Chapter 140: Toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
My large and beautiful size.
The dragon-like scales.
The sharp teeth.
The mighty tail.
…All of that had disappeared.
“Geh-eek!”
I let out a sad cry, and Shikshik, crawling toward me as if to comfort me.
“Shiriik…”
Her eyes looked strange.
I didn’t know what she was thinking, but she flicked her tongue and drooled….
“Gekgek.”
I felt like I was about to learn what the inside of Shikshik looked like.
I quickly averted my gaze.
In my current state, I seemed to be nothing more than a nutritious snack to Shikshik.
“Kekekek.”
A small dinosaur that might save me made a raspy sound.
It was Soaring Dragon, the master of miniaturization.
Perhaps because he was old, he seemed to know something.
Old man. Please solve this.
I stared at Kompi with such an expression.
“Khehek. Kekekek.”
He wasn’t here to solve anything, just to laugh at me.
That was the expression on his face.
“Gegek!”
Old man, go away too.
In a desperate attempt, I tried following the strange dance steps in reverse, but nothing changed.
“Geeng….”
I collapsed, wearing the expression of a lizard who had lost everything.
“Hm…”
Baek Yeonyeong grabbed my tail and lifted me up.
“Ggek.”
Does she know something?
“I like the fat on your belly.”
“Geh-eek!”
Stop indulging your desires and check my condition.
Baek Yeonyeong, who had been fondling my belly for quite some time, began flipping my body over, checking my condition.
“Is it a side effect of using too much power?”
She reached the same conclusion I had.
No matter how I thought about it, that had to be it.
I had pushed myself to the point where I could land an effective hit on Gaetsalgoadal, who had borrowed the power of Taese, so side effects were inevitable.
But still, could my size really shrink this much?
“Don’t worry too much. You’ll naturally return to normal in time.”
Well, that was somewhat reassuring.
Since I had already taken down the Bird King, there was no need for any more risky fights.
Even in this body, I could manage everyday life just fine.
“Of course, I don’t know how long it will take.”
“Gek?”
Now that’s a bit concerning.
For now, I should be able to take down most enemies even with this small body.
I’m not just any ordinary lizard; I’m a lizard who has learned martial arts from Soaring Dragon.
And there’s no reason to fight anyone who isn’t a serious threat anyway.
Thinking about it that way, I could just relax, but something felt off.
My pride as a lizard wouldn’t allow it.
The dignity of a divine beast, the Komodo, would be tarnished.
Look.
Even now, Baek Yeonyeong was fiddling with my hands.
“Gegegek!”
I tried to bite her, but in my current state, there was no way I could pierce Baek Yeonyeong’s fingers.
“Of course, if a skilled doctor took a look at you, the recovery period might be shortened.”
A skilled doctor!
As expected of Baek Yeonyeong.
She had it all planned out.
“But doctors who treat spiritual beasts aren’t common.”
Then why did you bring it up?
“There is one in our cult, though.”
“Gegek!”
As expected of Baek Yeonyeong.
“But they aren’t used to handling spiritual beasts as small as you, so the side effects could worsen.”
My face sharpened.
“But fortunately, an external expert has just arrived.”
I didn’t believe her.
“Gek.”
She was probably trying to tease me again.
“What’s this? Your snout seems to be getting longer.”
“Gekgek.”
“Are you doubting my words? You saw them too.”
I saw them too?
Wait.
An external expert.
A spiritual beast expert.
Small in size.
…Tang something!
The daughter of the Tang family, skilled in handling spiritual beasts, and with a small energy pouch.
“Gekgek!”
Tang So-yeong wasn’t particularly powerful herself.
But she was recognized within the Tang family, entrusted with managing a Dilophosaurus.
And not just any Dilophosaurus, but one that used the technique of Mancheonhwau.
It was proof that although her martial prowess was lacking, she excelled in other areas.
In fact, she was the one who saved Nephila’s life.
Moreover, I was a Komodo, highly valued by the Tang family.
