Chapter 117
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: How to Flip the Domino (1)
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"So, you're going to call me master?"
"Bibeng!"
"Hmm, isn't this attitude change a bit too sudden?"
"Bee-bibeng, bibeng."
"You've been planning this from the start? Really? And you want me to call you Bibeng?"
"Bibeng!"
"Hmm."
King Stoma—no, Bibeng—nodded its plump head with a pop.
Lloyd fiddled with his chin.
His skeptical gaze turned toward Bibeng.
"You know, something feels off about you."
"Bibeng?"
"Your attitude flipped way too fast. Just a minute ago, you were snarling at everyone here like you wanted to fight them all?"
"Bee-bibeng?"
"Yeah, exactly. I was even worried you'd bite the hand holding you."
"Bibeng?"
"Playing innocent? That was like one minute ago."
"B-Bibeng."
"You don't remember?"
"Bibeng."
"You wanted to see our sincerity?"
"B-Bee-bibeng."
"Hmm."
King Stoma—no, Bibeng—sat obediently in his palm.
Lloyd's gaze soured as he looked at the creature.
'Something's definitely up.'
He recalled what had happened moments ago.
Bibeng had been genuinely ferocious.
Shrinking it down with the blue sunflower seed had been fine, but negotiation or persuasion was impossible. No, even holding a conversation had been difficult.
It was because of its extreme hostility toward humans.
'It was a complete wild animal.'
Talking wasn't going to work.
It wouldn't even open its heart to them.
No persuasion or coaxing got through.
It was tricky.
That's why he had the sudden idea.
What if he showed Bibeng Podong, Bangul, and Hamang?
He hoped seeing other fantasy species like itself might soften its attitude.
But lo and behold.
The moment he pulled out his fantasy species and showed them.
Bibeng's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.
Lightning-fast switch-up.
'There's definitely something here.'
A creature that had been so savage.
There had to be a reason for this sudden change.
'If I figure out the reason, I might be able to use it more easily.'
Lloyd's eyes narrowed further.
He scrutinized Bibeng in his palm.
Its chubby body language, expression, gaze—everything.
He scanned and analyzed without missing a detail.
Then he noticed it.
'The angle it's standing at. From Bangul's perspective, it's a slanted 45 degrees. Is that the angle that makes its belly look slimmest? And it's sneakily glancing only toward Bangul?'
He reached a conclusion.
'So this guy... could it be?'
A smirk crept up one corner of Lloyd's mouth.
"Hey, you."
"Bibeng?"
"You've got a crush, huh?"
"B-Bibeng?"
"But I think I know who it is."
"B-Bee-bibeng?"
Bibeng's expression visibly wavered.
Lloyd's smile deepened.
"Ah, her round head, plump figure, tail with a tinkling bell..."
"Bee-bibeng! Bibeng! Bee-bee-bibeng!"
"Absolutely not? You don't know what I'm talking about? For real?"
"Bibeng!"
Bibeng nodded frantically.
Lloyd's smile grew even thicker.
'Confirmed.'
This guy was totally smitten with Bangul.
'Then what about Bangul?'
He glanced at Bangul's reaction.
It was tilting its head, looking at Bibeng.
But there was nothing beyond curiosity in its eyes.
'Ah, the sorrow of unrequited love.'
Welcome to the single squad.
Lloyd spoke with a bright smile.
"Alright, fine. If you say so, then that's that."
"Bibeng!"
"Good. Anyway, so you'll serve me as your master now?"
"Bee-bibeng."
"Great decision. But I've got one question."
"Bibeng?"
"Who summoned you?"
He was genuinely curious.
Who had summoned this creature?
And why was it living alone here without a master?
'It might mean there's someone else besides me who can summon fantasy species.'
That was a big deal.
Being able to summon fantasy species could mean...
They might also have access to the RP System's benefits.
That's why Lloyd was so curious about who—or what—had summoned Bibeng.
Probably why he let out a secret sigh of relief at Bibeng's quick reply.
"Bee-bibeng, bibeng! Bibeng-bibeng."
"What? No one summoned you?"
"Bibeng!"
Bibeng nodded.
It continued.
"Bibeng, bee-bibeng, bibeng!"
"Hmm, let me sum it up. One day, you just popped into existence in this world, no one around, and you've never met another fantasy species like yourself since?"
"Bibeng!"
"...For over 500 years?"
"Bibeng!"
"Hmm."
It seemed naturally occurring fantasy species like Bibeng were extremely rare cases.
