Chapter 109 Casanova Lizard
—
I closed my open mouth.
That’s enough.
“Gegek.”
I’m getting used to showing the inside of my mouth, but it still feels weird showing it to a guy.
Argentavis still had a look of shock on his face.
It was a complex expression, mixed with curiosity, bewilderment, and maybe even hope.
He flapped his massive wings.
Even though I wasn’t thrilled about him being a male Harpy, his wings were so large they were impressive to look at.
“Indeed… Honestly, when I first saw you, I underestimated you a bit. I thought you were just a big lizard that had luckily gained some followers.”
Is it because he’s a bird?
He really has sharp eyes.
Not that he was wrong—I am a big lizard who luckily gained followers.
“But that wasn’t it. You’d have to be at this level to take down Gaechar-goa-dal.”
Argentavis turned to look at the Snake Queen.
“I even wondered if a queen had chosen a mate just based on a lizard’s appearance. I had unkind thoughts about both you and your mate. I officially apologize.”
The Snake Queen flinched slightly.
What’s with this bird’s incredible insight?
But he couldn’t possibly know the full story.
The reason the Snake Queen chose me as her mate was because of Shikshik.
Shikshik had become my follower.
That meant the Snake Queen couldn’t support her as much anymore.
The Snake Queen offered a solution to this.
She linked the Gecko Faith with her own, ensuring support for me.
That way, her daughter would naturally benefit as well.
That’s the reason I think the Snake Queen took me as her mate.
Why else would she want me as a mate?
…Of course, I know I’m a pretty handsome lizard.
Handsome isn’t the right word—maybe “cool” fits better.
I am a lizard with dragon scales, after all.
Shikshik seems to like my dragon scales a lot too.
But that’s probably just admiration.
It’s like how most people think giant dinosaurs are cool.
Some might even say they’d like to see one dressed in a maid outfit, but those are a rare few.
The emotions that spiders, snakes, and lizards feel towards me are probably similar.
The Snake Queen is no different.
She might like my dragon scales, but that wouldn’t lead to any romantic feelings.
Especially since we’re different species.
She must have taken me as her mate for practical reasons.
On paper, at least.
The Snake Queen looked at me.
She was asking if I would accept the apology.
“Gegek!”
Of course, I should.
I mean, he apologized earlier, and he’s apologizing again now.
He’s definitely in the top 1% of birds.
He’s on a completely different level from that wretched Imoogi Bird.
“Alright. Since my mate wishes to forgive, we’ll let it go this time. But my mate says you should explain more about dragons.”
I never said that.
The Snake Queen avoided my gaze.
She seemed to have questions she wanted to ask.
After all, Argentavis, as the former King of Birds, was likely older than the Snake Queen and probably more knowledgeable.
It wouldn’t hurt for me to listen too.
“A dragon. What more could I say? They have antlers like a deer, a long body like a snake, they fly through the sky, bring rain, and possess all kinds of mystical powers. They’re revered as divine beings.”
Argentavis glanced at me.
The dragon he described didn’t resemble me at all.
He was describing the Eastern dragon.
“That’s the dragon most people know. But dragons aren’t all the same. Some lack mystical powers, but their sheer strength earns them the title of a dragon. They’re massive lizards clad in armor, flying with wings and breathing fire that can incinerate everything. That too is a dragon.”
That surprised me.
He was describing the Western dragon with perfect accuracy.
As if he had seen one with his own eyes.
“But having dragon scales doesn’t automatically make you a dragon. The same goes for dragon blood. There are countless creatures in this jungle that possess both.”
I immediately understood what he meant by those creatures.
There are dinosaurs in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
Quite a few of them.
Their skin and scales could be considered dragon scales.
Their blood could also be called dragon blood.
Of course, they’re not true dragons. They’re not as powerful as me.
Especially since I have not just dragon scales, but the Reverse Scale as well.
“But dragon fangs are different. Their teeth may be sharp, but they don’t have the essence of steel. That’s why your mate, with dragon fangs, is closest to being a dragon.”
I keep telling you, these are Komodo dragon teeth.
This misunderstanding seems to be getting worse.
But when I think about it, there’s no need to correct them.
If they treat me like a dragon, it’s to my advantage.
It could even be motivating.
The Snake Queen’s mate is actually a dragon!
And that dragon is on their side.
Even if I just go “gegek,” they’ll feel reassured.
“I’ve heard this before, and it seems mostly accurate.”
The shameless Snake Queen.
If other creatures saw this, they would be impressed by her unwavering expression, believing her words to be true.
But since I’ve seen the Snake Queen’s “ehehe” face, I know she’s acting right now.
Argentavis didn’t seem to notice and shouted loudly.
“With someone so close to being a dragon by our side, what do we have to fear?”
The tense atmosphere from earlier melted away.
What’s the point of a good mood if we’re not going to drink?
We should make sure the liquor Argentavis brought doesn’t go to waste.
“I didn’t prepare much, but drink to your heart’s content.”
The feast began.
“Kikik!”
Pterosaurs, who seemed to be his subordinates, brought in food.
It wasn’t the warm food I had hoped for, but rather the kind you’d find in the wild.
There was meat, of course, and surprisingly, a few mushrooms too.
There were even some bird eggs.
…Are they really okay with serving eggs?
Those must be unfertilized, right?
“Hiek!”
Shikshik wagged her tail and quickly bit into a small egg.
She’s a snake, so it’s natural she’d love eggs.
After all, that’s the typical relationship between birds and snakes.
