
Clack clack clack.
The skeletons enthusiastically agreed with the Lich King's words.
Having lost their own lives, the undead craved life's warmth even more.
To them, this overflowing vitality was paradise indeed.
The Lich King had originally planned to make the Earth Spirit King's domain his base, but the paradise's abundance ignited his greedy flames, prompting a change of plans.
"This is the perfect place for me."
"...?"
Who? Who dared interrupt the Lich King?
The Lich King turned toward the voice, then expressed puzzlement.
A lifeform stood before him that defied all common sense.
"Are you kin to me?"
The creature emanated the unique aura of those who defied death, just like him.
Yet it was unmistakably alive.
Blood flowed, heart beat, warmth of life pulsed.
"Intriguing."
Gazing at the presumed kin—an Imoogi—the Lich King felt a collector's urge.
I want it.
This paradoxical lifeform, this glitch in the world—he wanted it in his grasp, maddeningly so.
"Kin, what is your name?"
And so the Lich King smiled.
His skeletal face made it look grotesque unintentionally, but that didn't matter.
This wasn't to charm; it was merely to learn the name of his soon-to-be acquisition.