Chapter 151 – Snake and Maeidou
The closed-door training (with allowed walks) continued like that.
When Baek Yeonyeong was present, I learned sword energy directly from her, and when she was absent, I continued training alone.
Although using sword energy was important, it was equally crucial to manage my internal energy through breathing exercises whenever time allowed.
After all, sword energy was also a manifestation of internal energy.
Sometimes, Tang So-yeong and the spiders came to bring me food.
Tang So-yeong insisted that the people outside, especially the cultists, must not discover that someone from the Tang Family was here.
In truth, it seemed that her presence had already been noticed.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s followers, who were hunting me, often spoke of the Tang Family.
I wanted to tell Tang So-yeong, but communicating all that information with my gecko-like sounds would be tough.
Of course, if it were Tang-whatever-her-name-was, she’d probably be able to figure it out, but the meaning might get distorted.
Tang So-yeong’s presence had been exposed. However, no one seemed to care much.
If this information were to be twisted into something like, “The cultists have realized that a spy from the Tang Family infiltrated us!” then it would be a disaster.
So, I decided to just keep my mouth shut.
“Do you know how hard it was for me to get here? I had to stay so alert to everything around me….”
And besides, it felt wrong to shatter her delusions about how proud she was of her infiltration skills.
After eating the food, strengthening my bond with the spiders, and occasionally venturing outside, I continued my routine.
Of course, I only went out with Baek Yeonyeong’s permission.
Normally, leaving during closed-door training would be forbidden, but that rule applied to humans.
I was a lizard.
And lizards are creatures that cannot regulate their body temperature on their own.
Sure, Baek Yeonyeong did provide a lot of things to keep me warm, but fundamentally, sunlight was the most important.
Even if I mastered sword energy, if my body were to become weak and sickly, it would all be for nothing.
So, when I received permission and went outside, there was a place prepared just for me.
There was a signpost and a rough fence around it.
It was just big enough to fit my body, so I would lie there and bask in the sun.
While I was doing that, lower-level cultists would gather around me.
“I-I’ll be the one to tame it!”
“I looked into it, and it’s called a ‘Komodo.’ If you don’t have poison resistance, it’ll be tough.”
“Then, what if we just muzzle it…!”
I didn’t know what their intentions were, but I accepted the food that the cultists brought, along with muzzles and leashes.
I assumed it was their way of showing reverence toward a majestic spiritual beast like me.
Sometimes, when I shot a Death Beam into the air for their entertainment, Baek Seolhwa would show up with an irritated expression.
I often snuck away from Baek Seolhwa, sometimes even stealing her snacks in the process.
“Hey, you lizard! How could you take the whole drawer!”
At night, I went back down to the underground.
When I spent more time training alone, my master would eventually come to find me, hug me, and fall asleep. That would put an end to the day’s training, whether I liked it or not.
The next morning, I’d start training again after sleeping soundly.
How much time had passed like this?
One day, while receiving guidance from Baek Yeonyeong during combat-like training…
*Swish.*
A blue aura appeared on my front claw.
It was a unique energy, a mixture of cold and heat.
It lasted for only a brief moment, but there was no doubt that sword energy had manifested.
“You’ve finally reached it.”
After that day, my training ended.
“You’re still far from wielding it freely, but this much should be enough for now.”
“Gegek!”
“Your skill has far surpassed what’s needed, so you’ll soon become accustomed to using sword energy.”
It felt odd to call it sword energy when it was actually on my claws, but as she said, I could imagine it as wielding ten swords.
Now that the training was over, I knew what I had to do.
My entire body itched.
It wasn’t just about power—I was also incredibly curious about my next evolution.
After gathering this much strength, what would I evolve into?
Everything was ready.
It was time to go to the Dragon Gate and evolve.
* * *
“Go Dae-hyeop, are you leaving again?”
“Keeeng…”
The spiders and Tang So-yeong looked sullen.
I nodded lightly.
“Gegek.”
“Ah, I knew it. I overheard that you’re going to a place called the Dragon Gate, right?”
Her ears were sharp.
Or perhaps my master had simply told her.
“As much as I want to stay by your side and assist you…”
It wouldn’t make much difference if she did.
“What? What’s this strange feeling I’m getting!”
I left Tang So-yeong, who was spouting nonsense, and started chatting with the spiders.
“Keeeng…”
“Kioong…”
How could I leave so soon after meeting them?
That was probably what they were saying.
Toos and Pus clung to my tail, whining as if asking me to take them with me.
I could carry them on my back.
Even though they’d grown larger, I had grown much larger myself.
I could even carry them around in a spiderweb house if needed.
But my destination wasn’t a swamp or a jungle.
It was the Dragon Gate, where Baek Yeonyeong emphasized that I had to train until I mastered sword energy.
The spiders could easily get caught up in something dangerous there.
“Kiiek.”
Unlike the tearful Toos and Pus, Nephila calmly approached me, letting out a soft “Kieek” sound.
Then, she gently grasped my front leg with two of her long legs.
“Kieeeek.”
Take care of yourself.
I’ll be waiting.
