Chapter 181: The Groom Divided into Twenty Parts
Smooth scales adorned my body.
They pressed against my joints, rendering me unable to move, while a flickering tongue gradually drew closer.
“Shhhrik...”
“Gegheng!”
That tickles, Shikshik.
“Byak?”
Shikshik seemed a little flustered.
She probably thought she had delivered a fatal blow, but from my perspective, Shikshik was nothing but adorable.
The fact that she was a snake in a maid outfit was a bit odd, but even that was cute.
…Not because I'm a weird lizard or anything, but because objectively speaking, she is adorable.
What Shikshik was doing to me was her way of being affectionate.
The real problem was the Snake Queen.
Crrrack….
“Gegegek!”
I tried my best to resist, but with my joints bound, I couldn’t unravel her coils.
On top of that, the Snake Queen’s physical strength far exceeded mine.
“Gegek!”
Stop!
But I couldn’t give up.
“Hey, stay still.”
Did she think I’d let her do whatever she wanted again?
She probably intended to mess with me endlessly, just like in those inhuman novels!
Squelch.
“…Gegek.”
I felt my strength draining away.
As expected of the Snake Queen.
She had come prepared with such a terrifying technique.
“…I always think this, but aren’t you far too weak to something as trivial as this extra fat?”
I was defeated.
Born in the body of a lizard, I had no way to resist this monstrous and enormous creature.
…Was my mind becoming that of a lizard too?
No, I am a human with a will.
I forced my eyes wide open and faced reality.
I wasn’t weak enough to be swayed by something as meaningless as this fatty tissue.
I am the divine beast of the Gecko.
The divine beast of the Gecko does not lose to such things.
Squishy, squishy.
Wow, this is ridiculously big.
“…Gegegegek!”
This kind of sorcery…!
“Byaaak!”
Shikshik let out a cry, as if telling me to stop talking nonsense.
“Ufufufu. Well, if it’s you, I can give you as much as you want.”
I felt like I was falling for the Snake Queen’s heart, as vast as the ocean.
It might be a strange thing to say, but the Snake Queen’s energy pouch was one of the top two or three I’d ever seen in a female entity.
It was that incredible.
Even if ten Tang So-yeongs gathered, they wouldn’t be able to compete.
The Snake Queen and Shikshik’s coils completely immobilized me.
But I didn’t feel too worried.
Because the Snake Queen and her daughter had always respected boundaries in the end.
As always, they would mess with me endlessly but wouldn’t cross the final line.
“I’ve been thinking, isn’t a year more than enough time to grow into an adult form?”
…Huh?
This was taking a turn I hadn’t anticipated.
“With such thick arms, a thick tail, and such thick… Ahem, anyway, who would claim that you’re not fully grown?”
…The truth was, geckos could indeed reach adulthood within a year.
But I wasn’t a gecko anymore.
And it hadn’t even been a year yet.
“Gegegegegek!”
I cried out to convey that meaning.
“Besides, dragons don’t care about age.”
“Geeeng?”
Is that a thing?
But didn’t the Red Dragon seem to care?
“Ugh, be quiet.”
Now she was just being unreasonable.
Honestly, there was no real reason to refuse the Snake Queen’s approach.
If you ignored the fact that her lower body was that of a snake, the Snake Queen had the kind of beauty that could be called the fairest under heaven.
…In fact, her being half-snake didn’t seem like a drawback anymore.
Besides, before I left this place last time, she had kissed my cheek.
It had definitely stirred my heart.
Who wouldn’t be moved by a beauty of this caliber planting a kiss on their cheek?
But there was a reason I was resisting so desperately.
Because I knew myself as a lizard too well.
Once I crossed into the unknown, I wouldn’t be able to return.
I’d spend months stuck, slick between her scales….
……Not bad?
No, I mustn’t succumb.
Think of something sad.
The worst thing I could think of.
Yes, my inner demon.
But one wasn’t enough.
A Spinosaurus in a maid outfit and a Therizinosaur in a school swimsuit.
“Gehk!”
It felt like I had failed an energy flow exercise and sustained internal injuries.
…Judging by the bleeding, it seemed I really had taken some internal damage.
Alright, now that I’ve snapped out of it, I just need to respond calmly.
The Snake Queen and Shikshik seemed to have lost their reason, but they were intelligent and dignified snakes.
They would listen to my heartfelt words.
“Gegegegek!”
Crrrrk.
The open stone door began to close automatically.
“Making noise is futile.”
“Ge-eeek!”
The Snake Queen wrapped around me with an intelligent voice and dignified movements.
