Chapter 156 – Flop
“Geggek!”
“Ilbuuu!”
“Dacheooo!”
Contrary to Baekrang’s explanation, the Igaksus displayed a very gentlemanly demeanor.
Right. Just because they had two horns didn’t mean they were all Bicorns.
They were simply rhinos with two horns, not mythical creatures that despised the pure-hearted.
There was no way there could be ten of such creatures.
The well-dressed gentlemen with two horns bowed their heads and greeted me warmly.
“Ilbudache!”
“Geggek!”
When I responded appropriately, the gentlemen nodded their heads enthusiastically.
It felt nice to be able to communicate with them.
It seemed like we could become close.
I wanted to link arms and share drinks with these guys, but now wasn’t the time for that.
I had things to do.
I didn’t come here to make friends with these Igaksus.
Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to befriend them, but I couldn’t forget my original goal.
The goal was to stop them from attacking the wolf pack any further.
Either drive them out for good, or form an alliance with the wolves.
“Gek.”
But how could I say that?
“Ilbudache!”
I couldn’t just threaten these guys who liked me so much.
And even if I did threaten them, I didn’t think those huge bodies would budge.
Could I communicate with them through these ‘geggek’ sounds?
I was contemplating that when…
“Awooo…”
A few familiar howls reached my ears.
I turned around to see a moderately sized gray wolf walking toward me.
Chillang?
No, this guy was supposed to be in the cave. Why was he here?
Though he was the youngest, all the wolves in the pack were fully grown.
In other words, they could go outside to hunt without any issues.
Maybe Chillang had used that as an excuse to come out.
Or perhaps the entire wolf pack had come outside, and he had coincidentally spotted me and snuck out.
Well, since he was here, should I try to clear up any misunderstandings with the Igaksus?
After all, our two-horned gentlemen weren’t the savage beasts they seemed to be.
“Gwoorong!”
“Ilbudacheooo!”
But contrary to my expectations, the Igaksus glared fiercely at Chillang.
“Prrrng…”
“Gworwok!”
Snorting loudly, the Igaksus looked ready to charge at any moment.
“Geggek!”
Hey, what’s wrong with you guys?
I stretched out my arms to calm them down, but it wasn’t easy.
And at the same time, I sensed cold energy gathering from afar.
It seemed Baekrang had also noticed Chillang.
From her perspective, the Igaksus appeared to be getting very agitated at the sight of Chillang.
…It seemed they really were getting agitated.
The situation had become incredibly tense.
The Igaksus looked like they were about to attack Chillang, and Baekrang was ready to counter their assault.
No matter how high the Igaksus’ favorability toward me was, I couldn’t stop a fight from breaking out.
The best solution would be to mediate before a fight occurred, but I couldn’t stop a whole group of Igaksus with sheer force.
Maybe I should grab Chillang and run away?
At least that way, no one would get hurt.
“Awooo…”
Chillang, who had been slowly approaching, suddenly flipped onto his back.
“Hekh, hekh, hekh…”
With his tongue sticking out, Chillang stared at me.
“…Ilbu?”
“Dache?”
The Igaksus exchanged glances, then looked back at me.
Their menacing aura started to subside.
What was going on?
Ah, right.
Canine species have a habit of showing their bellies to superiors.
From Chillang’s actions, it seemed the Igaksus had realized there was some kind of relationship between the wolf and me.
In other words, I, the Igaksus’ favorite lizard, the Komodo-Lania, was friends with the wolf, making him a favored wolf by extension.
“Hekh, hekh…”
Chillang, you’re surprisingly sharp for the youngest.
I had been wondering how I could bring peace between the wolves and the Igaksus, and here was the answer.
But anyone could flip onto their back.
The Igaksus’ suspicions weren’t completely gone.
In other words, I also needed to take action.
And that action was incredibly simple.
I just had to pet the wolf’s belly.
“Awooo…”
Chillang panted in pleasure as I rubbed his belly.
Judging from his reaction, it seemed that Baekrang, the pack leader, didn’t pet him often.
How could anyone resist doing this?
If it were me, I’d do it all day long.
As I continued rubbing Chillang’s belly, the Igaksus looked at me with eyes full of admiration.
“Ilbudacheooo!”
“Teer! Ter!”
“Omnivorous! Omnivorous!”
I wasn’t sure what their cries meant, but it was probably something like respect.
The Igaksus looked excited, as if a festival had started.
And as their energy calmed down, the cold aura that had been gathering around Baekrang also dissipated.
It seemed she had realized the misunderstanding had been cleared up.
Good, now that I knew the solution, the problem was solved.
“Geggek!”
Whitey. You come here too.
*
Baekrang couldn’t believe her eyes.
From afar, weren’t those Igaksus dancing?
When they saw their own kind, they charged with wild eyes, yet they acted so friendly toward that lizard.
No, it was more than just friendliness.
Respect. Or maybe worship.
That lizard was an object of worship to the Igaksus.
But why?
Baekrang asked herself but couldn’t find an answer.
The Igaksus were ferocious beasts but had the status of a spiritual creature.
For such a beast to act this way?