Lloyd organized his thoughts that way.
But then.
Bibeng spoke in a worried tone.
"Bee-bibeng? Bibeng?"
"What? You're asking if that guy's okay?"
"Bibeng!"
Bibeng was now pointing at someone with a concerned look.
And the person Bibeng was pointing at was...
"That's Haviel Asrahan. But why him?"
"Bibeng, bee-bee-bibeng. Bibeng!"
"What? He suddenly started spouting nonsense?"
"Bee-bibeng! Bibeng!"
"The word vomit wasn't a joke? His head's a bit off? And that's why you're worried?"
"Bibeng!"
"Ah, it's fine. He does that sometimes."
"Bee-bibeng?"
"Truth is, he was called a genius in the neighborhood as a kid. But at seven, he fell from a persimmon tree and..."
"Lord Lloyd, we can all hear you."
"..."
"I didn't know you had a knack for black propaganda and slander via rumors."
"Ahem, see? He's perfectly fine most of the time, just occasionally like that. Cut him some slack."
"Bibeng!"
Bibeng nodded innocently.
Haviel furrowed his brow slightly.
Lloyd grinned at the sight.
'Anyway, mission accomplished.'
Waking the ruler of Lake Capua, King Stoma.
Using the forcibly activated King Stoma's territorial marking to stop the monster domino effect.
He had achieved that goal.
No, not just activated—it was now under his command with a master-servant bond.
'A kind of overachievement.'
Of course, forming the bond didn't mean it was over.
Plus, Bibeng—once called King Stoma—had its massive size as both a strength and weakness.
'The complete opposite of Podong and the others.'
Podong and Bangul were small normally.
Perfect for carrying in a pocket.
They could grow with red sunflower seeds when needed.
But Bibeng?
The opposite.
Its normal size was a whopping 100 meters.
It could only shrink with blue sunflower seeds for portability.
And even then, the shrunken state lasted max 24 hours at a time.
'In other words, limits to carrying it around and using it constantly.'
So, should he stick to the original plan? Release it in Lake Capua, let it roam free, raise it(?), and use it as a breakwater against the monster domino?
Only bring it along for rare occasions when needed.
Lloyd pondered briefly.
But then.
"Lord Lloyd?"
Haviel called from beside him.
Turning, Lloyd saw Haviel pointing across the lakeshore.
"Over there—it looks like our territory's scouting party."
"What? Scouting party?"
"The one you sent beyond the Eastern Mountains last time."
"Oh, them?"
Lloyd looked where Haviel pointed, across the lake.
A group in the engineering corps uniforms of his territory.
Distant, but recognizable.
Right after repelling the mastodon herd last time, he'd sent them to check on the orc tribes beyond the Eastern Mountains.
"Let's go."
They seemed to be returning from scouting.
Lloyd led everyone across the lake dam.
The scouts looked glad to see them approaching.
"Lord Lloyd? Didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah. Everyone safe?"
"Yes. Fortunately, no stragglers."
The scout leader was the soldier who'd hurt his back during the orc village's stone ice storage construction.
"Good. How was the orc village?"
"Uh, well..."
The soldier's expression darkened.
"They're fighting fiercely."
"Fighting? Against the incoming monsters?"
"Yes."
"Huh."
Lloyd was stunned.
He knew orcs were brave warriors.
But he hadn't expected them to stand their ground instead of evacuating.
'The casualties must be insane.'
This monster domino wasn't a joke. Repelling one herd didn't end it.
Waves of different monsters kept coming relentlessly.
Blocking a couple waves meant nothing.
The endless onslaught whittled down forces. Fatigue set in. Collapse followed.
That was the real terror of this crisis.
'That's why I tried creating an ecological barrier with Bibeng.'
Yet, despite the horror, the orcs stood firm, fighting with raw power.
Lloyd was awed by their bravery and recklessness.
He also felt he should save them.
'They're reliable allies.'
Not moral duty.
Pure pragmatism.
Stalwart beings worth using long-term as friends.
He didn't want to lose the Iron Sand Tribe so easily.
'So, what to do.'
He pondered.
Effective ways to support the orc tribe.
Minimize his own losses.
Maximize gains.
Current situation.
Available forces and resources.
Timing and opportunity.
Pros, cons, methods.
Process and outcome.
He fitted all the pieces together.
Built it up like construction, slotting and stacking.
Finally, he reached a conclusion.
"Bibeng?"
"Bibeng?"
"If you grow big again, can you carry all of us?"
"Bee-bibeng?"
