Chapter 53 Farewell
Baek Yeonyeong seemed to like the gift Nephila Jurassica had given her.
She kept fiddling with it as she placed it on top of my head.
“Kieeeng….”
Nephila had a very sad expression.
“Ki-oong….”
Tus and Pus were the same.
You guys are truly admirable.
Usually, you bicker with each other, but when a dangerous moment comes, you give away your cherished items without hesitation.
Some humans would kick Tang So-yeong’s back and run away. You are better than people.
Of course, it was a bit concerning that the cherished item was my shed skin, but what does that matter?
It’s the thought that counts.
Baek Yeonyeong was probably moved not by the shed skin itself but by the spiders’ sentiment.
“…It’s a shame I didn’t see you when you were smaller.”
You were moved by their hearts, right?
The atmosphere lightened considerably.
Tang So-yeong still showed signs of fear, but Baek Yeonyeong indicated she had no intention of punishing her immediately.
Now, a conversation had begun.
It was a ridiculous scene, like a chick and a crocodile talking to each other.
Tang So-yeong’s reaction to Baek Yeonyeong’s every word and action was pitiful.
Hang in there, Tang So-yeong.
You can do it.
To encourage her, I decided to actively help from the side.
“Gek gek.”
I added interjections whenever Tang So-yeong spoke.
Now, her words must have gained some credibility.
The effect might not be significant, but it was better than doing nothing.
“Gegegek.”
“Da, Daehyeop. Pleeease….”
Look at those eyes.
She was about to cry, moved by my help.
“Gegegek!”
It’s nothing, really.
Tang So-yeong talked about why she came to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and her encounter with the handsome Crocodile King Lizard.
In summary:
Hearing rumors that many spiritual creatures lived in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the Tang family sent her here to cultivate a spiritual creature called Dalopo. Additionally, they hoped she could retrieve the venomous insects stolen by the Demonic Sect.
“What could you possibly achieve with just one poison dragon? It’s not even a throwaway move.”
Tsk.
Baek Yeonyeong clicked her tongue.
She was right.
The Dilophosaurus I encountered was an extraordinary monster that could use internal energy, but I didn’t think it could handle all the dinosaurs around here.
If it met even a weakened Ankylosaurus, its head would be crushed instantly.
“…Dalopo found me and attacked our nest.”
Now, the story shifted to my battle with the Dilophosaurus.
Dalopo secretly attacked using a sleeping poison.
I resisted the poison and stood alone to face it.
Though Tang So-yeong didn’t see it, Nephila Jurassica threw herself to protect me.
Eventually, I smashed its head with the Nine Yin White Bone Claws.
We told everything.
“I see. So this spider did that.”
“Kieeeng….”
Baek Yeonyeong’s gaze turned to Nephila Jurassica.
It had to be interesting.
Nephila had evolved into an Arachne.
A super lucky human-faced spider.
Though it had reverted back now.
“So, you were trying to return to Sichuan because this creature’s condition worsened?”
“Yes, yes!”
Tang So-yeong’s face brightened, thinking she had understood correctly.
According to Tang So-yeong:
The spider saved the lizard’s life.
In return, the spider’s condition worsened.
Therefore, they intended to return to Sichuan, where they had the facilities and materials to heal the spider.
Baek Yeonyeong seemed to acknowledge this much.
“I don’t mind you returning to Sichuan. Although I don’t like that you coveted my things, I don’t see a reason to kill you based on what you’ve said.”
Tang So-yeong sighed in relief.
“But, I cannot allow you to take Hee.”
Baek Yeonyeong firmly grasped my neck.
It felt like a feline holding her cub by the scruff.
I became lethargic.
“…Gek!”
I made a startled gek-gek sound, a beat too late.
What nonsense is that?
“Hee cannot leave the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
Am I being kidnapped?
“But….”
Tang So-yeong protested in a trembling voice.
“Without Daehyeop….”
“You mean to say you’d be in danger without Hee.”
“Not just me, but the spider lady too….”
Tang So-yeong was right.
Knowing her, if I disappeared, she would surely cry. Nephila Jurassica might tie her up with webs and drag her forcibly.
“Isn’t that a selfish thought? Do you not realize what could happen if Hee goes to the Central Plains?”
Baek Yeonyeong rebuked Tang So-yeong.
“Even third-rate martial artists have dared to set foot in our Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. Shaolin monks are desperately seeking spiritual creatures too. The Central Plains is in chaos, trying to secure spiritual creatures by any means.”
Her blue eyes glared sharply at Tang So-yeong.
“Hee going out? Especially to Sichuan? Isn’t the outcome too obvious?”
What would others think if they saw me?
A giant lizard.
But one that uses martial arts and has ingested many elixirs.
I was literally a walking fortune.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I could end up as lizard skewers.
Tang So-yeong lowered her head.
She probably didn’t intend to exploit me by wanting to go out together.
Just vaguely thinking, somehow.
She probably believed we could overcome hardships together.
But reality had struck.
After a long while, Tang So-yeong lowered her head and gently touched my cheek.
Baek Yeonyeong frowned, looking displeased, but didn’t stop her.
“…Daehyeop. I’m sorry. I’ll somehow try to treat the spider lady.”
That meant they would both leave the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
“Geeeek!”
That’s not acceptable.
It’s true that I would be at risk of being hunted by other martial artists if I left the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. But without me, Tang So-yeong would be eaten by other dinosaurs before even making it out.
