EP.12
I am the Green Basilisk.
I am a lizard that is three days old.
It has been three days since I arrived in this place, so it’s safe to say that I am indeed three days old. In fact, only three days have passed since I hatched from the egg.
The spiders clinging to each other and sobbing in front of me are actually older than I am.
It’s not that they’re small; rather, they aren’t young either.
I have no idea how they’ve managed to survive in this harsh world.
I’ve nearly died several times myself.
Smack!
I struck the still-breathing Water Boatman with my tail to ensure it was finished off.
The spiders, perhaps frightened, began to slowly back away.
“Gak-gak.”
I inserted my claws into the flattened shell of the Water Boatman.
Whoosh.
I systematically dismembered the Water Boatman meat with my claws.
Hmm, wouldn’t it be right to toss in a martial arts technique after all this?
It would be nice to obtain something like the Nine Hundred Bone Techniques.
“Kieee…”
The trembling little ones seemed to catch a whiff of the meat’s aroma and began tilting their heads curiously.
Instead of handing them pieces of the Water Boatman’s flesh, I dropped it into the water.
“Hieeek!”
The smaller one played dead while the larger one jumped in surprise.
They seem to think I’m teasing them.
The reason I dropped the Water Boatman into the water was simple: its meat bore a peculiar stench.
It’s not unbearable if swallowed, but humans wouldn’t be able to eat it. Yet, I have grown accustomed to the lizard’s taste to some degree by now.
However, there was an unexpected chance that its components could be toxic, posing a risk to those spiders.
The reason I did not wash it before eating was my hope to develop a skill related to poison.
“Kieoong…!”
At some point, one spider, no longer playing dead, was clapping as if to applaud with its thick forelegs.
Hmm, what a flatterer.
I presented the neatly prepared meat of the Water Boatman.
Tus and Pus commenced devouring the Water Boatman meat with fervor.
“Kieee!”
They exclaimed in delight as if it was delicious.
That sight felt strangely unfamiliar.
Though I have only been alive for three days, my life has been a continual battle.
Being chased by Oviraptors, stealing food from giant spiders.
Fighting ant armies and hunting piranhas.
Getting stomped by toads and turtles.
In contrast to my intense life, the reactions of these tiny spiders felt refreshingly distinct.
“Gek-gekk.”
“Kieoong?”
I didn’t mean they looked fresh, but rather, it had been a long time since I’d seen something like this.
…They certainly couldn’t hear my thoughts.
I quietly observed the spiders enjoying the Water Boatman.
These spiders, specifically Tus and Pus, were honestly quite cute.
Although they are spiders, their appearance was somewhat different from what I knew.
Their overall structure and eyes seemed kind and gentle.
Occasionally, their bodies would wobble harmlessly.
Compared to the spider I had seen in the trees, these were like celestial maidens, true beauties.
I wonder how that one is doing.
I suppose my psychological barriers have lowered due to the bond I formed with Nephila jurassica.
The spiders, having eaten all the Water Boatman, looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“Kieeeng!”
This fresh feeling.
It reminded me of the sensation I felt when I had brutally massacred the aphids.
“Gek-gak.”
“Keek!”
Letting out the cry reminiscent of a gecko, I felt absolutely delighted.
The gazes of the spiders looking at me felt akin to a fan admiring an idol.
…I can’t say I’ve ever felt such a gaze.
Still, I’m grateful to at least receive that admiration from spiders.
I would now be somewhat like the idol of the spider world.
Given that the proud Nephila jurassica acknowledged me, these little spiders would surely adore me.
Mysterious Lizard. I’ve become a man that attracts spiders just by being still.
…….
Is that a good thing?
While enjoying the antics of the spiders for a while, I devised a plan.
There are only a few friendly creatures here.
It would be reasonable to utilize these creatures, even if we don’t travel together.
In other words, perhaps a temporary mutual benefit is in order.
Pus and Tus.
These two spiders belonged to different species.
Pus was the one that spun webs, while Tus, similar to a tarantula, utilized venom.
This means they didn’t overlap in their roles.
“Gek-gak!”
I waved my hand to call the spiders.
At first, they tilted their heads in confusion, but soon, as if they grasped the meaning of my actions, they crawled over to me.
Good.
1. I lifted Pus.
“Keeek?”
Swish!
I swiftly pulled a strand of Pus’s web.
“Kieeeek!”
Surprised, Pus began to thrash around.
Tus covered its face with both hands, as if it had seen something it shouldn’t have.
I paid no mind and continued to extract Pus’s high-quality web.
“Kiiik….”
100. I set Pus down.
“Gek-gak.”
Guys,
I’m about to show you something incredible.
I waved my forelegs.
Pus turned its head abruptly and began to tremble.
That reaction seems a bit odd.
Did I touch something I shouldn’t have?
I only pulled its web, right?
…And you both are males, right?
*
Pus’s web had waterproof properties.
Moreover, just like other spider webs, it was strong enough to serve as fishing line.
I fashioned a very rudimentary fishing rod.
No, calling it a fishing rod is a stretch.
All I have is a line and a hook.