"I'm thinking of heading east like this. All the way to the wasteland at the eastern foothills. Possible?"
"Bibeng? Bee-bibeng?"
Bibeng's face showed reluctance.
It had lived its whole life near this lakeshore.
Leaving the lake for the wasteland beyond the mountains?
Even for its new master Lloyd, it didn't appeal.
But then.
"If you do this favor for me, certain someones will be eeextremely happy."
Lloyd's sweetly coaxing voice poked at its eardrums.
He even subtly nodded toward Bangul at the end.
"...Bibeng?"
Bibeng swallowed dryly.
For real?
If I carry everyone to the eastern foothills?
Bangul will be happy?
Lloyd's voice grew even more coaxing.
"Come on, imagine it. Her delighted face. And she serves me loyally, you know? If she sees you obeying me obediently? Won't she feel that shared loyalty and security with the same master?"
"B-Bibeng?"
"Her gaze toward you might change."
"..."
"How about it?"
An irresistibly sweet temptation, like poisoned fruit.
Bibeng nodded vigorously without thinking.
"B-Bibeng! Bee-bibeng!"
"Of course you can? Wow, impressive. She'll probably think so too."
"Bibeng!"
For her!
Bibeng raised its hotteok-like front paw high.
Even then, it sneaked a glance at Bangul's reaction while taking the red sunflower seed from Lloyd.
After confirming Lloyd's group had backed off about 100 meters, it chewed and swallowed.
Crunch, gulp.
The change came instantly.
Boom!
The world shrank before its eyes.
No—back to original size.
"Bibeng! Bee-bibeng!"
Now 100 meters tall again, Bibeng roared powerfully. It lowered its body to the ground. Gestured for Lloyd to hop on quick.
Boarding(?) proceeded smoothly.
Lloyd, Haviel, the 20 scouts, even 500 White Lancers.
Its broad, solid back had room to spare.
"Alright, depart. East!"
"Bibeng!"
Hold on tight!
It kicked off the ground with a spirited cry.
They left beloved Lake Capua behind.
Marched east relentlessly.
Crossed valleys in one stride.
Scaled peaks in a few bounds.
Panting through the run, they traversed the mountains.
In just six hours, they crossed the Eastern Mountains.
"Good. Keep going east!"
"Bibeng!"
Lloyd rode atop Bibeng's head, acting as human navigator.
Soon, familiar terrain appeared.
The path to the black mage's lair once.
The granite quarry where Haviel first used blasting.
Beyond it, the barren yellowish wasteland.
And the massive dust cloud rising there.
'That's where the Iron Sand Tribe village is.'
Lloyd's eyes narrowed at the dust.
Clear as day.
Dust rose continuously from the village's location in his memory.
Straining his ears, he heard shouts and roars mixed in.
Lloyd spoke quickly.
"Bibeng, listen up from now!"
"Bibeng!"
"First, drop us off up ahead. Once we're all down, charge toward that dust cloud."
"Bee-bibeng?"
"Yeah, straight there. You'll see orcs and monsters in the dust."
"Bibeng? Bee-bibeng?"
"No, no—the orcs aren't enemies. Leave the orcs alone. Just smash the monsters."
"Bibeng?"
"As majestically and ferociously as possible. Impress those monsters who've come this far so much they flee east screaming for mama, spreading the word. Make it terrifyingly impactful. Can you do it? If you pull it off awesomely—"
Lloyd's voice turned coaxing again.
"'She' will be thrilled?"
"Bibeng!"
As expected, 'she' was the magic word.
Bibeng nodded immediately.
After dropping everyone off, it charged toward the Iron Sand village.
Imagining Bangul watching its cool self.
Hoping she'd fall for it.
Burning with max enthusiasm ever.
"Bee-bee-bibeng! Bibeng!"
Orcs, make way!
Roaring, it plunged into the dust.
Passed stunned orc warriors in a flash.
Locked onto enemies in the thick dust.
"Grrrk?"
A 50-meter magic beast widened its eyes at the sudden intruder.
Crocodile-like elongated maw.
Jagged teeth protruding within.
Armor-like scales even horns couldn't pierce.
Claws specialized for ripping prey bellies.
The wasteland's fiercest predator, the megalania.
But megalania or whatever—Bibeng didn't care.
Anything blocking its path now was just a sacrifice to its first love's purity!
"Bee-bibeng!"
Thud-quaaaang—!
With a mighty roar.
Bibeng's 3,000-ton first-love punch, loaded with its full weight, smashed into the megalania's face.