Chapter 146: The Dumpling Thief
I spent an utterly humiliating time.
The dignified divine beast of the Gecko Religion was subjected to the disgrace of rolling over and acting cute.
I guess it’s a relief that none of the believers saw this.
“It seems you’re not hungry.”
Baek Yeonyeong must have realized from my desperate gestures that I really hated that gigantic bug.
Though she seemed to have misunderstood it slightly, thinking it was because I wasn’t hungry.
But that’s okay. She removed that disgusting bug from my sight.
“If you want to eat it later, just let me know.”
“Kiaaak!”
The Death Worm in Baek Yeonyeong’s hand wriggled.
Then it was put away inside a wooden drawer.
Why on earth would she keep something like that in her room?
“Gekgek.”
With that hideous creature gone, I felt much more at ease.
Now, only my master and I remained in this space.
Why did Baek Yeonyeong bring me here?
Was it really just to feed me that bug?
I had happily eaten some tasty snacks from Tang So-yeong’s hands before.
Baek Yeonyeong began touching my body.
I didn’t really like it, but since I was currently in the form of a small lizard, there wasn’t much I could do.
I had no choice but to play the part of a little lizard.
“Gekgegek.”
I bit her fingers relentlessly.
“I hope, for my sake, that you grow bigger soon.”
“Gek.”
I agree.
First, I’ll start by stuffing Tang So-yeong’s dumpling hair into my mouth.
“The core of Oduza and the core of the Imoogi Bird are prepared, but in this state, I can’t give them to you.”
“Gek.”
Oduza’s core.
And the core of the Imoogi Bird.
I probably wouldn’t be able to eat the Imoogi Bird’s core right away.
It oozed some weird, dark energy.
Oduza’s core, however, was different.
Even when I was a Green Basilisk, it had been a safely observable top-grade core.
Wait, what would happen if I ate Oduza’s core?
Would I grow a few more heads?
“Geek…”
That didn’t sound very appealing.
Or, maybe if I think about it more, it could be kind of cool.
…Seeing it might look impressive, but living in that state would probably be inconvenient in many ways.
I had a feeling my body wouldn’t move the way I wanted.
I just needed to choose the right evolution.
“Still, it seems your size has grown a bit since earlier. We’ll just have to wait.”
Did my size grow?
Baek Yeonyeong, who had been carrying me around, would know best.
If she said so, it must be true.
It seemed like I might return to my original form sooner than expected.
…Of course, I’d need a sufficient amount of food.
I needed to grow bigger quickly and think about the next stage.
I hadn’t leveled up yet, but I instinctively felt that I was right at the verge of evolution.
What could be the next stage after the Komodo-Lania?
If I grew normally, I would eventually consume the cores of three divine beasts: Beihj Bird, Oduza, and Imoogi Bird.
The “Lania” in Komodo-Lania came from Megalania.
In this world—no, in Earth’s history—Megalania was the largest lizard that ever existed.
The lizard’s path. It could be called the endpoint of that journey.
To become something equal to or greater than that, I’d have to pull out a legendary lizard like the salamander or go beyond lizards entirely and turn into a dinosaur.
Given that I followed the Gecko Faith, I’d probably evolve into something in the form of Komodo-XXX.
Maybe something like Komodo-Tyrannosaurus.
Or, as the Imoogi Bird kept mentioning, I might even become a dragon.
Dragon scales, dragon blood, and the Argentarvis insisting that my teeth were dragon fangs.
I might already be a lizard with 1% dragon content.
If I kept eating cores and walking the path of evolution, I might be presented with options related to dragons.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a full-fledged dragon right away—at best, I’d turn into something like a wyvern.
“Hiya. Have you ever heard of the term ‘Carp Gate’?”
As if reading my thoughts, Baek Yeonyeong brought up dragons.
“There’s a rumor that there’s a gate called the Dragon Gate near the Yellow River in Luoyang.”
Carp Gate. It was a famous term.
“They say if a carp passes through that gate, it can become a dragon.”
Just like how a carp becomes a dragon, it also meant a chance for instant success if one climbed the Dragon Gate.
Baek Yeonyeong didn’t usually say unnecessary things.
Which meant this Dragon Gate she was talking about was also just a rumor.
“I don’t know about the one over there, but there’s a place in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains similar to that.”