The hook was made from the leg of the Water Boatman.
Waterproof spider silk.
And I used the leftover bits of the Water Boatman as bait.
After paying my respects to the generous Water Boatman, I tested the performance of my fishing line.
The results were very satisfying.
【Black Piranha LV2】
【Black Piranha LV3】
It was smaller than the one I encountered yesterday, but still of the same species.
This meant the taste would likely be the same.
“Kieooong!”
The spiders spun around me, waving their arms.
It had long surpassed the point where I was simply an idol.
Worship.
They were worshiping me.
For those who couldn’t even hunt a single Water Boatman, the piranha was like a bully in this region.
Yet, a very handsome green lizard had managed to catch two piranhas in a mysterious way, so it was only natural for them to react this way.
After a while of worshiping me, the spiders seemed to have something they wanted to say and began nudging each other with their small legs.
Seeing their drool, it was obvious they were curious about the taste of this fish.
Alright, since you’re worshiping me, I should reward you accordingly.
I’ll treat you to five Water Boatmen and two fish to fill your bellies.
I quickly prepared the Water Boatmen and fish.
Thus, the special swamp feast was ready.
Tus and Pus devoured the food fervently.
These guys must have been really hungry.
Just watching them eat makes me… Leave one piranha for me!
[【Artercopus LV4】 and 【Antracomartus LV3】 worship you.]
Huh?
Now they’re telling me this too?
No, when the status window provides information like this, it usually means there’s something to gain.
A skill or a title, maybe.
[The faint divine power resides within your body.]
…Faint divine power!
What is that?
Please say more.
I glared at the status window, but there was no change whatsoever.
Is that it?
Did I forget something?
Ugh.
Perhaps because it’s faint divine power, it seems there are no noticeable changes.
Yet, I feel that having more living beings that worship me might lead to some change….
But that won’t be easy.
There are no creatures that worship someone as a group like humans do.
Still, I saw potential.
If these spiders were to tell their offspring about me later on, the faint divine power might evolve into something more significant.
Tus and Pus had somehow managed to eat all the food.
【Antracomartus LV4】
【Status】
「Worship」「Fullness」
【Artercopus LV5】
【Status】
「Worship」「Fullness」
I was starting to think I had caught too much, but in the end, they finished everything.
Their levels increased as well.
They patted their plump bellies.
Approaching me slightly, they bowed their heads.
“Kieeng.”
Nice to meet you.
I enjoyed the food very much.
I will pass your story on to future generations.
I suspect they might be saying something along those lines.
From the way they scurried off quickly to somewhere, it seems my guess is not far off.
Tuda-dat!
I quickly dashed over and caught Tus and Pus.
“Kieeeek!”
Surprised, they began trembling again.
They’re adorable, but they lack conscience.
Surely they didn’t think I fed them for free, did they?
“Gek-gekk!”
You will repay me with your bodies.
You’ll produce as much as you’ve eaten.
*
Pus’s once round belly had somehow shriveled down.
It was due to the countless webs I extracted.
While I was pulling out Pus’s web, Tus was staring at me in fear.
It would be nice if I could convert Tus’s plump belly into silk too, but it was a spider that couldn’t spin webs.
Still, I was not disappointed.
It had its own use.
I realized my vulnerability during the battle with the ant legion.
I was particularly sensitive to poison.
After all, what creature wouldn’t be affected by poison? But for me, it was especially pronounced.
In other respects, I could somehow manage to overcome.
Even if a larger dinosaur chased after me, I could likely escape.
However, the poison from being bitten by small bugs like ants had no remedy.
I could only wait for the poison’s effects to naturally dissipate or level up to eliminate the status ailment, and both were difficult.
In the former case, if the damage from the remaining poison exceeded my HP, I would die without a chance to escape.
In the latter case, I couldn’t just decide to level up during a battle; it was highly challenging to adjust in practical situations.
I needed to find another method.
I had a basic understanding of my skill’s mechanics.
If attacked by a mountain, I gain mountain resistance.
If hit by paralysis needles, I gain paralysis resistance.
If I get poisoned, I would likely gain poison resistance.
However, when I fought the ant legion and got poisoned, no related skill emerged.
I thought that perhaps due to being bitten just once, my experience was still insufficient.
If I repeated the process multiple times, I was confident that natural poison resistance would develop.
However, repeated exposure to poison could lead to death.
The creatures that use poison wouldn’t go easy on me.
In such circumstances, I encountered a tiny poisonous spider that worshipped me.
Tus.
“Geggekk.”
Are you ready?
“Hioong….”
I placed Tus’s venomous fangs against my tail.
If anything unexpected were to happen, I could swiftly cut off my tail.
“Gek-ggek.”
You must bite gently.
After taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind.
It would hurt. It would hurt a lot.
But there was no other way to become stronger.
There’s a saying that one drop of sweat today replaces a drop of blood in battle.
I emptied my mind and gritted my teeth.
Just like a general who endured injuries while playing go, I was confident I wouldn’t blink.
Now, come!
Kwoosh!
“Geeeekk!”
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