People shouldn’t abandon people.
Of course, I am a lizard, but still, I can’t abandon her.
How could I abandon a follower who worships me as a divine beast?
“Gegegek!”
I actively expressed my opinion to Baek Yeonyeong.
She might not understand, but she could tell I was opposing the current situation.
“Daughter of the Tang family. How long will it take to treat the spider?”
“At least a month. Maybe longer….”
“And the treatment method?”
“Remove the remaining poison in its body, then inject another poison to treat the core. If left as is, the same symptoms will reappear, so we have to induce a complete renewal. That’s why I can’t give a precise duration….”
Tang So-yeong’s voice brightened a bit.
To her, Baek Yeonyeong’s words seemed like she was willing to help treat the spider.
“Complete renewal. Well, since you brought a spiritual creature here, your specialty must be handling spiritual creatures.”
Baek Yeonyeong dismounted from my back.
“Come to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
Did I hear wrong?
There were two major errors in that statement.
One was that Tang So-yeong was from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“Yes, yes?”
And the other was that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult believed in the Gaegak Faith, not in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Ge-gegek?”
Both Tang So-yeong and I were shocked.
“Why are you so surprised? Did you really think I meant for you to join our cult?”
“Then, does that mean…?”
“The equipment and materials needed to treat the spider. Our cult has those as well. Moreover, there are people who know how to handle spiritual creatures. Of course, since you’re from the Tang Clan, you’re more proficient with venomous creatures, so I’ll leave the treatment to you.”
It was good news.
Of course, Tang So-yeong, being from the Tang Clan, would have to tread carefully, but at least she wouldn’t have to worry about dying immediately.
“Gekek!”
As expected of my master.
Her personality might be a bit strange, but she provided such a good solution.
“Do you dislike it?”
“N-no! I like it!”
The destination had changed.
From Sichuan to the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was a thrilling name.
I didn’t know Baek Yeonyeong’s exact position, but it didn’t seem to be low.
I was her direct disciple.
“Gekgek.”
I should try showing some dominance.
While I was fantasizing about that.
“Heeya.”
Baek Yeonyeong’s blue eyes looked at me.
“You cannot enter the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
But you said you’d raise me!
You even sat on my back just now!
“It’s too early.”
I tried to rebel with a gek-geking sound, but her eyes somehow looked sad.
“It’s not time yet.”
I instinctively realized that this wasn’t a problem that could be solved by begging.
There must be some circumstances within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
There could be people there who would try to capture a spiritual creature like me.
Although it was a bit disappointing, it couldn’t be helped.
I might as well wait.
Was it a month?
Besides, seeing that she mentioned a complete renewal, it meant Nephila might return to that form again.
It was worth waiting.
In the meantime, I’d play with Tus and Pus.
“Kieeeng….”
Tus and Pus exchanged glances and crawled towards me.
Yeah.
You understand everything.
I wouldn’t see Nephila and Tang So-yeong for a while.
Let’s get along well among ourselves.
“Gekgek.”
Tus lightly bit my tail.
Pus gently placed her butt against my claw.
…What are they doing?
“Kioong….”
The spiders, who had been doing that for a while, hugged my tail and claw tightly.
Then they slowly crawled to where Tang So-yeong was.
They kept looking back but had determined expressions.
“Keeng!”
“…Yes?”
“Kieeng!”
Tang So-yeong and the spiders started communicating.
What were they talking about?
No, could that even be called a conversation?
“Ho.”
Baek Yeonyeong also watched the spiders with interest.
“…Is that so? I understand.”
Tang So-yeong looked at me.
“The little spider ladies said they won’t be staying with Daehyeop anymore.”
What?
These spiders.
How much have I done for you.
Even if Baek Yeonyeong is beautiful, how could you abandon me and run to her?
“…After seeing the big spider lady this time, they realized how weak and incompetent they are.”
That’s not it.
“They said they want to protect Daehyeop like the big spider lady.”
Tang So-yeong had been subtly telling Tus and Pus for a while.
That if they went to Sichuan with her, they could become human-faced spiders.
In other words, she’d help them evolve to the next stage.
Tus and Pus remembered that.
And they accepted her suggestion.
To become stronger.
To protect me.
…How strong could you possibly get?
But I couldn’t stop Tus and Pus.
Because I could deeply feel what that emotion was.
“Gek….”
I looked back.
Many people were leaving all at once.
But this wasn’t a permanent farewell.
It was just an unavoidable separation before we’d meet again soon.
It was a situation that should be celebrated instead.
“Kieeeng….”
“Kiooong….”
I couldn’t hide all my loneliness, so I didn’t look towards where Tang So-yeong was.
Pretending I was fine.
Pretending I wasn’t sad at all.
“We also need to solve the problem of adjusting their sizes.”
…What was that supposed to mean?
Let’s ignore it for now.
I couldn’t let it break my emotions.
“Kioong…!”
Tus and Pus.
And Nephila Jurassica cried out.
“Gegegek!”
Without looking back till the end, I raised my hand to say goodbye.
Let’s meet again in a healthy state.
It would be great if all three of you transformed into Arachne.
“Kioong!”
Yeah.
This is really goodbye for now.
“I’m sorry to interrupt the mood, but we won’t leave immediately. There are a few things I need to teach my incompetent disciple.”
……I activated Sprint.
At lightning speed, I checked for a mouse hole. No, was there a lizard hole?
Give me back my emotions!