EP.19
The white hand, tinged with the hue of flesh, truly deserved to be called a delicate and beautiful hand.
Yet, behind it, I could see blue eyes like a lake whose depths are unfathomable, though they appeared insensitive.
At first glance, the eyes seemed sharp or perhaps cold, but even that felt beautiful.
A small dot beneath her eyes triggered a thought of the old saying, “the finishing touch.”
Just like the drawn eyes of a dragon, this woman also had the tear dot painted, making me wonder if she was a painting that had become a person. Her appearance was not like that of an ordinary human— it resembled a masterpiece created with bold and fine lines intricately intertwined.
If I had to classify it, it looked more like a traditional ink wash painting.
Yes. Her abundant hair resembled a waterfall depicted in ink.
Have I ever seen someone this beautiful in my life?
If I were to pick the most beautiful woman in the world, I would undoubtedly choose her.
Of course, as the first person I encountered since coming here, I had no other options.
Though I elaborately described her appearance, my situation could be summarized in one phrase.
A person appeared before me.
Moreover, it was a woman.
Even more so, a very beautiful woman.
“Gekgek!”
Hello.
I am currently in the body of a lizard but, in truth, I am human.
I ended up like this after mistakenly posting a picture of a Spinosaurus in maid attire on the community board.
…
There was no way she could understand me.
But why on earth is there a person in such a cave?
This is a cave I arrived at because the ground collapsed.
It must be challenging to reach here by any ordinary means.
There were many strange elements at play.
Furthermore, didn’t she just seem to be meditating moments ago?
This woman touched me.
After the turtle had made loud noises, which had already given me internal injuries, this woman even touched me directly.
How have I not sustained any harm?
Is it because I failed in my Qi regulation?
Questions led to more questions.
As I pondered, the woman’s lips moved.
“At first glance, the skin appears to be tough, but surprisingly it is quite soft. Moreover, the white area around the belly is plump enough to make one want to keep touching it.”
This woman was fondling my belly.
“Gekgek!”
No matter how beautiful she was, this was too much.
That area is sensitive!
“How intriguingly unique. I have seen countless spirit creatures, but I have never encountered one that looks like this.”
Indeed, I must be a handsome lizard.
Despite appearance, I have an attractive physique reminiscent of a Nephila juranishka.
“Your face is rather unremarkable, yet you have your own charm.”
“Gekgek!”
She says I’m beautiful, yet she makes such blunt remarks.
I expressed my discontent with my whole body.
“And what about those tiny feet? How can a lizard have webbed toes?”
She poked at my front limbs.
While hearing remarks that sounded like compliments or insults, I felt quite uneasy.
“Your tail also has a lot going on. It’s thin and long, and the texture feels great.”
Now she began to gently stroke my tail.
Alright.
I thought I could let her touch me.
It couldn’t be helped.
If I had a lizard like this in front of me, I would have touched it as well.
Of course, I would have bitten immediately after.
Look at me— she touches me like this, yet I haven’t bitten her even once.
There’s no way my teeth are numb, making me keep my mouth shut.
It’s just that it feels nice to have this lizard in front of me.
All is well, but can’t you let go of me a bit now?
I started to feel slightly suffocated.
“It’s perfect for use as an ingredient in Su-gung-sa.”
The corners of the woman’s mouth curled up.
Yes, whatever Su-gung-sa is, please just let me go.
Wait, Su-gung-sa?
What was that again?
…I remembered.
Su-gung-sa (守宮砂) refers to a type of cosmetic, specifically a red clay that is applied to the skin.
It has a special function— it could be understood as a martial arts version of a unicorn, making it easier to grasp.
The red clay applied to the body doesn’t wash off until one dies.
The only time it is removed is when one has sexual intercourse.
It is mainly used by the Amifa to check if their purity has been preserved.
It can also be applied to the children of noble families.
In essence, it was an extraordinary item akin to a high-quality virginity detector.
EP.19
This is all fine and dandy. It’s a unicorn-friendly item.
But the ingredient for Su-gung-sa is just… a drugged lizard.
“Gekgekgek!”
I thrashed about.
I was supposed to be raised.
I was supposed to be raised!
No, I never said I was being raised, but still, you didn’t say you’d grind me up either!
“What’s bothering you?”
The woman grabbed me by the nape and lifted me up.
All my strength drained away.
Hanging there, I could do nothing.
“Gek…”
“Gek? Gekko? Your cries are quite unique.”
“Geek…”
This is strange.
Why can’t I muster any strength?
Even when I faced the Cayman, I was ultimately able to move.
Moreover, this woman doesn’t seem that strong at first glance.
She just has a larger build than mine.
With her black hair, the woman raised her other hand and pressed down on my belly.
“You’re holding so much in that tiny body. So much that you haven’t even digested.”
“Gek!”
You can’t press down like that!
I just had a meal.
“Gekgek!”
The only method available to me was to use my cries.
Perhaps my earnestness reached her, as she began to say the words I longed for.
“I understand. I’ll put you down, so stay still.”
I was getting closer to the ground.
She was definitely going to let me go.
Even though she said to stay still, I had a feeling that if I didn’t act now, I’d miss my chance.
…Should I escape?
Even though she subdued me in a strange way, her strength didn’t seem immense.
There’s no way she could follow my movements.
Alright. The moment my feet touch the ground, I’ll make a run for it.
But first, let’s check something.
I concentrated my sight.