So, forming this alliance must have been quite a challenge.
While the young Shikshik and the little tit ate the prepared food, the Snake Queen, Argentavis, and I drank the liquor that had been poured.
Not enough to get drunk, but just enough to feel a bit of a buzz.
As a way to solidify our alliance.
Shikshik, having swallowed the egg whole, was now showing off by spitting out just the shell after drinking the yolk. As I watched in awe, Argentavis approached me.
“You.”
He called out to me and glanced at the Snake Queen.
She was busy grabbing food as soon as the pterosaurs brought it over.
Given her massive size, she probably needed a lot of food.
The way she looked disappointed when we shared food before suggests she’d been holding back for a while.
“Gegek.”
Once he confirmed that the Snake Queen was focused on her meal, Argentavis spoke in a low voice.
“Do you know the saying, ‘heroes are also womanizers’?”
Pfft.
I almost spat out the liquor I was drinking.
Of course, I know that saying.
But why bring it up now?
Argentavis glanced at the chirping long-tailed tit.
Then he looked back at me.
More specifically, at my teeth.
“I apologize for earlier. I hope you can understand the position of a father with a daughter.”
Why would he talk about womanizing while looking at his daughter?
It couldn’t be what I think it is, right?
“Tweet…”
The little tit flew over and sat at my feet.
It was so round and cute that it was almost unbearable.
But it didn’t feel entirely innocent.
I sensed Argentavis had ulterior motives.
“If this plan succeeds, she’ll succeed me as the Queen of Birds.”
The little tit lifted her head.
“Tweet!”
Lifting that tiny face didn’t change much, though.
“You don’t seem to be very old, so by the time the Snake Queen retires, you’ll likely take over as the ruler.”
But Shikshik’s here, you know.
And she’s older than me.
The little tit is probably older than me too.
“It’s time to redefine the relationship between snakes and birds. My daughter and you will be the starting point.”
So, you’re asking me to get along with your daughter?
I can understand that.
I’m not planning to live in this jungle forever, but from Argentavis’s perspective, I’m the Snake Queen’s mate.
There’s no harm in having me get along with his daughter.
Not just any lizard, but one he seems to believe is the heir to a dragon.
…Isn’t this a bit too opportunistic?
He was ready to kill me just a moment ago.
Argentavis, perhaps aware of this, smiled awkwardly.
“Haha. She may be my daughter, but she’s quite charming. How could a dragon be content with just one mate?”
Argentavis whispered in a very small voice.
I couldn’t believe my ears.
If the Snake Queen had heard that, alliance or not, a beam of destruction would have been heading his way.
Fortunately, she seemed too engrossed in her meal to notice.
But that’s beside the point.
Wasn’t Argentavis’s suggestion basically, “Take my daughter
as your mate”?
“Tweet…”
The long-tailed tit made a wistful expression.
No matter how wistful the little tit looked, it was still just a little tit.
And you’ve only known me for an hour.
I could somewhat understand the mindset of reptiles and arthropods.
After spending time with them, I got used to it.
But birds were a different story.
Of course, I knew that these birds performed elaborate dances to court females.
In other words, female birds marry based on the male’s flashy appearance.
And when it comes to flashy appearances, I pass with flying colors since I look like a dragon.
…I think I just understood the bird’s mindset.
“Gegegek!”
It’s the curse of knowledge, I suppose.
I didn’t want to know.
“As a father, I can’t just tell you to take my young daughter. Besides, the war isn’t even over yet.”
Then what are you trying to say?
“When my daughter ascends to the throne and when you fully become a dragon, will you come find me?”
What a scoundrel.
Argentavis was a complete opportunist.
He might have some sense of loyalty, though.
“Saaak!”
Shikshik, after swallowing an egg whole, seemed to have caught a scent and quickly crawled over, raising her triangular head.
“Tweet!”
“Shikshik!”
Shikshik and the little tit naturally started bickering.
I suppose it’s a good thing the Snake Queen and Argentavis aren’t fighting.
They both seem to be under some misconceptions.
From the little tit’s perspective, Shikshik is the stone that’s already been placed.
She probably thinks she needs to get rid of her to make room for herself.
On the other hand, Shikshik feels wronged because she already lost the position of mate to the Queen, and now some strange bird is showing up.
A situation where they think they need to push each other away!
That’s probably what they’re thinking, but it’s a big misunderstanding.
I’m really sorry, but I’m into humans.
Sure, you two are cute for animals, but you’re not human.
…If Shikshik became a curvy Lamia like her mom or the little tit turned into a cute Harpy, I might consider it.
“Beep?”
“Tweet?”
Shikshik and the little tit turned their heads in unison.
Could they hear my thoughts?
Shikshik, maybe, but the long-tailed tit shouldn’t be able to.
Even if they could, it’s fine.
It’s not like Shikshik and the little tit are going to turn into humans overnight.
Sure, in the Mirror of Possibilities, I saw that Shikshik might become a beautiful Lamia like her mother, but that’s just a possibility.
Since she’s walking the path of a divine beast, it could take decades.
In other words, I can rest easy for now.
“…Beep.”
“Tweet.”
Shikshik and the little tit stopped fighting.
That’s right, you two need to get along since you’ll be ruling the jungle together.
“Beep.”
“Tweet.”
…It seems they’ve come to an understanding.
I don’t know what it’s about, but if they’ve found a common goal, I can relax.
“Gegek!”
Time to stop worrying and fill my belly.
We’d be moving on as soon as this feast was over.