Though I had changed a bit now, it was highly possible that Tang So-yeong knew my body better than I did.
Given her small energy pouch, she’d be well-suited to treat my small body.
“We’re planning to take you to our cult to deliver Odu’s core and handle the Imoogi Bird’s core.”
Take me to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
“What do you think, Hui?”
Of course, I should go.
Not only would I recover, but I’d also get to consume some cores.
Plus, I’d see the spiders again after a long time.
I could even enjoy some delicious food while I’m at it.
I wanted to rush there right away, but there was something holding me back.
“Piek….”
Shikshik was staring at me.
“Huiya.”
And the Snake Queen.
Another person who called me Hui had been added to the list.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to sever my bad ties with the Bird King.”
The Snake Queen stepped forward, and Baek Yeonyeong moved back, as if giving us space to greet each other.
“I have no idea how to express my gratitude.”
She reached out and stroked my head.
“You are my benefactor.”
I put aside my doubt of whether one could call a lizard a benefactor.
“More than words of thanks, your treatment should come first.”
“Geeng…”
“There’s not much you can do in this condition.”
Huh?
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but moving my body had become difficult.
“Moreover, to have a ‘conversation’ will take at least a month.”
What kind of conversation takes a month?
…It is a conversation, right?
“Piyak…”
Shikshik crawled toward me.
She slithered and wrapped herself around my body.
“The princess doesn’t want you to leave, but she knows this is something you need, so she’ll let you go willingly.”
“Shiriiik…”
Flicking her tongue, she drooled on my body.
But since she didn’t cry, it seemed she had prepared herself to let me go.
Shikshik had been in Soaring Dragon’s territory for the past week.
Though it had been a while since we’d seen each other, I had to leave again.
“Piyaaaaak!”
In the end, Shikshik burst into tears.
It was a tearful sight.
The Snake Queen also turned her head.
“I don’t know how to soothe this heart….”
She must not want to let me go either.
Even though it was for treatment, the duration was uncertain.
“Sorry to interrupt, but our cult doesn’t reject spiritual beasts.”
“Piyak?”
Shikshik stopped crying and tilted her head.
“If you wish, you can stay at our cult as well.”
“Th-That means…?”
“You don’t need to make such grand and emotional farewells. If you want, you can come with us. Even if not, you can visit anytime.”
The Snake Queen’s face turned red.
“I have things I must do here….”
If she came along after saying something so embarrassing, it would look strange.
And it wasn’t exactly a lie that she had things to do.
Now that the Bird King was defeated, there were many things for her to handle.
“Piyak!”
Shikshik wagged her tail.
It seemed she understood the master’s words and was excited at the thought of coming with me.
“The princess is the same. She needs to prepare to absorb the Imoogi Bird’s core, doesn’t she?”
“Piyaaaak!”
Shikshik bit onto the Snake Queen’s hand and dangled from it.
It seemed, unfortunately, that Shikshik would have to stay here as well.
But since she could come and go anytime, I wasn’t too worried.
If Shikshik bit onto Baek Yeonyeong’s finger, she could bring the Snake Queen and her daughter over in no time.
If not, I could fly over to them myself.
While the Snake Queen and Shikshik were bickering, a middle-aged man entered.
“Judging by the mood, it seems I should offer my thanks as well.”
It was Argentarvis.
“Gekgek.”
Good to see you, Argentarvis.
“You fought well. I missed that Fiery Phoenix fellow, though.”
At least he knew.
I got the Unicorn’s horn for him, so shouldn’t he at least give me the Fiery Phoenix’s core?
“Gegegek.”
“Hm. I’m not sure what you’re saying, but I’m guessing we think alike.”
Don’t pretend you don’t know.
“Gekgegek.”
“Whenever you need my help, feel free to ask.”
That’s good.
Argentarvis had wings, so he could fill in my gaps.
For instance, he could lift me into the air and I could unleash the terrifying Gecko Death Beam.
“I’ll help you, as long as you keep a good relationship with my daughter.”
“Gekgek!”