“Gegegegegek!”
I had done everything I could.
Just enduring this long was an accomplishment.
It seemed I had no choice but to accept my fate now.
Thoooom!
A black barrier blasted Shikshik and the Snake Queen away.
“Byak?”
“…What?”
Something unexpected had occurred.
The Snake Queen’s gaze turned toward the necklace hanging around my neck.
“How could this be a sacred relic?”
This barrier had activated back when the White Wolf tried to assault me.
It could be considered a protective shield infused with the Snake Queen’s power, meant to safeguard my purity.
But for it to activate against the Snake Queen herself?
“Gegegek!”
I didn’t know what it was, but I had to hold onto it tightly.
“…Has it accumulated so many traces that its function has changed?”
This necklace bore numerous traces.
Spider, snake, bird, wolf.
Their traces had combined, pushing back even its original owner, the Snake Queen.
“With this, the possibility of someone else claiming you has disappeared, but I can’t reach you either….”
The Snake Queen's gaze shifted to my lower body.
"Geek."
I quickly covered it with my tail.
"It's unfortunate, but it seems I must step back for now."
"Biyaaaaak…"
It seemed I had somehow managed to fend off the snake mother and daughter's advance.
Necklace, you saved me.
…Wait, if this thing can even repel the Snake Queen, what will happen in the future?
"Gegegegek?"
…Isn't this a chastity belt?
"Gegegegek!"
Thanks to the Snake Queen's emblem, I was able to protect my purity.
The Snake Queen and Shikshik couldn't hide their disappointed expressions, but as long as they couldn't suppress their desires, approaching me had become impossible.
As a result, the Snake Queen returned to her usual calm and composed demeanor.
…This might just be an act, but for now, she appeared normal.
"Byak!"
Shikshik was playing around my body as usual.
Sometimes, she would stretch herself out to measure her size and ponder something, though I couldn’t figure out what. She just seemed adorable.
"Hooh. Is that true? You’ve made the Dragon Gate your domain?"
The Snake Queen wore an expression of interest.
It seemed I had successfully redirected her attention.
…Though her gaze still occasionally drifted toward my lower body, it must have been my imagination.
"Dragon Gate is a good place. Although it’s smaller in scale than this jungle, its energy is far more potent."
The Snake Queen smiled faintly.
It was the expression of a mother-in-law hearing that her son-in-law had secured an apartment in Seoul.
…No, not a mother-in-law—a wife?
"If you find the time, it would be good to send the Princess there. Claiming the Dragon Gate as your own should also aid her transformation."
"Gekgek."
Send Shikshik to the Dragon Gate!
If she went, it would undoubtedly be beneficial.
After all, the White Wolf and Red Dragon would protect her, and it could even accelerate her evolution.
But if that happened, the Snake Queen would be left alone.
…Maybe I could bring the Snake Queen along too.
I should at least ask.
"Gekgekgek."
"…Are you thinking of me? It makes me happy to hear that from my mate, but I have much to do."
"Geeng…"
"There are still remnants of Gaetsalgoadal to deal with. And I must also take care of the lingering traces of the Evil God we encountered. Although the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult has promised to assist with that."
It seemed bringing the Snake Queen along wasn’t going to work.
"Byak?"
It might also be difficult to take just Shikshik.
After all, she was the official successor of the Snake Queen.
If I were to bring anyone, it would have to be both of them together.
…Or I could make the jungle part of my domain entirely.
"If the Princess inherits my throne, perhaps then I could entrust myself to you."
"Biyaaaaaak!"
With a sharp face, Shikshik bit the Snake Queen’s finger.
"But, my mate, what is that hanging from your tail?"
The Snake Queen spoke while playing with Shikshik using one hand.
Oh, I had forgotten about that.
"Gekgek."
It’s a gift for the Snake Queen.
"Could it be the Honey of Okbong! …It’s not because I’ve already finished what you gave me, I swear."
…You ate all of it?
No wonder your energy pouch seems larger than before.
It’s not a snack, but something shiny that I brought along.
"Gekgekgek."
I pulled out some gold and jewels from the bundle.
"Hooh. How beautiful and shiny."
The Snake Queen showed a pleased expression as she looked at the items I brought.
Everyone likes shiny things, especially women.
"Your thoughtful gesture is touching, but these are items I have no use for. …If you’re visiting the Divine Cult, why not offer these to your master on my behalf?"
However, the Snake Queen didn’t accept the gold and jewels.
Though she seemed to like shiny things, they were apparently of no practical value to her.