“Gek?”
“There was even a divine beast that climbed it and became a dragon.”
A dragon.
Wasn’t that the being Gaetsalgoadal was so obsessed with?
“Of course, it’s not the kind of dragon you’re familiar with. It has a form like the dragons overflowing in this land, looking like a sub-dragon, without a dragon pearl, and with wings attached to it.”
It didn’t seem to be an Eastern dragon.
From Baek Yeonyeong’s description, it seemed closer to a Western dragon.
But still, that was something.
Besides, as a lizard, I resembled a Western dragon more than an Eastern one.
Dragons might not be as revered as Eastern dragons, but they were far above mere lizards.
“It left the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, though.”
Baek Yeonyeong explained to me about the Dragon Gate.
It was a type of peak that strong divine beasts climbed to gain enlightenment.
There were places made of barren rock, and there were also volcanoes spewing lava.
Some were adorned with beautiful flowers, while others were covered in pure white snow.
…Was the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains really that vast?
Lava and snow shouldn’t coexist, should they?
I had that thought, but Baek Yeonyeong had no reason to lie to me, so I just assumed it was true.
“You would be more than qualified to go there too. But, only after your body has recovered.”
Baek Yeonyeong planned to send me there.
In my fully restored state, I was so strong that most beasts wouldn’t even dare to look me in the eyes.
If the Nephila tree was the tutorial, the swamp the beginner’s zone, and the jungle the intermediate zone, the Dragon Gate would be the advanced zone.
It was a place that suited me perfectly at this point.
“Focus on recovering your body while keeping that in mind. …If you feel like eating that bug from earlier, just let me know.”
“Gekgek!”
No way, not that!
I vehemently refused, and Baek Yeonyeong reluctantly nodded as if she couldn’t help it.
“Then at least get plenty of rest.”
“Gekgek.”
That, I’m an expert at.
“What are you doing?”
“Gek?”
Baek Yeonyeong patted her bed.
“It’s late.”
Wait, was she telling me to get in?
“Do you think it’s disrespectful for a disciple to sleep in their master’s bed?”
Of course not.
Swoosh.
I quickly slipped into the covers.
The soft feel of the blanket.
It was the first comfort I’d felt since becoming a lizard.
“Gekgek.”
For her to offer me such a good spot.
As expected of Baek Yeonyeong.
That was what I thought, but then Baek Yeonyeong also slipped into the covers.
“…Gek?”
“Stay still.”
Then she wrapped her hands around me.
“I heard it’s important to stay warm. Is that true?”
“Gek…”
What on earth did Baek Yeonyeong think I was?
With how she worried about feeding me and making sure I had a comfortable place to sleep, she clearly saw me as just a lizard.
“A master and disciple sharing a bed. If word got out, people would criticize us.”
But then she spoke to me and taught me martial arts.
Things that made her see me more as a disciple than a lizard.
“I was just joking.”
She might seem like an eccentric like Tang So-yeong, but she was different.
Tang So-yeong grew up communicating with divine beasts and animals since childhood.
In other words, even if it wasn’t me, she’d talk to any beast or divine being she encountered.
She’d probably even strike up a conversation with a unicorn on the street.
Baek Yeonyeong was different.
She treated me with kindness, but she was ruthless toward other beasts.
### Killing Oduza, killing the Imoogi Bird.
Beating up a dinosaur with a club and plucking the feathers of a pitiful Utahraptor.
“Since it’s difficult for me to sleep properly anyway, think of it as me staying by your side until my disciple falls asleep.”
Why was she giving me such special treatment?
Was it because I was sitting cross-legged when we first met?
Could it be that I was the first creature Baek Yeonyeong had ever seen doing this?
The odds of that were low.
She must have seen countless divine beasts, so it’s unlikely she hadn’t encountered at least one practicing energy circulation.
“Hiya.”
Baek Yeonyeong gently tickled me with her finger.
“Tomorrow, I’ll prepare some insects.”
Insects?
Beetles?
“Gekgegek!”
No, I told you I hate bugs!
* * *
Baek Yeonyeong was breathing softly in her sleep.
She said she had trouble sleeping, but here she was, sleeping just fine.
I thought about exacting revenge on her for giving me that bug, but there wasn’t much I could do in this body.