Baekrang couldn’t comprehend it with her common sense.
She had once encountered a Unihorn.
Contrary to its ferocious reputation, it had been endlessly kind.
Thus, she thought the Igaksus, which resembled the Unihorn, would be similar.
But what was this? The reputation of ferocity suited the Igaksus, not the Unihorn.
She still couldn’t help but stick out her tongue whenever she thought about how she managed to stop that huge beast from trampling her pack.
Still, it was a relief.
For reasons unknown, the relationship between that lizard and the Igaksus seemed special.
Since it promised to show the way to the Dragon Gate, maybe that lizard could drive the Igaksus out of the territory.
If not, at least it could stop them from blindly attacking the wolf pack.
As she thought this, something familiar came into view in the distance.
A relatively small figure.
It was Chillang.
“Chillang!”
He should’ve been in the cave or out hunting with the other sisters. Why was he here?
Baekrang called out urgently, but Chillang didn’t respond.
She moved closer to pursue him.
As Chillang approached the group of Igaksus, the previously calm creatures suddenly became agitated.
They had been calm toward the lizard, but not toward a wolf.
If this continued, it was clear Chillang would be attacked.
She began drawing internal energy from her dantian, preparing to respond to the Igaksus’ attacks.
“…Awooo.”
Chillang let out a sound and flipped onto his back.
The Igaksus’ fierce aura subsided.
Baekrang roughly understood the situation.
As soon as Chillang showed some form of relationship with the lizard, the Igaksus became calm.
In other words, to resolve this problem, they needed to prove something to the Igaksus.
Look at that. The lizard was petting Chillang’s belly, and the Igaksus were trembling in delight, shaking their horns.
She had figured out the solution.
However, Baekrang’s pride wouldn’t allow it.
No matter what, how could she do something like that in front of a lizard?
Chillang was still young and didn’t know better.
But a grown wolf like her, with the dignity of a spiritual beast, could never do something like that.
That’s what she thought.
“Geggek!”
That clueless lizard was calling her.
“Ilbu…?”
She was about to withdraw and wait for another opportunity, but the Igaksus had already noticed her presence.
This meant if things went wrong, Chillang, who was in between the Igaksus, could get hurt.
Just the Igaksus going wild in excitement could be fatal to Chillang.
Baekrang made up her mind.
She would rescue Chillang.
She walked slowly toward the black lizard.
“Gworworong!”
“Ilbudacheooo!”
The Igaksus were on guard against her.
A wolf only ever has one partner in its life.
This went against the Igaksus’ beliefs.
And Baekrang was a wolf with the dignity of a spiritual beast.
Like the Unihorn, she was someone who could wipe out those who shouted ‘Ilbudache’ (polygamy).
The Igaksus’ wariness was a result of their instincts.
“Ilbudacheooo!”
Baekrang continued to approach the black lizard.
Then, she played her trump card.
The method to calm both the evil lizard and the Igaksus.
Flop.
Just like Chillang had done, Baekrang flipped onto her back.
“Geggek.”
The lizard looked at her with an expression that said, *What the heck are you doing?*
If Baekrang hadn’t had fur, her red-flushed face would’ve been clearly visible.
“Awoong…”
Baekrang, a spiritual beast, made a sound she shouldn’t have, wagging her tail gently.
Even so, the foolish lizard just stood there, seemingly not understanding her intentions.
No.
Baekrang knew how cunning that lizard was.
Look at that face.
It must’ve been plotting revenge, keeping what she’d said earlier in mind.
“Awooo…”
No matter what sound she made, the lizard didn’t move.
“Ilbudacheooo!”
“Ter! Ter? Terrr?”
The Igaksus were having a heated debate among themselves.
How should they deal with the wolf that had appeared before them?
Baekrang gritted her teeth.
Look at the lizard’s blue eyes.
It was as if she could hear it saying, *Say it yourself.*
But Baekrang had no other choice.
“Hurry… Rub… My belly….”
The fact that she was even saying such words.
She felt like she could die from the shame.
But for Chillang. And to ensure the safety of her pack, she had no other choice.
Baekrang closed her eyes.
The lizard’s large hand began to rub her body.
Finally, the Igaksus dropped their threatening stance.
“Terterter…”
“Omnivorous, omnivorous.”
Listening to the Igaksus’ discussion, Baekrang spoke in frustration.
“…I’ve allowed my body, but I haven’t given my heart.”
It was her last bit of pride.
Rubbing her belly wasn’t a promise of love, so it didn’t mean much.
It was just a choice to overcome the current situation.
Baekrang consoled herself, telling herself she’d said that to prevent any misunderstanding from the lizard.
Taktaktak.
Her fluffy white tail wagged vigorously, but that was just part of her acting.
No, she believed it was acting.
There was nothing pleasant about being rubbed by the lizard.
“Awooo…”
Realizing she had unknowingly let out a whimper like a wolf pup, Baekrang quickly covered her mouth.
*
…Is it really okay to rub her?
She’s not going to bite my hand, right?
Chillang wasn’t too scary, but this one is a lot bigger, so I’m kind of scared….
Ah, whatever.
She asked for it, so she can’t complain.