At most, she might use them as decorations next to a statue.
"Byak?"
Shikshik tilted her head in interest, seemingly drawn to the pile of treasures I had taken out.
Maybe it was because she was still a young snake, but she seemed to like pretty things.
"Byaaaak!"
After biting the Snake Queen’s finger, she dove into the pile of gold.
A snake in a maid outfit swimming through a pile of gold.
It seemed like an impossible sentence, but the scene was unfolding before my eyes.
"The Princess seems to like it."
I sat next to the Snake Queen and quietly watched Shikshik.
"…Still, you brought these with such sincerity that it feels wrong to send you away empty-handed."
The Snake Queen smiled faintly.
"It’s just that these are really items I don’t need. It would be better to trade them with the people of the Divine Cult—it would benefit you more."
"Gekgek."
I had once glimpsed the Snake Queen’s youth.
Back then, she was almost identical to Shikshik.
Even her fascination with shiny things was the same.
She probably wanted to accept the gift but refrained for my sake.
…She didn’t need to hold back.
The Red Dragon would bring more treasures anyway.
"So, would you gift me just one item?"
"Gek!"
One item.
That was probably the most the Snake Queen was willing to accept.
If it were up to me, I’d give her half the gold and jewels, but she wouldn’t take it.
What would be the best thing to give her?
A golden statue?
That was probably the most expensive item, but it wouldn’t mean much to her.
The other treasures were the same.
…This would have to do.
The Snake Queen had given me an ornament of her own.
So it would make sense to give her something similar in return.
"Gekgek."
I grabbed the tip of the Snake Queen’s tail.
"Wh-what are you grabbing?"
The Snake Queen seemed displeased at having her tail grabbed, but she didn’t strongly resist.
The gift I chose was a large ring.
Though it was closer to a bracelet.
"I thought you were innocent, but to pull such a stunt…!"
There was a smaller ring, but it seemed too small.
For the Snake Queen, something of this size would be more fitting.
I slid a large jade bracelet onto the tip of her tail.
"…Haa."
The Snake Queen sighed.
Was it possible she didn’t like the ring?
She stared at her tail for a long time before grimacing.
…Maybe I had no sense for these things.
Just as I hurriedly started looking for another gift, the Snake Queen’s lips moved.
"My mate."
Her golden eyes shone brightly.
"If I had lost my self-control, I might have devoured you whole."
She looked at me with a face flushed red.
She seemed to be trying to maintain a cold expression, but a soft laugh escaped her lips despite her effort.
Hehehe.
It wasn’t a laugh that suited the Snake Queen, but paradoxically, it felt very much like her.
She sighed again, letting out a hot breath.
"…Why is it that I become so disheveled only when I’m with you?"
The situation seemed similar to before, yet a bit different.
The Snake Queen didn’t bind me with her tail this time.
She only pressed her cheek against mine, her expression slightly flustered.
Smooch.
Her pink lips touched my scales again.
…….
"Geeng…"
Could the Snake Queen wield fire energy?
The scales where her lips had touched quickly grew warm.
"Sssaaak!"
Shikshik, now a sharp triangle, seemed to fly into the air and bit at the Snake Queen’s fingers.
"Do you know how to break the seal of my emblem?"
The Snake Queen playfully entertained her while turning her gaze to me.
"…Telling you would be a loss for me, wouldn’t it?"
She smiled mischievously as she stared at me.
That had to be a lie.
If it weren’t, she wouldn’t have stopped earlier.
"Does it seem like I’m lying?"
Smooch.
The Snake Queen kissed the other cheek.
"What do you think? Do I still seem deceitful?"
…It was sorcery.
She had cast a spell I couldn’t escape.
A perfect checkmate.
"Rest assured. This time, I’ll stop at just a taste."
"Geeeng…"
"It will be over before the moon changes."
…It didn’t feel like she was going to stop at just a taste.
I could see the future.
The future where I turned into dried lizard powder.
Was giving her the ring a mistake?
…Did placing it on her tail have some meaning I didn’t know about?
"This is your karma."
So this is how I’d be devoured.
"…One."
One?
Kwaaaaaang!
"One-wife polygamyyyy!"
With a loud cry, someone smashed through the stone door and entered.
"One-wife polygamyyyyyy!"
It was a magnificent divine beast with a sturdy horn.
An unicorn.
"Black Sun Goddddd!"
"Gek!"
It really was the unicorn!
You came to save me?
"Protect the chaaaste!"
"Gek?"
You’re here to save me, right?
"Divide me into twenty pieces!"
What are you saying, unicorn?