At most, I could just wriggle around a bit.
Instead of wasting time on petty revenge, I needed to do something productive.
Carefully, I slipped out of Baek Yeonyeong’s arms.
If I stayed still, I’d end up with a bug super-mix for breakfast again tomorrow.
The early bird gets the worm.
The late-rising lizard, though, doesn’t have to eat bugs.
In the dark night, it was time for me to go hunt for my own food.
I crept quietly outside.
Baek Yeonyeong, as skilled as she was, didn’t even stir.
She was sleeping soundly.
Late at night.
My small body.
My black scales.
It was almost like I was in constant stealth mode.
Now that I was out of the room, I just needed to crawl to where Tang So-yeong was staying.
I could grab some leftover food there.
Let’s move stealthily without being noticed.
“…Seokcheok?”
I’d been caught.
As soon as I took a step, I was spotted.
A woman was staring at me suspiciously.
“What’s wrong?”
“Look at that.”
“What? It’s just a normal lizard.”
Luckily, the woman next to her replied as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“Gekgek.”
A lizard walking around wouldn’t seem too strange on the streets.
“Wait, huh?”
“That lizard is standing on two feet?”
I’d been found out.
Pabababap!
“Kyaaa! The lizard is running!”
I quickly fled using the Soaring Dragon’s Ascension Step.
“Gek….”
I managed to shake them off.
Now I could catch my breath.
“Seokcheok?”
Pababababap!
“L-Lizard!”
“Gecko Kung Fu! It’s Gecko Kung Fu!”
Wherever I tried to run, there were people walking around.
Why were there so many people?
And why were they all so interested in me?
I’m just an ordinary lizard.
“Kyaaa! The lizard is flying through the air!”
“The lizard is so handsome!”
“Khaak! How could I, trained in light-footed techniques, not catch it?”
More people kept gathering.
I ran with all my might, finally managing to lose them.
“Gehheeeek….”
I arrived at a small building.
It wasn’t where Tang So-yeong was, but for now, I’d hide here.
It felt quite dark, but it seemed the people of the Divine Cult hadn’t gone to sleep yet.
I would hide here for a bit and sneak out when everyone was asleep.
…But first, I needed to check if this place was truly safe.
Fwoosh!
I activated my Wild Eyes to their maximum potential.
Fortunately, there was nothing unusual.
While I couldn’t gauge the level of humans, there were no messages indicating any were around, so I could at least tell if anyone was here or not.
There were no humans.
“Geeeek.”
Just to be sure, I flicked my tongue out to catch any scents.
Nothing.
Perfect.
I’d rest here for a while.
…But wait, I smelled something delicious.
Instead of risking going all the way to Tang So-yeong’s place, maybe I should just search this place?
“Gekgek.”
With short arms and legs, I diligently searched the room.
By flicking my tongue, I was able to track down the source of the sweet smell.
It was coming from that wooden drawer over there.
Whatever I was smelling had to be inside.
“Geggek.”
I crawled up to the drawer, clicking as I prepared myself for the possibility of a super-ultra mealworm jumping out.
Shruuuk!
“Gek!”
What the—
I had discovered something incredible.
Honey-filled dumplings made from the honey of Okbong!
Along with them were dried persimmons and various other snacks.
“Geggek!”
Without hesitation, I climbed inside the drawer.
The honey of Okbong.
It reminded me of the Snake Queen who used to laugh with a sly grin.
I’d grab a few.
With my small hands and tail, I eagerly stuffed some of the dumplings away.
“Gekgek.”
Now this was what you’d call real food.
I wondered how delicious they’d be.
But all these snacks were sweet foods.
Not bad, but to fully recover, I’d need some meat.
Just then, I noticed some dried meat.
It looked perfectly plump and delicious.
It looked exactly like… a lizard’s tail.
…A lizard’s tail?
“It’s been a while, Hi.”
A voice came from behind me.
It was a voice I’d heard before.
Honey-filled dumplings made from the honey of Okbong.
And the tail I had lost a while ago.
All these clues told me exactly who the woman behind me was.
“No, that’s not it.”
46
“Should I call you a dumpling thief?”
Baek Seolhwa was glaring at me.
“Coming here directly like this must mean you want to finish the deal we started last time, right?”