Though we couldn’t communicate with words, I understood her intent.
“Keeng!”
“Kioong!”
As if realizing something from Nephila’s words, Toos and Pus climbed down from my tail.
They headed toward my head.
To be precise, toward the ornament near my neck.
From the very beginning, I could tell they were waiting for an opportunity.
It was obvious what they were planning to do.
Toos left a mark on the ornament with her sharp venomous fangs.
Meanwhile, Pus wove a spiderweb in between to complete the picture.
Now, it had two fluffy little spiders added to the design.
“Kioong….”
I had no idea why they kept leaving marks on this ornament, but I was used to it by now.
“Keeng!”
It was probably their way of wishing me well on my journey.
“Gegek!”
You two take care of yourselves too.
…Though seeing how plump they’ve both gotten, I’m sure they’ll be fine.
Leaving the spiders behind, I set off.
I paid my respects to my master, stole Baek Seolhwa’s snacks, and headed toward the Dragon Gate.
But before that, there was a place I needed to stop by.
* * *
My master had explained the Dragon Gate to me.
Where it was located, how to get there, and what I could expect.
Of course, my master wasn’t the best at explaining things, so I didn’t fully understand.
But that was fine.
My master must have known this, as she mentioned that there was someone who would help me.
A spiritual creature that knew the way to the Dragon Gate.
One that was connected to both me and my master.
“…A companion.”
That “someone” was the Snake Queen herself.
“It’s been a while.”
The Snake Queen slithered up and gently stroked my body.
“Shiriik….”
Behind her stood a cute little snake.
It looked plump…
Huh? Something about this one seems different.
“Peep!”
Judging by the chirping, it was definitely Shikshik.
But she barely acknowledged me.
The Shikshik I knew would be wrapped around my legs by now.
And her body seemed longer than before.
Could it be that she had forgotten me during that short time apart?
I was in shock.
It hurt more than getting hit by my master.
“…Do you know how much the princess has been waiting for you?”
“Gek?”
I looked closely at Shikshik.
She seemed to be avoiding my gaze, but her tail was wagging vigorously.
This little one was sulking.
Still, the Shikshik I knew would have ignored something like that and charged at me right away. I guess she’s going through adolescence.
Maybe that’s why her body has elongated as well.
“I was planning to come to you once things were sorted out, but you found us first.”
The Snake Queen untied the bundle fastened to my tail.
It was a bundle my master had tied for me.
Since we had formed an alliance with the Snake Queen, there must have been something meant for her inside.
“Hoo….”
The Snake Queen examined the item with interest.
I didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was probably a letter explaining my situation.
There must also be something Baek Yeonyeong had strictly ordered me not to open.
“…So many rice cakes? I wonder if I’m dreaming.”
I had also stolen plenty of Baek Seolhwa’s rice cakes.
She scolded me endlessly, but what could I do?
I was Baek Yeonyeong’s beloved puppet, after all.
The Snake Queen slowly read through the letter.
Should I start learning Chinese characters too? I could understand spoken language, but I couldn’t read written words.
At best, I could barely decipher them with my limited knowledge, but the characters here were slightly different from the ones I knew.
If I had some spare time after evolving, I might take up some studying.
If I became a lizard who was skilled in both combat and knowledge, it could open up a new evolution path.
“Mm, I see. So, you’re indeed headed for the Dragon Gate.”
“Gekgek.”
“You’re more than qualified. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
As expected of the Snake Queen—she got to the point quickly, which I liked.
“But there’s something we need to do first.”
“Gek.”
“Companion, could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Close my eyes?
I didn’t know why, but I did as she asked.
“Actually, can you turn around completely?”
“Gegek.”
There was no way the Snake Queen would harm me.
“Hoo…. So that’s what this is….”
I heard some rustling sounds.
“Princess, hold still for a moment.”
“Peep!”
“Hmm…. Is this supposed to go on your head? Princess, lower it for a second.”
“Shirik….”
What are you all doing?
I was curious, but I exercised patience.
“It’s done. You can turn around now.”
The Snake Queen gently tapped me.
As she instructed, I opened my eyes and turned around.
What on earth—
A maid outfit.
No, it was a Maeidou outfit!
Actually, before leaving the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, I had a faint memory of whining to my master.
I had known she was having a Maeidou outfit tailored to fit Baek Yeonyeong’s figure, but she never showed it to me before I left.
Turns out I was wrong.
Except for the lower body, the Snake Queen and Baek Yeonyeong had the same body type.
“You like such audacious attire? Mmm, it’s a little embarrassing to show this to anyone.”
The outfit Baek Yeonyeong was making was for the Snake Queen.
At that moment, a memory flashed through my mind.
‘Of course, I still don’t understand why we had to make clothes for one chubby snake!’
That was something Tang So-yeong had said.
All the clothes made up until now had been for the Snake Queen.
Then, what about the “one chubby snake”?
“Shirik….”
No way, that’s my Shikshik!
Dressed like that!
…Actually, it’s kind of cute, isn’t it?
“Gegegek!”
What was that thought just now?
Get out of my head!