[Cannot assess the subject.]
What?
What is this?
Cannot assess the subject?
I saw the level and name of the Cayman, though.
This is the first time I’ve seen such a message since coming here.
Is it because I’m human that it doesn’t show up?
Please don’t tell me this woman is stronger than the Cayman.
It would make sense that my skill doesn’t apply to humans.
…But just to be safe, I decided to stay put.
Whatever this Su-gung-sa nonsense is, it’s likely a poorly executed joke among martial artists.
Honestly, I would find it easier to believe that she intends to eat me.
“Gek!”
I gazed at her with extremely innocent eyes.
“What’s with that expression? Oh. It seems you know what Su-gung-sa is.”
This was odd.
Why does she speak as if I can understand her?
“You can even sit cross-legged; it’s not strange that you know about Su-gung-sa.”
She saw it.
Then be nice to me.
I’m a rare lizard, you know.
“Then the incision on that snake must not be mere coincidence.”
The woman pointed to the bone of the snake I had consumed.
There was almost no flesh left as I had eaten all the edible parts, so what could she possibly see there?
“It’s clumsy, but there are traces that a lizard could not leave behind.”
“Gek!”
I was taken aback.
She figured that out just by looking at that bone?
Or is it because I was sitting cross-legged?
“Did you follow what you saw drawn on the wall?”
Her blue eyes were fixed on me.
They were so deep that I couldn’t see the end.
An overwhelming pressure, like a tsunami, bore down on my body.
I had no choice but to speak the truth.
“Gekgek.”
I nodded my head.
“It seems that I had a good dream last night, and this is why I met you.”
For reasons unclear to me, she seemed to be in a good mood.
“Spirit creatures are said to understand speech, yet don’t typically offer friendliness. But you are different.”
Well, if you don’t act friendly, you might end up turning me into lizard paste.
“Alright then.”
Whatever it is, I don’t think it sounds good for me.
“I usually don’t like interfering with nature, but you’re simply too precious to leave alone.”
No, it seems like it might be okay to just leave it as is.
“I’ll briefly share the teachings of Baek Yeon-Young.”
What?
Teachings of Baek Yeon-Young?
What does that even mean?
Who is Baek Yeon-Young?
“…But don’t go around claiming to be the direct disciple of my body. If you want to do that, you must join the main school first.”
So this person’s name is Baek Yeon-Young.
Does that mean they are going to teach me martial arts?
But I’m a lizard!
Martial artists really have fewer stereotypes than I thought.
“I wish you’d grow a bit bigger, but for now, you’ll have to be satisfied with this.”
Baek Yeon-Young tapped my belly with their finger.
If I grow bigger, they probably plan to use me as an ingredient.
Like Hansel and Gretel!
I will definitely not get fat.
“Gekgek!”
But are they really going to teach me martial arts?
Something feels off.
A woman saying she’ll teach martial arts to a lizard doesn’t seem normal.
…Then again, surely she wouldn’t kill her disciple.
If I just pretend to learn, I won’t become Su-gung-sa.
And if I genuinely learn martial arts, it might be good for me to acquire some offensive techniques.
Alright, let’s hear it.
“Little lizard, get into your stance.”
“Gek?”
*
Baek Yeon-Young. I don’t know what their true identity is, but one thing is certain.
“Ugh, that’s not it.”
This woman is terrible at explaining things.
“Geggeggek!”
“How can you not understand this? From a straight line to a curve. Just let it flow naturally like water.”
Though she was holding my arms and waving them around, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
She seems to be no better than a third-rate warrior.
No, even a child passing by wouldn’t explain things like this.
Just do this. Do that.
Yin and Yang this and the mysteries of non-being that.
“Ugh, this is frustrating. This is why I didn’t want to take on a disciple.”
I felt the same way about having a master.
“Gekgek!”
Baek Yeon-Young was merely holding and poking my hands and feet.
“Watch closely. Send your left hand forward while pushing your right foot back…”
“Gekgekgek!”
This is lizard abuse.
“Right. Since you have a tail, you can use that too. Now, this is my thought…”
No matter how I look at it, it feels less like teaching martial arts and more like playing with a doll.
And I was the doll, of course.
“Gek… Gek…”
This feels unpleasant.
Should I just bite her finger and run away?
“Uh, yeah. It’s easier to show than to tell a hundred times.”
Oh.
Finally, she realized something.
Show me quickly.
Even if she’s third-rate, she should be able to demonstrate the basics.
Baek Yeon-Young lifted me by the nape and sat me on a high rock.
“Gek?”
“Just wait quietly here.”
Is this a special chair?
Not bad at all.
Baek Yeon-Young raised their hand.
Finally!
And then she started to pet me.
…What is she doing?
“Gekgek!”
Weren’t you supposed to be demonstrating?
This woman kept touching me for a long while.
“Just wait. It will arrive soon.”
What’s she talking about?
What’s about to arrive…?
In that moment, chills ran down my spine.
It was the same feeling I had when I first encountered the Cayman.
My danger senses were going haywire.
Kugugoo.
At first, it sounded distant.
Kuuuuuuuuung!
But I could feel that the presence was getting closer at a rapid speed.
Kwaaaang!
A massive wall of rock shattered as the owner of the sound revealed itself.
【Titanoboa LV50(+)
A size greater than any creature I’ve seen so far.
An overwhelming presence, yet Baek Yeon-Young only smiled.
“It’s an Imugi.”
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