Of course… Huh?
“Tweet…”
Jjaekjjaeki, flying toward me with a sentimental expression.
Hello, Tit.
“Jjaekjjaek.”
Flapping her wings, Tit plucked a feather from her chest.
“Jjaeeeek…”
Then she landed precisely on my necklace that was lying somewhere.
Her feather touched the necklace, and an image was engraved on it.
A single white feather attached to the lizard design.
“Tweet…”
What’s the meaning of that?
“Piyaaaak!”
Shikshik was furious.
If the Snake Queen hadn’t stopped her, Jjaekjjaeki would’ve ended up in her stomach.
My necklace had several designs engraved on it.
The Snake Queen’s emblem.
Nephila Jurassica’s design.
Shikshik’s drawing, and now Tit’s feather.
Why were they all leaving their mark here?
Were they staking their claim in advance?
It must be a symbol of cooperation.
At that moment, I saw an illusion.
A skinny lizard.
In contrast, a snake, a spider, and a bird, all gleaming with vitality.
“Geh-eek!”
….
Maybe my body’s weak.
I must be seeing strange hallucinations.
“Haah. My disciple has become quite the playboy.”
Baek Yeonyeong looked a bit shocked.
Whatever she was thinking, 90% of it must have been a misunderstanding.
“Gekgek.”
I finished my farewells.
The Snake Queen, still blushing, tried to hide her face with her tail as she stroked me.
“Next time we meet, make sure to return to your proper size….”
My size was important after all.
“And leave yourself some free time….”
That must mean she wanted to see me for a long time?
I finished saying my goodbyes to both the Snake Queen and Argentarvis.
It seemed everything was wrapped up.
“Ilboong…”
What’s this?
“Ilbuuu…”
One figure walked toward us from afar.
No, it was more like a cow than a person.
The form it had shown during the battle with the Imoogi Bird was long gone.
The blue horn that had appeared must have been temporary.
“Il…bu…”
The Unicorn stroked the spot where its horn had been.
No. Now that the blue horn was gone, it would be more accurate to call it a Hornless Beast.
“Is it… Ilbu?”
Wait a minute, this guy.
Its horn was starting to grow back, wasn’t it?
It was growing faster than I expected.
Was it like hair in that regard?
…But something seemed strange.
“Ilbu… all…?”
Above that small horn, something even smaller was growing.
It was too tiny to see clearly, but it looked like another horn was sprouting.
“Ilbu all…?”
The Unicorn shook its head vigorously.
“Ilbu… Ilchuuur!”
It seemed to be experiencing an identity crisis.
It still believed it was a Unicorn, but with time, it would realize the truth.
That it was walking the path of becoming a Bicorn, not a Unicorn.
What would happen when it became a Bicorn?
Would it then become my enemy?
Such were the worries only a pure lizard could have.
With the Unicorn’s farewell, I completed my goodbyes to everyone.
“Huiya. Are you ready?”
“Gek.”
I nodded.
“Come here. It’s time to head to our cult.”
I bowed one last time to the Snake Queen and climbed into Baek Yeonyeong’s arms.
“I don’t understand why you naturally come here.”
“Ggek.”
“What if you get sweaty?”
Baek Yeonyeong sighed once and then gave her farewell to the Snake Queen.
“It won’t take long. Hui’s recovery might even be faster than your tasks.”
“Benefactor, please take good care of Hui.”
“Gekgek.”
I’m not a child.
“Understood. I’ll be sure to rein in his playboy tendencies.”
“Oh, and about the clothes we discussed…”
“I’ll prepare a few sets. I’m not sure exactly what you mean, but I’m curious enough.”
What on earth were they talking about?
As a small revenge on Baek Yeonyeong for falsely accusing me, I burrowed deeper into her embrace.
“Gegegek.”
“…This won’t be easy.”
With everyone’s farewells completed, we left the hideout.
It was time to meet a familiar face.
“Huiya. Are you ready?”
“Gecko!”
Let’s go, to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.